I took delivery of my Big Bear from Woosh a couple of weeks ago. However, as I've been away for a week, I've only had a chance to complete 3 rides (5 miles, 24 miles and 40 miles). Anyway, I thought I'd feedback some first impressions. Before I do so, I should make it clear that this bike is AWESOME. Granted, I have made the big leap from a Tesco Hopper Shopper with a 24V 8.5aH battery but I couldnt be more pleased with my purchase.
Ordering and Delivery: Very good. Delivered one day earlier than anticipated and instructions for finding my (rather obscure) address passed on accurately and comprehensively to the delivery company. Hatti was very helpful (and honest) with my queries before ordering.
Frame/size: Now I know why its called Big Bear! Looks sturdily built and the gunmetal colour is very attractive. It IS heavy – but much of that weight is down to the size and weight of the battery. The advice given by Woosh is that you need to be a certain height (5' 8” or above) to handle getting on and off the crossbar version (otherwise Woosh recommend the Low Step version). I'm about 5' 10” but its still quite a stretch – especially if you tend to mount the bike by swinging your leg over the saddle and if you have a bag on your rear rack. I find it easier to tip the bike a bit and then just lift my leg over the crossbar – which is probably the correct way to do it. However, for anyone who hasn't got my arthritic limbs, its really not a problem either way. Its also quite a stretch from the seating position to the handlebars - something I'm sure I can adjust, once I get time (and the knowledge) to do so.
Battery: Although large (it IS after all 36v, 15aH), it takes its place unobtrusively - slotting into the rear bike rack. This where I have a confession to make. With my previous e-bike, the key had to be left in the “ignition” when traveling. I mistakenly did the same with this battery. However, the movement/vibration when traveling had the effect of turning the key a little – to such an extent that it moved to the unlock position, at which point the battery disengaged, power shut down, and the battery began to slide out of its mounting. Fortunately, it stayed in place and no harm was done and I have now learnt that, after engaging and locking the battery, TAKE OUT THE KEY while you use the bike. Probably obvious to everyone else but...you never know.
Bike stand: This works fine but, having been used to a stand that was attached to the back wheel mounting, rather than near the pedals, I sometimes find it frustrating that it gets in the way if I want to move the pedals a whole revolution while its on its stand. Having said that, given the bike's size/weight, a bike stand centrally positioned is probably the only/best option.
Speeds: I did find the No 1 and No 2 speed settings too slow for me in practice. However, setting No 3 suits me perfectly. Settings Nos 4 and 5 certainly push the pace up but I've only used them to experiment and I use the No 3 setting 90% of the time. There is definitely plenty of torque with setting No 3 – I have even had wheel spin a couple of times when setting off on that setting! I'm not a person who uses the available throttle (I do try and do SOME work) but, when tested, it worked fine.
Horn: Its LOUD! Too loud for me so I've taken it off and replaced it with a traditional cycle bell. No doubt the supplied horn would be useful in noisy, built up areas with lots of cars around but, along country lanes, I found it to be a bit of an overkill.
Lights: I don't generally cycle in the dark but the lights are fine. I particularly like the option with the front light mounting that allows the angle to be moved gradually to the point where it lights the road directly in front. Lights that can't be similarly adjusted can be annoying, given that very few handlebars, if any, are constructed/designed to be just a straight bar.
Gears and brakes: Fine. They do the job, what more can I say? Well, I could say that both the brakes and the gears needed no adjustment from me before being fit for use. I doubt this was down to luck, so it suggests care and attention by Woosh in preparing the bike for delivery.
Chain guard: This was a bit niggly. I've never had a chainguard before, so its a nice touch. However, try as I might to slide it in (or out) within the the three adjustment slots where its fixed to the bike, I couldnt get it to a position where it didn't either get rubbed by the pedal or it touched the chain wheel. “Touched” sounds more serious than it really was. It was just a very gentle intermittent “stroking” - but it WAS annoying. Anyway, I eventually found the solution – I moved the rear end of the chain guard so it sat behind (instead of in front) its fixing bracket. Simple, and it sorted it perfectly.
Seating: I went for the NCX seat post upgrade. The extra cost seemed well worth it, given it is just a small fraction of the total cost of the bike. The price of this upgrade seems very reasonable too (I did look around a bit before making a decision and I couldnt find a better price for the NCX seat post online). The Big Bear, by all accounts, is perfect for the “heavier” cyclist. I'm not that heavy (about 12 stone) but it suits me fine. I did however adjust the “resistance” in the NCX seat post so as to be more responsive to my weight. Very easy – just use an Alan key.
