Search found 97 matches

by velorog
27 Jan 2023, 2:39pm
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: Tongsheng questions
Replies: 11
Views: 1029

Re: Tongsheng questions

The design of the Tongsheng is that the RH crank is offset by 20mm. Fitting Bafang cranks does not eliminate the off-set but reduces the Q factor by 20 mm..The Bafang cranks are symmetrical whereas I presume the Leki cranks must be asymmetrical if they reduce the off-set. The off-set has never been a problem for me when riding but I did feel uncomfortable with the original Tongsheng cranks and their massive Q factor.
by velorog
27 Jan 2023, 10:01am
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: Tongsheng questions
Replies: 11
Views: 1029

Re: Tongsheng questions

I have fitted Bafang cranks to my Tongsheng set-up. They reduce the Q factor by about 10 mm at each side and at £20 a pair offer a cost effective solution.
by velorog
16 Nov 2022, 4:40pm
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: Where to buy Tongsheng TSDZ2B - 48V 250W
Replies: 12
Views: 1655

Re: Where to buy Tongsheng TSDZ2B - 48V 250W

I bought my first TSDZ2 250W 36V in May last year. The resulting assist could possibly be described as ‘dull as dishwater’ but I was reasonably pleased. 6 months later I decided to convert a second bike and purchased an identical motor which turned out to be a game changer. It was much more responsive and gave increased levels of assist. I am convinced that Tongsheng have changed the firmware since my first purchase. With the new motor I do not feel the need for the OSF firmware.
Although I ride quite a lot in the National Parks (NYM, Dales, Northern Pennines) I find I can ride most of the day in level 2 assist, only needing level 3 for the steeper climbs, level 4 has not been required. However I do have a 25 inch bottom gear.
So far I have covered about 4,000k without any problems and I feel that as long as you use your gears and do not over-stress the motor they should be reliable. I have no experience of the 48V motor as the latest version of the 36V motor meets all my needs.
I should point out that I am no expert on ebikes, having only tried the Tongsheng, but hope my experiences may help.
by velorog
26 May 2022, 2:15pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Do you use toeclips?
Replies: 42
Views: 2213

Re: Do you use toeclips?

After riding SPD's for over 20 years I've started to develop knee problems, so have decided to revert back to clips. I'm hoping that these will allow more float and let my feet settle in a more natural position. Just had my first ride this morning which highlighted two problems; pulling my feet out at the bottom of the pedal stroke and trying to twist my foot when dismounting. I'm sure I can quickly re-accustom myself to clips and will stick with it to see if my knees improve. Meanwhile I will have to keep swapping one set of pedals and toeclips between the 3 bikes I'm riding at the moment.
by velorog
23 Mar 2022, 8:56am
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: Tongsheng TSDZ2
Replies: 113
Views: 10957

Re: Tongsheng TSDZ2

The face of the magnet does not have to sit opposite the little triangle marker on the sensor. I found that with 130mm drop-outs it was impossible to get sufficient gap placing the magnet opposite the marker, so just slide the magnet along the spoke a few mm to distance it from the marker. A bit of trial and error but I found it easy enough to set-up.
I managed to route the gear cable under the BB using a thin section of outer cable. The flexible type used on the rear mech is ideal. If you position it when you slide in the motor the whole operation is quite simple.
Hope this helps.
by velorog
14 Mar 2022, 4:38pm
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: Tongsheng TSDZ2
Replies: 113
Views: 10957

Re: Tongsheng TSDZ2

Colin, it looks as the the wheel magnet is too close to the sensor. This causes the speed to quickly rack up to 99 kph and the assist dies. Just move it a tad further along the spoke. This is my set-up
Tongsheng_sensor.jpg
by velorog
13 Mar 2022, 6:50pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: Interview with Christina Mackenzie - End to End record holder
Replies: 39
Views: 9730

Re: Interview with Christina Mackenzie - End to End record holder

What makes record attempts such as Christina's so hard is that in order to break the record these days the rider has to get through the second night without any sleep. This is when you have to fight the mind games. In the past riders were able to gab some cat-naps, but not any more.
There is an excellent video on YT of 24hourmaths own record breaking ride highlighting the pain and suffering of 2 nights on the road. Imagine the will power needed to continue for the 1,000 mile record.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbFgPom8YY0

I'm not aware of any unsupported record as it would be very difficult to police, but there are self supported races such as the GBDuro where outside support is banned.
by velorog
12 Mar 2022, 8:33pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: Interview with Christina Mackenzie - End to End record holder
Replies: 39
Views: 9730

Re: Interview with Christina Mackenzie - End to End record holder

Also on the soundcloud site is an interview with Eileen Sheridan who broke the record in 1954 and went on to take the 1,000 mile record.The 1,000 mile record stood for 48 years. An incredible ride considering she was riding 5 speeds with a 72 inch bottom gear. A remarkable lady, not only for her record breaking rides but being able to give an account of her end-to-end ride aged 98.

