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Issue Zero - Summer 2010

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1. FAR LEFT Cables are neatly gathered in plastic mesh sleeves whole assembly see later On then to the electric assist system The motor is a discreet unit built into the front wheel The NiMh type batteries are concealed within the main frame Control electronics are also built in There s even a USB port on the front fork leg to allow you or Gocycle to connect the bike to a computer for reprogramming if firmware updates are ever necessary A substantial smart battery charger is provided Gocycle recommend you leave the machine on standby charge all the time for best battery life With cables it weighs around 1 kg There sa noticeable cooling fan noise when actually charging but it s silent on standby The mudguards are stayless cantilevered out from their support points but were nonetheless remarkably rigid and flop free Substantial aluminium ribs run up the underside of each of them They did run close to the tyre and any grit on the road would rattle up there rather But again not a problem this isn t the bike for muddy tracks or riding in snow The Shocklock cable lock weighing 655 g is fitted through the bike s shock absorber for carrying Extended it s long enough to lock through both wheels of the bike and unless you ve got the anti theft bolts this might be wise It s certainly handy for low risk situations perhaps for locking the bike up outside a cafe where you can keep an eye on it
2. Great fun Great on hills Stylish looks Tremendous surge of power as you set off Comfortable saddle and ride Useful equipment lights rack stand DISLIKES More conspicuous Louder motor Heavy 28 kg Less info on charge level Left hand turn problem Cost as tested 1345 The Ezee s fitted with the 8 speed Shimano Nexus hub gear and roller brake should be a low maintenance combination The Ezee s hefty motor in the front wheel can give a considerable boost note also the neat mudguard fittings 13 AIRNIMAL JOEY MOVE PAUL S REPORT Ihave to confess that the Joey is more like the type of bike I would usually ride at least on my commute Even without the BionX motor the sporty position and lively nature make you want to go faster even if you re not capable Whilst the Forte has one ace up its sleeve the Joey has two the clever regenerative braking and it folds The BionX system has been very well integrated the cabling is neat and the fold is virtually unaffected I was able to get it into a very small car with no trouble at all in less than a minute The controls for the BionX consist of four assist levels off and four regenerate levels I tended to leave it on 4 assist all the time In auto mode the regeneration also happens when you lightly apply the front brake there s a switch on the brake lever So if you are just slowing down gently you have to remember t
3. Electric bike BONUS ISSUE Issue 0 electric bik from recent issues of Velo Vision magazine m d HE gt at n i Electric Bike Magazine Issue D As a bonus treat for our online readers here s some reading to while away the time as you wait for Electric Bike magazine Issue 1 This Issue 0 brings together some of the recent electric bike reviews we ve featured in Electric Bike s sister publication Velo Vision Some are a few years old now but I hope they re still useful So read on to enjoy From Velo Vision 34 June 2009 Gocycle review From Velo Vision 32 December 2008 Electric kits reviews BionX Sunstar Heinzmann Alien Nano From Velo Vision 31 September 2008 Heinzmann Estelle Sport review From Velo Vision 26 June 2007 Three way review Ezee Forte Airnimal Joey Move Sparta Ion M Velo Vision Sample Article VISION This PDF is a sample of the i material in Velo Vision Issue 34 June 2009 The full contents page is shown opposite To get an idea of our current output please visit www velovision com where you will find amongst much else full subject author indices sample articles to download and an online shop where you can subscribe on paper or in a digital edition If you have any problems or suggestions about the magazine in general or this PDF article in particular please email me at peter velovision com hope you
4. 50cycles Tel 01509 266656 or see www 50cycles com for sending the Ezee Forte Airnimal Designs Tel 01223 523973 or see www airnimal com for the Joey Move BikeTec www biketec ch from Switzerland for loan of the Flyer during the SPEZI show a very interesting chance to ride a performance bike developed for that country s more permissive electric bike regulations Update July 2010 Please note that Ezee bikes are now distributed by Onbike Tel 01299 251514 or see www onbike co uk Subscribe to Electric Bike magazine If you d like future copies of Electric Bike delivered to your door why not subscribe It costs just 10 including UK postage for a year four issues TO ORDER e Call us on 01904 692800 to pay using most credit or debit cards Order securely online www electricbikemag co uk e Send a cheque made out to Velo Vision Ltd to Velo Vision Freepost RSBT TLTE RBHU YORK Y030 4AG with your name and address Readers beyond the UK should order via the website We can send Electric Bike to anywhere in the world Introducing Velo Vision Electric Bike s sister publication The publishers behind Electric Bike have for the last ten years published Velo Vision a premium s subscription cycling magazine dauena covering bikes for transport onie and touring with a particular emphasis on innovative and specialist designs It s an international forum for transport cycling culture and bic
5. I almost wished the bike had regenerative braking The power assist stops at 15 mph UK regulations so it was down to gravity and a streamlined machine not bad considering it doesn t have drop handlebars The meter advised that this trip had used 30 of the battery life Route Parish visit Distance 1 2 mile each way Terrain Steep down hill approx 1 in 5 gradient on minor road Reverse on return Once the gradient became steep the motor just couldn t cope It was down into bottom gear and pedalling was just as hard as cycling without power assistance I suspect that the heavy weight of the bike starts to work against itself The motor s power is used simply to drag the bike itself up the hills and there was little benefit to the rider over a normal bike Route Chapter meeting at the far end of the deanery Distance 12 miles round trip Terrain Total 5 miles up hill 1 in 10 5 miles down 1 mile flat 1 mile up steep hill No way would I have undertaken a trip this of this length on a normal bike but buoyed up by previous successes I went for it and it worked out fine I had alot of positive comments from colleagues about keeping fit alright I came clean about the motor eventually and when we adjourned to the pub for lunch they were amazed at how quickly I got there But the trip was power hungry using an indicated 70 of the charge This allowed me to calculate the range of the bike over this type of terrain
6. this involves some fairly complex electronics If you are aiming for really steep climbs though it s best to look at other options Specifications Motor weight 3 5 kg 4 kg Battery weight 4 kg 3 1 kg Battery capacity 192 Wh 345 Wh RRP 970 1550 kit only Full fitting around 60 depending on exact requirements Bike requirements Can be spoked into 20 to 700c wheel bikes Guarantee Battery 1 year All other components 2 years Note This spec is as supplied by Electric Mountain Bikes and the two figures given are for the NiMH and high torque Li Ion systems respectively Airnimal also supply the NiMH version NTACTS Tongxin The Electric Transport Shop has branch es in Cambridge 01223 247410 London N7 0207 4822892 and Oxford 01865 243937 See www electricbikesales co uk Alien Alien Bikes see www alienbikes co uk Sorry no phone number Heinzmann Several UK dealers Tel 01642 713 023 or see www emotivecontrolsystems co uk Test kit supplied by Electric Mountain Bikes 01751 432936 or see www electricmountainbikes com Sunstar Zone Cyclable EV Showroom Lyon France will supply outside France Tel 33 0 478375044 or see www sunstar ibike com BionX Electric Mountain Bikes see Heinzmann above and Airnimal Tel 01954 782020 or see www airnimal eu FUTURE The following kits were either being developed at the time of writing or are available only outside the UK Worth keeping an eye out
7. whereas a front derailleur system would normally give a choice of three This was no loss on the PDQ where gears are provided entirely at the rear end via a SRAM DualDrive setup Other possible quibbles are lack of raw power and avery short motor to battery cable run which really does limit where you can put the battery It is clearly designed to be frame clamped near the motor amidships on a conventional upright frame The fitting process is quite lengthy overall It involves removing your current bottom bracket and careful refitting of the Sunstar bespoke bot tom bracket with integral pedal force sensor This connects to the motor unit via a bracket which allows the motor to slide in order to tension the drive chain The 180 W motor was never designed to give an immediate surge of power to inefficient me 17 ISSUE 32 DECEMBER 2008 VELOVISION bargain basement bikes as is the case with the vast majority of cheaper hub motors which are fit ted on many of the cheapest E bikes available in the UK Rather it s meant as a lightweight sub tle addition for a quality lightweight bike Most importantly the small but very positive surge of power which it delivers is available throughout the very wide gear range of the PDQ converting it into an excellent hill climber The advantages are many it s the second light est motor here and the integral motor and control ler mean it has a lovely clean appearance with the min
8. But cable locks are notoriously easy for thieves to cut so for higher risk areas a more effective combination would be those bolts for the wheels plus a decent D lock carried on your person perhaps Gocycle also offer a heavier duty chain lock 70 but I ve not seen it yet Then again this is the sort of bike you d probably only choose for commuting if you have secure parking at each end of your journey The lighting system is simply two small LED lights attached neatly to the fork crown and under the saddle Definitely lights to make you legal and to be seen by you could easily fit a more powerful battery light to the handlebars if you needed more Last but not least the lightweight twin leg stand folds up remarkably small so close against the frame that it s easy to miss It did a good job of holding the bike up on firm surfaces but if you use it a lot I d go for the heavyweight version for extra stability Weight as tested was around 17 5 kg including all of the accessories That matches up with their claimed weight of 16 2 kg with electric package and mudguards Without these the bare bike apparently weighs just 11 9 kg Either way it s extremely light as electric bikes go and weighs less than a good few non electric machines THE RIDE The Gocycle is a very rigid bike and it instantly feels remarkably stable and solid The stem assembly often a weak point on small wheeled bikes felt strong and flex
9. Our reviewers would have liked the BionX battery box in black to match the frame BELOW The motor is built into the rear wheel Adding the electric system doesn t affect the bike s fold 15 CLOSING THOUGHTS From Paul in Cambridge My 16 mile ride to work usually takes me about an hour each way I really didn t know how far it was I had always guessed about 15 miles but it s about an hour plus or minus 10 minutes depending on the way the wind is blowing The total elevation change is probably about 6 foot After commuting on these bikes for a few weeks with no punctures or mechanical problems by the way despite my journey including some rough farm tracks I concluded that they didn t really save me any time because of the speed limiting but they did save effort and therefore sweat So I was more attractive to my colleagues well less unattractive and less exhausted in the evenings The exception was the Ezee Forte with the speed limiter removed for off road use only of course which saved about 15 minutes because I could cruise at over 20 mph Paul Robison From Chris in Sheffield If you re a cyclist and you still want to keep fit you might prefer the Sparta a stylish well thought out machine It forces you to pedal which is good exercise It s inconspicuous and the power control is intuitive for a cyclist It greatly increases your endurance and makes it possible to arrive fresh even after a fai
10. are after pure power you might want to look at the Alien or the high torque version of the Heinzmann Where it does score is the light weight and silent running making it the least con spicuous retrofit option Don t get the wrong idea though powerwise it s no slouch up moderate hills For an efficient lightweight kit for long distance riding up nagging gradients and into will sapping headwinds it has a lot going for it The light weight also commends it for use on folders U LJ iA Aos E Specifications Motor weight Approx 2 3 kg Battery weight Approx 2 8 kg Battery capacity 240 Wh rack mounted Charger weight recharge time To be finalized for Version 3 Replacement battery cost To be finalized for Version 3 Bike requirements Should fit all standard dropouts Guarantee 1 year on all components and batteries RRP Approx 750 Note Complete Version 3 spec still awaited attime of writing so above details may vary slightly 14 VELOVISION ISSUE 32 DECEMBER 2008 ALIEN Installation and assembly of the Alien is similar to the Tongxin system although it is already modu lar with plugs between the various components The rather snazzy looking alloy cased front hub motor will be familiar to those who know the Ezee Torq E bike It came well built into a sturdy deep section double walled alloy rim which looked more than up to the job though I suspect few will be familiar with the Hailian branding I
