elliothaughin
100 mW
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2011
- Messages
- 38
So, it's been a few months since I joined ES and started researching to build my very own eBike.
As a newbie I wanted to just rush straight in, buy everything I needed and get it over and done with so I could start riding. I've come to realise this isn't the way forward, and not by my own choice.
I currently live in the UK but will be moving to California (Santa Cruz or San Jose) in October. I began looking into building an eBike here and taking it with me (as many cyclists do with standard airlines).
The airlines are all very clear 'non-motorised', that's all they'll accept as a bicycle. Taking the bike apart and shipping the batteries and motor separately wouldn't be an easy task either. It seems it's easier to ship weapons grade uranium than lithium batteries.
So I hit a stalemate. I couldn't just build an eBike and easily take it with me when I moved.
But! I can still take a bicycle with me! Sure, It would just have to be a bicycle, but I could still buy the bike I wanted to convert, swap out the standard parts for what I wanted and do all the 'prep' work here. That way I'll have an awesome bike to take with me, ready to convert as soon as I land!
On friday my new bike arrived, the 'Electra Townie Balloon 8d' in Matt Black. And what a beauty she is!
I'm certainly not a lycra guy. I don't exercise at all, but this weekend I've exclusively used my new bike for getting around and it's fantastic. Very comfortable!
As I said earlier, I'll be upgrading the standard bike before electrifying it, so I thought I'd share some of the things I've ordered (due to arrive on Tues-Wed).
Before I go electric, I'd also like to buy some decent front suspension forks and replace the brakes with mechanical discs. (Which would probably mean I need a set of new wheels too!
The bike is an 8-speed, and I'm hoping to go with the new Crystalite HS35 rear hub motor when I move. I'm hoping I can fit the motor, and 8-speed freewheel and a disc in there, but I still need to take the measurements for it.
I'm still open to the idea of doing a 'cheap' electric setup for the 4-5 months I have here, then selling the gear a friend or even my Dad before I leave. (Maybe a 9C 2807 at 48V)?
What would you recommend for this? Who's best to buy from to get it here in the UK in a reasonable amount of time?
It would be great to get a 'taste' for the eBike bug before I move out and build my final dream bike. When I do get to Santa Cruz/San Jose I might have to recruit some of the locals to help me out a bit.
But, I want to say thank you! To all the members here. You've managed to convince a 24 year old computer geek who hasn't exercises since mandatory rugby in school, to get out, buy a bike, and get riding!
As a newbie I wanted to just rush straight in, buy everything I needed and get it over and done with so I could start riding. I've come to realise this isn't the way forward, and not by my own choice.
I currently live in the UK but will be moving to California (Santa Cruz or San Jose) in October. I began looking into building an eBike here and taking it with me (as many cyclists do with standard airlines).
The airlines are all very clear 'non-motorised', that's all they'll accept as a bicycle. Taking the bike apart and shipping the batteries and motor separately wouldn't be an easy task either. It seems it's easier to ship weapons grade uranium than lithium batteries.
So I hit a stalemate. I couldn't just build an eBike and easily take it with me when I moved.
But! I can still take a bicycle with me! Sure, It would just have to be a bicycle, but I could still buy the bike I wanted to convert, swap out the standard parts for what I wanted and do all the 'prep' work here. That way I'll have an awesome bike to take with me, ready to convert as soon as I land!
On friday my new bike arrived, the 'Electra Townie Balloon 8d' in Matt Black. And what a beauty she is!
I'm certainly not a lycra guy. I don't exercise at all, but this weekend I've exclusively used my new bike for getting around and it's fantastic. Very comfortable!
As I said earlier, I'll be upgrading the standard bike before electrifying it, so I thought I'd share some of the things I've ordered (due to arrive on Tues-Wed).
- Electra Townie Alloy Rear Rack - 700c Black
- 2 X Electra Handlebar Mirror - Black Checkerboard
- TSG Recon Skate/BMX Helmet - 57-59cm L/XL - Flat Black
- Kryptonite New York 3000 U Lock + Bracket - 4" x 8" Steel Shackle
- Kryptonite KryptoFlex - 10mm x 1200mm
- DMR Void Saddle 2011 - White-Blue
- Cane Creek Thudbuster Quadra ST Seatpost - 27.2 353mm Black
- Cane Creek Crudbuster Neoprene Cover - ST Version
Before I go electric, I'd also like to buy some decent front suspension forks and replace the brakes with mechanical discs. (Which would probably mean I need a set of new wheels too!
The bike is an 8-speed, and I'm hoping to go with the new Crystalite HS35 rear hub motor when I move. I'm hoping I can fit the motor, and 8-speed freewheel and a disc in there, but I still need to take the measurements for it.
I'm still open to the idea of doing a 'cheap' electric setup for the 4-5 months I have here, then selling the gear a friend or even my Dad before I leave. (Maybe a 9C 2807 at 48V)?
What would you recommend for this? Who's best to buy from to get it here in the UK in a reasonable amount of time?
It would be great to get a 'taste' for the eBike bug before I move out and build my final dream bike. When I do get to Santa Cruz/San Jose I might have to recruit some of the locals to help me out a bit.
But, I want to say thank you! To all the members here. You've managed to convince a 24 year old computer geek who hasn't exercises since mandatory rugby in school, to get out, buy a bike, and get riding!
