Back on June 10th I reported that my creative juices were surging and I was busy designing a new recumbent tandem bicycle with electric assist. Well today I can report the first piece of the new bicycle is complete. I can hold it in my hand.
The heart of the electric boost system has to be a device to accept power from either the pedals or from the motor or from both at the same time. I knew it could be done because I saw it working at the Oregon Human Power Challenge. I twisted the problem around in my mind and scribbled ideas on paper for a long time. I wanted it to be made out of off-the-shelf bicycle parts. I made a couple trips to Citybike Workers Coop at 19th and Ancany in Portland. This group salvages parts from discarded bicycles and puts the best parts together to make saleable bicycles. They also have bins and bins of bicycle parts that you can rummage through and try unusual combinations. I selected a couple rear wheel drive components, (a Shimano Deore Freehub and a BMX Freewheel), and brought them home. After a week of turning and milling the pieces on my lathe I can now slide them together in a unique new Power Distribution Hub. This is the first tangible piece of the new bicycle. See photos below.
I am now ready to purchase a motor and gearbox. The specification for the electric stoker drive system is this.
We also picked up materials to create a seat for Judy. I created one earlier for me. It is made of half inch poly-foam, covered with Aramid fabric and Epoxy resin. Aramid fiber, or Kevlar, is what bullet-proof vests are made of, so it ought to be a bullet-proof seat. Stay tuned for a blog on a FRP lay-up episode. It ought to be a gooey sticky mess.
We are still in Hillsboro for a few more days. Then we plan to take our sailboat, Regal Jug, up to Anacortes, Washington for a couple weeks of sailing adventure. Last time we did this in 2006 we put a new tongue in the boat trailer. See (under construction – link goes here)
For now, we send our love and bid you all adieu.
Gary and Judy
