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Discussing bicycles and Mooney's........

Tony Armour

By Tony Armour
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Tony Armour Proficient

Tony Armour

Posted
Posted (edited)

Discussing bicycles and Mooney's with a few Mooniacs the other day. Here are two bikes in my Bravo. If carrying one I only pull the front wheel via quick release. Hauling two I remove the seat posts too, I belive I could get two more in there facing the other way. Handlebars are still on just covered by the towels. Not many little airplanes that can do this (and do this and also haul ass too :-) For those not familiar, the back seats go in and out in one minute. I typically fly with one or both removed. 

image.jpg

Edited by Tony Armour
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EMB Rookie

EMB

Posted
Posted

Nice Tony.  I do almost just like that quite often.  I see you must be a performance biker too with some nice Zipp 808's.

One thing I do that I highly recommend.  I got some BBQ covers (cheap from walmart), and I wrap them around the bikes, and hold with a cinch strap.  Takes just a moment but what that does is it allows me to slide the bikes into the back without any worry that grease from the chains or scuff from the back tires will rub off ont he upholstry while inside the plane.  Very much worth the extra step.

Another small step I often take is to remove the pedals because there too they go in very easily if they don't have that horizontal platform to catch on. I travel with road bikes, mtn bikes, my tt bike, all on various occasions.  One thing I have enjoyed a few times is to fly to a far away tt, ride my bike out of the airport gate to the tt as a warm up, then ride back and fly home.  Two hobbies in less than the time of one.


Erik

  • Like 1
TWinter Veteran

TWinter

Posted
Posted

Looks good..We took a trip to NH seacoast back in June/July. There were lots and lots of bicycles riding A1A along the coast. As we were stuck in the rental car I had mentioned to my other half I wish we could have brought our bikes. We usually travel as just the two of us. Keeping the backseat out for the extra room (for bikes) would be great. I would love to ride my new Fuji Transonic along the coast of Maine and New Hampshire. BBQ grill cover idea is a great idea as well.

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Tony Armour Proficient

Tony Armour

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Tony, I was one of those Mooniacs. It was a pleasure meeting you! 

 

Regards, Frank

Great meeting you too Frank. I have been trying to remember the shop that the other Mooniac/Rocket owner mentioned that did the autopilot work for him. Do you recall the shop name ? My alt preselect is acting up again. 

Tony Armour Proficient

Tony Armour

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Nice Tony.  I do almost just like that quite often.  I see you must be a performance biker too with some nice Zipp 808's.

One thing I do that I highly recommend.  I got some BBQ covers (cheap from walmart), and I wrap them around the bikes, and hold with a cinch strap.  Takes just a moment but what that does is it allows me to slide the bikes into the back without any worry that grease from the chains or scuff from the back tires will rub off ont he upholstry while inside the plane.  Very much worth the extra step.

Another small step I often take is to remove the pedals because there too they go in very easily if they don't have that horizontal platform to catch on. I travel with road bikes, mtn bikes, my tt bike, all on various occasions.  One thing I have enjoyed a few times is to fly to a far away tt, ride my bike out of the airport gate to the tt as a warm up, then ride back and fly home.  Two hobbies in less than the time of one.


Erik

I flew to 4 or 5 road races last year. The coolest was Greenville SC. Seven mile loop around the airport. We literally tied down 400' from the start finish. Hanging out in the Hincapie motor home there too. We hosted the Hincapie team a couple years for the race in Chattanooga. One Atlanta race I got in a crash, skinned up etc and my long time bike racing buddy questioned what I would do when I broke something and couldn't fly back. Never thought about it but keeping the distance within a reasonable drive and it shouldn't present any huge issue. Several of the races I had a 5-7 mile ride to get there. Just made it more fun.

