Wingreen

I couldnt agree more about the Big Bear. I've had mine for nearly a year and its been trouble free and handles those hills without any problems. I'm a leisurely cyclist so generally only ever use the 2 speed setting, with occasional use of the 3 setting if I encounter a steep hill. May not be relevant but, if you are looking for an economical way to move the Big Bear around, I can recommend the Exodus Bike Carrier (£60 from Halfords). I use it to transport my Big Bear - the only downside being that your car must already have a towbar fitted.

Your leaving the forum will be a big loss. I know you were very helpful to me when I first joined, particularly in relation to technical issues. I confess, I'm not aware of the posts that have prompted your decision - but, there again, I don't read or get involved with many. Hopefully you will return before long or even, dare we hope, you reconsider your decision.

I agree about the Big Bear - great bike and excellent customer service from Woosh. If you do explore the Big Bear option, given your height, I'd recommend the step-through version (unless you are very supple!)

Lots to choose from and making a decision without a local stockist to try them out is always tricky. I can certainly recommend the Woosh Big Bear but I'm sure others are equally happy with their own choices

I use Routeyou (http://www.routeyou.com/en-gb) together with a Mio Cyclo (which is designed primarily for cycling use - although it can also be used for car navigation). The Mio Cyclo 300 does the job and can usually be picked up for about £140. Routes planned on routeyou (on your PC) can then be downloaded as gpx files and moved onto the Mio Cyclo. Works a treat for me.

I've used the Exodus two-bike, tow-bar mounted carrier from Halfords (£60) to transport my Woosh Big Bear. Its a bit counter-intuitive but is definitely works (especially if you adjust the Exodus onto the tightest setting). Not sure if it would also take a second bike (although designed to take two) - depends on total weight. http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-racks/towbar-mounted-bike-racks/exodus-2-bike-towbar-mounted-cycle-carrier

You can get removable tow bar so you only bolt it back on when required. That is what I use and then I fit onto it an Exodus bike carrier (a mere £60!). Probably wouldn't carry two electric bikes but it carries my Woosh Big Bear with ease. Link to the carrier: http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-racks/towbar-mounted-bike-racks/exodus-2-bike-towbar-mounted-cycle-carrier

Thanks to all that have commented. I think I have to accept that I better just go for the "normal" solution. It'll be a Bison 40ft/lb electric motor, a SuperBatt 85Ah (or maybe 100Ah) leisure battery and a Streetwize SWIBC5 battery charger (oh, and a battery box of some sort to put the battery in). All I need now is the boat!

Not a canoe - but a small rowing boat (not bought yet but likely to be around 10 foot - once I can track a second hand one down locally). The intention is to use the boat/kit to do some fly fishing on a small (26 acre) lake where I have just joined a syndicate.

Thanks. Again, very helpful. I'm beginning to think that, especially given my novice status as regards electronics, I will just have to go for the leisure battery option and be prepared to lug the extra weight. I will certainly continue exploring the Battery University website but it is very frustrating - I have three lithium batteries, a 36 hole lead acid golf trolley battery, three lithium battery chargers, one car battery charger and about three golf battery chargers, none of which can be used adapted in any way to solve my "problem" (and the leisure battery chargers arent cheap!). Seems to me that there might be money to be made by some enterprising small electronics company to explore "kits" that can, in some way (if possible), be used to adapt different batteries to carry out different functions.

Ah. Enough said!

Now I'm getting a bit confused. Recent posts I've read say that the 8.5 Amp frog battery (or, indeed, any/most Lithium bike batteries) is a non-starter for use in powering a 12V electric outboard motor. Its clearly a complicated subject! If my frog battery would/could work then it would clearly be the best (cheapest) option - especially as it only gets used very rarely at the moment. All options to explore (and understand) further - after sleeping on it!

Thanks. The information you've provided is really useful. I'm certainly going to explore this option as, depending on how the costs add up c/w with the more usual Leisure battery, the saving in weight is really attractive.

