Tires as fenders! So much hand work here.
Spotted in coastal California.
Tag: real engineering
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Haworth Swing Pedal
Haworth Swing 02, originally uploaded by gmacleland.
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!
