Actual range test report
First, commuted to work all week with no flats, happy with the Tannus Armour. Remember I couldn't go 20 miles without a flat before I got the inserts.
Today I could finally try for a long ride. Odometer says 48 miles, but based on previous test GPS vs display on speedometer, I think that's 53 miles. Google maps is not cooperating so I can't confirm.
I started thinking I'd stay in PAS 1 and never hit the throttle, unless my legs wore out. My legs held up but I got blisters on my hands, so as I neared home with about 10 miles to go and 37% showing, I triggered throttle to about half. Down to 10% I started to worry, then remembered that 10% on this bike is 25% on a typical bike. Actually got home with 6% showing. When power got to 17%, throttle didn't want to enage in high gear but mid was still okay and it hit 20mph on fairly level ground going upwind.
So yeah, I think it could go 60 miles if I could, in conditions of moderate wind (20mph gusting to 30) and modest hills. I tried to plot a fairly level course, but still dropped 1500' going 2 towns east, then back up. Also, on the way out, I tried to avoid the highway, which took me a few miles out of my way and up a 7% grade, the steepest I hit. I just put it in low gear and pedaled patiently 6mph or so. The off-highway route also involved 7 miles on a dirt road, which out here means sand, some of it quite loose. Fat tires might be better on sand than narrow ones but I wouldn't call them good, and I had to put my feet down a couple of times to catch a fall. Feathering the throttle might have helped steady me but I was trying to avoid that. The not-so-soft parts were deep washboards, and even with air fork and seat post and fat tires, quite rough, but the technical challenge was kind of fun and would have been more so if I weren't trying so hard to conserve range. I averaged about 10mph - call it 12 if you leave out the sand and hills - and I was keeping a slow cadence against the kind of resistance that kept me in a European power range, like 250W for most of the ride. When younger I rode faster without the help. On this ride, I only felt that burning sensation in my legs a few times, but I've been prepping with potassium and vitamin C.
Used mid-range and even lowish gears often, which I never do on my commute, but I still never hit granny gear. I think maybe a bigger chain ring is indicated and wonder why they don't go with one, if there'd be a problem maybe if starting from stop in high gear with this bike's motor on 52 teeth.
Gotta admit, I was starting to feel some buyer's remorse for the hassles I've had, but knowing the range claim is legit makes me feel a lot better. Also riding without worrying about flat tires or lost batteries made this ride a better experience. And I never threw my chain.
I haven't been on a long ride since I moved to this steep, hot, windy desert, and not for lack of trying, so on balance this feels awesome even if I ache everywhere.
