Agattu First Ride Report

Hi All

 

Went for a 5.5 mile trip out on the bikes yesterday at out local reservoir. Me on my 57 diamond, wife on her 45 wave and my daughter in her trail a tot strapped to my bike.

 

Having spent what seemed to be hours building the thule ride on bike rack, Manufacturing a home made number plate, swapping cars with my mum as she has the tow bar mount for the rack, moving the child seat, fitting the rack, putting the bikes on and packing the trail a tot I was about ready to sleep.

 

I thought my front tyre needed more air but after ten minutes headscratching over the woods valves I gave in. They will have to go and soon.

 

We got to Draycote at about 3.30pm and it was sunny but very windy. Trail a tot fits nicely to my 57. This was the first time my wife and I had had chance to properly test the bikes other than a swift two miles I did on delivery day. Indeed it was the first time my wife had used it with the battery installed.

 

Last week when we went to the same location without my daughter on our normal bikes, we had a row within 200m of starting as she was moaning about legs aching (bent legs will do it every time) and the gears being too difficult. This week within 200m she was beaming. My daughter in the back was screaming with delight at her first time in the trailer and I was loving it.

 

The bikes are simply amazing. The upright riding position is very comfortable and that panasonic motor works in complete harmony with your input. She found the gears far easier than a drailure set up and even found the pause to change gear fine. Draycote has a few short steep hills and even with the trailer on, the bikes just eat them up. I found that keeping a slow steady cadence seemed to produce the most power from the motor when climbing.

 

quite a few people came over to look at the bikes when we stopped for a break to let Maddy play but none realised the bikes were electric.

 

My bike is an 18 tooth srocket and Michelle's is still on the 22. she is more than happy to keep it the same and I think i'm going to stick at 18 having tested some hills.

 

my bike has now done 7.5 miles, 5.5 of which were towing Maddy. I still have 4 out of 5 lights lit and my wifes is still full after 5.5 miles.

 

We cant wait to get out again and are thinking of trying Rutland next which is a big ride. I can't see my Torq getting much use from now on. I am definately a convert to the panasonic system.

 

I give this bike ten out of ten with only those woods valves being pain in the butt. I have since read the woods valves thread and still cant sus them out, so off to the LBS tomorrow for four shraeder tubes.

...

 

Regarding the woods valve, did you find the Pump on the bike? ...

 

You must be kidding, it's only there for show, and maybe to fill the inner tube to find a puncture, but you can't make any decent tyre pressure with it.

Im glad you're enjoying you're new bike Paul.

 

Quote......"The upright riding position is very comfortable"

 

Do I get the feeling you may be starting to like the Handlebars?, or are they still on death row?

 

The bikes are simply amazing. The upright riding position is very comfortable and that panasonic motor works in complete harmony with your input.

 

 

Thanks for the report Paul. I agree completely about the handlebars and cannot understand those who put image before comfort. Straight bars are ergonomically wrong and always have been, and the Agattu's shaped bars, similar to the Lafree ones, are physically better for anything other than out and out speed cycling where dropped bars have an advantage.

 

As for the comments about "gay" handlebars, I think some are getting mixed up about the meaning of "straight" handlebars.

.

Hi Paul

 

Thanks for the feedback, you are one the first to own the Diamond 57 Agattu, you should be very proud. Your wife is also the first few 45S owners.

 

Regarding the woods valve, did you find the Pump on the bike? Give us a call on Tuesday if not.

 

Its good to hear how theses bikes offer a good solution to families cycling, with so much fun.

 

All the Best

 

Scott

 

Hi Scott

 

I found the pump but could not seem to make it fit on the valve. Its probably me. I tried just whacking it on and pumping and got no joy. I then tried undoing the nut bit and that just let more air out. I have a track pump which has shraeder and presta fittings but dont think it covers woods.

 

I Need to fit some shwalbes or Armadillos anyway as i'm not that confident the conti's are as bullet proof as I want them to be. This will be a good time to relplace the tubes. As with many things in life they are seldom perfect for your needs out of the box but these bikes come pretty close.

 

I must confess I will now be keeping the shaped bars.

 

I Have added a few pics of the bikes to my flickr photostream showing the towing set up.

 

click on the all sizes button and select the large size for each pic to see more clearly

Edited May 26, 200817 yr by stokepa31_mk2

Hi Scott

 

I found the pump but could not seem to make it fit on the valve. Its probably me. I tried just whacking it on and pumping and got no joy. I then tried undoing the nut bit and that just let more air out. I have a track pump which has shraeder and presta fittings but dont think it covers woods.

 

I Need to fit some shwalbes or Armadillos anyway as i'm not that confident the conti's are as bullet proof as I want them to be. This will be a good time to relplace the tubes. As with many things in life they are seldom perfect for your needs out of the box but these bikes come pretty close.

