Claggart
1 µW
Greetings from Greenville, NC!
First, the particulars:
I’m an analytical chemist, and I’m not overly mechanically or electronically inclined compared to most folks in the area—I can change my oil and belts, adjust the timing, and take care of other basic maintenance for my truck with the aid of a Chilton book. I can wire up a basic circuit (I did fab a mounting bracket and dry box with a single pole/single throw switch in the circuit for my lighted Arizona Whips flag mast), but my experience with DC pretty much ends at “it sucks to get bit by it.”
I’ve owned (and ridden MUCH less than I’d like) a Terratrike Rover since October of 2012 (9 years in the Navy pretty much trashed my knees, back, shoulders, and wrists—and I’ve turned into a fatass at 285 pounds). It has a Schlumpf High Speed Drive (27/67.5) forward and an 8-Speed Shimano Nexus aft.
I’ve been looking at an electric assist as a way to reduce my commute time to work (about 10 miles each way, hills are steeper on the way home)—normally the days I commute by bike are long. They entail getting it out the front door (rotated about 90 degrees on it’s horizontal axis to fit out the dang door) before I can mount: panniers (to hold lunch, toiletries, clothes to change into after showering at work, shower shoes, etc), trunk bag (tools), a camelback unbottle behind the seat (hydration, duh), etc. All in all setup takes about 30 minutes, and the commute itself takes about an hour. If I wind up on my feet all day long in the lab (I have an unpredictable schedule) then occasionally I have to cadge a ride home (since it's another 20 minutes to get it all back in the front door afterward the hour home (and steeper hills in that direction)).
I’ve been thinking (and researching) an e-bike conversion (similar to DannyK's at BROL but without the shell, http://www.bentrideronline.com/messageboard/showthread.php?p=734557) to reduce that commute time and eliminate the “I’ve been on my feet 9 hours screw pedaling 10 miles home” problem. I live and work in Greenville, NC, which is fairly flat. The only slopes I have to deal with are the ones associated with crossing the river (housing is on the south side of the river, work is on the north side of the river!). The slopes are not that great compared to what some of you have to deal with, but I’m very out of shape so that 1.2 mile climb out of the river basin after a day at work is a big deal to me
I’m not looking to go faster than 15-20 mph (~32 kph) since the shoulders I have to ride on don’t get cleaned that often and I frequently have to dodge debris.
Winters here rarely drop below freezing but summers are hot and very humid. Rain is frequent but fairly predictable.
And I’m on a fairly tight budget.
So after reviewing some older posts here and at BROL, it’s looking like a mid-drive, either a Cyclone or a Betterbikes E-4 kit. Cyclone currently has a 480W double freewheel kit with an external Kelley controller that I’ve been looking at but I’ve seen so many posts about changing chainrings that I’m a little confused. My LBS is willing to do the install but I need to get the right parts for the install.
I’m also trying to decide of the right battery since I only have to go 20 miles round trip, and I intend to pedal as much as I can. Utah Trikes still has a battery, sled, mount, and charger for 850$, but it’s only 10 AH (http://www.utahtrikes.com/PROD-11616017.html)
Basically I’m looking to see if anyone has any pointers or comments about the Cyclone versus the Betterbike.com’s E-4, and any juicy tidbits about decent Li variant batteries that they can put into layman's terms.
Thanks!
Claggart
First, the particulars:
I’m an analytical chemist, and I’m not overly mechanically or electronically inclined compared to most folks in the area—I can change my oil and belts, adjust the timing, and take care of other basic maintenance for my truck with the aid of a Chilton book. I can wire up a basic circuit (I did fab a mounting bracket and dry box with a single pole/single throw switch in the circuit for my lighted Arizona Whips flag mast), but my experience with DC pretty much ends at “it sucks to get bit by it.”
I’ve owned (and ridden MUCH less than I’d like) a Terratrike Rover since October of 2012 (9 years in the Navy pretty much trashed my knees, back, shoulders, and wrists—and I’ve turned into a fatass at 285 pounds). It has a Schlumpf High Speed Drive (27/67.5) forward and an 8-Speed Shimano Nexus aft.
I’ve been looking at an electric assist as a way to reduce my commute time to work (about 10 miles each way, hills are steeper on the way home)—normally the days I commute by bike are long. They entail getting it out the front door (rotated about 90 degrees on it’s horizontal axis to fit out the dang door) before I can mount: panniers (to hold lunch, toiletries, clothes to change into after showering at work, shower shoes, etc), trunk bag (tools), a camelback unbottle behind the seat (hydration, duh), etc. All in all setup takes about 30 minutes, and the commute itself takes about an hour. If I wind up on my feet all day long in the lab (I have an unpredictable schedule) then occasionally I have to cadge a ride home (since it's another 20 minutes to get it all back in the front door afterward the hour home (and steeper hills in that direction)).
I’ve been thinking (and researching) an e-bike conversion (similar to DannyK's at BROL but without the shell, http://www.bentrideronline.com/messageboard/showthread.php?p=734557) to reduce that commute time and eliminate the “I’ve been on my feet 9 hours screw pedaling 10 miles home” problem. I live and work in Greenville, NC, which is fairly flat. The only slopes I have to deal with are the ones associated with crossing the river (housing is on the south side of the river, work is on the north side of the river!). The slopes are not that great compared to what some of you have to deal with, but I’m very out of shape so that 1.2 mile climb out of the river basin after a day at work is a big deal to me
I’m not looking to go faster than 15-20 mph (~32 kph) since the shoulders I have to ride on don’t get cleaned that often and I frequently have to dodge debris.
Winters here rarely drop below freezing but summers are hot and very humid. Rain is frequent but fairly predictable.
And I’m on a fairly tight budget.
So after reviewing some older posts here and at BROL, it’s looking like a mid-drive, either a Cyclone or a Betterbikes E-4 kit. Cyclone currently has a 480W double freewheel kit with an external Kelley controller that I’ve been looking at but I’ve seen so many posts about changing chainrings that I’m a little confused. My LBS is willing to do the install but I need to get the right parts for the install.
I’m also trying to decide of the right battery since I only have to go 20 miles round trip, and I intend to pedal as much as I can. Utah Trikes still has a battery, sled, mount, and charger for 850$, but it’s only 10 AH (http://www.utahtrikes.com/PROD-11616017.html)
Basically I’m looking to see if anyone has any pointers or comments about the Cyclone versus the Betterbike.com’s E-4, and any juicy tidbits about decent Li variant batteries that they can put into layman's terms.
Thanks!
Claggart
