Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Glenn on February 1, 2011 at 1:43am

Just curious but cant you also shovel down hill, and if there's a garage or something at the bottom maybe proceed to shovel outward? or would that have been impractical for what ever reason

James Baum said:

It looks like he eventually got that whole driveway "plowed" although I bet I could have shoveled it faster.  I used to have a 150-foot driveway that was all uphill the whole way so I pretty much HAD to shovel it to get out and I did it all by hand EVERY time it snowed when I used to live up in WI.  It's just a matter of having the swivel in the hip and using your legs as a pivot.  Scoop-throw-scoop-throw-scoop-throw...ad nauseum.

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Permalink Reply by Glenn on February 1, 2011 at 1:57am

After seeing that video I finally feel encouraged to make the perfect plow from my mainstreet pedicab frame. We have a path/trail by my house that usually doesn't get plowed till after its been compacted into ice. kool beans indeed.

John L. Jensen said:

Thanks James!  Bike Plow Play list Below.

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Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on February 1, 2011 at 2:50am

It is MUCH easier to shovel with a snow shovel UPhill.  Shovelying downhill you have to reach down below your feet every time you scoop.  You have much less leverage and have to lift the snow further with each lift and throw. Also, your feet have less traction as you seem to always be sliding into your work. If you are working uphill you can just kind of bend your forward leg and extend your rear leg straight out.  It's more stable than trying to bend your rearmost leg and keeping your front leg straight.  Most of the weight from shoveling goes into your backmost leg.  If it is straight it is stronger.  I guess what I'm trying to say is shoveling downhill is awkward and tires your out faster -or at least that is how it was for me.

 

Believe me, I tried it both ways.  I probably shoveled that driveway 15 times a year for 10 years.  I got pretty good at shoveling.

 

Think about shoveling a stairway.  Would you want to shovel down or up?  If you were able to just "sweep" a light dusting down the stairs sure, but if you had to scoop, lift and throw a heavy shovelful each time you took a "bite" out of the mess you'd blow your back out really quick reaching down. 

 

Next, you might ask yourself why I didn't buy a snowblower or hire a plow.  I'm both cheap AND stubborn (I'm of German heritage.)  Shoveling is good for you and lowers one's carbon footprint right?  It sure gets you in shape :)

 

Here in Chicago our little condo association doesn't pay a service for snow removal and we all pitch in.  It's often me that does most of it although we are all supposed to help.  I don't mind it.  It's hard work but it is satisfying in a way too.  Our little back walk and the front sidewalk and entry is nothing compared to a 150' x 8' driveway!

 

Anyhow, sorry for hijacking the thread but I was asked a question that I felt should be answered.

 

Stay safe everyone.  With the blowing and the massive amounts of accumulation this might be a nasty one!

 

Glen (FTF) said:

Just curious but cant you also shovel down hill, and if there's a garage or something at the bottom maybe proceed to shovel outward? or would that have been impractical for what ever reason

James Baum said:

It looks like he eventually got that whole driveway "plowed" although I bet I could have shoveled it faster.  I used to have a 150-foot driveway that was all uphill the whole way so I pretty much HAD to shovel it to get out and I did it all by hand EVERY time it snowed when I used to live up in WI.  It's just a matter of having the swivel in the hip and using your legs as a pivot.  Scoop-throw-scoop-throw-scoop-throw...ad nauseum.

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Permalink Reply by Davo on February 1, 2011 at 12:03pm

I was going to ask if it was uphill both ways ;p

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Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on February 1, 2011 at 12:31pm

I suppose with one of those better pedal plows I could have pushed it up to the top and rode it down while plowing.  Once I got a path I could probably pedal back up and plow back down.

 

That would have worked fairly well for the lesser snowfalls.  And if it melted a bit in between a little the banks wouldn't build up so much.  It might actually have worked more than half of the time.

 

Davo said:

I was going to ask if it was uphill both ways ;p

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Permalink Reply by Joe TV on February 9, 2011 at 2:36pm

I haven't been following this thread closely, but I saw something similar on Grist today.  http://www.grist.org/article/2011-02-01-bike-plows-new-fixies-but-w...

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