I love my Ebike

z0mb13e

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jul 28, 2009
578
3
Dorset
Ok I think I can admit it to myself and the rest of the world now. I love my ebike!

I used to (more often than not) cycle to work a hilly 14 mile round trip. I hated it but persisted as it kept me from getting too chubby. It was the long hills and head winds that killed it for me. I can deal with the rain, I even enjoy it some times, but when you are peddling up hill into a strong head wind at a snails pace and getting soaked into the bargain, it gets a bit much.

Now, thanks to Wisper Bikes and Atmosphere Electric Bikes in Brizzol, I actually enjoy cycling. I think the last time I could say that about riding a bike was when I threw my self around a skateboard park on a BMX as a teenager in the late 80's/early 90's.

My first route (to where I work now) was 11 miles (round trip). I can do both legs faster than I could by car. I save £20 a week in petrol. I've given up smoking and feel better for getting a little bit of exercise. I also feel a bit smug about not driving the car too from a 'saving the planet' point of view. :)

Since the cycling restrictions on Bournemouth prom are no longer in effect I decided to give that a go. A serious head wind and a fair bit of rain and I was still cruising along at [ strike ] 12mph [ / strike ] somewhere around the unenforceable 10 mph bicycle speed limit with a grin on my mush. :D

The following day I went into work via the prom and am now making a concerted effort to make that my route to and from work, as a ride along the beach in the morning is good for the soul.

I can honestly say this is the first time I have sought out a longer route to and from work whilst riding a bike! In fact I am sitting here looking forward to a leisurely cycle home via the beach.

So a big thanks goes to Alistair at Atmosphere for letting me try the 905SE Sport and Wisper Bikes for making it! (Not to mention the insight and advice of this forum).
 

Barnowl

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 18, 2008
954
1
Sounds great and pretty much sums it all up. Lot's of people don't know what they're missing. Makes me wish I lived near the coast though. :)
 
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eddieo

Banned
Jul 7, 2008
5,070
6
Sounds great and pretty much sums it all up. Lot's of people don't know what they're missing. Make me wish I lived near the coast though. :)
Amen to that!:)
 

CeeGee

Esteemed Pedelecer
Feb 4, 2009
328
0
Weybridge, UK
I bet I love my Wisper more than you love your Wisper. :D ;)

Colin
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,616
30,884
I lived at Bournemouth during my teens and didn't like being near the coast for the simple reason that all my motorcycling had to be in a 180 degree arc to the north. I resented the fact that I was cheated out of half the travelling choices that inland people had! :D

Fully agree on e-bikes, indeed all cycling, and I'll put in a word for walking as well, since I spend more hours in that pleasurable activity than in any other transport mode. Does anyone else in here walk for pleasure?
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Barnowl

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 18, 2008
954
1
Does anyone else in here walk for pleasure?
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Do they sell battery assisted e-walkers - Robo cop style? :D


PS yes I enjoy a good walk esp cliff tops where the grass is nice and springy
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,616
30,884
Walk for pleasure. Now there's an oxymoron ;)
Not for me! I love walking in the countryside and today is typical, I've been out twice and spent nearly three hours walking. Most days I walk for between one and three hours.

It's an age related thing probably. From 10 years old onwards travel meant on wheels for me and everything that rolled was my preoccupation. If powered and fast, so much the better. But the older I've got the more I have appreciated the slower modes like cycling and walking, the slower one travels the more one sees and the greater the time to appreciate what one sees.
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z0mb13e

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jul 28, 2009
578
3
Dorset
I've always seen travelling locally as a means to an end rather than something to be enjoyed. I don't mind walking to the shops etc but I don't really 'get' walking for pleasure unless I am somewhere new, and then I guess I am walking to discover rather than for pleasure.

I do agree that living on the coast does restrict the direction you can travel (unless you have a boat). To that end I do make use of Poole harbour with the odd bit of kayaking. On the otherhand I have explored a lot of dorset and the surrounding coast over the years so now going on holiday usually involves taking the old VW camper as far north as possible!

