eBike Success Stories: Meet Gretchin (and Rose!)

I'm starting a series of posts highlighting local ebikers. If you're an ebiker and would like to share your story, drop me a line and let's chat!

Meet Gretchin, our first eBike Success Story. Gretchin's bike, Rose, is an Electra Townie, with a 7-speed internal hub and rear coaster brake in the Hazy Lilac colorway. Gretchin regularly logs her rides online; I've enjoyed seeing where she and Rose are traveling.

PDXebiker: Why an ebike; why a conversion?

Gretchin: I had considered an electric bike before I bought Rose, but all of them were ugly or seemed unreliable and cheaply made. A year of unassisted biking while living on a hill led me to seek adding an electric assist option. One place I visited made it sound very difficult and told me it would require permanently modifying my bike, which I was unwilling to do. So I was thrilled when the eBike Store came along and made the process incredibly easy. Wake really understood that I loved my bike the way she was; I just wanted to make her even better. So we added an eZee conversion kit to Rose in 2009.

How do you use your bike? Does it displace car/bus/other bike use? How many miles/week, or do you even keep track?

I was a fair-weather cyclist, which means my bike didn't really get used all that much. Even after adding the eZee kit I was still riding irregularly and in a fairly short range. After a long trip I decided to ride daily, though, and I am positive that decision would not have been possible without the conversion. Now I've ridden more in 2010 than all my previous years COMBINED. Now it feels weird to ride to a single destination in a car. Now it feels weird to drive a car within a 10-mile radius. And I say this as someone who really loves her car. :)

In practice, is range an issue? Ever had a dead battery?

Range is a big concern for me because for all her virtues, Rose is a heavy bike -- and wherever I go, the return trip will be uphill. I also live in outer SE, miles away from anything interesting. I upgraded to a higher-capacity battery the first time my battery died, and it's made a big difference in my range and confidence level. I'm still testing the limits of the battery, but for now I don't like to go more than 30 miles without a chance to partially charge at some point. My longest ride so far has been 43 miles (with an hour charge halfway through while at a cafe). That probably doesn't sound like a lot to some bicyclists, but it opens up almost the entire city of Portland to me!

What do you really like about your bike/ebiking? What solutions really work for you?

I love the Townie's "flat foot" riding position: it lets me feel comfortable and in control at all times. I also love my Wald bike baskets: I got two Timbuk2 cargo totes to fit inside the baskets, which are waterproof and easy to slip in and out at various destinations.

I also love exploring: biking overlays another layer of knowing over a city. I love how biking keeps me in the moment. Biking is one of the only forms of exercise I've ever enjoyed: ebikes are sometimes accused of "cheating," but I bike a lot further and a lot more often because of it. I have found biking to be a requirement for my mood maintenance, especially during the winter.

What do you not like about your bike/ebiking, and what do you do to mitigate that?

I dislike it when the controller overheats or dies unexpectedly. Usually it's just a matter of waiting a few minutes until it cools down. I'm looking for a place to move it so that it's functional AND aesthetically pleasing.

I'm unable to hang her on a MAX hook because she's too heavy -- and heavier since the conversion. Similarly, because her weight is distributed strangely, transporting her by car poses some challenges. But I guess that just encouraged me to bike longer distances in all kinds of weather.

It's also unfortunate that some people are hostile to bicycles (and ebikes!). I try to be a bike ambassador to everyone: pedestrians, motor vehicles, and other bicycles.

Shimano to Unveil eBike Component Group

More details about the long-awaited Shimano ebike component group are emerging, and they're saying they'll officially launch at the Eurobike in September. Bikeradar.com has the most complete coverage I've seen thus far; as Shimano claims to have test units in the hands of manufacturers, perhaps we'll hear more details soon. Named STEPS (Shimano Total Electric Power System), it's pretty much everything you need, except a frame, to build an ebike.

Not surprisingly, coming from Shimano, the group is a tightly integrated and well engineered set of components. They've built a torque-sensored front hub motor, rear rack battery system. The system includes regen braking, integrated lights, and on the upper end, electronic shifting. As it's a front hub system, there remain a wide selection of rear drive and brake options, from internal hubs to derailers, even the plush NuVinci continuously variable transmission. Designed as a system, Shimano has integrated a lot of functions into other units, like shift buttons on brake levers, which could lead to a very clean look.

The Shimano system was clearly designed to be globally legal, and thus stops providing power at about 15mph; this could be a challenge in the US market, where assist limits are 20mph.

A 4ah battery is an interesting choice. At 24v/250w, that pencils out to a sub-10 mile range, which is pretty low. It's a good looking battery, though, incorporating a rear light, much like the battery in the new Gary Fisher cargo ebike.

