We should have seen it coming...

[alpinerabbit]

....:confused::confused::confused:

http://www.gearlog.com/2006/05/the_revopower_wheel_a_gaspower.php

dood. 20 mph max.

[Bron]

:confused: Will people be using it to get to the gym?

I prefer my chocolate-powered bicycle.

[Flybye]

I am all for anything that conserves fuel. Some people just don't want to pedal and if this alternative works for them - I say GREAT!! It may just lead to a pedal stroke here and there. Bring it on. In the meantime, I'll still pedal!

[Pax]

Gas powered bicycles have been around and popular with the "Dewey's" (folks with a DUI conviction) for years. They require no license and can get you around town and to a job that may be too far to walk or off a bus line.

[alpinerabbit]

You still get wet when it rains. I just mean this is yet another excuse to not have to exercise.

[Beane]

barf. i guess i see the point that some people might use it instead of a car, but considering that it can't even keep up in traffic, i imagine it'll just be for kids to buzz around their neighborhood. not to mention that its two stroke engine pollutes WAY more than a normal car.

[cyclinnewbie]

What's the point? Isn't a moped or scooter the same thing? Seems kinda silly to me...

[OakLeaf]

Besides anything else (which I totally agree with all of it)....

the geometry of modern bicycles is set up for rear-wheel drive, and this just seems dangerous.

[Grog]

In theory I'm not against it. But I had to read this sentence a few times:

"But, if your workplace is within 5 miles, you may want to consider using a gas-powered bicycle."

Shouldn't it be the opposite: "if your workplace is more than 5 miles away, then you may want to consider using a gas-powered bicycle."? *sigh*

And what was wrong with the previous electric bicycles?

Pedaling this when the engine is not on must be pretty tough/heavy...

[vermonster]

I have a huge issue with the line about your workplace being within 5 miles---if you're that close, pedal to work.

[Flybye]

I have a huge issue with the line about your workplace being within 5 miles---if you're that close, pedal to work.

I live within 2 miles of my job and I almost always drive. I have to transport clients quite often and the idea of pumping them to their appointments just doesn't appeal to me :eek:

[KnottedYet]

I live within 2 miles of my job and I almost always drive. I have to transport clients quite often and the idea of pumping them to their appointments just doesn't appeal to me :eek:

Here ya go! http://www.pedicab.com/

Problem solved! :D

[madscot13]

Oh I really want a revo wheel. sometimes pedalling just seems like too much. I also cannot pedal 20mph anyways.

[Flybye]

Here ya go! http://www.pedicab.com/

Problem solved! :D


That brings enabling to a whole new level...................... Thanks for the laugh!! I'd really have to LOVE my job a whole big freaking bunch to get that puppy strapped to my bike!! Nosiree...... I'll just continue to burn a hole in the ozone while I wait for hydrogen powered vehicles to be priced in the 5 grand price range!!

[madscot13]

I'm a fan of the Revo wheel and I dare anyone to call me lazy. As far as transportation goes I think I may have taken the hard way around. Living in MN without car is sort of hard. It involves a lot of compromise and hardwork moving between the suburbs and St. Paul. Living in DC with only a bike is a life risk.

Powered bikes are already here either gas or electric. The Revomotor, which I am anticipating to be really exciting- if it ever comes out, it has been delayed for a year or so now.

I think it is quite inventive: it is simpler to set up than electric bike motors, and does not need to be recharged either. Also rechargeable batteries have a limit to how many times they can be recharged after which they are discarded. current gas motors are pretty loud, so loud that I seldom here see them around. It's also just a wheel- nothing crazy requiring rack mounts and special bags.

I'm living without a car right now and I intend to do it for quite some time. The only thing is I'm a slow biker and I have places to go. When I decided to stay in DC for another year, I strongly considered buying a moped. If we are going to talk about consumerism and environmental waste that would have been a huge mistake. I would have rushed out to buy a product that required a lot to build in the first place and I'm not sure how long I would be using it when I have a perfectly fine bike that can probably haul more than the average moped. The Revo wheel would have let me use something I already have (REUSE!) or take a friends old junker mountain bike and use it as a new form of transportation. The way it looks, I think I could disconnect the throttle and switch out the wheels when I wanted to just ride my bike. But for getting up around and buying groceries I think it would be awesome.

