It seems team GB have faith in their own abilities

[Kudoscycles]

I started a new thread because it seems wrong expressing our support for team GB on a thread which started with 'why was our road race cyclists so dissappointing' Since those first couple of indifferent days team GB in especially cycling,rowing and athletics have performed magnificently.
On so many occassions in the past we have promised so much but failed to meet expectations on the day. But this time it is so different,I suspect that our support for our athletes has not just been talk,we have supported them with good equipment and training that has allowed their ability to develop and give them confidence to peak at the right time.
Well done team GB and well done to the Beeb for covering it so well.
Dave
Kudoscycles

 

[flecc]

And we shouldn't forget that at Beijing we ended fourth in the medal table, well above what could be expected from a country of Britain's size. What's happening now is a continuation of that success, currently with an improvement in being in third place behind those two population giants, the USA and China.

I do find our footballers depressing though, last night finally losing to little South Korea on penalties. This really is the sport which desperately needs attention of the sort that's brought us so much success in others.

 

[Kudoscycles]

I don't think football or tennis should be in the Olympics,they have their own pinnacle in the World Cup and Wimbledon respectively. There is too much money paid to our footballers that moves them away from the spirit of the Olympics.
Dave
Kudoscycles

 

[flecc]

Probably true Dave, but even those sports where we've long had a poor record can be dramatically improved. In tennis for example there's been very big improvements, and not just with Andy Murray, though he is already guaranteed at least two silvers to come having reached the singles and mixed doubles finals.

The maddening thing about our football is that we already know what's wrong, the lazy importation of foreign players and managers into our league in preference to the effort of raising our own talent properly.

 

[Cyclezee]

Good thread Dave and Tony, I agree almost 100%.

These young talented sports men and women all the support and respect we can give them, I exclude our Team GB male professional footballers from that, they were very disappointing.

 

[Kudoscycles]

Just viewing the interesting interview with Chris Boardman,re the carbon lightweight sprint bikes used in the Velodrome, it got me thinking that e-bikes should be thinking of reducing weight.
We did have a go at manufacturing a Kudos carbon fibre frame version of our King bike,the frame was succesfull but the problem was that the manufacturer tried to take a standard sports bike frame and not take account of the additional loads imposed by the battery weight.
In all honesty although savings in weight can be achieved by a carbon frame,the 6061-T6 ally frames are not substantially heavier and taking costs into account probably not worthwhile. We very carefully selected components on our folding Kudos Secret bike and got that down to an acceptable 18kgs,we have a new performance range in build that will be below 19kgs,without resorting to expensive exotic materials.
But the motor and batteries are where the most weight savings could be achieved,could the motor be an integral part of the structure of the wheel,could the battery housing be an integral part of the structure of the frame,maybe auto gear selection so that the whole manual gear operation could be deleted,maybe the chainring/crank/pedal system could be redesigned to save components and weight,rear mudguard,rear light and rack could be integrated together,front light built into the forks,volume produced lightweight front forks integrated into the handlebars with less connecting parts. There is so much weight saving that could be achieved with better design,most of the technology is already there but the mix of components is somewhat random what is needed is that the e-bike to be designed not as a sports bike with added electrics but the e-bike designed as an e-bike from conception,the end result will be radically different from our current offerings. Unfortunately I personally have arrived somewhat late and recent to the e-bike market and see what is required but don't have the knowledge or muscle to create a radical change,for the near future the bikes will continual to be developments of sports bikes with electrics,design will be gradual. A 40 mile range e-bike,weighing less than 15kgs,5 year battery life and costing less than £1k is still some way off.
Dave
Kudoscycles

 

[Jimod]

I don't think football or tennis should be in the Olympics,they have their own pinnacle in the World Cup and Wimbledon respectively. There is too much money paid to our footballers that moves them away from the spirit of the Olympics.
Dave
Kudoscycles

Could I just add men's beach volleyball to the list of sports which shouldn't be in the Olympics.

 

[smudger1956]

Could I just add men's beach volleyball to the list of sports which shouldn't be in the Olympics.

And can I just add Handball.
And to add well done Team GB, I am sure their performance will inspire some future champions.

 

[flecc]

Could I just add men's beach volleyball to the list of sports which shouldn't be in the Olympics.

Not just mens, all beach volleyball, the soft porn versions as well.

 

[Jimod]

Not just mens, all beach volleyball, the soft porn versions as well.

In truth if it hadn't been for fit young women wearing next to nothing, beach volleyball wouldn't have ever been heard of. It's definitely not an olympic sport.

 

[Scimitar]

Not just mens, all beach volleyball, the soft porn versions as well.

Apart from some well-shaped bums, the female athletes in general, but especially in beach volleyball are hardly porn icons. An overtrained female athlete near enough ceases to be womanly and becomes quite androgynous. Dear god, it'd be like fancying Ziggy Stardust.

 

[flecc]

Not all of them Dave, a couple of the British womens team are well enough covered and rounded to hide the muscles, they'd certainly be attractive to anyone who likes well rounded women.

Anyway, there were plenty of women who fancied Ziggy Stardust!

