I decided to go to the discount mall on the northeast side of town. The main mission is to pick up some toggle switches for the signal bar I'll eventually mount to the trike. However, while I'm there, I've also decided to pick up some calories for all these excursions. The dollar store is a perfect place for that kind of thing. The strip-mall destination at first glance is rather challenging since the traffic is usually quite heavy towards this end of town. However, taking back roads allows entrance to the parking lot from the rear.
On flat ground, I can usually sustain around 10mph with no problem but hills and traffic decrease this average speed. At 15 degrees, my face shield does fine shielding me from the wind. However, it fogs up quickly. Plus, there is a surprising bit of salt thrown up by passing cars and also the front wheels since I currently have no fenders. This isn't obvious during the journey but becomes apparent when I bring my face shield home to dry off then see the salt streaks left behind. Also, the bike has quite a few salt streaks on it as well.
I'm eventually building up enough stamina to be able to zig-zag through cross streets to reach "the strip". Here will be various car dealerships, a McDonald's, Taco Bell and the consumer holy-of-holy places, Walmart. Ironically, one popular destination for me doesn't seem to be easily reachable by trike. The bike shop at the edge of town!
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Adding some blig for night riding
LED tail lights have really come down in price so there is really no excuse to not have one on a bike or trike for night riding. The photo on the right is a photo looking down on the cargo rack so the mounting arrangement can be seen.
As for the headlight, since there are no front handlebars, there is no really good way of mounting a traditional handlebar mounted light to the front. So, I decided to take a headlamp and modify it to be a bike light. The headlamp is a model that can be tilted. That way, the lamp can be secured by a bunch of rubber bands then tilted forward. The lamp has a "flash mode" which is quite bright. It's so bright that when I pulled up to a store, the clerk at first thought I was riding a snowmobile!
Mounting the speedometer was rather problematic. The cord between the speedometer and the pickup sensor did not allow for enough length to have the sensor in the rear and also have the readout in front. The solution came was to pick up a u-bolt at the local hardware store. This would allow the readout box to be mounted to the front crank tube. Since the wire was too short to reach the back wheel area, the sensor needed to be mounted somewhere around the front-wheel area.
Just as with the other items, there was no ready-made way to mount the pickup sensor. However, I had an idea. To accomplish mounting the sensor to the front wheel, an "L" bracket from the local hardware store was purchased along with a couple of 8-32 machine screws with washers and Nylock nuts (so the screws don't vibrate lose). The nice looking plastic clamp around the right control stick was the unused clamp left over from the rear tail light installed earlier.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Riding downtown
My last journey was west. Now, let's try south. Same mission as before - fetch a backpack of groceries and see what the issues are. The route for this normally has more traffic since it's the heart of downtown. Although there is more traffic, the road is also wider, well lit and is a shorter journey. As before, automobile drivers were respectful.
Having a bike allows me to ride downtown and park for free. Right in front of the store is a perfect place to lock up the bike. It's out of the weather, well lit and even features a robust bar to lock up at. If more people start using trikes, I suspect this premium parking spot will become unavailable. However, for now, it's rare to see bikes tied up in front of the store. I do wonder when this will change.
I only had one slightly annoying incident. I threw the chain off the front sprocket at an intersection since the shifter limit was set improperly. Fortunately, I worked the shifter so the chain worked back onto the sprocket while gliding through the intersection. A slight adjustment on the derailer should take care of that problem.
Having a bike allows me to ride downtown and park for free. Right in front of the store is a perfect place to lock up the bike. It's out of the weather, well lit and even features a robust bar to lock up at. If more people start using trikes, I suspect this premium parking spot will become unavailable. However, for now, it's rare to see bikes tied up in front of the store. I do wonder when this will change.
I only had one slightly annoying incident. I threw the chain off the front sprocket at an intersection since the shifter limit was set improperly. Fortunately, I worked the shifter so the chain worked back onto the sprocket while gliding through the intersection. A slight adjustment on the derailer should take care of that problem.
Friday, December 18, 2009
First road test
The first ride was rather short. Only around the block. I attached a flashing headlamp to the front with a bunch of rubber bands and a red lamp to the back with a bolt. Then, I put on an orange rain suit and I was off! I had a couple of things to get used to. First, the turning radius is more like a car than a bike (very large). Second, since I adjusted the front crank tube to be shorter, I found my chain was now a tad bit too long. That resulted in some mild gear skipping. Also, after my short ride, I found it tempting to go full speed which made me quite winded! Gotta pace myself!
Fortunately, when it comes to adjustments, the front tube holding the crank can be put in or out and is held in place with a pair of hex bolts. The bike also came with a chain tool that enables easy removal of chain links. It works well. Unfortunately, it does not come with a quick-link to put the two ends of the chain back together! So, I went off to my local bike store with a sample of chain. After $3 for the quick link and an upgraded bike light (impulse purchase), I was back in business!