I have a couple of these chain covers (link below)  but with a moving blanket laid out on the floor and using one of the long flexible twisty wraps (Home Depot) to hold the copilot  seat tight to the yoke its easy not to get grease anywhere. I don't even bother covering the chain anymore. https://www.coloradocyclist.com/white-lightning-chain-johnny?gclid=CLSI-LDC9ccCFVg6gQodDZkPpQ  

My grandaughter and me:

image.jpg

  • Like 2
mike_elliott Grand Master

mike_elliott

Posted
Posted

Great meeting you too Frank. I have been trying to remember the shop that the other Mooniac/Rocket owner mentioned that did the autopilot work for him. Do you recall the shop name ? My alt preselect is acting up again. 

Tony, I just sent my kas297B to Mid Continent for repair. Most likely a capacitor in the PS. Display works for about a minute then fades out. Ill let you know what they find and how much flesh they want.

  • Like 1
aviatoreb Grand Master

aviatoreb

Posted
Posted

I flew to 4 or 5 road races last year. The coolest was Greenville SC. Seven mile loop around the airport. We literally tied down 400' from the start finish. Hanging out in the Hincapie motor home there too. We hosted the Hincapie team a couple years for the race in Chattanooga. One Atlanta race I got in a crash, skinned up etc and my long time bike racing buddy questioned what I would do when I broke something and couldn't fly back. Never thought about it but keeping the distance within a reasonable drive and it shouldn't present any huge issue. Several of the races I had a 5-7 mile ride to get there. Just made it more fun.

I have a couple of these chain covers (link below)  but with a moving blanket laid out on the floor and using one of the long flexible twisty wraps (Home Depot) to hold the copilot  seat tight to the yoke its easy not to get grease anywhere. I don't even bother covering the chain anymore. https://www.coloradocyclist.com/white-lightning-chain-johnny?gclid=CLSI-LDC9ccCFVg6gQodDZkPpQ  

My grandaughter and me:

image.jpg

Nice....

 

There was a time trial at a nascar race track that I almost went to about 3 or 4 years ago when I was going especially fast .... but forgot about it.  Now I am going mediocre fast this year - I promise to be faster again next year - I just need a good winter again on my computrainer.

Covering the greasy chain is a necessity, but covering the entire bike with a cheap BBQ cover is really even quicker - put bbq over bike then wrap a big strap around it - then cinch - done - to do and allows you to slip the whole bike into the airplane even more easily as it is all slippery now - now even a dirty bike doesn't get your interior dirty or torn.

Like you, I use a bungy cord to hold the copilot seat down for easier one handed bike insertion.  That bungy cord stays on the back of that seat essentially full time when not in use.

One of my favorite airplane activities is to fly someplace maybe 200-300 miles away, with a pair of bikes and one of my sons, and ride out the airport gate.  I also have a pair of montague hummer bikes which is nice for rough road or mountain bike use.  I also have a mobiky which is a-bike-like-an-umbrella that folds like like 5 seconds and goes in the back hatch - for when I just want to go 1-2 miles quick to town.

  • Like 1
Bravoman Mentor

Bravoman

Posted
Posted

Great meeting you too Frank. I have been trying to remember the shop that the other Mooniac/Rocket owner mentioned that did the autopilot work for him. Do you recall the shop name ? My alt preselect is acting up again. 

no but I will most likely see him on Friday since I told him I would give him a lift back up to dalton to get his plane. I will PM you. I think he may have mentioned it was at Griffin. Does that ring any bells?

regards, Frank

  • Like 1
DrBill Mentor

DrBill

Posted
Posted

You fellow bikers should consider the Carolinas Cycling Time Trial at Lowes Motorspeedway in Charlotte, 6 times (once/month) over the summer.

May - September.   www.carolinatt.org. Just YOU and the TRACK.

I used to run the timing system, now we outsourced that out.  I volunteer at each event and could pick you up from KJQF (about 2 mi away).

10 mile timed TT on a 1.5 mile D shaped track... 15 ft climb from turn 4 to turn 2. Bobby Labonte never knew about the "climb" until he road it on his bike !

