Carrying spare battery on bike frame?

[123drb]

Hi,
I'm about to buy a second Bosch battery for my Haibike as I want to do longer rides with greater assistance (knees getting gradually more painful, sigh...) and I'd really like to carry the spare on the frame & not in a rucksac. My bike has no panniers or carrier so I'm thinking I could keep it in some sort of sling hanging from the top tube. The mounted battery & water bottle carrier are low down so there's plenty of space. Before I negotiate with my wife to cobble something together with the sewing machine & then use long pieces of strong velcro to hold it in place I thought I'd ask if anyone has ever seen one for sale? I suspect not but it's worth a shot!
Thanks for any suggestions (or solutions you've come up with yourselves)!
Cheers,
David

 

[Gringo]

Ebay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Big-Frame-Bag-Bicycle-Cycle-Bike-3-5-Litres-Capacity-/321052604190?pt=UK_SportGoods_CyclAcces_RL&var=&hash=item4ac039f71e

 

[123drb]

Thanks Gringo, that looks like the kind of thing. I'd be a bit worried about the velcro loops though for a heavy battery, they don't look all that sturdy - wouldn't want it to drop off the bike! Of course I'd stupidly just been searching for 'battery bags' - once I searched for 'frame bags' I started seeing loads of options... duh... I'm tempted by the 'Tangle' frame bags made by Revelate Designs. Horribly expensive & only available from one UK supplier by the look of it but they look bombproof.
Thanks again for taking the time to reply!
David

 

[RobF]

Is the battery going to be too wide to clear your legs/knees?

If not, fine, but you are also within the weigh limit for a seatpost rack, although you would still need to secure the battery to the rack.

Speaking of knees, is your saddle set too low?

I see lots of people riding like that and knee pain is the classic result.

 

[123drb]

Thanks Rob,
The battery's about 3.5in wide so hopefully not too much of a problem! Not too keen on the seatpost rack - I've got one of those MTB rear mudguards that I've got sticking up at a daft angle & it would get in the way (& to lower it out of the way would spoil the look!).

Yep, the saddle height thing's a crucial one, isn't it? I can't believe how many people I see who're almost sitting on their bikes like they're in a chair! I've got my seat so high I can't touch the ground without sliding off the saddle! I just like to straighten my legs at the bottom of the stroke. My knee pain goes back 30 years to when I discovered hill-walking and went berserk in the Lakes and Scotland. If only I hadn't been too stupid at the time to use poles on the descents...
Cheers!
David

 

[RobF]

Thanks Rob,
The battery's about 3.5in wide so hopefully not too much of a problem! Not too keen on the seatpost rack - I've got one of those MTB rear mudguards that I've got sticking up at a daft angle & it would get in the way (& to lower it out of the way would spoil the look!).

Yep, the saddle height thing's a crucial one, isn't it? I can't believe how many people I see who're almost sitting on their bikes like they're in a chair! I've got my seat so high I can't touch the ground without sliding off the saddle! I just like to straighten my legs at the bottom of the stroke. My knee pain goes back 30 years to when I discovered hill-walking and went berserk in the Lakes and Scotland. If only I hadn't been too stupid at the time to use poles on the descents...
Cheers!
David

Sounds as if you have plenty of height in the saddle, and in any case you have an explanation for the knee pain.

Full leg extension is not what is usually recommended as I expect you know.

One thing to try to avoid with a high saddle is having to rock your hips to reach for the bottom of the pedal stroke.

 

[123drb]

Yep, just done a quick google and people seem to suggest that knee pain associated with too high a seat position is generally at the back of the knee while too low would be indicated by knee pain at the front. Well, my knee pain is all at the front and I can't possibly have my seat too low. QED!

However, I also need to have a look at my seat position & do the 'heel on the pedal' adjustment - that's not something I'd seen before so thank you for the advice.

cheers,
David

 

[jackhandy]

It surprised me when I realised how small a difference in saddle height caused me problems.

Even swapping one saddle for another, without moving the seat post plays hob with my knees.

 

[electric biker]

Hi,
I'm about to buy a second Bosch battery for my Haibike as I want to do longer rides with greater assistance (knees getting gradually more painful, sigh...) and I'd really like to carry the spare on the frame & not in a rucksac. My bike has no panniers or carrier so I'm thinking I could keep it in some sort of sling hanging from the top tube. The mounted battery & water bottle carrier are low down so there's plenty of space. Before I negotiate with my wife to cobble something together with the sewing machine & then use long pieces of strong velcro to hold it in place I thought I'd ask if anyone has ever seen one for sale? I suspect not but it's worth a shot!
Thanks for any suggestions (or solutions you've come up with yourselves)!
Cheers,
David

Hi,
I'm about to buy a second Bosch battery for my Haibike as I want to do longer rides with greater assistance (knees getting gradually more painful, sigh...) and I'd really like to carry the spare on the frame & not in a rucksac. My bike has no panniers or carrier so I'm thinking I could keep it in some sort of sling hanging from the top tube. The mounted battery & water bottle carrier are low down so there's plenty of space. Before I negotiate with my wife to cobble something together with the sewing machine & then use long pieces of strong velcro to hold it in place I thought I'd ask if anyone has ever seen one for sale? I suspect not but it's worth a shot!
Thanks for any suggestions (or solutions you've come up with yourselves)!
Cheers,
David

I've just purchased a Haibike FS 26 AMT. I was looking for a spare battery but the cost of the Bosch made in Poland OEM is around £450 (300w) to £580 (400w).
Golden Dragon make a compatible 300w for about half the cost even allowing for VAT and import duty. Given that even the Germans use Chinese components (check out the Bosch display). I've a Ping battery that is still working ok then perhaps I might buy a couple from GD and sell one.

 

[Zebb]

I was recommended these people for my frame bag on here, I am very pleased with it. Just in case you do go for having one made.

http://www.bike-bag.co.uk

 

[Geebee]

Regarding seat "height" on my recumbent trikes my damaged knee complains if I move the "seat" 2mm, and I get pain in the same place short or long so the front and back business is not set in stone, high cadence was the magic bullet for me the stronger I got the faster I had to spin to not over load the knee, I used to cruise at well over 100 rpm.

The reason for the "" on the seat and height is that you adjust the boom on a trike not the seat