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Hyena
I did consider bringing our gas soldering iron, but many faults can be fixed by repairing connectors, replacing wiring, using terminal blocks etc. For bigger problems we'd swap out a whole component and camp out a few days while express post works it's magic. We're lucky to have the bike shop to back us up and send things out as required, which does reduce what we might otherwise carry.
@
mvly
250-300km a day is possible from a battery/charging perspective but you really need to be prepared for the challenge of saddle time...eg extremely sore sit bones. If you do go for it, energy dense batteries are much more important than high C rate cells. My 2 kWh of batteries weighs 16kg and I wouldn't want to carry much more with all the rest of the gear, food and water needed.
Backup devices are just 1 spare controller and EAF (restive POT that plugs into throttle connector for cruise control). All our batteries and chargers are 'backups' in a sense because we have multiple but while they're all working, we're using them all.
Speeds depend on the conditions, 20-25km/h average so quite a few hours in the saddle when the days approach 200km.
Saddle recommendations, I'm using a WTB gel saddle that comes standard on the Vivente World Randonneur and it's OK so far but I'm considering swapping out for my more expensive but comfortable Selle SMP Evolution. The classic touring choice is a Brooks leather saddle but I've never owned or ridden on one extensively.
@
maramusa
Bikes are doing well overall. Issues are:
*spokes on cargo bike rear wheel
*disk brake pads trashed from sandy/muddy/rainy riding
Motors and wiring etc all good for the moment. Motor wiring exits towards and the wire forms a 'drip loop' before heading up the fork, so most water is kept out. Wiring connectors are all backed with hot glue, heatshrinked and then heat shrink over the mated connectors (standard practice on eZeebikes) so water resistance is quite good.
Electric problems so far... condensation behind cycle anayst screen and Garmin screen. The old CA V2 on Maurice's bike has intermittent buttons from water ingress. My Garmin Edge 305's buttons stopped working today so I couldn't stop/start the ride recording. It goes to show that some elec issues can present a few days after rain, as water works its way into things.
Ok, enough posting from the tent in the dark for me tonight
No need to set the alarm clock for tomorrow's rest day so I'm going to enjoy sleeping in!
Cheers, Abraham
