100-mile tuneup recommendation

[FitzChivalry]

Pedego recommends getting a tune-up after 100 miles of riding an electric bicycle. I had mine tuned up after 140 because the shop's hours are too short for me to get my bike in there during the week.

Before the tune-up, I had had a weird thing happen, where I'd be chugging along at 20MPH and all of a sudden, my front tire would wobble violently, making me feel like I was going to lose control and wreck. It'd last for a half-second to a second, and then the normal gyroscope effect (help me out, @Ravi Kempaiah with the right terminology) would straighten it out. Ever since the tune-up (84 miles of riding over two commutes), it hasn't happened once. Before, it'd happen on average once every ten miles. I don't know what the mechanic fixed, but it sure makes life easier.

I was having problems with grooved roads before the tune-up, and while I still don't like them, they don't seem to be quite as much of a problem since the tune-up.

So, this is my recommendation to follow the suggestion of Pedego to get that 100-mile tune-up. I'd have liked to have seen a recommendation for how often to tune-up after that 100-mile service, but I'll have to figure that out going forward on my own.

 

[Ravi Kempaiah]

Hey Fitz,
You're right. It's Gyroscopic effect but I was wondering why you were experiencing that weird wobbling?!!

Gyroscopic effect explained by my favorite Prof.

Also, sometime in the summer or future when you recoup some of the savings, you could think of swapping the stiffer fork with a suspension fork and that will make your rides so much comfy.
Also, noticed your fantastic bike show up on Pedego's FB page

Here is how City commuter looks like after changing the forks to suspension ones. (done by Pedego irvine)

 

[James]

Pedego recommends getting a tune-up after 100 miles of riding an electric bicycle. I had mine tuned up after 140 because the shop's hours are too short for me to get my bike in there during the week.

Before the tune-up, I had had a weird thing happen, where I'd be chugging along at 20MPH and all of a sudden, my front tire would wobble violently, making me feel like I was going to lose control and wreck. It'd last for a half-second to a second, and then the normal gyroscope effect (help me out, @Ravi Kempaiah with the right terminology) would straighten it out. Ever since the tune-up (84 miles of riding over two commutes), it hasn't happened once. Before, it'd happen on average once every ten miles. I don't know what the mechanic fixed, but it sure makes life easier.

I was having problems with grooved roads before the tune-up, and while I still don't like them, they don't seem to be quite as much of a problem since the tune-up.

So, this is my recommendation to follow the suggestion of Pedego to get that 100-mile tune-up. I'd have liked to have seen a recommendation for how often to tune-up after that 100-mile service, but I'll have to figure that out going forward on my own.

You got it right Fitz. The tuneups aren't suggestions as much as quietly required. I haven't checked the fine print of my warranty, but I'll betcha if I made a claim in my warranty they would ask about maintenance!

 

[calvin]

It could be "high speed shimmy": http://davesbikeblog.blogspot.com/2005/11/high-speed-shimmy.html , but your speeds are lower than specified here, also there is something called harmonic vibration as an illustration:

Full Disclosure: I don't know any of the technicalities here, but the bridge was fun to watch!

 

[Admin]

Hey Fitz, glad the grooved roads aren't messing you up so much these days. You've got a long ride and I'm glad the tune up has improved the quality a bit. Aside from wheel alignment (maybe they trued your spokes?) I bet they also checked your cables and went through the derailleur as I've heard these can sort of stretch a bit as bikes are ridden. Have you noticed the shifting improve? Has the bike also gotten quieter?

I wonder if more ebikes will adopt the thru axle design that seems to offer more stability in rough terrain and at high speed. The Specialized Turbo offers this and I think some of the Stromer ebikes as well. Considering the forces involved here. Maybe in your case the skewer just wasn't tightened down and the grooves in the road were catching the ridges in your tires?

 

[FitzChivalry]

I'm not sure what changes they made might have impacted my riding experience, but whatever adjustments or combination of adjustments did it, I'm glad to have paid the $49 (+$20 tip) for the tune-up. I haven't noticed any difference in the noise of the bike, but I've found the City Commuter to be pretty quiet so noise reduction wasn't a big concern for me. I also haven't noticed a change in shifting behavior because, as I mentioned in a different thread, I never change gears.

 

[Justin McLeod]

Hey Fitz, glad the grooved roads aren't messing you up so much these days. You've got a long ride and I'm glad the tune up has improved the quality a bit. Aside from wheel alignment (maybe they trued your spokes?) I bet they also checked your cables and went through the derailleur as I've heard these can sort of stretch a bit as bikes are ridden. Have you noticed the shifting improve? Has the bike also gotten quieter?

I wonder if more ebikes will adopt the thru axle design that seems to offer more stability in rough terrain and at high speed. The Specialized Turbo offers this and I think some of the Stromer ebikes as well. Considering the forces involved here. Maybe in your case the skewer just wasn't tightened down and the grooves in the road were catching the ridges in your tires?

Court,

My wife's bike 2013 metro has 160+ miles on it already and we bought it in Dec….My Dash already has 88 miles on it and i haven't even had it a month.

Going to get the bike serviced every 100 miles at $50 + gets a lil expensive. Is this really necessary? How often do you recommend? Would love to hear what Larry and Chris have to say too.

Thx
Justin

 

[Admin]

Good question Justin... I rode my Pedego City Commuter for over 100 miles and noticed the gears weren't shifting quite as smoothly but it still worked. When I finally took it in at ~180 the thing was pretty dirty and I was more interested in repairing a flat than getting a tuneup. When the guys looked at the bike I could tell they felt a little sorry for her

I treat my stuff really well, still wear hats and have shirts and backpacks that are 10+ years old but riding a bike every single day with rain, heat bumps etc. does add up. I could have done the tuneup myself but was busy and wanted some help managing the weight and getting the gears aligned etc. since the cables stretch. Hopefully one of the shop guys will chime in for more info but I'm guessing the feedback will be "get tuneups often" vs. not

 

[FitzChivalry]

To clarify, Pedego recommends a tuneup after the FIRST 100 miles, not each 100 miles. I'm planning to email them for their recommended frequency beyond that initial tuneup. I'll post what I am told.

 

[FitzChivalry]

I followed up with what Pedego said over here.

 

[George S.]

From the Prodeco Phantom X3 manual.

 

[FitzChivalry]

Wow, @George S. , I would LOVE for the Pedego manual to have such detail. I was a bit picky when going through the manual since I write manuals for a living, and found it rather wanting. Good thing the bike is vastly better than the manual for the bike!