Tour of Britain – Stage 3 , eZee vs Kalkhoff

[Tiberius]

I was thinking about this a bit more and I should add to my previous post (which was slightly doubting)

It is quite common to run more than one race at an event. For instance, at the F1 Grand Prix, there are a series of races and the F1 race is the big finale. At the Boat Race, the course is set up and there several races, finishing with the main race that gets the publicity.

Presumably the same thing happens with the Tour of Britain, and if one of the "minor" races could be an electric bike race, then it makes a lot of sense and its a very good idea. All the questions about road legality and speed limits are answered because its a special course.

The question about what's the point, and why a race of this length is also answered. If athletes on non electric bikes can do it, then its a target that people on electric bikes should be aiming at. To carp that it can't be done on a standard single battery is missing the point. It has to be a serious challenge to be worthwhile - and after all, the main race is being done with no batteries.

If it can be done as part of the official event, then its a brilliant idea. Count me in.

Nick

[flecc]

My guess is that this is intended on a different day, the 9th September mention just being the ToB date.
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[WALKERMAN]

Originally Posted by flecc

My guess is that this is intended on a different day, the 9th September mention just being the ToB date.
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Hi Flecc
Will I be able to use my 'virtual' Pro Connect 53cm Gents in the race as I still haven't got my real one and probably won't have it by September either the ways things are going!

I realized recently that the name I use on this forum (WALKERMAN) has become very appropriate, maybe I should change it to 'WAITINGMAN' I feel it might never become 'BIKERMAN'

[flecc]

Originally Posted by WALKERMAN

Hi Flecc
Will I be able to use my 'virtual' Pro Connect 53cm Gents in the race as I still haven't got my real one and probably won't have it by September either the ways things are going!

Why not, using virtual current you'd have infinite range and power so should win easily.
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[poppy]

Originally Posted by WALKERMAN

Hi Flecc
Will I be able to use my 'virtual' Pro Connect 53cm Gents in the race as I still haven't got my real one and probably won't have it by September either the ways things are going!

I realized recently that the name I use on this forum (WALKERMAN) has become very appropriate, maybe I should change it to 'WAITINGMAN' I feel it might never become 'BIKERMAN'

From WAITINGMAN you can go on to FUMINGMAN.

[WaiWonChing]

Hi,

The Panasonic system is excellent in its own way, eZee at one time several years ago looked to this for our bikes, but decided strategically that we must develop our own that is different if not better. Otherwise where would we be ? There is Kalkhoff, Flyer, Gazelle, Helkama, Raliegh, Monarch, Giant, etc, etc using the same.

What I am trying to do here is balance the informations (some bias to the extreme) flooding in very much in favour of the Panasonic system, it is one very small guy against many giants.

I have already made clear in the first place, there is no need for the Lycra brigade to charge to the finishing line, there are already a very big bunch of pros who made that stage of the TOB in 4 hrs 45 mins., and we (mere mortals) are talking about 8 hrs with 4 batteries for us ebike cyclist.

So for any meaningful information, we have to look at the physical fitness of the rider, and details of the electrical energy performance and hopefully work out what is from the body and what is from the battery over 112 miles. I figure a much longer trip with some hill challenges would be able to give a more accurate picture, rather than a 1 hr charge at the Presteigne.

It is of course sometimes a little difficult to write very clearly what's in one's mind, as I am not a professional writer. Let me try again, if I ride the Kalkhoff ( Assuming I have nothing to do with eZee ) I could not possibly make this 112 miles even in 10 hrs, there is simply not enough energy in the batteries for me 270wh x 4 , but with 370 x 4 , maybe I could just about make it, if I start to do some excercise and training now.

Best regards
W W Ching

[WaiWonChing]

Hi,

Looks like there is several matters here that I need to reply.

1) This is not an organised race, it is a friendly riding trip amongst friend,
with an intent to find out how our bikes and ourselves works together.

2) I do not know exactly at this time, if we could like take off 1 hrs after the pros started at 10.00 we start at 11.00 am and finish 3 or 4 hrs later.
I figure we would not be more than 4 ot 5 people participating, maybe more ? I don't know. David Henshaw would help determine the final route and time.