11. are fitted with 700c x 35mm Ritchey MaxCross tyres a slightly odd choice as the grippy cyclocross tread isn t really needed on road But they have nice reflective sidewalls and seemed to roll well enough without noticeable buzz Upgrades to Schwalbe Marathon Plus or Conti Contact are available The rest of the electrical system comprises four main components the handlebar twist grip the pedal sensor the rear rack with control electronics and the separate battery in its bag A separate mains charger is also provided ESTELLE ELECTRIC BIKE ISSUE 31 SEPTEMBER 2008 VELOVISION 19 PRODUCT REVIEW Starting with the twist grip this is a full length model by Magura which rotates easily for throttle control Attached to it is a rather boxy looking control unit with battery level indicators and an eco indicator on the top and buttons for on off and eco on the side facing the rider Because this needs to be on your right hand the twist grip for the 8 speed hub is mounted upside down on the left Ergonomically that s no problem just the numbers are upside down in the little window which tells you which gear you re in The pedal sensor at the bottom bracket is unobtrusive there s a slotted disk inboard of the chainset and a small pickup The heart of the electric assist system is the control electronics mounted under the top plate of an oversized rear carrier rack built in thin wall steel tubing There a
12. connect ed up the spaghetti junction of wires coming from the controller to the various components except brake levers and pedelec sensor which I left off again see Tongxin comments and the motor sparked into life at the end of the dry run at a brief flick of the thumb lever style throttle The wheel then slipped easily into the front forks of my chosen host bike the urban styled 26 wheeled Dahon Jack The anti turn locating washers did need a bit of grinding and filing down for it to sit fully in the dropouts A solid alloy rear rack goes on next to house the hefty 36 V Li Ion battery before the most fiddly part clearing the left side of the handlebar so as to mount the bat tery capacity meter and the thumb throttle With all of the wires gathered into the nylon zip bag it becomes apparent that mounting the con troller and all of its protruding wires at the rear of the bike as recommended will mean two cables running the length of the bike across the folding frame joint A quick trip to the local DIY shop and a bit of soldering later I had an extended battery to controller lead which runs from the front to the back of the bike allowing the Velcro mounted controller bag to go on the handlebars and keep ing the wiring more compact First impressions I always pedal E bikes without power on the very first ride and like the Tongxin the Alien has good freewheel speed when no power is applied You don t reall
13. for further deliveries stretching to weeks Some of the kits were easier to fit than others with the Sunstar definitely being the most involved 12 VELOVISION ISSUE 32 DECEMBER 2008 ELECTRIC BIKE KITS quite understandable as it is the only add on crank motor I ve come across Kits are never going to look as neat as pre finished E bikes but again some designs were definitely sleeker than others Both the Sunstar and Heinzmann stood out in this regard with high quality connectors and cabling giving you the confidence to do smooth tight cable runs to minimize the kit s visual impact on the bike s lines I also took on the challenge of fitting kits to folding bikes none of these kits are specifically designed for folders but with a bit of thought about cable runs and where to sit the controller it proved to be no problem There are no bespoke retrofit kits for folders with the exception of certain Brompton specific developments not officially endorsed by Brompton it should be stressed See the Future Stars section later Regardless of the potential downsides once the kits had been fitted and tested and a few technical niggles aside I was quite impressed and could see a potential role for them all Read on to find out how they worked out in practice THE CONTENDERS Like many other areas of life the world of electric bike motors finds itself in the middle of the seem ingly eternal struggle of competing technologie
14. more More e Vicar Electric bike mega test as our reviewers in flat Cambridge and hilly Sheffied test three top electric bikes Sparta lon Ezee Forte Airnimal Joey Move Pedalling for President John Dowlin explores a new biography of pioneering lady cyclist and activist Belva Lockwood Kings of the Road There s a cycle courier company with a difference in Cambridge as Rob and Peter King explain Veloveurs of Lyon There are 3000 free bikes in this French city Simon Boddy gives us a resident s view of how it s working The mighty Mini We review the AZUB Mini short wheelbase recumbent Could it be as much a design classic as its namesake The purrfect trike At under 1000 in the UK the Catrike trail could entice many with its affordability But how does it ride We find out SURPRISE 30 32 42 56 32 34 38 39 40 Short reviews The Sportscrafter Mini Rollers for recumbents and Weber s ingenious mLite flagpole LED Reader s Bikes Inventions experiences and updates from readers The Big Ride Andrew Walters explains why 36 is the way to go Magic Carpet Ride Mike Eland reports on the Stokemonkey Xtracycle power assisted transport system Handcycle evolution Andrew Chamings updates us on the Draft handcycle just back from the Alps The cycle chariot Jez Wilkinson brings along his off road cycle sidecar for us to try Bounce on a budget Stephen McCluney re
15. mudguard a simple thumbscrew from scuffs and making the whole package nice and solid At this point you need to turn the bike back over Another quick release and safety pin lets you remove the stem assembly it remains attached by a cable bundle however and the little thumbscrew near the shock releases the whole seatpost system which can be shortened using the lever below the saddle The parts as shown here all fit extremely neatly into either the hard shell case ideal for air travel perhaps or into a fabric case with foam cradle which supports the components in their proper positions Several dismantled Gocycles would of course also fit easily into almost any car I d imagine VELOVISION ISSUE 34 JUNE 2009 won t operate too I suspect the idea is to discourage you from using the motor at very low revs which soaks up battery power for little effect and possibly also to avoid accidental operation It s when the motor is turning a bit faster that you get more efficient performance anyway so if on a hill start youre still moving slowly it will struggle to accelerate you On the same hill get up a bit of speed first and it will boost you up powerfully For me the top gear ratio let me pedal comfortably just a bit faster than the motor cut out speed so on the flat it had little use just kicking in occasionally to help me over bridges and the like For serious gradients however it was excellent really pul
16. resistant KMC chain The rest of the components are also of good quality and look smart in all black The fairly flat stem above 2 or so of headset spacers looks a bit odd at first although I guess it does keep your adjustment options open perhaps more than a more angled stem without spacers might As it is the riding position is in between upright and sporty The lighting system is driven by an AXA bottle dynamo on the rear wheel driving a Hella halogen headlight strange that they didn t use an LED model which are almost standard these days At the back there s a B amp M Toplight Flat a quality LED light Wiring for this runs via the two conductor strips within the SKS mudguards there are connectors near the dynamo then at the back light and also near the bottom bracket from where wires run up to the front light A neat system for keeping the bike as clean as possible It does make sense to keep the dynamo system separate from the electric assist incidentally You may need lights even if you re riding with a flat battery It s just a shame the motor can t act as a dynamo in such a situation its presence in the front wheel is what requires the use of a side running bottle type instead of a silent and more reliable won t slip hub dynamo The 200W electric motor is built into the front wheel of course and the large hub shell around 17 cm in diameter means the front wheel is spoked single cross Both wheels
17. saddle 34 EUROBIKE 2008 continued Our report from the German show continues with coverage of transmission products load and child carrying accessories and everything else 40 Readers bikes 40 Pendalolo the direct drive design goes low entry 41 Anthrotech trike an owner reports 42 Three for luck why one recumbent just isn t enough 44 Wooden wonder a SWB recumbent from plywood 45 Editor s bike yellow MTB retrospective plus the new VV trailer 48 Letters Handlebar creativity Eco trip cycle churches the Canberra collection thoughts on half links and Firmtech and more 53 Subscribe to Velo Vision How to subscribe back issues and details of our distributors worldwide 53 Advertisements The first place to look for specialist products and services Please support our advertisers who support the magazine away for a few weeks by bike is a real tonic in a way that everyday riding and weekend outings can t quite match We took a leisurely ride westwards along the coast from Dieppe in northern France striking itlucky with the weather and a series of spectacular cliff top campsites Ihope many of you managed to get away cycling over the summer too if you did why not send a picture We ll publish a selection next issue to help banish the winter gloom Peter Eland ISSUE 31 SEPTEMBER 2008 VELOVISION 3 f REVIEW ELECTRIC ESTELLE Way back in Issue 9 we reviewed a Heinzmann powere
18. spin fast it does force you to rely more on the motor to achieve decent speed So to the electric assist To turn it on you just press the red button and wait a moment or two for the motor to kick in As delivered the bike is set to UK mode which does not require you to be pedalling for the motor to operate If you take it to mainland Europe you ll need to switch it to EU mode to stay legal as most of these countries require pedalling for power assist to cut in Swapping over is simply a matter of holding down the power button and releasing it after the appropriate series of beeps In either mode the motor cuts out as your speed reaches 25 km h 16 mph There s also a lower bike speed limit below which the motor ABOVE AND BELOW The twin leg display stand tucks away very neatly against the swingarm when not in use wo ISSUE 34 JUNE 2009 VELOVISION 25 PRODUCT REVIEW GOCYCLE 26 THE FOLD As Gocycle are at pains to point out this isn t a fast folding bike with which to do an origami act on the station platform But it will dismantle to a seriously small package in just a few minutes First you turn the bike over so it s resting on handlebars and saddle in a neat touch the bell swivels round easily so that it stands stable You then undo the three quick releases on the back wheel The wheel now pulls off or a tap on the rim may be necessary to dislodge it Now remove the rear
19. them fitted to everything from load carri ers to Moultons Surely one of the most versatile systems around Specifications Motor weight 3 5 kg Battery capacity amp weight 187Wh 1 9 kg 345Wh 3 4 kg Charger weight recharge time 475g 187Wh version 4 hours 345Wh 7 5 hours Replacement battery cost 335 187Wh 525 345Wh Total retro fitted bike weight 23 6 kg Bike requirements Front wheel version min 100 mm dropouts Rear wheel version min 135 mm dropouts Spoking 36H Guarantee Battery 1 year other parts 2 years RRP 187 Wh kit 1061 345 Wh kit 1251 front or rear wheel drive Seatpost mounted rucksack version kits 999 1189 respectively Montague Paratrooper mountain bike complete with motor kit 1699 1839 respectively ELECTRIC BIKE KITS SUNSTAR I ve been using this kit on my Pashley PDQ recum bent for over six months now Uniquely amongst retro fit kits the Sunstar is a crank drive system and is a lovely piece of engineering too It was ordered direct from French retailers Zone Cyclable after a brief trial ride outside their premises in Lyon The motor itself is frame clamped near the bottom bracket and drives through a small sprocket via a chain onto a granny style chainring which sits inside the main chainring This reveals the main limitation of the system as the Sunstar comes with its own bespoke bottom bracket and chainring you are limited to a single front ring
20. when turning right at lights you have to remember to steer and twist the grips at the same time Power fades away at 15 mph UK regulations quite fast enough really but takes a little getting used to This power for pulling away is useful in city traffic helping you get through gaps and keep up with the speed of cars A word of warning left hand turns whilst going up hill are difficult as when you take your hand off the handlebars to signal all power assistance is suddenly lost Route Wedding at neighbouring Church Distance 3 miles each way Terrain Continuous up hill approx 1 in 10 gradient on major road for first 2 miles then mile down the other side Reverse on return The display unity is a little basic in the information it gives about the charge level To the right is the twist shifter for the eight speed hub gears The throttle control is operated by the left hand I wanted to run the battery flat so that I could do an endurance test and sure enough three quarters up City Road disaster struck the bike just died The level of battery information is minimal on this bike just green amber red I d had a few warnings as the amber and red lights dipped on but the power went very suddenly and I was left to pedal a very heavy bike up the hill Thankfully the gears were pretty good but the weight of the bike was such that it felt like something was pulling me back Over the hill top and it was of course fin