Time for a "milk run" test. Literally, to get a gallon of milk and see what other items I can return with. It's about 4 miles as a total trip. Just like the night before, it's a calm moonless night, about 20 degrees with some snow still on the roadways. Not much traffic. For clothing, I decided on sneakers, two pairs of socks, one pair of Jeans, covered with a pair of rain-suit pants. For upper body, two t-shirts, a polyester sports shirt, wool sweater, cotton coat and the orange rain-suit top. For hands, some good leather gloves. For my head, a cotton ski-mask and a safety face-shield I normally use when I'm doing metal work. On the back, a backpack, bike cable lock and some bungee cords to secure it to the rear rack.
Temperature wise, the outfit was just right. The face shield and rain suit made windchill a non-issue. When I was too warm, face shield goes up. When too cold, face shield goes down. As a technique to regulate my temperature and deflect windchill, it worked great! The shield did ice up due to my breath. Fortunately, the grocery store was warm enough to rid the lens of ice. On the way back, I developed the technique of pulling my face mask up to deflect my breath when the shield was down. This helped quite a bit. Temperature wise, the whole outfit was almost perfect! As for being winded, the first part of the journey was the worst since I was rather enthusiastic on how fast I could go so I tended to pedal too fast. Eventually, I found using the gears to maintain a steady crank force and rate rather than a steady speed was the best way to pedal. The ride became almost relaxing!
Along the way, I found drivers were very respectful, waiting to go around and I even got a few waves along the way from people walking. I was an instant low-key celebrity! When I arrived at the store, I cabled the trike to a shopping-cart rack, left the orange rain gear with the bike and returned to being dressed just like everyone else. The only unusual incident on the way back was the upper chain tube ziptie not being able to hold the chain tube in place. It kept working it's way to the front sprocket where it would get caught in the front crank gearing. Ah, if only I had some duct tape with me! Instead, I had some bungee cord that I used to keep the chain-guide tube against the central tube so the tube wouldn't work it's way up quite as fast. The field-fix wasn't great but it worked. I found I could go slow without the tube working forward but only in the lowest front gear. But hey, slow-go beats no-go! So, I made it back under my own power. After a glass of milk and a cookie, I considered my nightly bike adventure complete!
I now am questioning the need for a velo shell at all for winter triking. I found I don't need front fenders for the tires. In fact, I found with the face shield, rain suit and clothing layers I don't really need to be shielded from the wind either! (the face shield makes a HUGE difference) For rain, I think there may still be an advantage to an overhead cover. However, for a winter excursion I think a shell might be more bother than benefit.
Fortunately, when it comes to adjustments, the front tube holding the crank can be put in or out and is held in place with a pair of hex bolts. The bike also came with a chain tool that enables easy removal of chain links. It works well. Unfortunately, it does not come with a quick-link to put the two ends of the chain back together! So, I went off to my local bike store with a sample of chain. After $3 for the quick link and an upgraded bike light (impulse purchase), I was back in business!
Time for a "milk run" test. Literally, to get a gallon of milk and see what other items I can return with. It's about 4 miles as a total trip. Just like the night before, it's a calm moonless night, about 20 degrees with some snow still on the roadways. Not much traffic. For clothing, I decided on sneakers, two pairs of socks, one pair of Jeans, covered with a pair of rain-suit pants. For upper body, two t-shirts, a polyester sports shirt, wool sweater, cotton coat and the orange rain-suit top. For hands, some good leather gloves. For my head, a cotton ski-mask and a safety face-shield I normally use when I'm doing metal work. On the back, a backpack, bike cable lock and some bungee cords to secure it to the rear rack.
Temperature wise, the outfit was just right. The face shield and rain suit made windchill a non-issue. When I was too warm, face shield goes up. When too cold, face shield goes down. As a technique to regulate my temperature and deflect windchill, it worked great! The shield did ice up due to my breath. Fortunately, the grocery store was warm enough to rid the lens of ice. On the way back, I developed the technique of pulling my face mask up to deflect my breath when the shield was down. This helped quite a bit. Temperature wise, the whole outfit was almost perfect! As for being winded, the first part of the journey was the worst since I was rather enthusiastic on how fast I could go so I tended to pedal too fast. Eventually, I found using the gears to maintain a steady crank force and rate rather than a steady speed was the best way to pedal. The ride became almost relaxing!
Along the way, I found drivers were very respectful, waiting to go around and I even got a few waves along the way from people walking. I was an instant low-key celebrity! When I arrived at the store, I cabled the trike to a shopping-cart rack, left the orange rain gear with the bike and returned to being dressed just like everyone else. The only unusual incident on the way back was the upper chain tube ziptie not being able to hold the chain tube in place. It kept working it's way to the front sprocket where it would get caught in the front crank gearing. Ah, if only I had some duct tape with me! Instead, I had some bungee cord that I used to keep the chain-guide tube against the central tube so the tube wouldn't work it's way up quite as fast. The field-fix wasn't great but it worked. I found I could go slow without the tube working forward but only in the lowest front gear. But hey, slow-go beats no-go! So, I made it back under my own power. After a glass of milk and a cookie, I considered my nightly bike adventure complete!
