Make a video of the student riding as exercise bicycle with different amounts of loading. Use digitizing software to collect data on the location of the knee, ankle, etc. as a function of time. Plot the data and use masses of body parts to compute the work done per cycle. Compare that to the power output. Do for individual students and compare across the student population. Relate to other variables, height, weight, etc.
Develop MBL/CBL sensors to collect dynamic measurements of forces while pedaling an
exercise bicycle.
Analyze the dynamic data using digital and/or symbolic computer tools.
Use MBL/CBL sensors to measure physiological variables, heart rate, respiration, etc. while riding an exercise bicycle. Compare to the power output of the cyclist. Find most efficient operating mode of each student.
The present bicycle videodisc has only four different bicycles shown. It includes no video of mountain bicycles or other modern cycles. Duplicate the motions filmed for the original bicycle videodisc with more modern bicycles.
Videos of crashes of bicycles using manikins.
Take videos of starting, stopping, sprinting, etc. using excellent amateur cyclists or professionals. Compare with student performances.
Simulations of Quark & Co.
Collect videos and digital photos of various uses of bicycles in all countries.
Conduct a systematic search of possible sources of bicycle images, e.g. web, bicycle magazines, product brochures, etc. Add them to the bicycle web site.
Collect videos and digital photos of various bicycle paths in different countries. Analyze the construction, design and horticulture of such paths from any one of a variety of perspectives, e.g. beauty, utility, safety, etc.
On the 1 June "All Things Considered" on NPR a writer for Bicycling Magazine
discussed the names given to boys and girls bikes: the boy's bike names were aggressive (
"Micro Viper") and girl's were passive ( "Lil' One"). The marketing
was also different boys aimed toward competitiveness; girls how they look while riding.
Students can investigate of similar patterns in names and marketing occur in Europe.
An article on this topic will appear in the July issue of Bicycling Magazine.
The interview can be heard at http://programs.npr.org/npr2/PrgDisp.cfm?PrgDate=06/1/1999&PrgID=2
Some controversy exists over the Leonardo drawing of a bicycle. Students can collect relevant information and summarize both sides of the argument.
See:
http://users.aol.com/pryordodge/Leonardo_da_Vinci.html
and
http://www.retecivica.legnano.mi.it/reteciv/cultura/arte/leon/indice.htm
This experiment could be done with an exercise bike and a fan which is controlled with
a variable transformer. Using computer measurement techniques students could measure IR
radiation from the body and skin temperature as a function of wind speed.
A New York Times article which was reprinted in the Kansas City Star on 7 June (http://www.kcstar.com/item/pages/home.pat,local/30db0a5a.606,.html
claims that bicycle riding among children is decreasing significantly and now is close to
zero. The reasons range from lack of interest to parents concern about safety. The article
was hardly a scientific study. Students could compare the results of studies in various
locations with the conclusion of the article.
A tandem bike rider has described difficulty in control when one rider is significantly
more massive than the other. Investigating what the physical parameters are and how they
are important would be a nice project.
Create a reference collection of fiction in which bicycles play an important part. the stores could include video and audio as well as print. Dean Zollman has a paperback book in German which has a collection of short stories about the bicycle.
In both Amsterdam and Kiel I have seen (Prof. Dean Zollman) several people talking on a mobile telephone while riding a bicycle. This situation seems even more dangerous than using a telephone in a car. Not only is your mid distracted, but it is rather difficult to control a bike with one-hand. Studies of stability and reaction times in this situation would be interesting.
In both Europe and the US one sees many different configurations of bike carriers for automobiles. One could study of which are most efficient in terms of wind resistance at autobahn speeds (or the more slow Interstate Highway speeds). Doing real experiments would be rather expensive, so models in a miniature wind tunnel could be used.
One sees several configurations of bicycle trailers. Some attach on the seat; others on the side of the back wheel. Some have large wheels, others have small wheels. Some are rather inexpensive (about 50 euros/dollars); others are very expensive. A comparison study of advantages/disadvantages is needed.
In both Kiel and Amsterdam I saw (Prof. Dean Zollman) a person who had a bicycle type device attached to the front of a wheel chair. It looked somewhat like a large unicycle with pedals at hand level. It was clamped to both vertical rails at the front of the chair. In neither case was I able to talk to the individual about the bike. I have also seen (in Spandau) a bike which attaches to a wheel chair such that the chair becomes the front wheels of the bike. A data base of various solution for people who could not normally ride a bike would be a useful service.