Kurt
10 kW
On Tuesday night I attended a group night bike ride in Brisbane city.
I wasn't sure how I would go given that My bike was the only electric there. I picked a casual riding group that a friend suggested. They tend to be more easygoing and accepting. There was 10 people in all who turned up. Two where on road bikes one of them my friend that i went 4wding with on the weekend and seven where on MTB's. They are more of a MTB group but do city night rides every now and then. Lots of cutting in and around the city, short cuts through parks. Along the river and over bridges, down small streets, bike paths, footpaths. I took my recumbent trike with 15s 10ah of lipo brick in the rear pannier bag. The motor is the larger bafang geared hub maxes out at around 3000w. My plan was to just cycle along as if I didn't have a motor and not use it at all.
The ride was about 40km round trip. My geared hub freewheels nicely so I was in the middle of the pack most of the time without to much effort. I did better on the gutter hopping and park crossing than the two people on road bikes. Going down staircases everyone got off there bikes but i didn't. I road the trike down them slowly using the two front brakes to hop down each tread all much to the others surprise. Coasting down hills I found myself on the brakes all the time to avoid running into the back of the MTB's. The recumbent trike has a good aerodynamic advantage down the larger hills.
The only time I was at a disadvantage was when a sudden change of direction like a Uturn was on the cards . I needed to do a little 2 point turn .Also the fact I was carrying the weight of the motor and battery made hills a little harder than a light weight MTB. It wasn't long before I got some questions about the rear hub. I was just honest and said it's a motor but I am not using it tonight and I wasn't although tempting. That sparked questions if I could demonstrate the motor. 3000w - 60v of acceleration geared hub on a little 20' wheel they were impressed with the acceleration :lol: .I dint hold back when the MTB ers took a shortcut down a grassy slope I just followed.
All up it was a great ride and I used the motor only when asked to demonstrate it up hills or how fast it can go. I don't think any of them have experienced a ebike with more than 200w so it was a good eye opener. I used the motor to ride to the meeting point and again on the ride home. Its great having a light weight freewheeling motor and small light lipo pack as you can ride the bike manual or powered without to many disadvantages. 5304 and 20ah of life battery... forget about it!
I said perhaps I should bring my normal MTB next time . I was told no bring the etrike ! It was fun and something different. Nice to have a accepting bunch of riders
.
Things I learned.
* If you don't try and make a ass of yourself riding 50kmh up hills and taunting everyone on your e bike acceptance comes much easier.
* Powering your headlights off of your main pack is a great idea. I ran two magic shines but only ran one at a time and kept one battery in reserve. Need a dc-dc converter.
* Using your motor only when you really - really need it. A tiny pack can go a long way.
* After riding with guys that have dual suspension MTB's I want to build my suspension trike even more now. Much more relaxing on the rough stuff.
* Group rides make the same ride so much more fun Wish there was more e bikers in Brisbane to do some more e bike group rides.
* I might even tow my little boby trailer next time and offer to carry drinks, jackets and so on for the peddle riders.
I didn't take any pics but next time Its a must to mount a video camera on my trike.
Kurt
I wasn't sure how I would go given that My bike was the only electric there. I picked a casual riding group that a friend suggested. They tend to be more easygoing and accepting. There was 10 people in all who turned up. Two where on road bikes one of them my friend that i went 4wding with on the weekend and seven where on MTB's. They are more of a MTB group but do city night rides every now and then. Lots of cutting in and around the city, short cuts through parks. Along the river and over bridges, down small streets, bike paths, footpaths. I took my recumbent trike with 15s 10ah of lipo brick in the rear pannier bag. The motor is the larger bafang geared hub maxes out at around 3000w. My plan was to just cycle along as if I didn't have a motor and not use it at all.
The ride was about 40km round trip. My geared hub freewheels nicely so I was in the middle of the pack most of the time without to much effort. I did better on the gutter hopping and park crossing than the two people on road bikes. Going down staircases everyone got off there bikes but i didn't. I road the trike down them slowly using the two front brakes to hop down each tread all much to the others surprise. Coasting down hills I found myself on the brakes all the time to avoid running into the back of the MTB's. The recumbent trike has a good aerodynamic advantage down the larger hills.
The only time I was at a disadvantage was when a sudden change of direction like a Uturn was on the cards . I needed to do a little 2 point turn .Also the fact I was carrying the weight of the motor and battery made hills a little harder than a light weight MTB. It wasn't long before I got some questions about the rear hub. I was just honest and said it's a motor but I am not using it tonight and I wasn't although tempting. That sparked questions if I could demonstrate the motor. 3000w - 60v of acceleration geared hub on a little 20' wheel they were impressed with the acceleration :lol: .I dint hold back when the MTB ers took a shortcut down a grassy slope I just followed.
All up it was a great ride and I used the motor only when asked to demonstrate it up hills or how fast it can go. I don't think any of them have experienced a ebike with more than 200w so it was a good eye opener. I used the motor to ride to the meeting point and again on the ride home. Its great having a light weight freewheeling motor and small light lipo pack as you can ride the bike manual or powered without to many disadvantages. 5304 and 20ah of life battery... forget about it!
I said perhaps I should bring my normal MTB next time . I was told no bring the etrike ! It was fun and something different. Nice to have a accepting bunch of riders
.Things I learned.
* If you don't try and make a ass of yourself riding 50kmh up hills and taunting everyone on your e bike acceptance comes much easier.
* Powering your headlights off of your main pack is a great idea. I ran two magic shines but only ran one at a time and kept one battery in reserve. Need a dc-dc converter.
* Using your motor only when you really - really need it. A tiny pack can go a long way.
* After riding with guys that have dual suspension MTB's I want to build my suspension trike even more now. Much more relaxing on the rough stuff.
* Group rides make the same ride so much more fun
Wish there was more e bikers in Brisbane to do some more e bike group rides.* I might even tow my little boby trailer next time and offer to carry drinks, jackets and so on for the peddle riders.
I didn't take any pics but next time Its a must to mount a video camera on my trike.
Kurt