I now am questioning the need for a velo shell at all for winter triking. I found I don't need front fenders for the tires. In fact, I found with the face shield, rain suit and clothing layers I don't really need to be shielded from the wind either! (the face shield makes a HUGE difference) For rain, I think there may still be an advantage to an overhead cover. However, for a winter excursion I think a shell might be more bother than benefit.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
My ActionBent Trident Review
I had been tracking the box across the country for about a week (kinda slow due to holiday packages). The trike and it's parts finally arrived packed in a huge box. Inside is a large amount of bubble wrap. I immediately checked out the parts looking for bad welds, scratches, dents or other obviously broken items and found none. I was especially on the lookout for bad welds. However, the welds and paint look very good. So, let's inflate those tires! Hmm. The adapter is, well, wrong for my air pump. Fortunately, Dick's sporting goods store is nearby. Sure enough, they had some adapter fittings that fit the tires. I got 2 two-packs which came to a total of about $7. After returning home, I could then inflate the tires to 100PSI and also lock the valves so air doesn't leak out through the valves.
Now, time to unfold the bike frame and put the rest together. The center clamp which allows the frame to fold is the same style as is found on other high-end folding bikes. Once the frame was in it's unfolded state, I could then put on the rear tire. It too has a quick release fitting on it which makes the bike better to fold. Then, put on the front tires and secure the bolts with a provided hex tool. Then, stretch the seat fabric on the seat frame. Attach to frame using quick-releases. Initial assembly took about an hour to figure out, most of it with the rear pannier rack (the instructions were, well, interesting). However, once assembled and adjusted to taste, the folding and unfolding can be done very quickly. As for size, with the rear wheel off, it fits nicely in the back of a Subaru station wagon. However, fitting two of these at once in the back might be challenging.
Now, comes the fine tuning. Being a folding bike, the major components such as the derailleur, gearing and disc brakes are already installed with cables run to them. The front and rear shifters are twist types. The front brakes, being disc type, work very well! The crank pole can also be put in or out and is secured by a hex bolt fitting which works well. The steering controls also have other adjustments so handle orientations can be easily adjusted in several ways. The pedals allow the feet to be secured to the crank and the clips seem to work well.
I also got two panniers with the bike. The nicer one was apparently thrown in as an "extra". It was nicer since it stands on it's own rather than attaching by bolts to the seat. As for folding the bike, I found I only did it when transporting it by car. First, the seat is removed then the frame can fold in on itself to reduce it's length. Pedals can stay on. Folding can be done either with the rear wheel on or off. That solves a mystery for me since I could not figure out from the photos how the bike could be folded as shown in the pictures. Turns out the photo was with the bike taken apart - not folded.
Now, comes the fine tuning. Being a folding bike, the major components such as the derailleur, gearing and disc brakes are already installed with cables run to them. The front and rear shifters are twist types. The front brakes, being disc type, work very well! The crank pole can also be put in or out and is secured by a hex bolt fitting which works well. The steering controls also have other adjustments so handle orientations can be easily adjusted in several ways. The pedals allow the feet to be secured to the crank and the clips seem to work well.
I also got two panniers with the bike. The nicer one was apparently thrown in as an "extra". It was nicer since it stands on it's own rather than attaching by bolts to the seat. As for folding the bike, I found I only did it when transporting it by car. First, the seat is removed then the frame can fold in on itself to reduce it's length. Pedals can stay on. Folding can be done either with the rear wheel on or off. That solves a mystery for me since I could not figure out from the photos how the bike could be folded as shown in the pictures. Turns out the photo was with the bike taken apart - not folded.
POST REVIEW
Now that I've had the bike for a while, I can definitely say it was a good purchase. There are some little picky things. I did need to use two bolts of my own for the accessory pannier (but I'm not complaining too loudly because it was the better one thrown in for free) and the lack of valve adapters was annoying. The chain idler wheel also concerns me a little since it seems a little flimsy but so far, no problems and it also looks like it can be replaced if it fails. Also I had a small cushion and a plastic "S" shaped thing left over. After looking at the two pieces, I found it was the headrest for the top of the seat.
Now that I've had the bike for a while, I can definitely say it was a good purchase. There are some little picky things. I did need to use two bolts of my own for the accessory pannier (but I'm not complaining too loudly because it was the better one thrown in for free) and the lack of valve adapters was annoying. The chain idler wheel also concerns me a little since it seems a little flimsy but so far, no problems and it also looks like it can be replaced if it fails. Also I had a small cushion and a plastic "S" shaped thing left over. After looking at the two pieces, I found it was the headrest for the top of the seat.
As for the drive system, the rear derailer sometimes shift on the lows when cranking on moderate hills unless I hold the shifter to prevent that. The front shifter doesn't have that problem. I suspect there is a spring tension setting somewhere to fix that. The twist grip shifters make this sort of a non-issue since I frequently change gears as terrain changes anyway. Although I can't put a mirror on top of the shifter, I can put a mirror on the steering bracket which is just as effective. It also looks like I could put pushbuttons on top of the shifters for turn signals if I wanted. That would have more styling than the present toggle switch arrangement I now use. The gears also have quite a span. They range from very fast to a high torque hill-crawler. I find I can cruise comfortably at 17mph on flat ground without being winded. With the addition of reflectors and turn signals, I find the bike visibility due to being low doesn't seem to be an issue with automobile drivers.
