Hi from Sussex

[EddiePJ]

My urge to get back on a bike after some 20yrs or so, had got so bad that I caved in nearly two weeks ago and bought myself an E-bike. A Neo Xtrem.

The reason for buying a battery/electric assisted bike over bog stock pedal power is quite a simple one. Although I am only 47yrs old, my hip, knee and ankle joints are pretty much shot to bits, and I also now seem to some respiratory issues as well. My aim is try to build muscle around the joints and improve my general health and well being.

My intention is to use pedal power as much as possible, but it's going to be nice to have a buffer to fall back on. The road/hill that I live on is approx 2.5km long and the lower end has this 14 percent gradient and it is similar towards the top.

The first ride was cut short after the electrics stopped working due to what turned out to be the wire on the display console not being tightened up by the shop, and I ended up cycling home unassisted. The afternoons trip was more of a success, and currently I'm very pleased that I have only a sore bum and no joint pain. I really didn't know what to expect in respect of this, so I'm quite happy.

I do a very hard physical job for a living, but in less than the two weeks that I have owned it, I have already clocked up just over 100miles. I'm also amazed by the interest that the bike seems to cause when I park it up. Every time that I'm out, I seem to get a barrage of questions about it.

I have a few immediate jobs to do to the bike, including changing the mudguards, fitting a water bottle somewhere, and working out what tools, repair kits etc that I should carry with me.
There are also some long term jobs to do as well, as I'm finding the bike way to slow when in unassisted mode. Stupidly this was an impulse buy, and I should have researched and tried a few bikes first. I have some narrow section Michelin XC road tyres on order, then I need to speak to a local cycle specialist about changing the gearing and binning the smallest front chainwheel altogether. Had I known that I would need to be doing this, I would have possibly bought a Neo Sport instead. I also feel that the front forks leave much to be desired in quality stakes, but I shall just live with that one and leave them locked out.

On a positive note, I have to say that I hadn't realized just how addictive that getting out and about a on bike is, and with the assisted help, it makes it even more pleasurable. The various smells and sights that you come across whilst riding around the country side are amazing. The smell of bracken honey suckle, and even the damp earth, all add the fun.


Anyway here is the bike.

 

[D8ve]

Welcome
Eddie
Don't bin tne chain ring unless you need to it gives you a backup slow no power option and is a mod from standard if you sell the bike even though I agree you never normally use it.
The un assist speeds are slow and feel like lead after assist that is normal E bike feel compared to a proper road bike.
Why the gear change? Do you want max road speed? As you do spin out circa 30 on most BH,s
Is the small rear an 11 tooth?
. If not eBay a cassette 11-32 costs from £12 up. Easy to change if you google/Utube for instructions.

The non Neo sport is a beast and can get higher un restricted speeds. Eg the recent one can be spoofed by putting a magnet on the crank so ti thinks the wheel speed is a third of true speed. Cue assist up to wow rates.
D8ve

 

[EddiePJ]

Thanks for the reply D8ve.

The current gearing on the rear is 11/32 and the largest on the front is 44. I was giving this some thought last night, and it could just be me. I'd like to reduce the rolling resistance (if there is any) from the tyres, and then I think the best thing for me would be to get some more miles on the bike and try to go out with other riders to gauge what I might be doing wrong that makes me think that the bike is not fast enough in unassisted mode. I'm not using the assist mode at all on flats and down hills and this is where I feel that the bike is too slow and that I seem to be pedalling like mad, but with no extra increase in speed.
Thanks for the tip in reference to the magnet it is something to bear in mind, but in truth I am more than happy with the power assist speed. Oddly before buying the bike, I thought that the bigger the better, but in reality I kind of think that if the power assist was too great, it would spoil the input that I want to put in.

I knocked up this stand this morning, to make it easier to transport the bike in back of my van when taking it to work with me. Sadly I can't be without the van, but leaving it on site and cycling to and from jobs seems like a good idea.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Schwalbe City jets 26 x 1.95 are good for that type of bike. They have a very narrow profile for rolling when going straight, and a wide profile for grip when cornering.

It's not uncommon for the clutch to stick on the BPM, which would slow you down a bit when riding without power, so it's worth checking:

Lift up the back wheel and spin it in each direction. It should spin freely forward, but thee should be noticeable resistance (apart from turning the chain) backwards. If it doesn't spin forwards, check that the brakes are not binding before worrying about the clutch. Spin the front wheel too to make sure that the brakes aren't binding there.

 

[EddiePJ]

Thanks again for the good advice d8veh.

