Toshi's thread
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Attn @Westy
news.usni.org
The Navy tested the 150 kW version recently. Shot down a drone. Dat's a high powered laser.
Navy to Field High-Energy Laser Weapon, Dazzler on Ships This Year - USNI News
The Navy will field versions of its highest-power laser weapon and its low-end non-lethal laser dazzler later this year, gaining operational experience.
news.usni.org
The Navy tested the 150 kW version recently. Shot down a drone. Dat's a high powered laser.
I test rode a Yuba Supermarché Bosch today, at SloHi Cycles. Quite a nice shop and nice people, for the record. 100% mask use all around.
I am not entirely sold on it at this point.
Handling actually was the least weird part about it. The cable driven steering setup is pretty intuitive after about 10 feet. I was about 1/10 for trackstanding it but I bet I could get that with a little practice. The cargo box was unladen as I went by myself, but I think my wife would do fine with loading the kids in on the centerstand and then getting started.
What I didn't like:
- upright ergonomics, with about as many stem spacers and the stem angle as on the PR photo above
- this one had the canopy on the front box, and that caught the wind and was generally annoying. Definitely would not opt for this
- drivetrain noise, not so much from the Bosch motor but from the tensioner. Apparently my demo bike (used one) was previously dropped on its right and was in the shop for exactly this noise, but it was annoying.
- Bosch chintzy feeling mode selection lever and its drivetrain calibration. It just felt sluggish in every mode compared to my (admittedly much lighter) Pivot Shuttle and its Shimano E8000 setup, and this was exacerbated by a lot of perceived slack before anything meaningful happened (freewheels both at rear hub and on the motor's output gear).
Based off of this impression I'm going to play the slow game. First we'll see if Denver Public Schools is indeed going to have regular in-person classes come August. If this transpires then I'll drag the wife and kids out to SloHi in July and see how she feels about the thing in reality, with two kids loaded up in it.
I just emailed SloHi to see if they have a Bullitt with Shimano Steps E8000 built up. That’s the same system I like greatly on my Pivot Shuttle. The Bosch in the Yuba just felt unresponsive.
A Bullitt would not be suitable for my wife to use with the high top tube. At that point I should similarly find a Surly Big Easy to demo if considering more normal geometry kid haulers that would only fit me.
(And then there’s the question of whether a $1,500 plus accessories Rad Power one with mere cadence sensing would be that much inferior...)
A Bullitt would not be suitable for my wife to use with the high top tube. At that point I should similarly find a Surly Big Easy to demo if considering more normal geometry kid haulers that would only fit me.
(And then there’s the question of whether a $1,500 plus accessories Rad Power one with mere cadence sensing would be that much inferior...)
HyperScorpion: Electric Moped-Style Bike
The ultimate moped style electric bike for performance-obsessed thrill-seekers. The fully-loaded HyperScorpion features a massive 1,000W Bafang motor to fuel off-road speeds up to 30mph. Shop the HyperScorpion now.
www.juicedbikes.com
I don’t get this at all. It’s a crappy motorcycle. It’s a crappy bicycle due to gearing and ergonomics. Pick one or the other, IMO.
This one even has a Lizzard[sic] King colorway:
Larry vs. Harry Bullitt STePS E8000
The first cargo bike to incorporate Shimano's powerful, but oh-so-smooth STePS e8000 motor. An XT Di2 kit rounds out this top-shelf front-loading cargo bike.
www.slohibikeco.com
why would you want an 11 foot long ebike?
Cart things 1 and 2 to their new school, which is about 3/4 of the way to work and basically on the preferred route that I’d otherwise take.
honest question here, wouldn't they prefer riding their own bikes with Dad as chaperone?
7 year old could handle it, perhaps not every day. 5 year old wouldn't. 5.2 miles with ~200 ft elevation gain, plus she's slow as she's sized for a 16" wheeled bike thus single speed.
Couldn't you get one of those trail along bike things that hang off the back of your bike?
Yeah, if just to cart one kid then the problem is much simpler.
Also need to consider that my wife would be the one picking them up, with a then 1.75-year-old to wrangle. Having the 7 year old unlock a bike and toss it in the back of the minivan would probably be manageable.
These are super nice with really nice build quality. I have several friends who has them just in non ebike version as Copenhagen is flat.This one even has a Lizzard[sic] King colorway:
Larry vs. Harry Bullitt STePS E8000
The first cargo bike to incorporate Shimano's powerful, but oh-so-smooth STePS e8000 motor. An XT Di2 kit rounds out this top-shelf front-loading cargo bike.
