Anyone here into Human power? I'm currently into some Bicycle experiments but my interests are really about any human power. I'd like to publish my findings and apply them to things like camp generators, and other things not specifically transportation.
Did you know:
There is a company that makes a pedal power fork lift?
The world speed record for unassisted human powered vehicles is about 90 mph?
The world record for the fastest assisted bicycle (wind block vehicle) is 183 mph?
I'm trying to redesign the human powered drive. My last effort was about a 50% increase. That's not yet verified. My latest effort to verify the increase left me to buy two more bicycles. One is control and the other is my conversion. I got them via UPS yesterday. I put one together and pedaled into the street. Instantly the derailleur got sucked into the spokes. Manufacturer defect.
Always delays. I'm waiting to hear back from the manufacturer.
I'll tell you my dream. It's to get this drive as efficient as I can and then offer it in one-off pedal cars, most resembling classic cars. Have a favorite car? I'll duplicate it at 3/5 size and put pedals on it.
I think I can get a lot more power out of leg force, but it's the bodies that break the wind that will make the cars a practical alternative to motorized personal transit.
A velomobile (fully fared recumbent, usually a trike) has a speed of about 30 mph because of streamlining. That is probably by a practiced cyclist, but not particularly athletic. Bicycle wind resistance triples when merely doubling speed, so streamlined is a serious factor.
A note on recumbents: you will hear the term "tadpole trike." That's in reference to one wheel rear and two forward— skinny tail and wide head.
Recumbents, open body, have less wind facing so they ride easier and go faster than traditional uprights. But get to a hill and all your advantage goes to pot. I'm hoping to change that.
I think my drive will allow for a bodied pedal car to comfortably reach 40 mph. But my target is urban travel with little pedal cars that will comfortably do 25 mph with two kids and bags of groceries.
I don't know if I'll ever get there. So many delays. But it's fun just doing the experiments.
If you have an interest in human power, well, me too. Let me hear what's on your mind.
Did you know:
There is a company that makes a pedal power fork lift?
The world speed record for unassisted human powered vehicles is about 90 mph?
The world record for the fastest assisted bicycle (wind block vehicle) is 183 mph?
I'm trying to redesign the human powered drive. My last effort was about a 50% increase. That's not yet verified. My latest effort to verify the increase left me to buy two more bicycles. One is control and the other is my conversion. I got them via UPS yesterday. I put one together and pedaled into the street. Instantly the derailleur got sucked into the spokes. Manufacturer defect.
Always delays. I'm waiting to hear back from the manufacturer.
I'll tell you my dream. It's to get this drive as efficient as I can and then offer it in one-off pedal cars, most resembling classic cars. Have a favorite car? I'll duplicate it at 3/5 size and put pedals on it.
I think I can get a lot more power out of leg force, but it's the bodies that break the wind that will make the cars a practical alternative to motorized personal transit.
A velomobile (fully fared recumbent, usually a trike) has a speed of about 30 mph because of streamlining. That is probably by a practiced cyclist, but not particularly athletic. Bicycle wind resistance triples when merely doubling speed, so streamlined is a serious factor.
A note on recumbents: you will hear the term "tadpole trike." That's in reference to one wheel rear and two forward— skinny tail and wide head.
Recumbents, open body, have less wind facing so they ride easier and go faster than traditional uprights. But get to a hill and all your advantage goes to pot. I'm hoping to change that.
I think my drive will allow for a bodied pedal car to comfortably reach 40 mph. But my target is urban travel with little pedal cars that will comfortably do 25 mph with two kids and bags of groceries.
I don't know if I'll ever get there. So many delays. But it's fun just doing the experiments.
If you have an interest in human power, well, me too. Let me hear what's on your mind.
