Hi from So. Md. Converting a Trek Navigotr WSD.

[liltommy]

Hi all. I'm mostly a Mtb'r but like to get out on the road. I frequent a 24 mile asphalt bike path (sometime I stretch it to 35 miles). I average about 16 mph. The wife likes me to take here out for partial rides on her Trek Navigator. When we go together we average 8 or 9 mph for on the longest trip of 16 miles (She was tired and worn out after that). Her birthday is in a week so I had the bright idea of converting her Navigator to electric. I think she'll be mostly able to keep up on the flats and probaly pass me on the ascents. We get to spend more time togather, I get someone to chase on the hills pushing me to get in better shape, and she'll be able to do the whole route. I bought a rear hub "kit" from Magnum before learning anything about e-bikes. I think that was a mistake from what I've learned here so far.
Seeyall around.
ps. I'm leaning its a pain to install one of these things on a small womens bike. Everything is so freak'n tight.

 

[indianajo]

Welcome to the site. electricity is a great leveler. I use it in my battle against unseasonal high winds caused by the global warming. Otherwise I pedal myself.
Magnum is not a bad kit. If you're climbing mountains and weigh 250 lb you'd want 500 W, but 250 W if fine for most terrain east of the rockies. A compact woman would be no trouble. You can't lug a geared hub motor anyway for an hour uphill. they overheat. No Huntington Beach to Mount Polimar rides in 2 hours. I cross 77 hills in 27 miles with my 500 w geared hub motor, and I don't overheat it. The cool thing is, with an 8 speed chain I get 5000 miles. Try that with a mid-drive!
I hung my battery out front. Plenty of room, balances my load in the back, & if it catches fire, it is not between my legs. In the aluminum angle cage, nobody has figured out now to steal it although I leave it at shopping centers and on the street by my volunteer job. Too many screws. You see the controller under the seat hung from a spam can lid clamp.
Happy spring.

 

[liltommy]

Welcome to the site. electricity is a great leveler. I use it in my battle against unseasonal high winds caused by the global warming. Otherwise I pedal myself.
Magnum is not a bad kit. If you're climbing mountains and weigh 250 lb you'd want 500 W, but 250 W if fine for most terrain east of the rockies. A compact woman would be no trouble. You can't lug a geared hub motor anyway for an hour uphill. they overheat. No Huntington Beach to Mount Polimar rides in 2 hours. I cross 77 hills in 27 miles with my 500 w geared hub motor, and I don't overheat it. The cool thing is, with an 8 speed chain I get 5000 miles. Try that with a mid-drive!
I hung my battery out front. Plenty of room, balances my load in the back, & if it catches fire, it is not between my legs. In the aluminum angle cage, nobody has figured out now to steal it although I leave it at shopping centers and on the street by my volunteer job. Too many screws. You see the controller under the seat hung from a spam can lid clamp.
Happy spring.

I hear ya on the chain. One of the reasons I decided to go hub and not BB type. I didn't want excess wear on the drive train. And the fact that the wife hates to mess with gears. She's forever spinning away in too low of a gear and I tell her to shift up. "I'm fine" she says. Never thought about putting battery in front. I might have to look at that before I finish the install. thanks.