Several day tour with e-bike

[Jdsk]

[I remember about fifty years ago on the way to Perpignan, encountering an elderly ( maybe not) Priest who was on one of the old Velox motor driving front tyre bikes. I think they were limited to about 15mph

"Solex" (or "VeloSolex").

Has anyone made an eBike that works the same way, and perhaps looks similar?

Jonathan

[simonineaston]

An e-bike is really just a modern twist on a Velosolex (which are still available...). Actually, now you mention it, Brest to Dieppe on a 'Solex would be quite fun! There is - or was in 2016 - an electric 'Solex, but it's not the same thing - in fact, it's just an ordinary e-bike! I wonder if they're available to rent in France...

[simonineaston]

...and providing you are either a dame or an homme and smoke a pipe, you are guaranteed 100 kilometres per litre (of essence, presumably!)

va-va-voom!

ob_4e9169_histoire-du-velosolex-1-pub-solex.jpg (43.81 KiB) Viewed 529 times

[al_yrpal]

Touring in Bretagne I bumped into a Velosolex rally on a Sunday afternoon in Huelgot, there must have been 50 of them. The stink and racket was awful when they all set off. There are some stinkers around there, could have done with a Pedelec.

Al

[goosegog]

Correction sorry . I have got my weights mixed up . My battery weighs about 5 lbs not kg so it about the weight of 2 bags of sugar

[simonineaston]

I have in the past played a mind-game where I am cycling along on my 'leccy Brompton and think to myself, "Do you know what? I'm happy with the motor - its a little bit heavy, but it's torquey and reliable - I'll keep it. Now batteries... what if they were about the same size & shape as a Yorkie bar, lasted for about 50 miles, cost a tenner each and could tolerate 10,000 charge cycles?". And then I wake up.

[al_yrpal]

Correction sorry . I have got my weights mixed up . My battery weighs about 5 lbs not kg so it about the weight of 2 bags of sugar

I weighed my 500Wh Bosch battery, about 2.6 kg, I thought you had it wrong. The £500 cost sounds good to me, my ebike was relatively cheap at £1500 and having a range of 60 miles+ removes all range anxiety for only a 2.5kg weight penalty. I can live with that.

Al

[Oldjohnw]

I've done several multi-day tours with my ebike, or more correctly, my bike with a retro fitted motor.

I have had several Highland trips, the Yorkshire Wolds Cycleway, Hadrian's Wall Cycleway and others, each time camping so fully loaded. Mostly at campsites where I prearranged charging overnight.

I have sometimes wild camped and prearranged charging at a pub or cafe. Once at House of Bruar visitor centre on the A9 in Perthshire.

Never a problem over hundreds of miles.

Fully loaded I still get between 45 and 80 miles per charge, so occasionally I've not needed a charge.

I am nearly 71.

[millimole]

Has anyone made an eBike that works the same way, and perhaps looks similar?
Jonathan

Many years ago (possibly mid 80s) I had a device made by Sinclair - as far as I remember - that was the same principle. It was a heavy box containing both motor and lead-acid battery that dropped down onto the rear wheel providing friction assistance to the wheel.

It was moderately successful but AFAIR needed millimetre correct adjustment and the range was about 3 miles.

It may be in the back of the garage somewhere!!

[tatanab]

Many years ago (possibly mid 80s) I had a device made by Sinclair - as far as I remember - that was the same principle. It was a heavy box containing both motor and lead-acid battery that dropped down onto the rear wheel providing friction assistance to the wheel.

Sinclair Zeta

[Jdsk]

"Friction Drives; Ultra-light and Surprisingly Powerful"
https://www.electricbike.com/friction-drive/

Jonathan

[ossie]

These were in the queue for the Harwich ferry last September. Electric cargo bikes. The box on the left hand bike is the solution to all of your charging needs...a generator If I recall it was a trial tour around the Netherlands.

[Oldjohnw]

My modest bike.

[ANTONISH]

[I remember about fifty years ago on the way to Perpignan, encountering an elderly ( maybe not) Priest who was on one of the old Velox motor driving front tyre bikes. I think they were limited to about 15mph

"Solex" (or "VeloSolex").

Has anyone made an eBike that works the same way, and perhaps looks similar?

Jonathan

Yes Velosolex - I thought the name may have been wrong but could rely on the forum to come up with the right answer.

Oldjohnw - your "modest" bike looks perfectly suited for touring.
Is that the motor in the front wheel?

[al_yrpal]

Nothing wrong with that bike John.

Al