Custom Stretch 72 Volt Cruiser...other thoughts

Just in from the shop....lots of hours this week, building a custom bike based on drawings I've done over the last few months.  Long, low, and quick.  That's the plan.  Just finished welding the frame up....  have the wheels sitting here (24x3" front, 24x4" rear), the front with a 203mm mechanical Avid disc brake set up.  The rear is laced up with a Phoenix Brute (Crystalite) torque motor.  Estimated speed only about 30-32 mph, but it should be very quck.  Powered by 6-12 volt SLA batteries, for 72 volts total.  I will have photos up soon.

Cold and snowy here in Kansas, but spring is not far away, and with the early flowers, the birds singing in the mornings, comes the start of good riding weather.  Lookin' forward to it.  I ride my electric Schwinn some these days, but when it's warmer it is so fine just being out on the street.  Still a joy for me to ride with the silent power... and I still love passing up the gas stations.

Lately I have set up several bikes for "grocery-getters"....folding wire baskets on both sides to hold two good bags of groceries.  I am thinking about setting up with a small trailer so I can carry a lot more, sorta like those child trailers you see on the streets.  I think this is one of the places where the electric bikes are going to become a real presence.  There is something that is just wrong (!) about firing up a car or SUV to run a simple errand.

Simply feels good to be using the electric bike.