The cargo capacity is where this bike really shines. I've attached a milk crate which is strong enough to hold most anything that can be found in a grocery store. I frequently also have a backpack on top of that which contains a coat & basic tools in case of a breakdown. It might just be me, but even with all this stuff, it's easier traveling with this bike than my two wheeler.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Tadpole vs Delta
Tadpole vs Delta. It's truly a phrase that has been a hobgoblin of the mind. Which layout should I choose?
The "tadpole" configuration
Simply means a trike with two wheels in the front. From what I have read, the tadpole bikes tend to be very maneuverable. Being low to the ground makes them fast, but harder to see than a regular bicycle. Going up hills in a tadpole usually causes a slight side-to-side movement with cranking which I suspect is where the name came from.
A hard-shell tadpole example would be the Go One velomobile. These HPVs look really sharp, go fast, and with electric assist approach the convenience of a small automobile. However, at almost 14K, the Go-One is a bit pricey. A less expensive soft-shell example is the "velo Kit". Not quite as "cool" looking, but it probably does do the job of keeping the driver out of the rain and may provide some wind reduction all for significantly less money.
The "Delta" configuration - A trike with two wheels in the rear.
Delta trikes can have some significant advantages. They tend to put the rider high in traffic and can have high ground clearance (although this depends on the model of trike). However, there is an unpleasant choice with two wheels in the back. Having a solid axle would be a performance problem going around turns since one wheel would want to spin faster than the other. Having one wheel powered while the other isn't would make the bike inexpensive but it would cause a pull to one side going up hills. Having a differential would solve both problems but differential gearing adds to the cost. Delta bikes tend to be seen more easily in traffic but they can be more susceptible to wind issues, drag issues and turn instability at higher speeds. A good winter trike example would be the RainShadow kit that was developed by Lightfoot Cycles. This project was apparently an experiment and is not available for purchase. I suspect this is due to feature escalation making for a high cost bike that doesn't look very stylish. With electric assist, this model can also blur the line between unregulated HPVs and larger motor vehicles that are regulated.
The "tadpole" configuration
Simply means a trike with two wheels in the front. From what I have read, the tadpole bikes tend to be very maneuverable. Being low to the ground makes them fast, but harder to see than a regular bicycle. Going up hills in a tadpole usually causes a slight side-to-side movement with cranking which I suspect is where the name came from.
A hard-shell tadpole example would be the Go One velomobile. These HPVs look really sharp, go fast, and with electric assist approach the convenience of a small automobile. However, at almost 14K, the Go-One is a bit pricey. A less expensive soft-shell example is the "velo Kit". Not quite as "cool" looking, but it probably does do the job of keeping the driver out of the rain and may provide some wind reduction all for significantly less money.The "Delta" configuration - A trike with two wheels in the rear.
Delta trikes can have some significant advantages. They tend to put the rider high in traffic and can have high ground clearance (although this depends on the model of trike). However, there is an unpleasant choice with two wheels in the back. Having a solid axle would be a performance problem going around turns since one wheel would want to spin faster than the other. Having one wheel powered while the other isn't would make the bike inexpensive but it would cause a pull to one side going up hills. Having a differential would solve both problems but differential gearing adds to the cost. Delta bikes tend to be seen more easily in traffic but they can be more susceptible to wind issues, drag issues and turn instability at higher speeds. A good winter trike example would be the RainShadow kit that was developed by Lightfoot Cycles. This project was apparently an experiment and is not available for purchase. I suspect this is due to feature escalation making for a high cost bike that doesn't look very stylish. With electric assist, this model can also blur the line between unregulated HPVs and larger motor vehicles that are regulated.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
And the winner is....
For the past couple of weeks, I've been having a debate in my head. Delta vs Tadpole...Delta vs Tadpole. Each approach has it's advantages and problems. There are lots of examples of both. So, almost on a whim, I just ordered the Trident since I figured I needed to do SOMETHING.
Before I finally pushed "buy" I at least compared the specifications listed with parts I could find on the web. I've concluded that as long as the frame is OK, then the overall bike should be able to be maintained over the years even if I can't order parts direct through Actionbent. If the reality lives up to the specs (and with a good ebay rating, I think this is reasonably likely) then this should be a good bike.
Here's the specs as I saw them on Ebay.
Specifications:
Frame : Cr-Moly
Seat : Cr-Moly frame with mesh cloth
Handlebar : cr-moly Direct Steering, Ackerman-Compensated
Shifter : Sram Centera grip shifter
Lever : alloy with brake lock
F/derailleur : Shimano Sora 3 sp
R/derailleur : Shimano Acera 8 sp
Crank : 52/42/30T alloy w/protective chain cover for safe in-car transport
Freewheel : Sram PG -850 11-32
Chain : KMC Z72
Rim : Alex DA16 double wall.
