In search of the ultimate city commuting mode,
I came up with the idea of electrifying a Tern Cargo Node:
I can ride it in the street, I can ride it on bike trails, if the battery dies I still have lights and can pedal home, I can carry two passengers, I can park it anywhere, I actually get some exercise everyday, since it folds I can take it on the metro during rushhour (not that would ever need too - since it is way faster to get around on this on the surface streets), I can pick up 6 full bags worth of groceries on the way home.
It is as fast to get home in the evening during rush-hour as when I take my motorcycle and lane-split through the traffic jams (which is allowed in DC), and the thrills are on par. With all that POWER from the BBSHD I simply never even think about taking anything else to work anymore. It is so nice to just pass those long lines of cars that are travelling barely faster than the cars parked along side them.
The Tern Cargo Node was $1800, the BBSHD kit and Shimano hydraulic brakes with cut-out switch and the C693 display from Luna Cycles was roughly $1200 with a 52V 11.5 Ah battery, Luna's adjustable charger and the Aluminium chainring adapter with 42 tooth sprocket. I also bought the programming cable so I could use Karl Gesslein's awesome programming guidance at https://electricbike-blog.com/2015/0...ing-the-bbs02/ .
The other small changes I made to the bike we a set of more swept back handlebars, a touring seat with exhaust port, and oversized brake discs (225mm in front and 203mm in back) from Hope (because I hope they stop me good).
I built the battery box out of Aluminum to rest the battery tall-ways on some rubber isolators on the Xtracycles lower brace bar, between the chainstays, then I made the grey waterproof cover from Rubber-duc FR18 vinyl (the FR is for Flame Resistant - not that I think it would do much against a lithium fire, but since it is right under my butt, and my seat has a hole where the flames could shoot right through and char my giblets, I will take all the FRs I can find).
The 42 tooth sprocket on the Luna adapter work out great with the stock 8 speed rear, and I love the simple 3 PAS modes on the C693 as supplied (though you can change it to 5), which I I have set to ~250 watts on ECO, ~600 watts on TOUR, and full out is ~1300watts in BOOST. That is to say, you program the PAS as a percentage of the MAX AMPS and at 52V nominal, those are the watts I come to. I have the Max AMPS set to 25, not out of any concern for the controller but simply for power conservation. I also uninstalled the throttle when on my maiden voyage I drained the battery before the last big hill on my commute IN and was punished with having to pedal this corpulent beast home uphill and against the 15mph wind in 90 dregree 90%humidididity.
After experimenting for the first two weeks after that, I came to these observations about the motor, the bike, and myself:
A) - Changing the programming so that the motor does not step down power as you crank harder rewards me with great speed so I actually find myself pushing myself harder - going fast is FUN and that is the only motivation that works for me when it comes to exercise.
2) - 250 Watts in ECO are actually quite sufficient, if I exert myself as I did when I was commuting sans motor, to pass all the athletic types and to foil the headwinds that plague my ride home each evening.
3)- Though my time each day pedaling has been cut by 30%, I am riding my 22 mile commute everyday instead of just a couple of days a week. The time savings is a huge bonus.
3.2) - at 600 watts in TOUR, with the 120lbft my fat butt provides each stroke, and in the right gear, I pull easily away from traffic at the stop lights.
4)- at 1300 watts and energetic spinning on my part, I am climbing a couple of really steep hills at the speed limit, so cars are not even trying to pass me, which feels good and much safer.
E)- I use approximately 6AmpHours to get to work and back, 22 miles total, using just ECO mode mostly, TOUR for the half dozen stoplight intersections, and BOOST just on 2 big hills and to blaze along with traffic on the one little parkway that cars go 30 ~35 mph on. Since I can time how long the charger takes at 3 amps to charge the battery to 90%, this seems the easiest way to measure "mileage"of sorts. This also means that I have a huge reserve, so if I ever need to make a side trip for any reason, range is not an issue to worry me. This also has me toying with the idea of getting one of the minicube batteries and another charger for work. Although for this bike saving 3 pounds is not a concern, but maybe on a second stealth bike build! Hnmmmmm...)
6) - 24"balloon Schwalbs on a long bike handle really well and are comfortable.
7) - This light the Tern came with works surprisingly well and is sufficient for lighting a curvy dark roadway far enough ahead when going 25 ~30 mph that I am not outrunning my brakes, if you get my drift. DEER! The light is Tern specific though, so this is just an observation for those considering buying one.
8) - Good brakes are a MUST for a heavy bike. Even more so if you like to go fast. Cars like to hide behind other parked cars and are fast buggers - like deer.
