It's interesting, for sure. Just because I might not choose one doesn't mean I don't find it worthwhile.
I hope they do well with it. Getting people out of their cars is a pretty tough sell. You've spawned an interesting discussion. Thanks. Cheers, frank On November 13, 2015 5:34:39 PM EST, John <[email protected]> wrote: >I just figured you and some others here might find it interesting. > >It has a dual chain drive setup & I think they said the drive wheel is >free-wheeling. One chain is driven by pedal power and the other is >driven by an electric motor mounted on the frame under the seat. I >don't >think they have any kind of regenerative braking, but they may be >working on that for the future. > >The FAQ says the solar panel will recharge the standard battery from 0 >to 100% in approximately 8 hours, but it also includes a plug in >charger >that will do the job in about 2.5 hours. > >They offer 26" studded tires as an accessory for anyone who wants to >ride this thing in ice & snow. But I didn't see any kind of doors or >side protection from the weather offered among the accessories. > >Company website: http://organictransit.com/ > >On 11/13/2015 6:43 AM, knarf wrote: >> My preference is a normal bicycle. But then I'm a cyclist. >> >> These guys obviously want to appeal to non-cycists. They wanted it to >> look like a little car. If they really wanted aerodynamics they could >> have done it cheaper and more aerodynamically: >> >> http://www.hpvelotechnik.com/produkte/streamer/ >> >> I agree with Malcolm, that thin fiberglass or composite shell will >> give a false sense of security. They even used the word "protection" >> in the video when referring to the shell. Protection from the >> elements perhaps, but not crash protection. >> >> The large-ish, bright shell will help with visibility in traffic (a >> huge problem with recumbents). But I'm not convinced that the weight >> penalty would be offset by aerodynamic gains. >> >> One thing they didn't mention much in the first part of the video >> (before I got bored and turned it off) is the electric assist motor >> (hub assist motors are common in cargo bikes, BTW). I noticed a solar >> panel array on the roof; perhaps that's the reason for the large cab? >> I'm guessing the motor is powered by a combination of solar panel >> electricity and captured momentum energy while coasting or slowing >> down. That electric assist is probably a huge part of its higher top >> speed. >> >> I think this is interesting but only really useful in warmer weather >> areas without a lot of rain (or snow!). I'm not sold on recumbents >> for a number of reasons I need not get into now. >> >> I think I'd prefer a regular, upright, bicycle. But I'd like to give >> one of those things a spin, just for fun. >> >> Cheers, >> >> frank >> >> >> >> On November 13, 2015 6:15:51 AM EST, Malcolm Smith >> <[email protected]> wrote: >>> Larry Colen wrote: >>> >>>> Bob W-PDML wrote: >>>>> Can't see the point of pedalling all that unnecessary weight >>>>> round. >>>> Just ride a bike. >>>>> >>>> >>>> I suspect that on flat ground, the improved aerodynamics would >>>> make >>> up >>>> for the excess weight. Plus it might be more comfortable in the >>>> rain. The problem isn't so much the extra forty pounds in weight, >>>> as much >>> as >>>> the extra four thousand pounds in cost. >>>> >>>> I am a bit perturbed that they make it difficult to find out >>>> many details of it, such as weight. >>> >>> These things give you a false sense of security, in something that >>> offers no real protection at all and gives you loads of blind >>> spots. It might be substantially heavier than a normal cycle, but >>> it offers a lot of surface area to throw you sideways into traffic >>> in a crosswind. Buy a normal cycle. >>> >>> Malcolm >> -- "Sharpness is a bourgeois concept." -- Henri Cartier-Bresson Sent from my Android device with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
