Search found 19510 matches

by [XAP]Bob
12 Jan 2024, 11:38am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: BEVs
Replies: 2122
Views: 108239

Re: BEVs

Carlton green wrote: 8 Jan 2024, 8:54pm That’s a rather disappointing answer and indeed to my perspective socially irresponsible too. BEV’s are not a panacea and funding large BEV’s is actually a backwards step. If BEV’s are to be given tax breaks then they need to be very much more targeted and certainly not given to SUV’s - there should be weight, size, motor power and list price limits above which there’s no support from the state. It’s an absolute disgrace - indeed shame on those that support it - that well off people are given large tax breaks on SUV’s.

The rolling out of charging points is important but how more charging points are achieved can be contentious.
You don't need to limit motor power - because that's also your primary brake.

Tax breaks always benefit those who pay more tax more than they benefit those who pay little tax - but the aim should be to encourage development of new technology.

Charging point rollout is important, but less than people think,
AC charging is enough for everything that isn't a trunk road journey - and the vast majority of cars spend a decent amount of the week in off road parking...
by [XAP]Bob
9 Jan 2024, 3:27pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: BEVs
Replies: 2122
Views: 108239

Re: BEVs

Carlton green wrote: 9 Jan 2024, 8:30am As an aside, from 2035 one won’t be able to buy a new fossil fuel powered car, if the government were really serious about environmental damage and climate change then the general public wouldn’t be able to buy an electric SUV either.
Whilst I would certainly discourage their use - I now have an enyaq... which is a *huge* vehicle.
Because it's the only available vehicle which allows me to lift my wheelchair in without dismantling it first.

Now - if we could go back to having decent estate cars then I'm with you, but they're not necessarily much smaller/lighter.

I'd run with VED being in two parts (both of which would be payable):
- Emissions
- Vehicle Mass

It could even be based on a 10k mile "default" (nearly 30% over the UK average) with a sliding scale for those who drive their vehicles further - maybe an additional 1% VED for every 100 miles over the first 10k, maybe scale the *whole* of VED with 1% per 100 miles driven - so very low users get a discount.
by [XAP]Bob
7 Dec 2023, 6:27pm
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: Winter Trike Training (Wahoo Hub)
Replies: 10
Views: 1486

Re: Winter Trike Training (Wahoo Hub)

steve6854 wrote: 7 Dec 2023, 11:26am I don't think wheel size matters as the rear wheel isn't needed. The Wahoo hub has 135mm dropout, so you fit this as you would a rear wheel.
No, but the height of the axle needs to be compatible with the height of your dropouts, else you'll be kicking the floor as you pedal
by [XAP]Bob
7 Dec 2023, 11:04am
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: Winter Trike Training (Wahoo Hub)
Replies: 10
Views: 1486

Re: Winter Trike Training (Wahoo Hub)

Are you on a large rear wheel, or is the zwift height adjustable?
by [XAP]Bob
30 Oct 2023, 12:44pm
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: LWB eBike conversion
Replies: 6
Views: 11708

Re: LWB eBike conversioin

UpWrong wrote: 29 Oct 2023, 3:08pm I also see that Icletta sell and ship the T-cycle battery tray to UK customers without the VAT charge which you pay to the courier instead. Not sure if I'd need the tray. I thought I'd could use some topeak bottle cage clamps but a flat tray would be more solid.
The courier will likely charge an additional 8% "handling fee" for doing so.
by [XAP]Bob
25 Oct 2023, 7:54am
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: Work bike
Replies: 5
Views: 4422

Re: Work bike

Bizarre though it seems there is very little legislation around what you can tow on a bike….

It should have triangular reflectors at night.
Your brakes need to be effective - even when towing (and that won’t be an issue with a lightweight load like a ladder).

I’d be more interested in making sure the whole thing was conspicuous - quite easy to look through a ladder.


