Santana struggling up hills

[Nosweat]

Hi, wondering why an ebike might feel like it's struggling to go up hills? I have a two year old Santana3, modified (on my request by Woosh) to have a torque sensor. It's been brilliant but for one thing that has become more noticeable recently. It feels like it's dragging when going up hill. I can cycle around at power level on the flat without problems, but even at level 4 or 5 it's proving quite a push to get it up gentle gradients. Brakes aren't binding, gears are well adjusted and wheels freewheel fine. It feels almost as though the motor cuts out, or at least loses power, when going up a hill.

Tyres are fairly new (Marathan Plus), the only issue with them being a slight lop-sidedness as despite best of efforts fitting them, they won't quite sit evenly all the way around the rim resulting in the tyre being about 5mm out of true at one point in the rotation compared to the opposite side which gives a slight bump to the ride.

Any suggestions, bearing in mind I have limited testing facilities and bike shops that can service ebikes are few and far between where I live?

 

[matthewslack]

Hi, wondering why an ebike might feel like it's struggling to go up hills? I have a two year old Santana3, modified (on my request by Woosh) to have a torque sensor. It's been brilliant but for one thing that has become more noticeable recently. It feels like it's dragging when going up hill. I can cycle around at power level on the flat without problems, but even at level 4 or 5 it's proving quite a push to get it up gentle gradients. Brakes aren't binding, gears are well adjusted and wheels freewheel fine. It feels almost as though the motor cuts out, or at least loses power, when going up a hill.

Tyres are fairly new (Marathan Plus), the only issue with them being a slight lop-sidedness as despite best of efforts fitting them, they won't quite sit evenly all the way around the rim resulting in the tyre being about 5mm out of true at one point in the rotation compared to the opposite side which gives a slight bump to the ride.

Any suggestions, bearing in mind I have limited testing facilities and bike shops that can service ebikes are few and far between where I live?

That sounds like the assistance level is perhaps lower than it used to be, which suggests to me that either the torque sensor reading for a given rider input has changed, or the controller interpretation of the torque sensor reading has changed.

More likely the first, and only someone who has experience of the specific torque sensor is likely to be able to help. Talk to Woosh?

Or if this is a torque sensored hub motor, is the battery showing signs of age?

Seating the tyres needs sufficient pressure, plus maybe washing up liquid as a lubricant. Needing 80psi is not unusual.

 

[Woosh]

I have stopped selling the TS kit because the factory that made it has gone out of business. I still have spares for it but looking to the future, it may be best to revert it back to cadence sensing. @Nosweat: please email support@wooshbikes.co.uk - we'll try to find a solution for you.