Problem riding a recumbent trike uphill

Chatting with people about recumbent trikes, I have been asked this question a few times; "what is it like going up a hill?"

Difficult, because, unlike a bicycle, where you can stand up and put your weight on the pedals, with a recumbent bike/trike, you are lying down and relying entirely on leg muscles. Furthermore, they are leg muscles that you don't use much.  It doesn't take very long when struggling up a hill, before "everything hurts".

"Laid Back Mickey" posted a video about this, and why you do need an electric motor:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-yAnQdMb-k

...either a motor, or extra-low gears, or get out and push!     

Tags: nomad

More recumbent solar-powered trikes

I posted about a young couple riding 11,000km around Australia on recumbent trikes, one of them solar powered. They were Azub trikes, and the solar panels were added by the young couple. The link also has information about a ready-made solar-powered recumbent trike, the Motrike/Trikexplor 320E-Solar:

https://bkhome.org/news/202305/outback-adventure-solar-powered-recumbent-trike.html

Since then, I have found other DIY solar power conversions. There was a guy here in Australia who did it in 2014. There was a post to an Australian bike forum, don't know the outcome. Um, might have the link in my browser history; yes, here:

https://www.bikeforums.net/touring/934933-set-solar-trike-tour-us-australia.html

He also posted at the Azub blog:

https://azub.eu/set-on-a-tour-across-usa-and-australia/

About two years ago, I guy in the USA did a DIY solar conversion of a Catrike Road trike and posted videos. Here is one of them:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jx9LjzPxL7M

And one of his posts about a year ago:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FAm5R5yNcI

There are more that I stumbled upon. For example, this guy in the USA posted how he constructed the solar panels frame:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ji3v9UKhvt8&t=68s

...I see in his testing, he connected the solar panels direct to the battery, no MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) controller, so his test result is far from optimum.       

Tags: nomad

How to be safe on a recumbent trike

Continuing a series of posts about recumbent trikes. When you see "bent riders" cycling along, the thought that does come to mind is what will happen if a foot falls off the pedal and hits the ground ...ouch!

Ha ha, recumbent riders refer to themselves as bent riders.

They also refer to the foot falling off onto the road as "leg suck". This video lists 5 safety tips, including how to avoid leg suck:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tnad_ibvwY8

...the other four safety issues can be managed; I think the main concern, for me anyway, is leg suck. It looks like mountain-bike shoes are the way to go. These lock onto the pedal, as this video shows:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HdO5b2Pu1c

These shoes are readily available. For example, here in Australia, the "99 Bikes" retail chain has lots of them, as well as cleats and pedals. Here is a photo of one of the shoes:

This cleat system also is a huge plus factor for long distance riding; as the feet are locked onto the pedals, no energy needs to be expended to keep them there.   

Tags: nomad

DIY solar e-bike guides and kit

Fascinating what can be discovered online, when one persists with searching.

I have posted about a solar-powered electric recumbent trike available for purchase:

https://bkhome.org/news/202305/outback-adventure-solar-powered-recumbent-trike.html

Yesterday, posted about recumbent rider groups in Australia:

https://bkhome.org/news/202305/what-kind-of-people-ride-recumbent-trikes.html

One of the members of the Adelaide group has built a solar panel on his recumbent:

...interesting, it is a quad bike. My understanding is that in WA and most States, a quad is considered not to be a bicycle and is required to be registered. Maybe the law in South Australia is different. Or, he has been able to classify it as a disabled mobility vehicle.

Today, discovered a website that offers a complete kit:

https://ebikes.ca/learn/solar.html

I have posted this link here partly for my own future reference, as the "learn" section on their website is fantastic.    

Tags: nomad

Car secure window vent

Every year, in Spring-Summer-Autumn, I head off on camping trips, some of which are documented here:

https://bkhome.org/light/index.html

https://bkhome.org/nomad/index.html

The camping equipment includes a Waeco 12V fridge and a lithium "powerbox". Construction of the powerbox is described here:

https://bkhome.org/nomad/barrys-lithium-powerbox.html

I leave the powerbox and fridge in the car, the powerbox sits on the passenger-side foot-well and the fridge on the passenger seat. The car window has to be left slightly ajar for ventilation and cables -- which is a problem. The open window has these issues:

1. Mosquitoes get inside the car.
2. Rain comes in.
3. Not secure.
   

Two cables, one to the solar panel, the other a 12V power supply into the tent. Inside the tent, I run laptop, lights and fan off the 12V.

There is a chair and table inside the tent, but I often like to sit in the car, and that's when I discover the mosquitoes.

I don't expect much rain in the summer months, but it can happen, so that is another problem.

Go for lots of walks, leaving the car unattended, and although they are really nice people I meet at campsites, there may be a rare someone who is an opportunistic thief. The window opening only needs to be open a little bit, so fairly secure.

I thought, why not, put something together out of the aluminium sheet and extrusions in my shed. OK, this is an experiment. Here it is:

The fibreglass mosquito screening is glued on with silicone sealant. Affixed to the window:

It isn't pretty, but should do the job. Will find out how well, very soon.

