103Alex1

I have lights wired in on my self-built eBike, but not the other as don't want to "mod" it and use very rarely - it has a B&M dynamo front light as standard anyway but it's very weak in comparison to a tilted-down CREE. I bought a magicshine pack a good while ago and the fastenings on that broke too. The current packs look much better - seems they have changed the design so it's much more like the one in the link above but with integrated charger connection and straps. I know what you mean about taking the cells out, but to be honest it's much more of a hasstle if the fastenings break ! Do you charge it on the bike, or use a new cable tie every time you take it off to charge ? Would drive me nuts cutting it free every time you charge !

Finally found a 4x18650 battery holder for CREE front lights which doesn't fall apart. The cloth ones with sewn-on velcro straps for the 4-cell packs are absolutely useless - had the straps rip off 3 already and I don't use them much ! Battery pack holders falling apart just makes the lights themselves (otherwise very good value) practically useless especially if you don't possess a sewing machine !. Got this on e-bay - you insert the 4 rechargeable cells individually (broke up the pack which came with latest light) and screw down the lid. Plus it's IPx4 waterproof so no problem if you get caught out in a downpour. There's also a USB charging connection for mobile phone if you want to use it for that. Only thing I haven't worked out how to do is get a plug in rubber cap or something for the USB connector when not in use. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/371310143867?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT Upside is definitely that the velcro strap just slots through the moulded box and therefore can't rip off the battery pack housing, so very secure and much more robust. Downside is the cells have to be removed to charge so the set-up cost is higher - I use a Nitecore 4-cell balance charger. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NITECORE-D4-Digicharger-18650-18350-16340-14500-10400-AA-Li-ion-Ni-MH-Charger-/272040782334? The light connector is the (much improved) new-style one with screw on fitting and it works with this, which I fitted to my regular bike and is decent enough for that : http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271686242545?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&var=570523120564&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT Just thought I'd share - got so fed up with rubbish battery pack holders falling apart I spent ages looking and assembling a setup which actually worked and wouldn't fall apart so easily !

There are a few places in the port/village who hire them out (but few have them set up properly as MTBs - the bike I got had Nobby Nics fitted which made light work of the rougher trails, but I had to ask around a bit). Hired mine from this lot : http://www.porquerolles-a-velo.fr/ Don't think their English is up to much - fortunately I had enough French kicking around the recesses of my brain to be able to communicate !

Just back from 4 days on the little island of Porquerolles off the French coast near Toulon. This place is eBike heaven (out of Peak season !). There are only a handful of residents' cars on the island (none for hire) and the rest is bikes, boats and on foot. Got a flight to Toulon from Bournemouth, followed by 15 minute cab to the port of La Tour Fondue from which you can get a 15-minute ferry to the island. Lots of day-trippers at the weekend but in the week was absolute heaven. Almost all the trails are shaded by trees, and vary from a few hundred metres of tar to (mostly) good condition dirt along with a few very technical sections for the more intrepid. I hired a Scott e-MTB from the port for the whole trip and after a bit of persuading the guy fitted my own clip pedals on it, so felt right at home. Suspension was a bit 'shot' but was more than capable for even the toughest climbs there. The place is incredibly beautiful and didn't have any trouble finding new places to go and new things to do even for 4 days on a small island (7km x 3km). Timed my (last-minute) trip out to avoid rain and the worst of the late Summer wind (couple of windy days on one side of the island, the next two were beautiful gentle breezes). A good backpack and some lights essential (hire bikes don't come with lights !). Honestly can't rate the place enough for those of us who like our eBikes and a gentler pace of life. Took more drop-dead gorgeous photos on this trip than in my last 3 put together.... but without the bike it just wouldn't have been the same : http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag89/103Alex1/P9210349_zpsxelkiewg.jpg

They're all 210mm, Dave - I ordered 40 with the wheel rim originally so you work out how many have broken. They all go near the head of the spoke where it's held at the motor, very rarely further up the spoke. Bike has only done total of about 1,500 miles and as you know I'm not a heavyweight . Thinking longer term, they're not easy to work with compared to the ones on my 'normal' bike - nipples round easily, very thick etc and way too many breaking. When the Winter sets in I most likely won't be riding the bike so can take it off the road and build a new wheel - I'm looking to keep it and ride it next year but finding the time to do maintenance is hard nowadays so "better" spokes saving replacements would hopefully be a time-sparing investment during the riding Season ?

PS - would also consider a rim replacement if it was going to add anything meaningful .... again, input appreciated.

