jmartinweil
1 µW
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2015
- Messages
- 4
When I was 30 years old I rode a fine 'road-bike', then when I was 40 I rode a nice, early model of a Bianchi 'mountain-bike'. When I was 50 I was in a devastating auto accident. Through the 60's surgeries and recoveries would not allow me to use my left leg. Finally, when I was 70 my leg that was crushed in the accident left me no options but amputation. I used my old friendly, Mt. Bike to create my own e-bike. After all, I couldn't ride with my crushed leg but at 74 I could use my prosthetic leg to provide a minimum of needed thrust.
My 36V, 500W rear drive motor worked wonderfully, BUT, I was unable to maintain any balance. The cause of the imbalance was not diagnosed, it could be the head injury in the wreck, or my amputation, or it could be my advancing age.
I have decided to create a front wheel drive, 26" tricycle. I am now 77 and accept that my adventure-drive is limited, I don't have a need for speed. I don't need aggressive terrain power, my area has plenty of flat bike-paths. I spend winter in Sun City West, AZ. I didn't see any e-trike but thousands of street-legal golf-carts and 10,000 seniors my age and older.
All of you are going to be facing the prospect of 'compromised-balance'. An option is the stabilizer wheels but they also require a sense of semi-balance. I am a 6'3", 230 lb. dude....recumbent is not an option with an old body and one leg.
I need your insight, experience, suggestions, ideas, guidance, and help in selection of what you would assemble. I know 50 amputees and would gladly share your advice with them after I build my own e-trike...SOMEDAY you are going to need this information...thanks, j
My 36V, 500W rear drive motor worked wonderfully, BUT, I was unable to maintain any balance. The cause of the imbalance was not diagnosed, it could be the head injury in the wreck, or my amputation, or it could be my advancing age.
I have decided to create a front wheel drive, 26" tricycle. I am now 77 and accept that my adventure-drive is limited, I don't have a need for speed. I don't need aggressive terrain power, my area has plenty of flat bike-paths. I spend winter in Sun City West, AZ. I didn't see any e-trike but thousands of street-legal golf-carts and 10,000 seniors my age and older.
All of you are going to be facing the prospect of 'compromised-balance'. An option is the stabilizer wheels but they also require a sense of semi-balance. I am a 6'3", 230 lb. dude....recumbent is not an option with an old body and one leg.
I need your insight, experience, suggestions, ideas, guidance, and help in selection of what you would assemble. I know 50 amputees and would gladly share your advice with them after I build my own e-trike...SOMEDAY you are going to need this information...thanks, j