3) Obviously Scott Snaith does not understand much about electric bikes despite having been in this business with eZee for a few years. It is not possible that I could just turn the throttle finish this 112 miles over some hilly areas with 22 mph assuming even there is no wind at all. If I could it will really show that I have a miracle product in hand.

4) From my experience of riding the 2200 km for part of the silk route, I could do an average of 22.5 km / hr 14 mph , so I have no need of a de-restricted motor. I am not a dare devil who could handle high speed either.

5) There is more than enough business or orders for me to handle, eZee sales has more than double this year vs 2007 , and will more than double in 2009 vs 2008. So this excercise is not about getting more sales, it is about getting the informations right.

Best regards
W W Ching

[Ian]

This is certainly an interesting challenge and there's no doubt that it really is a challenge in the strongest sense of the word. While I don't know the finer details of the route to be taken I am very familiar with the area and it's hills, particularly the vicious climbs up to Exmoor and over the Brendon and Quantock hills, described by the ToB organisers as "King of the Mountains climbs".

I have no doubt that either bike with a suitable rider is capable of doing the stage, but to attempt it in one day calls for a good deal of courage or masochistic tendencies. I know from experience that a 15 mph average would be difficult to maintain in such challenging terrain, made even harder by having to haul 3 extra batteries up numerous steep inclines. The Pros high averages are helped by achieving very high speeds on the descents, a lot easier with a agile, aerodynamic, ultra-light bike unencumbered by luggage and with an escort ensuring a clear road than it would be for a normal person riding a much heavier machine on busier roads, and a lower average means longer in the saddle, longer than most (includung me) could tolerate.

I wish all of the participants good luck and will be watching the results with interest, they will certainly separate the men from the boys. However I feel that the stronger rider will win, the event being more about the riders endurance than any aspect of the bikes performance.

[stokepa31_mk2]

Been reading back through this and a thought springs to mind. would'nt it be better to do a course that starts and finishes in the same place for ease of logistics. I also agree with Nick that 100 miles is a bit far and 50 (both makes would then only need one extra battery) is more sensible. I would give it a go on my agattu but would prefer something further north.

[WaiWonChing]

Originally Posted by TomB

Tour of Manchester - Stage (daily both ways).

Distance 19.8 Miles.

Best time so far on ProConnect (medium power sixteen teeth rear sprocket) 55 minutes and 55 seconds (one third charge left in battery - heart-rate aerobic).

So average speed 21.25 mph.

I am a utility cyclist, but not a Japanese Granny

Let me get this right, if not please correct me.

Your total distance ca. 20 miles daily both ways, meaning you do one way 10 miles and that is only 1/2 hr on and return hone at the end of the day with an 6 - 8 hrs break in between ? And do you charge your battery in between ?

I would look at it this way , at 20 mph the required energy is about 330 watts, your body put in about 150 and your battery provided 180 , this you could perhaps easily sustain over 1/2 hr, if you have normal fitness according to age. The question is does your Pro Connect provide power above 14 mph ?
If it does it does not conform to the EU regulation and is not the normal control parameters set in the Panasonic system which basically provides very little power once it reach 22 kmph or 13.75 mph. So, could your ride been pretty mixed with some sectors done at utility speed and some with lots of power from your legs. Or the Kalkhoff sold in Uk does not conform to EU reg.
Meaning your bike has been modified from the 23 T rear sprocket to 16 T rear sprocket for the Nexus 8.

For those who understand simple bicycle mechanics, as what David Henshaw has informed me, they have switch the sprocket on the Pro Connect in the Presteigne event from the original 23T to 16T. They have MODIFIED the bikes, and such blatant lies that they send in a regular production model, and how the bias in the AtoB magaizne write " lightened and re-gear" instead of MODIFIED as he use on describing the Torq that won. Ian did not "MODIFIED" the Torq he rode, he un-plugged the connector which allowed higher speed on the regular production model, de-restriction is the common termed use on the Torq. Just a matter of semantics.

Best regards to all.
W W Ching

Regards
W W Ching