HPV - Biking

[kcowyo]

Got a family that likes to bike? You may need one of these -

"First they mock you, then they fight you... then they show up in the human powered vehicle show room."

 

[Maddmatt]

I dig it, but I think the Rhoades car has more cargo capacity.

http://www.rhoadescar.com/jumpshow.htm

In my little town this would suffice for probably 50% of our daily driving, but I would be a bit nervous about taking it out on the road. Not much protection for the family unit from the cell phone obsessed SUV drivers.

Unfortunatey you have to know that as soon as you pedaled one down the bike path there would be a referendum to stop the "scourge of the 4 wheeled monsters". As soon as we make prairie dogs a required part of every home I'm sure those people will turn their efforts to getting wheeled vehicles off the bike paths.

Wait. What? Took my own little tangent there trying to lurk less and contribute more. Since I don't have any real knowledge to contribute, this is what you get....

Anyway, I like the concept. I wonder how low you could gear it? With a couple people peddaling and just some gear in the back, I wonder what kind of trouble you could get into.....

 

[michaelgroves]

Come the first up-hill, all those smiles are going to change! Judging by Dad's expression, I think he's already worked out that he's gonna be pedalling for 4!

 

[michaelgroves]

Ah, I read the text, and it has an electric motor to help. Must be a bit of a Catch-22 trying to decide on battery size! Too small, and you'll flatten it on your second hill. Too big, and you'll be pedalling your 20kg battery back home over all the hills you cruised over on the way out.

What I look forward to is the look of moral righteousness the riders of such machines will be wearing at the head of a 2-mile tailback of traffic.

 

[Scott Brady]

What I look forward to is the look of moral righteousness the riders of such machines will be wearing at the head of a 2-mile tailback of traffic.

Yeah, very funny point.

Kind of like the new hybrid owners that traded in their H2's and now have the save the planet air about them. They would need to ride a bike for the rest of their lives to make up the difference yet now they have their nose in the air. Pretty ironic to me.

 

[LR Max]

Needs storage space. That is the reason I got a designated around town bike. Two big grocery paniers can carry just about anything (unless I'm actually buying groceries, I like to just have one panier).

I agree with the other statements. If you aren't an avid bike rider, then it can be torturous and scary on the streets. Also that thing is too big to zip around cars and such. Lastly transporting that thing requires a pickup. No throwing it on a bike rack on the back of the wee little sedan.

 

[keezer37]

Come the first up-hill, all those smiles are going to change! Judging by Dad's expression, I think he's already worked out that he's gonna be pedalling for 4!

Needs some type of symmetrical drive system that detects the lack of power coming from a given set of pedals so dad can take appropriate action.


I remember when kids (me) used to ride bikes all over the place and drivers largely looked out for us. All we had to worry about was the occasional ********** teenager. Good thing kids don't ride bikes so much anymore.

 

[Nomadllc]

It looks a little bit easier than what I have going on in this situation...all that and a smile on my face!