 

[Kudoscycles]

Just viewing the interesting interview with Chris Boardman,re the carbon lightweight sprint bikes used in the Velodrome, it got me thinking that e-bikes should be thinking of reducing weight.
We did have a go at manufacturing a Kudos carbon fibre frame version of our King bike,the frame was succesfull but the problem was that the manufacturer tried to take a standard sports bike frame and not take account of the additional loads imposed by the battery weight.
In all honesty although savings in weight can be achieved by a carbon frame,the 6061-T6 ally frames are not substantially heavier and taking costs into account probably not worthwhile. We very carefully selected components on our folding Kudos Secret bike and got that down to an acceptable 18kgs,we have a new performance range in build that will be below 19kgs,without resorting to expensive exotic materials.
But the motor and batteries are where the most weight savings could be achieved,could the motor be an integral part of the structure of the wheel,could the battery housing be an integral part of the structure of the frame,maybe auto gear selection so that the whole manual gear operation could be deleted,maybe the chainring/crank/pedal system could be redesigned to save components and weight,rear mudguard,rear light and rack could be integrated together,front light built into the forks,volume produced lightweight front forks integrated into the handlebars with less connecting parts. There is so much weight saving that could be achieved with better design,most of the technology is already there but the mix of components is somewhat random what is needed is that the e-bike to be designed not as a sports bike with added electrics but the e-bike designed as an e-bike from conception,the end result will be radically different from our current offerings. Unfortunately I personally have arrived somewhat late and recent to the e-bike market and see what is required but don't have the knowledge or muscle to create a radical change,for the near future the bikes will continual to be developments of sports bikes with electrics,design will be gradual. A 40 mile range e-bike,weighing less than 15kgs,5 year battery life and costing less than £1k is still some way off.
Dave
Kudoscycles

I am surprised that Honda have not had a go at the e-bike market!

 

[flecc]

I am surprised that Honda have not had a go at the e-bike market!

They have Dave, back in 2001 with an exquisite little crank drive folder called the Step Compo, and it was preceded by the Racoon model in 1998. I think the front of the Step Compo needed more thought, but the rear half was an object lesson in neat e-bike design. Not only that, they also had an estate car (wagon) version to carry it with a built in charging facility, years ahead of their time.

The agents for the Step Compo in Britain were 50cycles, it being one of their first two products, the Panasonic Will folding e-bike being the other one. Both were expensive but very good and 50cycles hung on to one of each over the years. I believe they still have that Panasonic Will with it's original lithium battery still working, and maybe the Step Compo as well.

Honda Step Compo
.

 

[indalo]

Honda Step Compo[/URL]

Lovely bit of kit!

Indalo

 

[funkylyn]

I don't think football or tennis should be in the Olympics,they have their own pinnacle in the World Cup and Wimbledon respectively. There is too much money paid to our footballers that moves them away from the spirit of the Olympics.
Dave
Kudoscycles

Hmmmm.....too much money is an understatement !

Most of them give the impression they only turn up to play just enough to keep the money flowing to finance their other 'much more important to them ' interests like clubbing, snorting, chasing as many women as they think they can get away with, being obnoxious to each other, and promoting their own lines of underwear etc.....oh, and of course buying bars, restaurants, racehorses,fast cars, keeping their wives in expensive shoes, bags and clothes and anything else they can throw their ill gotten gains at !!

( and err....no.....Im not a fan, just in case you were wondering, although I admit to 'sort of' enjoying that recent Spanish game, dont know what it was, (world cup...european ?? ) but even to my uneducated eye they seemed quite skillfull )

But they STILL dont deserve the money they get paid.....

And meanwhile, our amazing TeamGB 'proper' sportspeople, have to mostly beg for funding.

Whilst I am doing my female Victor Meldrew impression, its also about time we had more minority sports shown on tv, if they were, they wouldnt remain in the minority would they.

And how about a programme that focuses on a different traffic free cycle path every week, showing people how great it is to get out and about SAFELY on their bikes, showing the beautiful countryside and local wildlife to be spotted ( no, I dont mean rampant teenagers ).....and, of course, they can please themselves whether they wear helmets or not

Hmmm.....that feels better

Lynda

 

[Kudoscycles]

They have Dave, back in 2001 with an exquisite little crank drive folder called the Step Compo, and it was preceded by the Racoon model in 1998. I think the front of the Step Compo needed more thought, but the rear half was an object lesson in neat e-bike design. Not only that, they also had an estate car (wagon) version to carry it with a built in charging facility, years ahead of their time.

The agents for the Step Compo in Britain were 50cycles, it being one of their first two products, the Panasonic Will folding e-bike being the other one. Both were expensive but very good and 50cycles hung on to one of each over the years. I believe they still have that Panasonic Will with it's original lithium battery still working, and maybe the Step Compo as well.

Honda Step Compo
.

Tony,must say the design of the rear is typical of Honda-looking at the manufacturing techniques there was high tooling costs involved. What happened to it? Why did they not continue manufacture? I suspect very expensive?
Dave

 

[flecc]

Yes, I think that was it Dave. From memory around £1300 in the UK in 2003, well worth it but a shocking amount at a time when e-biking was little known here.

Some didn't like it's 12 mph top assist speed, but that was fine for its intended purpose, short town trips etc.

 

[flecc]

Stop Press:

Wow, Andy Murray beats Roger Federer and gets us another gold, superb, and reverses the Wimbledon Tournament result.

And Ben Ainsley gets yet another gold in the Finn class sailing, his fourth gold, fantastic!

 

[Jimod]

We're actually doing quite well.