Hello and help

stevenatleven

Pedelecer
Apr 18, 2011
212
140
Fife
Can I use this section to introduce myself and ask for some advice at the same time.

I'm Steve a 65 year old male living in Scotland. Been cycling off and on most of my life mostly touring and cross country mountain biking. I was out on the tracks a few weeks ago in poor weather and did about 30 miles, got very tired and have decided if I am to keep doing it I need some help.

I have been lurking on the forum a few weeks and reading stuff about kits as I have 2 perfectly good bikes. my 2 bikes are a full suspension GT and a Merlin Malt 1 hardtail both use a mix of LX/XT components.
Minus the back wheel the GT is 13kgs and the Merlin 12kgs so I had guessed adding another 6/8 kgs of conversion kit will bring the bikes to about the 20/21 kilo mark.It is one of these that i would convert.

I had thought about fitting the 8FUN or Cyclotricty front wheel kit with throttle only because of the simplicity of fitting and smaller initial outlay. But if folk thought that a better kit like the Oxydrive rear wheel or Whoosh crank drive was way superior I would consider them.

I am 100kgs and even though I am very active (skiing,canoeing) I have been this weight for a long time and have to watch my weight so getting any lighter isnt really an option.

I like to cycle in the hills and the tracks and small b roads can have long ascents which are tiring so I would probably go for the largest battery (15ah ?)with range in mind. I don,t want to go fast.the 15mph top speed would be bliss compared to my current averages of about 8 mph. I have been reading about motors overheating so thats one consideration and also I would like a quality battery for longevity and a light charger that perhaps I can carry with me as in some parts of Perthshire and Invernessshire they have battery charging stations. How practical this is I am unsure ie plugging the battery in for an hour while I have my dinner,
will it make much difference.?

Whatever happens I have decided that 2015 is the year I will get my feet wet in the pedelec world so grateful for your thoughts and advice.
 

morsmana

Pedelecer
Jan 12, 2015
40
3
63
Hi Steven, welcome to the forum! I converted a ridgeback velocity hybrid with a Oxydrive front motor and rear carrier battery. I'm 110kg and reasonably fit, live in the high hills of Cumbria and the bike is great. I am now getting rides in of over 30miles with typical climbs of 1500 + ft, averaging over 18mph. Some of the hills are v steep, which in the past have only been walked up, but now I ride up, albeit with a good deal of effort. But the kit gets me out, and over the hills - getting fitter all the time.
 

stevenatleven

Pedelecer
Apr 18, 2011
212
140
Fife
morsmana, thats exactly the kind of stuff i want to hear and knowing the lakeland hils that i cycled as a youth (Hardknott/Wrynose etc) i can testify to
the steepness. Off to look at that kit now !
 

Nealh

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 7, 2014
20,882
8,517
61
West Sx RH
A lot of these kits are now plug and play so make for nice easier fitting.
Other options are Woosh BPM 270rpm 20a with 15ah battery (aka the Big Bear kit). The Cylotricity kit usually requires an extra of LCD to add to the kit so factor that on top of the kit price. If you like to peddle and want more input for fitness then BBS CD kit is nice and neat to fit and the 350w or 500w is nice. Regarding throttles most kits have this option but are not throttle only as they also have pas (peddle assist) which gives up to 80% assistance.
For offroading with loose or wet surfaces then cd or rear wheel hub will be more suitable as front will wheel spin more having unloaded weight applied .
 
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stevenatleven

Pedelecer
Apr 18, 2011
212
140
Fife
Nealh thanks for the Woosh suggestion,I have been reading their installation manual and it is quite thorough. Like the tip of rear wheel drive for loose/wet surfaces as long as I could get a strong wheel made,ie 36 spoke at least.