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hey everyone i am having problems getting around on the playa every year and i really need some solid transportation for the burns. every year i have been i have never made it out to 2 o clock and 10 o clock i would like to this year. my crusin cooler died on me last year when we used it to hold down our shade structure during the white out on wed. this is what i have decided on www.americanspeedster.com/side-kick.htm, i was wondering if anyone has had any experience with it and if they had any advice on any changes i should make to make it playa ready. i wanted to figure out something with pedals so i could pass it off without going through the dmv. i was thinking i would use www.shadeclothstore.com/produc...th.html this for the top and back for shade. it is netting so the wind resistants will not be as much as the cloth i used last year for the top on my crusin cooler art cart. i want go with solar panels for the lights, decoration and what not. i am looking at big seat like a recumbent seat, something comfy like that for long trips around the playa. i want to eventually add www.cisolar.com/catSolarebike.html the biggest one i can afford, and this www.americanspeedster.com/elect...el.htm when i can afford it. i want to have a battery or two on it to run my lights and sound off of. i was thinking of using an ipod for the music but don't know what to use for speakers. last year we used computer speakers because of the whole needing power to to push the sound thing, but they weren't very loud tho. i want to turn it into an mini art car with el wire, headlights and tail lights to light the way on those dark playa nights. i was hoping to figure out a way to make the head lights move with the steering wheel in the direction i am turning. i guess i could use handle bars from a bike that i could attach led headlights to it that run off batteries so when i turn they will too. i would prefer to have them running off the solar panels if i could figure it out. i am at a loss for a theme or idea of what to turn it into too because of the shape. if you know of anyone who can help me find my way, i am open to all suggestions. ;)
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Re: i have decided on a sidekick but need help figuring out how i should build it
Thu, June 14, 2007 - 9:44 AMI have seen at least 2 different pvc bike/cars out there. It can be done.
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Re: i have decided on a sidekick but need help figuring out how i should build it
Thu, June 14, 2007 - 1:32 PMThere were 4 that I know of. Mine was one of them.
pedalplaya.tribe.net/photos/...e3ad299f
Pros....no welder needed, fairly easy to build. Cost is not to bad (I spent about 300 bucks but made most of my parts from scrap yard)
its nice to sit next to your mate while cruising....or to go "parking"
Cons....300lb weight limit. Creeks and groans going across the playa. some have chain trouble (I was ok there) plastic can and does break if you crash into something. Is not very fast even with 2 pedalling. bring backup bike.
I used boat seats, they were nice. I used a vinyl top held with velcro and had no issue. It held up much better than I thought it would. I had one flashlight on front but the rest was decked out in tons of blinkies so I didnt get run over...you could see it from long way off!
I am bringing it back but just for camp use. This year I am building a 2 seat recumbent out of metal ( atomiczombie.com/product-kyoto.htm ) and I will have less money in it than the pvc bike and it is one tough beast! and fast, damn fast! I have it ready for paint and then I am adding a metal top you can stand on.
Do you need a 2 seater? If not then I would go with a trike and put in a better seat...
I would not build the pvc one again but will bring it back and am grateful for the experience. If you can weld then go with metal one of some sort. I can also help you if you run into trouble with the directions....there not the best in the world.
Hit me a PM if you want more detailed info.
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Re: i have decided on a sidekick but need help figuring out how i should build it
Sat, June 16, 2007 - 3:06 PMi want a two seater so my husband can ride out with me. we spent a lot of time separate from each other in the past because i am not able to get around as well as him. i have three slipped disks in my lower back, a bad hip form a car accident. it is usually only the two of us so we work very hard to setup camp and i always end up getting hurt in one way or another. this year we are suppose to have friends camping with us so i am hoping that we will have more help, but for the most part we will be the ones setting up because we are on the early arrival list this year. the way you talk about the sidekick you make me not want to build it now. i may be peddling it by myself a lot so i don't know if i could do that against the wind. i don't weld so i don't know how i would make other one, but it does look and sound ideal. i wonder if i would be able to add the electric bike motor on that later? now i am confused. -
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Re: i have decided on a sidekick but need help figuring out how i should build it
Sat, June 16, 2007 - 8:41 PM
Yes you can change one of the wheels to electric... (might even be able to hid that fact from the DMV!) and you can do that after its built!
One thing that is nice is the seats....its nice to have a back to a seat. you can just stop pedalling and sit and not worry about falling over or back!
If you do the gears, one person could pedal it, just takes awhile longer. Yes the wind stinks but it does on any bike.
