Sledging

[Dibs-h]

Picked up the wife & kids from Brum on Sat and when we got back it started snowing . I'd felt a bit bad that I hadn't taken our son sledging since the snow started. In fact he's never been sledging.

Sat eve - could I get a sledge for love nor money - no chance!

At which point I thought - have tools, loads of wood, will make one. So on Sunday, after continuous nagging by a 7yr old (to get up early that is) - when into the shop and had a go. The original plan was to have a quick Google and come up with a design. In the end just winged it.

Some 4"x2" cut length ways for the rails, and some 2"x2" for the seat platform later, we have,

My ar5e still hurts from the sledging on Sunday! And this is what we were sledging down,

The starting point was where the picture was taken and the ending point was the tree line shown by the red line. I thought it wouldn't go very fast - so waxed the rails before we went. Great bloody mistake! I suppose it was a good job I didn't put some formica (or similar) on it!

We were still going down at 6pm - clear sky, full'ish moon, with very good visibility. He even had a LED headlamp on - lighting up the path as we shot down. Absolutely mental - but he loved it.

Going to cut some pipe insulation and glue it down over the seat (slats). Has to be more comfortable.

 

[TrimTheKing]

Top job, bet he loved it

Can I come next time?

 

[Dibs-h]

Top job, bet he loved it

Can I come next time?

We got up this morning and his school was off - so for about ten mins the conversation went like this,

"Dad, are we going sledging then?"
"We'll go this afternoon\evening."
"So are we going into the workshop to fit the foam on the seat?"
"No - we'll do that this afternoon."
"So, are we going to fit the steering\brakes to the sledge?"
"No - we'll do that this afternoon."
"So why aren't we going now?"
"I'm going to work and will be back this afternoon."
"So don't forget Dad, we're going sledging this evening!"

I think I've created a monster!

Steering it was hard work - leaning to one side doesn't do anything. I was having to put my arms out and used my gloved hands to steer and slow down. Thankfully didn't dislocate or brake anything.

Bu there has to be a better way.The initial plan is to bolt a "lever" to each side of the sledge (limiting it obviously) and use a single one to steer and both to act as a brake. Good idea or bad?

We are off again this evening - plan B is to put folded up facecloths in the back pockets of my jeans.

The run looks to be about 1/2 mile long with a couple of ramps built in - strange as children excitement would be the primary thought\emotion. At this age, just looking at it, you can "feel" the aches and pains!

 

[TrimTheKing]

Steering is a good idea definitely but you will have to make sure they are well fixed as they will be taking a battering and can't imagine screws will hold them on.

A single lever/paddle in the middle would be a better brake as it would brace against the front slat of the seat, but that still leaves you with the steering.

How about foot pedals between the front treads that are on a metal bar (if you have one) that way you can move them independantly, they will be strong and you can brake with them too.

Have to watch you don't go @rse over t!t though

 

[BMac]

That looks brilliant! I would love to go down that but my spine would probably disintegrate and my wife would be unhappy because I ended up with my @ss in a sling (again).

Anyway, brakes and steering. You'll find that your heels work adequately for both (unless you are on hard ice... oh, and going really fast). When we were youngsters we tried brake levers but they were pretty ineffective (unless you can construct the 'jaws' type used on bobsleighs that bite into ice) and, invariably, we went back to the more effective 'heel-steering' and 'heel-braking'.

Hey, just thinking, do you want to see my xrays and scars?

Brendan

 

[Dibs-h]

I did try steering and braking with the heels of my boots - resting on the slat you can see at the front. If the ground was relatively smooth - I think it would work a treat, but it's somewhat bumpy so getting constantly jarred and didn't work as expected. As for speed - it takes about 60-90 secs to do the whole run, which I think is asking to break an ankle.

Putting a bar across the front might be an idea - but going @rse over tit is a bit of a non-starter, Mrs would go mental!

I was thinking of using M6\M8 coach bolts with large washers and a nylock nut to act as pivots for the levers on the sides. And just screw a block to the side to act a limiter, to how far you can "dig" the lever into the ground - otherwise cartwheels spring to mind. Probably use some scraps of 2"x1" (roofing lath offcuts) for the levers. I think limiting it to protrude about 2" (max) below the rails should be more than enough.