21. A little tab on the end of the rear disk brake shroud very neatly drops onto the end of the exposed steerer tube protecting it CONCLUSIONS Firstly the Gocycle is a tremendous design and engineering achievement In a cycle industry where most bikes are simply a selection of standard components bolted on to more or less standard frames the sheer amount of work that has gone into almost every specially made part is mind boggling That they have done this made it look fantastic and added portability and lightweight electric assist to boot for no more than the price of a decent upmarket folding bike is remarkable It also rides really very well The gearing arguably limits it to the role of an urban bike but it does that superbly The electric assist system may not add much for fit riders in flat places but for anyone less than fit or who lives somewhere hilly it s a real boost to confidence and journey speed It could also be a boon to those who aspire to arrive unsweaty and unruffled at work perhaps in a suit the bike is certainly smart enough to match the nattiest attire It s fantastic technology and has a high I want one factor even for a jaded journalist like me But my head says that I should sound a gentle note of warning If you buy one now you ll be an early adopter of a good number of relatively unproven innovations cast magnesium frame and rims those quick release wheels cantilevered luggage
22. ION 3 22 gt VELOVISION ISSUE 34 JUNE 2009 GETTING ON WITH THE GOCYCLE It s a bike like no other a compact electric assisted bike which also packs down superbly small So can the Gocycle live up to the promise of its appearance We tried one of the first production machines to find out BACKGROUND The Gocycle has had a long gestation from the early prototypes which designer Richard Thorpe showed to us back in the early days of Velo Vision to today s finished article As we described last issue the first batch of bikes were placed with beta test riders for several months before production of the current machines commenced so that any weaknesses would be exposed and could be fixed Production has now moved to the UK and Gocycle are busy developing a dealer network Overseas distribution arrangements are expected to be in place shortly too As we go to press orders placed now expected to be delivered in August Some dealers may have them in stock though The Gocycle is now only available complete with its electric assist system which they call the Empower Pack and in this form the bike costs 1158 simple assembly required or 1198 assembled or via dealers As you ll see later it fits together very easily so I d suggest saving a few pounds and going for the first option Our bike came fitted with the optional lightweight kickstand 35 the lighting set 25 The mudguards and integ
23. PECIAL REPORT ELECTRIC BIKES SPARTA ION M GEAR PAUL First impressions of the Sparta are that it s like riding with the hand of God at your back The motor is eerily silent and the assistance is so subtle that you easily forget it s there The Ion doesn t look like an electric bike because the batteries are hidden away in the frame Quite apart from the well integrated electrics the bike is a high quality comfortable machine with a typical Dutch kitchen sink approach to accessories The batteries power the lights when the battery is empty the motor automatically acts as a dynamo so you re not left stranded without lights The control unit is at the heart of the system It twists into place and acts as the key It clearly displays speed trip distance assistance level off eco normal power andit has a good battery meter with fine gradations Removing the control unit acts as an immobiliser to the electrics anyway not in the sense of a car immobiliser It even has its own little pouch The model tested was the Ion M Gear the derailleur geared model imported by H Drakes There are cheaper versions and also one with an extra battery to extend the range Battery life according to the Sparta website is at least 500 charge cycles on average replace every 15 000 km guaranteed for two years This is a really well thought out bike that is lovely to ride on the flat without the motor The attention to detail is outs
24. Review Electric bike kits Richard Peace reviews five retro fittable electric assist kits from Tongxin Alien Heinzmann and Sunstar and fits them to folders tourers MTBs and recumbents Review Fahrrad Manufaktur S 300 Testing a massively practical mid price town bike imported by Bikefix complete with Chainglider hub gears hub dynamo and more Review CarryMe We discover the micro bike from Pacific Cycles is it big enough to be practical Short Reviews PAC go basic riding with the affordable new Micro courier bag WINTER WARMERS Many thanks to all of the readers who answered my call in last issue for holiday pictures to banish the winter blues turn to page 46 to see a selection This issue also sees a spectacular crop of reader bikes with impressive and functional modifications stylish home builds and more All of these contributions are much appreciated by me and I think it s safe to say by many readers as well You may have noticed the new subtitle on the cover This is there for two main reasons 29 Grips on the cheap testing Ergon alternatives 30 Lights on test 17 headlights compared for brightness and beam 32 Readers bikes 32 Schoolrun electric triplets the solution for steep narrow lanes 36 ViBikes high class home building from the Netherlands 39 Carryfreedom capers trailer modifications for ease of use 40 Building the Big Dummy a custom made longtail 42 WoodVM melding art craf
25. Sport comes as standard with a single 5 2 Ah lithium ion battery at a base price of 1795 The battery is now encased in a smart pannier style bag Extra 5 2 Ah batteries cost 385 or you can upgrade to a 9 6 Ah model for 190 extra Upgrading to twin 9 6 Ah batteries is 765 For an extra 40 you can have a hill climbing version of the motor which does better on steep gradients and has steel instead of synthetic gears inside Spare chargers cost 49 50 Possible upgrades to the bike parts include Rohloff hub Magura brakes different tyres and saddle and pedal upgrades Two frame sizes are available 50 or 57 cm and we reviewed the larger model The 200W Heinzmann motor is also available in a higher torque lower speed hill climbing version FIRST IMPRESSIONS The Sport is built around a TIG welded aluminium frame It s very close to what I d call MTB style with sloping top tube and oversized tubing but built around 700c rather than 26 wheels But it is solid and robust looking Included are mudguard mounts a single pair of bottle cage bosses low rider bosses for a front rack and a sliding dropout system compatible with both disk brakes and Rohloff hub In this case braking front and rear comes from Maxcycles V brakes decent alloy models and gearing is in the form of a Shimano Nexus Premium 8 speed hub gear A single chainring with trouser guard on the outside drives this via a corrosion
26. World Champs Brompton s gearing gains Adaptive handlebars and more Eurobike 2008 The first part of our coverage of the year s major trade show All the latest developments in upright bikes recumbents and lighting Review ICE B1 The trike makers try their hand at a two wheeler is it a touring cyclist s dream machine Review Heinzmann Estelle Sport Electric assist has the Heinzmann system stood the test of time We review one of their sporty models Review Downtube 9FS Full suspension and a budget price is ita winning combination or a folding bike too far Short Reviews Bikebins is hard shell plastic the future for panniers Schwalbe Marathon Supreme tyres touring tested Ergon and Mirrycle a comfy combination for the road Heavy duty wheels we look at the low spoke count strong rims options THERE AND BACK It s been rather longer than it should have been since last issue for which apologies Various factors conspired to make this issue late particularly a nasty lurgy which struck me down shortly after returning from Eurobike We ll be back on track for next issue which will reach UK readers before Christmas as usual Before all of that I did manage to actually go cycling for a few weeks in July as you ll see from the photo opposite and other items throughout this issue Getting 32 Books Quirky Bike Rides Thunder and Sunshine 33 RIDO R2 a new version of the prostate friendly
27. al PDF format on a USB memory stick is full of reasonable enough exhortations not to let it sit around wet perhaps as much for the sake of the electronics as for the frame The frame does have a lifetime warranty and there s a two year warranty on other parts And because the bike uses so many non standard components if anything goes wrong Gocycle say they will simply ship out replacement parts modules or even complete bikes on a next day courier service either direct to the customer or via dealers to fix the problem One of the main features of the frame is that the rear swing arm completely encloses the chain drive system so when manhandling or riding the bike there s no need to worry about getting chain muck on your clothes The enclosed drive should last indefinitely without maintenance too A three speed hub gear in the back wheel gives gear ratios of 35 53 and 71 The wheels with slick wide 20 406 tyres are Gocycle s own design again moulded in magnesium with five spokes apiece They lock to the hubs via three curved levers the action is very positive and secure feeling The wheels certainly look good but the user manual strikes a note of caution urging checks for ISSUE 34 JUNE 2009 VELOVISION 23 fatigue cracks every 500 miles or so particularly at the spoke heads Each wheel is equipped with a mechanical disk brake which stays in place when the wheels are removed Wisely Gocycle ha
28. ands down It gives more power per unit weight and has no memory effect unlike NiMH However there is still a question mark over the reliability of some lithium ion batteries especially at the cheaper end of the range A good guide is the battery guarantee offered by the manufac turers and retailers I would say that one year is the acceptable minimum two years the ideal replacement batteries are expensive and a rash of Li Ion battery failures on some bikes problem now sorted it seems has knocked confidence in this facet of E bike technology in the past TONGXIN NANO The lightest weight motor tested here is the Tongxin In the UK it s become known to some as the Nano thanks mainly to Nano Brompton a company that showed great promise but now appears to be struggling to fulfil orders It merits the Nano name and at 2 3 kg it is by some way the lightest motor out there It proved easy to fit to my sister s fairly standard el cheapo mountain bike style hack steed Once I d had the motor itself professionally spoked into a spare rim it was simply a case of slotting in the front wheel and fixing the rack which houses bat tery and controller Then the most time consum ing bit was replacing the brake levers and fixing the acceleration trigger to the handlebars I didn t bother fixing the pedal motion detector inside the crank as I simply don t see the point of such devices they mean the pedals must be t
29. approx 1 in 10 gradient on major road Reverse on return The BionX coped pretty well going up the gentle hills Theres little extra weight to a normal bike so with gentle pedalling I managed a creditable 10 mph up hill The regenerative braking is interesting as you touch the front brake lever the rear hub starts to absorb power from the wheel effectively braking the bike but putting the energy back into the battery for future use Coming home down the hill I switched this feature on permanently and this gave a gentle braking effect keeping my speed down to a comfortable 30 km h Route Several parish visits Distance Typically mile each way Terrain Steep down hill approx 1 in 5 gradient on minor road Reverse on return Again on the flat you re soon up into top gear and cruising along at 15 mph The BionX did manage to get me up the steeper hills although a fair amount of pedalling was needed People often stop and ask about the bike Does it charge up as you pedal was a common question No it doesn t it would be inefficient to convert your pedal effort into electricity to then put it into the motor and it s more efficient and far simpler to just drive direct through the chain But hang on a minute when you pedal up hill you gain potential energy as you gain height If you then use the regenerative braking down the other side you will charge the battery up so in this case you have pedalled to charge the batter
