What to do with an Old Single Speed bicycle

There are a lot of retired people that would like to do something about the impending disaster of climate change. Paying your grandchildren to turn your heavy old single speed bicycle into an electric cargo bike is the best investment you could make. They need encouragement to do something practical; and they would learn so much about electric vehicles. Adapting new bike parts like a large sprocket on the rear wheel, adding disc brakes and adapting a new crank to the old crank shell, would be a good learning experience also.

The Schwinn Typhoon looks like the sexyest old bike; using a good planetary geared mid-drive kit to a single large sprocket on the rear wheel is all you need. Multi speed electric bicycles are a waste of time! And they are illegal because they can move faster than 20mph on flat land when in the highest gear.

It is best to have two speeds, you don't need as many as a regular multi speed bike has. This can be done with a programmable controller. If you think you need to drive your bike faster than 20mph, you need a motorcycle.

These old machines are very strong and could easily haul 450lbs total combined weight if they had new custom made stainless steel racks on them, and a strong motor like the Bafang BBSHD 1000watt.

Another thing to think about when choosing a bike to motorize is being able to put your foot down to the ground without getting off the seat or leaning to the side. When your bike is fully loaded you need to stay balanced. Cruise bikes like the Townie are made with a low enough seat. Bicycles made to pedal fast are made so you must lean into the handle bars. This makes a bad cargo bike.

Also a motorized bike with a big motor should be long enough that you won't be able to pop a wheelie. Having the seat one third of the way to the front axle is very good. Of course this also works if you bicycle has a long nose full of cargo.

Beach Cruiser bikes converted to electric cargo:
Easy frame jig
Dogmans Longtail Beach Cruiser

Only “weight-weenies” worry about using expensive “cromium-malibdinum” on a cargo bike. If you need a short piece of metal you could use solid scrap steel. These cruise bikes were not made for racing. A cargo bike is going to be heavy no matter what kind of metal is used. If you think you need to be able to pick it up with one hand, consider using bamboo and don't put a motor on it.

easy frame jig