>Jeff Lutkus wrote…
> >Would a kangaroo with an off-center wheel be easier to ride than one
> >with a properly centered wheel?
Jack Halpern <jack@kanji.org> wrote:
>I suspect it would be harder. A kangaroo is easy enough to ride once you
>build up a bit of momentum.
Actually, it would range from harder through easier based on a pair of
vectors and the angle between them. The first vector is from the center of
wheel rotation to the geometric center of the wheel. The second vector is
from the center of wheel rotation to the pedal centers.
There are two extremes based on angles of 0 degrees and 180 degrees. I’d
say that the 180 degree off-center kangaroo would be easier to ride than a
normal kangaroo, since mounting would occur with the off-center axle above
the geometric center of the wheel and every stroke would center on the
“downhill” half of the wheel. On the 0 degree off-center kangaroo, every
stroke would center on the “uphill” half of the wheel, and thus would be
harder than a normal kangaroo. How much harder or easier would be
determined by the magnitude of the off-center vector. However, this is
only a theory and would have to be proven or disproven via real life
experimentation.
Sincerely,
Ken Fuchs <kfuchs@winternet.com