30. as a reliable and practical commuter Non assisted the Sport is a solid performer as a bike and the non electric aspects of it are well chosen Iliked the choice of a hub gear decent dynamo lighting mudguards and a good stand Low rider mounts on the forks were a nice surprise too The electrics are fairly neatly and robustly built onto this base The all black wiring of the kit sort of blends into the background alongside the bold orange lines of the standard bike frame making it much less obviously electric than many purpose built machines Only the bulky motor is a dead give away that it s electric at all The Heinzmann power assist is effective and by all accounts reliable but the technology is no longer cutting edge Indeed it seems little changed since we last reviewed it other than that it now uses a more modern battery and control system The main problem it has compared to the latest brushless systems is noise I for one would certainly like a more discreet drive The motor is also large and relatively heavy It also doesn t do regenerative braking have fancy control options or other such whistles and bells offered by some systems And at 1750 the bike is at the higher end of the scale all three of the electric bikes reviewed in Issue 26 Sparta Ion Airnimal Joey Move Ezee Forte were cheaper and many other models now come in at under 1000 On the other hand the Heinzmann syst
31. at around 16 miles There is an optional battery pack which fixes to the rack which would double this Average speed was around 14 km h again not bad for the terrain There was an interesting comparison with the superfit Sheffield Wednesday Chaplain who cycled his mountain bike from the meeting to the pub On the flat or a gentle hill I could leave him behind easily but when the gradient increased he kept pace with me again suggesting that on a steep hill all the power of the motor is taken up pushing the weight of the bike The ability to keep up with traffic better makes things safer plus with legs not so tired it means you ve got more in reserve when needed e g for nipping out to overtake parked cars or to get out of the way of a bus Just a word of warning the battery display began to flash below 20 and in actual fact it died altogether when the reading still said 10 so don t rely on that last bit of charge LIKES Looks like a normal town bike more anonymous and better for security The electronic key power controller speedo and battery gauge in one Lovely backlit display cool Good level of info about battery Lovely intuitive power control just comes on automatically Stops you being completely lazy you still have to pedal a bit Comfortable saddle and ride Silent operation Equipment lights rack stand lock all useful DISLIKES Heavy 28 kg hard to lift onto a bike rack or wheel u
32. at rare thing a folding mountain bike In this case I used the Montague Paratrooper as reviewed in Velo Vision 25 The kit came ready fitted and featured the very practical rucksack battery option rack mount also available It attached and detaches using Electric Mountain Bike s very own emergency bail out connector which can snap free without dam age It would probably have been the simplest kit to install anyway fit the motor wheel into the forks mount the on off Eco switch onto the bars along with the twist grip throttle attach the con troller under the rear of the seat then connect up and cable tie your cable runs Playing around with the bike on the grassy 1 in 3 banking of the local park I remembered my youth spent messing about on trials bikes this bike really does have a similar feeling of being able to climb mean and rough gradients from a stand ing start The skill is in the rider s front to rear bal For off roading it makes sense to carry the heavy battery in a rucksack This means a break away connector ABOVE RIGHT is needed The Heinzmann digital controller fits neatly under the saddle RIGHT ance and careful power application to avoid skid ding the rear wheel or stalling I also discovered why I gave up trials riding I was never very good and kept falling off Whilst reliving your youth in this way is great fun it saps the battery alarmingly quickly and I decided a more meanin
33. d Estelle electric bike and five years later we re back with another the Sport What s changed over the years BACKGROUND Heinzmann have been making bicycle electric assist systems for around a decade now and their own brand motor equipped bikes go under the Estelle name They ve had a series of distributors in the UK but the line was recently taken over by Peter Walsh of Emotive Control Systems who supplies a number of manufacturers and dealers as well The electric assist motor control electronics and battery are also available as a kit and we ll review it in that form next issue as part of a wider electric assist kits test The Sport stands out in the range as being less oriented towards comfort and perhaps elderly riders and more as a smart fast commuter bike It s one of the lighter machines 18 VELOVISION ISSUE 31 SEPTEMBER 2008 in the range Emotive also produce an electric assist mountain bike and offer assisted versions of various workbikes including Pashley bikes and trikes Most Heinzmann systems can be specified as e bike or pedelec The former let you apply power manually using the twist grip at any time Pedelecs only work when you re pedalling and this configuration is required for hassle free use in most EU countries e bikes are fine for the UK too Our review machine was the pedelec configuration Both systems only add assist up to 15 mph the legal maximum in the UK The
34. d the charger plug There s also a ABOVE The mains charger is fairly small and light and fits within the battery bag if necessary Charge time from empty is around six hours and you can top up the battery at any time four LED power indicator and a moulded in hollow where you can tuck the charger should you need to take it with you Charge time from flat is around six hours and you can top up at any time You can pull the whole battery out of the bag if necessary and this reveals a shoulder strap tucked away inside This hints at a possible issue given the price of batteries you may not be keen on leaving one on a locked bike left in public but itis a bit of a lump to carry around with you Weight as tested was 20 47 kg for the bike 4 15 kg for the battery bag and the charger weighed 475 g As electric bikes go that s not bad at all and that was the large frame size too THE RIDE It s been a while since I ve had a proper chance to ride an electric bike and it was an educational experience I d forgotten just how easy it is to simply let the electric assist do all of the hard work the accelerating and hill climbing With just a dab on the throttle at every junction bridge or headwind all your legs end up doing is powering the bike along on the flat which unless you re in a hurry takes almost no effort at all It would be very easy indeed to eliminate a good proportion of the fitness benefits of a reg
35. e This was over fairly undemanding territory but with two full panniers and a 12 stone rider on board Several hours unforeseen headwind just rein forced the value of power assistance allowing us to reach a hotel with reasonable speed without electric assist it would have been one of those truly spirit sapping days Who would use it I deliberately went for the heavier 36 V system to give a bit more power potential and to provide a step up from the Tongxin option there is a 24 V option with seatpost mounted battery Although the battery failed once back in the UK replaced by Alien immediately with the replacement still going strong it proved otherwise a pretty robust system once the controller and connections were safely tucked away in a solid waterproof bar bag my modification as the Velcro bag provided came apart Although I used the kit on tour it would be excellent for hilly urban riding combined with the Dahon Jack s ruggedness it would make a great load puller for day to day tasks It could also live with tracks and trails quite eas ily but perhaps not extreme rough stuff style rid ing where its weight might make it feel more of a burden than a benefit The cost conscious will note it s the least expensive kit tested by quite some way Specifications Motor weight 3 4 kg Battery weight 5 kg Battery capacity Approx 360 Wh Charger weight recharge time 650 g 4 6 hours Replacement battery cost 210
36. e down the other side I made it to the Church on time and two couples were happily married The battery had regained a little of its charge during the services enough to get me a few hundred yards but then died again Thankfully the majority of the return journey was downhill Route Several parish visits Distance Typically 2 mile each way Terrain Steep down hill approx 1 in 5 gradient on minor road Reverse on return The eZee bike was the only one that coped easily with the steeper hills which is a major plus living where we do Not only is the power more obvious there s more of it A further test without the speed restrictor in off road mode and the eZee bike showed it had been hiding its light under a bushel This thing can move No longer flattening out at 15 mph it carries on to 25 mph on the flat even 17 to 20 mph going up a slight hill The extra power is quite exhilarating although it does tend to make you more lazy when pedalling You begin to treat the bike more like a moped just twist and go to start off in whatever gear and then you just remember to start pedalling to save power once you re under way Overall endurance on a mix of gentle and steep hills with a little flat was a creditable 15 miles even with just gentle pedalling The 37V 10 Ah battery pack gives a range of around 15 miles in hilly Sheffied The charger is a bit heavy so you may want to keep one at each end of your journey LIKES
37. e from different ends of the spiritual spectrum so please excuse the blasphemy and hackneyed vicar puns for which I take the blame entirely Paul Robison From Chris in Sheffield The flat landscape of Cambridgeshire clear cycle routes with long runs at steady speed yes we can all see how an electric bike could be viable in these idyllic conditions But how many of us live in that perfect environment What if everywhere you go involves serious hills What about the power sapping stop start of urban driving This is where the real test began Sheffield is a city built like Rome on seven hills It s a harsh environment for cyclists there are precious few cycle paths Bikes share the roads with growing numbers of cars buses and trams Sheffield s air quality is now in places as bad as it was in the days of the dreaded Sheffield Smog But the cause is no 8 longer steelworks belching out smoke there s very few of those left The cause is our old friend the motor vehicle ably assisted by the smoky diesel train My work as a parish vicar involves a lot of short journeys around our inner city parish The vicarage is towards the bottom of a long slow hill City Road which has the crematorium half way up The visibility of getting around by bike is very appealing in my job people will see you as you travel to and fro and they will know that the Church is alive and well and still there when they need it However the practical
38. em has an unrivalled track record and after being on the market for a decade it can safely be said to be a mature proven design Heinzmann has the continuity to assure you that spares warranty and support will be available into the future With this in mind it s still a serious contender for fleet or corporate roles despite now elderly technology It s also a good system to choose for workbikes perhaps Riders looking for a reliable and well supported electric assist system may also still find Heinzmann an attractive option Peter Eland AILABILITY Manufacturer Heinzmann Germany See www heinzmann de UK importers Emotive Control Systems Tel 01642 713 023 or see www emotivecontrolsystems co uk They have 12 dealers around the UK contact them or see website for the list ISSUE 31 SEPTEMBER 2008 VELOVISION 21 Velo Vision Sample Article This PDF is a sample of the material in Velo Vision Issue 26 June 2007 The contents page is shown right To get an idea of our current output please visit www velovision com where you will find amongst much else full subject author indices sample articles to download and an online shop where you can subscribe IF you have any problems or suggestions about the magazine in general or this PDF article in particular please email me at peter velovision com hope you enjoy the read PERE LN Peter Eland Editor and Publisher Velo Vision Velo Vision i
39. enjoy the read PERE LA Peter Eland Editor and Publisher Velo Vision Velo Vision is published quarterly by Velo Vision Ltd Subscription details news and updates can be found on www velovision com ISSN 1475 4312 Velo Vision Magazine York Eco Business Centre Amy Johnson Way Clifton Moor York YO30 4AG UK Tel Fax 44 1904 692800 from UK 01904 692800 Email peter velovision com Website www velovision com EDITOR AND PUBLISHER Peter Eland EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Sue Archer PHOTO ASSISTANT Debz Butterworth ART DIRECTOR Brian Holt WEB PROGRAMMER Simon Ward PRINTER Stephens amp George Magazines Ltd PUBLISHING SCHEDULE Issue 35 September 2009 Issue 36 December 2009 Issue 37 March 2010 Issue 38 June 2010 Velo Vision is a member P of INK trade association ink of the alternative press in the UK www ink uk com VELO VISION AND VELO VISION We weren t first with the name Velo Vision is a bike shop in K rten near Bergisch Gladbach Germany Velo Vision magazine exists in friendly harmony with Velo Vision in Germany Velo Vision is printed on paper produced from sustainable forests to Nordic Swan standards VISION CTE COVER Gocycling Photo Peter Eland OPPOSITE A swarm of bees on parked bikes in Bishopthorpe Road York provided an unusual sight for shoppers Photos Arthur Clune JUNE 2009 4 News Folding bike recalls new bikes galore Moscow trike update pionee