Implementation details aside, it's exciting to see another manufacturer, especially one as steeped in cycling as Shimano, enter the ebike market. Panasonic, eZee, and other ebike hardware manufacturers should welcome a new rider to the peloton.

Update, 6/19:
The small battery size may well be an artifact of TSA regulations regarding flying with lithium batteries. TSA limits are 100 watt-hours, see additional regulations here.

Racing eBikes: At Least My Jacket was Yellow

A few weeks ago the professional bike racing world was aghast at the accusation that an elite racer used an electric motor to pull ahead and later win a stage of the Giro de Italia. In this context, electrifying your bike is clearly cheating - but what an interesting bit of technology the Gruber Assist is!

That weekend also saw the Oregon Human Powered Vehicle Association sponsored ePower Challenge. Held at Portland International Raceway, it's a great opportunity to check out other people's ebikes, talk about the latest in ebike technology, and meet new riders. Auto racing is a test bed of cutting edge automobile technology; from what I saw, the same holds true for ebikes.

I entered the race in the unmetered, upright unfaired category. The velomobile racers are an intense lot - I was lapped several times during my 7 lap race. Other than the occasional passing, I was largely riding by myself for the majority of the race. PIR's a great course; even if you're not competitive (and I wasn't), it's fun to ride. Years ago, my grandfather got to drive his Ford LTD around Indianapolis Motor Speedway; it's nice to carry on a family tradition of sorts. It would be great to see a bigger "upright unfaired" class next year, even if we're not very competitive.

ePedalpalooza - What are Your Plans?

Well, we're almost halfway through Pedalpalooza - the eBike Ride is over, and it might not rain. Rain much more, anyway. The eBike Ride was great; did it inspire you to go on other rides as well? It inspired me - I've been on the following other rides:

Tiny Home Tour
A fun jaunt around NE Portland to look at small houses and ADUs. There's a SE version this weekend; highly recommended.

Accupuncture Ride
I was just riding to a food cart when a group of people rode by. I caught up and inquired, turns out they were the Accupuncture Ride. I trailed for a couple of blocks.

Hidden Routes of NE Portland
A great tour of little-known shortcuts and alternative bike routes around N and NE Portland. Do you know about the shortcut from Commercial to Freemont?

Mrs. PDXebiker and I are also considering the following rides - we'll probably skip the World Naked Bike Ride, though.



Fort, Food, Fort

SMUG

Tandem Ride

Costco Run

Sunday Parkways (here's my preview of the route)

Saraveza's New Belgium Bike Party

What about you? What rides have you been on, and what are you thinking about going on?

What to Test Next?

So I'm wrapping up my latest review (adding picturey goodness), and am starting to wonder what I should think about testing next. So I'll throw this question out there - what do you all think I should test next? And, if you've got access to one that I could borrow for a week, so much the better!

(I probably won't be testing a Stokemonkey equipped bakfiets for a week, but for a hop around the block, it was a hoot!)

Final Report: The Kalkhoff Pro Connect Sport

I rode the Kalkhoff Pro Connect Sport for several days recently. I thoroughly enjoyed riding this bike, and I've come away from the test ride with some thoughts. I'll fill you in on the particulars of the test, and then share my thoughts.



The Pro Connect Sport is the sportiest model of the Kalkhoff line, though it shares Panasonic electronics with the rest of their line. It's a mid-drive system - the 250 watt motor drives a small sprocket behind the front chainring. The 26 volt/10 amp-hour battery is mounted mid-frame, behind the seat tube and in front of the rear fender. It locks securely to the frame; there is no outlet for on-bike charging, so the battery must be removed to be charged. The battery is small, weighs ~5lbs, has a convenient carrying handle, and a 5-point charge indicator. It's mountain bike style frame and straight handlebars lead to a fairly aggressive riding position, especially for an ebike. As a regular bike, it's a very nice bike, albeit a bit heavy at 47lbs; without the battery or powered off, it doesn't have any of the heft that many other ebikes do. It includes hard-wired front and rear lights, and retails for $3,399.

I had 2 initial questions regarding the kit that comes on this model. First, I was surprised not to see disc brakes on a bike in this price range. Peter, Kalkhoff USA's head mechanic, explained that this choice was intentional - they'd opted for hydraulic rim brakes for better brake articulation and power. They work very well, though they don't have an electric interrupt to disengage the motor when the brakes are applied, which can be a nice feature. Second, I was surprised that the rear wheel was equipped with a 9-speed derailer rather than an internal hub; other models in the Kalkhoff line have internal hubs. Again, as this is their performance model, they opted for the better performance/weight of the derailer system. Also, due to the additional length of the frame to accommodate the mid-frame battery, this ebike doesn't fit well on Tri-Met bus bike racks.