I constructed it without much forward planning, learnt a few things along the way. If I did it again, would make some changes:

1. Used 0.5mm thick sheet, as that was all I had. About 1mm thick would be better.
2. I riveted angle extrusion over the holes, for a modicum of rain protection, but I think a continuous strip of angle the entire length, with notches cut so that it can be bent to follow the curve, would offer better rain protection and rigidity.
3. Sliding it over the window would be easier if the overlap was graduated. The overlap is 10mm, but next time I would cut the aluminium sheet to say 10mm on the right-side (above photo), gradually increasing to say 15mm overlap. This would make it easier to slide on.
   

Sometime in the future, if this one turns out well on a camping trip, will probably construct another for the driver's side window, so that there is thru-ventilation. I will endeavour to park the car in the shade; however, on hot summer days the car interior will warm up -- which is not so good for the fridge.

Having said that, the Waeco fridge is incredibly efficient and can easily handle high ambient temperatures.

Keen to go camping!

EDIT 20221006:
Was discussing the window vent with Mark C, and another reason came up why it may be very useful. Sometimes when driving to the South Coast of Western Australia from Perth, I don't get all the way on the same day. It depends which route and which destination, but many rural towns offer free RV overnight, and I have used those, sleeping in the car.

Stayed a couple of times at the free overnight site at the little town of Ravensthorpe:

https://www.aircamp.com.au/campsite/ravensthorpe-rest-area

...a nice place. There are toilets over the road. The town centre is just a short stroll away.

Anyway, this is another scenario where the secure vent is good to have, Keeps out the mozzies and provides ventilation.     

Tags: nomad

Camping at Cozy Corner

I have been on a camping adventure on the South Coast of Western Australia. Stayed at Parry Beach Campsite and Cozy Corner East Campground.

Parry Beach costs AU$20 minimum per night, except the host only charged me $10, as I had a small site. Quite crowded, lots of families, kids everywhere, this is peak summer, school holidays.

Initial impression; lots of mosquitoes.

http://www.findacamp.com.au/camp-site.php?camp=1760

Next, I went to Cozy Corner East Campground. Like Parry Beach, no booking, just turn up, but this one is free. Maximum stay 7 days.

https://www.aussiecaravanninglifestyle.com/cosy-corner-east-free-camp-wa/

Here is a video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8zFxCxN0cs

My impressions:

Nice place, you can't beat FREE. There is one downside to the tent-only area, it is just over a sand dune from the ocean, so there is the continual sound of the waves crashing. OK, but a bit too loud if you like quiet to get to sleep.

I did not experience any mosquitos, but there are March Flies -- these bite.

https://www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/J_M/March-flies

Although it is crowded, the 7-day limit meant a continuous turnover. In the tent-only area, there was nearly always one site available. I observed some people just stayed one night, so if you arrive in the morning there is a good chance of finding a free spot.

Ditto for the caravan camping area. I observed some vehicles at the entrance early in the morning, waiting for people to leave. The Camp Host can help out here, as they have a record of everyone staying, and check with them upon arrive to find out if any spot is scheduled to be vacated.

And then there are those who take off before the allotted 7 days are up. So yeah, even if you have a large RV or caravan, just arrive early in the morning and you have a very good chance of finding a vacant spot. This is peak holiday season, so the situation should be even better off-peak.

No phone signal in my tent, but a short walk to the beach and got a weak signal. Also, there is a path up a sand dune with weak signal at the top. I am with Vodafone.  

Tags: nomad

Stealth camping

Here in Australia, there is a growing trend of people in campervans "free camping", illegally or otherwise. Many shires on the East Coast are getting quite aggressive about this, imposing large fines. But it still goes on, and there are websites with guidelines on how and where to park. Like, for example, make your van look like a tradesman's van rather than a campervan.

But stealth camping can also apply to those just on their feet. Homeless people of course.

Many years ago, while travelling by car, bus or train in urban areas, I had the habit of spotting places where I thought someone could camp overnight without being seen. Don't do that anymore, but I was surprised to read that others also have that habit:

https://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=173814#p173814

There are some YouTube videos with guidelines to stealth camping on the foot. I recall, a couple of them advised that you need to look like you are just out for a day walk. A lumbar pack or small shoulder pack, but not a big backpack with tent poles strapped to it!

There are a lot of bush trails east of Perth without designated overnight camping, for example the track from Mundaring to Northam. I am sure that many people just camp discretely, leaving no trace.

There is also an attraction to stealth camping -- security. On a trail, if you find a spot off the trail, you can easily select a place where no one is likely to see you. As opposed to staying at a designated overnight shelter, where everyone on the track will see you.

If you search for "stealth camping" at YouTube, you will find heaps of hits. Here are a couple from Steve:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qhf88k9MRZM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54H0aYgS6wo   

Tags: nomad

Day 55 end of Perth to Albany walk

I posted about Caroline walking the Bibbulmun Track, from Kalamunda in Perth to Albany on the south coast.

After completing the walk, she and her cameraman Steve have been putting the videos together, and finally, today, uploaded episode 17, day 55, when they reach Albany.

Here is my blog post at start of journey:

https://bkhome.org/news/202103/young-ladies-walking-solo-on-the-bibbulmun-track.html

She was solo for a couple of days near the beginning, as Steve had to drop out for medical reasons. Then again he had to drop out the last couple of days. He rejoined for about the final 10km walk into Albany, and if you watch that final video, you will see the camera work changes with Steve's unannounced presence:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gh3gsy57qWI

Fantastic to watch. Don't know if I will ever do the entire 1,000km, but certainly love doing bits of it.  

Tags: nomad