Cargo Bikes.

[Bigblockyeti]

It's been done. Google Tour de France electric motors.

All of it fits in seat tube/seat post. Bevel gears to bb spindle.

Makes sense as that's the kind of venue that would have enough $$$ involved to try and cheat.

 

[fiftyv8]

Apparently the cable steering used on cargo bikes is similar to that used on small boats, which makes sense I guess.

 

[slowtwitch73]

They often have a length of chain around a sprocket with cables going from the ends of the chain to save weight, etc.

<1900 tandems often had full runs of chain from bottom of rear steerer tube to bottom of front steerer tube so the man in the back could steer his woman around.. who at the time was considered incapable of steering! Bicycle built for two.

 

[Kabman]

I've thought of hiding a long, thin motor with a planetary gear set in the down tube with a 90 degree bevel gear drive at the bottom bracket .....

It already exists. Search for Vivax Assist. Not cheap though.

 

[fiftyv8]

I also found this info for a single wheel trailer.

This can be purchased on eBay in Australia for $140 plus shipping which seems reasonable.

 

[slowtwitch73]

Those are ok.. not great for big weight or slow speeds. Attachment point at axle is a weak spot.

 

[fiftyv8]

Well folks, I think I need to revise my original post as cargo bikes and/or trikes.
I feel that just thru discussion here on this topic I have been swayed slightly more towards trikes rather than bikes.
Maybe it has to do with my more senior years and abilities...
Anyway, I think during my internet surfing on this topic between boring TV shows etc, I have now found the cargo trike to my liking.
I actually feel like a bit of a hypocrite, but again I think it is just my age and love of great mechanical ideas that draws me to this particular version of cargo trike.
I have posted the link below for anybody interested to take a look at.
I can tell you it is all electric, no pedals and the front end tilts for cornering.
I like it and just wanted to share it.
I may never build it, but I will seriously proceed further before making a final decision in that regard.

https://www.jamesdysonaward.org/en-AU/2019/project/electric-cargo-trike/

Tell what you guys think please.

 

[BajaScout]

Pretty unique design. Would be interested to see how well it really steers with a load on it.

 

[Henricogolfer]

Looks really cool to me!


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[mnev]

Anybody on here built or taken an interest in cargo bikes.
I was thinking about building one just for the hell of it.
Plenty of scrapped bikes around...

Will you be welding?

 

[fiftyv8]

Yes, I can weld fine.
Usually MIG, but if I taken on this kind of project it maybe time to learn TIG welding as I have a basic unit here at home but I have only ever paid a guy to do stainless steel welding for me.
I've always been looking for the right motivation to take on TIG welding.
Can't be that hard.
Practice generally makes perfect so they say.

 

[fiftyv8]

This probably what I would try building.
It does not have suspension up front but still tilts.
That would be good enough for me and would remove a lot of extra work and costs.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I started thinking about what if you had a bike trailer that was also motorized? It could be mounted on any regular bike and may be easier to build.

 

[Bigblockyeti]

I started thinking about what if you had a bike trailer that was also motorized? It could be mounted on any regular bike and may be easier to build.

That's what I've been thinking about doing to my kid hauling trailer. The wheels are on 5/8" axles that slide into plastic sockets mounted to the frame so something different would have to be to handle the torque reaction from a hub motor. Control would also be something that would be a bit more complicated than an e-bike but the option of regenerative braking and a much larger battery would be very helpful.