h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Traveller in Time on his head
"I have managed to have two rather severe bicycle accidents in the recent years. Both times my head was injured, these statistics suggest I would not wear a helmet but a barrister's wig?

I doubt if joggers or bicyclists doing the wrong side of the bicycle path even notice."

Traveller in Time misreads me. The apparent barrister's wig is in fact a fully functioning helmet, *disguised* as a wig.

But perhaps it is enough simply to be seen and noticed. A on the head may be just as good.

Traveller in Time barrister's wig on his head on top
"Well, due to the full face helmet, currently has to sit in the backseat.

He occasionally sits on my head if we are just going for a ride in the country. 'Rose' will ride her own bicycle, and 'Waterrat' using the backseat. (We will come no further then the local playgarden if he struggles along on his side wheeled bicycle.) "

Traveller in Time on his head
"No, not only wheels on the side that is what we call a handicapped aid. 'Waterrat' (4 years) has a very small bicycle, completely scaled down, wheel diameter some 0.30 metre ( one foot). Attached to the rear axle<?> with the main nuts, are side arms. Small folded iron stips go diagonally down sideways ending in small (0.1 metre), massive nylon wheels.

Sorry can not get them more clear in ASCII art. I will have to draw them in TIT art. I will give it a go on < A2369478 > I will start right now."

No need, I know what you mean! We call them "Fairy Wheels" God knows why. I don't like the idea much; my children learned to ride without them though my grandchildren had some.

A much better idea for the beginner is to take off the pedals altogether and let the child scoot along like a hobby horse. Pedals hurt the shins something shocking until you have the hang of balancing the bike.

Traveller in Time on his head
"Both started off on front wheel driven tricycles, so they were used to the pedals before they got the 'chain' bicycles. A bike without pedals would be a scooter as Dict says.

I will add a link back to this thread.

What bows tying the wheels? I am afraid, this is one of the defects of this way of drawing. I do not have any bows!

The only shapes you are supposed to see are
--circles for the wheels
--dots for the horn and chain house
--a lower case italic j fore fork
--an apostrophe as part of the horn
--a tilde as handle bar
--lots of horizontal and diagonal lines for the frame
"

Alas different browsers show different pictures. On Phoenix I see no bows but the wheels fly in the air over the rest of the machinery.

Being used to the pedals is all very well but what tricycle riders need to get used to is balancing a two-wheeler, and whether you call it a hobby horse or a scooter is immaterial. When they get used to balancing and whisking along, pedals can be reintroduced.

We call those little wheels stablisers (if I spelt that right?) as they stablise the bike...

Yep, stabilisers ring a bell.

Without them you need your thumb (to ring a bell).

Traveller in Time on his head
"I will be the stiffness of massive wheels letting these Fairy Wheels make a terrible noise."