Pedals: These are fine. However, the left pedal very quickly developed an annoying “click”, especially when applying pressure. It was a click that I could hear but, more importantly, I could feel through my shoe. It then developed into a double click, and sometimes a triple click. It felt to me as if perhaps the bearings inside the pedal were starting to break up. I tried a different pedal and that one didn't suffer from the same problem so Woosh have agreed to send me a replacement pedal as soon as they come into stock.
Ordering and Delivery: Very good. Delivered one day earlier than anticipated and instructions for finding my (rather obscure) address passed on accurately and comprehensively to the delivery company. Hatti was very helpful (and honest) with my queries before ordering.
Frame/size: Now I know why its called Big Bear! Looks sturdily built and the gunmetal colour is very attractive. It IS heavy – but much of that weight is down to the size and weight of the battery. The advice given by Woosh is that you need to be a certain height (5' 8” or above) to handle getting on and off the crossbar version (otherwise Woosh recommend the Low Step version). I'm about 5' 10” but its still quite a stretch – especially if you tend to mount the bike by swinging your leg over the saddle and if you have a bag on your rear rack. I find it easier to tip the bike a bit and then just lift my leg over the crossbar – which is probably the correct way to do it. However, for anyone who hasn't got my arthritic limbs, its really not a problem either way. Its also quite a stretch from the seating position to the handlebars - something I'm sure I can adjust, once I get time (and the knowledge) to do so.
Battery: Although large (it IS after all 36v, 15aH), it takes its place unobtrusively - slotting into the rear bike rack. This where I have a confession to make. With my previous e-bike, the key had to be left in the “ignition” when traveling. I mistakenly did the same with this battery. However, the movement/vibration when traveling had the effect of turning the key a little – to such an extent that it moved to the unlock position, at which point the battery disengaged, power shut down, and the battery began to slide out of its mounting. Fortunately, it stayed in place and no harm was done and I have now learnt that, after engaging and locking the battery, TAKE OUT THE KEY while you use the bike. Probably obvious to everyone else but...you never know.
Bike stand: This works fine but, having been used to a stand that was attached to the back wheel mounting, rather than near the pedals, I sometimes find it frustrating that it gets in the way if I want to move the pedals a whole revolution while its on its stand. Having said that, given the bike's size/weight, a bike stand centrally positioned is probably the only/best option.
Speeds: I did find the No 1 and No 2 speed settings too slow for me in practice. However, setting No 3 suits me perfectly. Settings Nos 4 and 5 certainly push the pace up but I've only used them to experiment and I use the No 3 setting 90% of the time. There is definitely plenty of torque with setting No 3 – I have even had wheel spin a couple of times when setting off on that setting! I'm not a person who uses the available throttle (I do try and do SOME work) but, when tested, it worked fine.
Horn: Its LOUD! Too loud for me so I've taken it off and replaced it with a traditional cycle bell. No doubt the supplied horn would be useful in noisy, built up areas with lots of cars around but, along country lanes, I found it to be a bit of an overkill.
Lights: I don't generally cycle in the dark but the lights are fine. I particularly like the option with the front light mounting that allows the angle to be moved gradually to the point where it lights the road directly in front. Lights that can't be similarly adjusted can be annoying, given that very few handlebars, if any, are constructed/designed to be just a straight bar.
Gears and brakes: Fine. They do the job, what more can I say? Well, I could say that both the brakes and the gears needed no adjustment from me before being fit for use. I doubt this was down to luck, so it suggests care and attention by Woosh in preparing the bike for delivery.
Chain guard: This was a bit niggly. I've never had a chainguard before, so its a nice touch. However, try as I might to slide it in (or out) within the the three adjustment slots where its fixed to the bike, I couldnt get it to a position where it didn't either get rubbed by the pedal or it touched the chain wheel. “Touched” sounds more serious than it really was. It was just a very gentle intermittent “stroking” - but it WAS annoying. Anyway, I eventually found the solution – I moved the rear end of the chain guard so it sat behind (instead of in front) its fixing bracket. Simple, and it sorted it perfectly.
Seating: I went for the NCX seat post upgrade. The extra cost seemed well worth it, given it is just a small fraction of the total cost of the bike. The price of this upgrade seems very reasonable too (I did look around a bit before making a decision and I couldnt find a better price for the NCX seat post online). The Big Bear, by all accounts, is perfect for the “heavier” cyclist. I'm not that heavy (about 12 stone) but it suits me fine. I did however adjust the “resistance” in the NCX seat post so as to be more responsive to my weight. Very easy – just use an Alan key.
Pedals: These are fine. However, the left pedal very quickly developed an annoying “click”, especially when applying pressure. It was a click that I could hear but, more importantly, I could feel through my shoe. It then developed into a double click, and sometimes a triple click. It felt to me as if perhaps the bearings inside the pedal were starting to break up. I tried a different pedal and that one didn't suffer from the same problem so Woosh have agreed to send me a replacement pedal as soon as they come into stock.
