Hyper what?
get out of the **** way. Who the hell are you to dictate how fast I drive? Most states have laws or regulations regarding slow moving traffic. Get the $%^& out of the way or I'll ram your *** ya **** extremists. learn how to drive and drive the maximum speed limit like everyone else you freaks. And if you don't, PULL OVER AND LET FASTER DRIVERS PASS YOU IDIOTS. It's people like YOU that vote for people like BARACK OSAMA BIN LADEN you **** socialists. Move to Europe and drive like this you frieks. I'm the road raged mother^*@$%^ behind you that passes you on double yellow with my eyes closed cause your driving so **** slow. Guess what I burn gas like it was going out of style you **** hippies. GET OFF THE ROAD, YOU ARE AS MUCH OF A HAZARD AS THE **** ON THE ROAD BIKES IN THEIR SPANDEX **** HIPPIES.

 

Hi folks,

Recently, we've been thinking about leaving a troll posting up for the entertainment of our members. This of course is subject to change but for now, dinner is served:
I think you'll find the hypermilers over at CleanMPG. No doubt they will appreciate your insight and wit.
No problem, send me $40/week and I'll be happy to drive as you wish:Anyone else?
This is a problem. When in the right hand lane of a multi-lane, one way road, it is hard to pull over any further. Do you think you might possibly pull into the left lane and pass? I remain amused at my changing lanes so you can pass me on the right.
Well I hadn't really decided but it sounds like you think I should vote for the Democratic candidate. You make a persuasive argument.
Senator Craig, you certainly make a good argument for higher gas prices.

Bob Wilson

 

How about a new section just for people to post items like this? I would find benefit by printing out the posts and letting my 9-year old correct the spelling and grammar.

And trust me, nobody has EVER mistaken me for a hippie socialist.

 

Aside from the fact that bicycling has saved me money, lowered my cholesterol, reduced my CO2 emissions and gotten me in the best aerobic shape I've been in since college, it also has given me a new sense of pity for trolls. They kind of bore me now.

 

There may have been some controlled substances involved in afterhours07083's post. Pretty funny stuff, I think somebody needs their mommy.

 

Not a problem. I'm sure it's just a quick trip up the stairs from his room in the basement.

 

I've got a 10 mile commute including some impressive hills between home and work. I've been thinking one of those electric assisted, bike might make the commute tolerable. I'd still have to pack a change of clothes for the office but still ... the workout would be worth it.

I've speculated about a recumbent with a battery assist. If I could average 20 mph, combined pedal and motor assist, it would be a good thing. But given how 'invisible' motor and bicycles are, it would need an unusually strong structure.

As for the troll, no doubt the gas prices are whackin' him with a clue by four.

Bob Wilson

 

I too thought of an electric bike being in such lousy shape at 41. After 6 months it is really quite unnecessary. You might be able to average 20mph using electric power but until our road infrastructure better supports bikes you may not want to. On a bumpy road with irregular pavement or in the rain with the occasional big rock or manhole cover, 15 mph will feel like plenty. I didn't opt for a recumbent but only because I couldn't afford a quality one. All bicycle speed records are held by recumbents. The physics of the riding posture are compelling. My commute is nine miles one way with some crushing hills. I only get stronger each week. In another year, the hills just won't matter. As for changing clothes at the office, I do that as well. I actually wear a suit and have no proper shower facility. I clean myself each morning after arriving using an 8oz. spray bottle with 2 parts water, 1 part witch hazel and 1 part wintergreen isopropyl alcohol. I consider myself a shower weenie and am really picky about feeling clean. This concoction is amazing. Not only do I feel clean and refreshed but th evaporative properties of the alcohol also help with the cool down. Of course, folks with sensitive skin may not do as well. By packing a microfiber camping towel from REI and a couple of small microfiber towels to stand on and any bathroom stall is a shower. You should seriously try it.

 

I am ready to do this myself. Been studying the technology for quite a while. Let me share what I have found so far. I will leave this here since it is about as appropriate to a hybrid car groups as is the troll that started this thread!

Do not consider anything other than a brushless hub motor. They are available front or rear, geared or gear-less. The gear-less are getting nearly all the attention, but a good planetary geared motor will be more efficient and lighter for the same power, and nearly as quiet, with a very slight drag (coasting friction) penalty. They range from 250 to 1000 watts, with most between 250 and 500. With your legs doing less than 100W, I think 250W is plenty, giving greater range, but less acceleration than a bigger motor. All systems are electronically speed limited to 20 miles per hour in order to be classified as a bicycle for traffic laws (permitting you, for example, to use bicycle/pedestrian passes where all other motorized vehicles are prohibited).

Batteries come in sealed lead acid (SLA), NiMH, and various lithium chemistries. If you live in a hot climate, you probably want to stick with LiFePo or LiMn for good and safe performance under hot conditions. The LiFePo is the more expensive, but has the greatest number of charge cycles, making it the best value. SLA and nickel technology is way too heavy for most everyone except the tight-wads! 10-12 AH at 36V will give a 20-40 mile range, depending on speed and assist level, with 40 representing a typical 50% assist on flat ground staying under 20 MPH, but this is just a rough estimate and can vary with a number of considerations. 24V is enough for 250W (so long as it is a 24V motor!), and 48V is better for 500W. I'm shooting for a 36V, 10AH, 250W, LiFePo system for myself.

There are three main control techniques: throttle (twist or thumb lever), pedal sense, or both. Some units have a kind of auto-throttle where you set the throttle at some position and press a button and that assist level holds without you needing to hold the throttle. This works well, and shuts off with any braking. Some have on/off pedal sense where the motor turns on at some set power level whenever the pedals are moving at all. The best is where the torque applied by the rider is magnified some set amount, say 25%, 100%, or 300%, and can even smooth out pedal fluctuations each pedal rotation. If you go with a front wheel motor, then the best you can get is pedal sense on/off, as the torque sense works through the motor/chain drive when both are together on the rear wheel.

Some systems have regen on braking, but I would not expect more than a 10% range enhancement at a high delta cost and would not expect the braking modulation to be good as it switches from e-braking to mechanical braking, which is a safety necessity.

A number of companies have ready-made ebike solutions, including Schwinn, Giant, izip/ezip, Ultra Motors, etc. To get reasonable quality, this is a very expensive way to go, but I expect rapidly increasing competition to bring prices way down.

The two best component sources I have found so far are Bionix in Canada, and Golden Motor in Taiwan. Bionix is awesome quality and features, but outrageously expensive. On the other hand, there is a lot to learn from their web site. Golden Motor has better batteries at 1/3rd the price, but is hard to get reliable specs from all the variations in parts from them. Be prepared to find hundreds of sources, almost all in China, if you start a Google search on electric bikes!

Also, make sure any bike you convert has a strong frame, and especially strong front fork if you go front motor. After adding 10 lbs of battery and another 10-15 lbs of motor and electronics, you will be adding stress to the bike frame in ways very different than added by a rider (which is like a heavy bowl of jello by comparison!). The motor will add quite a bit of torque where it attaches to the frame or fork. Figure 50 or more pounds for a reasonably light e-bike with good power and good range.

I would love to hear more from others who have investigated this technology.

-- Alan

 

Someone is scared of their feelings of finding men sexy.