100 MPG Motorbicycle Pusher Trailer/Contraceptive

Here it is.  This is my solution to escalating fuel prices.  The latest version of my motorbicycle.  Note the buckhorn handlebars, motorcycle controls, and all-around essence of I-don't-give-a-shit-if-I-look-stupid. 

  The last time I checked, this baby got 100.7 MPG.  I don't even care if gas gets to be $6/gallon.  Is it going to cost me $2 to fill up instead of $1.30? 
  Equally important; the more I'm seen riding this around town the less I have to worry about contracting an STD or causing an unexpected pregnancy.  You can't put a price tag on that!
  

J-Pawed. Like an iPod but J comes after i (and is therefore better)

I had this idea quite a while ago, and I finally put it all together.  Behold:  The J-Pawed!

Features:

• Replaceable battery
• 750 MHz CPU
• Over 300 MB RAM
• High-strength aluminum carrying frame

Options:

• Extended life marine battery
• AC adapter
• Battery charger
• Quick battery charger
• Doan's pills 

The first two images have the standard-life battery pack.  The rest include the extended-life marine battery pack

Box Elder Savage - It's Fun Making Money Just For Killing a Tree

Tuck Pence is one hell of a guy. Replace "jack pine" with "box elder", "12 Pack" with "30 Pack", "PBR haze" with "Hamm's haze", and "56 Jeep" with "98 Ranger".

Two the cat, son of Barn Cat

     Here are a few shots of Two the cat enjoying the sunshine on Saturday.  I was outside reinstalling a door that had blown off the barn in one of this winter's storms.  He likes to jump up on the roof of barn addition.  He just hangs out up there and keeps an eye on things. 

Motorbicycles, gas bikes, and biking in Wisconsin

Motorbicycles... gas bikes... whatever you want to call them, chances are you will be seeing more of them on the road in the future.  With the state of the economy and the cost of fuel rising, it just makes sense to use a vehicle that gets 80-100 MPG.

That being said, I was never able to achieve the 80-100 MPG people claim they get on these bikes.  Maybe that's because I spent most of my time running at full speed.  I'd get somewhere around 70 MPG. 

Since these pictures were taken, I've moved on to building a "pusher" bicycle trailer with a drive wheel powered by a 4-stroke Briggs 3.5 HP.  More on that in a later post...

Poor person's homemade Tyvek & Kevlar backpack

In my REI review of my Black Diamond Trail Back trekking poles, I included a photo of my backpack with the poles strapped to it.  REI shoppers may not grasp exactly what they are looking at, since it doesn't have a $350 price tag attached to it.  

This is my backpack, made entirely from stuff I had lying around the house.  Continue reading below to learn what I made it out of.

Poor person's backpack, with Black Diamond trekking poles

Poor person's backpack, showing back support webbing and frame

The white material is leftover Tyvek.  I purchased it to make groundcloths for my tents.  It's cheap... So much cheaper to cut your own groundcloth than to buy the fancy ones they sell specifically for your tent. 

The frame of the pack is made from 1" thick rigid cellulose foam insulation covered with Kevlar cloth treated with epoxy resin.  The Kevlar and epoxy were leftover from a small boat I built a few years ago.  The foam is scrap left over from what I bought to insulate my windows.  It's impossible to see in these pictures, but the frame is contoured to match an aluminum external frame like what is found on a Kelty Tioga.

The strapping is from a busted ratchet strap.  The padding attached to the straps for the shoulders was made from foam I grabbed out of the garbage at work and covered with nylon from a torn and useless sleeping bag.  Anything to save the planet.

Now that I think about it, I DID buy something to put this together... I bought a small bottle of Gorilla Glue.  Not much will stick to polyethylene, and Tyvek is non-woven polyethylene fibers.  From what I read, polyurethane adhesive like Gorilla Glue is the best thing you can use to glue Tyvek together.  It is much stronger than sewing to Tyvek.

The pack, when completed, weighed 1 kg (2.2 lbs).  I was a little disappointed because I wanted it to weigh only 2 lbs.  Either way, it weighs about 3 lbs less and is more comfortable than my Kelty Tioga.  However, I have carried 105 lbs in my Kelty Tioga.  I wouldn't use my homemade pack with more than 40 lbs in it.  

My Review of Black Diamond Trail Back Trekking Poles - Pair

Originally submitted at REI

The Black Diamond Trail Back trekking poles feature ultralight shafts and double FlickLock adjustability for ease of use.

Black Diamond Trail Back Trekking Poles - Pair

No problems

By Too-Poor-4-REI from Delavan, WI on 2/13/2011

 

5out of 5

Pros: Strong, Lightweight

Best Uses: Backpacking, Hiking

Describe Yourself: Casual/ Recreational

What Is Your Gear Style: Minimalist

Four years ago I thought trekking poles were a silly idea. A lot can change in four years. I started to find that descents were causing me some pretty significant discomfort. I, like other hikers, find the ascents to be much more pleasant than descents. Trekking poles make all the difference!

I've had these poles for about 2 1/2 years now, and I love them. Before these poles I had a cheaper twist-lock type of pole with an anti-shock mechanism. The cheap poles only lasted for one trip. I didn't like the twist-lock and I didn't like the anti-shock mechanism.

The flick-locks on these poles have never slipped on me. They have saved me more than once from taking a spill. I'm no lightweight at 6'2 and about 230. I've had one of these poles support my whole weight in an "OH MY WORD!" situation and it didn't even shrug.

I tried to use a cleaned up form of the s-word up there in place of "MY WORD", but the REI anti-profanity stormtroopers didn't care for it.

I've found that I like having poles when crossing creeks on slippery logs. I think I have a case of "slippery-log performance anxiety" because I'm pretty good at staying on my feet and maintaining balance until I need to cross some water.

I bought the "Trail Back" poles over the "Trail" poles because the Trail Backs have replaceable carbide tips.

Trail Back poles, and poor person's homemade pack

Tags: Using Product, Picture of Product

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