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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2020 20:56:58 GMT
I dont agree with the cheap as chips thing tbh. Nice panniers cost money. But that's not the key question at hand- in my case its the rack that's the problem, because it has to be undone every time I get back, in order to get the battery out, because the battery sits behind the seat post. But look- the real problem with the bike is not the battery position, but rather that it just doesn't give me enough shove to be a good transport option to a town 10 miles away. When I commuted through Newcastle on it for two summers, I barely managed an average of 10mph over the 5 miles, and that was avoiding most of the traffic lights so I cant use stopping as an excuse. I just cant keep up a good cruising speed on it over a long distance. So how about this monster, currently on ebay: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/electric-bike-full-suspension-folding-48-volt-1500-watt/233694183081?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l9372I could move the battery onto the rear rack as its currently way too prominent (esp considering the speeds you could sometimes reach on it if you're not being careful), but it looks in great nick and is a decent price. it even folds, so I can get it on trains for longer trips. I'm pondering this one a bit. But cheap ones do not. Don't buy a rack that connects to the seat post. I bought one for a fiver made by Dawes. A thing of beauty. Keep pondering. A rear rack attaching to the seatpost is only a nuisance if your battery is mounted behind the seatpost. If the battery is on the downtube or the rear rack as on most current designs, I would have no problem whatsoever buying a rack connecting to the seatpost. It makes for a very strong mount. I'll probably keep pondering until I give the car back in March and start moving south again. From a purely exercise viewpoint my current bike is great, because it makes me work on inclines or if I want to keep up a decent speed. There is still the 'third way' option of keeping the current bike, buying a bigger battery for more range, and accepting that its the sensible and healthier thing to do some more physical work on the bike, rather than rely on a 1000 watt motor. I am moving away from the motorbike idea though, because I know how lazy I am in terms of keeping up exercise regimes. Without motor transport, I have to do the exercise. Harsh but fair
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2020 7:41:19 GMT
But cheap ones do not. Don't buy a rack that connects to the seat post. I bought one for a fiver made by Dawes. A thing of beauty. Keep pondering. A rear rack attaching to the seatpost is only a nuisance if your battery is mounted behind the seatpost. If the battery is on the downtube or the rear rack as on most current designs, I would have no problem whatsoever buying a rack connecting to the seatpost. It makes for a very strong mount. Till someone nicks the seatpost! I saw one on ebay which had a lower deck for the battery. I thought that was quite ingenious.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2020 8:29:57 GMT
I think I've got an all-round decent compromise contender. 1. It has 500 watts - not ideal, but decent poke to easily keep up 15-20mph and do longer rides (unless you have to tackle long and challenging hills, but those are not too common). 2. It folds, which is really handy if you want to do a multi-leg trip involving a train or car. 3. It's 'only' 24kg, which is 5 or 6kg lighter than many in this price range. 4. Its pretty stealthy. The hub motor isn't huge, and the battery is hidden within the main box-section top frame tube. Plod will know all about it of course- they keep up to speed with these things- but it doesnt scream 'ebike' at a casual glance. www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08DSWLS17/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A1AH2SIRABRNJ8&psc=1
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Post by Jim on Oct 4, 2020 9:06:31 GMT
I think I've got an all-round decent compromise contender. 1. It has 500 watts - not ideal, but decent poke to easily keep up 15-20mph and do longer rides (unless you have to tackle long and challenging hills, but those are not too common). 2. It folds, which is really handy if you want to do a multi-leg trip involving a train or car. 3. It's 'only' 24kg, which is 5 or 6kg lighter than many in this price range. 4. Its pretty stealthy. The hub motor isn't huge, and the battery is hidden within the main box-section top frame tube. Plod will know all about it of course- they keep up to speed with these things- but it doesnt scream 'ebike' at a casual glance. www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08DSWLS17/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A1AH2SIRABRNJ8&psc=1False economy. Where do you get it fixed when it breaks? Also 500w decreases your range, Battery is only 12.8ah. Here you go... wooshbikes.co.uk/?rambletta a known uk supplier.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2020 9:22:20 GMT
Odd-looking front suspension but ticks a lot of boxes. Bet the frame is still Chinese-made same as the Amazon offering.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2020 11:32:06 GMT
I think I've got an all-round decent compromise contender. 1. It has 500 watts - not ideal, but decent poke to easily keep up 15-20mph and do longer rides (unless you have to tackle long and challenging hills, but those are not too common). 2. It folds, which is really handy if you want to do a multi-leg trip involving a train or car. 3. It's 'only' 24kg, which is 5 or 6kg lighter than many in this price range. 4. Its pretty stealthy. The hub motor isn't huge, and the battery is hidden within the main box-section top frame tube. Plod will know all about it of course- they keep up to speed with these things- but it doesnt scream 'ebike' at a casual glance. www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08DSWLS17/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A1AH2SIRABRNJ8&psc=1False economy. Where do you get it fixed when it breaks? Also 500w decreases your range, Battery is only 12.8ah. Here you go... wooshbikes.co.uk/?rambletta a known uk supplier. If it breaks, I fix it myself/replace parts, or I rely on Amazon's customer support process to get me a fair outcome, if its a major issue. But to be honest, that is a very small probability. The rambletta is the same sort of bike I have now- a 36v 250 watt motor, and a very similar battery. It offers nothing that I don't already have. As I've said a few times, if I'm going to upgrade, it has to be a bike that is able to easily maintain an average 15mph over a 10 mile journey for a relatively unfit person. The rambletta wont do that. The Amazon bike will do it.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2020 11:39:24 GMT
