Took Delivery on Rhoades Car Today
 

The 4 wheel bike that drives like a car.

Actually, I got it yesterday.
http://www.rhoadescar.com/4w1p-j.jpg

When I took it out of the box
(crate) I was sh*tting bricks
since unbeknown to me at
the time the factory had pretty
much LOCKED down the drum
brakes on the two back wheels.

I peddled it (with great labor)
down to a local bike shop and
they spent 35 minutes on it
and adjusted them so I can
ride it.

First impressions. Don't buy one!

For about 800 bucks less
you could buy a nice NEW
Wizwheels trike that will do
maybe 25 mph.

But that being said, and me
having paid for it, I must say
it is a kick. I did 15 miles on
it this afternoon and didn't suffer
too much, but a 5% grade will
slow you down into lower gears.

Top speed today was about 15
mph, but that was going down
a bit of a hill. I am just today
learning how to shift the 36 gears,
but averaged about 12 mph on
my 15 mile ride.

I had an EXTRA large ring (46t)
put on the one piece crank in
front. The front derailer has a 39
tooth ring, and 5 smaller ones.
Same on the back derailleur.

I am gonna do a 25 miler later this
week and will have a chance
to try the lower gears.

This is not a bike. It is a peddle car,
but one benefit, I can build one hell of
a truck bed (out of light wood)
on the back end of the thing.

The 'cool' factor of riding it is
off the chart. Men, women,
children and animals were
amazed to see it cruising down
the street. And I ride a bent
and people usually gawk at that.

One guy in an SUV in the opposite
lane was rubber necking as I rode
by and he had to lock his brakes and
skid about 25 feet to keep from rear
ending a guy in front of him.

All in all, I am glad I got the thing.
It is VERY visible unlike a low strung
trike and I have installed EXCELLENT
lights front and rear, but compared
to my bents it is a slow boat.

Top speed on my bents is about 30 mph
down a grade, or 25 mph down a gentle
1 or 2% grade.

Like I said tho, it is a hoot to
ride. And for marketing and
such it will work fine for a 15
or 20 mile radius, and that
covers just about anything I
need to do. And I have two
recumbent bikes for riding
with friends or for speed.

When I get my 'legs' on the thing,
I may take it into LA and back.
A 60 mile trip. But I am gonna
wait for the weather to cool
off a bit first.

My Rhoades car has 36 speeds,
positraction drive in both rear
wheels, dual drum brakes, and
a custom steering wheel. A rear
view mirror, and decent lights
front and rear.

But like I said. I wouldn't
recommend one if you are
interested in speed. You can
sure haul one hell of a lot of
stuff on the back of this thing
tho. And I am gonna make
a go of it for a car free/lite
lifestyle in my suburban
community.

Wow...a saddle with arm rests! That looks like too much fun, Ned. Congrats!

Congrats on your new purchase and your attempt at a car free lifestyle. Have fun with the onlookers.

Wow, Ned - Congratulations! I've never even seen one of those before (lump me in with the gawkers). That is neat! It may not be too fast up hills, but I bet you can build some momentum going down.

I wonder what a titanium one would weigh? :D

Thanks for the initial road (Rhoades?) test.

Hmmmmmm..........for a bike (car?) as heavy as the Rhoades is I can't
believe you honestly expected anything speedy to arrive. You must have
known this bike was ment for pure utility duty and that was all. Do you
really think that it would be safe to ride "at speed"???

A trip of 60 mi on the Rhoades will be a labor of love......if you complete it.

I own a Worksman PAV3 trike which is just about as heavy the the Rhoades
and find that if you take it for the pure utility machine that it was designed
as it is a swell machine. I don't ask it to do what it can't as you are mate.

So take the Rhoades for what it is and enjoy the eye candy stares you
get from folk's as you ride by. ;) ;)

Half the battle was learning to
shift the 36 gears. I rode it
15 miles yesterday and wil
do a total of about 20 today
and I can honestly say I am
getting the hang of shifting
the beast and it ain't bad.

I can easily do 15 mph down
a 1% grade and 10 or 12 up
a 1% grade. And as a symbol
of living car free, it more than
gets the job done on the street.

People can't get enough of this thing!

I love the looks of that vehicle! Can it do a four-wheel drift?

If by that, you mean can I peddle
and ride it with my hands off the
Steering wheel, then YES! It is
very well balanced AND aligned.
I have done that a couple of times,
although it isn't recommended.

I am getting addicted to this thing.

Doing a 30 miler on Saturday. I will
check back then with another rundown.

well, gawsh, what will they think of next?

How much does it weigh?

75 lbs. But I had it doing
about 17 or 18 miles an hour
tonight and about 13 on a minor
positive grade for about a mile.

I am getting my legs on this thing
and it will meet my needs I am sure.
But like I said, my legs are gonna be
giant oaks by the time I am done! :O)

Quadracycles:
http://www.bicyclecommuter.com/quadracycles.htm
http://www.momentumquadracycles.com/models.htm
http://www.ultimate-quadracycle.com/index.html
List:
http://www.bhsi.org/fourwhel.htm