Considering cross country this summer - questions

[recumbentbill]

My 2 cents

I have a lot of miles racked up on non motorized bicycles. Recumbents that is. Here is my 2 cents on the cross country ride. Motored bike kits add weight. Not an issue when motoring but a big issue [for me] when pedaling with the engine off and disengaged. If your going to be pedaling with out the engine engaged keep in mind that you will have a lot of resistance to pull like---Weight of engine kit[Golden eagles probably weigh the least], your gear,extra fuel, tool kit, the fat tires and Heavy duty rear wheel etc. In my opinion since you say your out of shape I would say forget about pedaling the beast for any distance with out engine assist.

 

[dbigkahunna]

I have a DE on a 700cm frame. With 100PSI tires, this thing can zing with out a motor. I could see getting a real road bike with all the cool gearing and hooking a GEBE to it. Using the highway gearing you get with the road bike and the push with the engine. BUt for this trip I would use the 40cc and keep off the throttle.

 

[garrett138]

Touring Bike with a GEBE

I realize this thread is really old and I'm looking for the answer to this question now. I'd really like the Long Haul Trucker but there aren't any here in town to test the GEBE for fit. I was wondering if anyone has made the GEBE work on a 700c touring bike?

 

[backazimuth]

You would have to beef up the rear wheel some with heavier spokes, I think. I did ride for a while using a Staton friction drive on a Trek 520, which has 700 wheels. It worked fine, but I imagine I would go through those thinner tires a little faster. The Long Haul Trucker is a pretty expensive touring bike to be putting an engine on. I'll be curious to learn how it works for you.

Good Luck!

 

[BigBlue]

Garrett,

glad to hear some one else attempting a cross country ride. The Surly is a beast. I own one. It is not motorized. Nashbar, Performance and REI also sell touring cycles. A 54 tooth large chain ring would probably be the best if you want to peddle. Schwalbe tires would be the best for speed and durability.

You might want to consider Staton's rear axle drive kit, since you might be able to use rear panniers. Dax also sells a rear mount chain drive system, but doesn't have it listed. The rear axle could be beefed up to a 48 hole axle with a disc hub. You could then mount a top hat adapter to mount a sprocket.

http://www.staton-inc.com/store/pro..._EH035_33_5_cc_1_60_HP_Four_Cycle-371-14.html

http://thatsdax.com/KIT_REAR_MOUNT_CHAIN_DRIVE.html

http://www.bti-usa.com/public/item/HL3130

White Industries also sells a 48h with disc hub.

http://whiteind.com/rearhubs/cassettehubs.html

http://kingssalesandservice.com/top-hat-sprocket-adaptor/

Good Luck,

Chris
AKA: BigBlue

 

[garrett138]

LHT with GEBE

Thanks guys.
I bought a 10' Safari with hopes of making it work with my 32cc GEBE, but I can't get the 700c w/ disc wheel to fit the GEBE belt ring. I got the bike for $400 and don't want to spend $150-$200 building a wheel that might not work in the end; and I really wanted the LHT anyway. So now I've got the Safari on Craigslist and trying to figure out where to go next. There don't appear to be any in bike shops here in ATL with the LHT to test the GEBE belt ring on so I was hoping someone out there might have already done it.
If I go that way I'm really thinking of getting the bike with the 26" wheels and it should work without any problems. Not sure if I can make the investment right now though as I'm not sure when I'll be doing the trip. It might be as much as 18 months in the future. Got to work some things outs first.
I've looked at all the touring bikes and it really seems that for the price the LHT is the way to go. It's also the only one, that I see, that runs with 26" wheel; the 700c is not recommended by GEBE as the spokes seem to be longer and weaker.
Thanks for suggestions. Anyones experience would be very much appreciated.