Get it built as soon as you can so you can test drive the heck out of it. Fix all the bugs before you go. I had my teenage kids do that for me. They broke it several times and I improved it each time.
I will say that on Saturday night way after the burn, me and my wife crashed and some drunken stoned campmates took it out...i didnt think it would come back ridable...but it did. That shocked me!
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Re: i have decided on a sidekick but need help figuring out how i should build it
Sun, June 17, 2007 - 9:55 PMthanks i guess i will go shopping tomorrow for pvc parts. -
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Re: i have decided on a sidekick but need help figuring out how i should build it
Sat, June 21, 2008 - 7:02 PMHi fjord & kim, just thought I would throw this in the mix. I started building a three-seater trike a few months ago on my spare weekends. If you can barrow a small wire feed welder and have the time using old bikes and some steel can get you a machine that will last a long time and work well enough to be a blast around town...here is a link to my build thread tribes.tribe.net/trikesroc...e8279cee5a I know some folks don't have the space or time but if you do you may find steel to be a better...less expensive choice if you have the time and the inclination to hunt down old bikes. Of course...I will still wind up spending $500 by the time I am finished but that happens when you don't have a lot of time and it's easier to buy 20 feet of square tubing than strip apart a dozen more junk bikes. Either way you go have fun doing it!!!! P.S. be careful with your back...!!! Stirling :)
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Re: i have decided on a sidekick but need help figuring out how i should build it
Mon, June 18, 2007 - 9:47 PMDMV will eventually find out that there's a motorized thingy with seats without a DMV sticker. -
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Re: i have decided on a sidekick but need help figuring out how i should build it
Sat, June 14, 2008 - 9:07 AMHello to one and all: I have built a SIDE KICK Bicycle car. It's a Beautiful Car! I have put about $800.00 into it. At this time 062008.14, I have ridden it around town here in Ogden Utah, about 25 Miles. I have blown out 2 tires as the wheels that came in the kit I believe were defective. The spokes were loose and broke right away thus puncturing the tubes. I've gotta find some better type of wheels. There's a company Called Amerityre that sells solid foam tires for bikes. I may try this route. Also I've had continues trouble with the brakes. The brakes also come from the same co that supplies the wheels. I had a friend that works on F-16's at the base try to fix my brakes but he couldn't do it either. I'm taking the car to a local bike shop next week to see if they can help. Also you have to be careful in your driving. Pot holes and other minor road depressions that are fine for cars will bust the pvc side kick to pieces. Example, I hit a low driveway entrance the other day with cracks in it and I busted one of the front struts of my Side Kick. Luckily its pvc and easy to repair. I suggest going in driveways straight on, not at an angle.
The Side Kick is a slow mover and can only do 10% grade hills. Maybe when my brakes get fixed and I solve this ongoing wheel problem I'll get more speed out of her. But anyway My Side Kick goes a lot faster already than Gas Cars when THEY'LL SOON BE OUT OF GAS!!!
I get a lot of attention and people take down my ph#. I'll build a Side Kick for anybody that wants one. Construction for me is easy. Mechanics are hard! I charge $1200.00 for a completed basic Side Kick.
Since I'm out of a job I hope that Building Side Kicks will be a big business this summer.
Thanks and ALOHA. Steve at stevelogicstupiddoes@yahoo.com
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Re: i have decided on a sidekick but need help figuring out how i should build it
Wed, July 2, 2008 - 8:59 PMHey gang re: recumbents in general if you're going to roll your own from plans I *hghly* suggest modifying them to elevate driver's eyes as much as possible. The main reason is to improve visibility in dust storms, but it also helps you be seen by others as well. Also, at night, with the crowds wandering about I've found it really beneficial to be able to see over the tops of people's heads, which means getting your eyes around 7 to 8ft off the ground.
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Re: i have decided on a sidekick but need help figuring out how i should build it
Mon, April 27, 2009 - 12:02 PMThank you fjord's-kim, for posting this! I am currently considering whether to buy the sidekick from American Speedster, or go with something else. Welding could be a possibility. My girl also has some bad back problems that keep her from getting around as easily as me, and a sociable recumbent should cure that in so many ways.
ESE - you mentioned the atomic zombie. Did you build it? Did you take it out to the playa? I might be interested in building one of these.. I am on the fence right now on whether to go with the sidekick or the atomic zombie. We just want something that will get us both around, side-by-side, and that could possibly be broken down a bit for ease of transport. We drive a little four-door, but are seriously considering a roof rack, as the living structure will take up so much space inside the car as it is.
Fjord's-kim - what did you end up using out on the playa? Did you and your sweetie have an easier time getting around?