For Sale Bargains

[guerney]

I'd like to see ebay auctions work more like a real one. Bidding to close at a pre-specified time, or 1 minute (say) after the last accepted bid, whichever is the later.

Ebay would make more money with that arrangement. I've replaced fibre with cellular connections everywhere, and the only way I can myself discover if ebay has made changes to auctions is by signing up to one of the blasted unbelievably sticky habitually price hiking fibre providers again - this was the plan initially (was going to go with @flecc's preferred Zen Internet, which has great reviews and sounds pleasantly chilled), but up until now cellular internet has been good. Firefox wasn't to blame, same happened with Vivaldi. It's not due to my PC's clock either.

 

[sjpt]

up until now cellular internet has been good

As a matter of interest what are typical ping times (eg to bbc.co.uk) on cellular?
Cellular would be hopeless here: lucky to get a mobile phone signal, in town quite close to the centre of Winchester.

 

[guerney]

As a matter of interest what are typical ping times (eg to bbc.co.uk) on cellular?
Cellular would be hopeless here: lucky to get a mobile phone signal, in town quite close to the centre of Winchester.

Had to unblock Ping at the firewall, hence the first long ping. Speed increased when I attached a cheapo AliExpress external aerial, which I have yet to situate in the loft or outside - I should do that next. One side of my house has better reception than the other. The other side is useless.

 

[sjpt]

View attachment 61568
Certainly quite a bit longer than our standard FTTC (PlusNet).
I doubt the difference is relevant in the ebay situation, though.

Pinging bbc.co.uk [151.101.192.81] with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 151.101.192.81: bytes=32 time=8ms TTL=58
Reply from 151.101.192.81: bytes=32 time=8ms TTL=58
Reply from 151.101.192.81: bytes=32 time=9ms TTL=58
Reply from 151.101.192.81: bytes=32 time=8ms TTL=58

 

[guerney]

View attachment 61568
Certainly quite a bit longer than our standard FTTC (PlusNet).
I doubt the difference is relevant in the ebay situation, though.

Pinging bbc.co.uk [151.101.192.81] with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 151.101.192.81: bytes=32 time=8ms TTL=58
Reply from 151.101.192.81: bytes=32 time=8ms TTL=58
Reply from 151.101.192.81: bytes=32 time=9ms TTL=58
Reply from 151.101.192.81: bytes=32 time=8ms TTL=58

Yes, slow. No good for online gamers, fortunately I don't game (used to 40 odd years ago, but physical latency is too high now probably lol). Because of the peculiar way the Three/Smarty network operates, endpoint IP address changes frequently for example, which many "secure" websites don't play well with (banking), I used Proton VPN (cheap £26 Xmas bargain year's use), for a stable IP, for the second losing bid last week... to no avail. I'll start a bid for something I don't want with O2/Giffgaff next, stopping at the "Confirm bid" popup, observe when the auction timer ends. To be fair to ebay, little has changed in the bidding process for decades, and sought after items are snapped up last second by buyers using sniping software (Gixen, eSnipe, many others). Perhaps they've randomised auction end times between n and 60 seconds or something, dunno. Perhaps some ebay head honcho is attempting to shake up sniping buyer dominance. But it's probably Three's fault.

 

[saneagle]

Fortunately, my circa 22.41kg Helios has a handle when folded, and in large part is ok for heaving about on trains and buses, particularly with the battery removed and stashed in the rucksack... and for longer journeys, hauling trailers uphill etc. but a smaller and lighter folded electrified package weighing about 10 to 13kg would be nice, less bulky and cumbersome carrying bagged in shops. The 16" Dahon Jifo has a shorter wheelbase, and is overall a worse bike than the Presto Lite, else I'd consider that. Any folding bike has to be practical for use on our perennially pothole blighted roads. A Brompton can't have fat tyres without a fair amount of money thrown at it. This can be had for about £200 on ebay, disc brakes, but short wheelbase, and despite claiming to be "lightweight" weighs 12kg. Might be bearable to ride for 5 miles atime.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ECOSMO-Lightweight-Folding-Bicycle-SP%EF%BC%8CDual/dp/B07SRZPGXJ

How tall are you?

 

[guerney]

How tall are you?

5' 10", why? I suppose the Escomo would feel cramped. Presto Lite probably would be fine - it's the same suggested rider height as my Helios.

SUGGESTED RIDER HEIGHT

137 cm - 188 cm (4'6" - 6'2")

https://www.cyclemotion.co.uk/dahon/prestolite-specs.htm

p.s. Found a Presto Lite in Scotland, but I don't want to go there. I'll wait till one pops up closer.

 

[saneagle]

5' 10", why? I suppose the Escomo would feel cramped. Presto Lite probably would be fine - it's the same suggested rider height as my Helios.

SUGGESTED RIDER HEIGHT

137 cm - 188 cm (4'6" - 6'2")

https://www.cyclemotion.co.uk/dahon/prestolite-specs.htm

p.s. Found a Presto Lite in Scotland, but I don't want to go there. I'll wait till one pops up closer.

I have a very small electric folding bike with 16" (might be 14") wheels that's very light. It has no gears, but doesn't really need them for what it is. It's OK as emergency transport, but at 5ft 10" it's not going to be ideal for longer journeys. It has quite a short wheelbase that makes it look like a clown bike, but you don't really notice that when riding it.

Here's Saneagle at 6ft 3" and 110kg riding it:

 

[Ghost1951]

I bet the steering is frisky on that.

I have a strida clone with similar proportions and it was quite exciting when I was riding it. It was a much less useful bike than yours though - having an electric motor and all...

I got the best use from my strida clone when I went on one of my Camino de Santiago trecks walking across Northern Spain. One time, I did part of it with my partner and I knew she would not do well carrying all the luggage she would bring, so given how light and portable thestrida clone is, we used it to carry our luggage. People who do this walk recommend that you take no more than 10kg to carry, but the hair driers and toiletries she found necessary to bring amounted to nearly that, so I just loaded the wee bike and pushed it.

 

[Peter.Bridge]

Reminds me of these

Windgoo B3 Foldable Electric Bike/Scooter - Ecosmo

This lightweight E-bike is easy to fold, perfect for taking it onto public transports. You can ride it with the full throttle or exercise with pedal only Powerful Motor: The D3F electric bicycle features a high-power motor, which can meet the daily commuting, short distance travel and mountain...

ecosmobike.com

36v 10ah battery not bad for that price. Totally throwaway design though when the battery expires

 

[Ghost1951]

Reminds me of these

Windgoo B3 Foldable Electric Bike/Scooter - Ecosmo

This lightweight E-bike is easy to fold, perfect for taking it onto public transports. You can ride it with the full throttle or exercise with pedal only Powerful Motor: The D3F electric bicycle features a high-power motor, which can meet the daily commuting, short distance travel and mountain...

ecosmobike.com

36v 10ah battery not bad for that price. Totally throwaway design though when the battery expires

Looks quite a fun bike. No gears though, by the look of it. About 10kg lighter than my Argos folder bike. Rode that 2 miles in a gale at 0530 this morning. No street lights - country road - with a torch taped and zip tied to my helmet. Exhilarating trip, but glad to get home again as the rain was lashing down. No cars seen - thankfully.