40. for though when and if they become available here e Cytronex Only available as a ready to go bike but this high quality good value offering is certainly one to watch In its current form it s based around the excellent Nano Tongxin motor allied with a very convenient but rather small Ni MH bottle battery which fits in the bike s bottle cage Tel 01962 866122 or see www cytronex com Ezee About to become available at the time of writing This appears to be one of the few hub motor kits that is disc brake compatible According to web site blurb it combines a 3 3 kg 370 Wh battery with a 3 5 kg motor which comes ready spoked in a choice of 26 or 700c wheels Tel 01273 672 555 or see www cyclepoint net Gruber Assist A very innovative lightweight kit from Austria The website promises a 900 g motor delivering 200 W of power sounds almost too good to be true The motor itself is housed in the bike s seat tube and powers the cranks through a bespoke bottom bracket arrangement Electric Mountain Bikes in the UK will be stocking these soon or contact the manufacturer direct Tel 0043 5332 70317 or see www gruberassist com Sparticle Brompton Conversion With Brompton s unique folding bike geometry narrow dropouts and the like finding a neat lightweight motor conversion has been the Holy Grail for many Brompton owners Until now nobody had come up with a widely available solu tion but the Sparticle kit wa
41. free The big fat slick tyres helped give it a super robust and stable ride just like the Big Apples on my own town bike they give the feeling you can hit any obstacle and do no damage Together with the rear suspension they also do a good job for ride comfort Not quite up to Moulton levels but smooth on most surfaces With the stem at its middle setting the riding position is pleasantly upright no bad thing for a town bike The handlebar grips though are round hard and somewhat uncomfortable I d replace them with some more ergonomic grips in an instant and perhaps add some bar ends if it were my own bike The brakes are truly excellent giving powerful controlled stopping from any speed The three speed gears are operated by a twist grip and changes were smooth and easy even under light loads The fully enclosed drive system is almost silent and only occasionally on bumps would there be a knock as if the chain were hitting the side of the casing The drive through a three speed GOCYCLE Shimano Nexus hub gear seemed reasonably efficient and the bike s rigidity also contributed to a feeling of an instant response to pedalling effort I found the ratios 35 53 71 well suited to urban use especially if you re happy with a fairly high cadence That low gear is certainly good for acceleration from a standstill Some riders who preferred a lower cadence did find it undergeared and if you can t
42. gful test would be to take it for a longer smoother off road run and to use the Eco power option a little more to try and gauge its potential range This combination of bike and motor is undoubt edly great fun to ride my initial test ride proved that much The longer Eco mode run mixing road trail and bridleway showed that 25 or more miles is well within its range probably much more if fitted with slicks and used on tarmac And if you come to a very steep hill you can knock off Eco mode simply by pressing a button on the han dlebar control and away you go Who would use it I twinned Heinzmann s high torque motor with a proven mountain bike as Steve Punchard owner of Electric Mountain Bikes has used this combina tion time and again on the rough tracks and vertig inous gradients around his home in the North York Moors As a mountain bike guide in Dalby Forest he clearly practices for fun what he preaches as business This makes it the one system I ve come across which has been used repeatedly in the most testing biking conditions good news not just for mountain bikers but for anyone considering pur chasing a Heinzmann system In the light of this kind of quality the relatively high price looks much more reasonable Off roading is of course only one use of the Heinzmann system the lower torque version with correspondingly longer battery life would suit all sorts of applications A quick search of the web reveals
43. imum ofcable runs The efficient application of power for just long enough between pedal strokes will be familiar to all those Giant Lafree lovers out there that bike works in a similar fashion This feature means any bike fitted with a Sunstar will retain its essential pedalling and riding char acteristics whereas bikes fitted with hub motors start to take on moped like qualities Small DIP switches housed within the tiny handlebar on off switch can be set to make the motor power any thing with wheels from 12 to 28 inches according to the manual In practice I found the best power came when all of the switches were simply turned off In terms of pure efficiency at converting bat tery power to hill climbing ability the Sunstar is probably the best kit I ve tested yet Who would use it My earlier carping about lack of power amounts to criticizing a gazelle for not being a rhino The Sunstar is the gazelle of retrofit kits and has proved a hillclimbing boon on the PDQ which previously 18 VELOVISION ISSUE 32 DECEMBER 2008 struggled in cramp inducing fashion up steeper inclines If you are looking for a lightweight power supplement for a bike which is already quick this is certainly worth considering It would also com bine well with a lightweight folder Zone Cyclable use it on a number of lightweight Dahon style folders which they sell as complete bikes My only real criticism was the tiny capacity and high price of
44. ities of time and the physical effort needed to cope with the local hills mean that the car is just too comfortable an option I need to arrive at my destination fresh and ready to lead a service or give of my best to people I can t afford to be tired or out of breath Could the electric bike really be a viable option for me living and working here Are they good enough to make me leave my polluting car at home Time to find out Chris Stebbing ARE ELECTRIC BIKES A GOOD THING More and more around Cambridge Paul notice people pootling along on electric bikes more often than not just sitting there with the saddle stupidly low and with no intention of pedalling These bikes tend to be cheap and nasty skip fodder bought from motor spares shops with lead acid batteries and nameless frames and components Most of the bikes shop owners I ve spoken to in Cambridge are dismissive of electric assist bikes for various reasons from the snobbish we only deal with real bikes to the pragmatic they are a nightmare to service don t want to devote too much space to the argument but the basic objections seem to be either that it s cheating or that it s not going to save the planet because the electricity still has to be generated in a power station How you view these arguments depends on how you rank the benefits of cycling which readers of Velo Vision know very well personal health saving time over walking and of
45. ling you along So while it s not a fast bike in top speed terms the electrics let you keep average speeds quite high even in hilly areas without much effort Alternatively The next job is to remove the front fork with wheel and you can just ease off completely on the pedals and let the motor pull you along perhaps to cool off on the last bit of a ride for a non sweaty arrival The motor is quite noisy with a whining quality to the sound other cyclists or pedestrians you overtake will definitely know you ve engaged the motor In heavy traffic it s much less noticeable of course Gocycle quite rightly say that range is too dependent on riding style and use to set a definitive value but they say that with 30 usage of power assist you should be able to go for around 20 25 miles on a full charge There s no battery level indicator except a warning beep if the charge level gets dangerously low so it s hard to say how much was left in the batteries after any particular journey On my bike a single charge was showing no signs of depletion after at least 20 miles of mostly flat commuting mudguard still in place First you unhook the front brake cable then unplug the motor connection cable You can then simply undo the quick release at the fork crown pull back the spring loaded safety pin and the whole fork comes away The rear swing arm can now be folded over once you ve removed the lock from the suspension unit
46. m UK 01904 438 224 Email peter velovision com Website www velovision com EDITOR AND PUBLISHER Peter Eland EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Sue Archer PHOTO ASSISTANTS Debz Butterworth and John Isles ART DIRECTOR Brian Holt WEB PROGRAMMER Simon Ward PRINTER Stephens amp George Magazines Ltd PUBLISHING SCHEDULE Issue 33 March 2009 Issue 34 June 2009 Issue 35 September 2009 Issue 36 December 2009 Velo Vision is a member oF INK trade association ink of the alternative press in the UK www ink uk com VELO VISION AND VELO VISION We weren t first with the name Velo Vision is a bike shop in K rten near Bergisch Gladbach Germany Velo Vision magazine exists in friendly harmony with Velo Vision in Germany Velo Vision is printed on paper produced from sustainable forests to Nordic Swan standards manr ere LI COVER Well bundled up against the cold on the S 300 OPPOSITE After you Pedestrians and cyclists carefully negotiate the snowy surfaces around York s Millennium bridge Both photos Peter Eland 12 20 24 28 28 DECEMBER 2008 News Gocycle folder three new velomobiles SPEZI trip on again Bikes at Work trailers revamped and more The cyclos of Phnom Penh Claude Marthaler discovers how solidarity is helping pedicab riders under pressure in Cambodia s capital Cycle 2008 News from the London cycle show including new Feetz models front yard security and a folding tandem
47. o use the front brake and not to squeeze it too hard so that you regenerate and don t wear out your brake pads The noise from the motor is slightly louder than from the Sparta which you would have to have bat ears to hear but quieter than the Forte A few little bars on the display show how much it is assisting or recharging and it was so quiet I often had to check these to see if Iwas getting any help Once I was cruising at about 20 mph something I don t normally do and was surprised to see that it was indeed 100 me well 95 me and 5 coffee and walnut cake SLIGHT NIGGLES There was a rattle in the battery box but due to a e A previous rider having lost the key couldn t open it up fel rT E m and sort it out nor have a peek at the battery E e As tested the Joey had no mudguards rack stand lights or lock so direct comparison of the weight would be unfair But nevertheless this is a lighter bike meant for quick road riding and all these accessories can of course be fitted e At first the regeneration took me by surprise not so much because of the slight noise but because when you apply the front brake the braking happens at the back wheel It just feels a bit odd but you get used to it e A black casing for the BionX battery would make it blend in better on a black bike 14 CHRIS S REPORT Route Service at neighbouring church Distance 2 miles each way Terrain Continuous up hill
48. p or down steps Slows down on hills Charger a bit noisy Cost as tested 1429 Available in the UK from H Drake Cycles in Cambridge Tel 01223 363468 no website Manufacturer Sparta Bikes the Netherlands See www sparta nl for details of international distributors SPECIAL REPORT ELECTRIC BIKES EZEE FORTE PAUL S REPORT UL S REPORT This is a nice looking bike with Shimano Nexus 8 speed hub gears neat cabling and a good level of equipment only the pump and frame lock of the Sparta are missing here The lights are similarly integrated and operated by a switch on the handlebar It also has front suspension though with the enormous tyres I m not sure it s really needed The ace up the sleeve of the Forte is concealed under the bottom bracket Turn the bike over and fish out two wires Disconnect them and zoom zoom zoom 50Cycles stress that this turbo mode is for off road use only to comply with UK regulations The extra turn of speed meant that I needed to put on an extra layer of clothing for my spring morning commutes 12 SLIGHT NIGGLES A squeak which thought was coming from the bottom bracket or the pedals because it had the same rhythm as my pedalling turned out to be coming from the hinge mechanism in the saddle which allows it to tilt forward so you can slide the battery out While can see that this is a nice touch would prefer to have a standard saddle and just remove the seat
49. ports on the PB 933 suspended recumbent SPEZI 2007 Full report from the special bike trade show in Germany including news of the new ICE bikes the revolutionary Bike Friday Tikit and much more Letters Reader responses from cycling coins to rideable roundabouts Advertisements The first place to look for specialist products or services Ikeep on being surprised by bikes The electric bike review and Stokemonkey report show just how much of a practical proposition today s quality models have become The Catrike review overturned my ideas on trike direct steering and amazed me with the performance on offer for under 1000 Riding Andrew Walters 36 wheeled bike showed that semi recumbents need not be slow And Bike Friday s Tikit seen at the SPEZI promises to be an extremely exciting development in folding bikes On a smaller scale the Weber mLite is one of those simple inventions so useful I m still amazed it hasn t been done before There s more too as you ll read in this issue of Velo Vision It s a reminder to keep an open mind to revisit assumptions Improvements in materials and technology or just clever design can make practical transport solutions out of ideas which just a few years ago seemed non starters It s an exciting time to ride your bike Peter Eland MORE E VICAR Paul Robison in flat as a pancake Cambridge and Chris Stebbing from hilly Sheffield were both keen to try electric bikes and so the
