E-Bike Essentials

Hi Everyone! I'm hoping to tap into your collective minds for some advice.....

Edited March 4, 200917 yr by chandlerweb

Search the CTC forum. This topic has come up dozens of times and you'll find 100's of answers!

 

E-Bike Essentials

 

Hi Everyone! I'm hoping to tap into your collective minds for some advice.....

 

Hi chandlerweb, can you be a little more specific on what advice you want. The e-bike essentials are a bike and an assist motor of course, but beyond that the essentials depend very much on what you want the bike for.

 

If we know what you want the bike for, whether you have steep hills to climb, luggage to carry, trailer to tow etc, we can narrow the features needed to suit you.

.

Hi Chandler

 

Are you the man from channel 4?

 

I would recommend a bottle of Vladivar to warm those cockles in this weather.

 

thx

 

Bob

Hi chandlerweb, can you be a little more specific on what advice you want. The e-bike essentials are a bike and an assist motor of course, but beyond that the essentials depend very much on what you want the bike for.

 

If we know what you want the bike for, whether you have steep hills to climb, luggage to carry, trailer to tow etc, we can narrow the features needed to suit you.

.

 

My original question (which i edited down after essexman's response advising me to look elsewhere-didnt want to wast anyone time and couldnt delete the post) was about what essentials should I carry in a kit bag for my e-bike that will be making a 4-5 mile daily commute. I was thinking along the lines of puncture repair kit, spare light batteries etc and wondered if anyone else had any other ideas.

Thanks Chandlerweb, that's very different.

 

There's a "Tools" page on my Torq website which may be of use to you:

 

On-road toolkits

.

Hi

 

I am off now and will always where a scarf and gloves in matching khaki green.

And take a spanner kit for safety.

 

thx

 

Bob

Things to take with you

 

chandlerweb

 

Spare inner tube(s). Essential when punctured in awful weather.

 

I use a medium sized "mini" pump with retractable flexible air pipe which connects to the inner tube. As you will read from recent posts, it is best to go for a pretty expensive one.

 

High security lock and extra cables if you do not have a secure storage area at work. I even cable lock my saddle.

 

Hi visibility (protective) clothing. Doesn't have to be expensive but I find the more you pay, the better the quality (having said that, Lidl is very popular on this site, and if you're quick there are bargains to get).

I have a bright yellow hi vis jacket with a zipped air vent at the back; bright yellow woollen hat and bright yellow "seal skin" gloves (you may be starting to get the idea....).

 

I always carry a pair of light nylon overtrousers (black as I couldn't find yellow ones). I also have a pair of seal skin socks which are brilliant. They keep my feet warm and dry as these are virtually waterproof. I wear an old pair of gortex trainers.

 

I have kept the front and rear lights my bike came with, but also wear a bright LED front light on a head strap, two rear flashing lights, one sewn into the rear of my hat and the other attached to the rear of my pannier.

 

Others on this forum will give additional advice and, as I have said, it's all here for you to search for.

 

Conal

 

P.S.Welcome to the forum!

Edited March 4, 200917 yr by Conal

Hi

 

Thanks conan

great work to

 

thx

 

Bob

I did see your original post, and was going to answer before you trimmed it so drastically. Actually, I'll be commuting to work on my X-6 as soon as my Cyclesheme voucher comes through and I was looking forward to seeing what suggestions you got.

 

Here's my cycle commuter survival kit so far:

 

- Alkaline batteries in waterproof wrapping in case the rechargeables in the lights give up. One of these days I'm sure to forget to charge them up.

- Spanners and Allen keys for tightening up those things that come loose on the way.

- Puncture repair kit and a spare inner tube. Normally it's easy to fix a puncture without resorting to taking the wheel off, but sometimes it's easier just to change the inner tube.

- Pump

- Waterproof coat and over trousers. I go for cheap lightweight stuff, they're great for heavy rain, but in light rain you've got to judge if you'd get wetter with or without them.

where do I get an inner tube for a wisper?

 

They have longer valves then standard don't they?

Here's one source Eddie:

 

long schrader 26" x 1.9 to 2.25

.

Thanks everyone!

OK, so shopping list so far (as per others' posts) is...

Spare inner tube

medium sized "mini" pump with retractable flexible air pipe

High security lock and extra cables

hi vis jacket (with a zipped air vent)

Alkaline batteries (in waterproof wrapping)

Spanners and Allen keys

Puncture repair kit

Waterproof coat and over trousers / light nylon overtrousers

 

So far, I have ordered the new york 3000 u-lock from Leisure Lakes Bikes as part of my cyclescheme voucher with the Powabyke. Wasnt sure how this rated so hope its ok. Still need to order the rest though.