401 Nystrom Ln #1705, Winter Park, CO 80482 | MLS #20-553 | Zillow
For sale: $629,900. Unique and hard to find Top Floor with vaulted ceiling location in the Slopeside Building of the Zephyr Mountain Lodge AND Winter Park Resort/Gondola views. Skylights add abundant sunshine into the condo and a Jacuzzi tub in the master bath are a few extras this condo has to...
www.zillow.com
This probably was $700k in January. How much farther will the mountain market fall now that there’s no short term rental market to speak of?
Tesla Model X News and Reviews | InsideEVs
Get the latest on new Tesla Model X models including first drives, in-depth reviews, concept car photos, new features, recalls and more.
insideevs.com
20 min x effort of 9 cyclists (1.2 kW between them) == 2 km range added to the Model X.
Similar math can be done regarding claims of solar panels on cars adding meaningful range.
If you decide to go the cheap (non-ewagon route) we're no longer in need of this Adams (folding) trail behind:
$50 + shipping (or I can deliver in October/November if/when my annual not ready for winter trip to 303 happens...)
To include an extra seat post attachment (total of 2) and the the padded seat-back (and waist strap) which was a plus when our guy was very little and antsy...
It is not 'fancy' and would likely benefit from new chain/tire but was working fine when we stopped using it.
I assume you're set for the littlest one, but we also have one of these Chariot Sidecars, which I liked using when my daughter was tiny as she was right next to you on the bike (not behind...)
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SloHi turns out to not stock the Bullitt due to being of limited general interest, and I'm not going to order one sight unseen because I'd probably not be enamored of it anyway.This one even has a Lizzard[sic] King colorway:
Larry vs. Harry Bullitt STePS E8000
The first cargo bike to incorporate Shimano's powerful, but oh-so-smooth STePS e8000 motor. An XT Di2 kit rounds out this top-shelf front-loading cargo bike.
So for the moment I'm left with Saturday's upcoming test ride of a Surly Big Easy and, if I don't love it, me preordering the Rad Power Bikes RadWagon 4 (for $1500! and with a 14 day/10 mile free-return-shipping trial policy but only cadence sensing/throttle) afterwards.
RadWagon 4
Shop the RadWagon 4 electric bike at Rad Power Bikes, the makers of best-in-class electric bikes for all types of riders and applications.
www.radpowerbikes.com
Falkenjagd Hoplit PI E-Reiserad: E-Bike im Test – Antrieb, Ausstattung
Das Falkenjagd Hoplit PI E-Reiserad ist ein robustes, wartungsarmes E-Bike für lange Radreisen. Wo liegen die Stärken und Schwächen? Der Test.
www.radfahren.de
Germans be crazy. Preis: 10.440 Euro
Not really that bad, considering they have universal healthcare, a reasonable public pension scheme, and a quality social safety-net. I mean - if you've got all that, what else you gonna spend your €'s on??
Falkenjagd Hoplit PI E-Reiserad: E-Bike im Test – Antrieb, Ausstattung
Das Falkenjagd Hoplit PI E-Reiserad ist ein robustes, wartungsarmes E-Bike für lange Radreisen. Wo liegen die Stärken und Schwächen? Der Test.
Germans be crazy. Preis: 10.440 Euro
Have I mentioned recently that the top marginal income tax rate in New Zealand is only 33%?
Richest nation in the history of the world: "We can't do any of that. It's too expensive. Besides - SOCIALISM!!!"
The Incredible Story of the US Army's Earth-Shaking, Off-Road Land Trains
Oh, your pickup has a lift? That's cute.
www.thedrive.com
Sno-buggy variant with flotation tires:
Gas turbine variant with steerable cars (one engine on tractor, 3 on the cars!):
Serial hybrid design with hub motors. So cool. The Sno-buggy's wheels eventually were repurposed on Bigfoot IV and V after a stint in the junkyard.
Putting my money where my mouth is––last pair or two of New Balances have been imported. New pair will be from their USA-made selections. 9.5 4E limits selection a bit on top of that.
for the moment I'm left with Saturday's upcoming test ride of a Surly Big Easy and, if I don't love it, me preordering the Rad Power Bikes RadWagon 4 (for $1500! and with a 14 day/10 mile free-return-shipping trial policy but only cadence sensing/throttle) afterwards.
RadWagon 4
Shop the RadWagon 4 electric bike at Rad Power Bikes, the makers of best-in-class electric bikes for all types of riders and applications.
