Adding non-Newtonian fluid to bearings

[Hummina Shadeeba]

My bike uses just a throttle and won’t allow pedal assist and the cranks have no resistance and will just free spin. I’m getting cold and stiff riding without exercise. Non-Newtonian fluid I think would just squirt out the side of the bearing but what other way would work giving this even resistance effect? I want smooth turning cranks with lots of resistance. A truly sealed bearing with nn fluid I think would do this but truly sealed bearings I don’t think are common, at all, if ever.


I just bought some crazy cheap 3d printed steel part ($22), n $18 shipping. cheaper than machining. What u think of printing a bearing in steel with a hole to pour in nn fluid, then seal the hole somehow. Just two bottom bracket bearings.

 

[neptronix]

why not get a bigger chainring and/or turn the power down?

 

[aae34]

Your throttle, i presume ?

 

[glennb]

i can’t comment on the fluid proposal, and clothing solves the cold, but I’d look to repurpose parts from a stationary bike or rear wheel trainer. Failing that, a disc caliper clamping the chainring.

 

[Chalo]

Sounds like a job for a pedal bike that you ride sometimes.

When I ride one of my pedal bikes, my subjective impression is that's it's easier and more fun than I tend to remember it. Then when I switch back to an e-bike, that feels more exhilarating than it did before riding the pedal bike.

 

[Hummina Shadeeba]

Hopefully this pic explains better and a bigger chainring isn’t going to help. It has freewheeling cranks and a hand-twist throttle. The only resistance at the pedals is the bottom bracket bearings and they’re super smooth.


I was thinking of replacing the bb bearings with some kind of smooth mechanical resistance. 3d printing steel 2-piece “bearings” with big paddles connected to half the bearing and fill it with thick grease or nn fluid, and seal it.