my Electric Raven Tour, part 1

[ians]

I have major health problems which have effectively curtailed my cycling, so have decided to try an electric assist conversion on my RT.

The conversion has finally been completed.  I collected it from the Electric Transport Shop in Cambridge yesterday, so this is just a quick post on first impressions.  First impressions; fantastic.  Seriously - just tried a run to work and there's a bridge that usually has me in serious difficulties - just sailed up it.  For the past 2 years I've not been able to manage more than about 10 miles a day, so I'm looking forward to increasing that by quite a margin. 

There's a lot to learn - how best to use the throttle in conjunction with the gears so that I am still doing some work - I don't want a moped.  The battery is in the rack bag - I may change this to a proper saddle bag at sometime, there's enough cable.

The conversion has been done very neatly - all wiring jipped to the brake and gear cables.

There is only one major problem which I have to sort out; the motor fouls the lower mudguard boss on the right hand side of the fork (Thorn are so generous in the width of their brazings...).  ETS added a washer for the necessary clearance - but this now makes it very difficult to remove the front wheel.  With a normal mudguard boss I don't think there would be a problem - but the Thorn one protrudes beyond the width of the fork blade.

So I may have to file a few mm off the mudguard brazing so that I don't need the washer.  Or I'll spring the fork width a few mm and keep the washer.  Watch this space.

I'm away for a few weeks (sans bike) so will post more images later.




BTW - I can't seem to upload a decent size image - any tips welcome.

ian

[Danneaux]

Well, Ian, my first impressions on seeing the photo...the result is absolutely gorgeous and fully worthy of the rest of the bike! It looks lean, integrated, and every bit as sporty as before. If anything, the motor looks like a SON dynohub that is a little oversize.

I can't begin to tell you how much your post delighted me. So many people I know are in like situation, longing to ride but unable to at previous levels. This is a tremendous "equalizer", making it possible to recapture the joy at being in the saddle once again.

I've been in dire straits healthwise in the past and feared I might not be able to continue riding. Fortunately, I recovered, but I never forgot the spectre and realize it might happen again someday -- and that's true for any of us (best wishes your way, hoping for better days). Electrification is a real godsend when you need it.

how best to use the throttle in conjunction with the gears so that I am still doing some work - I don't want a moped.

Yes, yes, yes! That is the ideal, but even if it came to mopeding...you're still out and about on your bike, and that counts for so much.

...the motor fouls the lower mudguard boss on the right hand side of the fork...

<nods> Yes, it should be easy to trim the inside of the boss, as it isn't really necessary to purpose and a slight reduction should do no harm so long as the blade remains un-nicked (you won't have any trouble) and it is repainted (as I know you will). You may wish to consider using a repurposed faucet valve seat cutter to fly-cut and reduce the inner surface of the boss. I've done that on some of my bosses on frames I've made. Works a little like facing a bottom bracket or head tube, but on small scale.

As for uploading a larger photo, I usually just link and co-host it with the post. To do so, when making a post just click on the blue "Additional Options..." link at the lower-left corner of the page. Once there, click on the "Browse" button and navigate to where your photo is stored on your computer. The server allow a maximum of 5 attachments per post, totaling 512KB. Most photos need to be resized to get under that limit, so you'll need an image resizer. If you're running Windows, there are some nice free resizers that integrate with the right-click context menu:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/downloads/windows-xp?T1=PT
http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2009/09/imageresizer-powertoy-rewritten-to-work-on-vista-windows-7/
http://imageresizer.codeplex.com/
Other OSs have their own resizers, or you can reduce picture size in a standalone graphics editor. I often combine my photos into a .PNG collage, then convert to .JPG and resize from there, allowing me to post 4-5 decent-sized photos in the space of one.

Looking forward to reading and seeing more of your wonderful conversion, Ian.

Best wishes for safe, happy travel,

Dan.

[Relayer]

That looks like a very neat job, and I'm so pleased for you Ian, and it shows the rest of us what is possible if we ever have health problems which impact on our ability to get out cycling.

It doesn't look remotely like a moped, fantastic.

[Andre Jute]

Very nice indeed, Ian. Like Dan says, not a moped but an equaliser!

The flat sides of Bafang's QSWXK are a bother to many people, but it was chosen by Bafang to spearhead their marketing in the West for good reasons, one of which is the excellent torque delivery, both in amount and progressiveness, which you've already benefited from on the bridge that previously stymied you. But it is worth doing a bit of extra work to give the QSWXK clearance on the right, or going to some extra expense to fit a bigger brake disc on the left so the calliper clears the motor, in return for a superior motor.

A very tidy installation too.

Congratulations.

Andre Jute

[ians]

Hi folks

thanks for all the kind words.  And the tips Dan.

I'll try again with a photo (using the additional options - missed that last time).  If not I'll leave till I return from holiday.  Off to your side of the pond, Dan - Monument Valley, Route 66, Zion and Bryce.  My wife and I are both retiring this summer so it's a retirement present to ourselves so to speak.

ian

[ians]

And other...

[Danneaux]

Pictures up and looking fine, fine, Ian! Thanks so much for posting them.

Off to your side of the pond, Dan - Monument Valley, Route 66, Zion and Bryce.

Darn. If you'd been a little more north and west, I'd have invited you for a stop-by!  You'll be going through some wonderful country and will see the sights of a lifetime; you're in for a real treat. Best wishes to you both for a wonderful, safe, and joyous trip. Take lots of photos so you can relive the trip next winter.

Gee, the bike looks nice...most people would never guess it was converted...what a clean installation!

I don't like to bestow nicknames, but "Ian the Blur" would be appropriate after that last photo -- you're movin', Man!  Now, how am I to keep up?  

Y'know...you and Andre are creating the Q-ships of the bicycle world (See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q-ship ). The rough equivalent of Andre dropping a small-block Chev in a Volvo Estate Wagon (I do take these things in, Andre...). I can't wait for your first report when you blow away the local peloton of racer-types. Remember, with great power comes great responsibility, and you've got what? 36 volts' worth of power? Be careful.  

All the best,

Dan.

[Andre Jute]

With the battery at 36V nominal, and a controller capped at 14A, my installation is capable of about 500W, which is two-thirds of a horsepower, or 2.5 times the output of a Tour de France racer (c200W).

Andre Jute