This is going to be a long rambling list. I will probably end up using some kind of table of contents for this page. Not sure what form that will take, yet. For now, here's some rambling.
Cyclekart
I found out about cyclekarts last year, and the idea has really tickled me. Obviously adding another project to the list isn't a good idea, but this one is intended to be a long term one. Some cyclekarts take years to build, others a weekend. Being me I want do go about it the hard way by being different. But the normal way involves a 200cc engine and I's much rather an electric motor instead.
So what is a cyclekart? It's a vintage themed gokart, really. A maximum width and wheelbase, 26 inch spoked wheels from a motorcycle, a 200cc honda single cylinder engine (or clones), and styled like a vintage racing car. But it's not a scaled down version exactly. The cockpit would be too small, for one. And a cyclekart isn't supposed to be super detailed scale models, or super competitive racing. It's about building something, and then having fun with it with other crazy people. It's my kind of jam.
So in my case I'm looking at vintage electric cars from the 1920s-30s. (They were a thing!) And the front runner at the moment is a 1932 Detroit Electric. I got in contact with someone who has access to one who offered to send me reference photos. This is a four seat runabout, so I'm going to have to take some more liberties with the design than someone shrinking an actual race car, but I'm ok with that.
Another possibility is a 1913 Baily Electric roadster. This one suits the styling more, but information seems to be much more scarce. They were only building them for a few years. Though I have found one photo.
I'm looking at LiFePO4 cells for the battery. 36V 100A should be roughly the same power as the honda engine, I think? And a pack of 18650 cells that can do that might be as low as $500 (US), which is a chunk of the budget but not a huge one.
Anyway that's that. I am going to make myself finish a project before I get too in deep with this one lol.
Commuter Bicycle
I love my bikes. They're fun, and get me where I need to go, as long as the temperature is above freezing. This one is an early 60s CCM road bike frame, with an "alt" bar, and bar end grips. It's got a Sturmey Archer AW3 three speed hub from 1950 on the rear wheel, and a Sturmey Archer XL-FDD dynamo hub with 90mm drum brake on the front wheel. It has decent lights, fenders, and currently has a cheap rear rack that clamps to the seat post. It's a bit of a mishmash. But it gets me to work, and other places if I know the bike will be safely indoors.
Okay bye.
City Bicycle
This is the bike I bought that got me back into cycling. It's a Dutch city bike, of unknown origin, with a 3 speed hub gearbox with a drum brake in the back, and a drum brake in the front. I also bought a bottle dynamo and lights for it.
It is absolutely fantastic. I might be predisposed to cycling for transport - having grown up in the late 80s and early 90s I biked to school and friends' houses - so maybe others wouldn't feel as strongly. But I love that I can hop on and pedal away without fuss, and in about half an hour of enjoyable light exercise I can be at the other end of town. It's comfortable, solid, and practical. The only thing it's not good at is hills. Not because of the hub gearbox (as the commuter bike later proved) but because of it's relaxed geometry. When standing up, leaning forward, trying to go uphill the handlebars are behind me.
Keyboards
My main keyboard is a kinda crappy Roccat gaming keyboard, which has served me well. But I also have a Kimiko split ortho keyboard that is mostly assembled. I need to print a case for it and it should be good to go, but it has been a bit of a pain.
I also made myself a seven key "gamepad", using a Raspberry Pi Pico, and some keys I had left over from the Kimiko. It's configured for Team Fortress 2, but works with most games that use WASD keys.
It is hand wired, and I designed the case and keycaps myself. It runs KMK with a pretty simple layout. There are ten functions over the seven keys, using tap/hold or multitap. I'm super happy with it!