Spoke : 14# stainless
Tire : Kenda KWEST 100PSI 2 x 20" in front , 1 x 26" in rear
Pedal : HTI alloy one side clip with top clip
Brake : ProMax Disc brakes
H/t parts : First BI
B.B. : BB-7420AL
Wheelbase: 41" -- Outermost width 32"
Overall Len: 75" (variable due to telescoping boom)
Seat Height: 9" ground to base
B/B Height: 15"
Load Rating: 120kg or 265 pounds
Weight: 38 pounds
Folded size: L x W x H --43" x 28" x 20.5"
Specifications can change SLIGHTLY, we will work with you to resolve any issues.
Before I finally pushed "buy" I at least compared the specifications listed with parts I could find on the web. I've concluded that as long as the frame is OK, then the overall bike should be able to be maintained over the years even if I can't order parts direct through Actionbent. If the reality lives up to the specs (and with a good ebay rating, I think this is reasonably likely) then this should be a good bike.
Here's the specs as I saw them on Ebay.
Frame : Cr-Moly
Seat : Cr-Moly frame with mesh cloth
Handlebar : cr-moly Direct Steering, Ackerman-Compensated
Shifter : Sram Centera grip shifter
Lever : alloy with brake lock
F/derailleur : Shimano Sora 3 sp
R/derailleur : Shimano Acera 8 sp
Freewheel : Sram PG -850 11-32
Chain : KMC Z72
Rim : Alex DA16 double wall.
Spoke : 14# stainless
Tire : Kenda KWEST 100PSI 2 x 20" in front , 1 x 26" in rear
Pedal : HTI alloy one side clip with top clip
Brake : ProMax Disc brakes
H/t parts : First BI
Wheelbase: 41" -- Outermost width 32"
Overall Len: 75" (variable due to telescoping boom)
Seat Height: 9" ground to base
B/B Height: 15"
Load Rating: 120kg or 265 pounds
Weight: 38 pounds
Folded size: L x W x H --43" x 28" x 20.5"
Specifications can change SLIGHTLY, we will work with you to resolve any issues.
How to start...
For this project, I've decided to use a pre-made trike for a chassis. This is mostly due to limits of having adequate shop facilities to create my own frame. Using a pre-built trike should save some time so I can concentrate on making a velomobile covering.
Here are some models I'm considering. One of the difficulties I have had is separating true opinions from "buzz" paid opinions. So these reviews are mostly on opinions, not on fact.
Here are the top contenders I considered for the project...
TERRATRIKE-CRUISER
The good
It's a tadpole which means there is no need for a differential for the rear wheel. So, hill climbing power should be straighter than a one-wheel drive delta. The bike also gets very good reviews on quality. Reviews on durability suggest that it would be acceptable in this category as well. Should I decide to do the easy thing of getting a velo kit for it, they already exist. Parts availability appears to also be very good. Perhaps that's why it gets awards as a top selling bike.
The Bad
Being a tadpole, it's low to the ground so roadway obstacles may be an issue. Also, the front gear telescoping pole is not adjustable so unloading it on Craigs list or ebay becomes difficult. There may be telescoping sections that can be added on but that's unclear. There are other higher and lower models too. Overall, it looks like a nice line of bikes with the cruiser being the upper end of what I'm willing to put toward this project.
The Ugly
Price. Not that it misses much on this.
ACTIONBENT - TRIDENT
The good
This model seems to have a large gear range, larger than normal ground clearance, a mesh seat and disc brakes (important for wet driving). Having the ability to fold also might allow me to transport it by car if I want to ride it in another location. It also has an adjustable front extension for different sized riders. Being a folding trike, it's shipped in a mostly assembled state so putting it together should be rather easy. If I time my bid on Ebay properly, I can have all this for around $1200 with free shipping!
The bad
Of course, it's low which makes it not able to be seen in traffic as easily as a delta. As for overall value, this is hard to tell. It is a rather new model which may account for the lack of opinions. It's only sold over the Internet and is not shipped assembled so there is a potential for some shipping damage. Also, there are no retail dealers (ebay and 2nd hand market are the only distribution channels) so there is no way for me to test drive the bike. However, never having tried a tadpole, I doubt I would miss the "perfect fit" that may be eluding me.
The Ugly
There have been some customers who have reported glowing reviews while a few customers appear to be very unsatisfied. However, these customers apparently seem to be few in number. Due to these concerns, ordering such a bike is a risky but possibly very rewarding thing to do.
AMERICAN TRI-CRUISER
The good
Hey, it's made in America! The trike seems to be very customizable with the manufacturer willing to do modifications as requested. One such modification can be seen in the rear, is a platform one customer had since they wanted their dog to go for a ride too. It also is one of the highest tadpole designs giving both good ground clearance and a few more inches of visibility from other cars. Reviews are few, but generally good. It's apparently heavy construction also should be able to allow modification to being a velomobile easier than other tadpole models I've seen. At first glance, it also has one of the lowest initial base prices too.
The bad
The first thing I noticed was that it appears to lack camber and caster on the front wheel steering knuckle. It's hard to tell from the photos, but I would think this would make the trike a bit harder to turn since wheels would need to skid somewhat in turns. Also, the padded seat may appeal to some riders but I think I would prefer the mesh for better ventilation.
