Some good points there Lock. I want to see what people come up with. For me it would look like a standard full suspension mountain bike. You can throw in ideas for your scoot too! However ideas for recumbents and trikes are also welcome. I just want to get more people on 2 or 3 wheels. After riding around on my bike today (non-electric) I realized that the reason some people wouldn't consider riding a bike is because the hills can really do you in.

My ideas so far:

1.) 100KM range (for real, I know this will take a lot of battery power)

2.) Some way of onboard recharging. Basically two batteries, one recharges while the second one is in use. Either through solar or some other means.

3.) Airless tires, I know these aren't the greatest it's more for convenience that anything else. Would make long range trips less worrisome.

4.) Some kind of radio or music player. Could run off solar.


Feel free to throw your own ideas into the mix!


5.) This is my favorite one. And I'm serious. After too many close calls with cars and getting honked at. Imagine having something that sounds like a fog horn, lol. Should make them back off. Of course there would be a normal bell too. Don't want to get people on bike trails heart attacks.

Feel free to throw your own ideas into the mix!

-Vic

Vic I have a Brushed motor controller here if you wanna try it and see if she works. Pretty sure it works but I don't have a brushed motor to try it on.

It is 24V to 60V X 30A. I have a PAS sensor set up but I don't think it works on this controller.

As for Airless Tires, don't bother as the rolling resistance sucks. Would be like riding on a soft tire.
Try MAXXIS Hookworms or Schwalbe Marathon Plus and use Slime and Mr. Tuffy Brown or Blue rim tape. Keep pressure at 110 PSI.

White Lighting chain lubrication.

Use a Controller with Regeneration.

Batteries are confusing. You likely will not need more than 20A Continuous so don't waste your money on Batteries promising 30 or 40A because you are paying for battery energy you won't be using.

I'd just a trailer if my ride was 100 KM and keep the batteries off the DF Bike.

Hey Joshua,

I'll get back to you about that controller. I never hooked one up before so I read to read a bit more. I have a bad habit of making things explode. I'm a magnetic for reverse polarity problems, lol. That's how I learned how welding works. Glad you're ok by the way I saw the other post.

Now I have a few of questions the first is for Joshua.

Do you ever get scared riding the recumbent? I've considered them before. They look a heck of a lot easier to peddle. But my problem is that they're so close to that ground that I'm afraid a car won't see me and run me over. Thoughts?

And these questions are for anyone that can answer.

What's better, rear wheel hub motor or front wheel hub motor? And brushed or brushless?

-Vic

Imagine having something that sounds like a fog horn, lol. Should make them back off. Of course there would be a normal bell too. Don't want to get people on bike trails heart attacks.

I'm already assembling parts... Have this DC-DC converter:


to power one of these:

(embedded MP3 Player that can store up to 256 tracks)

to feed one of these:

(2x 38W stereo amplifier)

Still need to source the speakers but I read good things about these little guys:

(2", waterproof)

...add a waterproof A-B rocker switch and I hope I am done.

I really just want to have airhorn like this:
http://www.wolo-mfg.c...

and a friendly bicycle bell like this:
http://series-of-arti...

But then I have folks asking for a "Barking Dog" sound, etc... I *really* just want to stick to familiar traffic sounds but I can see the extra amusement factor with a few more samples on there...

So yah, I'll end up with perhaps the most expensive bicycle bell on the planet, but it's designed as a bit of sizzle for the steak...
Lock

What's better, rear wheel hub motor or front wheel hub motor? And brushed or brushless?

The world has pretty much gone brushless now Vic. Rare to see brushed ebike motors any more unless on the cheapest standup scooters... Re hubs, it's a continuing debate whether front or back. Def back if you do steep hill climbing...

One negative with brushed motors can be that if/when the controller fails the brushed controllers can fail with full power ON so ya def need an emerg disconnect that will break full power. Brushless controllers tend to fail quietly, and power to the motor just dies.

So you're set on a hub instead of a separate motor with sprockets and chain? I have mixed feelings about both. One of the huge advantages to be gained with a separate motor are with the systems where the motor powers the bike through the bikes own gearing, so ya can take full advantage of the bike gears to multiply torque for hills... Ya can't do high powered motors through pedal bike systems designed for human power input, but you get the idea...

Lock

So you're set on a hub instead of a separate motor with sprockets and chain? I have mixed feelings about both. One of the huge advantages to be gained with a separate motor are with the systems where the motor powers the bike through the bikes own gearing, so ya can take full advantage of the bike gears to multiply torque for hills... Ya can't do high powered motors through pedal bike systems designed for human power input, but you get the idea...

