chvidgov.bc.ca
10 kW
Hi...this is my new concept bike which I love for cruising around Victoria, BC, Canada, for shopping and 12 mile trips to the lake on the Galloping Goose trail...
Some features of the bike...
Crystalyte 405 hub front hub motor (ebikes.ca)
LiFP04 36 volt 12Ah from ebikes.ca (working very well for me).
36-48V 30amp controller (Crystalyte)
Left-half-twist throttle
Rear 20x 1 1/8 (451) 3 speed Sturmey Archer AW hub and steel wheel (1974). The old hubs seem to run forever - very reliable and no issues with cleaning derailleurs etc. I would love to get a Nexus 7 back wheel for this bike, but that will require a rear frame spread to 135 from present 119 mm (eventually).
Rebuilt new bottom bracket and alloy crank, replacing original primitive Raleigh cottered crank
- required re-tapping of 26tpi threading to 24tpi threading (Fairfield Bikes)
New front steel fork with standard 100mm spacing, (Sun EZ Sport replacement fork, with extra long steerer tube, used stock on R20).
I needed the fork for both spacing issues and to get a new V-Brake, as the old Raleigh sidepull brakes were very poor.
New stem, required shim.
Extra long Axiom 400mm seatpost with "Butt Buddy" seatpost extension, conferring extra 2 inches of length (I'm 6 feet tall).
Front shopper basket, and rear green shopper pannier, for taking (lots of) groceries home from Thrifty Foods.
Battery from ebikes.ca with controller all fits perfectly into MEC rear rack bag. Controller in a plastic bag (no overheating so far) inside.
Uses "Lizard Skin" BMX velcro wraps, to stealth the wires and protect them, and make bike look stupid.
I like this bike because it will fold, and it is very small, with a very low centre of gravity to carry the battery and the motor. As well, the weight is very evenly distributed, and the excellent stiffness of the old Raleigh frame makes it very strong, with the small tough wheels. And my partner Sharon likes riding it too.
It is just right for crusing at 20-21 mph with moderate assist, for about 35 miles, with my riding style.
With a 406 rear wheel (20 x 1.75) that it originally came with, the bike's top 3rd gear was a little bit too low, but with the 451 on the back, it is just right.
I might go to a 46T chainring from 44 to get just a bit taller on the overall gearing.
I found the bike just a bit more peppy than a CCM beach 26 inch beach cruiser with a 406 on it, with the same controller, and way more nimble for zipping around town. A very fun bike...
The late renowned bicycle mechanic Sheldon Brown was very keen on these old English folders as they can be upgraded with better parts for a "poor man's Bike Friday" - I paid 65 dollars for the original bike, off craigslist, and I've got two others I bought - mostly from the yachting crowd here in "ye olde Victoria"...
This would be awesome too, with an Ezee bike treatment, I think...
Some features of the bike...
Crystalyte 405 hub front hub motor (ebikes.ca)
LiFP04 36 volt 12Ah from ebikes.ca (working very well for me).
36-48V 30amp controller (Crystalyte)
Left-half-twist throttle
Rear 20x 1 1/8 (451) 3 speed Sturmey Archer AW hub and steel wheel (1974). The old hubs seem to run forever - very reliable and no issues with cleaning derailleurs etc. I would love to get a Nexus 7 back wheel for this bike, but that will require a rear frame spread to 135 from present 119 mm (eventually).
Rebuilt new bottom bracket and alloy crank, replacing original primitive Raleigh cottered crank
- required re-tapping of 26tpi threading to 24tpi threading (Fairfield Bikes)
New front steel fork with standard 100mm spacing, (Sun EZ Sport replacement fork, with extra long steerer tube, used stock on R20).
I needed the fork for both spacing issues and to get a new V-Brake, as the old Raleigh sidepull brakes were very poor.
New stem, required shim.
Extra long Axiom 400mm seatpost with "Butt Buddy" seatpost extension, conferring extra 2 inches of length (I'm 6 feet tall).
Front shopper basket, and rear green shopper pannier, for taking (lots of) groceries home from Thrifty Foods.
Battery from ebikes.ca with controller all fits perfectly into MEC rear rack bag. Controller in a plastic bag (no overheating so far) inside.
Uses "Lizard Skin" BMX velcro wraps, to stealth the wires and protect them, and make bike look stupid.
I like this bike because it will fold, and it is very small, with a very low centre of gravity to carry the battery and the motor. As well, the weight is very evenly distributed, and the excellent stiffness of the old Raleigh frame makes it very strong, with the small tough wheels. And my partner Sharon likes riding it too.
It is just right for crusing at 20-21 mph with moderate assist, for about 35 miles, with my riding style.
With a 406 rear wheel (20 x 1.75) that it originally came with, the bike's top 3rd gear was a little bit too low, but with the 451 on the back, it is just right.
I might go to a 46T chainring from 44 to get just a bit taller on the overall gearing.
I found the bike just a bit more peppy than a CCM beach 26 inch beach cruiser with a 406 on it, with the same controller, and way more nimble for zipping around town. A very fun bike...
The late renowned bicycle mechanic Sheldon Brown was very keen on these old English folders as they can be upgraded with better parts for a "poor man's Bike Friday" - I paid 65 dollars for the original bike, off craigslist, and I've got two others I bought - mostly from the yachting crowd here in "ye olde Victoria"...
This would be awesome too, with an Ezee bike treatment, I think...
