Electric Bike "carry-behind " 2019

[RC Pilot Jim]

Mic, Thanks for sharing your bike and carrier . Glad your Knee is healed. WoW 1,000 miles in one year. You have been riding a a lot.
I love your large stop lights something I need to add to my carrier,

Bob M, Thanks for sharing "1Up USA Superduty" carrier. Do they have a model that fits a 65 pound electric bike. Definitely worth looking into.

This is year 2 (June) for me. My RAD City just turned 1,500 miles on Wednesday. Been riding the "Inland Rail Trail" From East Escondido eventually to Oceanside train Depot. Now it extends almost to "Sycamore" street in Vista, about 20 miles round trip so most of the time I transport it to the "San Luis Rey River trail" - 19 miles round trip. No cross streets. Than ride Oceanside Marina and the Strand...Maybe into Carlsbad on the Coast...30 miles total.

If your ever coming down to San Diego, bring your bike, camp at Carlsbad beach and we will ride together.

Everyone Stay safe. Have the best non camping weekend we can have.

 

[smlobx]

Second reply to SmIobx

Subject is Solar Charging battery pack Click on the link.

DIY project ...still expensive. Uses 4 - 100 watt solar panels charging a Lithium battery. Gotta be a cheaper way. I suppose one could buy a separate battery for around $500 then you would have a 50-100 mile range. then spend the night in a KOA full hookups and charge both batteries on the way to your next off the grid camping spot.

RAD has a blog. This popped up this morning

Great Jim. Thanks for the read.

 

[BobM]

Mic, Thanks for sharing your bike and carrier . Glad your Knee is healed. WoW 1,000 miles in one year. You have been riding a a lot.
I love your large stop lights something I need to add to my carrier,

Bob M, Thanks for sharing "1Up USA Superduty" carrier. Do they have a model that fits a 65 pound electric bike. Definitely worth looking into.

This is year 2 (June) for me. My RAD City just turned 1,500 miles on Wednesday. Been riding the "Inland Rail Trail" . From East Escondido eventually to Oceanside train Depot. Now it extends almost to "Sycamore" street in Vista, about 22 miles so most of the time I transport it ti the "San Luis Rey River trail" - 19 miles round trip. No cross streets. Than ride Oceanside Marina and the Strand...Maybe into Carlsbad on the Coast...30 miles total.

If your ever coming down to San Diego, bring your bike, camp at Carlsbad beach and we will ride together.

Everyone Stay safe. Have the best non camping weekend we can have.

I got my Rad Rover March 2018 and have just clocked 13,000 miles on it. My Odometer has actually reset twice already. They reset when it reached 10,000 KM which is around 6,200 miles Here's my setup

and here's a video showing my ODO reset the second time

 

[RC Pilot Jim]

Hi Bob I notice you have a second battery mounted on your rear rack with panniers (think they are called that ) on either side. Riding 13,000 miles in 26 months have been some serious road trips. I ride mine for exercise once or twice per week and to check out the eye candy at the beaches in San Diego. Looking forward to more of that as they relax the stay at home orders.

 

[BobM]

Since I'm retired I ride every day between 20-30 miles just for fun. Living at the beach is all the inspiration I need. I made another video showing how I made the battery mount out of excess angle bar I had left over from my FWC solar setup

Here's the video of my solar setup I did for under $200 and it's still working perfect after over 5 years

I do miss camping

 

[RC Pilot Jim]

A couple of weeks ago while riding the river trail in Oceanside California I saw two new electric bikes.

The name is Lectric Bike . (click on the link) Selling price $899, With a folding version. With the smaller 20-22" wheels. The couple had them about 3 months and 500 miles and loved them. Don't know the weight, Prices are coming down.

Still loving my RAD Power Bike City Step-thru. Just turned 2,000 miles in 28 months riding for exercise.

 

[RC Pilot Jim]

UPDATE April 2021
In Mid 2020 RAD added the "Rad Mission" a single-speed electric pedal assist metro bike for city riders at $1,099.

RAD makes many models between about $1,000 - $1,599 depending on the model. I chose the "RADCity Step-thru" as 99% of my riding was concrete and asphalt. They make a model with 4 inch wide tires for street and offroad/sand the "RAD Rover". Tires on RAD City are 2.3 inches wide. ok for dirt roads. Softer than that you need the 4" tires that float over the terrain.

They offer a 14 day free trial and 1 year warranty. I have had mine 3 years in June 2021 over 2,450 miles with no problems.


I updated page one with this information.

 

[buckland]

Over covid I converted my Mt bike to an Ebike. It is great ...light and Battery can be off and ride a a 7 speed. My wife is "graduating" this year after 36 straight years of teaching elementary school.... so I got her the lightest pedal assist bike out there and it is relatively at an affordable level ... it is all peddle assist and battery removed so it is just a regular 7 speed bicycle. (Propella)

 

[RC Pilot Jim]

Very Good Buckland. Congrats to your wife for her 36 years of service and welcome to the E-Bike family.
Hope you both have many years of fun riding and take them with you on your camping adventures,

 

[Gentle on my world]

I was under the impression the mid drive kit was a very rare conversion to make, besides being mechanically challenging. What brand is it that you put on your Mt bike?