Some snaps from Fridays ride home...

A few hundered meters from Bmth pier...



Gotta go as far as the prom will take me which is just short of the spit of land. That is Sandbanks. A few years ago that was the second most expensive realestate in the world.



At the end of the prom looking back to Bmth. The pier is just below the last white building on the cliff to the right.



The end of the prom (Purbeck Hills in distance - chain ferry and about 5 miles away).

 
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z0mb13e

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jul 28, 2009
578
3
Dorset
Decided to cycle the prom, end to end and back again today. Including getting to the beach, a pleasant 22 mile ride.

14Ah battery still seemed to have some life left in it despite a head wind on the way back and some long hills...

The other end of the prom (Hengistbury Head)



The bike and the ride back...

 

Barnowl

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 18, 2008
954
1
Those photos make me feel quite envious. One thing though. Don't you have a problem with all that sand getting in the works - especially gritting up the chain?
 

AndyOfTheSouth

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 15, 2009
347
4
For what it's worth, I've spent years riding my bikes over sandy paths and on beaches and it doesn't seem to have had any effect on them at all...
 

z0mb13e

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jul 28, 2009
578
3
Dorset
I can't say I have ever had a problem either. I usually give the bike a wash down and clean and oil bits and bobs every few weeks.

That said I was a little concerned over sand getting into the hub motor. I don't know much about the motors yet so don't know what they need in the way of maintainence or if they are sealed etc. Does anyone have any suggestions re maintainence and can anyone point me to an exploded diagram? I've seen a few photos on the forums and have a vague idea how they work, but understanding exactly how it works is key (to me at least) in knowing how to keep it working.
 

Barnowl

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 18, 2008
954
1
I think the motors are very well sealed so should be no worries there. :)
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,616
30,884
Most are fairly well sealed, though a few do have open access to the bearings, albeit quite deeply recessed in to the side. Your Wisper has a Suzhou Bafang motor of this type, and if you look at the point where the spindle enters the side of the motor, you'll see there's clearance for some access into the bearings. I've never known any trouble resulting from this, but you can take one of two actions if you wish.

One is to poke in thick grease into that recess on both sides to form a barrier to anything entering, another is to do the same with silicone rubber. The rubber will grip into the hub shell and rotate around the spindle without adding drag.

However, the type of relatively coarse sand found on beaches and in construction doesn't usually cause trouble to any bike bearings. It's the fine everyday dust from roads etc which is partly made up of finely ground grit that can get in anywhere and cause grinding damage.

You can look at the page below on my Torq website to see a full explanation of the Bafang type motor, photos of it's interior and an animation of a motor in operation explaining how it works:

The Suzhou Bafang Hub Motor
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z0mb13e

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jul 28, 2009
578
3
Dorset
Thanks Flecc, I will give the grease option a go.

So no need to grease the internal planetary gears then... one less job to have to think about.

Diagram was very helpful.
 

Django

Esteemed Pedelecer
Feb 11, 2007
453
1
I lived at Bournemouth during my teens and didn't like being near the coast for the simple reason that all my motorcycling had to be in a 180 degree arc to the north. I resented the fact that I was cheated out of half the travelling choices that inland people had! :D
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I had the same problem when I lived by the coast. Easily solved though. I used to ride 50 miles inland then start from there instead. :D
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,616
30,884
Thanks Flecc, I will give the grease option a go.

So no need to grease the internal planetary gears then... one less job to have to think about.

Diagram was very helpful.
After 5000 miles if used in very wet conditions and the endcaps not sealed with grease, greasing the gears is a good idea. Otherwise run longer by all means. It's actually a very easy job when the time comes.
.
 

z0mb13e

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jul 28, 2009
578
3
Dorset
In that case I expect it is only something I will have to do every few years!

I may have spoken too soon regarding sand not being an issue. On the way home the chain started to feel 'graunchy'.

Have just spent the last hour degreasing and washing sand out of the chain! Have gone for some dry ptfe chain lube. Will see how long that lasts. Is dipping a chain in hot liquid wax still done?