Archive for November, 2011
150 Mpg On A Gas Bicycle
Today more than ever people are looking to save money on transportation. As the cost of gasoline continues to rise you will see more vehicles designed to be less fuel thirsty to requiring no fuel at all. One of these vehicles that are starting to become popular and very affordable are motorized bicycles. These are fully functional bicycles that have engines attached to them and get up to 150 miles per gallon. I have been seeing them sporadically around town and they always catch my eye as they wiz by. They are usually on simple beach cruisers and mountain bikes with riders of all ages.
In the summer of 2008 during the peak of the gas prices I decided to build a motorized bicycle. I had recently purchased a mountain bike and decided to put one of these 2cycle engine kits on my mountain bike which took many hours to complete. The build was challenging for me as I have never done this before but rewarding because of the joy it is to ride.
Also not needing a license to ride these motorized bicycles was a plus as I wanted to avoid dealing with licensing. What is required in order to ride a motorized bike is that you be 16 years of age or older and always wear a helmet. So now when I want to get around town I can jump on the bike and go for a cruise. The motor does not take away the functionality of the bicycle.
I can pedal the bicycle with the motor turned off just as if it were a normal bicycle or when I get tired of pedaling turn the motor on. This is possible because the motor has a separate drive chain from the normal bicycle chain. This feature is important to me because I can get exercise when I want and not have to switch bicycles. Riding the bike without the motor on is also important when you are in areas that don’t allow them or quiet areas. Operation of these bikes is really simple and requires you to pedal and release the clutch while giving it throttle to turn the motor on.
To turn the motor off you just disengage the clutch and push the engine kill button that’s it. They are single speeds and come with a standard 44tooth rear sprocket which is the best for all around riding. These bikes can be easily modified to go faster but with the standard 44tooth sprockets you can reach speeds of 20 mph even with riders weighing 260 pounds very impressive! I now can leave my car parked more because I have an alternate means of transportation and most importantly I am not spending as much in gasoline which makes me feel like I made a wise investment.
1000 miles later the motorized bicycle is still running great and has proven to be bulletproof. Maintenance has been light and simple as it is continuing to prove to be a great investment. I also found some great support info through a company in Northern California who sells assembled motorized bicycles and ships nationwide. On their support page they have frequently asked question that are very informative. For question they also have a live chat area and other ways to contact them. They also touch on the significance of the green affect you will have on the environment riding one of these small engine bicycles instead of driving when possible.
About the writer: The Author says it’s worth it to take a look at their pictures videos and FAQ’s from their website if you are considering such a vehicle in the future. Visit: http://www.savegasmoney17.com to find out more.
Whiplash Pain
How to recognise whiplash pain and what to do if you’re a whiplash victim
Whiplash is one of the most common road traffic injuries in the UK making up nearly threequarters of all claims for injury on the road every year. Every day nearly 1200 people claim for whiplash injury. Whiplash claims amount to 1.9billion in insurance payouts annually and also put a huge drain on NHS resources costing the health service 8million in consultation fees alone. But what exactly is whiplash and what should you do if you’re a whiplash victim?
Whiplash occurs when the head is jerked forward and then back at a higher velocity than the torso and is most commonly caused by a low speed rear end impact. The sudden force causes damage to the soft tissue of the neck and shoulders resulting in pain stiffness and even blurred vision. Although not usually apparent at the time of the accident whiplash injuries manifest after the event often lasting for days or even weeks. In severe cases whiplash injuries can cause lasting health issues with some sufferers bearing the consequences of a seemingly insignificant impact for years.
“Whiplash has a bit of a reputation for being an ‘easy claim’” says Nicholas Jervis managing director of specialist company 1stClaims. “The truth is that until recently whiplash was a very hard injury to define clearly. However modern advances in the study of this debilitating injury have made it possible to clearly define what causes whiplash pain and just how serious it can be” he adds.
The most important consideration after an accident is to seek medical attention as quickly as possible. Once you have taken down all the details of the accident including any pictures of the crash scene expert medical advice is of paramount importance to determine how severe any injuries are. The earlier you receive treatment the shorter the recovery time. If you are planning to make a claim for the injury then your specialist solicitor will also want to see medical evidence to confirm the extent of your injuries. “Our team deal with hundreds of whiplash claims every year and the most important thing to us is the health and wellbeing of our clients” says Nicholas. “At least if the accident wasn’t their fault a claim for any injuries sustained can take the financial worry out of what can be a very stressful time” he adds.
Recent highly publicised cases have shown that whiplash injuries can cause long term health problems even if the injury was sustained at a relatively low speed. With the advent of more detailed analysis of the causes and symptoms of whiplash claims experts believe that genuine cases will now be given the attention they deserve whilst filtering out spurious claims should be much easier.
“The medical profession is finally taking a much more detailed look at the causes and effects of whiplash and that can only be a good thing for victims” says Nicholas Jervis. “Anything that helps to speed up the process of justifiable compensation claims and ensuring that victims receive the treatment and compensation they deserve has to be welcomed” he concludes.
About the writer: http://www.1stclaims.co.uk is run by a nonpractising Personal Injury Solicitor with over 14 years personal injury claims experience.We deal in a range of claims including whiplash and compensation.
These Gas Saving Tips Could Actually Cost You Money
I know that just about everyone wants to save money on gas these days including myself. However implementing new driving techniques can be hard for some to accomplish. I compare it to trying to quit a habit like smoking. When you are used to driving a certain way it can be difficult to change those habits. So its important to know just which gas saving tips are worth using and when it is the best time to use them.
The following tips I have recommended using myself but after further research and testing on my part I have come to realize that they should have come with additional information.
Dont use the air conditioner unless you need it. Actually when you compare driving at highway speeds with the air conditioner on versus driving with the windows open there is very little difference. So if you are driving around town on a nice day then by all means drive with the windows open. However when you are on the highway you can go ahead and turn on the air conditioner and ride in comfort. The key to this tip is the speed at which you are traveling. If you are going highway speeds keep the windows closed to reduce drag. However if you are driving around town turn off the A/C and open the windows.
Use your cruise control. This tip actually has some benefits if you are driving in a relatively flat area. The issue with this tip is when you drive in a mountainous zone. Your car will actually use more gas trying to maintain its speed on the uphill than if you were to drive manually. When you drive manually you have a tendency to slow down on the uphill portions. If you are a conscientious driver you can increase your gas mileage even more by easing up on the gas pedal on the downhill side of the road.
Fill up when temperatures are cooler. This tip isnt a bad one but it doesnt apply to most drivers. You can benefit from filling up your gas tank when temperatures are cooler but it seems only to apply if you live where there is a big fluctuation in the temperature. If live somewhere there is a 2030 degree temperature difference between the hottest part of the day and the coolest part of the day then by all means fill up when the temperatures are cooler otherwise it probably wont make a difference.
Im not old enough to remember the gas crisis that took place back in the 70s but I just recently experienced a gas shortage here where I live now. Because of some events that recently took place the area where I live Tennessee North Carolina South Carolina and Georgia has experienced a shortage of gas.
Luckily I had enough gas in my car and I have implemented some gas saving methods so that they have become second nature and the result is that I have been able to increase my gas mileage. It is because I took the time to change my driving habits and I also use a product that helps me get better gas mileage that I didnt have to worry about filling up my car during this shortage. But I am sure that there were plenty of people that werent as lucky as I am.
About the writer: Amy Howard is a Fuel Efficiency Expert. She is willing to share the little known secrets that will improve your fuel efficiency saving you money each and every time you fill up your vehicle. She can be reached at 9192771684 or visit her website at http://www. UltimateGasSavingSecret.com