50. post free Total retro fitted bike weight 24 7 kg Bike requirements 110 mm front fork dropout width 36v kit ready spoked in 26 wheel 24v kit ready spoked in 20 24 or 26 wheels Check the profile of your forks with the retailer to confirm they will not foul the hub motor Guarantee 1 year on all components and batteries RRP 419 plus 20 postage 24v kits 359 plus 20 postage ISSUE 32 DECEMBER 2008 VELOVISION 15 HEINZMANN The Heinzmann undoubtedly vies with the Sunstar for the highest quality kit out there An initial inspection of the parts confirms it from the twist and click style battery plug to the high quality cabling it reinforces the idea that German made equals quality and durability Although the Heinzmann has been around for many years it has only recently seen the intro duction of a digital controller an excellent addi tion allowing for the provision of an accurate handlebar mounted battery meter an effective battery saving Eco mode and more powerful standing starts I specified the high torque version of Heinzmann s 200 W rear hub motor complete with eight speed freewheel and the larger capac ity battery option as I wanted to test out the most varied potential uses of retrofit kits Torque means immediate power ideal for the steepest roughest climbs rather than an ability to push 16 VELOVISION ISSUE 32 DECEMBER 2008 you along at speed The ideal companion then was th
51. post to get at the battery After riding the Sparta found myself wanting more information than green amber red on the state of the battery Once or twice accidentally braked while holding the throttle open this activates a cutout so you have to switch off and on again to reset The charger is a bit heavy for commuting use would want to buy two and keep one at work But it is solid and quieter than the Sparta s The manual is more a list of disclaimers we are not yet as litigious as our American cousins so don t think this is really necessary CHRIS S REPORT Route To school for assembly Distance 1 mile each way Terrain Mainly flat It s a stylish bike and it s obvious that it s not a normal bike There were shouts from the kids along the lines of great bike and nice bike Vicar in fact thinking of security it may be a bit too public Route Crematorium and back Distance 1 mile each way Terrain Continuous up hill approx 1 in 10 gradient on major road Reverse on return The eZee took the hills in its stride keeping a steady 10 to 12 mph on the fair gradient with just gentle pedalling The power is much more obvious on this bike There s a surge as you twist the handle to start off and you can hear the motor working It s more akin to a twist amp go moped and you can set off without pedalling It does take more thinking about than the intuitive Sparta For example
52. r journey It will get you up fair hills but only slowly flying down the other side is exhilarating For a petrol head car driver the sheer power of the twist and go eZee bike will appeal you can be lazy if you wish and the bike will still drag you along at a respectable speed The eZee also did far better on the hills no worries at all even on steeper gradients Styling wise it s far more in your face it looks out of the ordinary and the motor roars but hey if you ve got it flaunt it Endurance wise I thought 15 miles of constant hills either up or down was pretty respectable Obviously more flat would increase that dramatically Surprisingly both of these bikes had about the same range over the same terrain I had put in a lot more energy myself with the Sparta so had expected the endurance to be a lot higher On both bikes keep an eye on your battery level It s harder to predict on the eZee bike although the percentage level on the Sparta was not always 10096 accurate If your battery dies it s hard work pedalling although not impossible useful in emergencies Also be prepared for lots of interest I had people stopping me in the street to ask about the bikes mainly the more obvious eZee This is good from a pastoral point of view but could become time consuming 16 The BionX system is a great idea and works well The power control is good forcing you to pedal a little keeping you fit and the ligh
53. r of years and has a proven track record especially in its home country of Canada It con sists of a large diameter but thin hub motor groovily shaped frame mounted battery and a small handlebar mounted LCD console which allows you to control the various power settings It s unique as far as I know in being the only regenerative kit on the market That is it uses the motor to feed power back into the battery whilst descending or braking This regeneration is con trolled by power settings which are set via the console on the bars so you can set the system for anything from a real hill climbing boost to regen eration mode with enough braking from the motor that you don t have to touch the brakes on all but the steepest of descents How much regen erated power this provides in practice is a moot question however I consistently managed to get over 30 km on a single NiMH battery in moder ately hilly country so more recent Li Ion battery options should give a very impressive range Who would use it For me the BionX would be an ideal touring or commuting system especially for those look ing for quality and reliability above brute power Undoubtedly you are paying a premium for the Li Ion version but if you want unique technolo gy a truly unique riding experience and a piece of bicycle history then BionX stands out It s highly unusual in being a true pedelec to ride but with a hub rather than crank motor needless to say
54. racks and more And most parts are Gocycle s very own so you re reliant on them for continued support If you re comfortable with that go for it and buy one you ll be one of the first to own a remarkable bike with unique features and performance Peter Eland AVAILABILITY The Gocycle is available either direct from the manufacturers or via dealers throughout the UK overseas distribution details were yet to be finalised as we go to print The first point of contact in all cases is the website www gocycle com ISSUE 34 JUNE 2009 VELOVISION 7 Velo Vision Sample Article This PDF is a sample of the material in Velo Vision Issue 32 December 2008 The contents page is shown right To get an idea of our current output please visit www velovision com where you will find amongst much else full subject author indices sample articles to download and an online shop where you can subscribe IF you have any problems or suggestions about the magazine in general or this PDF article in particular please email me at peter velovision com hope you enjoy the read PERE LN Peter Eland Editor and Publisher Velo Vision Velo Vision is published quarterly by Velo Vision Ltd Subscription details news and updates can be found on www velovision com ISSN 1475 4312 Velo Vision Magazine York Environment Centre St Nicholas Fields Rawdon Avenue York YO10 3ST UK Tel Fax 44 1904 438 224 fro
55. rated cable lock are included as standard Luggage carrying is provided in the form of a stem mounted front pannier rail 14 from which you can hang a full size pannier max 5 kg and or a rear luggage arm max 15 kg recommended This follows the contour of the rear mudguard and provides a platform onto which a variety of hard shell luggage can be attached using Ortlieb s quick release plate system Other accessories available include the hard shell carry case 90 and a fabric carry bag with foam insert 40 A heavy duty two leg stand is also available for extra stability 30 Finally anti theft bolts 10 are available to make the wheels not quite so quick release and tempting to the mischievous or light fingered FIRST IMPRESSIONS As you can see from the photos the Gocycle is a radical departure from conventional cycle design and most would agree it looks fantastic modern stylish and smart The smooth curves classic black white colour scheme and five spoked wheels all contribute to the very clean look there s little of the fussy BELOW The five spoke wheels are like the frame made from cast magnesium GOCYCLE detail of spokes chain and loose cables which many bikes display The frame is cast from magnesium alloy coated to prevent corrosion and it s flawlessly finished in pure white The frame has a 100 kg weight limit for rider clothing and luggage The user manual supplied in digit
56. re cross rails at three levels for hanging panniers and a spring hook on the top for casual loads It looks perhaps rather large compared to normal racks but certainly provides a big flat top surface for strapping on extra loads The control box itself has a key operated off on switch plus sockets for the wiring to the motor sensor and throttle All three of these cables are bundled together in the wiring loom which runs forward down the 20 VELOVISION ISSUE 31 SEPTEMBER 2008 seat tube kept in place like much other wiring by black cable ties A flying lead runs from the control box to the battery pack where it plugs in The power plugs for both motor and battery are seriously chunky heavy duty locking connectors and overall the wiring looked very robust The battery pack is held in a smart recharging On the pedelec version the twist grip throttle ABOVE LEFT only adds power when the sensor ABOVE detects pedalling The hub gear shifter LEFT is upside down on the left side of the bar ABOVE LEFT The battery can be unplugged and detached from the bike for LEFT Key operated control electronics under the rack looking pannier with the latest Rixen amp Kaul hooks for attachment Twin lower hooks wedge securely into the carrier structure and once on it s very well attached Open the flap for access to the battery itself this has separate and different sockets for the control box plug an
57. ring ocean pedalling and more 10 SEN and the art of cycle training How specialist instruction can enable pupils with cognitive issues to exceed all expectations and learn to cycle 13 Taipei 2009 A quick look at some of the innovations on show at the Taiwanese trade show in March 14 SPEZI 2009 Full report from April s Special Bikes Show in Germany 22 Review Gocycle Full review of a production Gocycle the potentially revolutionary compact urban run around with lightweight electric assist 27 Review KMX Cobra A recumbent trike for 999 but is ita practical machine for road riding We test it to find out 30 Review Taga and Zigo child carriers Brief reviews of two transforming trikes they convert from child carrying three wheelers into full featured strollers Are they the perfect versatile kids taxis On the move As you ll read in the News section and see in the masthead details above we moved premises in late May and we re now happily settled into our much larger office at the Eco Business Centre on the north edge of York Please do use the new address if you need to contact us or send anything We ve also been on the move to the SPEZI with another convivial coach trip to a packed weekend of cycling and innovations as you ll see in our full report 34 Short Reviews 34 Novatec dynamo set is 30 for a hub dynamo too good to be true 36 Book reviews The Golden Age of the Handbuilt Bicycle Li
58. s Inthered cornerare hub motors usually housed in the front wheel but sometimes in the rear and usually controlled by a handlebar mounted throt tle They can potentially be very sizeable and power hungry Heinzmann for example offer a 500 W version effectively making your bike into a moped requiring tax insurance etc In the blue corner are crank motors the Sunstar being a rare example which has found its way in small numbers from its home in Japan to Europe Rather more ingenious than their hub housed competitors crank motors drive as the name suggests through the crank area rather than supplying power direct to the wheels This lets them provide power over a greater speed range provided that you keep in the right gear for the system which works by sensing pedal force The choice seems to boil down to the simple power on demand of hub motors against the more efficient but measured power application of crank motors All UK road legal kits both hub and crank drive designs are limited to 15 5 mph assistance and 250 W continuous output motor rating 200 W according to some a grey area in law perhaps best ignored Another battle perhaps now drawing to a close is that of NiMH vs lithium ion batter ies With several large prestigious companies Heinzmann being among the latest throwing their weight behind lithium ion it seems this more power dense technology is coming out on top On paper lithium ion wins h
59. s about to belaunched as this article was being finished The prototype I ve just received came fully fit ted to an older M type Brompton and performed well It featured a motor which looked identical to the Alien but it had more high torque power for steep hills if less assistance at moderate speed up moderate hills Unlike the Dahon Alien it s a 24 V system and comes with a 240 Wh Phylion branded battery Overall weight was around 19 kg Unfortunately on the prototype the controller mount interferes with the seat post locking sys tem when folded let s hope that s resolved before production The launch is imminent and the 750 price will include a rim and spokes for you to make up yourself a wheelbuild is 80 extra Full fitting to your own Brompton will cost an extra 150 It is sold by Tongxin the UK supplier is to be The Electric Transport Shop see main Contacts section ISSUE 32 DECEMBER 2008 VELOVISION 19 Velo Vision Sample Article This PDF is a sample of the material in Velo Vision Issue 31 September 2008 The contents page is shown right To get an idea of our current output please visit www velovision com where you will find amongst much else full subject author indices sample articles to download and an online shop where you can subscribe IF you have any problems or suggestions about the magazine in general or this PDF article in particular please email me at peter velovision com hope