Over covid I converted my Mt bike to an Ebike. It is great ...light and Battery can be off and ride a a 7 speed. My wife is "graduating" this year after 36 straight years of teaching elementary school.... so I got her the lightest pedal assist bike out there and it is relatively at an affordable level ... it is all peddle assist and battery removed so it is just a regular 7 speed bicycle. (Propella)

 

[buckland]

The kit I bought was very straight forward. One removes the crank and replaces it with the kit parts/motor. I opted for the shift sensor and the brake handles with sensor so the motor disengages. It is a hoot peddling up a mountain road at 15 mph. I found the conversion fairly easy if you are not in a hurry and don't have a few beers under the belt. The hardest part was getting the grips off!

https://www.bafangusadirect.com/bafang-750w-bbs02-mid-drive-motor-and-battery-p/60.htm

Almost every eBike uses a Bafang motor.

 

[Gentle on my world]

Thanks. I took a quick look at the various conversions. I'll have to do a bit more research from their site to be sure, but I think mine will be compatible.


I think the mid drive is a good way to go. Though I am thinking my 500 dollar gravel/hybrid, or whatever the heck it is, will be outclassed by the battery alone.



Giant ARX2 No suspension

 

[buckland]

It isn't cheap but I had a bicycle I like but wasn't riding that much as I live in a very hilly area... no way to come home but up. Really up.
It is old but well made (Brigestone MB6) So going out for a ride is avoided due to having to walk the last mile (steep). Now I laugh ...people turn and look puzzled watching me going straight up). I just was being frugal not wanting two bikes.

BTW I have a front receiver hitch which is where the bike rack goes... so not blocking camper door

 

[Gentle on my world]

Yep, the front receiver is probably the one thing I got right with my ride. I use it very little, but when I do, it's great. I plan on putting a bike rack up front for longer trips as well.

It'd be an experience to take a bicycle ride up Mt. Washington! I"m pretty sure they set aside one day of the year for motorcycles only. And I know that there are the super humans who do it by pedal power (late august?). Perhaps the right people putting together something similar for electric cycles in the future.

 

[buckland]

Coming down might be harder!

 

[RC Pilot Jim]

To Buckland and Return West
Front Receiver:
have had one of these of every truck I've owned over the years because they are so handy especially when you have a boat...And a 4 door full size truck...And a camper. Backing down a launch ramp is a lot easier driving forward pushing the trailer and the weight is over the wheels so one has good traction. when pulling boat out of water with a 2-WD truck.

Since I have a Tacoma the bike blocks my vision going down the highway. So when I get to my offroad trail head I swap the carrier to the front then remount the bike for the trip in which keeps the bike from getting blasted with dirt for 35 miles.

Electric mid drive is a better choice then the hub motor because it has gears. the complete bikes are expensive $2,700 (Trek) up. "Bafang" is a name I've heard about before. Didn't know they made a kit. Nice price, however E-bike prices are dropping so now a complete bike is available for around $800 Lectric Bikes...Downside its a one speed hub motor like mine...course if budgeted money is the issue then hub is fine with me...Just saying

 

[Gentle on my world]

Thanks for the Lectric link RC Pilot Jim. IT makes for a good "value" bike competitor to the radrunner:

 

[RC Pilot Jim]

Thanks Return West for a good comparison.

The one thing you didn't say or I (didn't hear) ...Class 2 bikes are limited to 20mph. In the RAD you can program the computer to increase the speed to 25mph IF one weighs under 180 and is smaller in frame size. I'm 225 riding weight 6' 1" and can't get it over 23.7 mph because I block too much wind, unless I turn off the motor because it has a governor on it.

Going downhill motor off I have gotten up to 26mph. Average riding speed for exercise is 15-17 mph - PAS 1 (pedal assist one).

At my latest tune up I had the front bearing greased so it should roll faster downhill. Test it next time I ride.

 

[RC Pilot Jim]

This month marks year three. Ridden 2,665 miles as of yesterday. Still averaging 100 miles a month. Unfortunately my bottom can only take 25 miles per ride. I'm on my fourth saddle...still not thick enough. Interested in buying a "3GGG" seat. Interested except delivery is 14 months. Need about 3 more inches of foam or Gel.
Will Welcome any advice.

My mechanic Paul opened his own shop this winter - "Wrench House Cyclery". www.wrenchhouse.com. Paul Dunlap. phone 442-320-3366. Prices: same as North county bike shops charge and he comes to your location to do the work. Paul used to have the San Diego Velofix franchise until they started excessively increasing their annual renewal fees.

Congrats Paul on your new venture. In North San Diego County, give Paul a try.

 

[rubberlegs]

I'm not sure what your bike looks like -- it would be good to see a side view of you riding it. Also I've never ridden an E-bike, but I ride a road bike thousands of miles per year. I've found putting 1/3 your weight on your feet, 1/3 on your saddle, and 1/3 on your handlebars makes it a lot more comfortable. That's easy on a road bike, but on a "sit-up" E-bike where you don't put as much load on the pedals, it may be really difficult.

I've also found that bike shorts don't work as well on my mountain bike, which I rarely use so haven't figured out a better plan. But on my road bike it makes a huge difference.

Another trick is using "Glide" where the rubbing may happen. Available at sporting goods stores, and I'm sure there are competitive products. It's a waxy substance that is amazing.

For my road bike, a soft saddle makes things worse. The harder saddle puts your pressure on the sit bones, instead of... er... that soft tissue! But not sure that would work on your bike setup.