A lot of fun.. My personal record is c22mph avg a number of years ago.

BILL

 

aviatoreb Grand Master

aviatoreb

Posted
Posted

You fellow bikers should consider the Carolinas Cycling Time Trial at Lowes Motorspeedway in Charlotte, 6 times (once/month) over the summer.

May - September.   www.carolinatt.org. Just YOU and the TRACK.

I used to run the timing system, now we outsourced that out.  I volunteer at each event and could pick you up from KJQF (about 2 mi away).

10 mile timed TT on a 1.5 mile D shaped track... 15 ft climb from turn 4 to turn 2. Bobby Labonte never knew about the "climb" until he road it on his bike !

A lot of fun.. My personal record is c22mph avg a number of years ago.

BILL

 

That's the one I meant when I said I almost went a few years ago when I was doing some pretty fast TT's.  I have still been doing TT but not quite as fast this year.  I should use Lowes as my motivator goal to hit the computrainer this winter and come next year!  Maybe I will.


When I was younger and racing on the cycling team for UC Berkeley - I remember doing a bike race on another motor speedway - the Laguna Seca track - that thing had a crazy hard hill that was way out of proportion for bicycles - the angles and gradiants were definitely designed for high powered 700hp cars - not <1/2hp  powered bicycles.

  • Like 1
carusoam Grand Master

carusoam

Posted
Posted (edited)

Laguna has the 'cork screw'...

long straight uphill section followed by downhill S.

3D racing in the USA at it's best!

Did I get any of that right? Old memory from the kid's Play Station (GT4?).  Good for relearning how to drive...

best regards,

-a-

 

Edited by carusoam
carusoam Grand Master

carusoam

Posted
Posted

Hank,

Your C gets off the ground, in real life, in a shorter distance than the MS Bravo does!

Unfortunately, the MS simulator doesn't really represent the real life attributes that a real Mooney has.  Flaps, trim and stalls are too generous...

How is that?

Best regards,

kortopates Grand Master

kortopates

Posted
Posted

Looks like most of the Mooney bike enthusiasts are road bikers. My wife and I have used our Mooney on mountain biking trips and even carried a car rack with 2 29er MTB's. A couple not so good images follow, the first shows the bikes packed without the wheel bags In yet. The bikes are packed in light bags with seats and wheels removed - keeps everything clean. second picture shows everything on the ramp while packing for the return trip. a0f256471eafaa588e3f0afb0b2565f6.jpg663eb1f6ee1a0366fecfb3ad1b3ec65c.jpg

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

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  • 2 weeks later...
Hank Grand Master

Hank

Posted
Posted

Man I really wish my rear seat folded down in the 78J.. Oh well.  Looking good guys!

the back seat in my 1970 C folds down, left side, right side or both sides. They lean forward but don't lay flat u less I remove the (one piece) seat bottom. Much better than not leaning forward at all.

ArtVandelay Grand Master

ArtVandelay

Posted
Posted
Man I really wish my rear seat folded down in the 78J.. Oh well.  Looking good guys!

I thought there was a mod you could do to convert your rear seat to the fold down? I vaguely recall there was a HowTo somewhere.

My 78J folds down.

  • Like 1
aviatoreb Grand Master

aviatoreb

Posted
Posted

 

 

Looks like most of the Mooney bike enthusiasts are road bikers. My wife and I have used our Mooney on mountain biking trips and even carried a car rack with 2 29er MTB's. A couple not so good images follow, the first shows the bikes packed without the wheel bags In yet. The bikes are packed in light bags with seats and wheels removed - keeps everything clean. second picture shows everything on the ramp while packing for the return trip. a0f256471eafaa588e3f0afb0b2565f6.jpg663eb1f6ee1a0366fecfb3ad1b3ec65c.jpg

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

Nice - what kind of bags are those?

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