I went out for a 20 mile ride this afternoon, and I can say that without doubt that this bike is fantastic. I also only used one bar of power which is really amazed me. This bike is very addictive.

The ride consisted of tracks, country lanes and B roads. Suddenly the bike made complete sense. My issues have been on A roads, which I have come to realise isn't the place for this bike.

20 miles of fun.

As an aside, I also received a bit of abuse from a female cyclist for overtaking her and her male partner on the 14 percent hill. I had done nothing wrong, and my only crime was to pass them with ease.


.

 

[D8ve]

The gearing is pants for flat/downhill a new front set perhaps around 33 44 56 ish would give you a higher road down hill speed. you need to spin the cranks as the lycras say to ger the speed up. they rely on light fast muscle and high cadence for speed and power.

Ignore the abuse it is cheating but not like a motor cycle and the are missing the point some of us older ones have respiritory issues as well as you joint problems.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

To stop that sort of abuse, try hanging a sign on your back:
"Should've had three Shredded Wheat"
Or go for the blitz. Use full power and pedal as hard you can making those puffing noises like boxers do in time with each pedal stroke.

Try other techniques like that, and after a bit of practice, you'll find which one works best for you.

My favourite is to slow down a bit as I pass, and say, "This hill makes you puff a bit, doesn't it", and then give it the full 32 amps. This works really well on lycra clad guys on state of the art road bikes on very steep hills.

Be careful with your timing when encountering road bikes. Make sure you only do it at the bottom of long hills, or make a turn soon after, and pray that they don't turn the same way otherwise embarrassment will follow as they come up alongside you to study your bike.

 

[Eaglerider]

Welcome to the forum EddiePJ, we need more Ebikers in Sussex.

I'm just off up the pub on mine. I live in Battle, perhaps we could have a meet up for an E-Blast.

Glad you're having fun.
ER

 

[Deleted member 4366]

P.S. I see you're having trouble with mudguards. Try these, which will fit much better:
SKS Beavertail XL Set 26" | £11.75 | Accessories | Mudguards | MailOrderBikes

modelled for you here:

 

[EddiePJ]

Thanks Eaglerider, Battle isn't so far from me, I'm from Crowborough.

d8veh, I actually overtook the girl and her partner twice. Once riding across Ashdown forest, before stopping to have a chat to a lycra clad road bike lad who was resting in one of the many carparks. After several minutes they then went past.
After leaving the lycra lad in the car park, I set off again but was soon caught up and passed on a long down hill by him and he quickly disappeared into the distance. Un be known to me both lots of riders had turned off onto my 14% road, and I must admit that I smiled when I saw lycra lad.
I shouldn't have done it, but I went past him sitting up and with one hand on the bars! He chirped up and said that was the advantage of having a mountain bike and three chainwheels. I laughed and confessed that the bike was battery powered, which he hadn't clocked before, and then after a bit more banter, I disappeared leaving him floundering behind. This was when I spotted the next pair and soon I was upon them and received the abuse as I passed. I was going to be all cheerful, but after she ranted at me, I just pedalled on a bit faster without saying a word.

edit.. Thanks for the mudguard link, the ones that bike shop sold me are pretty poor.

 

[anniegirl]

Love the bike, very stylish. Welcome to the community and happy cycling. Oh and ignore comments like that .......in one ear, and out the other.

 

[EddiePJ]

It seems a very long time ago that I started this thread.

I had a bit of issue with the bike initially, but that was quickly resolved, and I really can't get enough of riding it.

I now have a Topeak rear rack system fitted to it, which make rides to and from work easier, fitted some very narrow slick tyres for a while, that really speeded the bike up and made things super quiet. These didn't last for long though, as I found the ride too harsh on a certain part of my body! I've also fitted clipless MTB pedals, which sadly also lead to me having a heavy tumble when one of them didn't release at a junction. I've slackened them off now. The only other mod that I have made is to cut a 4" wide plastic paint tray down, and use it as a mudguard extension.

I think that the bike now has about 750km on it, and can't get enough of it. It attract lots of attention where ever I go and lots of smiles and laughs from anyone who happens to try it out.

The poor old thing is really getting some hard use now, and the last weekend that saw me tumble onto the road, also saw me take a heavy fall off road. The photo here doesn't really do any justice to just how rutted that this ride was. This video link shows just how bad that it was, and I won't be repeating the ride. Redgate Mill Lane Byway in East Sussex - YouTube

Far nicer riding conditions. One of the few bridleways on Ashdown forest.

Mud guard mod.