Had some great rides on my Trek this Summer in between the grotty weather ! However, finally having trouble with snapping spokes (3rd replacement in a few weeks). I've just replaced 3 near each other on the same side, which all snapped close to the motor rim several miles from home, leaving me with a very hairy ride back to base. Haven't got round to truing the wheel yet .... spoke replacement is getting a bit of a pain in the proverbial as it's not an easy setup to dismantle and reassemble, especially with a dished wheel. My contingency supply of 210mm 13G spokes from BMS ordered at the time I imported the kit is now used up so if any go from here I'm without spares. This latest round of wheel trouble has got me thinking I could likely consider investing in a wheel rebuild with some better spokes. I have hydraulic disc brakes and so maybe it's time to change over to spokes of slightly different lengths to compensate for the dishing ? Would appreciate any help/input on where to source good strong spokes, perhaps some double-butted ones which are easier to work with than the thick BMS ones ? Also how to get the measurement right for ordering them. Ta

Would this work instead with your frame ? I tried one at a Cycle Show years ago and it was great. Only issue was any rear luggage restricting sight line ... http://www.wheelies.co.uk/p50356/Bike-Eye-Rear-View-Mirror.aspx?gclid=CO2ao5DQyMYCFQoYwwod_ycB0g

I deliberately haven't fitted a speedo to the bike as it'll only depress me and to be completely honest I don't want to know how fast I'm climbing unpowered now ! Turned the corner on that one and the only thing I'm bothered about is whether I can keep going without what's meant to be an enjoyable ride becoming a hideous slog/endurance . Couldn't bear to fit one to be honest, it would have changed the whole feel of the thing. Decided I have the Trek e-bike for going to the beach with all my freediving stuff if I want to do that trip on a bike, so can keep this one clutter-free rather than "for transportation purposes" !

I've held out on mudguards too - this will last until my first trip home with a mudstreak up my back .

Yup - definitely keen on having both. Been off abroad for best part of last 2 weeks so finally got out on the 'normal' bike this afternoon for another proper ride. Hills were tougher obviously but it was just low enough geared to see me up the worst of them (that I took on anyway). I will need to be a lot fitter to get up the really nasty ones - something to work up to over the Summer if the weather stays nice like this. Still getting used to the forward vision reduction from drop-handlebars, even on the hoods. Maybe I need to lose my cap, but not in sun like that ! I did while away a couple of hours on the hillside enjoying the sun and watched a group of guys on MTBs gasp and crawl their way up the steep rocky path back to the road. The bike flew up that hill like there was no tomorrow, so I am definitely feeling better about my rather elevated heart-rate at the top. It's hard to get a fix on anything with no real point of reference ! I have also finally managed to overcome my complete aversion to rucksacks and therefore have managed to keep the bike rack-free . This is what won me over - holds everything, padded back protector, big padded velcro waist strap with extra clip, and a chest click-strap too. Stayed put over all the bumps and whilst I still didn't like having it on, it was actually tolerable and didn't slide off one shoulder or dig in like almost all the others I have tried : http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/evoc-fr-trail-20l-backpack-2015/rp-prod95056?gs=1&gclid=CMHemvyNuMYCFQQUwwodYDsChw&gclsrc=aw.ds Very happy - start of getting fitter again hopefully http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag89/103Alex1/P6300167_zps9uzbojub.jpg

Which is what they should have offered to fit on the previous defective design, rather than constant denial that it's down to selling something that's basically not fit for purpose out of the showroom !

If it can get a Marathon Plus MTB tyre onto the front rim of my Trek I'll give him a medal. Gave up after 40 minutes last year and it's still hanging in the shed !

Glad I didn't weaken and buy one of these. Sounds like yet more specification & design flaws in a very pricey bike winding up a big maintenance headache. I still get excited at the thought of riding my self-build but feel no joy at the idea of mounting the Kalkhoff. It's funny how things evolve and you work out what floats your boat .... Yes, you should have kept it !

Yes I agree with your analysis on the wheel nuts. 50 Cycles never did admit the bike had a design flaw and whilst they were happy to send out replacement wheel nuts that was never going to solve the problem. I don't know about £1,000 being a good price for an 18 month old Kalkhoff costing £2,700 when new. Wasn't worth selling for that to be honest as I couldn't have got anything better for the money without throwing a grand retailer markup at a replacement. By then I wasn't needing it for daily transport any more ! All in all the whole thing was just a hugely disappointing experience for a great deal of money and cost me a great deal of time I could have been spent riding instead. A lesson I learned early enough to build a bike I rode all Summer in 2013 without a single hitch and is still going strong today - without a taped up display or a rattling chainguard anywhere in sight !