Tandem Cycling - Escape from Berkeley

“Escape from Berkeley” is a road rally of alternatively powered vehicles from Berkeley, California to Las Vegas, Nevada. Part engineering problem, part artistic opportunity, the rally challenges contestants to start their “engines” on something other than petroleum based fuel, and by any means necessary, cause their “vehicles” show up in Las Vegas three days later- using only fuels/power/motive force scavenged “for free” along the route.

All types of vehicles are welcome. All schemes for non-petroleum based transport are encouraged. In short, everything is permitted– just as long as your “fuel” is from a non-petroleum based source, your acquisition of “it” does not require money, and you start the race with no more than 10kwh of “it” on board.

http://www.escapefromberkeley.com/?page_id=6



7. Q What if I want to go really slow? Or maybe just ride my bike? Do I have to use an “artificially” powered vehicle?
A. Bicycle entries are fine, but realize that the segments are about
200 miles each day. To make this possible for bicycle entries, you
are welcome to change out riders, or run tandems/triples, or augment
human power by various means. We have been surprised how many people
are discussing augmented bicycle scenarios.


http://www.escapefromberkeley.com/?page_id=20



There is an ethanol powered recumbent tandem participating: :thumb:


http://www.escapefromberkeley.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/long_liner_color_crop.jpg


Team Name: Two Cats
Vehicle Name: Two Cats Screamer
Main Contact: Mike Gittelsohn
Location: Berkeley, CA
Vehicle Platform: fully faired Rans Screamer
Type of Fuel Used: Human Power,
190 proof Ethanol
Description: We will attempt to do the
entire race on a single gallon
of ethanol using a 35cc engine and human power.



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It is an interesting idea but I am a bit confused about the "for free" part. If you have a HPV, the fuel (food) you need for the human is not free, unless you are hunting and scavenging. However I assume you could easily store enough food with 10kwh of allowance on board. E.g., 3k calories/day/person x 3 days = 18k calories = .021 kwh.

If you need to plug into to charge up, that is a cost. They talk about using other sources from McDonalds, that does not necessarily cost "you" but it does cost McDonalds. I find it very hard to find a fuel source that does not cost in the long term. Photovoltaic and wind seem to be about the only no-cost options. Next I think would be water based systems and then organics?

Yeah, fuel source/free acquisition is pretty wide open to interpretation based on some of the other vehicle's fuel sources (e.g. wood). For example if you can tank up on used cooking oil, or pre-arrange with restaurants along the way for free top offs, then you're relatively set assuming your vehicle is mechanically sound. The best they can say is for "non petroleum" based fuels. Presumably food expenses aren't excluded.



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pterosail, trike or tandem. Uses combinations of wind power, pedal power, battery, solar panels to propel the vehicle.