elecktrifying razorizing bicycle for train watching

I have heard several stories of people, when they were young 60 years ago, taking their bicycles to the depot to watch trains.

I can easily park a bike most anywhere and get interesting pictures.

And it's even easier with an electrically assisted bike. I'm too old to pedal every bit of the way. I didn't spend $700 for a Walmart bike, nor $2000 for a 'real' electric bike. But I did get an electric assist from a Razor sidewalk scooter that I bought for $20 at an estate sale last year. Razor, as in the electric sidewalk scooter lamented by emergency rooms a few years ago for all the kids crashing it. The batteries were dead, there was no charger, the controller didn't work, but at least the electric motor and chain driven wheel still turned, after I oiled it up. I suspect it sat around for 10 years before I got it. It is a 24-volt model. I tried it at 12 volts but that was slow, hardly any power and only 4 mph and I had to peddle most of that. I then used two lawnmower batteries in series to make the 24 volts, and it has power to accelerate and get to 11 mph. I can go 5 miles at 4 amps and the batteries only draw down a half of a volt.

I made it to be a 'kicker' or 'pusher' unit, and able to be moved to other bicycles by making another wood adapter bracket. Plywood, pound for pound stronger than steel.. The battery weight is carried low near the sidewalk. These aren't nice light weight Lithium batteries at hundreds of dollars, these are lawnmover batteries for $38 each that I have them anyway for my little rubber boat and trolling motor, and my lawnmower. These batteries are not deep cycle either, so I have to be careful to not draw them below 10 volts each, which hasn't been a problem so far. I go where ever the path is smooth enough for a little sidewalk scooter, because the little wheels limit how big a bump is 'comfortable' for those little wheels. I added two extra spring loaded wheels on the rear to smooth the ride and balance the unit and ease it over cracks and dips in the road. The bike's name is Little Red, and it's over 40 years old. I had to put a new tire and tube on it this year. It's a special bike that I concocted long ago on the order of the British folding bikes, except this one doesn't hinge, it disassembles into 2 pieces with a quick pull of one lever; those two parts are much easier to haul than one whole bike.

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And late in the afternoon, I see the local engine in Plover is waiting for the night crew. In the distance is a 'school house engine' for train school for new employees.

It was easy to bike to the local Portage County Historical Village; a bicycle has no parking problems here. John B and Eric were working in the blacksmith shop.

I can take many more trips while the summer weather is here.

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