Okay, so the marketing is trying to appeal to a broad audience, but I think anything is better than driving a car when you don't need to. What is the percentage of gasoline used to move the car? The car has its place but I don't have children, large objects to haul, or work related needs. Without getting too crazy, there is this idea that if you really want people to understand your point of view, a concept, or some theory you need to sync with their way of thinking and either stretch it or tweak it just a bit. Get people on their bikes remind them of the feeling of flight. Maybe they will catch on. maybe the motor will cut out on them and they will have to pedal. maybe they will enjoy it. People do drive for 5 miles and they have their reasons, but this could be an alternative. When I was in college I didn't know that everything I needed to get to was within 3 miles, it took some time but when I realized that you can't imagine how much more biking I did.

sorry for the rant but I really believe that this thing could be awesome.
But I also agree with everyone, it is time to do something about the state we are in.

[Tuckervill]

Maybe the "5 miles" thing has to do with the thing's cruising distance at max speed? The article doesn't really clarify that. It gets 200 miles to the gallon, but it doesn't hold a gallon of gas--it holds a bottle's worth.

I think it's a good idea. Would I buy it? Maybe, under the right circumstances.

Karen

[KnottedYet]

the actual company website has lots of info: http://revopower.com/the_wheel-specifications.html

[bean fidhleir]

I hear people claiming the new 2-stroke engines are clean, but I've never seen any data, only handwaved claims. The only data I know of says that a 50cc 2-stroke is worse for particulates than a 1.0 liter car.

[alpinerabbit]

The data I know of is standing behind a 2-stroke at a redlight and seeing, and smelling, what comes out from behind. No solution.

We have electrically aided bikes here. At least you could put up a solar panel or wind turbine in your yard to power that sans fossil fuel.

[OakLeaf]

There are clean direct-injection two-strokes, but them ain't it. Below a certain displacement (50cc?) they're not subject to the same emissions regulations as other motor vehicles, so they still use the old, dirty technology.

[sgtiger]

I think that even with an inefficient engine it would still use less fuel than a car that is fuel efficient to move a person short distances. So, in that case, it still seems better than a single occupant vehicle.

However, I would rather have a Stokemonkey (http://cleverchimp.com/products/stokemonkey/) when and if I ever get a cargo bike. Then I could comfortably peddle when I wanted to while being able to have assistance when I needed it. Some people even use them on regular bikes due to mobility issues. A friend of ours, Gypsie, had hers mounted to a recumbent that she used during her rehibilatation from an accident (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002999236_bike17m.html) to help her up the hills around her home. After her recovery she moved it to an Xtracyle to help her haul her DS and cargo. She and her DH are car-free. Anyhow, her DH has one mounted to a Bakfiets and he helped to push me up a couple of the steeper hills near their home(West Seattle) after a cargo bike ride (http://www.rideyourbike.com/xtracycleride10.html). I was totally surprised how powerful it was. I'm a total hill wimp even when I'm not trying to pull our child trailer(~30lbs) with DD(~30lbs) in it. But boy, did it ever feel like I was trying to pull a boulder at the end of that day! I could definitely feel the difference from when he had his hand on the trailer and when he took it off. BTW, he had his DS and my DS in the Bakfiets box:

http://alexandchristine.smugmug.com/photos/191584929_f5wV2-S.jpg
The Stokemonke is the red cylindrical thing behind the box:

More pics of the cargo bike ride:
http://alexandchristine.smugmug.com/gallery/3419977#191584882

[madscot13]

yeah I like the stokemonkey too. I don't have an extra cycle and I don't think I will be picking one up for a while though.

[F8th637]

I rode a pedi-cab in the Chelsea neighborhood of NYC. I thought it was a blast!

I don't get the point of a gas-powered bicycle either. Might as well ride a moped like someone else said.

[Pax]

I don't get the point of a gas-powered bicycle either. Might as well ride a moped like someone else said.
Lots of States require a drivers license to ride a moped, a gas or electric powered bike doesn't have that requirement.

[smilingcat]

oooo I love the idea of stokemonkey. I partner can't ride a bike because of her knee. With this she can let the stoke monkey do the work. And we could use the bike do our local errands like TJs and farmers market.

Do they have tandem Xtra cycle? equip it with stoke monkey then I can pedal she can sit and let the sstoke monkey do the work for her and we do our shopping!!! What a wonderful idea.

I'm soo tired of driving a car. :mad:

Smilingcat.