Posts Tagged ‘bikes’

Electric Cargo Bikes – a new look!

Friday, April 29th, 2011

Are you planning to turn your electric bike into a car, or at least, one that will carry the same load? Is it possible? And the answer is yes, since that’s what electric cargo bikes are all about. This bike is a recent innovation and one that currently makes it possible for you to carry the same load, weight as you would carry in a car. It’s going to come in handy, especially if your routine work deals with making several trips round the town, picking and dropping materials, packages, luggage, etc.

Kona Electric Ute
With its existing model that has been for two years in the market, the Kona Electric Ute has certainly proved its worth with its full electric cargo models and through the form of its conversion kits too. It can effectively handle up to 220 lbs. (100 kg) of load and costs around $2599 approximately. Its models currently operate on three modes, read on to learn more:
• Power Mode: Covering 18 miles.
• Normal Mode: Covering 35 miles range.
• Economy Mode: Covering approximately 60 miles.

Gary Fisher Electric Cargo Bike
The Gary Fisher electric cargo bike model, namely the ‘Transport +’ is said to available sometime by 2011 with power packed components, such as a 350 watts motor, in-housed battery at the rear rack, cargo bags, and lots more. The extras that come along with Gary Fisher’s Transport + are remarkable and definitely worth mentioning: folding road racks, front and rear lights, Bontrager Transport cargo bag, fender, and double kickstand.

Urban Arrow
This particular electric cargo bike has already won an ‘Innovation Award’ at the Eurobike Show in Germany and makes it clear that electric bikes are here to stay. The significant feature of this type is that it has got the removable cargo box in front of the rider, which is capable enough of carrying around 400 lbs.
Apart from these ‘ready to go’ cargo electric bikes types, there are many other bikes available with the option of conversion kits, namely Xtracycle, Madsen, Work Cycles, Civia Cycles, and many more.

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Electric Bikes – what to look for in an electric bike!

Thursday, April 28th, 2011

With plenty of models, make and styles to sort through, finding the best fit may seem difficult. When comparing the various brands of electric bicycles in order to select the “one”, you need to take a closer look at some of the features on offer. One brand could come packed with great battery/motor housing – featuring good range whereas another could provide power riding and the list goes on…

Kalkhoff Electric Bikes

The German electric bike star, the Kalkhoff Pro Connect Sport 300, is quite popular in Europe. This model is getting the top billing in US mainland as well. Naturally, it comes with a hefty price tag amounting to approximately $3, 899.00. The other models should cost a lot less, around $3, 000. But this bike is worth the high price tag and while you’re right in thinking it’s on the high side, the quality components, the dollars you end up saving on gas bills and other features sure make it an attractive option.

It comes with two motors: a Panasonic Pedelec brushless motor activating at 300 watts and provides a top speed of 25 mph and an integrated motor for maintenance assistance, which further offers 3 levels of pedal assistance.

• Apart from the motor, the hydraulic brake system and the puncture resistant tires with lightweight aluminum frame makes it apparent why the Kalhoff model is getting the top billing.

eZee LiV Electric Bike
This is an ideal model for recreational riding on moderate hilly regions as long as you don’t add too much load / stress on it. It beats other brands as far as price is concerned, because it costs approximately 1, 199.00; even the full throttle activated electric bikes of eZee LiV range well under $2, 000.

• With its brushed motor of 200 watts, it provides a good range of 15-30 miles in addition to a top speed of about 20 mph.

Detailed research through websites that are dedicated to reviewing and rating electric bikes and magazines such as A to B, Bikeradar, Livestrong, NYCeWheels etc. can really aid you when it comes to selecting the ideal electric bike.

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Exercise in the city: hybrid bicycles

Wednesday, April 27th, 2011

More and more people prefer to ride the bike to work or school, instead of taking the bus. Aside from the fact that bike riding is a great exercise for the body, it’s great for the environment. And if you are riding on the paved streets of your city, you should consider getting one of those hybrid bicycles everyone’s talking about.

First of all, a hybrid bike is a combination between road and mountain bikes, especially designed for those who love to head out on road trips. It blends the best features of both models, and the result is perfect for commuting on a wide variety of surfaces, including paved roads, paths, trails and other unpaved roads.

Hybrid bicycles encompass the upright frame of mountain bikes, giving the rider a more comfortable position, and the lighter rims of the road bike, which offer an increased speed. The tires are a little wider than in the road bike, giving hybrid bicycles better traction and a little more stability.

Not all hybrid bicycles are the same. You may choose from a wide range of models and narrow down the selection, depending on what you need the bike for. For example, the city bike is a model optimized for the rough roads city commuters are faced with. On this kind of bike, you will find a couple of 26-inch wheels, heavy belted tires and a more upright seating position. The frame will most likely be aluminum. Other hybrid bicycles include commuter bikes and comfort bikes.

