Everyone has to have someone whom they stand in awe. Let me introduce you to the man I call my Mentor. Bill Patterson had a first career as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam, and then as Professor at Cal Polly in San Louis Obispo California. I met Bill through an obscure magazine for recumbent bicycle enthusiasts. Bill and I were both contributors to the magazine. Before he retired Bill taught a mechanical engineering class about bicycles. For that class he wrote a book describing the mathematical factors that influence the stability of bicycles. From studying that book I was able to improve my bicycle designs. Bill also designed a style of tandem that he calls the WYMS, (it is pronounced weems.) Bill and I wrote back and fourth a couple times and he agreed to send me photos and design specifications for his bicycle. Path, our mystical green dragon tandem, has a striking resemblance to Bill’s WYMS design. Today the two WYMS style bicycles got to fly in formation in Santa Maria California for a photo shoot. You will need to go to the bottom of the blog to see the pictures of Path and his pappy. I must add a disclaimer, however. You will notice that none of us are wearing helmets. We still believe in helmets, but this was a photo shoot, and after all you must look your best at a photo shoot in California.
After this short ride, we all went on a nice extended ride around the town of Santa Maria with Bill and Diane leading on their new M-5 Tandem. This is a low slung, sleek, speedy tandem that is about twelve feet long. Here is a link to an M-5. (sorry the link is broken)
The M-5 looks like it is doing 25 miles an hour even when it is sitting still. Path had a little tizzy fit when we got ready to go and came up lame. Fortunately, Bill and Diane were very nice and didn’t speed off and leave us in the dust. Once we replaced the tube in Path’s front tire, he settled right down and we just pranced around Waller County Park and around town for lunch and a nice ride of a dozen miles.
Well tomorrow is another day. There are more rides to do and more roads to drive down. Good bye for now from sunny California.
With love, Gary and Judy Dinsmore.
P.S. If you have been wondering what the acronym WYMS stands for, Bill tells me it is “With Your Main Squeeze.”
