Hello from Washington D.C (Radwagon)

[WilliamT]

Just wanted to introduce myself. I occasionally commute to work on a hybrid bike (2x week - 24 miles each day round trip). With my panniers the bike and bags came out to be about 52 lbs so its not an easy ride.

I really enjoyed riding my hybrid but there are days that I'm just exhausted after going to the gym after work and then having to commute back 12 miles in 30 degree weather.

My goal is to try to eliminate the use of my car altogether (40 minutes going in, 75 minutes to 2 hrs going home depending on the time). By hybrid bike (50 minutes going in, 75 minutes going back uphill regardless of time)

I'm hoping to cut the commute time down in half going home. I just did my first commute on the RadWagon and didn't break a sweat. I'm fortunate to have trails to ride home so I don't have to deal with sharing the road with cars.

I'll post my thoughts on the RadWagon soon.

 

[Marc V]

Just wanted to introduce myself. I occasionally commute to work on a hybrid bike (2x week - 24 miles each day round trip). With my panniers the bike and bags came out to be about 52 lbs so its not an easy ride.

I really enjoyed riding my hybrid but there are days that I'm just exhausted after going to the gym after work and then having to commute back 12 miles in 30 degree weather.

My goal is to try to eliminate the use of my car altogether (40 minutes going in, 75 minutes to 2 hrs going home depending on the time). By hybrid bike (50 minutes going in, 75 minutes going back uphill regardless of time)

I'm hoping to cut the commute time down in half going home. I just did my first commute on the RadWagon and didn't break a sweat. I'm fortunate to have trails to ride home so I don't have to deal with sharing the road with cars.

I'll post my thoughts on the RadWagon soon.

Sounds like an upgrade from a car to me with those commute times and without breaking a sweat

Noticed you have a second passenger setup on the cargo portion, have you tried it with a full adult second passenger or was it just child passenger? And what are your thoughts on the second passenger with the radwagon?

Thanks for sharing.

Take care, ride safe
Marc V

 

[WilliamT]

I have a friend that wants a ride on the back this weekend. She doesn't weight that much so I think I'll be ok. I'll report back on how the bike handles the extra weight.

 

[Marc V]

I have a friend that wants a ride on the back this weekend. She doesn't weight that much so I think I'll be ok. I'll report back on how the bike handles the extra weight.

Look forward to your report lol

I remember as a kid riding three people on a bike (one on handle bars, one standing and pedaling, third sitting on seat ) was a lot of fun for just around the neighborhood haha. Now that I have an eBike I have had a few requests to jump on the back and go for a cruise, but we ain't kids no more and weigh a lot more lol, but I even recall when we were younger that even if it was just two riders, one biking as normal and passenger standing on pegs on the back I would be yelling to them to stop shifting their weight and be still be cause it would throw off my balance lol. So I kindly decline their request to ride on my rack on my current eBike and tell them it is not rated for two passengers, which in fact is true as my manual states only one rider hehe.

But I am curious how these cargo eBike handle the second passenger, specifically adult passengers. Have fun with your weekend ride! Let us know how it goes...

Marc V

 

[WilliamT]

So I got a chance to test a second rider today.

Cyclist: weight 145lb (5' 6") adult
Passenger: weight 105 lb (4' 10") adult
Assist mode on bike: Level 2
Bike Weight: 75 lbs

It felt pretty good with no need to counter steer from any rear weight shifting. I had to do some pedaling but nothing too strenuous even with winds at 14 mph today. We stopped and switched seats and she was carrying me around pretty comfortably on Lvl 2 and down to Lvl 1 because she wanted more of a workout.
It was a lot of fun sitting in the back. She also enjoyed sitting in the back too. Its a bit hard to start but once you get going it's very easy.

Going back on a slight incline, I set it to Level 3 and was good all the way back. At Level 4, it doesn't even feel like your carrying a passenger LOL.

If your regularly carrying a passenger, I would probably carry with me a second battery. It drains a lot faster with the extra weight.

We did about 8.6 miles and it used up 70% of the charge riding down a gradual decline and then coming back on an incline.

 

[Marc V]

So I got a chance to test a second rider today.

Cyclist: weight 145lb (5' 6") adult
Passenger: weight 105 lb (4' 10") adult
Assist mode on bike: Level 2
Bike Weight: 75 lbs

It felt pretty good with no need to counter steer from any rear weight shifting. I had to do some pedaling but nothing too strenuous even with winds at 14 mph today. We stopped and switched seats and she was carrying me around pretty comfortably on Lvl 2 and down to Lvl 1 because she wanted more of a workout.
It was a lot of fun sitting in the back. She also enjoyed sitting in the back too. Its a bit hard to start but once you get going it's very easy.

Going back on a slight incline, I set it to Level 3 and was good all the way back. At Level 4, it doesn't even feel like your carrying a passenger LOL.

If your regularly carrying a passenger, I would probably carry with me a second battery. It drains a lot faster with the extra weight.

We did about 8.6 miles and it used up 70% of the charge riding down a gradual decline and then coming back on an incline.

Very helpful! thanks for the detailed response and very relative to me since I am 5' 4" but have a few more pounds than you do hehe (Maybe I should limit my Throttle/pedal assist and actually bike like normal to lose some of those pounds! lol)

Sounds like fun, I'll see if any of my local shops have a radwagon I can test ride...

Marc V

 

[Ann M.]

Good test, @WilliamT! I always enjoy hearing about what works or is different for each ebike rider. I would suggest that if you plan to carry another rider or a bunch 'o stuff on a regular basis, check your tire pressure and the spoke tension regularly. Some riders have reported spoke breakage or repeated flats; however, I think a lot of that is preventable with proper maintenance. That's proper inflation and watching for loosening spokes. Easing into higher power levels and pedaling more also go a long way to reducing the stress on the back end of the Rad Wagon (or any rear hub motor system, for that matter).

Thanks for sharing!