Some potentially useful resources:

viewtopic.php?t=62127 (eleven years ago I looked at this... crikey)

https://www.eta.co.uk/cycling-and-the-law/ (second question from bottom)

https://www.atob.org.uk/bicycle-trailers/

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/198 ... rt/II/made
by [XAP]Bob
24 Oct 2023, 1:28pm
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: switching to tadpole 26" or 20"?
Replies: 51
Views: 8615

Re: switching to tadpole 26" or 20"?

Psamathe wrote: 24 Oct 2023, 12:58pm
Skids wrote: 24 Oct 2023, 12:37pm OK its raining so I decided to read the regulations. When it comes to pedal reflectors it is obvious the author never considered recumbents. Here, I think, is the relevant table:
Screenshot 2023-10-24 at 12.28.25.png

So if we comply with "requirement 2" we fail to comply with "requirement 3" and vise versa .

These days I have no idea what a British Standard mark is. It use to be a kite mark or a BS number but perhaps a CE mark still counts.

As they say "the law is an ass"

best wishes
Simon
But the requirement for "size of reflecting area" is "no requirement" so I assume that 1 sq µm would comply with the letter (maybe not the "spirit").

Ian
Only if it's marked with the relevant BS mark.

CE is about product safety (this isn't going to kill you), rather than compliance with any other specific regulation.
by [XAP]Bob
24 Oct 2023, 1:27pm
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: switching to tadpole 26" or 20"?
Replies: 51
Views: 8615

Re: switching to tadpole 26" or 20"?

Skids wrote: 24 Oct 2023, 12:37pm OK its raining so I decided to read the regulations. When it comes to pedal reflectors it is obvious the author never considered recumbents.
Or tricycles, or tandems, or panniers, or indeed virtually anything other than a generic "Oh, I've seen a bicycle once".
by [XAP]Bob
21 Oct 2023, 1:49pm
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: switching to tadpole 26" or 20"?
Replies: 51
Views: 8615

Re: switching to tadpole 26" or 20"?

Squirrel chaser wrote: 21 Oct 2023, 12:52pm Also if you have reflective shoes they count or just stick a bit of reflective tape on each crank

No - they don't count.
Though if you have reflectives on the cranks you could reasonably argue that it's a disability adaptation.

many road bikes are insufficiently lit at night, because pedal reflectors on clipless pedals are like hens teeth (you can get them but basically noone does.

You could reasonably argue (though I don't know how a court would view it) that since panniers, or heels, or any number of other things make pedals not "clearly visible to the front and rear" the law is an ass but you've made every effort to exceed the visibility standard as laid down in law.
by [XAP]Bob
20 Oct 2023, 1:04pm
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: switching to tadpole 26" or 20"?
Replies: 51
Views: 8615

Re: switching to tadpole 26" or 20"?

You really want to have a slightly extended chat with Tiger, who also has one sided controls ;)

I've used linear tubes, but only as replacements (tying the circular tube to the frame to keep it out of the way until a more convenient time to work on the wheel - obviously not a problem for front wheels, and now all of my wheels are cantilevered (OK, the castor wheels on my wheelchair aren't, but they're also solid).

A trike is an HPV, as is a unicycle, and a penny farthing, and a velo... But I know what you mean.
Which HPV you choose will depend on what you expect/want to be doing.
by [XAP]Bob
19 Oct 2023, 1:12pm
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: switching to tadpole 26" or 20"?
Replies: 51
Views: 8615

Re: switching to tadpole 26" or 20"?

