I have just worked three early shifts after 12 days off. Two return trips on the £100 ebike and 40 miles ridden. I took the car to the middle one of my three shifts as it was a very early start time.

 

With low temperatures and knowing that I do not have a lot of range in hand, I was a little nervous that the battery would last the distance, living in my unheated brick garage, but it did today with high assist used for the majority of the 10 mile journey.

 

As I ride the £100 Ebike to my early shifts it also gets ridden at generally the coldest point of the day, around four in the morning.

 

At work it gets recharged in a well heated room so that the battery is both fully charged, warmed, and hopefully balanced before returning home to be recharged in my unheated garage.

 

The batteries of the £100 ebike and my other Oxygen emate got swapped over a month or two back when my son and I went on an adventurous ride together, me on my Haibike and him on my original Oxygen with the battery from the £100 Ebike in the pannier.

 

We needed to use the second battery from the £100 Ebike and I just put the other battery in the £100 Ebike when we got home as it was easier and I have never bothered to swap them back.

 

So the nearly 10 year old battery from the £100 Ebike now powers my son on a six mile journey to work and back. To be honest I don't think there is much difference in performance between the two batteries, I have just been too lazy to swap them back. The one I am now using in the £100 Ebike is a cheap sub £200 one that included a charger that I bought of Ebay and will be three years old in the Spring.

 

Now I am off again for six days over the New Year, returning to late shifts for which the Haibike will be used to make use of daylight to enjoy my cross country route to work and road ride home.

 

I need to replace a bashed pedal on the Haibike before then.

 

Although my bikes are working well, I have an ongoing left knee meniscus tear injury for which I am progressing very slowly through the NHS, understandably so with the Covid situation. and perhaps because of the knee injury my lower back muscles are now starting to go into spasm probably as a result of me favouring my right knee, and my back can be very painful and debilitating.

 

I have not yet had to take any time off work as the back problem has coincided with my off duty time where I have been able to free it up with a combination of exercises, massage, and muscle relaxing drugs, but I fear it is only a matter of time before these ailments coincides with a pattern of work and requires me to take sick leave.

 

Riding my bike seems to actually improve rather than exacerbate my knee injury as it strengthens the muscles of the knee in question without irritating the injury, perhaps because the exercise is non load bearing and my knee is never fully straightened.

 

Unfortunately at work I am sitting down for long stretches of time which just makes a lower back problem worse.

 

The £100 Ebike is now showing 2,257 miles, so I have now ridden it 1,757 miles.

 

I still have not replaced the brake pads at the front as I have not quite run out of adjustment at the handlebar, so these original brake pads have lasted very well. Using this bike mainly for commuting on the road I can ride literally miles at a time without needing to apply the brakes, which explains their longevity.

 

They are simple mechanical disc brakes, that work well, but just don't get applied that much using the bike for commuting as I do.

 

Good job as the width of the motor in the rear wheel fouls the adjuster so that once you have run out of adjustment at the handlebar you have to take the rear wheel out to get at the adjuster.

 

Not a great bit of design, but it might be churlish to complain at the money I paid for it!

 

My other Oxygen Emate of around the same time period has a smaller diameter rear motor that does allow adjustment of the rear brake. Much better.

 

So apart from about 20 spokes I bought for the rear wheel at 35p each, and some brake pads, yet to be fitted, a saddle of my preference, a new throttle, and a splash of chain oil, I have spent diddly squat on this bike in those very enjoyable 1,757 miles.

 

The rear wheel seems to have now stabilised with no broken spokes for a long time. I did use about 18 spokes getting to this point though.

Change the brakes from cable to hydraulic, which are basically maintenance free and 100 times better than cable brakes. They don't cost much, but the difference to safety and function is massive.

So, I changed the front brake pads today at 2265 miles, and adjusted the rear brake, in readiness for three early shifts that begin on Thursday.

 

Adjusting the rear brake with the simple allen key turn adjuster at the wheel should be a simple task but on this bike it is not as the width of the rear hub motor fowls the adjuster and means that you have to drop the rear wheel out of the drop outs to get at the adjuster.

