alsmith

have you tried email them (powacycle) and asking for a copy of the wiring diagram?

I have only been here for around 6 months so don't really know anyone, however some of the sheds did have drug taking parephenalia left in when I first moved in, and there was at least one person sleeping in one of them. I got the council to take the settee and chairs away, and notified the police. I think the problems have stemmed from there (break in, brick through window....) Shouldn't be very much longer until I'm moved though ....

It is a pretty nice box especially for £20 off eBay. The only downside is that it sits quite far back on the rear rack- I think balance would be better if it was over the rear wheel axle or slightly forward of it. I think this will be more noticeable with the heavier LiFePO4 battery. I saw a number of pics on an American site where people were using a toolbox as a topbox so will be looking a little more closely into this soon (moving house very soon because of serious problems where I am- break in to shed, half brick through window are a bit unsettling- battery change went on temporary hold).

in case anyone is interested (and it helps anyone searching the forums in the year 2019) - I've come up with a couple of options. - option 1 being tried: the lock itself is fine- it is the plastic moulding that it locks onto that broke- I have some aluminium bar left (20mm wide by 2mm thick) that was used making front carrier mounting brackets that I've kind of bent and sculpted so that it fits over the broken plastic part and a second 90° bend will allow it to be bolted to the casing above the moulding will hopefully be strong enough to work and support the plasic in place, together with a fairly liberal application of araldite. - option 2 if the above fails, Wilkinson have a 3 inch locking hasp for £4. It will take a bit of cutting of some lips moulded on the body of the lid and box but should prove far more secure than the option above if/when done. I will probably do this when I have spare time. For the clip that holds the lid down a sash window fastener looks like it can be coaxed into doing the job. I wonder where I put that pop riveter for this? Sorry- no razor blades. I know whose fingers will get caught......

It makes me wonder why they would continue to use a bad carrier company- it reflects so badly on the company giving such a bad impression. And costs money. Perhaps they get such a low cost then charge a lot making a hefty profit, or there are family links. There's a bike shop up here with family links to a removal company, security firm, cleaners, and probably a lot more.

I had my flinger top box broken into, luckily nothing taken although one of the powabyke strange non-bottle battery casing now has a dent. The part the lock hooks over is smashed as is one of the side fasteners (must have been too hard to work out how to unclip for them). Has anyone any experience / advice about fitting some kind of lock onto the box lid? Those hasp things seem the most obvious but before I start then find out there's a better way........

If you get one from Aldi it has a 3 year warranty but don't lose the receipt. The time just started going really slowly on my one year old unit and the repair centre wanted nothing to do with it despite still having the box which shows the manufacture date is within the warranty period. They kept saying they don't get problems with them though- really helpful.

OK, Marathon Plus it will be. Will they be OK in the winter too, or would it be worth changing during the worst of the weather?

I'm considering changing the standard tyres on my powabyke X6 from the supplied Raleigh 28 x 1(5/8) x 1(3/8) to something a bit better. They have what seems a quite high pressure recommended - 75psi from memory. I'm assuming almost any of the brand tyres wiil be an improvement? Puncture resistant would be nice, as would more comfort. trying to work out tyre sizes in that weird sizes system I think 28 x 1.5 or 700 x 40C is the next size up that will fit- can anyone confirm please? Main use will be road/cycle track and the bike will be used all year round (or I'll starve). I've not got loads of money so would like a decent value for money option: any thoughts/advice? Continental Tour Ride 28 x 1.5 says puncture resistant but no kevlar, chunky looking tread for winter, and good price. Maxxis overdrive says kevlar, all weather, and trekking so should be tough, Schwalbe Land Cruiser - seem a good price. And lots of others Thanks for any advice- I'm trying web searches but practical advice welcomed.

I've had a garmin etrex for years and years- it still works admirably but the mineral glass is getting rather scratched and a bit cloudy now. It's fallen, been dropped, bounced around loose in the back of cars, into rivers. Wonderful kit, but very basic now compared to the ones with in built maps. I wonder if I can get a replacement glass for it? From what I recall there was a handlebar mount kit for it.

Isn't this a small part of a larger malaise? To expand a bit beyond cyclists only- cyclists can be bullied by car drivers then don't car drivers get treated in this way by some others? White Van Man? I haven't been riding my ebike for very long and have yet to come across this negative behaviour- but I have seen cyclists on paths (and some places called cyclepaths which are a couple of whitelines) behaving in this way to pedestrians. OK, it seems maybe a small sub-category of the whole picture. Slowing down and waiting for pedestrians to notice or waiting for a place that allows a wide passing berth seems to get a smile or thank you out of most- others look scared very probably from experience of other cyclists- Most of us probably have seen (and been victims of) bad mannered cyclists. You can say it is mainly teens but all is really seen is a cyclist. So the problem *is* cyclists, or whatever group you can easily identify. Kind of like the various animal behaviour by hierachy- Richard Attenborough- bigger/faster belittles (eats/attacks) slower/smaller.

I knew I'd been looking at them a little before the question- it was on eBay here MOUNTAIN BIKE BRAKE CABLE PROTECTION KIT (5mm)***NEW*** on eBay, also Cables, Bike Parts, Cycling, Sporting Goods (end time 07-Feb-09 20:51:35 GMT)

At least one ebay kit claims higher. No experience of them but eBay UK Shop - outdoor product: camping, hammock, EVA Clog beach shoe Notice up to claim- up to 50kpm (?) but there are 2 speeds of motors 350 and 430 rpm Posts on american forums show faster speeds too.