The ugly
The base price $799 doesn't include much. A more realistic price with options I would want such as front disk brakes, adjustable pedal boom, cargo shelf, dual stick steering, full gear range, fenders, "tuff frame" and shipping makes a more realistic price of $1984. In spite of a tricked-out version of this bike likely being best for this project, it is beyond my budget right now.
SUN - EZ-3 Delta
The good
If I was going for a Delta, the SUN family of bikes would probably be the way I would go. The EZ-3 entry level bike or similar model seems to be what was used in making a "rain shadow" type of velomobile. It appears to have high traffic visibility, good ground clearance and the option of having low gears installed for better hill climbing. Although not domestic, parts availability appears to be very good through the dealer network. It is also one of the few trikes that can be test driven by me before purchase. Different riders can adjust the seat forward and backward. Also, at only $899, it is affordable. The EZ-3 AX is one up from the base model at around $1400. It has an aluminum frame plus better components and a somewhat safer design. It can even sport a front mounted hub motor! An under seat steering model is also available (the EZ-3 USX) which has no handle bars in front. Instead, steering is done under the seat. That probably would be a better layout for what I'm trying to do.
The bad
It's primary advantage, price, is eroded by shipping charges (or just gas, sales tax and a lost day driving to the nearest dealer if I fetch one myself). Having two wheels in the back probably makes it go up hills a little unevenly since power looks to be applied only to one rear wheel instead of both. Even with no faring, these are heavy trikes. That means a low top-speed. The large size also means transporting it via car would be problematic.
The Ugly
At speeds above 20 mph, handling has been described as unsteady to unsafe. I can imagine any velo structure I built on top would probably magnify any handling problems that existed. Also, the low price under seat steering model can take a smaller faring but it costs more money. The EZ-3 model is quite heavy (at 67lbs) and is not a folding model. The EZ-3 USX, which is the underseat steering model, also is quite heavy but has a folding feature. However, folding it doesn't appear to reduce size enough to be useful. So, future transport of any of these deltas could be a challenge.
Here are some models I'm considering. One of the difficulties I have had is separating true opinions from "buzz" paid opinions. So these reviews are mostly on opinions, not on fact.
Here are the top contenders I considered for the project...
TERRATRIKE-CRUISER
The good
It's a tadpole which means there is no need for a differential for the rear wheel. So, hill climbing power should be straighter than a one-wheel drive delta. The bike also gets very good reviews on quality. Reviews on durability suggest that it would be acceptable in this category as well. Should I decide to do the easy thing of getting a velo kit for it, they already exist. Parts availability appears to also be very good. Perhaps that's why it gets awards as a top selling bike.
The Bad
Being a tadpole, it's low to the ground so roadway obstacles may be an issue. Also, the front gear telescoping pole is not adjustable so unloading it on Craigs list or ebay becomes difficult. There may be telescoping sections that can be added on but that's unclear. There are other higher and lower models too. Overall, it looks like a nice line of bikes with the cruiser being the upper end of what I'm willing to put toward this project.
The Ugly
Price. Not that it misses much on this.
ACTIONBENT - TRIDENTThe good
This model seems to have a large gear range, larger than normal ground clearance, a mesh seat and disc brakes (important for wet driving). Having the ability to fold also might allow me to transport it by car if I want to ride it in another location. It also has an adjustable front extension for different sized riders. Being a folding trike, it's shipped in a mostly assembled state so putting it together should be rather easy. If I time my bid on Ebay properly, I can have all this for around $1200 with free shipping!
The bad
Of course, it's low which makes it not able to be seen in traffic as easily as a delta. As for overall value, this is hard to tell. It is a rather new model which may account for the lack of opinions. It's only sold over the Internet and is not shipped assembled so there is a potential for some shipping damage. Also, there are no retail dealers (ebay and 2nd hand market are the only distribution channels) so there is no way for me to test drive the bike. However, never having tried a tadpole, I doubt I would miss the "perfect fit" that may be eluding me.
The Ugly
There have been some customers who have reported glowing reviews while a few customers appear to be very unsatisfied. However, these customers apparently seem to be few in number. Due to these concerns, ordering such a bike is a risky but possibly very rewarding thing to do.
AMERICAN TRI-CRUISERThe good
Hey, it's made in America! The trike seems to be very customizable with the manufacturer willing to do modifications as requested. One such modification can be seen in the rear, is a platform one customer had since they wanted their dog to go for a ride too. It also is one of the highest tadpole designs giving both good ground clearance and a few more inches of visibility from other cars. Reviews are few, but generally good. It's apparently heavy construction also should be able to allow modification to being a velomobile easier than other tadpole models I've seen. At first glance, it also has one of the lowest initial base prices too.
The bad
The first thing I noticed was that it appears to lack camber and caster on the front wheel steering knuckle. It's hard to tell from the photos, but I would think this would make the trike a bit harder to turn since wheels would need to skid somewhat in turns. Also, the padded seat may appeal to some riders but I think I would prefer the mesh for better ventilation.
