Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Regarding Mandatory Helmets? My thoughts exactly

You can also watch another funnier version, but with the same message.  Australia and Bogota don't seem to take the world's feedback and trends into consideration when designing and imposing their bike riding laws.

Friday, February 17, 2012

The Rhoades and Other Pedal Cars

Given that this has become my most popular post, I have decided to augment it with a few photos of potential chassi constructions for the pedal cars you see below.  this first one is a recumbent or so called by its manufacturer. This is a home made vehicle. Quite nice for the fact that is is all PVC tubing. I suppose that makes it very light. I personally like the second one better. This second pedal car is made by Mourad Feki. I did say before that he was based in france, but I was wrong. Mr. Feki is in Tunisia. I will even give you his web address. You might want to get more information from him: http://sites.google.com/site/pedalcars/home

The third specimen that we have here is a Rhodes pedal car for industrial applications. I like this one in particular because it seems very robust and light.  One more advantage of getting the Rhodes is that its construction is backed by a recognized company that makes several models and very likely by a warranty. I like warranties, even when I don't like to pay for them :))

Ok this has, for a long time, been one of my most coveted dreams. How can I go to work with the same comfort of my car, 0 emissions, using the bike trail, protected from the rain, while I exercise, etc? My research took me to the pedal car.  I decided to add some other images of pedal cars that I have acquired throughout the years. Here we have a type of pedal car made in Tunisia.
I would like to see this concept widely spread and the more information we have about it the closer we'll get to creating the ultimate pedal car for adults.  The black and the red pedal car with the child are made by Mr. Mourad Feki and I will even give you his address in case you want to contact him: ph# 2-162-268-1706, Feki_consult@yahoo.fr
Pimped out Rhodes Car
There are several kinds of pedal cars. Some of them don't have a roof, some are too heavy, some are slow, etc. In any case, I found one that might just suit my needs. On a Rhoades car, the Bicycle Forest built this pimped out Rhoades pickup truck. I frankly would prefer the Volkswagen since it is not as wide and it looks more professionally built.
Morgan SuperSport Junior
The problem is that this red one is child-size.  Well, I leave you here with a compilation of pedal cars that you might have seen before. If you want to e-mail me your ideas on how we can make the perfect adult-size pedal car, I might be willing to subsidize it. 
Here we have the Morgan VW bus pedal cars. I can see it perfectly doable for adults to ride a large size model. What do you think? 
WV Pedal Car

I also found an interesting picture in the Vanhat Velot blog. It is similar to the Morgan above. Of course I don't understand a word of what they say here and the 2008 volume is not for sale. I wanted to see more details of it. For now here you  have the picture of it.

Don't hesitate to send your comments.
Enjoy :)

Thanks to the Samba.com and The Bicycle Forest.

Monday, February 6, 2012

Making use of Availble Technology



The Wee Ride's Kanga
Kanga by Wee Ride from Australia
Very appropriate for those of us that are expecting or that already have children. Why not just appropriate, but very appropriate? well because I used to think that the coming of children would stop me from doing all the things that I like and the main one would be  riding my bike. Well, as I am coming to find, there is a ton of devices out there for your child or perhaps for you to carry your child.
 

Tyke Toter
  

Safe T Seat on a Public Bicycle

These two devices called my attention for their simplicity, practicality and for being inexpensive. With only one bolt either in the front or back of the bike, Tadaaaaaaa!!!! you are in business... in the bike riding business with your child.


Go Go Babyz

Go Go Babyz
 This cool suitcase-like carrier amazed me at the Minneapolis Airport as the one cool mother pulled child and seat mounted on the Go Go Babyz carrier to then board the plane and stow it in the overhead compartment as if nothing. This is also an inexpensive device that will free you from having to carry those bulky wheels from place to place. - Enjoy :)




How fancy can this be? Look at how this mother can convert her Taga stroller into a Taga tricycle and back. or if you look at the even smaller seats above, all you have to do is attach them to the front or to the back of the bike and you won't have to buy another bike or any other fancy devices for your child to accompany you. For around $60 to $80 you will be completely set. 

I hope you find this research useful. Happy riding :)