 

My day job is in IT so I know where to get the best prices on IT stuff but not sure where to start with bike gear. Are there any online suppliers that regularly pop up as the cheapest place to buy accessories? And any specific recommendations for the items above? Id particularly like to know where to get a large (probably XXL) hi vis jacket for by tall but slim 6'8" frame (that's me, not the bike!)

So far, I have ordered the new york 3000 u-lock from Leisure Lakes Bikes as part of my cyclescheme voucher with the Powabyke. Wasnt sure how this rated so hope its ok. Still need to order the rest though.

I don't know which New York 3000 lock you have but they are all amongst the best available, try not to leave a gap big enough to fit a bottle jack into.

If you want somewhere to shop try these:

 

-Edinburgh bike coop revolution range is very very good, incredibly competitvely priced and as a company has a pretty good ethos, plus they're northern and so money spent with them isnt money wasted on the wealthy south.

-Dunno where you live but some cities have some very good bike shops these days.

-? dunno i always use edinburgh or local bike shops.

 

PS i notice no-one has said anything about luggage. You'll want a rack and a pair of panniers to stick all your stuff in. These days cheap panniers altura and revolution are pretty good. The only thing better will be waterproof panniers eg ortlieb which will last for life.

 

bikeradar had a recent review of bike lights.

 

As youve been of the road for 10 years and your diving into commuting i'd say a good bike accessory would be a copy of cyclecraft and\or some training.

Mind out on innertube, my tyre is 26" x 1.25". I think Wisper changed them at some point - and I agree with their decision Low rolling resistance

 

I got an innertube before seeing that the valves needed to be longer, darn it! I hope it fits as the valve stem looks a good length anyway, but then for years I've been told that this (holds fingers 3" apart) is 6 inches

 

Best regards.

 

Vikki.

A windproof jacket, you can pick them up fairly cheap from Wiggle. Waterproof trousers - I got mine from Halfords for £15.00. Everything else as listed above. It's amazing how much cash you have to lay out upfront once you take commuting by bike seriously.

It's amazing how much cash you have to lay out upfront once you take commuting by bike seriously.

Yes, that was quite a shock.

It must be worse trying to start at this time of year as you don't know what is required and what is adequate, at least when I started in late summer an old pair of shorts and a T-shirt was enough and I only added things slowly as they were required.

 

My day job is in IT so I know where to get the best prices on IT stuff but not sure where to start with bike gear. Are there any online suppliers that regularly pop up as the cheapest place to buy accessories? And any specific recommendations for the items above? Id particularly like to know where to get a large (probably XXL) hi vis jacket for by tall but slim 6'8" frame (that's me, not the bike!)

 

On the web some of the best places are:

SJSCycles St John Street Cycles - The UK's largest tandem & touring cycle specialist

Wiggle Mountain Bikes | Road Bikes | Cycle Clothing & Accessories Wiggle

Petra Cycles Petra Cycles - Bicycle Shop, Parts Components and Accesories

Here's one source Eddie:

 

long schrader 26" x 1.9 to 2.25

.

 

Thanks Flecc!

I hear Aldi are quite good for cycling essentials

Hi grumpy

 

The have cheap whiskey for 12.99 a bottle a perfect thing for a long bike ride.

good quality smells like meths but taste ok with diet coke and ice

 

thx

 

Bob

Hi grumpy

 

The have cheap whiskey for 12.99 a bottle a perfect thing for a long bike ride.

good quality smells like meths but taste ok with diet coke and ice

 

thx

 

Bob

That's a bit pricey, under eight quid in most supermarkets. Was it a litre bottle?

hi

 

from scotland big bottle i think called scotch

 

thx

 

bob

Some other extras, which I did not spot in the list so far.

 

- A small LED torch. Invaluable if you breakdown on a dark country road / cycle path - not just for fixing a problem but also for being seen. This is assuming you don't wear one of those head fitting LEDs as part of your normal gear.

 

- The obvious cellphone including some emergency numbers and possibly your bike frame number

 

- A £20 note in a plastic bag in case someone mugs you of your wallet or you fear losing that wallet

 

- Some first aid plasters in case you tangle with some brambles

 

- A whistle which you can use to attract attention.

 

- A hidden spare set of keys.

 

This thread has got me thinking... and I must renew my own kit bag!!!