solarEbike wrote: ↑Jun 18 2018 10:54pm
I don't know about any other solar bikes but my trailer handles like a dream. I can tuck into corners at high speed. With a fully loaded bike, I can barely tell it's even there except for some rattling sounds I can't seem to eliminate. I've had it up to 36 mph (58 kph) on a steep, narrow, twisty downhill with traffic right behind me and I felt I could have easily gone faster. I have speed limiting enabled so my proportional regen was kicking in and keeping me from going faster.
Is your trailer custom made?
I have a Tout Terrain Mule and it also rides(!) excellent.
You barely notice that it is there. Problem is all the situations wher you do NOT ride the bike, lets say carrieing it over stairs. Here a Trailer (and I asusme any Trailer) really sucks and this is where lightweight bikes shine. I can very easily carry the bike shown above in one Hand and have one Hand left do to other things, like open doors or carry luggage or wahtever. Add a Trailer to that and everything become difficult. This is why I think that it doesn't matter so much if your bike + trailer + stuff weights 44kg or 48kg for example. It's not fun to carry anyway.
While riding the weight also doesn't matter except for going uphill.
That's what I'm thinking, also. My target cruising speed for solar ebike touring is 20-25 mph (32-40 kph) so the right aero improvements should have measurable results, I would think.
There was a posting some days ago about the Suntrip 2015 winner who averaged 174 miles per day, but it took him 14(?) hours riding time per day. Let's assume 12 hours real riding time. That's 15mph average and ha had a recumbent and a very large solar array and he wanted to wind a race, not make a nice trip.
But I also hope 30km/h+ is doable, because on a trip I would prefer riding for only 6-7 hours per day and having time to do and visit other things, too. So 6-7h * 30km/h = ca. 200km. This is more than I do ride on a trekking bike without motor.
At 30km/h I need around 4-7Wh/km (depends on air resistance and human power and wind), so for 200km/day this is an average of 1100Wh/day. More than my planed 150W array can produce per day
Maybe 150W + 150W stored would be an option for 100% solar, but this adds even more weight and you have to isnatll a second solar generator on every stop.
Another idea is to carry 1050Wh of batteries and charge around every 3rd day using grid power.
That's around 5hx150W (sunny days) x 3 days = 2250Wh
2250Wh solar + 1050Wh stored in battery = 3300Wh in 3 days.That's 1100Wh per day.
If it rains I'm not so motivated to ride 200km/day anyway.
That's my plan.
What kind of equipment are you using? I see that FLIR now makes one for Android and iOS for US$ 200.
https://therm-app.com/therm-app/
But a cheaper one will do.
For IR luminescence (to see the microcracks) I use and old Sony F717 + a small magnet which costs around 50 USD used.
Thanks. I've done 500 miles (800 km) of road testing, much of it along open water of San Francisco Bay. Most the time, I can ride with it fully tilted and it makes no difference in handling. Cross winds were an issue only once and I just flipped a switch and the panel parked in a horizontal position as shown below. In this position, even strong side wind was not an issue thanks to the low profile and height (about 24" or 60 cm) combined with the mounting point on the bike being the rear axle.
This Looks to be one of the best solar trailer designes I have seen so far. Did you build the trailer yourself or is it based around a commercial product?
Does it offer suspension? (difficult to see)