Pulled the trigger and preordered a RadWagon 4.
Note $200 discount for being in medicine! (And again recall that they have a 14-days-from-receipt-planned-in-September/10 mile/free return shipping trial offer that I will 100% use if I don't like the long, funny looking beast.)
((The discount code was a one-time use jobber, so that it's out in the open is of no concern.))
It's just a preorder. Expected delivery in September.
And yes, it likely will not be good. But for $1,351 shipped I could potentially deal.
Toshi 2.0?
www.seattletimes.com
Redmond startup powers all-electric first flight of a Cessna commuter plane
Propelled by an electric motor designed by Redmond startup MagniX, a modified electric battery powered-Cessna Caravan commuter plane flew for the first time at Moses Lake. It's a step toward development of an electric propulsion system that can be retrofitted...
www.seattletimes.com
BC company has a battery powered puddle jumper, too.
My parents lived in Moses Lake for a few years, btw. Long runways there, used for 747 pilot training. Also cheap hydro power, which BMW uses for carbon fiber fabrication for their i3 and i8, interesting designs left to rot on the vine.
My parents lived in Moses Lake for a few years, btw. Long runways there, used for 747 pilot training. Also cheap hydro power, which BMW uses for carbon fiber fabrication for their i3 and i8, interesting designs left to rot on the vine.
Toyota Revs Up Lineup with New 302-Horsepower RAV4 Prime - Toyota USA Newsroom
LOS ANGELES (Nov. 20, 2019) - The fifth-generation Toyota RAV4, on the market for barely a year, is going more places than it has ever gone before. The arrival of the first-ever RAV4 TRD Off-Road model was announced earlier this year, and today, at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Toyota debuts a new...pressroom.toyota.com
AWD. 302 hp. 39 miles electric range. 40 MPG after that. 5.8 seconds 0-60.
Very nice, very nice. Next do the Sienna up in a similar manner, Toyota!
"I just spent $55,000 on a RAV 4. But it has 300 horsepower. And I financed it for 8 years, so it's only costing me $750 a month!"
Get the First-Ever 2021 RAV4 Prime Starting at Under $40K MSRP - Toyota USA Newsroom
PLANO, TX (May 29, 2020) – The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime will break ground as the most powerful and quickest RAV4 ever, hitting dealerships this summer with a starting MSRP of $38,100. The RAV4’s first-ever plug-in model has up to […]
pressroom.toyota.com
$38.1k plus destination to start. Pretty nicely equipped at that price, with heated seats, full speed range adaptive cruise, etc.
Recall this is minus local incentives, minus $7.5k Federal, and minus $4k CO through the end of this year (then dropping to $2.5k iirc).
Not bad at all for AWD, 42 miles electric, and good efficiency beyond that!
Surly Big Easy
Two kids. Pretty long. 20 mph limit from the Bosch, derailleurs. $5k and probably super durable: 300 lbs max for rider, 200 for cargo, 400 max between the two.
So I test rode a Surly Big Easy today and kind of loved it. It was the tan older model from the quoted post, which is relevant because said older model didn’t have the dropper post that the new, green model has. Otherwise nigh-identical afaik.
Specifics:
Medium size felt pretty good, certainly not too big. I don’t think that my wife would be comfortable riding this regularly so I should size it for myself. I’ll have to pore over reach and standover stats a bit.
Handling felt very intuitive. I liked it much better than the feeling of the bakfiet-style Yuba Supermarché, especially at low speeds. In fact, it felt just like a normal bike, at least until I tried to pick up the rear of it when returning it to the shop from which I demoed it. (It’s a heavy beast!)
The Bosch Performance CX motor felt much better in this application than on the Yuba. Part of this was due to E-mtb mode being enabled, a mode more akin to Trail on my Shimano system. This is a more dynamic level of assist and felt more responsive than the Normal, Sport, or Turbo modes on the Yuba (also available on this). With E-mtb it nicely took the bulk away and made for comfortable 18-19 mph cruising.
Will I like it 3.5x as much as the RadWagon 4, with the latter’s inferior cadence sensing setup and cheap-ass components? I’m not sure: all will hinge on the denominator, how much I like the RadWagon. If I don’t like the RadWagon and end up returning it then I’ll spring for a Surly Big Easy (with a dropper!) come September.
For putting a foot flat on the ground while in the saddle at stop signs, while the back is laden with two kids. Necessary? No, certainly not, but it’d be nice given the inherent awkwardness of cargo bikes.