Honestly I didn’t expect to. The only other time I tried to use a bicycle around here it was not a pleasant experience. Between the soft sand in the wash crossings and getting my kidneys beat to death on every washboard and washout, I wasn’t sorry when it fell to pieces, and it didn’t take long.
But this is entirely different, and not just because of the motor assist…
Okay, mostly because of the motor assist. But also between the bigger tires and the sprung front fork, I can take it places I’d never have tried taking a more conventional bike. This morning after chicken chores I went for a climb up a seldom used road that winds up the ridge bordering the western edge of the Gulch. Got almost to the top under the bike’s own power, when I’d have had to stop and push it for the last steep bit. The “motorcycle” throttle is fine for level roads but isn’t made for climbing – but even the old one-legged guy can pedal it up any hill gravity will let the bike keep traction on, without signs of cardiac or pulmonary distress. As long as I keep it geared way down low. A real bicyclist could do magic with it.
I met L at elevenish to unload horse feed, which means in all I put about 14 miles on the bike today. And even with all the hill climbing…
…there’s well over 50% charge indicated. Which seems strange because I didn’t really spare the battery although I guess what goes up must come down and down doesn’t require electricity. Still, I’m really pleased with how it’s working out.
While I’m not a 100% positive, I think your ebike has regenerative braking. That means every time you apply the brakes, you’re recharging the battery.
No. I think some high-end bikes have that but these are just mechanical brakes.
Joel, you mentioned that a spare battery for the bike is $500+; having one would double the range and probably ensure the ability to get home (assuming you had the spare with you when the main ran dry). But, 5 bills isn’t pocket change, unless some reader wants to start a GoFundMe for it, it’s probably out of immediate reach. (Might the bike’s manufacturer be convinced to donate one (or two…) in exchange for your testimonials about the bike’s usefulness in rough terrain? I’d expect there are some preppers who might find the bike quite useful if they knew about it, not to mention people in small (read: retirement) communities.)
I’m also wondering if a smaller, and much cheaper, 48 volt package might be conjured up out of batteries and parts to perform as an emergency spare; sometimes, a full 20 miles isn’t necessary, 2-4 miles would be enough to avoid a lot of walking.
Joel, a motor is also a generator. Don’t be surprised if those crafty Washingtonians have the hub motor generating a charge to the battery while you freewheel downhill. Check the manual. As an engineer that is certainly something I would have put into the design.
This is what Mike alluded to, regenerative braking simply means that you use the hub motor to generate electricity going downhill and in so doing, it does buck (brake) the bike a tiny bit. Has nothing to do with actual brakes. Apologies for all the engineering speak.
If the Quiet Kat had regen braking that would be a huge selling point for them, and it’s not even hinted at on their website.
Like a motorcycle reserve tank. Yeah. I’ve thought the same thing. It’s almost certainly possible to put something like that together with lithium ion batteries, though offhand I don’t have the up-to-date knowledge even to know where to start or what to start with.
The manual doesn’t mention regeneration at all, and the video reviews I’ve watched specifically state there’s no regenerative braking. Other than that, I don’t know.
But you’re right, I absently ascribed regenerative braking to the actual brakes, which suggests even more ignorance than I possess. I know what engine braking does, and that when applied to an electric motor it can be used as a generator. But apparently that’s not the case with rad cycles.
And in general, unless you can turn it on and off, I think that would normally be a bad thing applied to a bicycle. When you stop pedaling you want the bike to coast, not immediately slow down. Right?
ETA: But maybe you can turn it on and off, because I’ve seen references to regenerative braking in more high-end bikes.
My mistake. I referred to Quiet Kat bikes above, but I’m aware that this one is a RAD bike.
As Joel mentions, the RADs apparently don’r have regen braking either.
Another possibility is that the battery is just getting “broke in”. I have sold deep discharge batteries for use as power for trolling motors on boats. The all have seemed to have deeper discharge rates after several cycles.
I just took a look at the RAD Ebike website. It turns out that your bike does have regenerative braking.
https://radpowerbikes.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/115001051393-Does-the-RadCity-have-regenerative-braking-
😀 Nope.
I have the rad rover, not the rad city. Better low-end torque, no regenerative braking.
https://radpowerbikes.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/115001361514-Does-the-RadRover-have-regenerative-braking-
🙂
And here, I though these ebikes all had the same electric motor. Well, this is something good to know considering that I’m in the process of saving my nickels and dimes with the hope of getting one of these ebiks early next year.
Note the price levels of the KATs as opposed to the RADs. Huge difference.
Random thought: have you ever considered a dune buggy (getting or building)? There appear to be DIY instructions online. Such a thing would probably get better mileage than the Jeep, have more range than the bike, and allow you to carry everything you needed for daily chores fairly easily.