During the past few years I have noticed 2 changes to the urban landscape in Paris where I live :
- an increase in the number of dedicated cycle tracks
- an increase in the use of electric scooters (by this I mean overgrown kid's scooters with a motor, not Vespas/Lambrettas)
It occured to me that it might be a good time to bring back the Sinclair C5 as it must be safer and more confortable that these new scooters ?
Sir Clive - are you there ?
It was a bad idea in 1985. It'd be a diabolically terrible idea now.
Why ?
Hmm, I imagine if kitted out with more accessories, like a compact TV, a digital calculator, and an onboard computer with a massive 16k of RAM, it could go head-to-head with the latest Tesla.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/business-38960275 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/business-38960275)
The Citroen C5 is marginally better than the Sinclair, but the Sinclair has a better range than most electric cars ;)
I know where there's two brand new, boxed, unused, NOS, C5's for sale if you're interested.
£2,200 plus carriage.
Quote from: emjaybee on March 23, 2021, 02:02:19 PM
I know where there's two brand new, boxed, unused, NOS, C5's for sale if you're interested.
£2,200 plus carriage.
Horse drawn carriage?
Quote from: joe cassidy on March 23, 2021, 11:42:09 AM
Why ?
Have you ever driven one on a public highway? Save yourself the cost of a C5 and just hurl yourself into traffic.
Buy a Renault Twizzy instead. The advantages are it has a roof and two seats, I believe doors are a popular aftermarket accessory too. The down side of Twizzy ownership is the thing's width. Too wide to sneak through Parisian traffic jams
What about the new Citroën Ami ?
https://www.mobile.de/magazin/artikel/citroen-ami-elektro-2020-test-42868 (https://www.mobile.de/magazin/artikel/citroen-ami-elektro-2020-test-42868)
https://www.automotorinews.it/2020/10/14/citroen-ami-italia-prezzo-acquisto/ (https://www.automotorinews.it/2020/10/14/citroen-ami-italia-prezzo-acquisto/)
The main problem with the C5 was all the hype beforehand, where Sinclair was launching an electric car. Then the C5 cam out, and everyone laughed their socks off. It also had no weather protection, if I remember correctly. Nowadays, it is not so different from a recumbent bicycle. If it was able to use cycle lanes, it would stand a chance. Probably still a little too niche, though.
Quote from: Steve Brassett on March 23, 2021, 07:15:20 PMIt also had no weather protection, if I remember correctly.
I'm pretty sure I remember they solved that issue by selling an optional cape...
I remember seeing an idiot in one of those things making it's way down the hard shoulder of the M62 - the effect of the draught from lorries passing at 56mph was quite horrifying to observe...
Quote from: Newportnobby on March 23, 2021, 12:25:51 PM
The Citroen C5 is marginally better than the Sinclair, but the Sinclair has a better range than most electric cars ;)
Sinclair C5 or Citroen C5??? Suddenly Bus route 5 is looking the most attractive option...
I catch a #35 home from the club, but that's close enough. ;)
When we did Top Gear at Pebble Mill, they had one on the programme. We took turns driving it round the car park. It didn't seem terribly safe there, I wouldn't want to take it out on a road.
Quote from: PLD on March 24, 2021, 07:55:01 AM
I remember seeing an idiot in one of those things making it's way down the hard shoulder of the M62 - the effect of the draught from lorries passing at 56mph was quite horrifying to observe...
Quote from: Newportnobby on March 23, 2021, 12:25:51 PM
The Citroen C5 is marginally better than the Sinclair, but the Sinclair has a better range than most electric cars ;)
Sinclair C5 or Citroen C5??? Suddenly Bus route 5 is looking the most attractive option...
I've driven a three wheeler reliant down a motorway - you have to steer towards any passing artics.
Quote from: railsquid on March 24, 2021, 12:11:28 AM
Quote from: Steve Brassett on March 23, 2021, 07:15:20 PMIt also had no weather protection, if I remember correctly.
I'm pretty sure I remember they solved that issue by selling an optional cape...
How about a spray deck, like in a kayak ?
Gawd, I suppose next will be an updated Z80 ::)
Apparently vintage video games, like "Pong", are back in fashion.
Quote from: Dorsetmike on March 24, 2021, 11:41:47 AM
Gawd, I suppose next will be an updated Z80 ::)
Z80 the Zilog processor or ZX80 the Sinclair "home" computer?
If the latter, here are some DIY instructions (https://hackaday.io/project/170707-zx80-replica).
Quote from: joe cassidy on March 24, 2021, 11:11:15 AM
Quote from: railsquid on March 24, 2021, 12:11:28 AM
Quote from: Steve Brassett on March 23, 2021, 07:15:20 PMIt also had no weather protection, if I remember correctly.
I'm pretty sure I remember they solved that issue by selling an optional cape...
How about a spray deck, like in a kayak ?
Apparently I was remembering this: https://wearethemutants.com/2017/08/07/sinclair-c5-sales-brochure-1985/#jp-carousel-17640
At the Museum of Computing in Swindon we have a C5
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/107/1883-240321145907.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=107828)
When I lived in Bournemouth one of our neighbours had a C5 with a trailer with additional batteries to extend the range.
Staying with the Sinclair theme the ZX81 was 40 years old a couple of weeks ago. I took part in a chat about its history https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=874515423280659 (https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=874515423280659)
Quote from: railsquid on March 24, 2021, 02:45:36 PM
..