Skids wrote: 19 Oct 2023, 12:31pm
53 mph !
I think I would be seeking the handle for brake parachute rather than changing into a high gear - kudos!
And I wouldn't blame you at all.
I regularly hit around 45mph - not very often 50, though I have managed that on an unfaired trike before. Snowdonia is a lovely place to cycle :mrgreen:
If, and it's a big if, I was putting 90rpm into my top gear... then I'd be doing 60mph.
That's astoundingly unlikely to ever happen - the reason I gear so high is that I want the cutover on the HSD to be just above flat cruising speed.
It's a slight compromise in terms of my lowest gear, but that seems to pull me up most things. I can* switch out the final drive sprocket to reduce the overall gearing if I was going to do something more akin to touring than the current "blast around the local area"

I've often toyed with getting a velomobile but am uncertain if I have the power to take advantage of the aerodynamics. Mind you having been out in last nights storm on my Q the additional weather protection is attractive. Max speed was 7 mph into the headwind while riding looking through rain lashed spectacles covered in water drops nicely illuminated by back scatter from my front light.
My biggest velomobile regret is not buying one 15 years earlier - commuting would have been an absolute doddle...




* At least I think I can, probably not by much though, the four bolt mounts on the rohloff aren't conducive to small sprockets.
If I could find a larger left hand threaded freewheel then that would be a good option - but even the 18t ones are a bit like the teeth from a female chicken.
I could go down to 16 or up to 20.. https://acsbmx.myshopify.com/collection ... -drive-f-w
by [XAP]Bob
19 Oct 2023, 12:06pm
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: switching to tadpole 26" or 20"?
Replies: 51
Views: 8615

Re: switching to tadpole 26" or 20"?

Hub Gears I like the idea of hub gears but I will not fit them unless I can retain my present low gear of 17 inches.
With a 20" wheel at the back you can. If I adapt my mango gearing spreadsheet to have a 1:1 final drive ratio then I get gearing from 11.8" to 62.1" on the 38t chainring, engaging overdrive gets me up to 155" - a more reasonable 38/60 would get to 98"

To keep 17" at the bottom you'd top out (on the single chainring) at 90".
That's actually my velomobile's bottom range (38t Chainring -> 18t sprocket > Rohloff -> 26t sprocket on the disc mounts -> 18t freewheel -> 20" rear wheel) and I chose it because it puts the upper end of the normal gear range at 24mph at 90rpm. That's a nice cruising cadence and speed for the flat, enough gears to winch my way up the bumps around here and plenty of overspeed on the other side using the HSD (I don't need top gear until I'm exceeding 53mph).
by [XAP]Bob
18 Oct 2023, 4:39pm
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: switching to tadpole 26" or 20"?
Replies: 51
Views: 8615

Re: switching to tadpole 26" or 20"?

Carlton green wrote: 18 Oct 2023, 4:17pm Hub gears must surely be the better way forward in this instance. When used with a smaller wheel over-torquing them is a lessened possibility. Rohloff are doubtless the best available but they are pricey; one of the (relatively affordable) Shimano hubs might be enough and SA do / did a hub that had a derailleur working with it. Gear range might be an issue, gear it low and be happy with where top ends up being.
The SA hub is fantastic, and I happen to have one hanging up in the garage... I just don't have any wheels which aren't cantilevered any more. I could use it as a mid drive in the velo, but that's got a Rohloff in it...
by [XAP]Bob
18 Oct 2023, 4:38pm
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: switching to tadpole 26" or 20"?
Replies: 51
Views: 8615

Re: switching to tadpole 26" or 20"?

Psamathe wrote: 18 Oct 2023, 3:43pm Re: Hub gears: I have currently danglies but am keen on switching the rear to hub - Rohloff. Problem I seem to have (other than cost) is getting low enough gearing and staying within Rohloff warranty. Lowest on my current configuration is 16" and I like it and would want to keep it ie not wanting lowest to get higher. But talking to ICE and they say you wont get that low and keep within the Rohloff warranty. Easy to do outside Rohloff specs.

I'd still thought about it but this summer tour met a Dutch cyclist (touring in France) who was very keen on building his own bikes and he was saying how he'd broken a Rohloff under load (no e-power involved) so whilst they sound very tough, they can be broken.

Ian
take an example 38t chainring to a 16 tooth sprocket: 38/16*.279*20" = 13.3" from a 20" wheel.
And that's not at the ratio limit.