I did consider running a motor like a Currie or similar through the existing gears. But my problem is I can't figure out how it would freewheel. The way I see it in my head. If my feet are on the pedals and not moving then the motor will get stuck, heat up and fail. Although I'm still putting some thought into this.

-Vic

See the pedals in this video. They don't move. That's what I want! But I still want to pedal too at times. Wonder if both are possible.

Well the next video explains it

I had thought of using Currie motor at first for one reason only. Cheap and easy to replace, lol. Seems more and more doable. But not on my current bike. But I'm sure I can find a cheapy somewhere




Just want to mention that I feel WD40 is a bad..very bad choice for anything on a bike. Think bike chain oil would have been a better choice.

-Vic

I did consider running a motor like a Currie or similar through the existing gears. But my problem is I can't figure out how it would freewheel. The way I see it in my head. If my feet are on the pedals and not moving then the motor will get stuck, heat up and fail. Although I'm still putting some thought into this.

Have a look at EcoSpeed
http://www.ecospeed.c...

...and the Stokemonkey:
http://clevercycles.c...

Hey Joshua,


Now I have a few of questions the first is for Joshua.

Do you ever get scared riding the recumbent? I've considered them before. They look a heck of a lot easier to peddle. But my problem is that they're so close to that ground that I'm afraid a car won't see me and run me over. Thoughts?

Reply

I am more terrified riding an Upright Diamond Frame bike (I use the term DF a lot) DF = Diamond Frame.

You slam into a swung open car door at 30 mph on a DF and your body goes airborne, you end up on your face as cars run over you. On a Feet Foward Recumbent hitting the same car door all you do it maybe break your ankle but you stay seated.

One of the Monkey Island riders (Chicago) hit a car door at 90 MPH on his Electric Bent and broke both ankles but the car door was found across the street 150 feet down the street. You hit that door at 90 MPH on a DF and your body would be across the street 150 feet away and likely you'd be dead.

Car drivers do not pay attention to what they are doing and you're no more likely to be hit on a Bent than on a DF. When it is your turn to be hit a car does not care what form of bike or trike you're driving.

But Recumbents are still a curiosty for Car Drivers and they will pay more attention to a Bent and in that sense you're safer. It is like a naked woman driving a DF Bike, the Car driver will be totally focused on that woman all the time. Car drivers who see a Velomobile will often pull over and take a cell phone camera shot of the VM because a VM is still an oddity for Car drivers.

After 8 kids (all married off) I don't have to worry about this but medical studies have found Diamond Frame cyclists are far more likely to end up being Sterile (damage to the scrotum).

You use less kinetic energy (fewer calories burned) on a Bent than on a DF to achieve the same speed. You can add a front fairing and a tail box and this adds 8 mph to your un-faired speed because you are slicing the wind as opposed to being slowed by the wind.

Fastest Cyclist in the World is a Canadian named Sam Wittingham who clocked 88 MPH on pedal power alone.

Bents are NOT allowed in the "Tour de France" because we go faster and are less tired for the same distance than a Cervelo/TREK/MASI etc. DF.

You fall off a DF and you get mangled and as you get older your injury level is more severe. It is not easy to fall off a Bent but if you do the distance to fall is very short because you are much closer to the ground.

As for comfort, you ride 50 miles on a DF and your Butt is numb, shoulders ache, forearms hurt and you're prone to calf muscles cramping. On a Bent the worst you get is a sore neck unless you have a headrest.

When I started riding a Bent in 1978 there were less than 80 in North America. Now there are est'd to be over One Million. My first Velomobile Ride was in 1971 and I'd like to get back into driving VMs again.

PS Bents seldom get Stolen. I assume it is because bike thieves have no clue how to ride one away and that it is harder to sell a stolen Bent.

Easiest to learn on is a CLWB with ASS or OSS, then get a LWB or SWB. People make the mistake of starting with a SWB which can be as complicated as learning the ride a Uni-Cycle. LWBs are pure comfort but it takes awhile to learn how to ride fast in traffic when the Bent is 2 or 3 feet longer than a DF.

ASS = Above Seat Steering
OSS = Over Seat Steering
USS = Under Seat Steering (what I use)

CLWB = Compact Long Wheel Base
LWB = Long Wheel Base
SWB = Short Wheel Base