Bicycle

[airgunaut]

A good saddle is worth whatever it costs. And you can't tell if it's right till you've ridden it, and not just for a short spin.

My favorite was a Ritchey saddle that someone gave me from his bike because he didn't like it. It was perfect for me on one of my mtn bikes. I regret not having kept it when I sold that bike.

I had a Brooks B15 on my first 10-speed. I kept that one through three bikes, but it wasn't as good a fit as the Ritchey that came along many years later.

[Motorhead]

Did some horse trading with a good friend just after new years giving up a really nice rifle scope.  Trade got me a couple year old E-bike that was honestly too large for my friend, but is perfect for my 6' and long legs.
Spend the last several months upgrading disk brakes from mechanical to hydraulic, new tires, suspension seat post & seat etc etc etc ....
Now the wife was cool until she was not .... with a What About Me ?  As I'm NOT chasing you on my peddle bike !!!
So .... in selling recently my 93 Toyota P-U truck, took some of those proceeds purchasing her an E-bike so we can exercise and play together.  She LOVES it !!!   

Fat tire 750 watt hub motor Class 2 e-bikes .... Half bicycle, sorta scooter, but by in large you still need to peddle with E assist coming in as you select how much help you need of wish for.
We were out last week off road on rolling hill trails and did 12 miles that felt like 5 .... Sure feels good to get some exercise w/o beating your self up too badly     

[Xraycer]

Did some horse trading with a good friend just after new years giving up a really nice rifle scope.  Trade got me a couple year old E-bike that was honestly too large for my friend, but is perfect for my 6' and long legs.
Spend the last several months upgrading disk brakes from mechanical to hydraulic, new tires, suspension seat post & seat etc etc etc ....
Now the wife was cool until she was not .... with a What About Me ?  As I'm NOT chasing you on my peddle bike !!!
So .... in selling recently my 93 Toyota P-U truck, took some of those proceeds purchasing her an E-bike so we can exercise and play together.  She LOVES it !!!   

Fat tire 750 watt hub motor Class 2 e-bikes .... Half bicycle, sorta scooter, but by in large you still need to peddle with E assist coming in as you select how much help you need of wish for.
We were out last week off road on rolling hill trails and did 12 miles that felt like 5 .... Sure feels good to get some exercise w/o beating your self up too badly 

If this ebike works well for me, I'm going to have the wife try it out. If she likes it, we'll get her one and we could go riding together. It could be something fun for her to do when all 3 kids will be away in college next year, and we will become part time empty nesters. Which I know she's not looking forward to.

[Blowpipe Sam]

The new style of Ebikes have the electric motor built in to the wheel hubs. Unfortunately they have a critical design flaw.  The rear drive hubs do not have full span axel bearings.  The bearings on the drive side are centered approximately under the old school free wheel.   There’s about two inches of unsupported axel sticking out to the right. Back I the beginning when all Mt. bikes used touring hubs like that I regularly bent and even broke axels.  I carried a spare axel, cups, cones, and bearings, and was known to rebuild a hub by the trail.  I have passed on ebikes until the manufacturer’s address this issue.

[Xraycer]

The new style of Ebikes have the electric motor built in to the wheel hubs. Unfortunately they have a critical design flaw.  The rear drive hubs do not have full span axel bearings.  The bearings on the drive side are centered approximately under the old school free wheel.   There’s about two inches of unsupported axel sticking out to the right. Back I the beginning when all Mt. bikes used touring hubs like that I regularly bent and even broke axels.  I carried a spare axel, cups, cones, and bearings, and was known to rebuild a hub by the trail.  I have passed on ebikes until the manufacturer’s address this issue.

At 163lb and planning to mainly cruise pavement and smooth trails, I doubt I'll break anything.

[Blowpipe Sam]

I’m down to just 255!  And sadly I really like to fly!

If you ain’t bleedin you weren’t speedin!

[Hoosier Daddy]

I have gotten into the K.I.S.S. method.
 Gone are the days of multi speed derailers and cantilever brakes.
My current bike is a single speed Kent La Jolla "light weight alloy" dependable as a anvil.

[Xraycer]

I have gotten into the K.I.S.S. method.
 Gone are the days of multi speed derailers and cantilever brakes.
My current bike is a single speed Kent La Jolla "light weight alloy" dependable as a anvil.

Way too hills around here for those torturing devices!
Does that have a free wheel hub, or no?

[Hoosier Daddy]

Yes... I ain't a total heathen. 

https://ratrodbikes.com/threads/kent-la-jolla-beach-cruiser-bike.77507/

[A.K.A. Tommy Boy]

This is my one and only Mountain Bike that I have had for several years.
I have close access to a paved bike path that runs north and south through out the state and connects to several long distance trails and paths.
I also have close access to 65,000 acres of state land that I can ride in.
I have ridden the paved trail and also backcountry game trails that are close to home.


