Bert's Python

     As mentioned, Bert builds kite buggies and his creations are called Ice Hawk Designs.  As a result, he is skilled at fabrication and brazing.  He decided to try his hand at building a python and produced the bike above.  It has an amazing purple paint job, a carbon fiber seat, very nice 700C road wheels and two rubber windsurfer pivots to allow the bent to turn.  It was all brazed together using salvaged bike tubing.  The front of the python is acutally on the right, and the handlebars at the rear are there because Bert thought they might come in handy for a helper to hold while the rider practices his balance.  They can be easily removed.  A clever addition :)

     The rear part of the frame slopes up diagonally behind the seat, with a head tube and fork for the rear wheel.  The rear headtube is rigid and does not turn, but it can be reversed to change both the wheelbase and length of the python.  The seat is mounted on 2 stainless steel C-shaped mounts, which are connected to the rear of the bent.  The front of the python pivots, underneath the seat, in-between the seat and rear frame, using the rubber blocks mounted up near the top of the seat and down below the bottom.

     Above shows the seat adjustment as well as the lower pivot block.  The handle bars are mounted to the front of the python and in the pictures above, it doesn't havea front derailleur yet.  It's an amazing looking machine, but there might have been a few design issues.  First, the seat is very smooth and very steep, so it is difficult to stay on it because you keep wanting to slide off the front, even with your feet on the pedals.  Secondly, the pivot is very supple and could be difficult to ride for people who don't have great reflexes . . . like me :)

     Above is another shot of the python before Bert decided to do some modifications.

     Above is Bert's conversion.  The 2 rubber pivots have been replaced with a single head tube mounted below the seat front.  The wheelbase has been increased so the seat angle can be laid back more to help stay on the bent better.  The rear fork can be turned around to shorten the wheelbase, but it raises the seat so the rider can't touch the ground.  Being able to put your hands on the ground is a fairly important aspect when trying to learn to ride these babies :)

     The following are the specs so far:

     So far, Bert hasn't ridden it as he injured his hand in a bad road bike wipe-out.  I look forward to hearing about his progress on it.