 

I must confess I will now be keeping the shaped bars.

 

I Have added a few pics of the bikes to my flickr photostream showing the towing set up.

 

click on the all sizes button and select the large size for each pic to see more clearly

 

 

Hi,

I was just about to post a comment on the pump. I can't get my pump to fit the valve either and my rear tyre is now quite flat (after letting out a great deal of air fiddling with the darn thing). I can't see how the pump can possibly fit the valve. There is a rubber washer inside the part that unscrews but the air simply escapes. Hope someone out there can solve this puzzler.

 

bw

musicbooks

Hi

Scrap the pump, as others have posted it is a (German Joke) how someone can produce a bike like this, and fit a joke pump...Aude sell a beautiful double action pump for about £5..I let my tyres down and pumped both up to 65(pump has a little guage) before collapsing.

(due to my mishap with a few bottles too many and loosing my panniers I also lost my double acting Danish pump). It is possible to buy an adaptor to convert Agutti valves to dunlop.(best option as garage top ups are easier.

Hi,

I was just about to post a comment on the pump. I can't get my pump to fit the valve either and my rear tyre is now quite flat (after letting out a great deal of air fiddling with the darn thing). I can't see how the pump can possibly fit the valve. There is a rubber washer inside the part that unscrews but the air simply escapes. Hope someone out there can solve this puzzler.

 

bw

musicbooks

 

I'm in that boat too. Front is a bit flat and I can't see a way to get any air in it short of changing out the tubes.

 

Does the unscrewy bit need to be unscrewed when adding air??

I presume they are the same valves as the Pro Connect...in which case no don't unscrew the 'screwy bit'.

Didn't get a pump with the Pro, I bought a pump from ALDI (£3.99) after letting all the air out of my rear tyre whilst investigating pump connection options !! The ALDI pump is listed as fitting the Dunlop valve (plus the Schreider/Presta)

I presume they are the same valves as the Pro Connect...in which case no don't unscrew the 'screwy bit'.

Didn't get a pump with the Pro, I bought a pump from ALDI (£3.99) after letting all the air out of my rear tyre whilst investigating pump connection options !! The ALDI pump is listed as fitting the Dunlop valve (plus the Schreider/Presta)

 

lets hope they still have some in stock. ill check tonight!!

Hi Paul,

 

I remember Woods valves from my youth. They should pump with a standard Presta pump (if the push on type doesn't seal, buy a bog-standard old-fashioned one with a flexible connector).

 

More details here on the late Sheldon Brown's wonderful site;

 

Sheldon Brown's Bicycle Glossary W

 

Chris

Hi Paul,

 

I remember Woods valves from my youth. They should pump with a standard Presta pump (if the push on type doesn't seal, buy a bog-standard old-fashioned one with a flexible connector).

 

More details here on the late Sheldon Brown's wonderful site;

 

Sheldon Brown's Bicycle Glossary W

 

Chris

 

Thanks Chris

 

I'd already checked sheldon for some info. ive just got the aldi pump and that too is unable to connect. It seems the twisty bit is in the way and stops the pump fully connecting. but if I remove it all the air escapes. Does anyone have a morons guide to woods valves.

 

I want to change the tyres and tubes but I dont want to do it in one go as it'll be £100 for both bikes so need to resolve this.

The Aldi one goes on as far as the screw, lock it down and it should stay in place sufficiently to pump up the tyres, admittedly it is not lock tight so don't move the hand holding it in place around too much or it might come off.

Hopefully 50 cycles can confirm that they are the same valve types on both bike types or I am leading you on a wild goose chase !

Partial success

 

Hi All

 

Ive got air managed to get the presta fitting on my track pump to bite just enough. Needed to be held (firmly) in place and there was some leakage but got the tyre up to a reasonable pressure. My track pump is the tesco one for a tenner.

 

I Wonder how many of these tubes will make it through your first few months of ownership. :)

Hi Paul,

 

Good to hear the whole family's enjoying the new purchases. Every time I hear good things about these bikes it makes me feel I made the right decision, as I sit here in the waiting room.

 

I have ordered a 57cm Pro Connect and as you have the 57cm Agattu, do you mind me asking what your inside leg measurement is. My inside leg measurement is about 34 inches, measured to the floor. Do you think the 57cm frame size will be OK?

 

Chris

the 57 agattu is 99cm from floor to top of seat with the seat at its lowest setting (which is how im riding it). my torq has the seat raised to keep my leg strait and its 99cm exactly. 5'10 and a 30-31 leg.

 

its about 84cm standover height from floor to top of cross bar but as the tube slopes away a bit this may be less where you stand. ive got a big arse so stand further forward on the crossbar.

