Electric Bike Riding Tactics

[JohnInStockie]

Hi All

I have a Giant Twist, with Hub gears, a front dynamo, and chain drive motor. My 11 mile commute involves road AND off road dirt track. After rainfall, I do notice that I seem a bit slower on the tracks, as well as seeming to get dirt all over the panniers and me.

Is it better to avoid dirt tracks, or are these bikes fine with the dirt? Can the dirt cause more damage?

What do people advise?

John

 

[Ian]

John, my Torq also gets dirty in bad weather on mud tracks, much of the dirt being thrown up from the front wheel straight onto my legs, the bottom bracket and chain. I made a simple mudflap from a piece of thick, flexible clear plastic, which was originally a bubble pack containing a CD rom. Its secured under the clamp type mudguard fittings. It keeps things a lot cleaner.

Ian.

 

[Flying Kiwi]

Muddy Twists

Is it better to avoid dirt tracks, or are these bikes fine with the dirt? Can the dirt cause more damage?

It means you need to clean your bike more often if you want it to stay in top shape (including the panniers and chain etc) but as long as the mud isn't deep enough to submerge anything, I can't see how it can cause damage. I ride my Twist on the road in dry and wet as well as off road cycle paths but so far I've not experienced much mud, just dry dirt. I wonder if any Twist owners in Presteigne will find what it's like to ride in mud on Sunday?

 

[flecc]

The Twist finish is amongst the best on electric bikes and lasts well. I still get surprised responses from people who think my 4 year heavily used example is almost new, so I think you have little to fear John.

 

[JohnInStockie]

I have trouble with sty's and bridges.

The sty's (is that how its spent?) are just annoying, as the Twist handlebars do not fit through the pedestrian barriers, I have to carry my bike over those 2 railway sleepers that are 5' apart in a horse made muddy bog, which after rainfall, is just like an ankle deep muddy foot bath.

The bridges are the worst though. To make them 'safe', they have sty's before them to get to them, or large metal barriers 3' apart, followed by steps upto the bridge (that'll stop them mini-moto's they laugh)

Does anyone else encounter this idiocy. We are punishing the masses to disrupt (not even stop) the minority.

Those mini-motos can fit through the pedestrian access gate, and normally there is a few teenagers with them, so they work together to get them over the bridges.

So who's left sweating and struggling and falling over with a bike on top of them . . . . .grrr

I now understand why the statistics say that cyclists are safest riding on the road, because you dont have the risk of falling over with your bike 10 times each way!

 

[redalpha3]

Does anyone else encounter this idiocy. We are punishing the masses to disrupt (not even stop) the minority.

/QUOTE]

My local railway walks use staggered gates which are generally easy to get the bike through, thank goodness. I'm afraid I couldn't lift my bike over the things you describe. The down side of this is the occasional Mini Moto/ Quad bike you encounter. However I see an increasing number of those battery scooters which are designed for the less mobile. I think overall, I'm prepared to put up with the two-stroke menaces <until I collide with one! >.

I sealed my Sprint electrics as well as I could with spray-on Ignition Sealer, added an extra long front mudguard flap to keep down spray from the front wheels and then clean the bike after every ride. The tracks we have here can be very dusty in the dry, and so I take extra care keeping the chain dust/grit free.

 

[Ian]

mini-moto's they laugh)

Does anyone else encounter this idiocy. We are punishing the masses to disrupt (not even stop) the minority.

Yep, its pretty much the same round here. My main gripe is the gated triangular obstructions, just long enough to accommodate a typical MTB, they will easily accommodate a mini-moto but not my Torq which has to lifted to get through. Another annoyance is a local cycle/bridle path crossed by a fence with a style in it, not easy to get a 25kg bike over a style.

I saw in yesterdays news that the local council and Sustrans have applied for a £1.2M grant to upgrade the cycle paths in a local country park. Apart from a couple of short rough sections the paths there are absolutely fine, there's plenty of other places that need paths though.

 

[Flying Kiwi]

Triangular pegs in square holes

If you mean those gates on the entrance to some cycle paths with 'front on' cycle shaped cutouts to push the bike through then I've also not been able to get my Twist through the only one I've ever wanted to get it past. I cant remember the specifics but I suspect, like you, the handlebars played a part. I just picked up my bike by the crossbar (a handy advantage of the gents over ladies frame versions) and in a delicate balancing act on the wooden steps, carried it over the fence. Also the Twist is longer than many ordinary bikes - I guess squeezing in the battery means an extended wheelbase. I don't know what the planners use as a template for those fences but I'll bet many recumbent riders (including those with Giant Revives) often encounter such problems.

The lesson I've learnt is that a crossbar is very helpful for more than just reducing frame flex.

 

[flecc]

I think overall, I'm prepared to put up with the two-stroke menaces <until I collide with one! >.

I agree, they are less of a menace then the so called cures. Personally I treat the trailbike/moto riders with respect and a smile and frequently find them considerate in return. I have a certain sympathy for them, there's getting on for two million drivers and riders of off road and leisure vehicles in this country now, and yet this over three to four per cent of the population have virtually no democratic provision for them.

The cyclist percentage of the population can't be much different, but we have huge and increasing provision for us in much of the country now, despite our never being satisfied.

I just picked up my bike by the crossbar (a handy advantage of the gents over ladies frame versions) and in a delicate balancing act on the wooden steps, carried it over the fence.

The lesson I've learnt is that a crossbar is very helpful for more than just reducing frame flex.

Your height is a big advantage there though Kiwi, for those of us 5' 6" or shorter, it's nothing like as easy.