Pedal power in work, leisure, and transportation [Paperback]

James C. McCullagh (Editor)

Product Details

• Paperback: 133 pages
• Publisher: Rodale Press (1977)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0929173058
• ISBN-13: 978-0929173054
• ASIN: 0878571787
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #894,121 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not a How-To or DIY book, April 29, 2010

By 

T. Morris "On The High Desert" (Idaho) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Pedal power in work, leisure, and transportation (Paperback)

There was only one review posted when I purchased this book and I have no idea why they rated this book 5 stars. The first half is a history with lots of pics and is pretty much useless... though informative it won't help you do anything. You can probably glean some useful info out of the second half but it's not really worth trying. I paid about $5 for it so I'm not too disappointed that I have a book I can't use. I wanted a primer on how to build something that actually used "Pedal Power" and have obviously purchased the wrong book with that goal in mind. Save your money if you want a How-To of DIY book and keep looking... this isn't the book you want.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Manual Power Idea Book!, July 20, 2011

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Royal Meservy "Royal :0)" (L.A.) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Pedal power in work, leisure, and transportation (Paperback)

This book is an amazing idea book! The Energy Cycle, as pictured in Figure 3-16 actually became a viable product called the VitaGoat. No, there are no measurements to quickly make one of your own. You will have to figure this out on your own through some trial and error, kinda based on the one made from a bicycle frame. HOWEVER, this book does present a lot of photos and ideas for making and using various mechanical & pedal-powered devices. If you aren't afraid of welding, you could quickly make the basic frame (figure 3-17) out of 1-3/4" square tubing, add a plastic lawn-chair seat that slides forward and back to adjust for leg length to pedals, use the bottom bracket with crank (gears) and pedals from a cheap mountain bike (get a used one), The height of the section below the bottom bracket is based on keeping the pedal at the bottom of it's orbit high enough off the floor that you aren't hitting your foot on the ground, and the rest of the parts are kinda laid out for you. On page 109 I saw my first photo of a SWB recumbent bicycle. This was totally amazing back in 1977. I have since built at least 10 different recumbent bicycles, both Long-Wheel-Base and Short-Wheel-Base. This is one of the few books that I've permanently kept in my library ever since. Not too long ago, I bought another used copy through Amazon ... just in case. :-)

3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Human Powered Devices, February 10, 2009

By 

Steve Spence (Winthrop, NY United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Pedal power in work, leisure, and transportation (Paperback)

If you ever wanted to know how to run a drill press, washing machine, or a myriad of other devices with your own muscles instead of electric or gasoline, this is one book you do not want to miss. A great companion to The Human-Powered Home: Choosing Muscles Over Motors.