I am looking for an e-bike that would be appropriate for traveling around the world. I have been looking for about a year, but so far have not found a bike that I feel comfortable with for such a long and extensive trip.
Need E-bike for traveling around the world!
- Thread starter ancientbicyclist
- Start date
Hi D8ve and trex,
Yes, I am planning on at least 3 plane flights to different continents. I will be flying with two lithium 160 watt hour batteries along with the bike to conform with international TSA flight regulations. I will also have a backup set of batteries at each location after a flight is completed. May even have backup bikes at these locations. As far as the wooshbike goes, the built in battery pack has far too many watts hours to pass TSA regulations.
Eugene
Yes, I am planning on at least 3 plane flights to different continents. I will be flying with two lithium 160 watt hour batteries along with the bike to conform with international TSA flight regulations. I will also have a backup set of batteries at each location after a flight is completed. May even have backup bikes at these locations. As far as the wooshbike goes, the built in battery pack has far too many watts hours to pass TSA regulations.
Eugene
I've thought a lot about a 16 or 20 inch for my travels, as they'd go well in the boot of a car or bus, or on a train, and maybe be terrific for tourism, but aren't they uncomfortable for long distances?
Hi Jonathan,
I've rode bikes with 8", 12", 16", 20", 24", and 26" wheels. Of course, when pedaling you must put more effort, more revolutions of the pedals to go the same distance on a small wheeled bike as on a large wheeled bike. The basic comfort of the bike depends more on the size and placement of the seat, the handlebars, and placement of the pedals. Once you switch the motor on if your position on the bike is comfortable and the power of the bike's motor and battery can get you to approximately the same speed, it is no more effort on a small bike than on a large bike.
Eugene
A properly designed small wheel bike is geared so that you don't need higher cadence to get the same speed.
The Brompton folder is geared to support a lower cadence because suited commuters don't want to have to spin like Mark Cavendish.
The seat, pedals, and handlebars will be in the same place as a big-wheeled bike, so comfort - from that perspective - is the same.
Inevitably, small wheeled bikes give a harsher ride.
That has been addressed to a large extent by 20" wheeled bikes with balloon tyres.
The only 16" wheel bike I've ridden is my Brompton, and that is harsh, particularly at the front.
It has a rear triangle choc suspension block which helps matters at the back.
Overall, it's not too bad, the steel frame is a lot more forgiving than an ally one.
The Brompton folder is geared to support a lower cadence because suited commuters don't want to have to spin like Mark Cavendish.
The seat, pedals, and handlebars will be in the same place as a big-wheeled bike, so comfort - from that perspective - is the same.
Inevitably, small wheeled bikes give a harsher ride.
That has been addressed to a large extent by 20" wheeled bikes with balloon tyres.
The only 16" wheel bike I've ridden is my Brompton, and that is harsh, particularly at the front.
It has a rear triangle choc suspension block which helps matters at the back.
Overall, it's not too bad, the steel frame is a lot more forgiving than an ally one.
Hi RobF,
I own 6 electric folding bikes and have ridden perhaps as many as 50 e-bikes, but have never been on the Brompton. I know that it is pricey and the adjustment for a lower cadence must make it feel much more like a larger bike. I have ridden a VeloMini, which with 12" wheels felt amazingly comfortable and easy to pedal.
Eugene
I own 6 electric folding bikes and have ridden perhaps as many as 50 e-bikes, but have never been on the Brompton. I know that it is pricey and the adjustment for a lower cadence must make it feel much more like a larger bike. I have ridden a VeloMini, which with 12" wheels felt amazingly comfortable and easy to pedal.
Eugene
Eugene
It looks like you already have some idea of what to do.
What is it your not comfortable with?
Is it reliability? So Brompton with rohloff?
Is it comfort so a recumbent, greenspeed grasshopper.
Is it electric? Perhaps the ubiquitous bifang?
Dave
It looks like you already have some idea of what to do.
What is it your not comfortable with?
Is it reliability? So Brompton with rohloff?
Is it comfort so a recumbent, greenspeed grasshopper.
Is it electric? Perhaps the ubiquitous bifang?
Dave
God, seen the price ~ the petrol ones never worked in the wet and weren't much better in the dry.
The most comfortable bike I have ridden is my Birdy and have thought of having it powered. The Rubbee could be solution if it would fit but I do remember some years ago a similar kit had problems of wearing the tyres quickly as well as slippage when wet. Were they noisy too?
that Rubbee reminds me of the Sinclair Zeta:
Honestly, after you ride the Gallego, you'll wonder why would anyone bother with electrifying the Brompton. It's cheaper than the Brompton for a start.
Honestly, after you ride the Gallego, you'll wonder why would anyone bother with electrifying the Brompton. It's cheaper than the Brompton for a start.
Why an ebike? I need and have a pedelec because I have to do ten hilly miles in less than an hour five days a week. If I were a free to just travel,i'd do it much more leisurely and an ordinary brompton would be much less hassle
Thanks trex, that must have been the one. The sort of thing that could put people off ebikes for life.
Could have saved me quite a bit money.
Could have saved me quite a bit money.
Eugene lives in America, is a former bike shop owner and can't pedal due to medical problems.
He is trying to find an answer to his world travel quest.
I suggested the Rubbee as a possible solution. If he contacts the company they might be able to customize the unit to meet the battery spec required and fit a throttle to meet his medical needs and also gain some favourable PR for the product if he succeeds in fulfilling his quest.
He is trying to find an answer to his world travel quest.
I suggested the Rubbee as a possible solution. If he contacts the company they might be able to customize the unit to meet the battery spec required and fit a throttle to meet his medical needs and also gain some favourable PR for the product if he succeeds in fulfilling his quest.