Thanks d8veh - I was hoping you'd pick up on the discussion as I know (believe?!) you have a good handle on these things. I'll look into the overall cost (not such an attractive option if I cant make use of my existing lithium batteries)

You're a star! I will certainly study the information in the link - and, hopefully, understand things well enough to come to a (wise!) decision. I was hoping that stepping down the voltage might help a bit but clearly not. (Maybe I need a 24v electric outboard motor - if there is such a thing). I dont intend doing anything much more than chugging out into the (small) lake and back again but I have a feeling that 8.5A (which I think is actually 8.5Ah) is nowhere going to be enough, when compared to the recommended 85Ah "leisure" battery. Although it does seem counter-intuitive - the 24v 8.5A lithium battery will get my bike to go about 18 miles so chugging around a lake for a few hundred metres didnt seem to be anywhere near as challenging.

Sounds interesting and worth exploring. As you may have gathered, I'm far from knowledgeable about these things but I assume you mean to step down the "frog" battery (which is 24v). I am wondering whether there would be a problem with it being rated 8.5A when the recommended leisure batteries are rated 85Ah or 110Ah (but it may be that, in some way, the "8.5A" is "equivalent" to a much higher "Ah"). I'd also be interested to get an idea of whether the "frog" battery is going to give me comparable power and would last as long per charge.

I'm only looking for a "kit" that will chug me out into a small lake then I'd be drifting with the wind and casting for trout. Then a trip back up to the start of the drift etc.. So, I dont think I need anything too powerful (it'll be used on a 10 ft or 12 ft rowing boat). I'm really interested in the Lithium battery option for several reasons. 1. It will be much lighter 2. I have three lithium batteries already which, when not being used on a bike, I could use. The ones I have are two "frog" batteries (each of which is spec'd at 24v 8,5A) and the one I got with my Big Bear (36v 15A). I'm sure one of these could somehow be used but I'm damned if I can make head or tail of the information on the links Kinninvie kindly sent me. Its clearly a very complicated subject!

Great - thanks. I will have a look. Much appreciated

Does anyone have any idea whether it would be possible to adapt a lithium bike battery for (occasional) use to power an electric outboard engine/motor? The electric outboard motors that I have looked at are 12v with, for example, 40lb thrust. These are normally powered by a 85aH or 110aH "leisure" battery. Any advice would be very helpful as it might mean I could use one of my bike Lithium batteries to power such a motor when I want to do a bit of fly fishing on a small local lake.

I'm sure I've seen a post on here from someone who uses a Gaadi inner permanently. My problem would be the price - they are more expensive than ordinary inners so I would rather keep them as back-up for when needed. My own experience with the Gaadi was that I didnt feel any noticeable difference when cycling, compared to a proper inner. (Mind you the one I used was for a 26" x 1.90 /2.25)

Spot on! I forgot that bit. Usually running your finger around the inside of the tyre should check this aspect - but it does help if you concentrate on the area that "matched" the location of the puncture on the inner tube. Out of interest, I did get a thorn - probably a Hawthorn - in my tyre a few months back. I could see the butt end in the tyre. Fortunately, as the tyre still seemed firm, I left it in - and got home OK. However, as soon as I pulled the thorn out, the inner tube deflated. Sometimes its best to leave well alone!

Well, I'm no expert (and times have moved on since I was a boy) but I usually pump the inner tube up a bit and then "feed it" through a bowl/sink of water. The bubbles reveal all. (Although its crucial not to assume that, having identified one puncture, there aren't any more - so check whole inner tube). If you have sensitive lips (!) then they can usually also identify where the problem is - by feeling the air being released

Fair point. I suppose it depends on how confident you are in identifying (and dealing with) the cause/position of the puncture(s) at the side of the road. I do accept that, overall, there is more work but I do think that the immediate "repair" is quicker (and easier) this way - deferring the "proper" repair until safe at home. Its just an option that some will find worth considering

Used my Gaadi for first time at the weekend. Puncture in back tyre. Extracted the faulty inner tube and tied it up in such a way that it didnt interfere with the wheel. Inserted the Gaadi, inflated using one of those handy CO2 gadgets - and off I went. Removed the puncture inner tube when I got home. Repaired it and put it back on the tyre (in the comfort of my home, with all tools and bike stand to hand) and deflated the Gaadi and put it back in cycle bag, ready for next time. Brilliant!

Started to complete the survey - before I realised it was all about (electric) mountain bikes - so not relevant to me. Good luck.