Any recommendations for commuter bike ?

 

I have just taken delivery of a Wisper 905 se city from Reaction electric in Taunton. They have been an absolute pleasure to deal with . I live in Peterculter on the outskirts of Aberdeen so if you need to see one 'in person' just let me know . Took it for its first spin last night and was absolutely delighted - only the diabolical state of the roads was brought home to me with a vengeance . I think the road from Peterculter to Westhill ( Malcolm Road) which is the de facto bypass is on a par with rural Cuba and that is saying something !!

 

Ian

Hi Ian,

 

Let me know how it goes on the wisper - I'd be interested to hear. Are you using it for the daily commute?

 

I fell for the cubans if they have to deal with roads as bad as we have in aberdeen.

 

Is this your first electric bike? Did you test ride before?

Had a Test-Run!

 

Hi guys,

 

I had a test run of my new commute today on my kona firemountain mtb (not electric), got there (8.5 miles) in just under 1 hour, but the weather was beautiful and not a breath of wind so really ideal conditions. The hills were hard work but I was not absultely knackered as I had expected, althoug with a head wind and hammering rain this may not be so!

 

Anyway this has led me to believe even more the cytronex will be the bike for me as I managed most of the journey fine and would like to only use assistance on the long hills which only feature a few times, so I think I should easily manage on 1 charge per day.

 

Also, the weight of the bike is important here as a heavier bike would probable force me into using assistance more often.

 

How is the freewheel on the cytronex bikes?

 

Also, a 1.5 mile portion of my commute is rough gravel with some really rough patches so I think the tyres supplied with the cytronex would have to be changed out for more offroad suitable tyres. Will the power system suffer on rough terrain? Most of the journey is on road, but this section is a good short cut which I would me mad not to make use of as it avoids a fairly busy and fast twisty section of main road.

 

Thanks for your advice so far everyone - my trip today has encouraged me alot as I was worried about my stamina and strength, but it seems this is not so much of an issue! I'm hoping with assistance the commute will be not more than 45 minutes tops.

 

Hamish

The Tongxin freewheel will not take any kind of use on off road terrain. You could get away with riding without power over the lumpy bits otherwise you will finish off the freewheel.

Are you saying if the power was off, there would not be a problem with the freewheel during offroading? Is this just a case of powering off using a button during cycling as I come to the offroad section?

 

I certainly don't need assistance on the really rough section, but some power on the gravel (compacted) would be good as there is a fairly long uphill drag.

I can't see compacted gravel being much of a problem. The state of the roads is becoming much more of a challenge Pesonally real off road I wouldn't do on any road/hybrid bike elecric or otherwise. I try and keep the shocks down to a minimum but I've hit potholes, mounted the pavement, bounced over the pavements. taken short cuts across park grassland. My freewheel is fine as far as I can tell.

The freewheel is fragile, end of story. I treated mine with kid gloves but I broke the freewheel riding along a traffic calmed road - it didn't take much of an uneven road service to do that. Third time the motor failed.

 

So to answer your question I think you will be fine unless you use power on the uneven sufaces (according to Mark at Cytronex at any rate).

I have found Big Apple tyres help a lot to reduce shocks from poor roads but add a bit of weight to the wheels, something like that may help cusion the Cytronex motor. Unfortunately they definately aren't four season tyres and I have to run seperate winter tyres.

The freewheel is fragile, end of story. I treated mine with kid gloves but I broke the freewheel riding along a traffic calmed road - it didn't take much of an uneven road service to do that. Third time the motor failed.

 

Just reporting my own experience to date. I haven't treated mine with kid gloves but I'll no doubt be purchasing a pair.

...and it wouldn't stop me recommending the cytronex as long as prospective buyers are away of the motor's limitations. Personally I am looking at a Bionx set up as it seems to have a lot of the cytronexes advantages without the fragility (but the cost is huge).

HarryB

 

The one thing the Bionx cant do that that Cytronex hub can is freewheel. You have to leave the power on at all times with the Bionx otherwise its like cycling through treacle as there is SIGNIFICANT cogging.

