Bought a new real wheel and gear cassette, new road tires to replace the knobbies, and now I'm left with the original Montague folding mountain-bike. It weighs about a third of what it did when the electric kit is on it which was _really_ nice when it came time to heave the thing onto the bike rack. It's not as fast as the single-speed, but it's about a thousand times more comfortable so I'm happy again with the whole bike-commute thing.
And, to put the cherry on the sundae, a guy who happened to wander into the bike shop and see my bike being worked on left his number in case I wanted to sell the electric kit.
DONE.
The bike itself is about $800 new. The guy gave me $400 for the kit (regularly $1500 so gets a deal on parts). I paid $1500 total for the bike on craigslist originally, so I'm only really out $400 in the end. Which, granted, is a lot of money, but in could have been much worse methinks.
Looking forward to LOTS of annoyance-free ride-to-work days this year, starting with today...
Total Ride:
13 miles
100 ft. climb
Friday, February 27, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
okay, this single-speed thing is ridiculous
The ride to work is fast. The ride home, not so much. It's just enough of an uphill grade most of the way that my knees are totally thrashed by the end.
So ends my hipster era. The single-speed goes back to work where it will ferry me happily between buildings or to a local lunch.
:)
Ironically, having the single-speed on BART seemed to invite all sorts of people to pester me about what my gear ratio and crank lengths are, and since I don't know (and don't care), I feel all the better about going back to a bike with derailleurs.
Total Ride:
13 miles
100 ft. climb
So ends my hipster era. The single-speed goes back to work where it will ferry me happily between buildings or to a local lunch.
:)
Ironically, having the single-speed on BART seemed to invite all sorts of people to pester me about what my gear ratio and crank lengths are, and since I don't know (and don't care), I feel all the better about going back to a bike with derailleurs.
Total Ride:
13 miles
100 ft. climb
Thursday, February 12, 2009
And that's that
The "Ferrari" bike, it is dead. The motor is completely fried. According to the manufacturer, if I send it to them (very heavy, international rates to Quebec), they'll try and fix it. Guestimate is around $800, which is hilarious in that a brand new motor is $750.
Bah.
BUT, there is light at the end of the tunnel. I have a single speed (not a fixie, I would die on a fixie) bike I normally keep at work to go back and forth between my building and the main building, and decided to give it a try for the commute.
And of course now I feel stupid because riding my single-speed bike took the exact same amount of time to get to work as riding my electric behemoth. It wasn't quite as comfortable, but I guess weighing 2/3 less and having narrow road tires makes up for magnetic power.
I will now be selling off the working parts of the electric kit. Undecided about the bike itself. Might be nice to still have a foldy...
Total Ride:
13 miles
100 ft. climb
Bah.
BUT, there is light at the end of the tunnel. I have a single speed (not a fixie, I would die on a fixie) bike I normally keep at work to go back and forth between my building and the main building, and decided to give it a try for the commute.
And of course now I feel stupid because riding my single-speed bike took the exact same amount of time to get to work as riding my electric behemoth. It wasn't quite as comfortable, but I guess weighing 2/3 less and having narrow road tires makes up for magnetic power.
I will now be selling off the working parts of the electric kit. Undecided about the bike itself. Might be nice to still have a foldy...
Total Ride:
13 miles
100 ft. climb
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
!@!#%$@!!!
Dammitall the "Ferrari" is back in the shop.
I was riding to work and got about a mile and a half down the road when all of a sudden there was a big *CLUNK*, and I almost endoed over the handlebars. This was immediately followed by some frantic beeping and then the computer went dark.
I spent 5 minutes alternately looking at my watch (was hoping not to miss the bus) and doing the usual dozen tricks that will usually unwedge the system.
Then I got a really bad feeling in the pit of my stomach when I realized that the back wheel was barely moving, even with the electrical system completely disabled. The regenerative system was locked in place. Now I couldn't even ride it like a normal bike, and after cursing mightily for a few minutes, sadly started pushing/half carrying the stupid (and very heavy) bike all the way home. In cycling shoes.
I am _bitter_
I was riding to work and got about a mile and a half down the road when all of a sudden there was a big *CLUNK*, and I almost endoed over the handlebars. This was immediately followed by some frantic beeping and then the computer went dark.
I spent 5 minutes alternately looking at my watch (was hoping not to miss the bus) and doing the usual dozen tricks that will usually unwedge the system.
Then I got a really bad feeling in the pit of my stomach when I realized that the back wheel was barely moving, even with the electrical system completely disabled. The regenerative system was locked in place. Now I couldn't even ride it like a normal bike, and after cursing mightily for a few minutes, sadly started pushing/half carrying the stupid (and very heavy) bike all the way home. In cycling shoes.
I am _bitter_
Friday, January 16, 2009
Ride to Work Day!
I love riding my bike to work. It makes me feel so terribly virtuous, even if it does take 1.5 hours of total travel time each way...
Must... Ride... FASTER!!!!
Total Ride:
13 miles
100 ft. climb
Must... Ride... FASTER!!!!
Total Ride:
13 miles
100 ft. climb
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Arg
The thing about maps is, you really can't tell how inhumane a route might be. Even if it's a topographical map, what do all those little lines really tell you in terms of leg burn and lung capacity? Not much (to me, anyway). Second time out to the fire roads in the new year ended in abject failure probably 100 vertical feet from the summit (probably another 1/2 mile of road). It was really cold and my chest was starting to get tight. Rather than getting the inhaler out and pushing on (and risking my lungs -- I hate having asthma), decided to try again later.
Darnit.
Total Ride:
4.5 miles (half dirt)
500 ft. climb
Darnit.
Total Ride:
4.5 miles (half dirt)
500 ft. climb
Sunday, January 11, 2009
2009 Begins
I have but two real resolutions -- adore my family and live healthy.
To the latter catergory, I am thankful that after weeks of investigation and trial and error, my favorite way to be healthy is once again an option, and my bike pedals freely once more. Many kudos to the very helpful James at The Village Peddler.
A word to the wise, buying a bicycle with an electrical system is kind of like buying a Ferrari. You'll go fast, but you have to tinker a lot. No matter, at least now I (hope I) know how to adjust it when it gets surly at me. And to celebrate, I rode to Phoenix lake and back.
Total Ride:
9 miles (mostly road)
300 ft. climb
UPDATE: I can't calculate distances correctly I guess. Knocking off the phantom 5 miles from original post.
To the latter catergory, I am thankful that after weeks of investigation and trial and error, my favorite way to be healthy is once again an option, and my bike pedals freely once more. Many kudos to the very helpful James at The Village Peddler.
A word to the wise, buying a bicycle with an electrical system is kind of like buying a Ferrari. You'll go fast, but you have to tinker a lot. No matter, at least now I (hope I) know how to adjust it when it gets surly at me. And to celebrate, I rode to Phoenix lake and back.
Total Ride:
9 miles (mostly road)
300 ft. climb
UPDATE: I can't calculate distances correctly I guess. Knocking off the phantom 5 miles from original post.
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