I'll take some piccies of tonight's (mis)adventures, assuming neither of us end up in A&E.

 

[MikeG.]

Oh, how disappointing...........I thought this was going to be a cricket thread! I was already to have a go at gobby Australian cricketers.... ho hum..........

Mike

 

[xy mosian]

How about a separate set of runners on the front pivoted of course for the steering, you know wheeled bogy type?

xy

 

[Ironballs]

Here you go then Mike, IIRC this was Glen McGrath, went something along the lines of:

McGrath to a West Indian batsman: Hey mate what does Lara's c*ck taste like?

WI batsman: Dunno, why don't you ask your wife?

McGrath: If you ever mention my ****ing wife again I'll rip your ****ing head off

WI batsman shrugs

There were a few more in that vein which seemed to indicate old Glen could dish it out but not take it

 

[MikeG.]

Thats pretty typical of Aussies, in my experience. It is a bit of an unfortunate example, though, as McGrath's wife died a couple of years ago of cancer.

The most annoying thing about Aussies is that they would abuse you endlessly......all day long in your ear about how cr@p you were, how lucky you were, did I know what my wife was doing right now.....all that stuff....and then, at the end of the day they would want to slap you on the back and have a drink with you in your changing room. Piss and off were the two words that sprang to mind ......

If you catch up with me a GTG, ask me to tell the Merv Hughes story. It's too long for here.

Mike

 

[Anonymous]

Dibs,

I liked the idea so much I popped out to the workshop this evening and made a couple for the kids:

Dave

 

[Harbo]

Many moons ago (about 35 years worth!) I made the Blue Peter Sledge.
It's never been used as we never get any decent snow around here!
Still hanging (in pristine condition) from my garage roof

As a lad in Yorkshire we used to sledge down a hillside leading to a 100ft drop Quarry face. The trick was to steer away at the last moment or failing that roll off the sledge and watch it disappear over the edge.
When I think about it now, it brings shivers but we thought nothing of it and nobody got hurt (that I know of)?

Rod

 

[Ironballs]

Back in the day when WI fast bowlers were something to be feared....

Malcom Marshall bowling to an England top order batsmen who was looking uncomfortable but managing to stay in, after one delivery he strolled up, glowered and said now then, are you going to do the decent thing and get yourself out or am I going to have to come round the wicket and kill you

Back to the original topic, whilst we do have a very large amount of snow here in the Pennines at present, I still remember even more as a kid and sledging down very steep slopes into drifts and disappearing from sight.

Now had snow on the ground for 3 weeks and I can't remember the last we had that

 

[devonwoody]

I've still got our sledge from the 70's, it is at present in the workshop with a dustbucket standing on top to protecting its steel rim, might get it out later today if the wife lets me. :wink:

 

[studders]

might get it out later today if the wife lets me. :wink:

Nah, bit too cold for that, I'd stick to sledging if I were ye.

 

[MikeG.]

It's never been used as we never get any decent snow around here! Rod

Are you sticking by this quote now Rod? :wink:

Mike

 

[devonwoody]

might get it out later today if the wife lets me. :wink:

Nah, bit too cold for that, I'd stick to sledging if I were ye.

Funny thing you said that. :wink:

 

[Harbo]

Mike - looks like I might have to dust it off - still snowing here!

It also looks like our 2 visitors will be with us for a while longer?
Still looking at the forecasts for a 2/3 day break in the weather between Hants and Yorkshire?

To be honest we have had a bit of snow in the past where I live but it never lasts long enough (for sledging) - it goes very quickly to sludge - this year maybe different?

Rod

 

[studders]

might get it out later today if the wife lets me. :wink:

Nah, bit too cold for that, I'd stick to sledging if I were ye.

Funny thing you said that. :wink:

Well I didn't want you to catch a chill.

 

[frugal]

Whats wrong with a fertilizer sack filed with snow You fill it up at the top of the hill and then empty it out at the bottom so it is not heavy to carry back up again.

I have never found a wooden sledge that is light enough to not get bogged down in UK snow.

Admittedly I want to get out into the garden and sledge with the kids (our garden is on about a 1 in 4 slope), but I buggered my back up over New Year so that is right out ;(