Originally Posted by korovan
Well, I'd rather not do the commute AT ALL really, but I may have to (I'm thinking of relocating to a rural area). And in thinking about it I have developed several reasons why an hour on a bike/trike is better than 20 minutes in a car...
1. I don't like driving. Never have. I don't even own a car, haven't driven in over 12 years, and (naturally) consider myself to be an unskilled driver.
2. Since I don't own a car already, it would be considerably cheaper to buy (and maintain) a bent trike than a car (although some of the high-end models I've seen are 6-7,000 USD+, which is insane...).
3. As trite as it might sound to some people, since a trike uses no gasoline, I will be doing my little bit to both help the environment and reduce our national/cultural addiction to oil (with all the attendant problems that come with it...). Plus I won't be shelling out wads of dough at the pump.
4. As it stands right now, I
already do about 60-90 minutes of cardio exercise at the gym. If I start doing this trike-commute thing, I can pretty much skip that bit and proceed straight to the weights. Less time at the gym = good.
5. Like all good "Plan A"s, I have a "Plan B" to back it up. My lady-friend has a car, so on the days when it is pouring down rain/snow/sleet, or I'm feeling like a wuss because of having a slight cold or whatever, I can beg her for a ride instead. But, I'm such a stubborn SOB that those days should be quite rare...
Korovan,
From your statements above you should really consider this:
http://www.electric-cycle.com/index.html
RunAbout Cycles has been building electric cycles and serving the alternative transportation community since 2004. We specialize in crafting electric hybrid tricycles, and our staff offers quality support for a wide range of electric cycles, including electric tricycles, bicycles and motorcycles. RunAbout Cycles’ recumbent adult tricycles are fun, healthy, and environmentally friendly. Using their electric-assist, you can drive wherever you need to go, be it to the store, to work, or into the country, up to a range of 80 miles. We at RunAbout Cycles are here to answer any questions you may have about our company, our services, or our electric cycles.
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http://ecospeed.net/products.html
Electric Mid Drive Kit, Sun EZ-Tadpole Trike
Electric Mid-Drive with mounting hardware for Sun EZ-Tadpole Trike. Bolt on installation for motor unit. Slight modification of right handgrip required for throttle installation. Battery mounts on top of rear rack. Does not affect Pannier attachment.
Prices are for the mid-drive and batteries only. For you commute get the 750w and 30a battery, just add trike.
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For speed the EcoSpeed GRR with fairing and body sock should be faster than anything less than a full faring racer.
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You could really cut your time using one of these, and add some solar panels, battery at home and a charging system and really be independent.
-- Brandy