Search found 1240 matches

by bikes4two
25 Jul 2023, 9:22pm
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: Transcontinental travel and incredible numbers of e-bikes
Replies: 45
Views: 6919

Re: Transcontinental travel and incredible numbers of e-bikes

Jon in Sweden wrote: 19 Apr 2023, 2:24pm
...........They're limited to 25kph and even me (only a moderately fit chap who's been back in the saddle pretty much exactly a year) can exceed that speed as an average for pretty much any distance over any (road) terrain without breaking much of a sweat.
The above is not entrely true (I'm talking about a legal ebike here) in that the electrical assist is provided up to 25kph but of course you can still pedal beyond this limit albeir just under your own steam, something I often do on my own ebike.
by bikes4two
20 Jul 2023, 7:41am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Scammed!
Replies: 12
Views: 728

Re: Scammed!

  • Many years ago whilst preparing for a 5 month trip to the Falkland Islands on an RN warship, we (the crew) were topping up with some of our favourite items to see us through a long trip
  • One guy swore by the superiority of Heinz ketchup over the NAAFI offering. One day shortly after sailing, he left his ketchup in the mess whereupon we washed out the Heinz and refilled with NAAFI ketchup
  • 5 months later we told him of the ruse - would he believe us - not he would not!
The power of advertising eh!
by bikes4two
19 Jun 2023, 9:04pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Ebike warranty advice pls - should chain off cause catastrophic damage?
Replies: 21
Views: 1478

Re: Ebike warranty advice pls - should chain off cause catastrophic damage?

... a chain getting caught in the front derailer could cause significant damage too but most of this seems at the rear derailer
Just to clarify, mid drive motors don't as a norm have front derailleurs although I know of some in the TSDZ2 world who have in fact fitted a double chain ring, and maybe some in the Bafang BBSxx world do too, but that's not the norm.

Having said that, I've just remembered that a friend has the Vitus E-Substance which has a double chainring and a Fazua mid drive but that's the first double chainring 'commercial' offering I've come across.
I may have misunderstood your point, but the motor cuts the instant you stop pedalling.
As said by Cowsham, not immediately. My only experience of mid drive is my TSDZ2 conversion and when you stop pedalling the chainring continues to rotate for a few inches, but there is little power in the drive at that point and I'm sure a 'chain off' on the sprockets would halt the motor in an instant.
by bikes4two
17 Jun 2023, 10:24pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Ebike warranty advice pls - should chain off cause catastrophic damage?
Replies: 21
Views: 1478

Re: Ebike warranty advice pls - should chain off cause catastrophic damage?

Cowsham wrote: 17 Jun 2023, 2:22pm Another problem with mid drives I'd never thought about before I saw this. The power comes from the chain so any derailment causes more damage. Like a pro cyclist with strong legs refusing to stop pedaling after the derailment would cause much damage, at least when it's rear hub drive a derailment won't have any more consequence than on a non electric bike.
I'm not following your argument here in that the OP's chain came off of the chainring and a mid drive motor drives the chain ring, thus if the chain is de-railled off of the chain ring, the chain is not being driven.

I have a TSDZ2 and now and again the chain jumps off the chainwheel (mainly due to my bad gear changing I think). As soon as that happens there is no torque from the pedalling action and I also stop pedalling at which point the power to the motor is terminated.

No chain jam for me and I can't imagine that a mid-drive motor can be blamed for any of the damge reported.
by bikes4two
6 Jun 2023, 4:46pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Wheel truing - easier than I thought
Replies: 16
Views: 926

Re: Wheel truing - easier than I thought

slowster wrote: 6 Jun 2023, 11:05am Roger Musson's electronic book is worth buying.

The instructions in the book are very clear and there are good illustrations and photographs.

https://www.wheelpro.co.uk/wheelbuilding/book.php
+1 for the e-book. I bought it about 10+ yrs ago, made the simple to build jigs and have never looked back and have toured for 1000s of miles on my diy wheels without issue.

Wheel building isn't a dark art when you have a book like this one to hand.
by bikes4two
6 Jun 2023, 4:24pm
Forum: Helmets & helmet discussion
Topic: The effect of safety attire on perceptions of cyclist dehumanisation
Replies: 10
Views: 5775

Re: The effect of safety attire on perceptions of cyclist dehumanisation

Mick F wrote: 6 Jun 2023, 4:12pm
Helmet-less (like me when I ride a bike) are seen as more human IMHO and IME.
+1 for that.

After a period of illness off the bike and then returning to cycling on an ebike (kit conversion), I now usually ride in just ordinary clothing (except mitts and discreet eye protection) and whilst it's entirely subjective I feel more at ease on the road in respect of car users.

When I see roadies flashing by, now they all look the same to me hidden behind their dark glasses, helmeted head down and not a smile from these lycra clad 'humans'.

