Thank God for Regen Braking

[Electrobent]

I was able to slow enough not to be seriously hurt when a teenager turned left (in a left-hand drive country) in front of me.

My recumbent's frame is bent, the back wheel is tacoed, but the GM front wheel appears to have survived intact.

[Bikemad]

I'm amazed that they can drive a car, send text messages, play with the radio and still be able to turn left all at the same time!
They say that riding on two wheels is dangerous, but as far as I'm concerned it's usually careless car drivers who are behind the danger.

Seriously though Eric, I do hope you're not too badly bruised and scraped (or psychologically damaged) from this incident.

At least with a recumbent you hit it feet first not head first, otherwise it could have been much worse!

How difficult is it going to be to claim compensation for the damage, presuming they were insured?

Alan

P.S. I do however think you should be thanking GM for the regen instead of God.

[Electrobent]

I go to the doc this afternoon.
I am really stiff and walking with a cane but I don't think I suffered any long-term damage.  The docs should be able to confirm or deny my wishful thinking.

As for psychological damage, this may make me miss my planned vacation as I do not feel up to driving a 1000 miles now.

It happened in a ritzy 'hood and the girl was only a few blocks from home.  She had insurance and with any luck I'll be building up a new bike, or maybe I'll get a tadpole trike this time and have to figure out how to get two motors running off of one throttle.

On a more positive note, I bought my 5-year old a bike and took him to the park to ride it.  I jacked up the training wheels all the way and he road it around and around the park as fast as he could saying "I want to drive." 

I think I will be looking for a tandem in about a decade and have this kid be my stoker!

[Bikemad]

or maybe I'll get a tadpole trike this time and have to figure out how to get two motors running off of one throttle.

Running two motors from one throttle is reasonably straightforward, attaching the hubmotors using a single point axle fixing might be more of a challenge though.

Twin regen with a forward C of G might not be such a good idea, the weight of a rear motor would help to move the C of G back a bit and keep the rear end in contact with the road:


I do like the idea of this semi enclosed tilting electric one:

Click image to see it in action.

Alan
 

[Electrobent]

Cool!

I wonder what one of those costs?

[Electrobent]

My bike may be back on the road before I am ready to ride it.

My Turner T-Lite frame was bent beyond repair but I found a slightly older, square tubed, Turner SWB recumbent on Craig's list for a good price.  It's basically the same geometry as the newer model so I think I can just swap everything over.  It has a 24 inch rear tire instead of 26 but it has a long horizontal dropout so maybe a 26" wheel would work.  I am going to have to swap out the 16" front forks for a 20" but the seats seem the same.

I may have to break down and order that over-priced controller interface cable though . . . ,

My knee has two torn ligaments, two bruised bones, and a torn meniscus but the Ortho says I'll be riding by Christmas.

Hell, its too hot to ride now anyway.  (109 today--it finally got hot in Southern California).

[Leslie]

Sad to hear EB.  And good to hear youre OK.

I find it good to ride in the summer with no pedals.  Better than getting in a hot stinking car IMO.

Oh thats 42C

We to get temperatures exceeding 109F. I too live in tropical zone QLD australia. 

109 is a little excessive. lol  I still love riding early mornings in summer though.

Well we keep you entertained while youre off the road hey.

[MonkeyMagic]

he les why has your name changed?? what happened!

[Electrobent]

I have learned that my replacement frame is a Turner LB "E" from the very early 1990's.

I think I have finally found a rear wheel that will work--though I will be shoving a 130 mm hub into 126 mm forks.  But I need to use a cassette in order to get a high enough gear for when both rider and motor and working as hard as they can.

Wow, I had no idea that bikes had evolved so much in the last 30 years: 10 speed rear clusters, 10 inch disc brakes, 160 mm rear forks with undished wheels.