Best Wishes - Tom

[Sqrl Klr]

If you ain’t bleedin you weren’t speedin!

Right on Sam! For me nothing was better than doing a frame stand downhill cruising at 40mph. Never wiped out once thankfully. 255lbs for a guy your size ain't bad at all. How much did you used to weight? I think you said in the past it was maybe a little over 300lbs but my memory is fuzzy at times.

[Blowpipe Sam]

Gil.

I got up over 300 lbs about five years ago.  In my twenties I was almost 6’6” tall.  The years and gravity have reduced that to about  6’4”.  I had the last of my teeth pulled about three years back.  I’ve bee losing weight steadily ever since ( I hate my dentures).  Once I get down under 240 I’ll think about more comfortable dentures.

Tom.

Bike Nashbar sold some great underrated bikes.  That is one of them.

I bought my first Bridgestone MB Zip from them.  Awesome bike.

[Hoosier Daddy]

Dang Tom, that is some serious acreage!
 Here the county put in a more than 38 trails covering 251 miles
The 12 mile "Fishing Line Trail" is paved and very close to my home. About 2 years ago they added "Northside Trail" and extended is another 12 miles to the east I have yet to ride.

[A.K.A. Tommy Boy]

Dang Tom, that is some serious acreage!
 Here the county put in a more than 38 trails covering 251 miles
The "Fishing Line Trail" is very close to home and two years ago they extended it several miles east not shown yet.
https://www.nobletrails.org/map

Yes it is some serious acreage Scott.
The 65,000 acres of state land is where I usually hunt.
There are a few dirt logging roads out and numerous hiking and game trails.

The paved trail hooks up to several other trails through out the state to form an extensive trail network that extends for hundreds of miles.
They are used as snowmobile, snowshoeing and cross-country ski trails in the winter and bike or hiking trails in the summer.
If they wish, folks can go to all four state borders on them or even thru all the national forest here in Mn.
There are people go on weeks long bicycle camping trips here.
In the Fall many are used by hunters.


Best Wishes - Tom

[ER00z]

Riding trail systems sounds like a lot of fun. In NY state I know of the Erie canal trail that runs east/west from Buffalo to Albany and there's route 14 (not a trail, but a road that's also a "bike route") that runs north/south from Lake Ontario to the PA border. These are relatively close to my area, there are others (see below, apologies about poor quality)

Last few days I've been riding to do general errands. Working on getting my lungs back, especially on hills. Currently using my trusty single speed (Harper w/ coaster) which is a backup bike, more or less. My mtb run into mechanical issues yesterday, luckily while returning home about a half mile out. I should have it back up and running by Friday. My knees will be much more happier 

[airgunaut]

Riding trail systems sounds like a lot of fun. In NY state I know of the Erie canal trail that runs east/west from Buffalo to Albany and there's route 14 (not a trail, but a road that's also a "bike route") that runs north/south from Lake Ontario to the PA border. These are relatively close to my area, there are others (see below, apologies about poor quality)

Last few days I've been riding to do general errands. Working on getting my lungs back, especially on hills. Currently using my trusty single speed (Harper w/ coaster) which is a backup bike, more or less. My mtb run into mechanical issues yesterday, luckily while returning home about a half mile out. I should have it back up and running by Friday. My knees will be much more happier 

👍👍👍🏅

[Xraycer]

Been anxiously waiting for the past week for my new toy: electric "mountain" bike. Bought it off Amazon for just a little over $400 after shipping. FedEx delivered it, from California, and they delivered this large 55lb box unscathed!
It arrived, at 3:30pm, a half hour after I got home from work. The packaging of this bike was impressive! I suppose it needs to be, for a 50lb bicycle with a large Li battery. I spent a couple of hours assembling it and adjusting everything to my liking, far now. I'm very impressed with the build quality of this entry level bicycle!
I've never owned an ebike before, and I have never worked on disc brakes before. I watched a few YT vids on these brakes, and I got it working nicely. No, rubbing or squeaking noises, and adequate downhill stopping power.
I got this bike in the hopes that it'll motivate me to start exercising like I once did. My neighborhood and surrounding areas are full of hills, and cycling here is a strenuous and daunting task. Hoping this bike will get me over the hump, so I can ride these roads like I once did. My maiden ride around my hilly neighbor was very, very positive.

[Nvreloader]

Dinh
That a sharp looking bike,
If you don't mind, I'll give you some pointers on an E Bike, (that I learned the hard way)  LOL.

Learn your battery's capacity, meaning ride you bike in your conditions/areas,
NOTE the starting charge, change the display to % for reading the voltage readings,
generally it's more accurate than voltage readings.
Learn to use a volt meter to check the battery, most accurate readings there is.