 

Luckily there is some adjustment at the brake lever, and by mostly braking with the front brake you can extend the interval before it needs to be done. But I had used up nearly all the adjustment at the brake lever, and as I also needed to change the front pads, today was the day.

 

It did not take long to do, but I believe the fewer times you have to disconnect and take a rear hub motor wheel out the better to avoid any mishaps with the wires that exit from the rear axle.

 

Today was the first time I had dropped the rear wheel out of the drop outs simply to adjust the rear brake.

 

Previous to this the rear wheel had occasionally broken spokes and I had used that opportunity to adjust the rear brake when I took the wheel out to replace and adjust the tension of the spokes.

 

I seem to now have got to a point where the rear wheel is not braking spokes any more.

Wouldn't it have been easier to take the caliper off to adjust it rather than the wheel? Just saying!

Edited January 13, 20215 yr by vfr400

I had not thought about that, and maybe it would, I will have a look. Thanks.

Removing said calliper may be an easier option, with my Swizzbee one can't do any work to the rear wheel until the calliper is removed. The Magura HS33 HRB has a cam lever to easily release the rim calliper.

Rain Stopped Play

 

 

I had planned to ride my splendid £100 ebike to my three early shifts but with a lot of rain forecast on two of the days I only rode to one of them, the middle one of the three.

 

That day was however a very nice cold dry day and just right for cycling, and despite having to get up earlier than I would if I took my car and be very organised, I feel so much better for the exercise.

 

The new front brake pads and adjusted rear brakes felt fab. Using the bike on this 20 mile round trip road commute as I do, where I have to use my brakes relatively very little these mechanical disc brakes with motor cut outs are really all I need.

 

I have after all only had to put one set of pads in so far after the bike has travelled over 2,250 miles.

 

Just two days off and back onto late shifts where I can use The Haibike to travel on my cross country route to work, although the weather forecast seems to suggest a lot of heavy rain and potential flooding, so the car may get some more use!

Sub Zero Commuting

 

Just finished 4 early turn jobs at work, Friday the 5th through to yesterday Monday the 8th.

 

The weather was zero and sub zero cold on the way into work and pretty cold coming home.

 

I was lucky to only be on call on Sunday and as I am beginning to expect now, stayed at home. Nice work if you can get it.

 

I have work colleagues who have been called in from on call at home, but it is thankfully rare.

 

Before Covid we used to sit at work for the length of our shifts where we had no specific work to do which was not as nice.

 

The earliest job was the first one Friday when my alarm went off at 03:06 AM.

 

Part of the great multi year pay deal we got was reducing slightly the time between arriving at work and starting work.

 

When I ride to work I allow 1hr and 20 minutes from my alarm going off, showering, riding the 10 miles and sorting out myself and the bike at the other end ready to start work.

 

This is now quite a tight timescale to work but still doable. You don't get time for tea and a chat, but in a Covid world where reducing contacts reduces risk this might not be a bad thing.

 

You do get time to make tea to take with you, and fill a thermos with hot water so that you can avoid mess rooms and keep contact to a minimum.

 

Saturday The alarm went off at 03:31.

 

Sunday, on call at home, relax with the children, catch up on some sleep, and still being paid, excellent.

 

Monday, latest potential alarm time of 04:27 but the weather forecast of snow and ice meant I brought it forward a few minutes. I was expecting to maybe take the car or even be snowed in judging by the forecast but when I pocked my head out of my front door, although there had been some snow, it looked OK and turned out to fine on the treated roads but much more care needed on untreated roads.

 

A friend had put on ice spiker tyres for his bike commute into central London from the suburbs, and thought I was mad to ride in on my Schwalbe Marathon Pluses, but they were fine, and of course they would be until they dumped you on the deck.

 

Knowing that they are not the best tyres in cold temperatures means you ride accordingly, not infallible protection against an accident, but forewarned is as they say is forearmed.

 

So three return trips and 60 miles ridden. The winter salt is now reeking havoc with some of the fastenings and the bike in general and when it warms up I will need to give it a good wash.