Hybrid bicycles are the ideal choice for commuting in the city. You are advised to look for the bike with the best quality parts, because they determine how well the bike will function and for how long. Accessories are also of great importance. The bike can be customized to better fit your requirements. You can get a tool bag, a water bottle or a frame pump, depending on your needs.

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Understanding the electric bike motor!

Tuesday, April 5th, 2011

If you own a bike and keep getting frustrated with the recent hike in gallon rates, you may want to consider converting your bike into an ebike. In countries like China and Thailand where bicycles have traditionally sold in large numbers, the concept of ebikes is fast catching on. In fact, this trend is on the upswing in the U.S.A., Australia, Greece, Holland, Brazil, England and Germany to name a few countries. Of course, this trend could be as a result of the recent hike in gas rates or the facts on how ebikes are fuel efficient and safe to ride does the trick.

There are several electric bike conversion kits readily available in various parts of the United States. These kits are meant to help you convert your bike into ebikes. When you purchase a conversion kit, you get several things along with all the instructions to convert your bike easily. The electric bike motor is the most efficient drive system for your bike. It is located at the center of your bicycle’s wheel and is the cheapest as well as cleanest component. The best thing about the electric bike motor is that it produces no noise, hard to believe, right? So, no one can actually guess that you have converted your bike into an ebike. Furthermore, the conversion process does not change the way you handle your bike. So, you can keep riding the way you like.

Types of motors
There are mainly three kinds of motors that are available in the market – 200 W, 350 W and 500 W. 250 W is the most common electric bike motor which is easiest to handle. It is apt also because conversion in most cities does not require a lot of power.

Handling a kit that provides 500 W or more, requires some extra consideration since they are powerful and have a lot of torque. If you are looking at installing this type of motor, you need to make sure your bike can support the motor, translated that reads steel dropouts (the place on the forks where the axle goes into the forks) for front conversions. Not sure about your forks?  Use a magnet to test your dropouts; if it sticks then your forks are steel! If you want a 500w motor on your bike and you don’t have steel forks consider a rear conversion or maybe changing the fork.

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Excelling on Your E-bike Safety Tips

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011

Being excited about your e-bike purchase or about converting your regular bicycle is natural. Of course you want to get right on and ride off, but before you do so, take a little time to make sure you know the do’s and don’ts of E-bike safety. After all, who wants to end up in the ER after only the first ride?

Wearing the right gear and clothing is very important in keeping you safe and adhering to the laws in your area. Safety gear includes:

• Helmet-most states require a helmet to be worn by the rider.
• Elbow and knee pads-not required but highly recommended.
• Sneakers or sports shoes that are in good repair. Make sure they have good tread or they may slip off pedals.
• Reflective patches/light colored clothing when riding at night. Safety vests are specially equipped with reflectors and bright colors.
• Sunglasses designed for motorbike riding to keep the sun and debris away from eyes.
• Gloves

Helmets have saved countless lives and more people could have been saved if they had been wearing one. Don’t buy a helmet just because it’s cheap. You may be sacrificing safety if you do. This holds true for any safety equipment. The best sunglasses are the kind that use polycarbonate lenses because they’re shatter-proof, which will prevent eye injury from a broken lens.

Gloves provide a non-slip grip, giving the rider better control over the E-bike, lessening the likelihood of an accident. They also prevent blisters and protect the hands if there is an accident. Elbow and knee pads are essential for safety. In the event of an accident, they protect you from getting severe brush burns, scrapes, and cuts. They’ll also help prevent joint injuries such as a broken knee cap, torn ACL or meniscus, and various other tendons or ligaments.

Almost everyone who has ever ridden a bike has been warned about taking even more precautions when riding at night. Riding an E-bike is no different and in fact, even more crucial to ensuring your safety but that of drivers, too. This is where reflective patches on clothing or safety vests come into play. Anything that will catch the headlights of oncoming traffic will increase the chances that the driver will see you and be able to avoid you. In addition, bright colored clothing should be worn.

As with any other outdoor sport, the proper footwear is imperative for the rider. Athletic shoes are best since they have the best tread to avoid slippage of the foot off the pedal. Wearing good shoes while riding your E-bike can prevent broken bones and torn ligaments and tendons. Some sneakers are sold with reflective strips, making them great for riding at night.

When we’re young, we think that we are invincible, but we all know that’s not true. It may not be “cool” to wear protective gear when we’re riding an E-bike, but it would be even more un-cool to have an accident and become seriously injured. Remember; safety doesn’t mean keeping just yourself safe, but those around you safe as well.

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