Ok, but the bike frame isn’t stationary. With a shoulder-mounted weapon you can brace for the recoil with your legs. If you are trying to move forward and shoot at the same time, firing the gun will slow you down. If you try to turn and shoot at the same time, the recoil will push your front wheel in the opposite direction that you are trying to go while your back wheel keeps trying to go forward which is very unstable.
I don’t believe the machine gun is intended to be fired while on the move. You’d have to be grabbing that grip at your crotch, aiming without the sights, all the while peddling and steering. That’s quite the tall order. Even under ambush conditions you’d want to get out of the area ASAP, something a bicycle would do better at than on foot.
My presumption is this is intended to be a fast and light machine gun placement. Speedy deployment and movement of machine gun nets without needing to carry all that weight, let along carrying a machine gun’s diet of ammunition, on your back is quite an advantage. Dismounting to get behind the gun isn’t a high bar nor particularly slow. I’m sure a soldier could be sending lead downrange in a matter of seconds. Essentially the same role as light infantry support vehicles today.
Ok, but the bike frame isn’t stationary. With a shoulder-mounted weapon you can brace for the recoil with your legs. If you are trying to move forward and shoot at the same time, firing the gun will slow you down. If you try to turn and shoot at the same time, the recoil will push your front wheel in the opposite direction that you are trying to go while your back wheel keeps trying to go forward which is very unstable.
I don’t believe the machine gun is intended to be fired while on the move. You’d have to be grabbing that grip at your crotch, aiming without the sights, all the while peddling and steering. That’s quite the tall order. Even under ambush conditions you’d want to get out of the area ASAP, something a bicycle would do better at than on foot.
My presumption is this is intended to be a fast and light machine gun placement. Speedy deployment and movement of machine gun nets without needing to carry all that weight, let along carrying a machine gun’s diet of ammunition, on your back is quite an advantage. Dismounting to get behind the gun isn’t a high bar nor particularly slow. I’m sure a soldier could be sending lead downrange in a matter of seconds. Essentially the same role as light infantry support vehicles today.
Hmm, yes that makes much more sense.
Definitely more than bike dogfighting or a chase scenario like I was thinking.