STEEM Cycle Update: Dual-Cable Charging Solution, and Autumn Riding Gear

Autumn is upon me! Came without warning. The warmth and splendor of Summer has gone away, replaced by ever-chillier evenings. However it's that maddening "in-between" chill where it's still uncomfortably warm when you're not moving because of the strong sunshine, but there's uncomfortably cold wind chill while in motion.

This makes picking out riding gear tough. I don't want anything elaborate or it defeats the spontaneity and ease of ebike travel. Some gloves and goggles will do fine. I chose these goggles for the faux leather padding. Keeping wind out of my eyes is actually the smallest part of it, I haven't yet put on front or rear mud guards, so splatter is an issue that the goggles are a stopgap solution to.

As for gloves, once again, not quite cold enough for my battery heated winter gloves except at night. I chose these particular gloves because they have metal fibers in the fingertips which allow me to use my phone's touchscreen without taking them off, and they're lined with mylar microdots.

If you're unfamiliar, mylar is that wrinkly metallic tinfoil-lookin' stuff that was used as an insulating skirt on the Apollo lunar lander. It's also the material used in so-called "space blankets" (hence the name). It's the most effective insulator for the least amount/thickness of material, and works by being highly reflective to infrared:

This makes it as warm as something this thin possibly can be. I have mylar microdot lined winter pants as well. The microdots allow space in between the mylar for air to move so the material can still breathe, without compromising the warming effect overmuch. I highly recommend it, this shit is magic and really impresses on me the promise of materials science.

Now for the charging cable. As you can see, there's two plugs now. This is because I got tired of having to open up the bike's body and swap the accessories battery bank out for a freshly charged one every 3-4 days. It's just barely enough of a hassle that I bothered to install a usb cable poking out the front to charge it with.

I've got a little rubber cap (giggity) which covers the USB male end while riding. The charging cable plug end is actually female. Zip-tying it to the main traction battery charging cable (an extension cord, also female end) saves me the mess and trouble of managing 2 cables in a confined space.

There it is plugged in. Now, the real bee's knees would be if I could work out some kind of inductive charging solution. Maybe the induction coil goes around the rim of the front tire and I park it tire-first into a bike alcove with the transmitter coil aligned to the front wheel? A project for another day.

Some side observations: I have twice now seen dudes ahead of me swerve and topple off their bikes to avoid snakes that sun themselves on the warm asphalt bike path. The problem is they're black, almost the exact same shade as the asphalt which probs helps them avoid predators but not bicycles.

Also seeing loads of flattened squirrels on the road lately. :( I assume this is because of increased foraging activity by squirrels in anticipation of the coming winter. I dunno how it can be avoided but I hate looking at it. Maybe subterranean squirrel crossing tunnels that go under the road?

I've got "ear mitts" coming in the mail. Basically bandless ear muffs that stay on with an elastic thingie. My head is too damn big for most earmuffs that wrap around the back, the only kind I can use at the same time as a bicycle helmet. I hope these work because my ears are too big as well and act like wind scoops. The tips get really cold and red. :/

Probably I'll report on how well those work when I do a "winter riding gear" article in the coming months.