Mexican Cargo Trikes

In SoCal, they are very inventive ... they get used or cheap Mtn Bikes and modify them for use as cargo bikes. The frame is welded up from 1/2" square tubing ... with two 26" front tires. The cargo box is welded to the front fork in 2 places and welded to the handlebars as well. They don't usually carry more than 50 - 100 lbs. (max 50 Kg).
The box sits up high for easy vending.  They vend fruits, peanuts, cotton candy and various other items throughout the Spanish neighborhoods.
I had hoped to get a foto of one of these ... and two of them showed up this morning at Jack's bikeshop. By means of a little English (one of them), a little Spanish (me), and some sign language ... I helped Jack figure out what they wanted. Basically one trike needed the rear brake pads replaced and the brake cable fixed. Maybe I should get together with my neighbors and find out what the Spanish words are for the various parts and conditions of the bicycle. That might help Jack and I in the future.

Bicycle Seats

A good reason why I like Recumbent bicycle seats ...

Trike Caliper Brakes

Jack Baker showed me this on a tadpole trike he made ...

It's an inexpensive alternative to disk brakes.  And yet is quite effective in stopping the trike.  You'll notice that he has 2 brake lines hooked up to the same brake handle.

Since you have to make some kind of guard to keep your elbows out of the wheels ...

you could simply add the caliper brakes out there as well ...

or triangulate the two for even greater rigidity.

This may also provide a means of attaching fenders ...

I'll have to try this on one of my DW trikes.

150 Miles Per Gallon

I met this young man today ... he was pedaling his bicycle through this parking lot.  However, you can see that it has a small single-cylinder engine attached to it.  He says that you start pedaling and build up a little speed ... then pop the clutch and the engine starts running.  He says he can get up to 35-45 mph with a gas mileage of 120-150 mpg (miles per gallon).  He referred me to the Kings Motorbike website.  He mounted the engine on a "beach cruiser" bike that he bought at a "big box" store.  This bike happens to be single-speed ... but I've noticed these engines also mounted on multi-speed bicycles.

This is for those who don't want to do as much pedaling ... but really need something that gets better gasoline mileage than they are currently getting with their car ...