Interesting adventure....I assume you will fly to a continent and then journey through many countries until the sea gets in the way and then fly to next continent?
I ride my 20" wheeled Kudos Secret a lot on holiday but even by lorry shipping bikes and/or spare batteries is becoming more and more difficult,it will be a nightmare at every airport check in.
Having said the above I think I would take the approach that the batteries are a disposable item and look for a battery type that is easily available anywhere in the world or alternatively pre organise battery drops at each new continent.
You can air ship legally Lithium batteries,it needs special packing by a trained packer with special labelling,it is expensive but your trip must have a reasonable budget.
So,despite my liking for my 20" folder I would take a different approach...you often see people with 26" or 700c bikes packed in special containers taken onto aircraft but you have the problem of what to do with the box when you move on. I would have a sailmaker make a lightweight roll up bag that you can zip around the bike and pack in the panniers when on the move.
I would pick the best quality normal bike I can find,one that the guys who do round the world bike rides already.....the guy who ride from Alaska to Panama for example. Try to pick a 26" wheel or 700c bike which is strong,light,good rims,disc brakes,easy availability of spares,tyres.
Also a bike that is worldwide sold (Giant?)or one where the seller is used to shipping parts worldwide and keeps a good stock of spares.
Then buy the best quality motor kit ( yep,that's a first, me recommending a kit) I can find....I am sure D8veh can recommend. The kit needs to be as simple as possible,wire all wires external to the frame but inside plastic convoluted tube to protect from chafe.
My reasons for suggesting the above are...
1 Big wheels are much more comfortable and stable when riding long distances.
2 By buying a normal bike you can choose a bike which has been already proven for long distance travel.
3 If the electrics fail or you have exhausted the battery you still have the right bike to ride to the next town.
4 Bike mechanics the world over can maintain your normal bike,you can persuade them to ignore the electrics.
5 By fitting your own kit you will understand how your kit works and can diagnose any faults.
6 By wiring everything external you can get ready access to wiring to diagnose faults....we have some bikes where the builder pulls a wiring loom through the frame then puts connectors on the ends,it's a nightmare to trace a fault through the frame.
7 Keep everything as simple as possible,no complex electronics.
That's my ideas....the rally side of our business is used to shipping spares to some hotel in the middle of Africa to keep some Safari car in the rally.
Be prepared to improvise or have a big budget to airship parts or a lot of patience.
Good luck
KudosDave
Ps....I have just read Shemozzle posting....if trying to use as a moped without pedalling it's going to need a full speed throttle,big batteries (2 x 15 Ah),probably crank drive with very low gearing to ensure getting up any hill without pedalling,but high gear for leisurely and battery efficient cruising...the Rohlhoff hub has good reliability and big range.
I ride my 20" wheeled Kudos Secret a lot on holiday but even by lorry shipping bikes and/or spare batteries is becoming more and more difficult,it will be a nightmare at every airport check in.
Having said the above I think I would take the approach that the batteries are a disposable item and look for a battery type that is easily available anywhere in the world or alternatively pre organise battery drops at each new continent.
You can air ship legally Lithium batteries,it needs special packing by a trained packer with special labelling,it is expensive but your trip must have a reasonable budget.
So,despite my liking for my 20" folder I would take a different approach...you often see people with 26" or 700c bikes packed in special containers taken onto aircraft but you have the problem of what to do with the box when you move on. I would have a sailmaker make a lightweight roll up bag that you can zip around the bike and pack in the panniers when on the move.
I would pick the best quality normal bike I can find,one that the guys who do round the world bike rides already.....the guy who ride from Alaska to Panama for example. Try to pick a 26" wheel or 700c bike which is strong,light,good rims,disc brakes,easy availability of spares,tyres.
Also a bike that is worldwide sold (Giant?)or one where the seller is used to shipping parts worldwide and keeps a good stock of spares.
Then buy the best quality motor kit ( yep,that's a first, me recommending a kit) I can find....I am sure D8veh can recommend. The kit needs to be as simple as possible,wire all wires external to the frame but inside plastic convoluted tube to protect from chafe.
My reasons for suggesting the above are...
1 Big wheels are much more comfortable and stable when riding long distances.
2 By buying a normal bike you can choose a bike which has been already proven for long distance travel.
3 If the electrics fail or you have exhausted the battery you still have the right bike to ride to the next town.
4 Bike mechanics the world over can maintain your normal bike,you can persuade them to ignore the electrics.
5 By fitting your own kit you will understand how your kit works and can diagnose any faults.
6 By wiring everything external you can get ready access to wiring to diagnose faults....we have some bikes where the builder pulls a wiring loom through the frame then puts connectors on the ends,it's a nightmare to trace a fault through the frame.
7 Keep everything as simple as possible,no complex electronics.
That's my ideas....the rally side of our business is used to shipping spares to some hotel in the middle of Africa to keep some Safari car in the rally.
Be prepared to improvise or have a big budget to airship parts or a lot of patience.
Good luck
KudosDave
Ps....I have just read Shemozzle posting....if trying to use as a moped without pedalling it's going to need a full speed throttle,big batteries (2 x 15 Ah),probably crank drive with very low gearing to ensure getting up any hill without pedalling,but high gear for leisurely and battery efficient cruising...the Rohlhoff hub has good reliability and big range.
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@KD: your idea of DHL the batteries ahead is good but I still think his idea of carrying 2 x 160WH Lithium packs inside the cabin is much more practical and cheaper. That'll give him about 30 mile range a day. The Gallego w/o battery is about 16kgs.
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