Falling & Getting up
It will be far more difficult to ride on the polar cap than anything else that I have experienced during my other travel adventures. I expect to hit the ‘ground’ frequently. Only when the build of the bike will be in an advanced state, it will become clear where I can mount protectors that can take the beating. During the 2013 Polar Ice Ride Adventure it turned out that after I dropped the tall and heavy bike, there was no such thing as quickly putting it upright. It will be crucial that I think up something for that. Previously I thought about putting a manual jack on both sides behind the protectors. When the bike would be on its side they would enable me to bring that point further to the outside. This can function as a pivot point, just like my aluminium cases did during my world travels. They enabled me to pick up the bike in two stages. First I pivoted the bike on the case until the rear wheel pressed against the ground again. After that, I tilted the bike up at one go. Exactly that short rest, in which I could brace myself again, that was ideal! This ‘jack’ option is still in my mind, but since I plan on using an air compressor for the suspension, it could be powered by air. Another possibility that took shape in my mind was to build something to lower the bike through the rear shock unit and also the front forks, on moments that this is necessary. On the bike’s rear, this should take place through an electric operated spindle. I have no idea yet how to make that happening on the front. In case you have a good idea, please let me know about it. At first I thought about the possibility of using electric operated spindles to change the height, but after I paid a visit to Hyperpro it became clear that air suspension will do the trick.
The option to temporarily lower the bike brings two major advantages.
• 1st That way the North Pole Bike doesn’t have that high point of gravity anymore, which will make it possible to pick it up in a reasonable way.
• 2nd Because of the lowered gravity point, it will be much easier to keep the bike in balance in case I have to walk besides it. This is particularly important when I have to manoeuvre the bike over ice floes or high, whimsically shaped pressure ridges, while controlling it with the throttle and clutch.
