I blame this Covid19 lockdown. Well, that and the fact that someone local was selling this bike for a bargain price! The bike is a Giant circa 2012, so quite aged as ebike technology goes. The previous owner had replaced the factory fitted battery with the lump that now sits on the rear frame. I have no idea if the “Flux Capacitor” works, as I haven’t yet reached the required 88 miles an hour in a thunderstorm 🙂 but I can tell you it’s a very pleasant experience to bimble along on.
The tastefully painted trailer (another local used bargain) is made for two little kiddies, but with the seating and covers removed and base/sides made from bits I had lying around, it makes a good shopping trolley. It’s 2.5 miles to Aldi from home and requires negotiating a lengthy hill on the return journey with loaded panniers + plenty on the trailer. Not something I’d want to be doing without that front wheel hub motor on. I have run out of juice once when I forgot to put it on charge for a while and it’s then just an ordinary bike. The hub motor doesn’t seem to have noticeable drag when not in use, thankfully.
I’ve got a road bike as well, but clomping round town in lycra and cycling shoes is not a good look, so jumping onto this to get fish & chips or a pint of milk or go to a Council meeting is definitely the way to go. Each bike has it’s purpose, I suppose, but I have to admit that electric assist technology is evolving rapidly and the stuff that’s out there for £4,000 currently is going to be cheap in two years time.
I have it on good authority (Youtube) that ebike manufacturers limit the maximum speed capability of these machines to 15 mph to comply with UK law and that with a little knowledge + a screwdriver it might be possible to exceed 15 mph somewhat.
I wouldn’t know about that 😉
Cardicwtch 