Joe

all you can do is your bit. though a bit more than changing to low energy lightbulbs and turning off the tap while you brush your teeth... so much green advice is innane. kyoto wont work but nor will any other plan. we are just too motivated for our own ends to follow somebody elses plan. but back to our bit. reduce consumption rather than recycle. use cars less and bicycles more even in the rain and cold, eat less meat or stop eating it altogether, be careful with water consumption, etc etc sounds pretty innance too actually. i would go along with the doomsday scenarios of science fiction. dennis potters version will do. the terrorists were called rons (reality or nothing) . i think the ruling elite will continue to advance technology wise and eventually earth will be the inferior place and the elite will look to space travel.

yes that amazon link is the one. if i remember rightly the mule has a clamp on hitch (on to the frame of the bike) as opposed to a hitch arrangement at the axle. the only trailers i see around here are the children carrying kind.

good point ian i had not considered that. i suppose there is also an extra security hassle at destination but then again the trailer would cope with the weight of multiple locks to secure bike and trailer.

How many members use trailers rather than panniers? On longer runs it would seem a good place for a spare battery. One cheap trailer is the raleigh mule. Anybody have experience of this trailer?

i would agree frank on the downward stroke you should be stopping short of a straight leg to maintain an ever so slight flex at the knee. its not a strange question to ask at all re saddle height as you can at best be inefficient with the wrong height and at worse over time damage your knee joints.

flecc surely an over reaction and a value judgement. why does this forum set itself up for conflict over differing opinions of 5o cycles? I dont think referring to members post as idiocy is particularly fair. "My advice to 50 Cycles would be, develop your customer service skills and product knowledge and keep the customer informed in a gracious manner."-urban puma i think urban puma s summary hits the nail on the head. And the members that are blowing fuses should just get on with it. It will all die down when the bikes start arriving in numbers. And, of course flecc you would be missed.

see how selling imaginary bikes can get you in a whole heap of.......

a skirt guard is not much, alot of people would remove that anyway. if you dont get joy from 50 cycles you could probably sell it through the forum for a decent price. try 50 cycles and if that doesnt work out put an ad on the forum.

swap! or even make a profit judging by the desperation of some for the product. but yes definitely worth a call to 50 cycles

dahons often change season to season and whilst i have not followed it closely enough to know how true delivery estimates have turned out to be alot of internet suppliers do flag up that stock wont arrive until june in some cases. the problem here as we have acknowledged before has been the raised expectation of earlier delivery at point of order. something else i have noticed with bikes from europe is that once the season supply has gone (sept-oct or so) it has gone until the new stock comes on stream a few weeks later. whilst frustrating it remains beyond dispute that when the product is finally on your driveway you will have a good product from all accounts of forum members to date.

agreed flecc. sound reasons for the weight but still too much of it for the odd occassion of misjudgement with your battery charge when faced with inclines. or indeed lifting the bike. though even lifting the 20k pro connect would be too much on a frequent basis.

Carrera Sparc Electric Bike from Halfords Was £749.99 Save £100.00 Price £649.99 a halfords sparc bike reduced if ordered through the internet. you then pick the bike up at your local store.

you cant argue with that record ian. what did you think of the later f series bikes by comparison? when i first started reading a2b and looking at internet resources the sprint was supposed to be a stalwart and the original torq the next big step. i take your point about worldwide suppliers of spares but i think the brand needs the commitment and support of a uk agent again to raise the profile. Especially over recent times when the non availability of kalkhoffs could have been exploited.

the long term reliability is a good point. in recent times a snap shot of this forum would have led you to believe the best choice was ezee not withstanding the lithium battery issue. certainly the torq in its time got alot of attention. i agree with you flecc the kalkhoff does look like an enduring and quality addition to the market but it is early days. i would also think a few people would agree that their introduction by 50 cycles has not been the smoothest. I think what will be key for kalkhoff is the successful introduction of a dealer network to take the load off 50 cycles who clearly have not coped that well with the demand for the bikes. the gazelle and agattu do share one quality of being overweight. i am interested if the pro connect can not only be lighter but comfortable and reliable enough. then we have a clear leader in the field.

well harry seemed happy enough hey tim! and you got through your last livs. up on the whole deal i would say

liv sold out now. the monopoly of kakhoff at 50 cycles is complete. i did find the swiftness of the demise of ezee a bit disconcerting. alot of people must have bought the new torq and the f series bikes with all the praise on the website only to find within weeks that actually the agent had a lower opinion of the bikes than was evident on the website.thats business i suppose.

hi paul http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/electric-bicycles/1425-open-frame-versus-diamond-frame.html cheers, joe

bike bins Taking the load off your back but do a search on e bay too as they had some cosmetic damaged ones at cheaper price.

hi alex, the local halfords recently started to stock the electric carrera. In my opinion its a neat looking bike, better than the impression given by the halfords online photo. I see it can take mudguards and a rack too. Hows your range these days? Joe

I think you got your moneys worth though

I think careful reading of the various sources of information on hub systems does point to longer term reliability of the sram hubs. I wouldnt have the funds to go for an immediate change of hub but i would certainly be patient with my gear changes and get the seals looked at once a year.

An a2b letter reported on use of hubs for all out speed and constant pressure through gear changes leading to 2 hub failures in quick succession. The editor of velovision has also commented on his strong cycling style causing problems with hubs. I think a hub should be valued for its strengths: changing gear when stationary, weather protection, ease of chain care.Rather than looking for the speed and slickness of top derailler systems.

I agree flecc. But is there anything at all in the notion that the increase in force on the system afforded by the sprocket change could cause problems in the long run? running at 18mph not 15mph is an extra 20%. How did the lafree fair in terms of hub wear if the sprocket was changed for extra speed?

Yes nearly all reports put the shimano over the sram hubs in terms of smoothness. Though a fair few of the shimano hubs have failed i am sure by over enthusiastic use, ie: no pauses between gear changes. And there was a seal problem on early versions of the 7 and 8 judging by various reports. As for taking the wheel off, i guess if you have your best choice tyre on at purchase you shouldnt need the wheel off until replacement. Just change the tube with wheel in situ. Maybe kalkhoff will put the i motion in something like the tasman next year.

Nice to have a bit of luxury in your life though, even if it is through your bike. i had my one and only accident on a drop bar bike back in the 80's coming down a steep urban hill in the rain to a car that pulled out and stayed in my lane. After the collision he came running up to me (now prone in the oncoming lane just infront of a car) waving a piece of his mudguard screaming "look what your bike has done to my car". after that i raided the piggy bank and bought a mountain bike from a small british builder with drum brakes which i found fantastic and reassuring. I take your point about the agutta brakes being good but am still attracted by the top and secure performance reported of the magura brakes. For the extra £150, at current prices, you get a fair bit of luxury over the agutta: upgraded brakes, tyres and hub. I am tempted.