The Pro Connect Sport is the first torque-based pedal-assist ebike I've ridden. There are sensors built in to the pedals that detect how hard you are pushing them, and deliver a proportional amount of motorized assist. The extra hit of speed is a compelling reward - I found myself eagerly pedaling a little harder to get that little extra bit, as well as to avoid the feeling of the motor turning off when you stop pedaling. It's like the bike is saying, "Well, if you're not working for it, neither am I" - and there's no way around it. In contrast to unpowered bikes, it's better to not downshift when climbing - "mash don't spin" is the way I think of it. With the assist engaged, it's easy to tool around at 17-18mph; I found my top speed to be about 22mph, which is consistent with The Oregonian's experience.

The worst case scenario range test was a challenge - due to the torque sensor assist design, in order to get the motor to work it's hardest, I would have to work my hardest. On a single charge, at the highest assist setting, in top gear, I managed to get 34 miles. Any technique used to extend your range, eg a lower assist setting, could significantly extend this. Kalkhoff's sales material claims up to 50 miles on a single charge; due to its sportiness, I find that a bit of a stretch for the Pro Connect Sport, but I think it's entirely possible for the balance of their line.

One of the most remarkable things about this ebike is that Mrs. PDXebiker liked it; she quickly broke into a smile as she started off in the lowest assist level and moved up to the highest level. She found the assist was more intuitive and less obtrusive than other ebikes she's tried - granted, her regular bike is a mountain bike, so its a form factor she's comfortable with. This may be the case with other torque-sensing pedal assists; it will be interesting to see.

That's what the Kalkhoff did for me as well - it reminded me of a more bike-like experience. It might make you work a little harder for your fun than other ebikes, but it encourages you and meets you halfway. It provides a little extra power when you need it, and truly seamlessly fades into the background when you don't. A lot of the design naturally flows from that starting point: with less assist comes lower battery requirements, which can mean a lighter frame, which can mean more range, etc. Yes, it is an expensive ebike, there's no way around that - but it's a very nicely equipped bike, and it rides like one. This ebike will appeal to people that already like riding a bike, and who appreciate that with regard to bike quality, you get what you pay for.

"Ja"'s
Motor feedback encourages active pedaling.
Nicely equipped with top-end components.
Also serviceable as a regular bike.


"Nein"s
Battery must be removed to be charged.
Charger is fairly large, making it difficult to carry on bike.
Price. But I'm an admitted cheapskate.

Update, June 18
My review is of the 2009 model. For 2010, the motor is upgraded to 300 watts; all things being equal, I'd expect to see a little more acceleration, a slightly higher top-end, at the expense of some battery life. Not a bad upgrade, in my opinion.

Thoughts about eBike Range Measurement

As I've been testing new ebikes, and planning more tests in the future, I've been trying to think of the best gauge of range. It's a common question among people shopping for ebikes, and it's one of most often asked of me by the e-curious. Usually, battery capacity is measured in amp-hours; I've also seen measurements in watt-hours and "up to" mile ranges. Amp-hour is a fairly straightforward metric, but it's mile range I've been thinking about; after all I don't want a 10ah battery, I want an effective range. A range estimate usually includes caveats such as "if you pedal as well, and work more at starts and stops, you could get up to XX miles out of a charge". If I never actually turned the motor on, I would get an infinite range from a single charge. But that's not why we ride ebikes, is it?

My current thinking is that the best measure of range is a "worst case scenario" (hereafter WCS). Put another way, if I do as little work as possible and use the battery as much as possible, what's the lowest range I can expect?

Upper distance measurements proffered by ebike manufacturers often have a lot of caveats (flat route, 150lb rider, full tires). Instead of applying these caveats in order to get to that upper range, I like to think of it as applying the caveats to extend the WCS range.

Finally, don't forget, if you ride an ebike, you'll eventually ride on a dead battery. The best way to prevent this is ABC - "Always Be Charging". Your battery will thank you!

And finally-finally, what's your assist type (pedal assist only, pedal assist/throttle combo, throttle only, other), voltage, amp-hours, and WCS scenario range? My primary ride is throttle/36v/10ah, and I get about 18 miles, WCS. Throw your answer in comments, please!

Update
Shortly after publishing this, I found an iPhone app "Ebike Calculator" that claims to calculate ebike range. Sadly, it's for a later version of the iPhone software than I have, so I can't attest to its accuracy. Anyone have a newer iPhone want to download it and check it out? It's free!