I'll be honest,
I kinda jumped into the ebiking thing and just started buying stuff that looked good. In retrospect, I could have saved a lot of money and headache hours if I did more homework. However, I can't say that I'm disappointed at all with my current setup. It seems to work for me, even though based on the things I've read on this forum, ... my setup kinda "sucks." This is what happens when I want a new toy and get my quarterly commission check at the same time.
I used a bike I already owned. Trek 4300 with Disc Brakes - "Oh, is aluminum bad? oops"
http://www.electricrider.com - Wow, that video of the phoenix motors is awesome. I want a PHOENIX RACER!!! 5303. That things is fast. I wanna go fast, too. Cha-ching!$$$
48V 10Ah SLA Battery - "I recommend you upgrade to a ...," "Whatever, can I go fast?" "yeah," ok, I'll take it.
So I went fast, for a while,.. but then started using the bike to go to work. 12 miles each way. I get to work, charge the battery... I expect it to be done 5-8 hours later. 2 hours later, fully charged already?! I average about 17mph if you include stoplights and avoiding crazy drivers. I show up to work a little sweaty, but just as sweaty as I would be if I stood still outside for 30 mins, probably not even as much (it's been a hot summer).
2 weeks ago I rode in some sunrise charity bike ride. 25 miles straight. I pedaled along mostly because I felt bad that the rest of my friends were pedalling. I put in just barely more effort than needed to mimic the motion of pedaling, mostly just to maintain cadence, or whatever they call it. Anyways, more of a "for fun" ride. Averaged about 16mph. Event ended, biked from finish line to my car.. that was parked 4 miles away. At this point, it's almost 5am in downtown chicago,... and the roads are almost void of cars... paradise. Decided to really be a rebel and go fast, turn fast, act like a kid in a candy store, and basically hauled ass back to my car. Got home, unloaded bike,.. was feeling wired so i went for ANOTHER ride, 2-3 miles (this time on a rock dirt trail). Got home, again, plugged in. good night.
so yeah.. aluminum frame bike, 1 disc brake in front, 5303 phoenix racer, 48v40a controller, 48v10Ah SLA batts,.... with these SLA Batts, i feel like my setup should suck. But it aint so bad. SO, maybe I pedal too much. Do a lot of ya'll really not pedal at all? doesn't it just feel weird not to? I am the type to prefer flying under the radar tho. oh well.
Modifications since inception:
- Moved SLA's into frame. Wow, handling is so much better now
- 2-24v12Ah NiMH's on the way. should reduce battery weight from 29lbs to 18lbs. Is losing 11lbs really gonna make that big a difference on this current 80-some odd-lb (at least) fatty?? I weigh about almost 170 myself. Maybe I should be the one to lose weight.
- Torque arms added - using 10mm cone wrenches till my "real ones" arrive.
- New tires. 2 inch semi slicks front, 2.125 semi slicks back. Mr Tuffy liners, and I been good ever since.
I kinda jumped into the ebiking thing and just started buying stuff that looked good. In retrospect, I could have saved a lot of money and headache hours if I did more homework. However, I can't say that I'm disappointed at all with my current setup. It seems to work for me, even though based on the things I've read on this forum, ... my setup kinda "sucks." This is what happens when I want a new toy and get my quarterly commission check at the same time.
I used a bike I already owned. Trek 4300 with Disc Brakes - "Oh, is aluminum bad? oops"
http://www.electricrider.com - Wow, that video of the phoenix motors is awesome. I want a PHOENIX RACER!!! 5303. That things is fast. I wanna go fast, too. Cha-ching!$$$
48V 10Ah SLA Battery - "I recommend you upgrade to a ...," "Whatever, can I go fast?" "yeah," ok, I'll take it.
So I went fast, for a while,.. but then started using the bike to go to work. 12 miles each way. I get to work, charge the battery... I expect it to be done 5-8 hours later. 2 hours later, fully charged already?! I average about 17mph if you include stoplights and avoiding crazy drivers. I show up to work a little sweaty, but just as sweaty as I would be if I stood still outside for 30 mins, probably not even as much (it's been a hot summer).
2 weeks ago I rode in some sunrise charity bike ride. 25 miles straight. I pedaled along mostly because I felt bad that the rest of my friends were pedalling. I put in just barely more effort than needed to mimic the motion of pedaling, mostly just to maintain cadence, or whatever they call it. Anyways, more of a "for fun" ride. Averaged about 16mph. Event ended, biked from finish line to my car.. that was parked 4 miles away. At this point, it's almost 5am in downtown chicago,... and the roads are almost void of cars... paradise. Decided to really be a rebel and go fast, turn fast, act like a kid in a candy store, and basically hauled ass back to my car. Got home, unloaded bike,.. was feeling wired so i went for ANOTHER ride, 2-3 miles (this time on a rock dirt trail). Got home, again, plugged in. good night.
so yeah.. aluminum frame bike, 1 disc brake in front, 5303 phoenix racer, 48v40a controller, 48v10Ah SLA batts,.... with these SLA Batts, i feel like my setup should suck. But it aint so bad. SO, maybe I pedal too much. Do a lot of ya'll really not pedal at all? doesn't it just feel weird not to? I am the type to prefer flying under the radar tho. oh well.
Modifications since inception:
- Moved SLA's into frame. Wow, handling is so much better now
- 2-24v12Ah NiMH's on the way. should reduce battery weight from 29lbs to 18lbs. Is losing 11lbs really gonna make that big a difference on this current 80-some odd-lb (at least) fatty?? I weigh about almost 170 myself. Maybe I should be the one to lose weight.
- Torque arms added - using 10mm cone wrenches till my "real ones" arrive.
- New tires. 2 inch semi slicks front, 2.125 semi slicks back. Mr Tuffy liners, and I been good ever since.
