[Gates + Enviolo] Why too hard up hill? What is that part for?

[Winfried]

Hello,

This used Triobike Boxter cargo trike sports a Brose mid-drive motor, 50/24 cogs, an Enviolo Heavy Duty gear hub, and a Gates belt drive.

There are three issues:

1. The user complains about having to pedal too hard up hill, even though someone she knows with the same bike — ie. same motor, same Enviolo, same chainring + sprocket — doesn't have that problem
2. She also complains that even on the flat, she has to set the motor to Turbo, without even being able to turn the shifter all the way ("flat" position on the indicator)
3. Lastly, what is that part for? Could it be a missing thingie to keep the belt in place — doesn't look like a tensioner, since that's achieved by loosening the two nuts on each side before moving the wheel forward/backward

Thank you.

 

[Tom@WashDC]

Hello,

This used Triobike Boxter cargo trike sports a Brose mid-drive motor, 50/24 cogs, an Enviolo Heavy Duty gear hub, and a Gates belt drive.

There are three issues:

1. The user complains about having to pedal too hard up hill, even though someone she knows with the same bike — ie. same motor, same Enviolo, same chainring + sprocket — doesn't have that problem
2. She also complains that even on the flat, she has to set the motor to Turbo, without even being able to turn the shifter all the way ("flat" position on the indicator)
3. Lastly, what is that part for? Could it be a missing thingie to keep the belt in place — doesn't look like a tensioner, since that's achieved by loosening the two nuts on each side before moving the wheel forward/backward

Thank

On your top half of the photo, the top black thing extending downward with the hole at the botom is a deraileur hangar.
On the bottom hald of your photo, that device is a "snubber", to keep the belt tight and prevent it from slipping off the cog.

 

[Winfried]

Thanks. I assumed it was for a derailleur, to fit both transmissions (gear hub and derailleur).

https://www.bike24.com/p2141597.html

 

[Thomas_Brown]

Hello,

This used Triobike Boxter cargo trike sports a Brose mid-drive motor, 50/24 cogs, an Enviolo Heavy Duty gear hub, and a Gates belt drive.

There are three issues:

1. The user complains about having to pedal too hard up hill, even though someone she knows with the same bike — ie. same motor, same Enviolo, same chainring + sprocket — doesn't have that problem
2. She also complains that even on the flat, she has to set the motor to Turbo, without even being able to turn the shifter all the way ("flat" position on the indicator)
3. Lastly, what is that part for? Could it be a missing thingie to keep the belt in place — doesn't look like a tensioner, since that's achieved by loosening the two nuts on each side before moving the wheel forward/backward

Thank you.

Hey there! It seems like you're having some issues, with your Triobike Boxter. If you're finding it tough to pedal uphill and feel the need for a Turbo mode on terrain it's possible that there could be an problem with the calibration of the Enviolo gear hub or the motor settings. I'd suggest checking if the Enviolo hub is properly adjusted and if the motors software is up to date. As for the part you mentioned it's a bit tricky to pinpoint without a reference. It could be related to the belt drive system. To get an diagnosis and solution I recommend reaching out, to Triobikes support or consulting a professional mechanic. Let us know how things progress!

 

[Winfried]

Thanks. Problem is, there's no reseller here, only a single LBS who's never seen an Enviolo. Upgrading the Brose software seems even more unlikely without being a Triobike/Brose retailer. The joys of buying a sophisticated bike with no local skills (not my choice). We'll give it a try anyway.

It could just be the cables are either incorrectly set (fasteners) or maybe frayed inside the shifter. Unsurprisingly, it's apparently even easier to achieve with a mid-drive motor, especially if you're unaware of Enviolo's idiosyncrasy — can't reach the full range at standstill, and don't shift under load.

--
Edit: Is there a way to show the Brose software version on the display?

 

[Winfried]

The issue with hills could just be a problem with the cables, preventing the rider from reaching the lowest "speeds":

https://support.enviolo.com/hc/en-us/articles/11954289237522-How-to-fix-insufficient-ratio-range-or-speed-on-135mm-solid-axle-hubs#problem-diagnosis

 

[Winfried]

To check if the issue could be with the shifter, the cables, or even the fasteners wrongly set at the end of each cable… is it possible to manually dial the interface, eg. move it to full underdrive before riding up a hill?

 

[scrambler]

There are a few threads here about enviolo shifting fixes.
It does sound like badly adjusted shifter cables and or frayed cables.