Fossil Free Friday: It looks like "the man" has discovered our evil plot to save the world!

Dateline Lubbock this morning:

There we were at the our usual morning hideout plotting to save us all when a whole bunch of them descended upon us in their fleet of world-destroying SUV's (less than half of them are pictured). Now we know they're watching us with our evil electric and non-electric bikes!

They are watching us!

If we have to go underground, just know that the Mesquite Hugger loves you all and appreciates the time you've spent reading this blog and the effort you put into making this world more livable for those of us who breathe!

May we successfully fight the evil, world-killing power of fossil fuels!

Looking for a Trashy Valentine in Lubbock? Texas Tech can help!

Yep, it's that time again. The good people over at the Texas Tech Climate Science Center are having another Science by the Glass event, and this time it falls on Valentine's Day.

 

More info here: TTUCSC Science by the Glass

 

So, get your eco-friendly and/or alcohol-loving and/or alcohol-friendly-eco-loving friends/dates/co-workers/neighbors/closed-minded-enemies over to the Fox and the Hound at 82nd and Orlando next Tuesday (14 February 2017) to learn about something good happening right here in our own Lubbock.

 

I have seen a few presentations and displays from this group and can tell you that it will be informative and you'll learn some very cool stuff. (Did I mention that there's also a happy hour?)

 

Now, let's talk a little about Texas Tech Recycling.

 

Me, I am a big fan of the Texas Tech Recycle Center. Unlike the City of Lubbock's recycle program, Texas Tech accepts plastics grade 1-7, Styrofoam, and glass. You also don't need to sort everything - but they do appreciate it if you keep the glass separate for everyone's safety. They accept tin, aluminum, paper, packing material, and cardboard that has been broken down. On top of that, if your organization has lots of recycling, you can contact them and make arrangements to have them pick it up.

 

But there is much more to it than just recycling. The center also works to serve students and citizens of Lubbock by offering jobs and scholarships. They turn trash into all kinds of goodness!

 

 

Every other Thursday my family and co-workers pile their recyclables into the back of my truck and I haul them over to Tech.

 

The one and only recipient of the not-so-prestigious MHBTC award

 

But let's say that you don't work with an eco-dork (with a junky truck) like me but absolutely adore the idea of having someone swing by your place, pick up the recycling, and haul it over to Texas Tech for you. There are some really cool people in Lubbock who would love to help you out. Get in touch with Baron and Melissa over at 123 Recycling and they can make your recycling dreams come true!

 

In case you want to learn more but have other plans on Tuesday,

check out Recycle Easy in Lubbock! (TTU Recycling in pics).

 

May you learn all you need to know, have a good time, and help Lubbock to be less trashy!

 

PS. Happy Valentine's Day, friends!

In case my Russian friends swing back by...Citicar/Comuta Car on EBay!

A few days back, a hailstorm of Russian websurfers swept through the Mesquite Hugger posts and paid special attention to a post about the origins of the Citicar (and Comuta Car). So I wrote a blog post about my hopes for this non-event. On the same day, I mentioned in another post (I know - I may have a problem) that I had not run across any of my tiny little dream cars for sale lately.

Well, I feel better now. There's a Comuta Car for sale on Ebay as I type this.

Ain't she purty!

There's already a bid and no reserve!

Baby got enough back to carry 2, maybe 3 bicycles!

Don't be checking out her undercarriage!

Tell me more!

Love the black stripe and the white top!

 

High tech controls, a 50mph speedo, and a shifter!

  

The heart of the beast!

She has provenance and woodgrain!

In case you were curious

 

May my Russian comrades sweep back through and drive that red-car auction price through the ceiling! (I wonder how much shipping will be from Pennsylvania to Moscow.)

A Midtail Cargo Bike Review I've Been Hoping For - Benno Boost

[Yes, I know, I recently said I would stop actively seeking a cargo bike, but that does not mean I've completely quit paying attention to those lovely beasts.]

