Jones Beene wrote:
Nick - it might be worth mentioning for those who have never tried to shop using a bicycle as transportation, that one of the huge drawbacks of two wheels is in balancing a large load of loose items - say groceries.
This is a BAD idea. Bad, bad. Always put the load on the back, preferably in panniers low to the ground. Keep the center of gravity low and never put anything on the handlebars. Any extra weight makes it hard to steer, and if the weight shifts you can get in big trouble.
Recently, in Japan several new bicycle designs have been introduced and made street legal, especially ones similar to this, with two wheels that bank over. These bicycles are especially intended for young mothers carrying small children. As much as I like bicycles, I think this is a bad idea. They should be making low speed electric cars for this purpose. The bicycles cost $500 to $1,500 and they are not even electric, which I think is ridiculous. A woman with a child on a bicycle (or two children!) deserves at a 250 W helper. (Riding an electric bicycle feels like having an enthusiastic companion on a tandem bicycle, who poops out after 18 miles.)
Here are some articles in English about this: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20090709f1.html http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20080725a3.html Some of these bicycles have the load on the front. - Jed
