Finished bike

Well this is the finished bike although testing hasn't even started yet and no doubt there will need to be a lot of refining through trial and error.
That will begin soon

More innovation

These photos are of the car manufacturer Audi, they have dabbled into bicycle creativity by producing a concept bike. It is a mountain bike equipped with an electric motor and it's capable of an amazing 80kph and a charge will even get you 70km. Not bad! It's light and looks stunning! It even has a mode so that you can pull wheelies !

Trial and error

In the past week I have taken the bike on a couple of test runs, unfortunately I have had a few teething problems mainly to do with the front steerer but hope to have this sorted out this week.
It is always a hard balance when you are on a tight budget to get the best result. I had bought a top quality front shock at an extremely cheap price knowing I would have to do a few repairs to it. Those repairs have been a little more challenging than I hoped.
I still haven't got the engine working so far just been using it with just pedaling it. I am very happy with the Rohloff hub. It is outstanding to use.

From browsing the Internet I noticed the photo below. It is quote an amazing concept. It is called a Velomobile ! Basically that is a enclosed bicycle which are quite common in some countries and there are many variations of them. I first saw one of these in Switzerland 12 years ago called a Twike, that one was pedal power and also electric power. This one is both pedal powered and electric and it floats and has a propeller on it, quite ingenious

Brillance

Have done a little more on the bike lately and now have the pedals on. 


I have been getting some items made locally here in Kolkata by a trademan who has a little engineering business hidden away in a back lane just a short walk from home.
I am blown away by how cost effective it is to get him to make things. I got him to machine down a sprocket for me the other day, something that would have cost $60-70 but here it cost me 150 rupees, yep that is a total of $3.55 ......amazing !


Today just want to pay tribute to some amazing German engineering. I was fortunate enough to purchase a second hand Rohloff gear hub for my bike. I managed to purchase it in Canada and then get it shipped to Tennessee, USA in time for a team to bring it over here to India.
This is a hub is the internal part of the rear wheel and has 14 gears, it is quite a piece of engineering, I am told they are indestructible and can handle the power I intend to put through it.
It means I do not need to have a de railer on the front or the back and suits the gearing I have chosen for the bike.

Bike without engine

This is what the bike looks like without the engine.
It weighs 17kg without the engine. Not bad for a bike made of stainless steel.

Ganges

Just a neat shot of the Ganges down the road from our house

Mudguard

Yesterday was a public holiday, "May Day". Was nice to have a day off work but more importantly a day to work on my bike.
Spent most of the day making the rear mudguard but can't say I am really happy with it. I think I might have to remake it.
Itching to get this finished !