Sometimes in this life we forget that we can do the work ourselves. This is overly true in America. One of the reasons I haven't got around to building another motor bicycle besides the lack of cash is that I have found it can be fun just to be your own motor. Just riding bicycle lately the morning has opened my eyes to the fact that as you ride near the main roads I can't even hear my own headphones. It reminds me that not too long ago people didn't have the constant hum of the freeway. Back to the current world, in my bicycle trips I have met people who don't own a car. I have to say the idea amazes me. I know people in rural areas couldn't live without their cars, but my father in law lived in Mora and for the warm half of the year he would ride bike or walk to work. I hope to find a job that can support my family and let me bike or walk to work.
I just saw Eat Love Pray and love how in every part of the world the main person didn't have a car. In fact she walked through most of the movie. How come none of us can do that?
Monday, September 6, 2010
Friday, September 3, 2010
18 Volts! 18 Volts!
If you have the joy of children and a lot of money you get to put them in a slow moving brightly colored Power Wheels (don't forget the s on Wheels when shopping on craigslist) with a cute little radio and pictures of your favorite cartoon pasted all over it. If your poor and have children you use craigslist and find one without a battery for ten or fifteen dallors. They are sun faded, cracked and missing parts. Then you figure out how to run them on "alternative fuels" which is not to be confused with better, faster or cleaner, just cheaper than something stamped "Power Wheels". I give you the 18 volt Harley Davidson! This thing runs on a Tool Shop nickel cadium cordless drill battery from Menards for $15. It can be recharged 500 times, works in freezing conditions, last about 10min. and weighs almost nothing. It only takes one hour to recharge too, not to shabby. The extra voltage gives a boost in speed too, but man does that wiring get hot. Nothing has melted yet so let her fly!
The best part is I can use the battery in the Hello Kitty Motorcycle once the kids learn to ballance! The fact that it only goes 10min is important, otherwise they could escape from home, just kidding. I can wire in other batteries latter to make the bikes run longer, but I just wanted to see how well it ran first and I am impressed.
If you have the joy of children and a lot of money you get to put them in a slow moving brightly colored Power Wheels (don't forget the s on Wheels when shopping on craigslist) with a cute little radio and pictures of your favorite cartoon pasted all over it. If your poor and have children you use craigslist and find one without a battery for ten or fifteen dallors. They are sun faded, cracked and missing parts. Then you figure out how to run them on "alternative fuels" which is not to be confused with better, faster or cleaner, just cheaper than something stamped "Power Wheels". I give you the 18 volt Harley Davidson! This thing runs on a Tool Shop nickel cadium cordless drill battery from Menards for $15. It can be recharged 500 times, works in freezing conditions, last about 10min. and weighs almost nothing. It only takes one hour to recharge too, not to shabby. The extra voltage gives a boost in speed too, but man does that wiring get hot. Nothing has melted yet so let her fly!
The best part is I can use the battery in the Hello Kitty Motorcycle once the kids learn to ballance! The fact that it only goes 10min is important, otherwise they could escape from home, just kidding. I can wire in other batteries latter to make the bikes run longer, but I just wanted to see how well it ran first and I am impressed.
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