New bike, Monark Eco (and new poster, Mats)

[Mats]

Hello all pedelec fans,

This is my first posting, but I have been lurking in this excellent forum for a few months while trying to decide if I really need a pedelec or not. My plan is to use it to commute to work without sweating too much. The trip to work is not long, 13,5 km (8 miles?), mostly flat but I have to cross a high bridge across a river and that is where I hope the pedelec will be of most use.

I've been trying to get to test ride an Agattu but I cannot find a bycycle shop in my part of Sweden that has any in stock. They say that they can get one if I order it but I would like to ride it before I order.

Now there is a new bike made in Sweden available. It's called "Monark Eco" and it seems to be fairly similar to the Agattu but with a Nexus 3 gear fitted.

Monark EL Cykel - Monark ECO

I test rode it in a very hilly area and I noticed that I don't think that I would have any use of the first gear and furthermore I found that I had to pedal like a maniac on the flat when in third gear. I guess that it will be possible to change the sprocket as for the Agattu to get performance on the flat.

From what I have read it seems that most people only use gear 4-7 so maybe the 3-gear Nexus is enough? Any thoughts on this from any of the resident pedelec geniuses/veterans? Do you think 3 gears is good enough or should I continue to try and get a Agattu test ride?

BR
Mats Andréasson

 

[flecc]

Erik in Denmark had the same problem Mats, but imported an Agattu in the end. That has exactly the same situation regarding pedal spin speed.

If second gear is sufficient for you, the rear sprocket on that bike can be changed to an 18 tooth, the cadence (pedal spin speed) reducing by almost 20% with that measure. If that suits you, the three speed will be sufficient, the less gears the better to keep the motor driving.

Changing the motor sprocket from the standard 9 tooth to an 11 tooth would give a further cadence reduction, but getting hold of an 11 tooth might be difficult. I only know of one source, the BikeTech company in Switzerland, though supply would probably have to be through one of their cycle dealers.
.

 

[Mats]

Thank you, flecc. Your input is as always highly appreciated.
BR
Mats