The ugly
The base price $799 doesn't include much. A more realistic price with options I would want such as front disk brakes, adjustable pedal boom, cargo shelf, dual stick steering, full gear range, fenders, "tuff frame" and shipping makes a more realistic price of $1984. In spite of a tricked-out version of this bike likely being best for this project, it is beyond my budget right now.
SUN - EZ-3 Delta
The good
If I was going for a Delta, the SUN family of bikes would probably be the way I would go. The EZ-3 entry level bike or similar model seems to be what was used in making a "rain shadow" type of velomobile. It appears to have high traffic visibility, good ground clearance and the option of having low gears installed for better hill climbing. Although not domestic, parts availability appears to be very good through the dealer network. It is also one of the few trikes that can be test driven by me before purchase. Different riders can adjust the seat forward and backward. Also, at only $899, it is affordable. The EZ-3 AX is one up from the base model at around $1400. It has an aluminum frame plus better components and a somewhat safer design. It can even sport a front mounted hub motor! An under seat steering model is also available (the EZ-3 USX) which has no handle bars in front. Instead, steering is done under the seat. That probably would be a better layout for what I'm trying to do.The bad
It's primary advantage, price, is eroded by shipping charges (or just gas, sales tax and a lost day driving to the nearest dealer if I fetch one myself). Having two wheels in the back probably makes it go up hills a little unevenly since power looks to be applied only to one rear wheel instead of both. Even with no faring, these are heavy trikes. That means a low top-speed. The large size also means transporting it via car would be problematic.
The Ugly
At speeds above 20 mph, handling has been described as unsteady to unsafe. I can imagine any velo structure I built on top would probably magnify any handling problems that existed. Also, the low price under seat steering model can take a smaller faring but it costs more money. The EZ-3 model is quite heavy (at 67lbs) and is not a folding model. The EZ-3 USX, which is the underseat steering model, also is quite heavy but has a folding feature. However, folding it doesn't appear to reduce size enough to be useful. So, future transport of any of these deltas could be a challenge.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Quest for low cost transport in a snowy wet climate
The basic transport criteria are:
If money was no object, this model from Cabriovelo.com would be my preference. It's a delta design, with what appears to be under seat steering. A good thing about this design is that it's probably tall enough to be noticed in traffic. A bad thing is that having two wheels in the back makes for a dilemma. Either one-wheel is powered and the other is not (traction problem) or it has a solid axel (turning problems)
or it would need a differential (expensive). Tadpole designs, with a single driving wheel in the back avoid the drive wheel dilemma. However, in spite of dual wheel drive in the rear, this velo has some good features. One good feature is the fabric sides which I assume would keep side wind out yet would be easily stowable when not in use. Another feature I like is the flat windshield with wiper. In my area, road spray is an issue and having the option of staying inside to clear it off would be very nice. The back also has what appears to be a large cargo area. Looking at the front, I notice it also has lighting and possibly signals too. However, one quality I don't like is the price. I'm sure the cost to deliver to my home would be about as much as a small petrol powered car. 
Upon closer examination, the Cabriovelo has another interesting surprise to it. It's a convertible! The windscreen folds up and out of the bonnet (hood). The sides are fabric so they can be stowed easily. It also seems to have ample cargo room in the rear of it. Nice design! Looking at other photos (not shown) it appears to use a custom trike frame with under-seat steering. They also had a lower cost prototype they were testing with which is interesting to look at.
Some of the upper end trikes are almost cars. The Go-One and Aerorider fall into these categories (not shown). Yea, they are heavy and are barely bikes. However, with electric assist, they must be pretty nice rides. Unfortunately, being low and slow probably also makes these vehicles cop magnets. Since the vehicle motor laws are a bit unclear when HPV becomes a vehicle that needs registration, I can see why these have not caught on. Plus, with all velomobiles, there is the issue of parking since they can't just lock up to a bicycle stand due to their size. Oh, and also the price tag which can easily exceed $10k.
Another design I like is the Rainshadow. The simple design, built with cloroplast (plastic cardboard). It won't win any performance awards. However, that is because it's primary mission isn't speed. Rather, it is keeping it's occupant out of the rain and snow. The target price of this vehicle appeared to be $1500 without the trike. Adding a basic under-steer trike would probably make the completed vehicle be a bit north of $3000. Still, even if it lacks the style and speed of the Cabriovelo, it's better than walking. The price difference could also buy a really good sweater and quite a few hand warmers!
The "velo-kit" looks like a good attempt at providing an economic way to get from one part of town to another. The first thing one notices is that it's very clearly fabric. Then second thing to notice is of course the price which is substantially lower than any solid body kit I'm aware of. Being fabric based, other desirable qualities start becoming apparent too. It doesn't have the noise issues of a solid shell. It also can be transported by car without resorting to needing to use a trailer! So, for a low cost but practical solution for keeing out of the rain and wind, this in my opinion represents the most sensible way of doing so.
However, I do like having at least an illusion of protection with a solid shell around me. So, I kept looking for yet another solution. This one was made by
John Sturdy who drives this creation in Ireland. It looks to be made of plexiglass or similar material held in place by an aluminum frame. Although it won't win awards for being areodynamic, it does look like it would provide good visibility and also apparently provides protection against occasional pet hazards too. As for material cost, this type of do-it-yourself project would probably be somewhere betwee a fabric kit and a molded fairing approach.
