Sand

[Deleted member 17694]

I made the stupid mistake today of cycling through sand (on a path). My backwheel in particular and all else around it looked like a sugary doughnut. I've washed it with the garden hose but I fear gritty sand is now clinging on and around all moving parts. Should I be worried? or am I fretting? (the engineer in me wants to strip it all down and clean it all up).

 

[LeighPing]

Ride it like you stole it, and fix it when it breaks. That's my motto anyhow.

 

[Kuorider]

Follow the Engineer instinct, you know it makes sense.

 

[Smart eBiker]

I have used mine for 6 weeks in the South of France including cycling around beach and sand areas with no problem, mine is belt drive and a hub motor so I guess that helps a bit, Oh! and its Daimler Mercedes Designer Smart eBike so may be of a much higher specification, design and quality than standard and lower quality eBikes

 

[soundwave]

any Bosch or Yamaha motor bike will **** all over a smart bike up hill down hill and on the flat.

thats why they cost a lot more

 

[Smart eBiker]

Really, come on then lets try it I would leave you fumbling for 2nd

 

[soundwave]

my bike can go 35mph you got no chance in hell

 

[Smart eBiker]

my bike can go 35mph you got no chance in hell

OK, I'm going out now to see what I can knock up at the speed sensor and will post it, I hope I get 36mph

 

[anotherkiwi]

I made the stupid mistake today of cycling through sand (on a path). My backwheel in particular and all else around it looked like a sugary doughnut. I've washed it with the garden hose but I fear gritty sand is now clinging on and around all moving parts. Should I be worried? or am I fretting? (the engineer in me wants to strip it all down and clean it all up).

I ride through sand regularly (I live by the beach) my inner engineer tells me to leave the bike alone. This one hasn't been washed yet and is covered in dust since last Monday. That brings out my inner EddiePJ

 

[soundwave]

you dont have the gears for that speed the motor wont go that fast and its 5kg more heavy than my bike.

 

[Fordulike]

I think as long as you ride through dry sandy areas and use a dry lube on your drivetrain, then you should have no problems. Wet sand would be a different matter.

I would be inclined not to wash it unless you give it a good brush down, or blast the sand off with an air hose first.

 

[Smart eBiker]

Daimler Mercedes Designer Smart eBike power videos moved to link below as this is not my thread

http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/daimler-mercedes-designer-smart-ebike-pure-power.25570/#post-329832

 

[Deleted member 17694]

Thanks all.

Washing the bike was definitely a mistake, as people have said, it would have been better to let it dry. So I let the bike dry out and then brushed away any residual sand/grit. Fordulike's comment about using an air hose was a great idea, except that I don't have one. But I do have a vacuum (that's actually for sawdust collection) and with a brush on the end of that, it worked an absolute treat.

I've looked over all moving parts, seams etc. and can't now see anything that concerns me, but I will give it a bit of servicing tomorrow anyway as its been a while. (It's actually more likely I'll go out for a ride and defer that for another day ).