Interesting, when I test rode a bionx equipped trek it seemed fine but you are saying there is a lot of cogging? I understand there would be some resistance in regen mode but there is no physical freewheel so any resistance would have to come from the motor which I had thoght was reasonably free running. Any other bionx users experience this and how have does it compare with other motors - Aldby has ridden many ebikes including the Cytronex so he may be able to offer up a comparison.

correct - i'm saying the cogging is significant. (barely) acceptable on flat ground maybe, but way to much if your make-it-home route involves undulating or hilly terrain. the cogging in the 500HS (illegal in the UK) seems a little less pronounced than that on my old 250watt system, and now also evident in the 350PL system.

Edited April 14, 201016 yr by Tex

Did it unpowered!

 

Guys,

 

I cycled to work for the first time today! 39 minutes for 7.5 mile one way (route shorted than expected 8.5 miles due to offroad section), I was earlier than I've ever been as I'd allowed for an hour!

 

My kona was great for the offroad and ok for the road (bit rough with the knobblies on, but I'd pumped them up hard last night so pretty quick). I arrived not in need of medical attention with only a sweaty back due to rucksack.

 

I've not ruled out the ebike yet as conditions were perfect today and nice and cool. I'm just pumped that I got there in good time and really enjoyed the ride.

 

I'm thinking of the e-motion cross deluxe, gepida smirnium (spelling??) or similar which should handle the offroad sections without falling apart. It seems from the replies I've been getting the cytronex hub motor would not cope with the terrain.

 

My main priorities now for an ebike, offroad capability, lightweight, hillclimbing.

 

Thanks for all your invaluable advice so far!

well done on getting out there and RIDING. whichever way we do it, biking is a gift in life, that's for sure ... i just like mine ever so slightly sped up.

 

I'm thinking of the e-motion cross deluxe, gepida smirnium (spelling??) or similar which should handle the offroad sections without falling apart. It seems from the replies I've been getting the cytronex hub motor would not cope with the terrain.

 

These centre motor bikes will certainly withstand the rough stuff easily, but make sure you try one first. They deliver their power only at lower cadences, so if you like to spin fast they might not suit, though they are free running and quite easy to cycle with power off, apart from the added e-bike weight of course. Once you're used to how to get the best from them, they do have a lot going for them, not least the reliability.

.

Cadence

 

Flecc,

 

I was comfortable at about 60rpm today, seems to be my natural pace.

 

Hamish

Guys,

 

I arrived not in need of medical attention with only a sweaty back due to rucksack.

 

I've not ruled out the ebike yet as conditions were perfect today and nice and cool. I'm just pumped that I got there in good time and really enjoyed the ride.

 

I'm thinking of the e-motion cross deluxe, gepida smirnium (spelling??) or similar which should handle the offroad sections without falling apart. It seems from the replies I've been getting the cytronex hub motor would not cope with the terrain.

 

 

 

All sounds good. I agree about the hub. The sweats an issue with the weather warming up. I have rucksacks that I use in the winter and a laptop and a notepad courier bag which is good for the summer since you can keep your back nice and cool. I'm not big on racks and paniers though they do have obvious virtues. Electric motor helps as well:)

Flecc,

 

I was comfortable at about 60rpm today, seems to be my natural pace.

 

Hamish

 

That's well past the peak power delivery on the standard Panasonic system though. That has full power available up to a cadence of 39, then starts the power assist phase down and ends all power assist at 65 cadence, which on standard gearing is the 15 mph assist limit.

 

The standard 9 tooth motor sprocket can be changed to an 11 tooth which raises the start of power phase down to a cadence of 49, all power assist ending by a 79 cadence. That option would still leave you with about two-thirds of maximum assist at a 60 cadence. However, by switching to high power mode as well for the difficult climbs, you'd then get the equivalent of full standard power assist at a 60 cadence.

 

All a bit complicated, but you can read the whole story on my Panasonic website power delivery explanation.

.