Greetings - I have an Xtracycle Edgerunner from 2014 (non e-bike version), and purchased/installed a Grin Cycle Stoker system (https://www.ebikes.ca/product-info/cycle-stoker.html) in 2015. I've generally been happy with it for the last 3,000 km; however, this year I've started to have some mechanical shenanigans act up (which seems like why they discontinued the kit).
- I've worn through a few chains (not unexpected given the power through the chain), and a cassette.
- Grin graciously sent me a stronger eZee motor (I'm unsure exactly which model) as part of a recall where the initial motor casing on the drive side were failing due to the lateral loading (sure enough mine had cracks when I knew where to look)
- I added a nice (expensive!) White Industries freewheel to the new motor (since the first el cheapo one I bought lasted about 50km!)
- I finally wore entirely through the idler pulley gear this spring, and bought a replacement from Grin
Lately my chain and cassette combo is starting to skip again in the lower 3-4 gears, which is driving me crazy as I only have 300 km on the new stuff.
As a bit of background on my riding:
- I live at the top of a 150 m high hill which has some pitches of almost 15%
- once I get down the hill, I have a 12 km ride into town of rolling hills totalling roughly 150 m up/down
- I'm often lugging one or two kids (although now that they are totalling 150 lbs, I try not to do that very often); or one kid and a significant load (e.g. 100lbs) of groceries/hardware store stuff either on the bike in the cargo bags or in my trailer
- the bike must be close to 75 lbs, and I'm 150 lbs, so base vehicle weight is 225 lbs
- side-note, we bought a Faraday Cortland for my wife last year, and it's fairly annoying to have her zip by me up the hill even when I'm unloaded! I'd like to have my bike keep up with hers.
What I'm considering, based on the hills I climb with the amount of weight:
A) Stick with mid-drive: Buy more expensive chain and cassette, possibly changing to something thicker that would handle the power better
B) Stick with mid-drive: Buy an internal geared hub of some kind, which should make the chain/freewheel last longer without the shifting ramps etc; plus I could probably mount a beefier chain etc? I had done some research here a few years ago and came to the conclusion the Rohloff would be the best bet, but I see they now retail for almost $3k in Canada, ouch! And Nuvinci seems to have gone under - I don't see any new ones for sale anywhere. Where would that leave me for options?
C) Convert to a hub motor: Take the existing eZee motor and lace it into the 20" rear wheel; thereby removing the stress from the drivetrain and reusing as many parts as possible (I would need to buy a new torque sensing BB I think? The existing set-up uses some kind of strain gauge on the motor bracket assembly.) I'm concerned about overheating in the rear wheel in between the cargo bags, pulling that consistent grade fully loaded after a ride back from town in the afternoon when it's >30C outside (most days for July/August). I have thought about putting the motor in the front wheel, but I think traction would be a real concern.
D) Convert to hub motor: Get really elaborate and either buy a fancy new rear wheel motor, or even a dual-motor setup? (I'm pretty naive to the implications of the last statement, though it sounds fun!)
I'm really hoping for some insight here - thanks very much in advance
- I've worn through a few chains (not unexpected given the power through the chain), and a cassette.
- Grin graciously sent me a stronger eZee motor (I'm unsure exactly which model) as part of a recall where the initial motor casing on the drive side were failing due to the lateral loading (sure enough mine had cracks when I knew where to look)
- I added a nice (expensive!) White Industries freewheel to the new motor (since the first el cheapo one I bought lasted about 50km!)
- I finally wore entirely through the idler pulley gear this spring, and bought a replacement from Grin
Lately my chain and cassette combo is starting to skip again in the lower 3-4 gears, which is driving me crazy as I only have 300 km on the new stuff.
As a bit of background on my riding:
- I live at the top of a 150 m high hill which has some pitches of almost 15%
- once I get down the hill, I have a 12 km ride into town of rolling hills totalling roughly 150 m up/down
- I'm often lugging one or two kids (although now that they are totalling 150 lbs, I try not to do that very often); or one kid and a significant load (e.g. 100lbs) of groceries/hardware store stuff either on the bike in the cargo bags or in my trailer
- the bike must be close to 75 lbs, and I'm 150 lbs, so base vehicle weight is 225 lbs
- side-note, we bought a Faraday Cortland for my wife last year, and it's fairly annoying to have her zip by me up the hill even when I'm unloaded! I'd like to have my bike keep up with hers.
What I'm considering, based on the hills I climb with the amount of weight:
A) Stick with mid-drive: Buy more expensive chain and cassette, possibly changing to something thicker that would handle the power better
B) Stick with mid-drive: Buy an internal geared hub of some kind, which should make the chain/freewheel last longer without the shifting ramps etc; plus I could probably mount a beefier chain etc? I had done some research here a few years ago and came to the conclusion the Rohloff would be the best bet, but I see they now retail for almost $3k in Canada, ouch! And Nuvinci seems to have gone under - I don't see any new ones for sale anywhere. Where would that leave me for options?
C) Convert to a hub motor: Take the existing eZee motor and lace it into the 20" rear wheel; thereby removing the stress from the drivetrain and reusing as many parts as possible (I would need to buy a new torque sensing BB I think? The existing set-up uses some kind of strain gauge on the motor bracket assembly.) I'm concerned about overheating in the rear wheel in between the cargo bags, pulling that consistent grade fully loaded after a ride back from town in the afternoon when it's >30C outside (most days for July/August). I have thought about putting the motor in the front wheel, but I think traction would be a real concern.
D) Convert to hub motor: Get really elaborate and either buy a fancy new rear wheel motor, or even a dual-motor setup? (I'm pretty naive to the implications of the last statement, though it sounds fun!)
I'm really hoping for some insight here - thanks very much in advance