That's a really interesting article - many thanks for that. Think some key things come out of it - first the amount of power you'd need to run the bike decently (definitely a LiPo contender I think).
But my interest was largely sparked by the idea of a bike capable of running on wet sand and having sea spray thrown at it a lot. The choice of Rohloff hub gears by the San Francisco guy makes complete sense in that context. The main challenge is that for a multi-terrain bike sounds like you really need LOADS of power to compensate for the big tyres when you're not on sand and you're back to having to work with front wheel motors (not ideal). A recumbent or quad is probably a far easier match thinking about it - but reckon you could get something decent to work well with a 'fattie' bike. Whether the scope for using it is sufficient to justify the expense (always assuming a 2nd hand donor bike to start with) is a different equation that'll take more thought.
Seaside is a very harsh environment for any bike - even living close by means you have to maintain loads more than inland and shore up your waterproofing a lot more unless you want to steer the water's edge a wide berth. The air is constantly damp and this can play havoc with electrics too. I'm already going to be using contralube on all my pin connections and will be double-insulating every single join in the final assembly of a bike intended for regular coastal use along with using threadlock on every frame bolt etc.
Converted to build bikes - don't think I would want to but another ready-built bike tbh. The opportunities are endless and by building yourself you can shore up all the vulnerable components to take the sort of punishing you want to feel free to throw at your bike.
I don't think many ready-made bikes are designed intended for very harsh conditions (especially coastal conditions) on the whole. Even my last car dealer refused to replace a corroded boot clip which seized on a car under warranty claiming the damage was due to the salty air and their not having been the ones servicing it.
rolleyes
. Pull the other one lol. In fact it had been inland more than by the sea and had been serviced at another dealer there.
But their excuse illustrates a valid point well - and I've always had an interest in solutions to build for use in extreme conditions. If you know you've got the means to readily go out and face those conditions or be more adventurous in selecting where and when you explore, without your equipment throwing wobblies or killing it in months rather than years, then you're more likely to 'just go for it'. And in my book, once you've done the appropriate planning and made sure you're kitted up to do so, that in the end is what life is all about.
There's an interesting article on the MAC/BMC motors here linked in that original piece you linked :
BMC Hub Motor Review | ELECTRICBIKE.COM
Very interesting idea about using hydraulic fluid in the motor when overvolting to avoid overheating. I wonder if the CST could be modded in the same way
. ... It's a rear hub so likely not so good for a "sand fattie" but interesting nonetheless.
