Taking the Kangaroo for a spin
23 12 2006
Ready to roll. While the Wee ‘Un and I had a couple of rides earlier in the week, this was the first time the Other Half got to see us in action.
The Kangaroo is not suited to high speeds - much over 15mph results in an ever-increasing wobble. A stately progress is more in keeping with the Kangaroo’s image anyway.
The hill outside the croft is fairly steep but the Kangaroo and I can just manage it in second gear. I haven’t tried riding up the other side though as it’s at least twice as steep and you can’t stand on the peddles to power up the hill. The Kangaroo isn’t conducive to that sort of treatment as, with excess power being applied, the rear frame rocks from side to side like a conventional bike while the front stays flat to the road. It’s very disconcerting!
The Other Half has a go, but while she found the effort needed was much less than she expected, the steering and braking will take some getting used to. Still, riding the Kangaroo is much more environmentally friendly than driving a car and will cut our carbon emissions dramatically.
Ice cream anyone?
in the last pic its an optical illusion…it looks like the oh is doing a stoppie (putting the front brake on and the rear wheel rising up…the opposite of a wheelie)….it got me at first …i thought…whooooah…cool ….theyre really messin with that bike…but its an illusion……darn those illusions
looks cool though
While that pic is illusory, it is a little too easy to do a stoppie on the Kangaroo. All you need is a long, steep hill to get a decent whack of speed up, a good load of children in the front and apply the front discs without first using the back pedal brake to slow the bike.
I realised it was a distinct possibility the first time out, so I had to try it and can report that you can definitely lift the rear wheel!
Not really recommended, though! More seriously, if you’re not an experienced rider it could catch you out. The OH found the steering and braking took a lot of getting used to, but I’ll write about their peculiarities in more detail later.
That’s not a bike, that’s a chariot!
Its wonderful!
Cool!!!! Do I get to have a go when I come to visit?
Nevermind doing an endo can you pop a wheelie??
I’ve a mountain bike which I’m used to treating with disrespect but when I put a child seat on it my son rocks about like he’s on a bouncy castle, and barks orders about directions, little bugger, I have to take it steady now.