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I agree with Matt's comments, too. Some people don't mind, but for a segment of the population it is important to have something that looks and sounds like a bike, and this is the nearest production model by far. The Tongxin motor is so small people think it is a dynamo! I think the idea...

John, I didn't realise you didn't use your bikes for commuting - you certainly do a lot of miles considering it is leisure only. As you say, they are good value for money if you use them enough! One thing to try if you find you are getting wrist pain from having too much weight on your...

Did you damage the hand that you use to hold a fork, John! Only joking - hope your return to wheels goes well.

Sounds very nice. I looked up the book on the link, and had a pleasant little daydream about having the summer off work to travel on those tracks... then unfortunately had to get on with my work!

Depends on what type of gears you have. If it is a hub gear, best to do as John says; if a derailleur, keep pedalling!

Stuart, If I were you, I wouldn't bother changing the bars over. Nowadays its a lot of work to change handlebars on bikes, and as you point out, quite expensive. The most expensive item is the STIs and you would want them to get the full benefit from drops. Basically they are just like...

The other easier idea of course is bar ends. There are lots of types available, some of which can give a more stretched out position. Frank

It certainly can be done. If I were say fitting drops to my Wisper, I would change the brakes for something like these, which work well with drop levers and allow mudguard clearance. I'd get an STI brake lever / shifter like this, thumb throttle, some drop bars and fix it all up. Whether...

Thanks again, John, for doing this. Controller failure was always the most likely cause but confirming it is useful. I have to say that the reports of better reliability regarding the later batches of Tongxin controllers from both Mark at Cytronex and Tony Castles is making it quite tempting...

I don't know if anyone saw this article, which was a great example of someone actually getting an electric conversion on the road. It's in Gaza - where doing this must be incredibly difficult, but necessity is clearly the mother of invention. Gaza 'genius' helps besieged city survive a year...

I had a good one today - I was in the box at the front for cyclists at traffic lights, stationary, minding my own business. I was in the middle of having a sip of water waiting for the lights to change when I felt something push me. A chap in a van had driven into my bike, almost knocking me...

They're the same keys as the battery. Shouldn't be too much of a challenge for your local keycutter.

Normally a DIY item I'm afraid. Check Flecc and Jeremy's past posts for guidance and pictures. If its for a front motor there may be a ready-made one available. There was a thread on endless sphere about it recently. Out of interest, does anyone know a supplier of torque washers? Frank

Yes, I notice that too. The worst area of confrontation with motorbikes on my daily journey is Admiralty Arch at the end of The Mall, entering Trafalgar Square. Where the road narrows to go under the arch, there is a cycle lane. Motor bikes always use it - which they're not supposed to but...

My experience is that most bus drivers are pretty considerate and will normally wait to let you finish overtaking before they pull out from a stop. You do get the odd cyclist-hater who will accelerate to overtake then cut in to their stop in front of you, forcing you to carry out an...

The Americans often seem to call them English valves! The Schraders being American and Prestas known as French valves. I remember having Woods-Dunlops on my bikes as a child, and hating them. Not seen one for a long time, thankfully!

Good point. I had been passively wondering which way round a thumb throttle should go, since fitting one to my Tongxin motor bike 6 months ago. That bike had twist gear shifters (which I prefer) so a thumb throttle was needed. I fitted it so it twisted the same way as a normal throttle -...

I fell off my bike on the way to work on Thursday. First time I'd fallen off a bike for about 20 years, since a car cut in and forced me onto a kerb. This time there was no-one else to blame; I took a corner too fast, and lost grip on some wet cobble stones. Not much damage, to the bike or...

Thanks John - just sent you a PM

very wise! I think Mark's faster set-up is basically what mine was - a 260 rpm motor. It would be easy enough to get a faster suzhou bafang and make the Wisper more like a Torq. I think there is one for sale at the moment where the owner has done just that. The Panasonics are obviously...