Mega-Monster Enduro, February 6, 2016, Paicines, California

mrbill

10 kW
Joined
Jun 10, 2008
Messages
532
Location
Silicon Valley, California
Hi Folks:

Ebikes and other forms of human-powered transportation are welcome at this open road event in Central California (about 1 hour drive south of San Jose, 6 hours north of Los Angeles). Ride 100 miles or 100 kilometers. Please see details at the following link:

http://megamonster.lowkeyhillclimbs.com/2016/

Now is the time to work on your bike's aerodynamics and pedaling ergonomics and to work off those extra pounds or to keep them from accumulating. Since we run on open roads and are insured as a bicycle event, please note the few restrictions on hybrid-electric ebikes at the link above. I hope to see some interesting ebikes there in February and to see some of the prior years' participants.

Additional links:

Registration:
https://www.bikereg.com/megamonster2016

My 2015 blog entry:
http://mrbill.homeip.net/bikeBlog.php?2015#lkMegaMonsterEnduro.2015.02.07

Official 2015 Results:
http://megamonster.lowkeyhillclimbs.com/2015/results.html
 
Looks like we'll have excellent weather on Saturday.

Any ES'ers planning to participate?

Registration closes midnight PST tonight (2/4/2016).
 
Hi Folks:

I was disappointed not to see any other e-bikers at this event last weekend on a day when we enjoyed the best weather we've had in several years, warm and sunny with high temperature around 21C.

Here's my blog entry and photos from the event:

http://mrbill.homeip.net/bikeBlog.php?2016#lkMegaMonsterEnduro.2016.02.06
 
mrbill said:
Hi Folks:

I was disappointed not to see any other e-bikers at this event last weekend on a day when we enjoyed the best weather we've had in several years, warm and sunny with high temperature around 21C.

Here's my blog entry and photos from the event:

http://mrbill.homeip.net/bikeBlog.php?2016#lkMegaMonsterEnduro.2016.02.06

Nice job, Bill! I wish I could have made it down this year. Too busy with the day job. Hopefully next year will be better and I'll have my own drive system by then if all goes well...
 
Bill,

I think it is safe to say that yours is the most efficient EV on this site. I really wish somebody made a roto-molded polypropylene body for two wheel recumbents. They would be only a bit more aero than your soft shell, but could greatly improve the crash protection.
 
Warren said:
I think it is safe to say that yours is the most efficient EV on this site.

Maybe. My bike weighs a bit more than a typical build at around 50kg (when I have it fully-loaded), so with steeper up and down and lower speeds, a lighter unfaired bike might have an advantage. I know that a fast velomobile such as the Quest has a lower CdA. A couple pilots have electrified their velomobiles, but I'm still waiting for an electrified version show up at MegaMonster.

I really wish somebody made a roto-molded polypropylene body for two wheel recumbents. They would be only a bit more aero than your soft shell, but could greatly improve the crash protection.

A single-track streamliner can be difficult to control in conditions most people would consider "mildly breezy". But, John Tetz (in the midwestern USA) built such a steamliner and even added a small electric motor system to his. I have no idea if he is still riding it much these days. He was into his 70s a few years ago.
 
PaulD said:
Nice job, Bill! I wish I could have made it down this year. Too busy with the day job. Hopefully next year will be better and I'll have my own drive system by then if all goes well...

Hi Paul:

Thanks. Hope you can make it next year. I'll try to reserve good weather again.

Looking forward to seeing your build.
 
We rode a couple WHIRL events around DC back in the 1990's. John was riding one of his hardshell streamliners (not the Zote foam) on at least one of those. I remember the little red directional signals, and the left-hand freewheel he had made for it. There were some hardshell streamliners on at least one of the Seagull Centuries back then too. I remember them flying past the 8 man pacelines.

A hardshell streamliner is surely a handful in a crosswind, but great in a crash. I saw Fast Freddy Markham drop a kevlar Goldrush streamliner, at the velodrome outside Milwaukee, going 50 mph. He got off with just a shaking up. Another guy, in a college entry in the road race through the park, dropped it in a turn and slide into the curb. His fairing broke and he got some cuts, but wasn't badly hurt. This was well above normal bike speeds, and probably would have ended much worse without the fairing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5Dapy1xUq0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFp2gNfnjBA
 
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