Your battery is 48v type, the maximum charging capacity at 100% is 54.3 v,
the minimum voltage % you should run the battery down too is 20% = 42.1%,
if you go past this percentage, and hit the low voltage cutoff,
the BMS of the battery may lock you out from charging. (PAIN in the B--T)

Keep the battery voltage between 80% and 20% for the best life of the battery,
only charge to 100% when going on a long or unknown distance ride.

Here is a couple of battery charging programs:
https://ebikesforum.com/resources/48-volt-13s-battery-voltage-chart-li-ion-batteries.37/
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1E1HCw-kZOfo8pdpjXWLjaK5VaTN5axZFjDMcuTpb_b8/edit?gid=0#gid=0 
(This is the one I use)

I made a little sticker (Dynamo Tape) that I put on the display face showing the minimum %
I should take the battery down too, that way I don't hurt my battery or get locked out of.

Learn the MAXIMUM % MILEAGE of the battery, your's is somewhere around 40/50 miles??
ride the bike in peddle mode
(NOTE the total amount of mile traveled and percent of battery used),
use the throttle and do the same and then use the cruise control to get that same info.

I can average 80 to 120 miles per battery charge, via peddling in ECO step 1,
my shortest mileage is via the throttle, and my cruise control mileage is in the middle.
You need to know this info.

PUT Flat OUT in the tubes, it will work, 2200+ mile off road and no flats,
If you have Goat Heads you NEED Flat out, it's not fun changing a flat back tire.
Carry an battery powered tire pump for low tires,
 
I adapted this air pump to use on the bikes battery,
this site won't allow me to post info on this air pump.

Carry a couple plastic bags and rubber bands to cover the display/throttle area,
when caught in a sudden rain shower, saves replacing them, learned the hard way.

I now carry a chain breaker and quick links to repair a broke chain or go to a single speed
when I destroy a rear derailleur (from sticks/rocks etc), you have a HUB motor.

HTH,

TIA Don
ps, You'll get addicted to riding it, I now have 3 of them.  LOL

[NorCal David]

A friend who is blind in one eye, deaf, and over 80 years old has an e-bike. He cannot ride to the store because the road is narrow, has sharp bends, and people speed through blind corners. Someone told him about an alternate way, an abandoned road/trail that he can use. So another buddy and I drove it. We removed this small downed tree and cleared brush to make it better. It is rideable in the dry season. Still, if he has an accident or a medical issue, no one will come by for a year or two. Fortunately, there is cell service.
He has a good car, but can be a stubborn old cout. Not that anyone here knows about stubborn old couts. But their wives might, at least mine does and I cannot figure out why, 😂.

[Xraycer]

Dinh
That a sharp looking bike,
If you don't mind, I'll give you some pointers on an E Bike, (that I learned the hard way)  LOL.

Learn your battery's capacity, meaning ride you bike in your conditions/areas,
NOTE the starting charge, change the display to % for reading the voltage readings,
generally it's more accurate than voltage readings.
Learn to use a volt meter to check the battery, most accurate readings there is.

Your battery is 48v type, the maximum charging capacity at 100% is 54.3 v,
the minimum voltage % you should run the battery down too is 20% = 42.1%,
if you go past this percentage, and hit the low voltage cutoff,
the BMS of the battery may lock you out from charging. (PAIN in the B--T)

Keep the battery voltage between 80% and 20% for the best life of the battery,
only charge to 100% when going on a long or unknown distance ride.

Here is a couple of battery charging programs:
https://ebikesforum.com/resources/48-volt-13s-battery-voltage-chart-li-ion-batteries.37/
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1E1HCw-kZOfo8pdpjXWLjaK5VaTN5axZFjDMcuTpb_b8/edit?gid=0#gid=0 
(This is the one I use)

I made a little sticker (Dynamo Tape) that I put on the display face showing the minimum %
I should take the battery down too, that way I don't hurt my battery or get locked out of.

Learn the MAXIMUM % MILEAGE of the battery, your's is somewhere around 40/50 miles??
ride the bike in peddle mode
(NOTE the total amount of mile traveled and percent of battery used),
use the throttle and do the same and then use the cruise control to get that same info.

I can average 80 to 120 miles per battery charge, via peddling in ECO step 1,
my shortest mileage is via the throttle, and my cruise control mileage is in the middle.
You need to know this info.

PUT Flat OUT in the tubes, it will work, 2200+ mile off road and no flats,
If you have Goat Heads you NEED Flat out, it's not fun changing a flat back tire.
Carry an battery powered tire pump for low tires,
 
I adapted this air pump to use on the bikes battery,
this site won't allow me to post info on this air pump.

Carry a couple plastic bags and rubber bands to cover the display/throttle area,
when caught in a sudden rain shower, saves replacing them, learned the hard way.

I now carry a chain breaker and quick links to repair a broke chain or go to a single speed
when I destroy a rear derailleur (from sticks/rocks etc), you have a HUB motor.

HTH,

TIA Don
ps, You'll get addicted to riding it, I now have 3 of them.  LOL

Thanks for the great info, Don!