The Definitive Bicycle Thread (Part II)

Thanks for the detailed info on electric bike setups.  My first thought was, I can just a pedal without a motor to work, etc.  The reality is, I tend to do huge long bike or running workouts then jump in my gas hogging truck for the short 7 mile ride to work, hauling my laptop, lunch, and a bunch of other junk etc.  The commute could be done more conveniently and with less energy on an E bike.

Tom

Well here comes the down side -

After getting a power bike and putting 100s of miles on it over the 2007 summer - my butt still hurts! And this is not an unusual occurance - many people experience pain and cancer long after bike riding because of the shape of the bike seat so remember these small tips when riding-

1. Get the softest seat you can afford. If you have a recumbent, trike or 4 wheel bike (ricsycle is my dream-machine) - then you're good to go. If you are on a 2 wheel- look for seats that are spring loaded, cushioned and big enough to sit without resting on your privates.
2. If you are older - pedalling itself causes friction so take it easy and work up to a long ride before going 100s of miles.
3. If you are powered up on a 2 wheeler - stand frequently to get the blood flow going.

I might have ridden my bike 1,000s of miles when I was 20 years younger - but adding power to a two-wheel bike can take a lot of years off the ole' tush when getting places fast and "green".   EGP

 

Thanks for the detailed info on electric bike setups.  My first thought was, I can just a pedal without a motor to work, etc.  The reality is, I tend to do huge long bike or running workouts then jump in my gas hogging truck for the short 7 mile ride to work, hauling my laptop, lunch, and a bunch of other junk etc.  The commute could be done more conveniently and with less energy on an E bike.

Tom

 

 

 Hi Tom,

Yes, you hit the nail on the head.  It always seems like I have lots of stuff to move around - everything from my computer to a change of clothes, to martial arts gear etc.  When folks first see my bike they often say "that looks heavy".  And it is.  But since I'm nearly always carrying lots of stuff, plus kids, why worry about weight?  So instead I focus on making the bike as pleasant to ride as possible, so that I'll ride it instead of driving.  I didn't mention it in the article, but I even have a cupholder and a little stereo on my handlebars.  Frivolous?  Yes they are.  But they are things that make riding the bike more enjoyable, so I ride more often.  And the same thing is true in a much bigger way for the electric assist.  It helps me wake up in the morning and see myself hopping on the bike and having a fun time riding to work - even when I feel lousy.

Having the e-bike motivates me to ride every day.  It may not do that for everyone, but it does seem to help for a lot of people.

Morgan

Yes, that's why I mentioned recumbents and the Day 6 in the article.  They solve the problems you mention.  They are designed for people with back/wrist/fanny issues.  The Day 6 seat is more comfortable than the office chair I sit on all day long.  I could see myself doing a few hundred miles on that seat without any discomfort whatsoever.  The only downside of that bike is that it can't readily be converted to an Xtracycle.  But they can and often are converted to have electric assist.  The Day 6 is by far the most popular bike we have for the retiree crowd.  

Even if you stick with a regular bike, finding a good seat is very important, as I mentioned in the article.  I don't agree that everyone needs the softest seat possible.  Some people prefer a seat that is a bit more sporty. Personally, I find some seats too "squishy". That is a matter of personal preference. 

I would change this to say "find the seat that is most comfortable to you".

Thanks for another fantastic article.  I'm fortunate to live in a place where it is very easy to commute by bicycle (Berkeley, CA).  I've been able to reduce my car use by 90+% over the past two years.  Sometimes two weeks will pass without a single car trip.  In addition to the environmental benefits, it feels so much better to be getting regular exercise in the context of my normal life (without having to carve out "extra" time for it).  It's not a hardship at all.  In fact, even if I had a "zero emissions" car (as if such a car existed!), I would still ride my bike whenever it was possible to do so.  I prefer it.

Thanks so much Dr. Giddings!