https://soundcloud.com/user-971271891-2 ... ation-with

Thank you 24hourmaths for the heads-up and interviews.
by velorog
9 Mar 2022, 5:33pm
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: Gearing
Replies: 17
Views: 1375

Re: Gearing

I have a similar set-up with 1 x 9 and a 12-40 at the back. I changed the standard Tongsheng 42t chain ring for a 38t narrow wide ring. I do not have any problems with the chain un-shipping and have the low gears that will get me up most hills in level 3 assist.
I bought my narrow wide ring on Ebay from China for under £20, Worth a try IMO.
by velorog
22 Dec 2021, 4:55pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Show us photos of your inappropriate touring bike
Replies: 79
Views: 5656

Re: Show us photos of your inappropriate touring bike

Continuing the small wheel theme, here is my home built ‘mini-bike’. The pic was taken on the Furka Pass (7969 ft) on route from Basel to Como. That morning I had crossed the Grimsel Pass and was heading to the Oberalp Pass before turning south over the Lukmanierpass. I was 66 at the time. There is a trend on the continent to drive to the foot of a pass before riding to the summit. Older riders get a lift to the top and ride down. No doubt the many roadies that passed me on the climbs thought my steed most in-appropriate, but it suited me fine.
2010_019.jpg
by velorog
29 Nov 2021, 8:52am
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: E-BIKES KIT CONVERSIONS
Replies: 19
Views: 2654

Re: E-BIKES KIT CONVERSIONS

To the best of my knowledge you cannot control the lights from a VLCD6, you need to use a VLCD5. This is something I am currently playing with. The lights do not illuminate when connected up with a VLCD6. The VLCD5 appears to have a light switch function but have still to give it a try. If anyone has had any success with the 6 please let us know.
by velorog
22 Sep 2021, 7:27pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Touring in the 50's
Replies: 61
Views: 4478

Re: Touring in the 50's

Agree with you regarding fabrics. I had a Ventile jacket hoping I could manage without a cape. It soaked up water and ended up like stiff cardboard. Weighed a ton and took days to dry out. I soon went back to using a cape in heavy rain
by velorog
22 Sep 2021, 2:16pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Touring in the 50's
Replies: 61
Views: 4478

Re: Touring in the 50's

Ground insulation in the cooler months was always a problem before the introduction of the lightweight Karrimat in 1968. Showell Styles recommended layers of brown paper but I preferred an old army blanket. In the photo below, taken at Styhead Tarn Feb 1962, we were camping on snow and the blanket was folded into 4. Very difficult trying to sleep on a strip of blanket about a foot wide. The tent used was a Blacks Tinker.
PICT0004.JPG
by velorog
21 Sep 2021, 6:07pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Touring in the 50's
Replies: 61
Views: 4478

Re: Touring in the 50's

In spite of today's wonder materials cycle camping in the 1950's was not vastly different than today. You could go heavy or ultra light. The lightest off-the-peg cotton tent was sub 4lbs. My own 2 man Uniform Staffordshire tent weighed in at about 6lbs. Sleeping bag was a Blacks Icelandic at 3.5lbs. You could get solid fuel, meths or pressure stoves. I used a one third print Optimus pressure stove with a Gilwell canteen. (I cannot weigh them as they are hidden away in the loft.) The big difference then is that there were no lightweight sleeping pads or pillows. You slept on a groundsheet using a saddle bag as a pillow.
A prominent author at the time, Showell Styles, describes his lightweight camping kit using a homemade sea island cotton tent as follows: tent and poles 2lbs; sleeping bag 3lbs; groundsheet 12ozs; canteen 10ozs; KFS 4ozs; plate and mug 4ozs; solid fuel stove and matches 12ozs. Total 7lbs 10ozs.or 3.5kg. He even goes further to suggest dispensing with the tent poles and using the bike to support the tent, and sleeping on a cape instead of a groundsheet.
There is not a great deal new about bike packing.
by velorog
12 May 2021, 5:49pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Old Railway Goods Vans etc.
Replies: 44
Views: 2469

Re: Old Railway Goods Vans etc.

My grandfather was a railway worker living in a 2 bedroomed cottage next to a rail line. He had 8 children, 4 girls and 4 boys. Somehow, he managed to have a carriage hoisted into the garden by one of the rail company's cranes. The girls slept in the house and the boys slept in the carriage.
After the boys left home the carriage became a garden shed and as a youngster I would spend hours in the shed. It was full of tools, bikes and bike bits. There was a Raleigh Lenton Sports in bits, and when I was 13 my uncle gave me the frame and a box of bits. With my mother's help we carried them home on the bus for me to build up. It was my first proper bike and the start of a lifetime's cycle touring.