If you have followed my cargo bike obsession, you know that I've been leaning toward mid-tail cargo bikes rather than the long-tail models after sitting on a Yuba Mundo - it was like sitting on a train; a really long train!

So, I've found myself very Benno-curious and (Yuba Boda Boda V3 curious too).

I was pretty excited last night to stumble upon a video review of the Benno Boost on Electric Bike Review.

[Financial reality check: Yes, I know that a $4,000 cargo bike is way out of my league, but the non-electric version, the $1300 Benno Carry-On, is almost within my financial grasp.]

Read and/or Watch the Benno Review on Electric Bike Review

 

I can sure see this thing as a bike that would fit a lot of needs without being too extreme to make it a good daily commuter. How about you? What are your thought on the Benno?

 

If you're in Lubbock and want to check one out, just hop on over to Austin, Houston, or Santa Fe to visit your nearest dealer.

 

May we find some way to quit supporting the companies so powerfully bent on killing us all for profit. (Hi, Rex, TransCanada, and Energy Transfer Partners!)

Electric Bike News: What's up over at Juiced Bikes?

Just a few weeks ago, I posted about a surprising new cruiser bike over at Juiced Bikes and about some other changes going on over there. Well, it happened again.

I surfed over their site yesterday and found that there is another new bike and what appears to be a whole new line of bikes or business division or something like that. The new bike is following the trend of fat-tired bikes that are so prevalent lately, but this one looks like it shares a lot of DNA with the CrossCurrent (which is very high on the Mesquite Hugger Dream Bikes List.) The new bike is called the HyperFat HF750 and it starts at $999!

Learn more at Juiced Bikes.

 

So, what's so cool about this one? Components, capability, and cost.

 

Components and Capability

 

The base model comes with big power - a 750 watt running gear and a 48 volt/ 13 amp-hour battery. This is tied to a 9-speed gear train and disc brakes. That's really impressive, especially for a bike from  a company with a good reputation.

 

(For Allen)

 

If that's not enough to have you salivating, well, you're still in luck. There's a faster, more powerful, more luxurious model available too. Let's look at some numbers for the HF1000:

• 1000 watt running gear
• 30 miles per hour
• 35 amp controller
• 30-60 mile range
• 1,800 lumen built in headlight
• LCD Digital Matric Display (yes, I know it's not a number, but it's a huge perk)
• and all those upgrades add just $500

And if all of that is not enough, you can still upgrade to a bigger battery (17amp-hour) or a much bigger battery (21 amp-hour - up to 100 miles of range!) and the oh-so-desirable torque sensor. Holy moly that'd be an impressive machine! And still very competitively priced at $2400 fully loaded!

 

Juiced CrossCurrent Air

 

[I wish they'd offer the same HF750 setup with standard-sized tires for a commuter - the HyperSkinny. The CrossCurrent Air is almost the Hypothetical HyperSkinny except it has a 350 watt running gear and a 48 volt 8 amp-hour battery. And it's about the same price.The CrossCurrent and CrossCurrent Air are still extremely darn cool, though.]

 

In case you'd like to compare the HyperFat to a few other portly-tired competitors across the spectrum, check out the ProdecoTech Rebel X series... 

The Prodecotech Rebel X Series

 

...and the Sondors Original.

 

The $598 Sondors Original

 

But let's get back to the HyperFats:

 

The HyperFat HF750 and HF1000

 

Now, here's the other interesting thing:

 

Juiced is introducing these big-boned bikes as part of a new line-up of bikes that are designed to be direct mail-order pieces with bikes that arrive fully assembled (for a $165 shipping fee.)

 

Speaking of new things at Juiced - Hype Bikes

 

So, does this mean the Juiced Bikes will become Hype Bikes? Will they remain separate entities? Will there be another new model announced every two weeks? Will bloggers keep asking stupid questions? (I don't know.)

The lineup just keeps growing! (What's next?)

