etard
100 kW
I live in Southern California where it rains maybe 30 days a year. I know that a friction drive sux in the rain, but is it really that bad considering efficiency? I heard that it only requires about 5 pounds pressure against the tire and if you use a 1 inch wheel, you are getting a 26:1 gear ratio. It seems with all the talk about RC motors that everybody is hung up on the drive. Is friction drive noisy, inefficient, or otherwise micky mouse? Can somebody please tell me why I shouldn't go this route?
I have been thinking about simplicity and weight. I want to cut and attach a gates timing belt drive to a rim, mount a motor with a belt sprocket to the rear triangle with a cable actuated engage to rim. To keep my bike light and stealth, I want to use an rc controller and just carry the battery in a backpack. Would there be a major loss of efficiency on account of the friction from a straight line drive (motor plane) to a circular (rim) driven? What are the limitations of this in watts, anybody?
I have been thinking about simplicity and weight. I want to cut and attach a gates timing belt drive to a rim, mount a motor with a belt sprocket to the rear triangle with a cable actuated engage to rim. To keep my bike light and stealth, I want to use an rc controller and just carry the battery in a backpack. Would there be a major loss of efficiency on account of the friction from a straight line drive (motor plane) to a circular (rim) driven? What are the limitations of this in watts, anybody?