Picking up new Cytronex bikes tomorrow

[Mark/Cytronex]

it is fun to blast away at 22-23mph with very little comparative effort. Just maybe not too often now .

PS I'm doing the capital to coast charity ride on sunday (unassisted). I just can't decide whether to use the Cannondale (without battery as the temptation would be too great) or on my cheap road bike.

Quite agree and hope the ride has gone well today (it must have been a bit on the warm side!).

Had a rather comical experience out riding yesterday, as I approached the bottom of a hill in Romsey a road bike club had just turned on to the hill from a side road a bit further up. I generally try to avoid going past other cyclists too fast (the last thing I want to do is put anyone off cycling) but I could not resist the sight of 20 or so lycra clad guys on expensive road bikes hacking up a hill so I went for it. As I started to overtake at 18mph (seemed like double what they were doing) there was initially a stunned silence but then they broke out into cheers and good humoured shouts.

At the time I was on my two year old Trek (which needs a clean) and was wearing sandals. I don't know whether they thought I was a pro on my day off or had been taking some illegal substances but I was a little glad they didn't know the truth!

 

[Barnowl]

Brilliant especially as you were on the Trek hybrid rather than one of the Cannondales!

Mind you 18MPH is good going if the motor was only helping up to 15mph.

 

[themutiny]

Capital to Coast ride

Thanks to all for the advice on swapping the front wheel. I am very glad I did. 've done that distance before, but I was very much younger and the terrain was very stretching on this ride (for me). Box hill was tough, but at least it was early on. Devil's Dyke was tough because I had already cycled 53 miles by that point in sweltering heat. It was overcast by that point, but not cool.

I only had one person notice that the Cannondale was electric (well it wasn't, but you know what I mean). When I explained how the system worked, and that I had swapped the front wheel and replaced the battery with a real water bottle he was genuinely very impressed, particularly how it could easily be converted to a 'normal' bike. What really made me laugh though, was when he asked me (we were about half way up devils dyke) why on earth I hadn't brought the battery/motor. He genuinely did not understand why it wasn't really on

As for the bike - I was extremely glad I had it. It was a superb ride and ideal for the terrrain. My team mates were younger than me, but it was generally me waiting for them. I will definitely be ordering a normal wheel for it so I can get the best of both worlds. Brilliant.

I am absolutely knack3r3d.....

 

[flecc]

Congratulations on the ride, rather you than me in that heat which I found a bit too much out walking.

Seems you could have used the electric after all, and you wouldn't have been the first to do so. A friend and former neighbour did the Coast Ride a few years back and stopped for a momentary rest of Devils Dyke, only to passed by a lady on an e-bike serenely sailing up there. He wasn't able to tell me what the model was, but I suspect it was a Giant Lafree from what he did see.
.

 

[Barnowl]

Well done. I was really interested to find out what the bike was like to ride without the hub motor in the front wheel? Did you notice much difference? Was the decrease in drag noticeable?

I think you definately made the right move changing the wheel. The Cytronex is a lightweight solution (in terms of battery capacity) and there must be a point where the additional effort required to push the weight of the battery and motor surpasses the benefit of electrical assistance. I'm not sure where that point is but my feeling is, for me, it is probably up around 50 - 60 miles and variable depending on circumstances.


Anyway I'm sure you feel all the better for doing it under your own steam. You'll appreaciate the assistance even more when you stick that hub wheel back on.

 

[themutiny]

I definitely noticed a difference in the weight of the bike with the other wheel on, but I can't say for sure about the drag because I normally have both the wheel and the battery on, and of course I use assistance up steep hills, so I have no reference.

The other issue is that the wheel I used was not exactly top notch, and it was a 23 rather than a 25 (which was more noticeable than I would have thought)

What it has convinced me to do though, is to get the orignal wheel, and then I will make a comparison. Having had a Torq where it is inadvisable to remove the front wheel, I was delighted with just how quick and easy it is to do, and how it improves the versatility of the bike.

I am very glad I didn't use assistance.

 

[Barnowl]

That's interesting. I often cycle (mostly local & relatively flat) without the battery but with the front hub wheel in place. It sometimes feels like there's some slight drag and naturally I always suspect the hub freewheel. In truth I suspect it's just the assistance I've got use to. It's surprising what a difference the power makes and how quickly I get used to it and take it for granted. Commuting I always use power - way too sticky this time of year to go without.
Interesting about the 23 wheel as well. I would have thought that the rolling resistance would been marginally better or at least negligible. A spare wheel sounds like a great idea. Best of both worlds.

 

[themutiny]

It didn't affect the rolling resistance, as you say, it was probably marginally better. It just looked a bit odd. I was suprised that it was noticeable.