It's a long way home with no power.

[MR E]

Thanks Ian and Stuart-- I will make sure that I have tyre levers in my toolkit.
I am sure it will not be long before the inevitable happens.!!

Old habits die hard- cos if I have a puncture when out on my off road bike , then its off with the wheel , quick visual of the tube , then repair or slap in a new one.Not quite as quick as the pit stop guys in Formula one though!

May consider the Schwalbe's when my Torq has had a bit more use.

You're right Flecc , you do need 2 x 10mm spanners for the rear brake assembly and have already got these is the tool kit.

Anyway back to the thread-- sorry it should really be about power loss.

Ian-- how do you manage a spare battery??-- even if I eat 3 shredded wheat I could not really consider carting a spare battery around with me.

 

[Ian]

Ian-- how do you manage a spare battery??-- even if I eat 3 shredded wheat I could not really consider carting a spare battery around with me.

Carrying the spare battery ensures you don't need to eat 3 shreddies.

Seriously though, a lightweight bike + extra battery is still lighter than most electrics of less refined design and really isn't a problem.

 

[keithhazel]

i would like to carry a spare battery but at a cost of £250 and if it pops its clogs after 6 months then £250 down the pan, having two would also mean that neither would get used an awful lot so i could have 2 relatively fresh batteries and a £500 replacemnt bill, however i know thats looking at the worst scenario and they both might last 3-5 years....and as i am a slight gambler with the fine weather coming and finding i am able to do a little exploring new routes which i would not have done on a normal bike as means useing my energy.. ..i may get a spare one...although im not so sure they are available at the moment...catch 22 eh..

 

[coops]

I think Ian uses 2 NiMH batteries, Keith, which should cost rather less (if & when available...) and not be as much of a weight penalty as you might think - only 1.5kg or so each over Lithium I think - and should last for years, especially if used with the discharging charger for Ezee NiMH flecc posted a while back . I think thats the most cost effective way to get extra range, short of stopping off somewhere to 'top up' if you can!

May consider the Schwalbe's when my Torq has had a bit more use.

Yes, thats exactly what I did and my Kendas worked very well & flat-free for 3-400 hundred miles, they look hardly used to me, not worn at all, but I then swapped for m+ for extra peace of mind . Ian, on the other hand, found his to be rather worn after over 1000 miles and with seemingly much reduced puncture protection when he changed them.

Stuart.

 

[Ian]

As Stuart says my batteries are NiMh which each weigh 5.5kg, a mere 1kg heavier than the Ezee Lithium. I have three, 2 Ezee originals and and a third which is an expired lithium re-celled with previously used NiMh cells. A recent discharge test showed them all to be in excellent condition despite the oldest having cells of over 2 years old.

As Stuart also says my my Kenda original tyres were showing signs of wear at 1000 miles, not so much tread wear as numerous cuts and abrasions. Punctures were frequent, that may be more to do with the local terrain and thorny hedgerows though.

Another benefit of Schwalbe tyres is the improvement in rolling resistance and handling of of the bike, the Europeans are streets ahead when it comes to tyre manufacture.

 

[frank9755]

my Kenda original tyres were showing signs of wear at 1000 miles, not so much tread wear as numerous cuts and abrasions. Punctures were frequent, that may be more to do with the local terrain and thorny hedgerows though.

Another benefit of Schwalbe tyres is the improvement in rolling resistance and handling of of the bike.

I'd advise changing them straight away rather than waiting for punctures! My Kenda K-Shield tyres had a puncture after 160 miles but, like Ian's, were showing lots of wear with many cuts and embedded glass splinters and sharp stones from London streets.

I would have changed mine sooner but ordered the wrong size Marathon Plus and the inevitable puncture came in the meantime. Now done another 160 miles on the Marathon Pluses and they look like new!

Because they have a rounded profile there is less rubber in contact with the road so noticeably less resistance and a smoother ride, even at higher pressures. One thing I have noticed is that if I use the back brake it locks up more easily, showing there is less road friction than with the Kendas.

Frank