I joined the bikeregister scheme so there are stickers and stencils on and a magic wand sensor for id if recovered- won't stop a get me home theft but maybe stop the more serious thefts. If it got stolen and recovered hopefully it would be useable.......

But that's the problem- if they changed the law to where you say (20mph) then the same will be said, and implemented by some- a 25 mph roll off. It's similar to the 60mph limit on country roads thing- Is it a real 60mph limit, or can you go as fast as you want when overtaking- some will do 100mph and return to 60mph very slowly after the manouvre. Things will be interpreted by some people that exceeds the intention of the law- that may be why things are set conservatively at times.

Thanks. I had looked at Maplin but the choice of their kits is much less than a few years ago. I didn;t think this would do the job very well even after a bit of substitution. Not much at Bull either.

wandering the web looking for cycle icons I came across a picture taken in Brighton of a bike with the wheels stolen. They'll take anything. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2075/2219891515_5157728219.jpg?v=0

My Bikemate cycle computer (from Aldi I think) has just started losing about an hour a day. I've tried a new battery (then a second) but no difference- it is the wired version MCP 30102 I think about 2 years old. I wonder if the other readings are also affected. Anyhow I don't wear a watch so it needs replacing unless there is a solution (very unlikely I know). Of course I don't have the receipt after 2 years but I still have the packaging which appears to have a date code (04/2008) on it. The computer also has 04/08 printed onto the back. The packaging says 3 years warranty so hopefully I can get a replacement. Anyone else had similar problems?

I live 300 miles away but a google search brought up at the top of the page The Bike Shop Racing Bikes and Cycle Clothing from Questbikes 511 Pinner Road Harrow, HA2 6EH followed by Bicycles Cash And Carry 279-281 Kenton Lane Harrow HA3 8RR Cycle King 451 Rayners Lane Pinner HA5 5ET Sustain Cycles 176 Station Road,HARROW,HA1 2AE etc... As said I am not from your area but it seems there may be some choice (but I have no idea what they are like).

The days when roads were quiet are long gone, it doesn't really matter what time or where you are travelling now- and most roads don't have a minimum speed. Speed should be used appropriately whether it is 20mph or 120mph. At 120mph you don;t have much time to react to a vehicle travelling ar 50mph overtaking a slow lorry. Those travelling at illegal speed will be the ones using mobile phones, or resetting the radio/changing the cd because they believe they are safe drivers. Sorry but it is not safe these days for most of the time in the majority of circumstances. As well as illegal. Whatever the reason the speed limit was set for no longer matters, the whole system is different now. How about a maximum 55mph limit.

Frank, Thanks. Does that mean you haven't or won't tell the dealers they are using inaccurate pictures that could lead to problems with customers? Or more more interestingly that you have told them but they have still used them?

......and.....? I bought my x-byke from a small local dealer, and was not tempted to buy from a larger dealer. Very helpful, patient and knowledgable. You don't see a different salesman each time you back, and chats with me when I go to the shop (whether or not I spend money). When gathering information to help make my choice another local dealer basically said anything they thought I wanted to hear (to the point I said some rather silly things just to hear what they would say). I later found this dealer had sold ebikes a few years ago then dropped them telling customers they no longer do them- Bye. He started selling again because he said sales were picking up again. Some of the chains were knowledgeable but time seemed more of a premium if the wallet wasn't out. Like all things find who you are comfortable with, and who helps you. And ask other cyclists in the area. It doesn't matter if the dealer is big or small so long as they do what you want. Remember that discounted prices can mean less time and support from a dealer, and don't expect unlimited free support from one of the other small dealers if you don't get the support from whoever you bought from because you could save a few pounds. Pay a fair price- you should get the support when you need it.

# I still don't see the rocket launcher thing. It's not what I picture a rocket launcher being. I see other sites showing the bottle picture rather than the 'ugly thing'. Maybe an email to Trading Standards asking if this amounts to misrepresentation of the products would get representative pictures posted- but I'm a bit suprised at Powabyke allowing this misrepresentation to happen- we know they read the threads. Surely this is something that Powabyke should be stopping? Or perhaps it could affect sales so they don't want to? Who cares if a few customers are unhappy (so long as they get sales) and anyway it is the dealers fault? The pictures show the correct battery but are so small it is hard to make out (on purpose?). On another page it says 'The battery is cleverly designed to slot into the water bottle holder – disguised in fact as a water bottle' (Latest News, it says Posted earlier this year). This could affect the good impression people have of them- the change was months ago and still pre-release publicity pictures are being used. How many disappointed prospects or customers are being created? The dedicated x-byke site at :: X-Byke - Discover the Power to be Free | KickStart Online, Belfast :: www .xbyke. co.uk shows the incorrect battery pictures although that is a Belfast company -but you'd think with that site name they'd show what you get. I'm beginning to think misrepresentation is not a strong enough term.

Thanks for all the thoughts. Well, thinking about it maybe a different route may be worth looking at. I have a small topbox fitted for my LiFePO4 battery when it arrives so maybe fitting something in here could be a better option. I've not seen 36V sirens or alarms so unless I could source an inexpensive DC-DC convertor then a self contained unit will still be the way to go, but hopefully with more options.

What about the one I linked? Hidden in the handlebar. If I could see/hear one.... The ebay choice seems better than amazon but none really appeal.