Finally received my eZee Cadence...

[DBCohen]

Well, my bike finally arrived (very) early this morning.

Ordering was definitely complicated by going through CycleScheme - though in my case the delays were down to inefficient processing by my own company's staff.

Throw in the fact that as a Cadence, 50Cycles discontinued it just before I ordered, offered me a demonstrator, and then that machine got damaged in the warehouse leading to shipment of a new one from China, and it has all taken a fair amount of time.

First impressions were good - the bike is immaculately made to my eye. I had to go straight to work after it arrived, so I have not yet had time to set it up and ride it so that will be first order of business tonight, assuming the heavens don't open again.

One question - the documentation recommends two discharge cycles before the battery comes up to capacity, and yet I have seen elsewhere a recommendation not to fully discharge the battery, as it shortens its life. What will be the best way forward for now (I will be using it on a 5-mile each way commmute from next week)?

50Cycles suggested to me that the Cadence was a big hit at Glastonbury, so that they may be bringing it back into their range. If you are interested in a big comfy cruiser it might be worth a look. I am in North Manchester if anyone wants to see mine.

David.

 

[pgbw]

I hope you enjoy this bike.

I assume you've got the Li-on battery, as that's what 50 cycles are now selling.

I think that you've got enough power in the bettery to do the whole trip, provided it's reasonably flat. Try to ride it so that the power gauge doesn't go into red - especially not for any distance.

Re-charge the battery after each commute. Don't worry about trying to discharge it - running the battery right down is how I destroyed my Li-on (i now use NiMH). Don't push the range any more than the 10 miles you need for your commute without charging.

Let us know how you get on!

 

[flecc]

Yes, you should run the battery from full to empty from two to four times initially to condition the electrolyte and reach the battery's full 10 Ah capacity. In this one respect only Li-ion is the same as NiMh and a number of other battery types.

Thereafter charge at every opportunity, the shorter the use the better, and avoid full discharging.

Enjoy your bike and I hope you get many miles of enjoyment from it.
.

 

[coops]

Congratulations David : you've been very patient I must say!

All the very best with your Cadence, be sure to follow all the battery guidelines for best lifetime, and I hope you have a lot of fun & benefits from your first ride .

Stuart.

 

[DBCohen]

Well, I am home and the battery is charging. Unfortunately the weather is most monsoon like...

 

[coops]

...most un-Manchester like... forecast looks a bit better here next few days though .

 

[DBCohen]

Heh, no need for self deprecation when most of the West Country is under water

We are all in the same boat at the moment, weatherwise - fortunately, for us Mancunians not boating down down our local high street....

I take it those pictures from Oxford of people cycling through a couple of feet of water mean those bikes will be write-offs after the flood has lessened? Certainly, they are not pedelecs...

 

[Ian]

As far as the weather goes, the latest summer forecast from the met office does give a glimmer of hope. It's very carefully worded though.

 

[steelcityuk]

Hi DB,

Could I ask what kind of bulbs are fitted to your Cadence please? I just bought a used one on Sunday but both bulbs are blown. It certainly gets people talking.

Regards.

Steve.

 

[DBCohen]

They appear to be LED units.

 

[pgbw]

Key on Cadence

Is your key as badly placed as mine is, so that it can be easily hit by the foot if you try to pedal with the toes? If you don't know what I mean, it's probably been improved (I also have big feet, which makes it worse).

 

[DBCohen]

Is your key as badly placed as mine is, so that it can be easily hit by the foot if you try to pedal with the toes? If you don't know what I mean, it's probably been improved (I also have big feet, which makes it worse).

Well, I have just come back from my first proper ride on the Cadence, and despite having a pair of lock keys on the same ring as the electrics key, I did not encounter that problem.

My only real worry was that I would struggle with the bike's size - I did not test it before I ordered (though I did discuss my height with the guys at 50Cycles). Happily, I can manage it just fine.

I got several compliments from people I passed on the bike trail this afternoon about the look of the bike, but I don't think most of them realised it had a motor and battery on it!

Regrettably, the mostly offroad route I was planning to use appears to be in pretty poor condition. It is national cycle route 6 - but there are areas on the section I used where the mud is at least 4 inches deep, and some other areas where the nettles are seriously narrowing the track. More annoyingly, the metal restrictors put in place to prevent dirt motorbikes using the tracks also make it very difficult to get the Cadence with its wide handlebar track through.

I love the bike, though. The construction feels very solid, the bike is comfortable, and the electric system is truly amazing! When I came back, I went up a VERY steep hill that I often see cyclists pushing themselves up, and I breezed up it like it wasn't there! However, I am glad to say that after a six mile round trip I do feel like I have done some exercise - which is the important point for me, as I am hoping to lose a few inches from my portly frame.

My only niggle would be that the arrangement of the gear selector seems counterintuitive to me - every time I want to go to a higher gear for cruising I seem to twist the wrong way. But I am sure I will get used to that.

 

[hobo1]

I am glad you have enjoyed your first ride David & you get as much pleasure from your Cadence as I am having on my Forza. I will be out early in the morning to give those hills a seeing too. (Weather looks promising).

Best wishes, another David.

 

[flecc]

I rode the Torq and Quando for a year without a key problem, and then one day hit the key top on the Torq with my heel and snapped it off

So they're always vulnerable and many have found as I have now that it's best to cut off the large top half of the key handle part to give more clearance. I believe later models have a reduced size key to avoid this problem.
.

 

[Ian]

I broke one of my Torqs keys within a couple of days, so cut the spares down in size, then I bought a secondhand Sprint on which someone else had done over 5000 miles without breaking a key and guess what, I bent a key on the first ride. I guess the kicking of keys must be down to riding style.

 

[pgbw]

In my case, big feet. I do more damage when wearing size 12 than size 11!

 

[Ian]

I can't use that excuse pgbw, I'm only a size 8!

 

[flecc]

Ditto, also size 8, and still busted a key.