Apparently I was remembering this: https://wearethemutants.com/2017/08/07/sinclair-c5-sales-brochure-1985/#jp-carousel-17640
Now if they'd publicised the C5 fashion range more, it might've really taken off! :D
Quote from: Michael Shillabeer on March 24, 2021, 03:00:23 PM
Staying with the Sinclair theme the ZX81 was 40 years old a couple of weeks ago. I took part in a chat about its history https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=874515423280659 (https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=874515423280659)
Somewhere I have a ZX-80. I did loan it to a friend for a while and he had it in a box on the wall in the datacentre, with a sign reading something along the lines of "Emergency System. Break Glass"
More sensibly than the C5, they need to relax the rules on electric bikes. Any reasonably fit bike rider can average about 15mph long term and exceed 30mph short term. So why are electric bikes limited to a top speed of 15mph? Why an age limit on them when a primary school pupil can exceed 15 mph on a normal bike?
An electric bike that could do a steady 30mph would interest many people for commuting and shopping and would be able to keep up with the traffic instead of constantly being in the way of faster moving traffic on roads with little opportunity to pass and subject to the dangers of being passed.
Quote from: Michael Shillabeer on March 24, 2021, 03:00:23 PM
Staying with the Sinclair theme the ZX81 was 40 years old a couple of weeks ago. I took part in a chat about its history https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=874515423280659 (https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=874515423280659)
Damn, now I'm starting to feel old.
For some reason my father ordered one with the vague idea it might be useful for household bills or something, and when it turned up all it did was display a "K" and it turned out you had to type programs into it to get it to do anything.
Quote from: railsquid on March 24, 2021, 04:29:38 PM
Quote from: Michael Shillabeer on March 24, 2021, 03:00:23 PM
Staying with the Sinclair theme the ZX81 was 40 years old a couple of weeks ago. I took part in a chat about its history https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=874515423280659 (https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=874515423280659)
Damn, now I'm starting to feel old.
For some reason my father ordered one with the vague idea it might be useful for household bills or something, and when it turned up all it did was display a "K" and it turned out you had to type programs into it to get it to do anything.
Your father needed Home Money Manager http://www.zx81stuff.org.uk/zx81/tape/HomeMoneyManager (http://www.zx81stuff.org.uk/zx81/tape/HomeMoneyManager)
The Shoemobile? An excellent case study in how not to turn an innovation into a commercial product.
Quote from: stevewalker on March 24, 2021, 04:26:48 PM
More sensibly than the C5, they need to relax the rules on electric bikes. Any reasonably fit bike rider can average about 15mph long term and exceed 30mph short term. So why are electric bikes limited to a top speed of 15mph? Why an age limit on them when a primary school pupil can exceed 15 mph on a normal bike?
An electric bike that could do a steady 30mph would interest many people for commuting and shopping and would be able to keep up with the traffic instead of constantly being in the way of faster moving traffic on roads with little opportunity to pass and subject to the dangers of being passed.
The NHS is stretched enough as it is.
Quote from: stevewalker on March 24, 2021, 04:26:48 PM
More sensibly than the C5, they need to relax the rules on electric bikes. Any reasonably fit bike rider can average about 15mph long term and exceed 30mph short term. So why are electric bikes limited to a top speed of 15mph? Why an age limit on them when a primary school pupil can exceed 15 mph on a normal bike?
An electric bike that could do a steady 30mph would interest many people for commuting and shopping and would be able to keep up with the traffic instead of constantly being in the way of faster moving traffic on roads with little opportunity to pass and subject to the dangers of being passed.
With appropriate Road Tax, Insurance and Driver Testing/Licencing??
Somebody mentioned Shoemobile, is this the one?
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/107/2855-240321211358.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=107844)
Quote from: PLD on March 24, 2021, 08:35:30 PM
Quote from: stevewalker on March 24, 2021, 04:26:48 PM
More sensibly than the C5, they need to relax the rules on electric bikes. Any reasonably fit bike rider can average about 15mph long term and exceed 30mph short term. So why are electric bikes limited to a top speed of 15mph? Why an age limit on them when a primary school pupil can exceed 15 mph on a normal bike?
An electric bike that could do a steady 30mph would interest many people for commuting and shopping and would be able to keep up with the traffic instead of constantly being in the way of faster moving traffic on roads with little opportunity to pass and subject to the dangers of being passed.
With appropriate Road Tax, Insurance and Driver Testing/Licencing??
I'm all for tax and insurance. However driver testing and licensing for a lightweight electric bike that can only get up to the speed that a schoolchild can get up to on a pedal cycle is perhaps a bit much.
I have thought at times that we should deem everyone older than a year 6 child now to have a cycling licence and give them year by year to year 6 children having had training and passed a test at school (an extended version of Bikeability - the old cycling proficiency test). Much like existing drivers were allowed to keep their licences when the driving test was introduced. At least with licences, there would be something to attach points to and ban people. Although that does maybe get into the problem of identifying cyclists.
Having been nearly run off the pavememts by ordinary cyclists regularly while walking I woud be worried if any one without training and and some form of testing similar to a CBT could run a heavier faster machine in a similar manner. I no problems with most cyclists but the minority that race down pavements of think traffic lights do not apply to them being given access to a vehicle faster than a current moped scares me.
I think that if people could keep up with the traffic instead of the constant pressure of a queue behind them or passing vehicles, they'd feel much happier on the road and wouldn't feel the need to be on the pavement.
We've missed the boat on licensing umotorized and motor-assisted vehicles. Now that we have umotorized and motor-assisted vehicles readily available to hire on every street corner (certainely the case here in East Oxford,) everyone is a potential driver of such vehicles. So now, everyone would have to be licensed and no government is going to commit to that.
Raising the assisted speed limit of motor-assisted vehicles isn't the answer either IMHO. We've given idiots* the right to drive at 15mph with no physical effort required beyond tapping an app. The thought of those same idiots carelessly whizzing around at 30mph ought to strike fear in every non-idiot.
* I'm not saying all drivers of motor-assisted vehicles are idiots, rather that all idiots have the right to be drivers of motor-assisted vehicles.