My initial plan was to use a rope and
pulley-based steering system to eliminate all changes in leverage while
measuring the forces required to turn the wheel. In December of 2006 I
conducted a series of static tests using that system and fifteen different
combinations of steering geometry. The results were logged and yielded some
interesting information, but nothing conclusive. In May and June of 2007 I
tried several time to ride the Test Mule using the rope and pulleys for
steering but was unable to control it enough to ride, let alone measure
anything.As a result, I added
little handlebars with a drag link connecting
it to the front fork, and was finally able to steer. After a little
practice coasting down a shallow hill, I conducted a series of
kinetic tests using the new steering and those results were quite
interesting compared to the static tests. However, I couldn't really compare
the tests because of the different steering methods involved, so I ended up
doing a second set of static tests using the handlebar system. Click on a
link below to view either set of tests data.