 

Both the rides to work, and home again were a great chance to get some exercise and enjoy riding this great bike that I was so lucky to acquire.

 

I almost forgot to mention that on one trip home I caught and passed a roadie, saying hello as I always do, who had just enough puff left to call out, "Cheating", as I eased past, Oh yes, I replied with a little laugh.

 

In this much colder weather I am now removing the battery when I get home and charging it in the house after it has had chance to warm up and its performance on these very cold journeys into work has improved as a result.

 

My son using my old Oxygen to commute to his local job in our town, 6 mile round trip, unfortunately fell off on black ice at a junction. He was luckily fine apart from a bit of bruising, but he smashed the 7 speed thumb shift gear change on the handlebar.

 

He could still use it but it needed replacing.

 

I bought one of Amazon for £20, after looking elsewhere and was a bit shocked by the price of bike bits at the moment. I guess it is supply and demand.

 

The 9 speed cassettes for the Haibike I ride that I paid a low of £12.95 delivered for in Jan 19 have risen to £26.05 from the same supplier. I wish I had bought more than the three I did, but two are still to be used so prices may have changed again by the time I need to buy again.

 

I am considering continuing to work a bit longer than April 21 when I thought I might retire which will mean commuting a bit longer, adding to this story.

 

I definitely won't be working beyond April 22. A few reasons, but from April 21 I am lucky enough to be in a position to retire whenever I want allowing for my 3 month notice period, so nice to have the choice.

Edited February 10, 20215 yr by georgehenry

Sub Zero Commuting

 

Just finished 4 early turn jobs at work, Friday the 5th through to yesterday Monday the 8th.

 

The weather was zero and sub zero cold on the way into work and pretty cold coming home.

 

I was lucky to only be on call on Sunday and as I am beginning to expect now, stayed at home. Nice work if you can get it.

 

I have work colleagues who have been called in from on call at home, but it is thankfully rare.

 

Before Covid we used to sit at work for the length of our shifts where we had no specific work to do which was not as nice.

 

The earliest job was the first one Friday when my alarm went off at 03:06 AM.

 

Part of the great multi year pay deal we got was reducing slightly the time between arriving at work and starting work.

 

When I ride to work I allow 1hr and 20 minutes from my alarm going off, showering, riding the 10 miles and sorting out myself and the bike at the other end ready to start work.

 

This is now quite a tight timescale to work to but still doable. You don't get time for tea and a chat, but in a Covid world where reducing contacts reduces risk this might not be a bad thing.

 

You do get time to make tea to take with you, and fill a thermos with hot water so that you can avoid mess rooms and keep contact to a minimum.

 

Saturday The alarm went off at 03:31.

 

Sunday, on call at home, relax with the children, catch up on some sleep, and still being paid, excellent.

 

Monday, latest potential alarm time of 04:27 but the weather forecast of snow and ice meant I brought it forward a few minutes. I was expecting to maybe take the car or even be snowed in judging by the forecast but when I pocked my head out of my front door, although there had been some snow, it looked OK and turned out to fine on the treated roads but much more care needed on untreated roads.

 

A friend had put on ice spiker tyres for his bike commute into central London from the suburbs, and thought I was mad to ride in on my Schwalbe Marathon Pluses, but they were fine, and of course they would be until they dumped you on the deck.

 

Knowing that they are not the best tyres in cold temperatures means you ride accordingly, not infallible protection against an accident, but forewarned is as they say is forearmed.

 

So three return trips and 60 miles ridden. The winter salt is now reeking havoc with some of the fastenings and the bike in general and when it warms up I will need to give it a good wash.

 

Both the rides to work, and home again were a great chance to get some exercise and enjoy riding this great bike that I was so lucky to acquire.

 

In this much colder weather I am now removing the battery when I get home and charging it in the house after it has had chance to warm up and its performance on these very cold journeys into work has improved as a result.

 

My son using my old Oxygen to commute to his local job in our town, 6 mile round trip, unfortunately fell off on black ice at a junction. He was luckily fine apart from a bit of bruising, but he smashed the 7 speed thumb shift gear change on the handlebar.

