Cargo Bikes

Sitting on the e-bike felt like cheating. But going back to using my legs, well, maybe I’m a cheater.

By the way I received the rim and hub to build a new rear wheel, but now the bike shop may be sorting me out a deal from a manufacturer for an older rear hub motor laced onto 20”. Only concern is that the rim width may be a bit narrow.

Was the french one activated by just a hall effect sensor on the crank/BB? Those are the cheapest variety and you see them a lot, they pedal exactly as you describe, it just detects the crank is turning forward and assistance comes in, pretty basic in terms of electronics but useful in some circumstance (moving a lot of weight or just cruising about). The proper mid-drives are a very different experience. ITs worth trying a Shimano STEPS vs a Bosch eco/performance line as they both feel totally different as well.

+1 makes normal bikes feel slow, you quickly get used to the transition between them though.

Yea I believe it was as you describe. It was effectively a Bafang rear motor drive, with the sketchy throttle on the handlebars. Couldn’t feel the twist under my glove and nearly revved it into the wall when putting it back in the shop. Did not enjoy.

There’s an incredibly small chance I’ll help out the bike shop at events, in which case I’ll try out all the brands and options to help sell to punters.

Just got back from taking the bike up a short relatively steep hill with a small but bulky heavy load on the sidecar. Had to collect a few bits. Rear wheel sounds awful, but once again I was glad for the stupidly low gearing I’ve got at the moment. Spinny. Keen to get it electrified though.

Sitting on the e-bike felt like cheating. But going back to using my legs, well, maybe I’m a cheater.

This is and understandable mindset given the macho culture that surrounds cycling, but one we'd all benefit from letting go of. The question I asked myself starting out was always "what do I have to prove?" or "who am I trying to impress?" and reminding myself the answers are "nothing" and "no one" helped a lot. I don't think I would drop my conventional bikes completely, but I'm often grumpy that the one thing keeping me from getting an eBike is how ungodly expensive they are.

Good luck with the hub motor conversion.

From the shop, I’ve been quoted £585 for a Wisper kit (all looming etc), with a 36v/14ah downtube battery from a different brand. But that’s for a bare rear motor, which needs to be laced into my own 36h Sun Big City rim.

That rim was bought to build a replacement non-motor rear wheel. So spokes and wheel build is a further £50 on top I think, where another shop already quoted £25 wheel build, spokes extra.

The small bit of cash I have won’t cover that total cost. Looking online is hurting my head. Tomorrow I’ll go in to the shop (again) and try to pin down exactly what I’m getting for my money. All in all it seems cheaper/better than risking the Orient Express, but only for the warranty and bricks-n-mortar peace of mind.

HTFU etc

https://sites.google.com/view/cigogne-cycles

I like the rail idea for the seats, but that hand position looks awful.

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Forgot to use reply, that's the hpv Sohi posted above.

You can rotate the tops of the handlebar, there are quick releases in the vertical section.

Ah yes. I looked at it and thought it might be better if you turn them, but then they point upwards, don't they? Meaning it's still not nice for your wrists.

In this video he goes through the different configurations and it doesn't look too bad.
click on the link text, not the embedded Youtube video to go to the time stamp.

https://youtu.be/MTO97ZqUsvA?t=491

Looks like a compact copy of the Hase Pino, especially with that handlebars configuration.

If you do lacing/basic truing yourself you can do a wheel build for 2op/spoke + £5 for a shop to do the last bit of truing and tensioning.

Like to know what shop does tension and true for a fiver!
I charge £25 per wheel for build labour Inc a true up when it needs it and you could argue I loose money on every wheel compared to doing other service duties.

That's the one I didn't remember the name of.

Not a whole build. In the past I've done the lacing, guessed on the tension, got it within a mm of true and taken the wheel to a shop to check tension and dishing. They charged me a fiver, only 15 minutes work really

Look what I got in the mail today...
Should I make a thread about the building process ?

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Well done for picking up that colour. Frameset only?

Yup, I'm gonna build this beauty. Parts are on their way.

Awesome. This world needs more yellow cargo bikes.

Especially in rainy Brussels ^^

Yes plz

Major envy! Yeah let’s see a thread please, I’m trying to save up for one :)

Here is the thread : https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/333907/