Bicycle Bob Trailer #2 Notes



Bicycle Bob Trailer: I understand this to be a generic term for a single wheeled bicycle trailer. It gets its name because it they are usually lightly loaded and on some roads they tend to "bob" along.

Parts List: the following is the list of parts for BBT#1, which I need to update for BBT#2.


Design Changes

Part of the justification for building these trailers was to develop various designs for various purposes. So the weak points in BBT#1 were looked at

Around The Streets: As mentioned for BBT#1, I obtained the kids bicycle as abandoned junk in the street. However, the

Initially I attempted to buy steel to mimic the headset sizes so that I could make my own headset, but whilst I scored great with the innner tube (steel pipe) as it was a great fit for brazing on the front forks and headset, it was a hopeless case for the outer tube. A request for 32mm ID was granted and I rapidly learnt what a general steel supplier means when they say "nominal Bore". My 32mm NB turned out to be 36mm ID and the headset cups had a rattling good time.

No KEEL One of the design changes to BBT#2 from BBT#1 was to remove the bottom keel. I now feel that this was not a good move. Yes, it did mean that I had higher clearance and No it wasn't a factor in the crash of BBT#3 On the advice of Moz, I looked at just canablising abandoned bicycles for adaptable parts. So when some one had left a broken kids bicycle lying in the local street, I picked it up. {:-). I have since managed to obtain another similar bicycle from the council rubbish collection service. Our local council provides each ratepayer with three (3) free collections each year, so residents using this service typically clean up on the weekend and leave a pile of rubbish of out the front for collection duing the week following. I understand (so I'm told) that cruising the streets on a late Sunday afternoon can uncover some great finds. {:-)

Measure Twice, Cut Once: This is a common saying, but somewhere along the line, it needs another line. When it came time to cut up the sheet metal to construct the tray supports, somehow my brain carried forward the length desired, rather than the widt. Consequently, the tray will take a square load 600mm x 600mm, when I only wanted a tray 350mm x 600mm. Oh well, something to improve for Bob Trailer #2 {:-). Lead or Angle of Vertical Axis Something I picked up in discussion on the Frame Builders List was that the angle of the vertical axis (side to side movement) needs to lead the trailer, i.e. it points slighlty forward a few degrees off square. I understand this to be for the trailer to lean into the corners.

Something Else I'm sure I'll remember what it is soon.