 

He could still use it but it needed replacing.

 

I bought one of Amazon for £20, after looking elsewhere and was a bit shocked by the price of bike bits at the moment. I guess it is supply and demand.

 

The 9 speed cassettes for the Haibike I ride that I paid a low of £12.95 delivered for in Jan 19 have risen to £26.05 from the same supplier. I wish I had bought more than the three I did, but two are still to be used so prices may have changed again by the time I need to buy again.

 

I am considering continuing to work a bit longer than April 21 when I thought I might retire which will mean commuting a bit longer, adding to this story.

 

I definitely won't be working beyond April 22. A few reasons, but from April 21 I am lucky enough to be in a position to retire whenever I want allowing for my 3 month notice period, so nice to have the choice.

The one thing I miss more than anything since I ritired is my ride to and from work. How weird is that?

I am not sure it is weird.

 

My own commute to work and back either cross country on my Haibike or on the road on The Oxygen have also become a very important element in my feeling of well being.

 

I am sure I will miss them as much as you have done.

 

It is quite hard work to be organised and plan everything. Getting all the riding clothes you will need ready to put on, preparing the food you will need at work, part packing my panniers with my work clothes, work specific equipment, charging my lights, charging the battery.

 

Doing everything quickly but in order when I get up so I don't forget anything. Following a pre planned pattern of things I need to do when I get to work so that the bike will be ready for me to ride home.

 

It adds a huge chunk of tasks to my working day but is somehow also massively satisfying. When I think back over my working day, I also think back over my bike ride.

 

Perhaps I need to see a shrink?

Four Early Shift return rides to work, and another 80 miles ridden on my £100 second hand electric bike.

 

It had warmed up after the big freeze, so I was riding to work with a thin lined waterproof and windproof jacket but no windproof trousers needed and simple cheap wool style gloves as apposed to the warmer, waterproof heavier duty ones I have, and nothing on my head.

 

I still get plenty of exercise on The Oxygen Emate but am much less fatigued than when I ride to work and back on my hard tail Haibike mountain bike.

 

To some extent this is explained by my cross country route adding 4 miles to my return journey, not an inconsiderable extra amount, approaching 17% more distance .

 

Comparing time actually in the saddle riding accentuates the difference. I travel much slower off road and spend much longer, probably twice as long off road riding a mile than on the road.

 

Travelling slower off road does not equate to less effort per mile than on the road but actually more. So I am riding at greater effort for around 50 minutes longer on the off road route to work.

 

When I thought about this and crunched the numbers in a calculator, I am riding at greater effort for an extra 44% of time on The Haibike compared to riding on the road, and that is for each commuting journey I make, so I can see why I find commuting on the Haibike more tiring.

 

So 5 return journeys on The Haibike is the equivalent of 9 return journeys on The Oxygen.

 

I also only ride my Haibike in low assist and off on the 14 mile cross country route to work. The Yamaha crank drive system on The Haibike is a torque system and you have to add effort to get assistance from the motor. The more you push, the more help you get depending on assistance level selected. But you always need to push on the pedals to get help from the motor.

 

Although I do turn the power down on The Oxygen occasionally on downhill gradients, it is mostly ridden in maximum assist, level five, and being a cadence system you get the power simple by turning the pedals. I do add plenty of effort myself but it is a very relaxing way to ride.

 

I like both systems for different reasons but for road commuting really enjoy the relaxed riding style of The cadence system Oxygen.

 

So nothing of note to report, just charge the battery and my extra lights, jump aboard and ride. Occasionally oil the chain and likewise add some air to the tyres. The odometer is now approaching 2,500 miles.

 

There is a stark difference between the running costs of the rear hub cadence Oxygen used on the road, ie virtually no maintenance, and the crank drive Haibike used off road.

 

As well as the crank drive system of The Haibike putting more strain on the drive system and wearing it out quicker as a consequence , the off road environment itself is much harsher, with in my area lots of sand. grit, mud and water coating the bike and adding to the wear of components.

 

The Haibike is truly capable off road and The Oxygen likewise on the road.