This is EXACTLY the information I needed. Putting it all in one place makes it sooooo much easier to start a project/transition like this.  As with anything, there will be no substitute for experience, but having a solid foundation of knowledge not only speeds things up and helps make more effective decisions, but also helps motivate.

Thanks again for taking the time to compile this information.  It will be invaluable.

-Brandon

Thanks for Part II Dr. Giddings!

If I can add a couple of things. For preventing your pants from getting caught, I use an elastic band. Very simple and easy and cheap solution.

For sore butt syndrome - I use a Gellissimo seat for my road bike for my longer rides(50-70 miles). It's a combination of gel and padding. I use the seat in combination with padded bike pants. I have had the seat for a couple of years and it has served me, and my tush, well!

Part II is another great installment. Thanks, Dr. Giddings!

I followed the link you provided for the continuously-variable NuVinci rear hub. This is a subject that interested me in engineering school, several decades ago. The NuVinci site says that a new generation of lubricants offers 3 to 5 times more fluid shear resistance than ordinary oil in order to transit force between the toroids, while still providing the lubrication which is essential to prevent the unit from grinding itself into metallic dust. On the other hand, the NuVinci unit is quite heavy; more than 11 pounds.

You also mentioned 8-speed hubs. I Googled that, and learned that several manufacturers including Shimano now make internally-geared hubs, like the old Sturmey-Archer English 3-speeds that we all remember from our youth. This is FANTASTIC news. While I wasn't paying attention, all my technological bicycle dreams have come true. There's even a German-made, ultra-high-end, 14-speed internally greared hub, I learned.

I DEPLORE derailleurs, DEPLORE greasy, gritty chains and rollers; DEPLORE the inconvenience of shifting from high to low gear while pedaling during a sudden stop on an upgrade. Derailleurs, in my mind, are one step above the Flintstones technology of hand-hewn lumber frames with stone millwheels serving as 'tires.' My next bike, for sure, is gonna have an internally geared hub. Now if we could just adapt an e-drive to go through the gears, while isolating the pedals from the e-drive via a freewheel clutch ... call me when it's ready.

Hi, I'm glad the article was useful to you.

The Nuvinci is a bit on the heavy side.  It adds about 7-8 lbs to the bike, when compared to a standard rear sprocket setup.  On the other hand, it is extremely low maintenance, which has the benefits that you point out.

Some of the other hubs that you mention are great.  The Rohloff is fantastic (that's the 15 speed one), but it is also quite pricey.  The ones from Shimano, Sram, and Sturmey Archer all seem to work quite well at a lower price range.  There are several brands of bikes that now include these gearhubs from the factory, including Breezer and Civia.  It is nice to see these coming to the mass market in the USA, it is about time.  

Regarding your request where you say "call me when it is ready"... ask and you shall receive!  Check out the EcoSpeed Electric Mountain Drive.  I don't have your phone number, but, we are now becoming a dealer for the Ecospeeds, because we're enthused about them.  I'm going to be trying one soon on my own bike.

Have fun!

Morgan

First, I apologize in advance for all the newbie questions I am about to post over the coming weeks.  I'm really interested in this stuff but have no prior knowledge, other than the 2 months I've had my Giant Mt. Bike out on a few trails...still learning! I'll try to limit it to a single post a day...

Question 1) I noticed that in many of the videos I look at, the bikes only have one gear in the front (where you pedal) as opposed to my mt. bike which has 3.  Are certain types of electric assist motors only compatible with a 1-front gear system?

I can't see how the cyclone would work with 3 differently sized gears in the front:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wNo5SM2d...

Question 2) Why, when you leave the world of Mt. bikes, are people talking about so many fewer gears than I'm used to dealing with (3x9=27 on my mt. bike).  Is it the obvious answer that you just don't NEED as many typically?  If so, am I to assume that you're giving up the very low-end, high-torque gears (1 and 2) on the front sprockets?

Thanks...and feel free to correct me on the words/terminology for the parts I'm describing!

-Brandon