Go Everywhere Girl

go everywhere girl

PERSONALITY

Miniskirt on Minibike: Or, Ho.. to Live Better Electrically

SUZY THIRKELL has what she thinks is a good idea to save time and avoid traffic congestion. Bright and early she mounts her electric scooter and rides off to her job. The first time the miniskirted miss did so, the sight turned the heads of most of the men on the street. And, eyes really popped when Suzy reached the exclusive London store that houses the boutique in which she works-because Suzy just kept going. Her faintly whining scooter progressed sedately across the sidewalk, past a speechless doorman, along the aisles of the store's main floor, and into the elevator, which bore Suzy and bike to the proper floor. "It's great," says Suzy. "I don't have to run for a bus, and I'm early for a change." Suzy's all-electric "City Bike" is powered

by a pair of 6-V automotive batteries, that, with a 1.2-kwh capacitor in the circuitry, provide a range of 10 to 20 miles, with speeds up to 30 mph. Drum brakes are fitted front and rear, and street legal lighting is standard equipment.

Drive is from a special electric motor through a toothed Gilmer belt to the rear wheel drive pulley. There are no gears or clutch. Speed control is by a single twist grip. The City Bike is manufactured by High Speed Motors, Ltd., Witney, Oxon, England. Base price of the machine is approximately $250. A distribution net is being extended through the U.S., Germany, Italy and France. Suzy likes the convenience of her electric scooter. While she's on the job, the bike is charging its batteries from an electric outlet with a self-contained plug-in cord and rectifier system. A day-long charge prepares the bike for the homeward ride. An overnight charge, at a cost of about 25 cents, prepares the City Bike for the next morning, and Suzy's next head-turning, eye-popping ride to work. •