One of the problems with folding ebikes is the hinge. I've known of one just breaking off while folding it. Not an easy thing to repair.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2020 12:04:46 GMT
One of the problems with folding ebikes is the hinge. I've known of one just breaking off while folding it. Not an easy thing to repair. Those hinges take a very large amount of stress, and I'm not surprised to hear there are failures. If one breaks out of warranty that is a major cost issue if its an aluminium alloy and difficult to weld etc. That said, I don't know of any reports of failure myself, I've not come across a mention of hinge failure on the many youtube reviews I've watched, and I'm not aware of published figures on the failure rates. So I tend towards the view that although it can happen, its not a common issue. And the advantages of the folding option are significant enough that its something I'm prepared to take a chance on. I much prefer to ride on a proper triangle frame, I must say. They just always feel stronger, more rigid, and better/safer to ride. But the idea of being able to fit the bike into a car, or get it onto a train as a normal (ish) luggage item, is too good to pass up. I used to get my fixed frame bike into a car by removing the front wheel from the bike, and pushing the passenger seat forwards- so it can be done, but its a lot of faff if you also have passengers.
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Post by Trina on Oct 4, 2020 20:25:49 GMT
For those of you old enough to remember,I want a trike like Mr Rusty's.😁
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Post by JohnV on Oct 5, 2020 1:58:08 GMT
For those of you old enough to remember,I want a trike like Mr Rusty's.😁 Time for bed said Zebedee
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Post by kris on Oct 5, 2020 5:20:57 GMT
For those of you old enough to remember,I want a trike like Mr Rusty's.😁 Time for bed said Zebedee I should think so at 3.20am
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Post by patty on Oct 5, 2020 6:33:31 GMT
Time for bed said Zebedee I should think so at 3.20am Zebec went to bed(if memory serves me correctly) just before the 6 o'clock news so what he's doing up at 03:20 who knows? Best not to ask too many questions of that bunch.....
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Post by Trina on Oct 5, 2020 6:39:19 GMT
We knew someone with a boat called Zebec !
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2020 6:40:51 GMT
There is of course a very convenient and easy transport idea ... no danger of theft or loss of power ... no fittings to the boat required ... no heavy lifting on or off the boat ... and no specialist equipment needed other than good boots. And increased fitness is an accidental side effect Rog
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2020 8:21:01 GMT
There is of course a very convenient and easy transport idea ... no danger of theft or loss of power ... no fittings to the boat required ... no heavy lifting on or off the boat ... and no specialist equipment needed other than good boots. And increased fitness is an accidental side effect Rog Boots don't count as a gadget! There has to be a gadget involved... But joking aside, I totally agree that walking is obviously the best bet for any shorter distance- in fact with all the rain and overgrowth, the state of the towpath near Brinklow is such that I wouldn't chance riding a bike on it at the moment. But I do have a slight issue with my knee that kicks off if I do more than a couple of miles walking, so I prefer to ride a bike if I know its more than that kind of distance. I'm sure there will be loads of boaters with these kinds of niggles who prefer biking to walking for longer distances. But its the longer range of an ebike really appeals. For example I needed a bike cover and a decent front light, and since I've stayed put last week I thought I'd try to find one nearby. But the nearest Halfords is in Rugby (along with all the other shops you need), about 5 or 6 miles away, and in the steady rain that would be a pretty miserable walk, not to mention painful after the first few miles. A normal bike will do that distance and back with no real problem, even with a few hills involved- but then there are also the times I want to get to a town 10 miles away but not be sweaty and tired when I arrive. That's where a 500 or 1000 watt ebike really comes into its own. I wont have a car after March, so whatever bike I get will have to do everything. Short and long distance trips, plus allow me to get there reasonably fast, wearing normal clothes and not be sweaty and tired on arrival. For harder, more cardiovascular exercise you just turn off the power assistance and it suddenly turns into a 30kg, fat tyred lump of metal - and you can get all the exercise you need moving that along. I've never been a fan of public transport really, even though it is a valid option (and essential on longer trips). Its a mindset thing, I think. When I first started work I cycled the few miles rather than wait around for packed buses- its a personal preference thing I guess. But without a car, I don't want to be too limited in terms of where I can get to, and how quickly. If there is a shop or a town I want to visit 8 or 10 miles away, I want to be able to just jump on the bike and be there in half an hour or less, and with minimal effort. For me, at the moment, an illegal ebike seems to offer the best all round compromise.
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