LED LIGHTS • M318 Touring Bike with smallish Panniers built into Aerodynamic Fairings


Had a blast riding through Glen Cove about an hour ago. The rain stopped just before sunset, so I had to ride in the dark. I run the lights whether or not it’s dark out, you can tell by the rear solar panel that I use DRL and marker lights, in the daytime too. Just replaced the left side bottom bracket cup, so this was a test ride. Had this bike for 21 years , so a BB issue could be the end of it.


Extended hand guards to eliminate frostbite on my hands

Embedded stainless mounting screw to secure the hand guards

forgot to mention the handlebars nacelles have been augmented, to eliminate windchill & the associated frostbite

I set up a bike a few years ago with flashing LEDs, down the rear rack supports and front forks. It definitely made the bike very visible. But I didn't like to have wiring running around my bike, so now I use solar lights, where each light has its own battery.

It would be interesting to know how the aerodynamic fairings affect the bike performance. Like, would the weight increase negate the benefits of the aerodynamics.

The fairings definitely help top speed and coast down speed, unfortunately I haven’t got a big enough chainring to take advantage of the “theoretical” top speed. Also , I’m 250 pounds now, and I have a neck-vertebrae condition that makes it impossible for me to crouch behind the windshield correctly.
The solar panel here is a 10 watt, 12 volt , Xinpuguang flexible photovoltaic.
I am on the 18th prototype, named “Model 318” because it is based on the number 3 prototype, of 1987. This is intended as a “touring bike” , not a “cargo bike” ; We have built both touring and cargo bikes, umm, heavy touring, vs light cargo... kind of a grey area.

The 1987 Type 3 Aerodynamic Fairing had no internal storage, and had a acrylic cover over the 6” diameter headlight. These drawings were made in an attempt to file a design patent. The fairing was fiberglass. And there was no money and no time to build a Tailbox (rear fairing).

Also note, this was before LED Lights .

Artwork from the 80dpi printer. These bikes were a disaster, wasted $800.00 on Kevlar. Could have used Coroplast corrugated polypropylene at 1/3,500th the cost

I gave copies of this to students from UCAL Berkeley, and they built it

I wanted to show a few more of the drawings from my project bikes. I maybe overemphasized the photographs.

Paintings from Types 9,10, and Eleven

The Type 9 Fiberglass Ladies Bicycle, designed by my daughter in 1991.

The Type 9 was a cargo bike, the cargo fairing is frame mounted and does not swivel with the handlebars. Totally hand free riding was easy.

You would probably get much less air resistance if you had a recumbent type bike, where you catch much less wind. Then make that aerodynamic. I would have 3 or 4 wheels on it.

Another option would be to have a roof over it made from solar panels.

This is an idea I have thought about. You could have it easily removable, so you can ride a pedal only bike on some days, and an electric assist bike on other days. It would more challenging to make it as controllable as a regular electric bike, but it could work.

It may be more sensible to put a back wheel on the front, so you have a sprocket, then mount an electric motor above the front wheel, with a chain drive. Design it so it is easy to attach and remove the motor and battery.

Yes, indeed there are a couple dozen recumbent Velomobiles on the market, mainly in Europe. But how do you expect me to ride that low to the ground here in New York traffic?

BTW, the daughters bike is semi-recumbent, if the prototype hadn’t been stolen, I could have built more of them...

I agree. Safety is important, and being up high is safer.

I used to think having lots of lights was silly, but now I realize the more the better, up until it's ridiculous. Now I sometimes ride with two headlights and two taillights. I know [MENTION=106798]10 Wheels[/MENTION] rides with far more than that. I don't like to take too much time before I get on or after I get off, but I definitely don't mind how I look on the road with all my lights. I also have a light or two in the spokes of my rear wheel, and they have gotten compliments.

Model 318 Aerodynamic Touring Bicycle

Cargo Bike Doorbell

Horn Button “Momentary Contact” underside 113 db piezo + brake light

Yellow Horn Button 113db piezo + brake light

This is how I rigged a brake light. Includes an audible alarm so I know it’s working.

I would rather have one of those cool recumbents that is super aero. This one is more like the UPS or FedEx store exploded onto a bike.

In terms of lighting, dynamo is a good way to go so you always have lighting and then you can always add supplemental usb charged stuff (which I have done)

Corrugated Polypropylene Panniers Under construction

LED Lights

Charge Controller

20 watt solar panel

Charge Controller

Horn Button, also lights brake light

Horn Button

Just a few of the accessories.

There are 2 different ideas I like.

One just like this.

The other one, a 4 wheeled bike, completely open so it catches little wind, but with a flat roof made of solar panels. It could be made so the sides can be closed on rainy days.

alo, it seems people have the tools, they build whatever they want .


Bernard Houzet’s solar car

I saw this on Facebook.