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Old 09-24-2009, 03:06 AM   #3 (permalink)
Bicycle Bob
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: N. Saskatchewan, CA
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Appliance White - '93 Geo Metro 4-Dr. Auto
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Oz is blessed with the Pedal Prix race series for pedal cars, as well as Greenspeed, the recumbent trike makers who have long wanted to build a full velomobile. The basic factor in such designs is that the average human puts out 1/10 HP. However, a bicycle rider can go twice as fast with good streamlining. To convert a motor car, you would be limited to approximately the speed you could push it, (although hills would give wide variations) unless you made it a hybrid. However, adding pedals to a much larger motor just gives you a mobile exercycle. This requires excellent ventilaton, which is detrimental to the streamlining, but the sun shade effect can sometimes allow a higher power output than on an open bike. If you use a pedal power meter to control the big motor, it makes you feel bionic, and promotes fitness instead of a feeling of futility. If you don't intend to add battery power, there's no good reason, economic or otherwise, not to adapt a standard bike chain drive, and it is almost always best even with another booster.
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