This isn’t tinkering – this is engineering. I saw these pedals on Flickr a while ago, and was quite taken with them. For about £300 (a million American monies), you can possibly have a pair of these produced.
Geoff Apps, the designer, has this to say (or just click the picture and read it for real on Flickr):
A new version:
A re-design of these swing pedals is now complete and the drawings are with the engineer machinist. The bearings are slightly bigger and have full shields on both sides; the bearing is almost flush to the crank, so Q-factor is reduced. Additionally the platform is wider (fore/aft).
Who thunk it up? Did you invent it?
No, I didn’t invent this type of pedal; for possible patent purposes I carried out some research, and the earliest version I can find dates from 1904.
However, this particular design is my own work and came out of my head.
Why this? (Aside from plain cussedness, and/or coolness)?
The design has a number of advantages:
- The swing action cradles your foot, reducing the ‘throw-off’ effect of conventional pedals ~ the reason toe-clips, SPD and the huge spikes on DH pedals have become generally accepted.
- It allows a (relative) lower saddle position to be used ~ in my case I have a very high bottom bracket height. However, these pedals would be useful for a very tall person, or shorter person who lacks confidence.
- Knee health. There is some research to suggest that the motion of the pedal platform is beneficial (or less harmful) for the knee joint.
- Conventional pedal bearings are small, and getting smaller. They wear relatively quickly and are difficult to maintain. These pedals have substantial bearings which are straightforward to maintain and replace.
- I can’t think of anything else just now, but one thing is for sure; they don’t make you go any faster!
Who’s Howarth?
The name Haworth is in honour of the engineer who made the first prototype pair; he hand-made the pedal threads in stainless steel!
Can I buy me some?
I thought it may be possible to market these, but haven’t found anyone who is vaguely interested in them ~ too unconventional, I suppose.
Will need buckets of dosh to get them into any form of production.
No really, can I buy me some?
If you know a machinist, I could send you drawings and you could get some made up (mine cost about £300, was quoted up to £1,200).
In return you could make a small donation to my Prototype Fund!
ha!
I have a pair of both these: http://www.hscycle.com/Pages/cantsandwedges.html and these… http://www.sidemountpedal.com/
same ideas all around.
g
Gregclimbs:
Interesting though your product suggestions may be, they are not the same as the Haworths.
The first one lowers a conventional pedal, so you’re still left with the issues of a conventional pedal, namely throw-off and minuscule bearings, etc.
The second one does follow the general theme of the Haworths but for one aspect; you have to wear special shoes. A principle of my design work is (when possible) the integration of cycling into ‘normal’ life, rather than the other way round; wearing funny shoes helps to separate us from society as a whole.
These are great swing pedal. Thanks for sharing these informations.
Very interesting article.
http://www.speedplay.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.history
Have a look at the 1898 Ramsay Swing Pedal, there was a set of these for sale on the net a while back too:
http://www.thewheelmen.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2262
This “drop pedal” looks like it only has one bearing. Ball bearings have almost no load rating when they are twisted upon – they are designed to be used in pairs. Someone flunked out of engineering school (or never attended in the first place).