 

You should be fine

Went out and did 9 miles in the rain tonight. Bike coped with it fine. 15.48mph average speed for the trip. All of the trip was in high power mode in an effort to run the batttery down. Battery now on one flashing light after a total of 16.5 miles. not as much as I was hoping for but then I dont know how far it will go before it cuts out.

 

Battery now on one flashing light after a total of 16.5 miles. not as much as I was hoping for but then I dont know how far it will go before it cuts out.

 

Should be good for a couple more miles at least Paul, but this greatly reduced range is the problem with upping the gearing with a sprocket change, exacerbated further by the high power mode. In standard power mode it would have gone much further.

 

With standard gearing and full time high power mode, A to B got 26 miles and I found similar.

.

the 57 agattu is 99cm from floor to top of seat with the seat at its lowest setting (which is how im riding it). my torq has the seat raised to keep my leg strait and its 99cm exactly. 5'10 and a 30-31 leg.

 

its about 84cm standover height from floor to top of cross bar but as the tube slopes away a bit this may be less where you stand. ive got a big arse so stand further forward on the crossbar.

 

You should be fine

 

Thanks for the info Paul - you've put my mind at rest.

 

Chris

Should be good for a couple more miles at least Paul, but this greatly reduced range is the problem with upping the gearing with a sprocket change, exacerbated further by the high power mode. In standard power mode it would have gone much further.

 

With standard gearing and full time high power mode, A to B got 26 miles and I found similar.

.

 

Hi Flecc

 

Its not a problem for me as I seldom go that far in one go. Take your point about the sprocket but in my opinion the bike is just not right with the 22. I dont think i will use the high speed mode in normal circumstances so it will be interesting to see what I get on the next charge.

 

The really good thing that came out of tonights ride is that I now have confidence that the bike will cope in very wet conditions. I really noticed the effort tonight and it is making me realise how lazy I had been on the Torq:)

 

Cant wait to get back out. Weather permitting we might do the Tissington trail on Saturday up near Derby. Forecast looks iffy at the moment though!!

Is that what sort of range you would expect from a 18 tooth change in high power mode then?

Clearly it could be, though the terrain could make a difference.

 

Important to note that was done just to empty the battery quickly, it's completely unnecessary to use continuous full power mode, since that just wastes power at all times other than when climbing a steep hill.

 

It's impossible to forecast the results for any one rider from another's experience though, so much depending on rider power, the cadence they use, the speed they ride at, and the nature of the route.

 

With e-bikes more than anything else, only an individual's experience really counts.

.

Thanks for the report Paul. I agree completely about the handlebars and cannot understand those who put image before comfort. Straight bars are ergonomically wrong and always have been, and the Agattu's shaped bars, similar to the Lafree ones, are physically better for anything other than out and out speed cycling where dropped bars have an advantage..

 

I had guy who worked at a store assembling bikes tell me my Lafree handlebars were on backwards. That's cause I actually reversed or rotated (I forget which) them forward (readapting the control positions of course).

 

It only give a few centimeters more forward (not quite racing I guess, but maybe a little more under the wind) but it might be a possible mod for other crazy people like me who would bother to do this for their Agattu. (if it really is similar enough).

 

Also, if I keep this bike (and finally replace the battery) I think I'm switching from an 18" sprocket to a 16".

Clearly it could be, though the terrain could make a difference.

 

Important to note that was done just to empty the battery quickly, it's completely unnecessary to use continuous full power mode, since that just wastes power at all times other than when climbing a steep hill.

 

It's impossible to forecast the results for any one rider from another's experience though, so much depending on rider power, the cadence they use, the speed they ride at, and the nature of the route.

 

With e-bikes more than anything else, only an individual's experience really counts.

.

 

Hi Tony

 

went out at 6am this morning on my 9 mile loop (you can tell i'm addicted) and the battery went for another 4 miles in medium mode. so that gives a usage like this

 

2 miles in medium

5.5 miles towing mostly medium but some high

9 miles all high

4 miles medium

 

20.5 miles total. to be honest im pretty pleased with that. like you say my normal usage pattern will not include much high power. I'll report back after the next charge which will be all on medium.

Clearly it could be, though the terrain could make a difference.

 

Important to note that was done just to empty the battery quickly, it's completely unnecessary to use continuous full power mode, since that just wastes power at all times other than when climbing a steep hill.

 

It's impossible to forecast the results for any one rider from another's experience though, so much depending on rider power, the cadence they use, the speed they ride at, and the nature of the route.

 

With e-bikes more than anything else, only an individual's experience really counts.

.

 

 

It may sound simple, but if the agattu does 26miles on high with a 22 tooth rear spocket.

You just do the maths.

Example......

 

26 / 22 teeth = 1.18181818182.

 

1.18181818182 x 18 teeth = 21.2727272727.

 

So modding to an 18 tooth changes the range to 21 miles (Average)

Is that mad or does that do it.