60. s published quarterly by Velo Vision Ltd Subscription details news and updates can be found on www velovision com ISSN 1475 4312 Velo Vision Magazine The Environmental Centre St Nicholas Fields York YO10 3EN UK Tel Fax 44 1904 438 224 from UK 01904 438 224 Email peter velovision com Website www velovision com EDITOR AND PUBLISHER Peter Eland ART DIRECTOR Brian Holt WEB PROGRAMMER Simon Ward PRINTER Stephens amp George Magazines Ltd Merthyr Tidfil Wales UK Tel 01685 388 888 PUBLISHING SCHEDULE Issue 27 September 2007 Issue 28 December 2007 Issue 29 March 2008 Issue 30 June 2008 Velo Vision is a member k of INK trade association Hi of the alternative press in the UK www ink uk com VELO VISION AND VELO VISION We weren t first with the name Velo Vision note the hyphen is a progressive HPV friendly bike shop in K rten near Bergisch Gladbach Germany who also make their own recumbents Velo Vision magazine is working in friendly harmony with Velo Vision in Germany Velo Vision is printed on paper produced from sustainable forests to Nordic Swan standards i sans TEE COVER PHOTOGRAPH Andrew Walters rides his prototype Monval Excel semi recumbent tourer OPPOSITE The deadly ducks of Escrick We didn t stop to find out Both photos by Peter Eland 17 20 22 26 JUNE News Swivelheads approaching a Sturmey fixed a suitcase folder artbikes and
61. s seen a wave of new E bikes ever lighter and with ever longer ranges kits have remained relatively hard to get hold of and with a very low media and real life profile compared to complete bikes Whilst the sheer variety of cycles means com ing up with a one size fits all retro fit solution is never going to be realistic there are signs that several manufacturers and just as important knowledgeable retailers are recognizing and trying to tap into what could prove to be a keen demand from cyclists Even so a number of kits have been out there a while keeping rather a low profile and many are in the pipeline After all the advantages of retro fit kits over complete E bikes are many you might want a bit of extra assistance on a cherished machine that fits you like a glove or maybe the type of bikes you prefer just aren t available as E bikes most fold ers and recumbents are cases in point or you may want the option to try the kit out on several differ ent bikes In essence you get to ride the bike you want not one that an E bike manufacturer wants you to And for those cycling veterans out there who think they have tried every sort of cycling there is well this could be a new challenge Of course there are cons I found the biggest problem was getting hold of kits in the first place There appears to be much more demand than supply speaking from a UK perspective with kits selling out quickly and waiting times
62. t and technology to create wooden velomobiles 45 Beixo shaft drive folder a user test from the Netherlands 46 Letters A readers gallery of diverse holidays and cycles Brompton development ideas Moulton TSR query and choosing a practical off roader 53 Subscribe to Velo Vision How to subscribe back issues and details of our distributors worldwide 53 Advertisements The first place to look for specialist products and services Please support our advertisers who support the magazine The first is to make it clear what the magazine is about Velo still isn t a familiar term for many English speakers Secondly it will tie in with my book which is due to be published next year the Practical Bike Buyer s Guide a beginner s guide to the best bikes for transport and touring For more details you ll just have to wait until next issue Talking of next year I m also looking forward to the SPEZI coach trip in April Details are on page 7 and I hope many of you will join us Peter Eland ISSUE 32 DECEMBER 2008 VELOVISION 3 ROUNDING UP THE RETRO FIT ELECTRICS Rather than buy a whole new electric bike why not add extra power to an existing machine Richard Peace fits and tests products from Tongxin Alien Heinzmann Sunstar and BionX which can add electric assist to your pedalling ELECTRIC bike kits it has to be said have been the poor cousins of off the shelf electric bikes in the UK at least Whilst 2008 ha
63. t the pedalling becoming harder up the gradient Alien Jack as it had now been christened made short work of the mile and a bit haul from the local town of Elbeuf back up to our accommo dation using this method It was an average 1 in 10 gradient with plenty of steeper hairpins and with full throttle and a bit of pedal power it left a very sporty Kalkhoff pedelec bike in its wake At the end of a 40 plus mile day ride this climb saw the battery reserves just about exhausted a good range for a bike which stresses robustness over lightness and speed You d undoubtedly get more miles per charge from a sleeker more effi cient bike If you are annoyed by background noise then the angry bee buzzing of the Alien motor at certain speeds might spoil an otherwise great experience I started not to notice it after a short while The Jack itself proved fine for our subsequent The Alien s battery fits neatly into the shelf on the rear rack BELOW but the bag for the controller eventually split LEFT Richard had soldered up a longer lead so that only one cable needed to run past the main frame hinge and eventually stored controller and wiring in a handlebar bag BELOW LEFT pottering along style of touring once we d left the steep slopes round Elbeuf though it has no long distance pretensions whatsoever Very selec tive use of the throttle through easygoing terrain saw the battery regularly clocking up 40 miles and mor
64. tanding and the integration of the electrics is superb SLIGHT NIGGLES The charger whirrs away you wouldn t want it in your lounge But it is lightweight and does its job well and quickly and shuts off when charging is complete There is a slight pulsing sensation around the assistance limit you subconsciously learn to ride just below the speed at which assistance cuts out As one friend who rode it commented you can either put in 20 of the effort to do 24 km h or 80 to go 1 km h faster By the way all three bikes display in km not miles which is good exercise for the brain even if not for the body REGULATIONS There are all sorts of regulations in different countries The British rules are that an electric assist bike can t assist you above 15 mph or put in more than 200 Watts continuous power that s equivalent to an enthusiastic tandem stoker before lunch The position on e bikes i e the sort you don t have to pedal is a bit ambiguous with European and British standards being different If you want to know more go to www dff gov uk and search for EAPC Other countries notably Switzerland have more lenient rules t1S S REPORT Route To Crematorium and back Distance 1 mile each way Terrain Continuous up hill approx 1 in 10 gradient on major road Reverse on return I would call the Sparta pedal assist as you start to pedal you feel the motor giving a gentle silent p
65. te it might make sense to conserve battery but I didn t end up using it much Having decided to use an electric boost you may as well make it a powerful one Another mode I found only occasionally useful was the walk mode designed to help you push the bike up hills and the like It s the only mode in which the electrics will operate while you re not pedalling Twist the grip and the electrics will drive the front wheel at around walking pace so that you can walk alongside it without having to push I can see this being handy in hilly pedestrianised areas especially if you have a good load of shopping on board I didn t even attempt to measure range On a longer ride without much starting and stopping I d hardly use the power assist maybe just on hills and the range is then more a matter of how far I want to cycle than a matter of battery capacity If you rely entirely on the motor that s another matter but I didn t have the patience I m afraid Anyway for what it s worth the manufacturers quote 20 km in e bike mode or 30km as a pedelec It would certainly handle several moderate daily commutes without a recharge Without electric assist the Sport rode fine just a little ponderously because of the weight On a hilly course that might matter but for reasonably flat riding it s not a big issue And it was in general no problem to manoeuvre it around by hand or to lift in and out of doorways etc Overall it w
66. ten over driving public less congestion less pollution or pleasure i e you cycle just for the sheer joy of it Personally my motivation is the last of the three and think that the others follow as a consequence As for wanting to get other people to share the joy know electric bikes aren t perfect but at least they re better than a car Our reviewers tested three high end electric bikes from left to right we have the Sparta lon the Airnimal Joey Move and the Ezee Forte from 50Cycles THE BIKES The three bikes here take very different approaches to using a motor to help you on your way Perhaps the simplest option is that used on the Ezee Forte from 50Cycles a motor in the front wheel with a throttle like control on the handlebars This is independent of the drivetrain and therefore you don t have to pedal if you don t want to The Sparta Ion uses a motor in the back wheel hub which only assists when you pedal The Airnimal Joey Move system is similar to the Sparta but goes one step further and re charges the battery when you apply the brakes There is a fourth option this is to help the chain on its way with a motor just behind the bottom bracket This system was used very successfully on the Giant Lafree no longer available and is still used on the Swiss Flyer range see SPEZI report Then of course there are other power sources such as fuel cells but that will have to wait for another review S
67. ter weight means that the power advantage is not lost on hills Regenerative braking increases your endurance The idea of fixing this unit to your own favourite bike is appealing and should save a lot in cost but you d need to be an expert to lace up the spokes yourself from the BionX hub better to leave this bit to the bike shop For anonymity I would paint the BionX unit the same colour as my bike so less attention was drawn to it And the last big question did they make me leave the car at home Well yes I didn t get my car out of the garage during the three weeks of the trials quite an achievement That had to have a good effect on my carbon footprint I even found myself getting out and about in the parish more because of the sheer fun and convenience of using the electric bikes From a fitness point of view I was getting far more gentle exercise than my usual combination of bike and car as the power assistance gave me confidence to undertake much longer trips by bike I was impressed by all three bikes At last electric bikes seem to be growing up from a cranky idea to a viable means of transport even if you live somewhere where cycling conditions are far from ideal So this vicar will certainly be asking for more e in future Chris Stebbing Thanks to H Drakes 01223 363468 in Cambridge for supplying the Sparta lon They also have a very interesting range of Raleigh and Koga Miyata bikes
68. the batteries I d like to use it as a long distance tourer but this problem has so far limited me to local leisure rides around 20 miles maximum including use of a spare battery I ve experimented with NiMH batteries from an old Lafree this works OK but the range still isn t really satisfactory so I m still searching for a company capable of fitting a suitably large capacity Li Ion battery If I can manage that I m convinced that an almost effortless 100 miles or more a day for fully loaded touring is easily achievable Specifications Motor and integral controller weight 3 2 kg Battery weight 870 g Battery capacity Approx 80 Wh Charger weight recharge time 425 g 1 5 hours Replacement battery cost 250 Euros Total retro fitted bike weight 21 6 kg Bike requirements BB shell width of 68 70 mm and correct thread check with retailers Frame size where motor mounted no less than 180 mm Guarantee 2 years all parts including battery RRP 899 Euros BIONX I ve tried this very sophisticated Canadian made pedelec style hub motor system a couple of times and it s smooth quiet power is pretty impres sive The motor gearing on the BionX equipped Airnimal I tried was designed to assist at speed rather than for torque but it made for a very acceptable long distance commuting or tour ing system see Issue 26 for a full review of the Airnimal Joey Move with BionX Ed The BionX system itself has been around for a numbe
69. ular commute It s just so seductively easy Of course for many riders who through health age distance or extreme hills can t easily manage a particular commute an electric bike like this could be the difference between cycling and not cycling It would also be great for pulling big trailers or workbikes around And if you must arrive at work sweat free this is certainly one way to do it Operating the system is very easy switch on at the key switch then hold the red power button down for a few seconds until the lights come up on the display Then just twist the grip to add power The motor kicks in immediately assuming you re pedalling and you pick up speed fast The throttle grip offers good control of the assist level from just a touch to full power As speed rises to the legal limit for power assist the motor cuts out restarting once your speed has dropped a bit But if you use it just for acceleration and hills this probably won t happen much It can also get tiring riding with your wrist bent holding the twist grip full on for long periods The motor is rather noisy enough so to turn heads and at certain speeds it sort of rattles as well something to do with an internal freewheel apparently Again this encouraged me to just use it at junctions where noise is often masked by revving traffic anyway The eco mode when engaged seems to reduce the assist power available If you have a very long commu
