Solar assist bike tour on bikebits...

[MrBent]

I just read and viewed the video about a fellow's trans-Asian ride with a solar assist mounted to a BOB trailer--panel, etc.  This looks like a great idea, but on hearing the statistics of his travel, it looks like a reasonably fit cyclist could do the same WITHOUT the fancy trailer--just good ol' muscle and wind, eh?  This often seems to be the case with the solar-powered exploits.  They look cool, but the human powered alternative seems to always win the day.  Perhaps the technology just isn't there yet.

The posting:

SUN ASSISTED
Check out this Wall Street Journal video of Florian Bailly, a French
cyclist who bagged more than 8,000 miles while going from France, across
Europe, and to Japan aboard his solar-power-assisted bicycle. We have
a feeling we're going to start seeing a lot of cool developments like
this coming down the pike!
http://bit.ly/cf9HP2


Cheers,

Scott

[whittierider]

Five hours a day to go only 62 miles?  Yeah, I guess he might as well have gone without it.  That's hardly over 12mph average.

[tonythomson]

No not impressed by the mileage or time in the saddle- which looks a bit odd all taped up like that, never had to do anything as drastic as that wonder what happened. 

Anyhow what about guys we put a petrol engine on our bikes wow we would never have to pedal again so all that could be removed to compensate for the engine weight and get there much faster.  Eat at McD and not worry about putting on loads of weight. Grow a droopy moustache also and finally get rid of our Lycra. This is the future of cycling. 

Actually I do think that there is a place for these assisted cycles if it enables more people, who for whatever reason are unable to ride the distances and terrain most people on this forum do, to enjoy being out and getting the benefits of exercise and the joy of touring.