nedgoudy

Actually, I got it yesterday.
https://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. 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.

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.

Nightshade

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.

*

chivespa1

What WOULD this be useful for though? I mean, wouldn't a trike with a basket be just as useful but lighter or even an upright bike with a trailer seems more practicle. Am I missing something here? In terms of weight, seems like you could take the speed boat seat off and replace it with something from a recumbant and save yourself some pounds.

Roody

With four wheels, I'd guess that it can handle heavier cargo than a two- or three-wheeled vehicle. Another advantage would be balance and staying upright when you park, but you have that with a trike or bent trike too.

Ned, I hope you update us after a little more time on it. (or "in it")

iluvfreebeer

How much did that cost?

nedgoudy

iluvfreebeer ask:

If you gotta ask, it is too much.

$2,500.00 Delivered, assembled
and ready (almost) to ride. (I had
to have the brakes adjusted.)

But I am learning to love this
machine for what it is, and what
it can do for me in the way of
handling chores and errands CAR FREE.

But let me warn all of you. While I was
fit and trim at 150 (at age 55) and had
strong leg muscles for a NON ATHELETE,
I will have legs the size of giant oaks by
the time I get up to speed on this baby in
a couple of weeks, (or months.)

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.

And I can see my legs are going
to get even stronger, and my speed
may increase a few mph.

And I did grocery shopping
for a week on the thing last night.

Got it equipped with dynamite lights
front and back and it is a kick to ride
at night.

Lov'n It!

People can't get enough of this thing!

Lamplight

Man, when you get back on your recumbent it's going to feel like a bullet! I always thought it would be fun to ride one, but never could justify the price. For years I've secretly thought about making one myself, but have managed to avoid doing that so far as well.

supcom

I can't see what advantage this thing has over a bicycle and a trailer. It seems like an expensive novelty with a very narrow practical application.

Platy

To my eyes, that velocar is just begging to be electrified.

nedgoudy

Yes, but it would have cost much more
and besides, I am getting quite good at
cranking the peddles on that sucker.

That, and in California, it would then
become 'eligible' for falling under a
whole new set of laws which would
have required R/L turn lights and such
which would mean more weight and
potential hassle from the cops.

Maybe when I turn 65 I will have
a beefy electric motor strapped on
the sucker, but til then I will develop
my leg muscles and ride it like a bike.

nedgoudy

Indeed, but the prospects for building
a very large storage area on the back end
made it a desirable option for me. That
it could be more desirable if it were 30
lbs lighter is true, but that would add
another $1K or more to the cost. See
the quad on this link for an example.
https://www.crank-it.com/

That sucker, or one just like I priced
recently costs about $4k. And yes,
the novelty is a factor when you are
riding down the street. And I personally
don't like the ideas of trailers, so I bit the
bullet and got the Rhoades Car, and after
an initial brake adjustment, I am glad I
did. I have had it 3 days and already
have 50 miles on it. And feel comfortable
riding it day or night with the bright lighting
system I have on it.

And as for the Moutain Quad, their isn't
the storage room on the back I have with
my Rhoades Car. I prefer to think of my
Rhoades Car as the cadillac boat or SUV
of HPV's and treat it accordingly as a
utility vechicle for transporting groceries
and getting around town in style.

But your intial assumptions are quite
correct, I won't deny that. I just never
liked the idea of a trailer on the back of
a bike. I had a device called a K9 Cruiser
on the back of one of my bents to let my
dog run next to me on the bike but I took
it off when it started chewing up the rear
end of the bike and have always thought
a trailer would do the same. Just me probably,
but that was one of the factors. That, and I
have had friends who pulled Bob trailers on
the back of their Penninger Trikes and it didn't
look like fun.

spambait11

Well, because of its weight and style, it probably is not a target for thieves.

Bored youths, on the other hand....

Are you going to put a canopy on it?

nedgoudy

No! A canopy doesn't appeal
to me, and would just
weigh more. Same with
the fenders, too much weight.

It has a nice 3/4 inch bar welded
to the frame that makes for double
duty as a handle for seating yourself,
but I use it for my Cell Phone and
Garage Door opener caddy, AND to
loop my beefy 1/2 cable lock around
it and a pole or building support that
is firmly bedded in cement.

And I won't be taking it out for
any 45 mile rides on days that
are 115 degrees. At least not
yet! :O)

Roody

I think fun is an important factor. People love autos because they can move stuff and they're fun. Creative alterna-bikes are similar to cars in that regard.

Another advantage--if you've ever fallen off a bike, you might appreciate something like the Rhoades or a trike. I don't see myself getting something like this, but I never say never!

nedgoudy

I did 30 miles this early evening
on my Rhoades Car and got back
after dark.

https://www.rhoadescar.com/4w1p-j.jpg

First time climbing hills with the thing
and it went smooth, but not fast.
It is a kick though, and the dark blue/
purple twilight in the little college town
(actually two college towns) made for
a wonderful ride. Light breeze, 68
degree temperature and no humidity.

It was a delight! And coming home I
reached breathtaking speeds of about
18 mph on 4 wheels and that was a kick
too and I still had two or 3 higher gears
that I didn't even use.

CommuterRun

Cool quad.

I wouldn't be dismayed with the speeds your getting on a bike like that. Actually, they don't sound bad at all. Those are about the speeds I ride on a Townie towing a 14 1/2' canoe loaded for fishing. But you've got 33 more gears than I do.

Cosmoline

I may have missed it, but how much does it weigh?

nedgoudy

Somewhere between 75 and 100 lbs.
Base weight is 75 and I got a few bells
and whistles. But I have come to terms
with the beast and have taken it out on
a coupla 30 mile rides that were a lot of fun.

Took my Siberian Huskie out behind it tonight
but she couldn't keep up. And she is usually
good for 10 or 12 miles at a good clip.

Old Dirt Hill

I'd like to see some photos if you get the chance. First thing I would do is rip that awful seat off of it - that must way 20lbs alone.

Best of luck with your unique new purchase!

Old Dirt Hill

Do you need to lock it up when you leave it at stores? I'd be concerned of the novilty factor and someone wanting to play with it while left unattended.

nedgoudy

I have a heavy duty Cable lock that I
secure it with around steel poles and
such when I go into stores.

As for the seat, it only weighs about
6 lbs total. But it is very comfortable
and actually reclines a bit while the
vehicle is in motion. It feels quite
comfortable.

I will try and get some pictures up soon.
I need to get a neighbor to take some
pictures of me riding it and maybe a
video too.

Portis

HOw long will it take to tear off that derailleur?

nedgoudy

I am 'very' conscious of the fact
that that thing is there and I can't
run over stuff in the middle of the
rode. I ain't gonna worry about it.

It isn't as low to the ground as it looks.
I probably have a good 8 inches.

chele

Hi! I have a Rhoades Car too and I love it! I use it to peddle to work and run errands!

nedgoudy

I haven't really ridden my two
other recumbents since I got mine
other than a couple of small runs to
the store for milk. I am spoiled on
the Rhoades Car. What a trip. I am
still learning new gear combinations
that are better than others as there
are NO illegal gear combinations on
the 36 speed quad.

It isn't the fastest ride, but it sure
is cool, and fun to boot!

It is nice to know I am not alone
on the boards here.

Rhoades Cars Rule!