DIYbanter - View Single Post

wrote:

because of the high proce of gas, would putting a motor on a bicycle be
practicle to get to work a few days a week? I live about 18 miles away
it is all highway with a wide berm for bicycles. I have a spare 5 horse
motor from an old tiller. Could I mount a bracket and put it above my
back wheel to drive the back wheel on my 10 speed mountain bike? Would
I be able to pedal it home if the engine failed? How would I rig a
clutch of some sort or would I even need it? Seems like an interesting
project.

How fast could you go with a 5 horse motor?

Give a look at electric power too. Might be cleaner and cheaper to run
depending on what you have to pay per kwh, and maybe you could recharge
at work for free off one of your your boss's outlets. :-)

Some designs use regenerative braking too. Just Google "electric
bicycle" for nearly 3 million hits.

I'm no expert, but you might be able to skirt the motor vehicle
licensing/insurance regs where you live more easily with electric power
than with gas; at least there'd be less noise to cause cop's heads to turn.

Jeff

--
Jeffry Wisnia

(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)

"Truth exists; only falsehood has to be invented."