A few more impressions after second ride, still short because I had very little light left in the sky after work.
16) Does anyone know how to buy the right chain guard off the internet? My chain ring is 44 tooth, has spots for 5 bolts to hold the bash guard on, and these holes form a pentagon 3" (76mm) on each side. I ask because on my second ride, I threw the chain again, this time when I hit a drainage ditch (about a foot wide and deep) at the better part of 20mph. Even with fat tires, air fork, and a cloud 9 seat on an air-filled seat post, it was a jolt.
17) I have 12 gears and no indicator. I suspect that over time, I'll reach a point where I subconsciously keep track of what gear I'm in as I shift, or learn to tell by the feel, but with a mid drive motor I think an indicator is indicated.
18) Rode 10 miles on 20%, so estimate 50 miles, but I threw off my numbers a bit by using throttle on a downhill segment just to see. I notice we're all getting less than 60 mile range, and I also notice we mostly run north of 6' and 200#, so that could be correlated. Speaking of rider height, I get full extension only when my dropper post is all the way up, and I'm only 6'1".
19) On a rare damp night in the desert, you can smell the horse ranches for miles (I have one in my neighborhood and a trio more along the night's route).
20) Ride profile uphill for the first half, maybe 5%, then back down. At that grade it doesn't want to be in low gear. I stayed in eco, mostly pas 1-2, mostly pulse throttle but succcumbed a few times to the temptation to hold it. Hit about 17mph on throttle only, 19mph pedaling while holding the throttle, 13mph just pedal-assist and enthusiasm. At that rate I'd have had an asthma attack if I'd kept it up, because exercise in cold air is my trigger (why I like the desert even with its hot summers). Even these shallow hills have me at 25ish mph coasting downhill while sitting up straight, hit 36 with throttle and crouch (still eco). One little section of actual roller coaster-like steepness had me coasting 32, and climbing back up I was under 1mph. I had PAS level 1 but I couldn't tell if the motor actually engaged. Next time I'll try with higher assist level.
21) Since I'm stuck riding at dusk, I'm glad I have a flashing light on the back of my helmet. The headlight that seemed bright last night illuminated nothing in gray dusk, I kept holding my hand in front of it to check if it was still on. My taillight has a turn signal on a wirelss controller that mounts on the handlebar, but I forgot to use it the few times I turned, instinctively going for the hand signal instead. Y'know, I think a lighted left sleeve would be a better turn signal at night.
22) I mostly stuck to roads because of the timing, but in some cases rode on adjacent sand. It wasn't bad, but still a little more sluggish than pavement even on fat tires. On one turn I hit a thin layer of sand on the road and felt obliged to straighten up until past that patch, not saying I for sure couldn't have held enough traction just that I didn't feel like finding out the hard way.
23) I had originally hoped to get the super smooth archon x1 controller from watt wagons, but I'm actually finding existing controller gentle. Don't know if it was programmed by Biktrix or their supplier, and as mentioned, I haven't played around much with sport mode or even higher assist levels.
EDIT 24) Most important observation: Riding this bike is fun and practical. I definitely see myself using as anticipated, to commute to work and run all my local errands. That'll reduce the accumulation of miles on my truck, hopefully enough so that I won't have a car payment again until gasoline is illegal, and if so, the bike is definitely worth the money.