70. urn ing for power to feed through to the motor limiting the utility ofthe thumb throttle switch not enhanc ing it This is often billed as a pedelec option but is really nothing like a true pedelec system merely an add on to make the system conform to the law in some European countries Had the brake levers not been permanently wired into the system I wouldn t have bothered with these either A spin up the very small but naggingly constant gradient of the Spen Valley Greenway a splendidly surfaced example of Sustrans finest work notched up around 25 miles range Rather bizarrely the motor powers up even on a standing start as soon as you switch it on via the battery mounted ignition key and then knock the bar mounted on switch If you aren t sat on it the bike magically starts to run away from you For me this was a confusing and pointless feature though I understand it s to be discontinued on the next version of this kit Once you start to feed on the power with the thumb trigger all is forgiven The steady thrust from such a small hub was amazing both to an experienced cyclist like myself and also to my sister Beth who d be the first to admit she s more of a fair weather pedaller Because of the way the Tongxin was geared it certainly helped to wind the speed up a little before approaching steeper hills as you would do on a non motorised bike anyway From about 6 mph to 13 mph the power is steady silent but
71. ush As the bike picks up speed you still need to pedal only gently On the flat I was soon in top gear cruising along at a decent speed easily 15 mph or so whilst simply pedalling in a genteel manner most satisfying But when the hills hit it started to change The Sparta slowed down to around 8 mph on what is really a fairly gentle hill I needed to drop to 2nd or 3rd gear even with the motor in power mode I was disappointed at this at first but then found myself overtaking a nice lightweight racer and soon after went past a mountain biker who had resorted to pushing his bike up the same hill hmmm maybe I m not doing as badly as Id thought Route Wedding rehearsal at neighbouring church Distance 3 miles each way Terrain Continuous up hill approx 1 in 10 gradient on major road for first 2 2 miles then 2 mile down the other side Reverse on return I wouldn t have attempted this on a normal bike because I need to arrive fresh and ready to meet people As I cruised pedalling gently up the hill a slightly larger electric vehicle the Supertram came up behind He had to wait behind me but I was still managing a respectable 8 mph and when I cycled through a lay by to let him past he gave me a respectful clang on his gong Despite the long hill I arrived fresh and relaxed ready for action Coming home afterwards the build quality of the normal bike became apparent as I touched 45 km h freewheeling home
72. ve provided a shroud for each disk so avoiding a common problem with disk brakes the ease with which you can bend a rotor Sure the shrouds reduce the ventilation a bit but that s unlikely to be a problem for this type of bike The stem assembly is pleasingly chunky and it s angle adjustable in three settings Height is also adjustable via a solid Allen key clamp The cables are guided neatly down through the stem entering just below the handlebars The bars themselves have soft touch padding to create a smooth taper from centre to end again contributing to the clean lines A twist grip for the gears and a small bell adorn the right hand side while on the left there s the push button for the electric assist system The saddle and seatpost are again chunky large diameter tubes finished in satin black Instead of using a standard quick release saddle height is adjusted using a long lever just under the saddle this expands an internal wedge to lock it into the lower section at your chosen height A small thumbscrew lets you remove the 24 VELOVISION ISSUE 34 JUNE 2009 ABOVE LEFT The stem can be locked into any of three positions to adjust the reach ABOVE The power button and not very comfy grips ABOVE RIGHT Note the long lever just below the saddle used to lock or unlock the seatpost for height setting LEFT The motor is discreetly built into the front hub Note the USB port on the fork blade
73. ve to Ride novel plus the beginner friendly Bike Easy 38 Book reviews Bike Builder s Bonanza and the Pedaling Revolution 40 Terracycle idlers and accessory mounts worthwhile upgrades 42 Readers bikes 42 Folder fettling readers Brompton mods 44 The Seacycle canal cruising by pedal power 46 Atrio of trikes a reader reports from the rough roads of Moldova 47 Above or below Pros and cons of changing from below to above seat steering 48 Kyoto cuties Velo Vision readers visit Japan and are enchanted by the small wheeled wonders 50 Letters More mystery cycles the wrong trousers historic cycle reportage the Cleland concept clarified and much more 53 Subscribe to Velo Vision How to subscribe back issues and details of our distributors worldwide 54 Advertisements The first place to look for specialist products and services Please support our advertisers who support the magazine Finally we ve been moving ourselves around on a fascinating range of review bikes this issue all in their own ways innovative and interesting The Gocycle and Taga in particular are rare instances of designer concepts embodied as practical useful products but do their looks get in the way Is the simplicity and affordability of more traditional cycle engineering as on the Zigo or KMX a better bet There s an easy way to find out read the reviews and decide for yourself Peter Eland ISSUE 34 JUNE 2009 VELOVIS
74. very appreciable rather like an invisible magic hand pushing you along The technologically curi ous will be fascinated by the silent performance of the Tongxin it is achieved through the use of a roller friction drive system rather than the normal sun and planet gears Id heard a lot of good comments about the Tongxin from other electric bike enthusiasts but this was my first taste and I was impressed The only note of caution was sounded by the front wheel wobbling alarmingly when freewheeling ISSUE 32 DECEMBER 2008 VELOVISION 13 fast hands free As it s not a reported problem it was most likely an unfortunate combination of motor and bike geometry and probably not pecu liar to the Tongxin Details are just in as we go to press about the next version of the Tongxin kit known as V3 This will feature essentially the same motor and rack mounted 24 V battery as my test kit so perform ance should be very similar The main difference is that it will be modular so rather than com ing as a long snake of components permanently attached to the integral battery and controller set up each component will plug into the next one in the chain This should be a great improve ment as far as installation goes and will allow you to dispense totally with the rather pointless pedal motion sensor and brake levers which come with this particular kit Who would use it The Tongxin is not the most powerful motor out there so if you
75. y Route Chapter meeting at the far end of the deanery Distance 12 miles round trip Terrain Total 5 miles up hill 1 in 10 5 miles down 1 mile flat 1 mile up steep hill The power control and display work well showing how much power you are taking out or putting back into the battery The system seems to know how hard you are pedalling and responds accordingly if you pedal a little harder the bars creep up the display and you feel more power coming on As you ease off so does it I guess this means maximum battery life and it prevents you from getting lazy Down hills I let the speed creep up to around 40 km h then put on the regenerative brakes Setting 2 trimmed the speed to a comfortable 30 km h and the meter reported power flowing back into the battery Well it s better than losing all that energy to wind resistance or warming up your brake blocks Endurance was good too power seemed to be fading a little at 18 miles but a quick run downhill put enough back in to take me home overall endurance at least 20 miles LIKES Lightweight 20 kg Power unit can be fitted to existing bike Regenerative braking Power display DISLIKES None Price as tested 1499 Available from Airnimal Europe Tel 01223 523973 or see www airnimalfoldingbikes com LEFT The BionX display and control unit offers assist and regeneration settings and a power indicator as well as the usual speed readout BELOW LEFT
76. y ve compiled this thorough report for Velo Vision on their experiences using three of the latest models OPENING THOUGHTS From Paul in Cambridge Maybe it s an age thing maybe it s an engineer thing I m not sure But I find electric bikes more and more fascinating And a recent chat with my old engineering friend Chris revealed that he felt the same way so the plan I had been hatching to review a few electric bikes began to take shape My commute is relatively long I never knew how long until the display on the Sparta told me it was 16 miles but pancake flat so how could Itest them on hills I wasn t keen on riding up and down Castle Hill in Cambridge several hundred times But hang on Chris lives in Sheffield and all I associate with Sheffield is knives and forks and hills So these bikes have been tested for endurance over some long flat commutes on some pretty rough tracks along the disused railway line between Cambridge and St Ives And probably more typical of their intended and likely usage they have been used as practical transport for lots of short hilly journeys Chris is a vicar at Saint John Park in Sheffield and has been looking for an environmentally friendly way to get around Forget Dibley Chris is from a tough parish and wouldn t want to invite ridicule In comparison all I have to contend with are suicidal rabbits and cyclicidal drivers who try to bully me onto the pavement Incidentally Chris and I com
77. y notice much extra resist ance just extra weight in handling when throwing the bike around especially from the extremely stur dy looking alloy encased battery at the back which is quite heavy and quite high up This proved more of an issue when parking the bike I kept wishing it had a strong centre kickstand The motor is connected via a kettle style lead not very reassuring in theory perhaps but it survived several hours of driving heavy rain while riding into the wind with no ill effects at all In short a winner in construction terms The Jack itself is a lovely bike for cross town jaunts dropping off kerbs and soaking up potholes with its Schwalbe Big Apple tyres If you don t need the motor or run out of power it s still a great bike to ride with that free running motor The main test was on a 100 mile tour in France riding around Rouen then down the River Seine to Le Havre The main difficulty proved getting the bike there in the first place it was rather a heavy and bulky lump to heave on and off Eurostar and a variety of French trains especially along with touring luggage But once this was behind us the bike came into its own around the vertiginous val ley sides near our base south of Rouen Again due to the motor s gearing it gives out the most power once you d got up to about 5 mph I quickly developed the technique of getting in the right gear for a 10 mph climb and easing the power on as I fel
78. ycle design You can read much more and there s even a free sample issue to download on the Velo Vision website www velovision com Want to try a sample copy Simply add 1 to any subscription order and we ll include a recent Velo Vision issue Or send 3 for a sample copy by itself
79. you enjoy the read PERE LN Peter Eland Editor and Publisher Velo Vision Velo Vision is published quarterly by Velo Vision Ltd Subscription details news and updates can be found on www velovision com ISSN 1475 4312 Velo Vision Magazine York Environment Centre St Nicholas Fields Rawdon Avenue York YO10 3ST UK Tel Fax 44 1904 438 224 from UK 01904 438 224 Email peter velovision com Website www velovision com EDITOR AND PUBLISHER Peter Eland EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Sue Archer PHOTO ASSISTANTS Debz Butterworth and John Isles ART DIRECTOR Brian Holt WEB PROGRAMMER Simon Ward PRINTER Stephens amp George Magazines Ltd PUBLISHING SCHEDULE Issue 32 December 2008 Issue 33 March 2009 Issue 34 June 2009 Issue 35 September 2009 Velo Vision is a member of INK trade association ink of the alternative press in the UK www ink uk com VELO VISION AND VELO VISION We weren t first with the name Velo Vision is a bike shop in K rten near Bergisch Gladbach Germany Velo Vision magazine exists in friendly harmony with Velo Vision in Germany Velo Vision is printed on paper produced from sustainable forests to Nordic Swan standards COVER Taking the Estelle for a spin OPPOSITE The impressive cliffs at Etretat were the destination for a day ride on our tandem tour this summer Both photos Peter Eland 14 22 26 26 28 29 30 SEPTEMBER 2008 News Human Power

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