Edited February 26, 20215 yr by georgehenry

NIMBI Retirement Development Escalation

 

This is what I wrote in June last year.

 

"This is part of the section of my off road route (avoiding a parallel dangerous rat run section of country lane) I would miss out on if I was put off by the retirement complex Nimbies and the two gates and approximately 100 meter section to get past them at the end. To put it into perspective, in the four years since it was built and my regular use of this section I have actually seen someone from the development about four times in total."

 

They cannot block the right of way but have tried to make it as difficult as possible for cyclist.

 

 

As usual riding this section when out of lock down I see precious few people, but in lock down quite a few. the resounding majority of which are very friendly with greetings exchanged. I slow right down to a stop if necessary and use a tring tring bell.

 

Using the now much used term transparency. For full transparency I have to admit that this section is a footpath not a bridle path. I use it with great care and consideration as it avoids a parallel rat run B road, and is therefore much safer.

 

The retirement development actually show little discrimination between cyclist and walkers, they hate us all, but they cannot stop walkers.

 

Anyway riding it yesterday I negotiated the first gate and then found workmen at the other end working on the electric gates which are triggered by a weight sensor, that I trigger on approach by putting my front wheel on the pad. I asked if they were broken and was told, "No, we have been asked to put the weight sensor up to maximum so that bicycles do not trigger it, the residents really hate cyclist"

 

I am using the route today, so will see if my less than ideal weight combined with the bike and panniers triggers the gates to allow me to pass. Rather than just putting my front wheel on I will position me and the whole bike over it.

 

"You shall not pass"

 

You never know, putting the weight limit to maximum might back fire and mean some cars do not trigger the gate.

 

If I cannot trigger the gate, it will be panniers off and a dead lift over a rather tight kissing gate between the iron gates and a wall, then panniers on.

 

I think getting through the kissing gate adjacent to the iron gates will be much harder than the other one and could mean victory for the retirement development, which will mean I have lost two lovely sections of off road route to protectionist land owners with rights of way over their properties they would prefer not to exist.

 

The discussion about my woes with the retirement development ended up in the £100 ebike thread but, it is my Haibike that gets ridden through this section of my route.

Edited March 6, 20215 yr by georgehenry

If the sensor does not work, then they might be "scotched" if you speak to the rights of way officer, about the legality of blocking someone pushing a bike, wheelchair, pram or buggy on a registered footpath?

 

"You are allowed to take a pram, push-chair, or wheelchair along any public footpath, -----" Quote taken from LINK

 

Some paths have obstructions that clearly inhibit doing so, but here they are retrospectively deliberately blocking what is legitimate use. Play the very sensitive "diversity loss" card, the loss for the disabled in particular, if that route had previously been viable for them.

Well I have to say I approached the weight sensor on my ride to work today with some trepidation. I rode onto it at an angle that allowed the whole bike to bear down. there was a satisfying audible click and the gates swung open.

 

Unfortunately I passed a sour faced old bloke who I am sure is a resident and seemed to be keeping an eye on my approach and he may well have been watching what happened, so this might not be the end of it.

 

I may well have to follow Ocsid's suggestion and involve the local council rights of way officer as the changes the development have made to make passing by this development more difficult are indeed recent and retrospective and would also prevent wheelchair users or prams dependent on type and could also present difficulties for other types of disability.

A right of way it needs going to the local council or county council, they are infringing users use of a public right of way. One could paly the card more so if disabled or a venerable person as discrimination.

Road to work off road again today, and using my new method of riding effectively in a circle so that the whole bike is on the pad does trigger the gates.

Well they have either disabled the weight sensor or raised it to a point that I no longer trigger it, so I cannot now get the electric gates to open.

 

However, getting through the second kissing gate was easier than I expected after being forced to do so yesterday and today.

 

So I now have two kissing gates to overcome with about 150 yards in between.

 

Thank goodness I have quick release panniers. My Ortleib panniers are a doddle to take off and put back on, literally seconds.

 

After the development of the retirement development and the arrival of the electric gates I stopped riding this route in the other direction as I thought the kissing gate would be really difficult to get through but now I know it is easier than I thought, I can.

