Electric Bikes Conversion Kits EMTBS eRoad/Commuting What's New?

Loving front hub drive in the snow.

L

lowranger

Pedelecer
Sep 10, 2008
66
29
Really impressed with the hub drive on slippery surfaces. I rode up a fairly steep ice covered street today. Turned the assistance down so it didn't spin out, took it nice and steady and rode up with no problem. It felt very stable with the front drive pulling and me pedalling to match it. Also rode in some deeper snow where it skidded around a bit and I had to take care not to let it skid out from under me. Having two wheel drive seems to be a real advantage. Really nice to get out on the bike today after all the bad weather.
(EZee mk 1 kit on Giant escape r8,nexus)
 
jazper53

jazper53

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jan 20, 2012
890
18
Brighton
lowranger said:
Really impressed with the hub drive on slippery surfaces. I rode up a fairly steep ice covered street today. Turned the assistance down so it didn't spin out, took it nice and steady and rode up with no problem. It felt very stable with the front drive pulling and me pedalling to match it. Also rode in some deeper snow where it skidded around a bit and I had to take care not to let it skid out from under me. Having two wheel drive seems to be a real advantage. Really nice to get out on the bike today after all the bad weather.
(EZee mk 1 kit on Giant escape r8,nexus)
Click to expand...
Two wheel drive, I expect will offer more stablility than rear wheel drive only. FWD-rocks:cool:
 
Last edited:
G

GaRRy

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 18, 2012
1,019
3
Tamworth
G

GaRRy

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 18, 2012
1,019
3
Tamworth
shemozzle999 said:
Or alternatively ebikes fitted with a throttle for better control in the snow!
Click to expand...
Pretty certain last time I looked the pedals made for a pretty good thottle in that the harder I pushed them the faster I went. Oh and for those who think a throttle means can dangle feet down to act as balance and to stop falling over trust me you will one day wish you hadnt.
 
shemozzle999

shemozzle999

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 28, 2009
2,826
686
GaRRy said:
Pretty certain last time I looked the pedals made for a pretty good thottle in that the harder I pushed them the faster I went. Oh and for those who think a throttle means can dangle feet down to act as balance and to stop falling over trust me you will one day wish you hadnt.
Click to expand...
You do not have total control with a pedalec system.
 
D

Deleted member 4366

Guest
lowranger said:
Really impressed with the hub drive on slippery surfaces. I rode up a fairly steep ice covered street today. Turned the assistance down so it didn't spin out, took it nice and steady and rode up with no problem. It felt very stable with the front drive pulling and me pedalling to match it. Also rode in some deeper snow where it skidded around a bit and I had to take care not to let it skid out from under me. Having two wheel drive seems to be a real advantage. Really nice to get out on the bike today after all the bad weather.
(EZee mk 1 kit on Giant escape r8,nexus)
Click to expand...
Don't be too smug yet. I did the same two years ago when we had the snow. I went out on my front wheel drive bike and had amazing grip. I was so chuffed that I decided to go shopping on it the next day. Even though the snow looked the same, I couldn't get off my driveway, so I walked it to the road and tried again - no grip at all, so I had to retreat. I came to the conclusion that the same snow has different amounts of grip depending on the temperature.

I agree that it's another advantage of throttles: You can balance with your legs out while you open the throttle slowly to get going, or keep your legs out to balance when it's slippery. Pedalling to start is a bit all-or-nothing.
 
A

amigafan2003

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jul 12, 2011
1,389
139
I love Blackpool council - they haven't gritted the side roads but they've done the entire 7 mile cycle route along the prom - bone dry today :)

People may knock Blackpool but it's a great place to be a cyclist :)
 
1

103Alex1

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 29, 2012
2,228
67
amigafan2003 said:
I love Blackpool council - they haven't gritted the side roads but they've done the entire 7 mile cycle route along the prom - bone dry today :)

People may knock Blackpool but it's a great place to be a cyclist :)
Click to expand...
Wish they did that more widely ... went into Cheltenham yesterday and tried to use a cycle path. Lethal combination of half-melted slush and sheet ice on the cycle route serving the Station and several other parts of the town. No sign of any efforts to keep it clear. Continental Winter IIs gripped just about at around 6mph. Any faster and bike was wobbling / skidding from side to side. Pretty hairy and VERY slow.

Main roads were gritted though. Wound up there instead but wouldn't have wanted to attempt side streets.

Am not on the bike for next couple of days but if we get another bout of this for any length of time after the weekend thaw the studs are going to have to go on I reckon.

d8veh said:
I came to the conclusion that the same snow has different amounts of grip depending on the temperature.
Click to expand...
I wondered the same after being out yesterday and today. Yesterday was a total death trap, today seemed fine even at higher speeds.
 
wurly

wurly

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 2, 2008
501
9
Yeovil, Somerset
We are having a load of snow right now, getting heavier everytime i look out of the window. It could be fun on the bike tomorrow morning, or maybe i'll chicken out and walk.

I thought about making some snow tyres last week weekend with nuts and bolts through the tread, but i thought the snow would be gone the next day. I wished i had now :0( and thats the problem, if we could be certain of this type of weather we could gear up for it.
 
G

GaRRy

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 18, 2012
1,019
3
Tamworth
mike killay said:
Why?
In 1963, I rode my 250cc motor cycle like that through real snow!
Click to expand...
Yea its not unusual but its a pretty good way to smash a hip when it goes wrong (which it will). Not saying you will but you might.
 
A

amigafan2003

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jul 12, 2011
1,389
139
wurly said:
We are having a load of snow right now, getting heavier everytime i look out of the window. It could be fun on the bike tomorrow morning, or maybe i'll chicken out and walk.

I thought about making some snow tyres last week weekend with nuts and bolts through the tread, but i thought the snow would be gone the next day. I wished i had now :0( and thats the problem, if we could be certain of this type of weather we could gear up for it.
Click to expand...
If you've got disc brakes put a load of zip ties around the rim tyre:-

Zip Tie Snow Tires: The Cheapest Way To Blizzard-Proof Your Bike
 
Scimitar

Scimitar

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jul 31, 2010
1,772
40
Ireland
I've seen it being used by an electrician, who got his bucket of offcuts out and wrapped 2.5mm T&E around the tyres like that. Worked well enough to get him along the road.
 
KirstinS

KirstinS

Esteemed Pedelecer
Apr 5, 2011
3,224
899
Brighton
My tuppence - also found a front wheel hub operated on throttle to be brilliant in snow. The key difference over pedelec being the all wheel drive is totally independent. You can balance , or indeed unbalance, the power between the front and rear at whim. I don't know why but this was a huge help. I tried just on throttle only (front wheel only) and just peddling g like a normal bike (rear only)- very unstable by comparison
 
KirstinS

KirstinS

Esteemed Pedelecer
Apr 5, 2011
3,224
899
Brighton
At times the hub was spinning out out but provided stability - why, no idea - gyroscope type effect maybe ?!
 
wurly

wurly

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 2, 2008
501
9
Yeovil, Somerset
Interesting ride this morning. I took my electric folder figuring i had less distance to fall should i come off and hit the deck. Bad choice...
There is a definately types of snow. I encountered the wet slushy type that turned instantly to ice when compressed. The combination of this and my small wheels were lethal. Abandoned my usual route and took to the roads instead, at least i could give it full beans without the fear of coming off. Roll on summer......
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Related Articles

View more

Advertisers

Top Bottom