 

What I do know is that this is a great time to follow e-bike development. If you can't find your dream bike this week, it'll probably appear next week.

 

May you find some form of low-carbon transport that fills your needs and makes you smile every day.

Tough Questions for Turbulent Times

Another amazing sunrise yesterday

It's been a tough week for Americans who are concerned about human rights and about our badly ravaged planet. We have seen the beginning of sweeping changes designed to remove environmental protections. We've seen our attorney general fired for trying to defend the American constitution. We now have the former CEO of one of the world's largest fossil fuel companies as our secretary of state. We have seen legal immigrants detained  merely for being present. Here in Lubbock I saw our police force aggressively descend (in riot gear and with multiple trucks) upon a peaceful group of protesters who were already in the process of leaving. Nearby an openly armed Lubbock citizen was patrolling the sidewalk in front of his Tech Terrace house to prevent anyone from legally parking on the street in front of his house.

I urge you, please spend some time this weekend evaluating your own values as an American and as a human being. What do you truly believe in? What do you care about? Then ask yourself one more question - do your actions match your beliefs? (Or are you working hard at distracting yourself with football, facebook, and keeping yourself too busy to notice what is going around you?)

May America, all people, and the planet thrive.

[Me, I am thankful to be an American and a Lubbockite. I am thankful for the wonderful people who surround me. I am thankful for the freedom to speak openly and worship openly. I am thankful for the church I attend. But I am fearful to see the wanton destruction of this planet with which we've been blessed and of the marginalization of people who stand in the way of corporate profits or mainstream" ideals.]

Fossil Free Friday: More Inexpensive and (Somewhat) Local Electric Cars

Earlier this week I published a post on used electric cars and their very low prices: Good News: VERY Affordable Electric Cars. I just pulled up a few quick electric car searches on Ebay to show how little money it takes to bring one home these days.

That post's afterlife has been an interesting thing. It did not really take off  and it's had moderate online traffic.

But it keeps popping up in my immediate circles. I was having dinner with my wife on the first day it was posted. She told me that KB had called her with a lot of questions about the electric Fiats -  a red one had caught her eye.

And I've had three more separate but similar conversations with friends since then. Most of the time, MH posts seem like my own (not-so) dirty little secrets in the real world. But this post has people seriously looking at picking up an electric car.

So, to keep fanning the electric car flames, I decided to do a repeat attempt, but this time on Craigslist. Almost nothing popped up in West Texas, but Dallas and Austin offered up some tempting stuff:

A sample search of Dallas Craigslist "Electric"

The first attempt in Dallas showed an overwhelming number of Fiat 500E's and one Mitsubishi MiEV. So I took a second shot and just searched for Nissan Leafs. An impressive number of those popped up too. (For those of you who are interested, a number of Teslas popped up further down the list - but they were all out of the Mesquite Hugger price range.)

A sample search of Dallas Craigslist "Leaf"

While I was that far east, I decided to hop down I-35 to see what was happening down in Austin. The offerings were a little more diverse:

A sample search of Austin Craigslist "Electric"

A few Fords, a few Teslas, a BMW i3, Smarts, Leafs, Fiats, and an electric Jeep. Some fun stuff down there.

This is the one cool oddball that popped up - an Electric Jeep Wrangler

(with right-hand drive and very tiny pictures)

Inspired by all of this success in finding EV's, I decided to try another search to find an electric car to serve as the Official Mesquite Hugger business car. Here is what I found:

Several sample searches of "Citicar"

Oh well, I didn't find mine, but I hope this helps you find yours so you can (choose all that apply)

• smirk
• laugh
• giggle
• gesture rudely
• moon everyone
• leer
• [insert your own]

every time you pass a (choose all that apply)

• Chevron
• Exxon
• BP
• Fina
• Shell
• Valero
• Citgo
• [insert your own]

station.

May you know the freedom and mirth of not polluting the earth so darn much!