 

Those lovely retirees may get to see me a bit more than before.

 

I would not put it past them to do something else that I cannot overcome. To my knowledge no one from the development saw me ride through yesterday and today so time will tell.

Well they have either disabled the weight sensor or raised it to a point that I no longer trigger it, so I cannot now get the electric gates to open.

 

Can you do a big jump up and hard down alongside the bike to multiply your weight and trigger the gate opening?

 

Two of us showed that works in a lift, triggering the overload sensor and locking the lift stationary.

.

Can you do a big jump up and hard down alongside the bike to multiply your weight and trigger the gate opening?

 

Two of us showed that works in a lift, triggering the overload sensor and locking the lift stationary.

.

 

 

 

Were you re-enacting the scene out of Die Hard? Climbing lift cables looks hard...

 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die_Hard

Were you re-enacting the scene out of Die Hard? Climbing lift cables looks hard...

 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die_Hard

 

No, we were due on a show stand for the company's products, a duty we weren't looking forward to as we were going down in the lift to breakfast in the hotel. Then my colleague had the idea of trying this to simulate the weight of several people. We jumped together, slamming down hard and it worked, the lift abruptly locked between floors for well over an hour.

 

The fire brigade were called to wind us down, where we were met by a profusely apologetic hotel manager who assured us that they'd kept the breakfast staff back ready for us. So we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast, eventually turning up on the stand with almost half the day gone, complete with a perfect excuse for the angry MD who'd held the fort.

.

No, we were due on a show stand for the company's products, a duty we weren't looking forward to as we were going down in the lift to breakfast in the hotel. Then my colleague had the idea of trying this to simulate the weight of several people. We jumped together, slamming down hard and it worked, the lift abruptly locked between floors for well over an hour.

 

The fire brigade were called to wind us down, where we were met by a profusely apologetic hotel manager who assured us that they'd kept the breakfast staff back ready for us. So we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast, eventually turning up on the stand with almost half the day gone, complete with a perfect excuse for the angry MD who'd held the fort.

.

 

 

Nice sabotage! Trade stands - it can be handy meeting the unwashed masses, or other managers in the same line of business, because you can learn something useful about your product or service, but that very much depends on the unwashed mass you encounter. But it's highly debatable as to their actual value - "Half our PR budget is wasted, but we don't know which half".

Hi flecc, I may try your jump up and down ruse, however, as I now know the second kissing gate is in fact a cinch I will just panniers off, kissing gate, panniers on.

 

I expect when one of them sees me do that there will be a turn stile next!

 

My rear brake had developed a most annoying repetitive squeak. I replaced the rotor as it looked as if the original had warped and the squeak has gone.

 

I also adjusted the mechanical back brake with the rear wheel re fitted by removing the caliper as both vfr400 and Nealh had previously suggested, and which worked a treat.

 

So the £100 electric steed with perfectly adjusted and mercifully silent brakes is once more ready to rock and roll. In fact it never stopped rocking and rolling but I will be a lot happier now the squeaking is no more.

Hi flecc again.

 

I felt a bit stupid, even though there was no one around but I did try your suggestion of jumping. sadly to no avail.

 

Its the kissing gate for me now.

Hi flecc again.

 

I felt a bit stupid, even though there was no one around but I did try your suggestion of jumping. sadly to no avail.

 

Its the kissing gate for me now.

 

 

Maybe increase force (mass X acceleration) by jumping with your bike (more mass, can't alter gravity just yet ie acceleration), while holding your bike off the ground? And have a big breakfast.

Hi flecc again.

 

I felt a bit stupid, even though there was no one around but I did try your suggestion of jumping. sadly to no avail.

 

Its the kissing gate for me now.

 

 

Flecc and his friend may have had a combined weight of over 130kg or more (maybe much, much more )- another possibility is to carry a small jump ramp (or make one to store hidden nearby), and jump your bike onto the sensor. If that doesn't work, add weights to the bike. One way or another, that sensor can be activated...

Would the sensor activate if you earthed a high voltage?