That research came as not surprise all.
by bikes4two
16 May 2023, 4:12pm
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: E bikemotion charging
Replies: 7
Views: 1280

Re: E bikemotion charging

  • I'm with Dragon Rider on this one - assuming that you have a quality battery (ie. the Mahle one for instance) then plug it in after every ride and be happy that the BMS(Battery Management System) will prevent over-charging (and over discharging too).
  • If however you want to eke out your battery life to the nth degree, it does seem to be the case that there are things that can be done on the charging side that will increase the total number of charging cycles (aka the 'life' of the battery)
  • It can get very boring to read about these little tricks - some will find it interesting, others not and others who just get on and ride/use the blessed thing
  • The Battery University website HERE gives you some idea of said tricks, but be prepared for a bit of a read!
.
by bikes4two
16 May 2023, 3:36pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: What's the issue RMT union has with it's own cleaners?
Replies: 16
Views: 795

Re: What's the issue RMT union has with it's own cleaners?

briansnail wrote: 16 May 2023, 2:55pm Problem with all unions.Top people get super high salaries.
*************************************************************
Given that there are around 120+ unions in the UK, you must have done a lot of your own research to make such a statement? Or maybe you've an axe to grind and like throwing around such wild comments?
by bikes4two
4 May 2023, 1:03am
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: Charging fire safety e bikes
Replies: 181
Views: 16551

Re: Increasing risk of fire and danger to lives

yakdiver wrote: 3 May 2023, 6:10pm ....... To minimise the fire risk I only charge during the day when I'm home, I have two fire blankets, the first one is placed folded in the bath (yes I do make sure the taps are not dripping) the said battery is placed on top with the second fire blanket on top. .........
  • Jeez, there's being cautious and then there's being cautious, but each to there own eh!
  • I'm thinking that fire blankets won't do anything against a lithium battery fire and indeed, the blanket you put on top of the battery would 'hold' any smoke leading to late detction of a problem by which time the battery may well be too hot to handle and lob out of the window.
  • If I were to be considering precautions on these lines (which I'm not) then I'd certainly not place anything over the battery so that any temperature rise or smoke would be detected early on.
Out of interest, is your battery a well known and reputable make, or something less so and/or a DIY build? I'm wondering what it is that makes you so cautious - hopefully not a bundle of intenet scare stories?
by bikes4two
2 May 2023, 8:44am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Taking Food into Europe (2023)?
Replies: 31
Views: 2549

Re: Taking Food into Europe (2023)?

pjclinch wrote: 1 May 2023, 5:49pm We're over to NL a fair bit (mijn vrouw is Nederlands) and we never take food with us. You're never far from a town, so you're never far from an Albert Heijn, Jumbo or similar. Seems daft to cart stuff about when you can get fresh at the shop there...

Pete.
In your many visits, have you or onyone else that you're aware of, been stopped and searched for food products?

I ask this as we're off to France later this month in our small campervan and whilst you say there's no shortage of local produce, that's not the point for those on a tight budget and facing higher prices on the Continent.
by bikes4two
13 Apr 2023, 1:01pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Spa Nidd Saddle - How to (rapidly) break in.
Replies: 27
Views: 3202

Re: Spa Nidd Saddle - How to (rapidly) break in.

  • Shocked by the price of new Brookes (my last one died after 10+ years) I was putting off buying another and was considering one of those from Spa.
    • Having read through this post and having had a new Brooks for my 70th, I'm very glad I delayed my spend at Spa.
    • I've always been lucky with my anatomy and Brooks saddles in that I've had new and used ones over the years and all have been comfortable more or less from the start.
by bikes4two
1 Apr 2023, 8:59pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: exercise good for you - large study
Replies: 36
Views: 1507

Re: exercise good for you - large study

  • Heck, this post is one of those that needs a clear head to get into so I'll leave the heavy thinking to a bit later on.
  • And actually I'm not that fussed whether cycling is good or bad for me as I just like cycling what ever the effects are (but nice to know it's mainly positive).
  • As it happens too much cycling brings on my Atrial Fibrillation but what the hell, I just have to cycle and that's that!
by bikes4two
25 Mar 2023, 7:58pm
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: Ebike recommendations
Replies: 17
Views: 1525

Re: Ebike recommendations

So my thinking a broader chunky mountain bike type tyre would be helpful in such conditions!
You don't need a mountain bike to use mountain bike tyres. Most low end MTBs have some crappy front suspension fork which just adds unnecessary weight to the bike and for road riding an the occasional cycle track, aren't really needed.
by bikes4two
24 Mar 2023, 11:31am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Will electric bicycles kill off non-electric bicycles?
Replies: 79
Views: 4383

Re: Will electric bicycles kill off non-electric bicycles?

hoogerbooger wrote: 23 Mar 2023, 9:22pm Bikes4two: My Missus has difficulties with running Breeze rides where some have electric bikes, as if one of them gets at the front they just go to fast.
  • Yes, mixed rides/bikes shall we say, can be problematic. With my local Portsmouth CTC group there's often a a mix of bike types and generally as experienced riders, there isn't the issue you describe.
  • I think a lot depends on the ebike rider's previous experience with the tendancy for new ebike riders NOT previously experienced on unassited bikes, understanding the dynamics of group riding.
I think you should have been more thoughtful of your mate ! ( or were you just getting him back for being slow to buy a pint the night before !)
  • No, that wasn't the way it was at all - he knew the route as well as I did and I didn't outpace him on my ebike apart from obviously the hilly bits which were easier for me - but I certainly didn't 'rub his nose in it' shall we say- it was simply a case that he felt the strain in the way that he never used to, ultimately realising that he'd get more enjoyment on such rides with a bit of electrical assistance.
  • I led a ride last week and my fellow riders were all un-assisted and at the coffee break, one of them even commented that they hadn't noticed I was e-assisted.
  • I ride a 10 year old traditional style machine with a TSDZ2 and bottle battery, something the casually observant may not notice and only ever use the ECO assist level and use my gears in the way I always did which leads to a riding pace much the same as unassisted riders.
by bikes4two
22 Mar 2023, 11:25pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Brooks B17 repair
Replies: 18
Views: 1679

Re: Brooks B17 repair

  • Search youtube for 'Brooks Saddle Repair' and some of the vids will show others changing the rivets for nice copper headed ones.
  • I did this on a lovely old tan B17 and it looks cracking and of course it's shaped for my butt perfectly, so no need to break in a new one - win win!