chixter
New Member
As part of my 8fun testing, I wanted to do a real world (at least the way I ride) distance evaluation. So to keep this brief, here goes:
Constants: I am 58, 6'1", 230lbs. I used for this run a 48v 15ah Li from Cali-Bike. Obviously a high quality battery in a tough case 11" x 8" x 4". I mount the battery in a camping gear bag with a quick draw string, the battery is surrounded by foam sheet and bubble wrap, and secured to the rear cargo rack with quick release tie-down straps. Bike was the Schwinn 700c Third Ave with a 7 gear rear cassette. This was a XC run of 25 miles, 14miles on the Barnegat Branch Trail (http://www.traillink.com/trail/barnegat-branch-trail.aspx), a cinder and packed gravel rail trail segment, and 10.7 miles on paved road along Barnegat Bay. The Branch Trail segment I was riding into a 10mph headwind, the road segment wind was from my right to left. Entire ride was mostly level, a couple of small grades 44'maximum elevation change from starting point.
Variables: Along the trail where it crosses roads sometimes I just had to slow to <7mph, sometimes I had to come to full stop for traffic. 7 slow downs, 6 full stops. I only used the throttle 3 times: 2 coming off full stops, 1 just for the hell of it on an open and empty section of the trail about 10 sec duration. I used gears 4-7 but 90% of the ride was on gear 6. Steady speed of 17.5mph in PA2 with my cadence at about 80. I got decent exercise, HR elevation avg 125-130bpm, nice burn in the legs but no winded breathing and NO pain in knees, even the one with extensive ligament surgery.
Battery: By the time I got back to starting point total distance was 24.7 miles. Display still showed all full bars except the half bar that is at the right side of the icon (961 display) When I got home, the battery took 1 1/2 hrs to fully recharge. I estimate the battery was about 25% depleted with 75% left to cutoff voltage.
Again, I'm impressed. I figure in similar conditions 40 miles+ can be achieved. Now I'm aware that many won't be impressed by this, I did after all get a decent bike workout. But that's what I'm in it for. I've read about guys throwing on large chain rings and tiny gears and going for that 40mph run. I like the fact that if the 10mph headwind turned into 20, or if I'm ridding in a more hilly area, or on the trails through the woods that are up and down, I have reserve power and can keep on truckin. If I want to go fast on 2 wheels with no effort, I'll take my motorcycle out.
Constants: I am 58, 6'1", 230lbs. I used for this run a 48v 15ah Li from Cali-Bike. Obviously a high quality battery in a tough case 11" x 8" x 4". I mount the battery in a camping gear bag with a quick draw string, the battery is surrounded by foam sheet and bubble wrap, and secured to the rear cargo rack with quick release tie-down straps. Bike was the Schwinn 700c Third Ave with a 7 gear rear cassette. This was a XC run of 25 miles, 14miles on the Barnegat Branch Trail (http://www.traillink.com/trail/barnegat-branch-trail.aspx), a cinder and packed gravel rail trail segment, and 10.7 miles on paved road along Barnegat Bay. The Branch Trail segment I was riding into a 10mph headwind, the road segment wind was from my right to left. Entire ride was mostly level, a couple of small grades 44'maximum elevation change from starting point.
Variables: Along the trail where it crosses roads sometimes I just had to slow to <7mph, sometimes I had to come to full stop for traffic. 7 slow downs, 6 full stops. I only used the throttle 3 times: 2 coming off full stops, 1 just for the hell of it on an open and empty section of the trail about 10 sec duration. I used gears 4-7 but 90% of the ride was on gear 6. Steady speed of 17.5mph in PA2 with my cadence at about 80. I got decent exercise, HR elevation avg 125-130bpm, nice burn in the legs but no winded breathing and NO pain in knees, even the one with extensive ligament surgery.
Battery: By the time I got back to starting point total distance was 24.7 miles. Display still showed all full bars except the half bar that is at the right side of the icon (961 display) When I got home, the battery took 1 1/2 hrs to fully recharge. I estimate the battery was about 25% depleted with 75% left to cutoff voltage.
Again, I'm impressed. I figure in similar conditions 40 miles+ can be achieved. Now I'm aware that many won't be impressed by this, I did after all get a decent bike workout. But that's what I'm in it for. I've read about guys throwing on large chain rings and tiny gears and going for that 40mph run. I like the fact that if the 10mph headwind turned into 20, or if I'm ridding in a more hilly area, or on the trails through the woods that are up and down, I have reserve power and can keep on truckin. If I want to go fast on 2 wheels with no effort, I'll take my motorcycle out.
