Thorn Cycles Forum
Community => Muppets Threads! (And Anything Else) => Topic started by: triaesthete on November 17, 2012, 01:23:55 am
-
Historical evidence suggests it did...
http://www.retronaut.com/2012/01/vintage-rocket-powered-bicycles-1929-1951/
Happy days
Ian
-
Ooh! That's just marvelous, Ian; well found!
I think I'd eschew the rockets in favor of a pulse jet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiqR3dbXY_o
This one is out on the Alvord where -- with any luck - I'll be late next Spring. I won't packing a pulse jet, however; just my legs.
All the best,
Dan. (Roaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar! or BOPBOPBOPBOPBOPBOP!; it's all go so long as it's fast)
-
Thats not a sprung saddle - its an ejector seat!!!!
I love the advert for make your own rocket!!!
Andy
-
It looks like military spec jet models make do with a rigid saddle. Maybe Kamikaze versions eschew an ejector seat?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vExRsCvGDj8
Mind you here is a civi version also with rigid seat. Maybe jets give a smoother ride than rockets?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRDQTWWt-7A
Methinks the Danneaux neighbourhood might see this sort of thing on occasion.
Ian
-
Methinks the Danneaux neighbourhood might see this sort of thing on occasion.
You can't imagine, Ian, how dearly I would love a pulse-jet bike. I have been looking at them with a covetous eye for some time now. I um, even have my eBay and YouTube favorites bookmarked for ready access.
Best,
Dan. (Whose neighbors are still recovering from the last rocket episode...when my scale-model Blue Flame* replica kinda got loose and shot through a few things. I was 10 at the time and a few still remember it)
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Flame_%28car%29
-
How did I know Dan??
Please tell more. Did it involve casualties or TV coverage?
Intrigued,
Ian
-
Didn't we all do it?
I have fond memories of designing a balsa rocket-plane model to fly along a guide string powered by a CO2 pressure cartridge. All went well (although puncturing the canister was a bit tricky). Then it flew along the string.... which unfortunately was only 20m long, about 40m too short :o My rocket-plane reached the carport post at the end of the string, then tore off the screw-eyes, smashed the wings to pieces, and flew on for another 30-40 metres down the drive and across to the neighbour's front yard
;D ;D :-X
Much more controlled, land-based version - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DMCVcZE3Ds
And one for Dan ;) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ6DeAfILOM
-
How did I know Dan??
Please tell more. Did it involve casualties or TV coverage?
Intrigued,
Ian
Well, uh, it wasn't as bad as when I put the 1/2" drill bit through my hand with the non-reversing drill, then forgot to unplug it in my haste to unwind it. So no, no casualties in this particular instance; the result was similar to Pete's, but involved more than one pickup truck, a neighbor's fence, and a few other things like some (formerly) Prize Petunias.
In scale speed, I'm pretty sure *my* Blue Flame exceeded the speed of sound. I do know I lost all power of hearing as I watched, hand over mouth, as it um, rocketed onward and onward, and onward beyond all expectations of success. It was one of those moments where a person experiences almost equal measures of pride and horror, and has to suppress a hearty "Look what I did" while peeking between fingers held over eyes and wondering if the US has extradition treaties with all South American countries.
The TV coverage came for other things. ;) I can just now go out without seeing the neighbors' curtains wiggle as I pass, or see them quietly and unobtrusively move their cars out of harm's way. Sheesh, it's been 42 years, you'd think they'd let it go...and might have, if I hadn't dyed the front lawn green during a drought when I was 16. I did it in the dead of night, so when the neighbors left in the morning, my lawn was emerald green among the blond ones. I'd taken care to wind-up the fellow across the street (a green-lawn fanatic) with tales of a "miracle fertilizer" I'd concocted. He was so busy looking at the results on his way to work, he nearly took out the mailboxes. Begged me for the "recipe".
After launching the Blue Flame I uh, hastily assembled a much smaller Blue Flame Mk2, but kept it a secret, hiding it away in the attic till I forgot about it. Seeing this thread got me rooting around and it turned up. Y'know...it's never been properly tested and it can't go too far...not with just three Estes 1665 boosters...
All the best,
Dan. ("Don't tempt me...")
-
;D Go on go on go on Dan ;D You know you want to....
Pete, I must have been ballistically deprived as a child. My Dad tells a few tales about fires, home made guns and indoor steam engines so he probably knew the signs to look out for in me.
Ian
-
Go on go on go on Dan You know you want to....
Careful now, Ian, or you'll end up a CBI (Certified Bad Influence)...like me! :D ;D ;) ...I must have been ballistically deprived as a child...
"We can fix that!" says CBI Dan.
All the best,
Dan. (...never too late...just a can of gasoline and a match away from solution, I always say ['never said it was the best solution...])
-
Don't worry Dan
as a ballistically deprived child I ended up in the infantry reserves (TA) and made up for the hardship with machine guns and anti tank weapons ;D
Mind you it was all small potatoes to my dad and granddad as they had a V1 landwithin 100metres or so of their house! But it was OK... they were hiding under the table.... and it only blew the doors and the roof off....
V1: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V-1_flying_bomb
Morrison table shelter: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tim_uk/7866795974/
CBI: comfortingly bonkers individual??
Ian
-
Don't worry Dan...as a ballistically deprived child I ended up in the infantry reserves (TA) and made up for the hardship with machine guns and anti tank weapons
Boy! I'll say, and then some! That's far bigger stuff than I ever played with! Mind you it was all small potatoes to my dad and granddad...
Goodness, Man! Yes, indeed! (loved the links and photos). You come from tough stock, Ian. CBI: comfortingly bonkers individual??
I suspect so, especially after overhearing one neighbor describe me to another as "...a bit odd about the bikes, but okay" -- which beat the reply: "Nuts don't fall far from the tree". Dad is still living on that one, puffing his chest out with pride and remembering his own Days of Adventure -- much of it two-wheeled and motorized -- among more sedentary neighborfolk.
All the best,
Dan. (...who thinks Adventure is where you find it!)
-
Er,, Lucky, not tough. Those things were pretty random, and I bet throughout history the potential of all our current existences have come that close to being snuffed out more than once!
Dan, it appears that not only do you have character, but you are a character. ;)
Ian
-
Pulse jet powered Raleigh twenty! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKHz7wOjb9w
Fainthearted people beware, no safety equipment is used in the making of this video :o Can't quite see if the saddle is sprung either ;)
Ian
-
Want.
No...
Need, Ian.
What is frightening is I have all the necessary ingredients *right now* in my garage, not 10 meters from where I'm sitting.
...and I'm sorely tempted.
*Two* complete oxy-acetylene welding rigs. A 1970 Motobecane U-frame folder, and enough spare cro-moly frame tubing to do it right.
Or...I could just bolt on the oxygen tanks and knock the regulators off each in turn with a hammer. The Mini-40 tank gauge is pegged at 3,000psi while the Standard-40 tank gauge is at 4,000psi. Or as one might think of them, Stage One and Stage Two.
Best if the rig is aimed true...: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJ6tKJ6GsAo
All the best,
Dan. (...who thinks saddle springs would be entirely academic, but a really big Thudbuster might come in handy)
-
'sfunny Dan, I saw him and thought of you ;D
Ian