chasindayton
10 mW
Picture a couple of 50-year-old-farts pedaling around our Midwest town on three-speed bikes with big baskets on the front carrying French bread and wine…happy as clams. That’s us. 10 years ago.
We are non-athletic urban recreational / leisure riders now in our 60s, and we enjoy 5 to 20-mile sojourns in the Ohio area (never in more than moderate winds, rarely a significant hill more than a few blocks long.) The most aggressive application might be up and down a few dirt roads around a campground, if possible. I weigh 250, and the wife weighs a foot shorter (?). At this juncture even the moderate hills and winds are getting a bit much, and we are turning to an ebike solution. It would be nice to stay under $500 each, but I am willing to stretch to avoid buyer's remorse.
The conversion kit I’m looking at is about $270 ( http://www.leafbike.com/products/diy-bike-conversion-kit/26-inch-electric-hub-motor-kit/26-inch-36v-750w-rear-hub-motor-bike-conversion-kit-622.html ). [Auraslip says rear hub drives need a $30 “freewheel”; what is this, do I really need it, etc.?]
The 15 lb. Leaf lithium battery system seems like a reasonable investment at $400 ( http://www.leafbike.com/products/lithium-battery/36v-li-battery/36v-15ah-rack-lithium-ion-battery-959.html ). I just can’t fathom lugging an SLA pack around.
My candidate bike is the $130 Mongoose Ledge 2.1 ( http://www.walmart.com/ip/26-Mongoose-Ledge-2.1-Men-s-Mountain-Bike/26999421 ). Café racer handlebars aren’t exactly “comfort” but it’s a start. My understanding is that this is a fairly common low-budget choice and I hope some folks who have actually used it can comment. [Should I use a torque arm with this frame? Good choice / source for such if so?]
This puts me well over budget, but if it is a simple conversion with no gotcha's, and performs adequately [range? hills?] it looks worth it to me. I choose the more arduous rear wheel conversion for better traction in loose turf; and I trust that v-brakes will suffice. If there are other approaches or options I should seriously consider please advise.
This website is a godsend for we casual consumers, congrats!
Chas in Dayton. Ohio
PS: Another attractive option for us old farts is an inexpensive geared cruiser, no suspension but we aren't sport riders; it could be a jazzy choice. My candidate bike would be the $150 Schwinn Clairmont ( http://www.walmart.com/ip/26-Schwinn-Clairmont-Men-s-Cruiser-Bike-Brown-Gray/24430361 ). The lady's equivalent is the Fairhaven ( http://www.walmart.com/ip/26-Schwinn-Fairhaven-Women-s-7-Speed-Cruiser-Bike-Cream/37370365 ). Again, experienced comments will be appreciated.
We are non-athletic urban recreational / leisure riders now in our 60s, and we enjoy 5 to 20-mile sojourns in the Ohio area (never in more than moderate winds, rarely a significant hill more than a few blocks long.) The most aggressive application might be up and down a few dirt roads around a campground, if possible. I weigh 250, and the wife weighs a foot shorter (?). At this juncture even the moderate hills and winds are getting a bit much, and we are turning to an ebike solution. It would be nice to stay under $500 each, but I am willing to stretch to avoid buyer's remorse.
The conversion kit I’m looking at is about $270 ( http://www.leafbike.com/products/diy-bike-conversion-kit/26-inch-electric-hub-motor-kit/26-inch-36v-750w-rear-hub-motor-bike-conversion-kit-622.html ). [Auraslip says rear hub drives need a $30 “freewheel”; what is this, do I really need it, etc.?]
The 15 lb. Leaf lithium battery system seems like a reasonable investment at $400 ( http://www.leafbike.com/products/lithium-battery/36v-li-battery/36v-15ah-rack-lithium-ion-battery-959.html ). I just can’t fathom lugging an SLA pack around.
My candidate bike is the $130 Mongoose Ledge 2.1 ( http://www.walmart.com/ip/26-Mongoose-Ledge-2.1-Men-s-Mountain-Bike/26999421 ). Café racer handlebars aren’t exactly “comfort” but it’s a start. My understanding is that this is a fairly common low-budget choice and I hope some folks who have actually used it can comment. [Should I use a torque arm with this frame? Good choice / source for such if so?]
This puts me well over budget, but if it is a simple conversion with no gotcha's, and performs adequately [range? hills?] it looks worth it to me. I choose the more arduous rear wheel conversion for better traction in loose turf; and I trust that v-brakes will suffice. If there are other approaches or options I should seriously consider please advise.
This website is a godsend for we casual consumers, congrats!
Chas in Dayton. Ohio
PS: Another attractive option for us old farts is an inexpensive geared cruiser, no suspension but we aren't sport riders; it could be a jazzy choice. My candidate bike would be the $150 Schwinn Clairmont ( http://www.walmart.com/ip/26-Schwinn-Clairmont-Men-s-Cruiser-Bike-Brown-Gray/24430361 ). The lady's equivalent is the Fairhaven ( http://www.walmart.com/ip/26-Schwinn-Fairhaven-Women-s-7-Speed-Cruiser-Bike-Cream/37370365 ). Again, experienced comments will be appreciated.