A future Rad Runner owner in Toronto with a question

[Sk007]

Hi Everyone

I recently purchased a Rad Runner1 ( shipping some time this month.. we shall see..) and plan to use to commute to work.

up until the pandemic, I was working as a bartender. My wife had asthma and a history is respiratory issues so I have changed careers. I will be working building film sets in the very near future and as I don’t drive, I need a way to get around.

My question is how well do you think the Rad runner will perform in the snow come winter? I will be lugging about 60 pounds of tools. I’m quite short 5”4 so I don’t weight that much “145“. Im concerned about how the bike will perform in the snow, in the dark and with that amount of weight.

Toronto Bike share recently started an EBike pilot project so I have been on one before. It was a class 1 I believe.

I have also commuted by bike before to a similar distance. Looking at about 17 Km( 10.5 miles) at times. Never with this kind of weight though.

Does anyone have any advice? Should I look to a local bike shop to upgrade to a 7 gear if possible?

Any glaring flaw in my plan here? Too ambitious?

any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

regards

SK007

I know, it’s a dumb username.

 

[indianajo]

Too much weight behind the back axle lifts the front tire and causes the front to slip sideways or jerk out of your hands sideways. Happened to me 4 times on MTB & a savannah cruiser with rear baskets, at least that was the number of times I hit my chin on the pavement.
You need to load 1/2 the tools in a front basket, or buy a stretch frame cargo bike. Some rad products have bosses in the frame that support a front basket that you don't have to steer with the wheel. The front battery you see on my yubabike left is mounted that way on aluminum angle.
Don't ride a bike on black ice or crusty snow packed in piles in the bike lane by the city. Wet steel slick too, no riding on manhole covers or grates. I use kenda knobbies 12 months a year. Street tread may be worse in powder snow than those are. I get almost no flats if the knobs are tall.
Don't leave your battery out in freezing weather. It damages them. geared hub motors pedal okay without power, DD hub motors drag like you're in 2 sprockets higher than you really are. If the battery is warm from the inside then it should stand a 30 minute trip unless the wind & cold is rediculous. 6 deg F here usually is accompanied by 30 mph winds.