So clearly, some impressive sustainable transportation solutions already exist. However, in my opinion, there is still some room for improvement. So, that's what this next project is all about. It's about trying to make a low energy vehicle (ideally an HPV) a practical form of transport in a snowy, rainy environment. The BugE was one answer. It works, but it has been very expensive in time and money to build. Perhaps a velo-trike would give acceptable performance instead.
So, to summarize what has already been done, here's what appears to be available.
1) Molded faring Examples
velocityvelos.com and a Reg Rodero's Stormy Weather project.
2) Coroplast Examples
CarFreeChalenge and a group of velo enthusiasts on Facebook
3) Fabric faring examples
velo-kit.com
4) plexiglass sheet
John Sturdy's design
- solution should use little or no fossil fuel in operation
- solution needs to be low maintenance
- solution needs to be faster than walking
- solution needs to be more convenient than using a bus
- solution needs to be able to be used on existing roadways
- solution needs to shield occupant from rain and windchill
- Effective range should be around 10 miles
If money was no object, this model from Cabriovelo.com would be my preference. It's a delta design, with what appears to be under seat steering. A good thing about this design is that it's probably tall enough to be noticed in traffic. A bad thing is that having two wheels in the back makes for a dilemma. Either one-wheel is powered and the other is not (traction problem) or it has a solid axel (turning problems)
or it would need a differential (expensive). Tadpole designs, with a single driving wheel in the back avoid the drive wheel dilemma. However, in spite of dual wheel drive in the rear, this velo has some good features. One good feature is the fabric sides which I assume would keep side wind out yet would be easily stowable when not in use. Another feature I like is the flat windshield with wiper. In my area, road spray is an issue and having the option of staying inside to clear it off would be very nice. The back also has what appears to be a large cargo area. Looking at the front, I notice it also has lighting and possibly signals too. However, one quality I don't like is the price. I'm sure the cost to deliver to my home would be about as much as a small petrol powered car. 
Upon closer examination, the Cabriovelo has another interesting surprise to it. It's a convertible! The windscreen folds up and out of the bonnet (hood). The sides are fabric so they can be stowed easily. It also seems to have ample cargo room in the rear of it. Nice design! Looking at other photos (not shown) it appears to use a custom trike frame with under-seat steering. They also had a lower cost prototype they were testing with which is interesting to look at.Some of the upper end trikes are almost cars. The Go-One and Aerorider fall into these categories (not shown). Yea, they are heavy and are barely bikes. However, with electric assist, they must be pretty nice rides. Unfortunately, being low and slow probably also makes these vehicles cop magnets. Since the vehicle motor laws are a bit unclear when HPV becomes a vehicle that needs registration, I can see why these have not caught on. Plus, with all velomobiles, there is the issue of parking since they can't just lock up to a bicycle stand due to their size. Oh, and also the price tag which can easily exceed $10k.
Another design I like is the Rainshadow. The simple design, built with cloroplast (plastic cardboard). It won't win any performance awards. However, that is because it's primary mission isn't speed. Rather, it is keeping it's occupant out of the rain and snow. The target price of this vehicle appeared to be $1500 without the trike. Adding a basic under-steer trike would probably make the completed vehicle be a bit north of $3000. Still, even if it lacks the style and speed of the Cabriovelo, it's better than walking. The price difference could also buy a really good sweater and quite a few hand warmers!
The "velo-kit" looks like a good attempt at providing an economic way to get from one part of town to another. The first thing one notices is that it's very clearly fabric. Then second thing to notice is of course the price which is substantially lower than any solid body kit I'm aware of. Being fabric based, other desirable qualities start becoming apparent too. It doesn't have the noise issues of a solid shell. It also can be transported by car without resorting to needing to use a trailer! So, for a low cost but practical solution for keeing out of the rain and wind, this in my opinion represents the most sensible way of doing so.However, I do like having at least an illusion of protection with a solid shell around me. So, I kept looking for yet another solution. This one was made by
John Sturdy who drives this creation in Ireland. It looks to be made of plexiglass or similar material held in place by an aluminum frame. Although it won't win awards for being areodynamic, it does look like it would provide good visibility and also apparently provides protection against occasional pet hazards too. As for material cost, this type of do-it-yourself project would probably be somewhere betwee a fabric kit and a molded fairing approach.So clearly, some impressive sustainable transportation solutions already exist. However, in my opinion, there is still some room for improvement. So, that's what this next project is all about. It's about trying to make a low energy vehicle (ideally an HPV) a practical form of transport in a snowy, rainy environment. The BugE was one answer. It works, but it has been very expensive in time and money to build. Perhaps a velo-trike would give acceptable performance instead.
So, to summarize what has already been done, here's what appears to be available.
1) Molded faring Examples
velocityvelos.com and a Reg Rodero's Stormy Weather project.
2) Coroplast Examples
CarFreeChalenge and a group of velo enthusiasts on Facebook
3) Fabric faring examples
velo-kit.com
4) plexiglass sheet
John Sturdy's design
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