Farfles Cargo bike

[Farfle]

Hello all, this would be my first foray into the world of belts and chains, I am looking to convert an atlas longtail cargo bike into a fairly low wattage (3-4kw) bike for running errands:

http://www.jbimporters.com/web/checking ... mber=69143

With a '9C hub motor mid drive thru the gears. So, I need some help finding a few parts. First off I need a stout freewheeling crankset, what all do you guys recommend for this?

[amberwolf]

If you really want stout, based on some of the results I've seen so far here on ES, you're probably gonna have to make it yourself.

There's some good freewheels out there, as evidenced by the stuff in the "destroyed" freewheels thread, but lots of bad ones, too.

Same thing with the actual cranks with the threads to mount them on. Some have actually broken off when used to pedal, according to at least one ES thread (with pics) that I cant' remember teh name of right now.

Since you definitely ahve the skills to do it, and tools, I would recommend a combining jackshaft, that merges crank and motor power at a separate point, so you don't need anything special in cranks, and you can use whatever type of freewheeling mechanism you wish for them and the motor, separately, on the jackshaft itself.

Something like this is the plan on mine, but mine will have a NuVinci as not only the jackshaft itself (doublefreewheel on it's right side input) but also the pivot point for the suspension (which yours doesn't have).

Alternately, just run it the way Rassy did on his trike, "under" the freewheel on the motor instead of over, and use whatever freewheeling cranks you want.

You've got plenty of room in that frame for about any way you want to do it, though.

[Farfle]

Well, looks like ill be building my own cargo bike, something backfiets style

[John in CR]

Well, looks like ill be building my own cargo bike, something backfiets style

Sounds great. I've wanted to do a bak fiets for a long time. Please do lots of stuff I can copy. I've been telling the boys it will be like a jet or rocket in their front pod when the top is on for rain. I'm planning narrow, so they won't sit side by side but both straddling an inline bench that's also the battery compartment. Plenty of cargo or precious cargo room, but aero both from the front and the sides. It's quite gusty here much of the year, so side winds need to slip around the bike too. I'm leaning toward dual steering cables from jetski/waverunner type craft for the steering...dual cables for redundancy and the cables will run in/under a 1-1.5" radius rounded edge around around the main tub. That rim will be an integral part of the main structure as will be the bench/battery compartment.

Wait till you see my next big hubbie. It may embarrass my Hubmonster. I wish we were neighbors.

John

[Farfle]

This should be a pretty easy build, The inspiration for it is My boss's ride, an HS35 powered bullit on 66v 10ah of lipo, it is the ultimate urban workhorse. He has had four kids on that bike at the same time. And has scored 3rd place at the socal racetrack in the commuter class. Im thinking about doing a mid drive with 20" wheels front and rear, I have Built a few 20 inch wheels that have been absolutely bomb proof, and have some decent confidence in them. Going to start this project after I do some cad doodles and order some chromoly. Thinking about starting with a stock chromoly bike frame and cutting everything ahead of the seatpost, that will give me pro looking BB, derailluer mounts etc...

[TheWizard]

I'm headed towards building a longjohn/bakfiets too after having motorized my xtracycle longtail (rode it for 5 years unmotorized). longjohns with tiny tank wheels and low-center loads beat wobbly longtails hands down. I have ridden an atlas, and the ride quality beats my average xtracycle, kona ute, and yuba mundo - even with its cheapo OEM components