The solar touring season is over, so I am back to my multiple batteries and chargers approach for this repeat of my first really long trip a year ago.
The solar project needed a remotely mounted battery, so this time I have three batteries, two 418Wh downtube mounted, and a 504Wh on the rack. Just the two EC8004 4.6A chargers. The batteries are not new, I estimate they have 90% of their new capacity, so 1200Wh or so total.
I am travelling fairly light, maybe 25kg less than the solar rig, and I now have a 42T instead of 36T bottom gear, which on this first day has meant I have managed all but three short hills on the lowest assistance level - good for stretching range. I probably have 120 miles range, although my plan is to keep the rack mounted battery in reserve and run on the other two.
It is harder work in level 1, so 30 to 40 mile stints are about the limit, followed by an hour eating, drinking and charging.
It worked out well today, 66km in three hours took three bars out of the first battery and two and a bit from the second. An hour of charging had both back between four and five bars. Then another 80 km, all in daylight, and a camping spot just 50m from a friendly locals pub, where I stretched a pint to 85 minutes, by which time one battery was full and the other pretty close.
90 miles and almost full batteries. Six dry hours and three not so much. Pretty good first day.
First battery swap below the railway at the head of Loch Awe.
The Real Food Cafe, Tyndrum. First charging stop and lunch.
Autumn colours on a Loch Lomond islet. I stop here whenever passing if the time makes sense. The cafe was open, first time I have seen that since COVID.
Same place, impressive timber viewing structure.
Wet on the bonny, bonny banks today.
Some more autumn colours between the A82 and the railway on Sustrans route 7.
And failing light behind the pub!
The solar project needed a remotely mounted battery, so this time I have three batteries, two 418Wh downtube mounted, and a 504Wh on the rack. Just the two EC8004 4.6A chargers. The batteries are not new, I estimate they have 90% of their new capacity, so 1200Wh or so total.
I am travelling fairly light, maybe 25kg less than the solar rig, and I now have a 42T instead of 36T bottom gear, which on this first day has meant I have managed all but three short hills on the lowest assistance level - good for stretching range. I probably have 120 miles range, although my plan is to keep the rack mounted battery in reserve and run on the other two.
It is harder work in level 1, so 30 to 40 mile stints are about the limit, followed by an hour eating, drinking and charging.
It worked out well today, 66km in three hours took three bars out of the first battery and two and a bit from the second. An hour of charging had both back between four and five bars. Then another 80 km, all in daylight, and a camping spot just 50m from a friendly locals pub, where I stretched a pint to 85 minutes, by which time one battery was full and the other pretty close.
90 miles and almost full batteries. Six dry hours and three not so much. Pretty good first day.
First battery swap below the railway at the head of Loch Awe.
The Real Food Cafe, Tyndrum. First charging stop and lunch.
Autumn colours on a Loch Lomond islet. I stop here whenever passing if the time makes sense. The cafe was open, first time I have seen that since COVID.
Same place, impressive timber viewing structure.
Wet on the bonny, bonny banks today.
Some more autumn colours between the A82 and the railway on Sustrans route 7.
And failing light behind the pub!