9) - I programmed the controller:
- for a gentle power and from a standstill it still will spin the tire in BOOST when I stand on it to shoot across an intersection
- so that it doesn't kick in until the pedal travel is twice the rotation as what it came programmed, because when I first installed it, trying to make a little forward adjustment while stopped red light, it nearly shot me into the crosswalk which was filled with ready victims minding their own business.
- so that the power does not diminish when I pedal faster - great effort is rewarded with great speed! Something my factory chicken legs never could give me.
- Having to pedal to go makes it very stealthy - some of our bike trails are heavily policed and they don't seem to notice I am going faster than my twiggy legs should be able to make a bike this big go, because I am sweating and panting so hard. The redness of my face makes it seem more believable too I guess.
10) - TOUR, at ~600 watts, is plenty to keep from sweating in the hot summer weather and ruining dress clothes should you find yourself wanting to bike somewhere nice to lunch from work without having to shower again when you come back (another benefit to the extra range from the big battery in this case).
I came up with the idea of electrifying a Tern Cargo Node:
I can ride it in the street, I can ride it on bike trails, if the battery dies I still have lights and can pedal home, I can carry two passengers, I can park it anywhere, I actually get some exercise everyday, since it folds I can take it on the metro during rushhour (not that would ever need too - since it is way faster to get around on this on the surface streets), I can pick up 6 full bags worth of groceries on the way home.
It is as fast to get home in the evening during rush-hour as when I take my motorcycle and lane-split through the traffic jams (which is allowed in DC), and the thrills are on par. With all that POWER from the BBSHD I simply never even think about taking anything else to work anymore. It is so nice to just pass those long lines of cars that are travelling barely faster than the cars parked along side them.
The Tern Cargo Node was $1800, the BBSHD kit and Shimano hydraulic brakes with cut-out switch and the C693 display from Luna Cycles was roughly $1200 with a 52V 11.5 Ah battery, Luna's adjustable charger and the Aluminium chainring adapter with 42 tooth sprocket. I also bought the programming cable so I could use Karl Gesslein's awesome programming guidance at https://electricbike-blog.com/2015/0...ing-the-bbs02/ .
The other small changes I made to the bike we a set of more swept back handlebars, a touring seat with exhaust port, and oversized brake discs (225mm in front and 203mm in back) from Hope (because I hope they stop me good).
I built the battery box out of Aluminum to rest the battery tall-ways on some rubber isolators on the Xtracycles lower brace bar, between the chainstays, then I made the grey waterproof cover from Rubber-duc FR18 vinyl (the FR is for Flame Resistant - not that I think it would do much against a lithium fire, but since it is right under my butt, and my seat has a hole where the flames could shoot right through and char my giblets, I will take all the FRs I can find).
The 42 tooth sprocket on the Luna adapter work out great with the stock 8 speed rear, and I love the simple 3 PAS modes on the C693 as supplied (though you can change it to 5), which I I have set to ~250 watts on ECO, ~600 watts on TOUR, and full out is ~1300watts in BOOST. That is to say, you program the PAS as a percentage of the MAX AMPS and at 52V nominal, those are the watts I come to. I have the Max AMPS set to 25, not out of any concern for the controller but simply for power conservation. I also uninstalled the throttle when on my maiden voyage I drained the battery before the last big hill on my commute IN and was punished with having to pedal this corpulent beast home uphill and against the 15mph wind in 90 dregree 90%humidididity.
After experimenting for the first two weeks after that, I came to these observations about the motor, the bike, and myself:
A) - Changing the programming so that the motor does not step down power as you crank harder rewards me with great speed so I actually find myself pushing myself harder - going fast is FUN and that is the only motivation that works for me when it comes to exercise.
2) - 250 Watts in ECO are actually quite sufficient, if I exert myself as I did when I was commuting sans motor, to pass all the athletic types and to foil the headwinds that plague my ride home each evening.
3)- Though my time each day pedaling has been cut by 30%, I am riding my 22 mile commute everyday instead of just a couple of days a week. The time savings is a huge bonus.
3.2) - at 600 watts in TOUR, with the 120lbft my fat butt provides each stroke, and in the right gear, I pull easily away from traffic at the stop lights.
4)- at 1300 watts and energetic spinning on my part, I am climbing a couple of really steep hills at the speed limit, so cars are not even trying to pass me, which feels good and much safer.
E)- I use approximately 6AmpHours to get to work and back, 22 miles total, using just ECO mode mostly, TOUR for the half dozen stoplight intersections, and BOOST just on 2 big hills and to blaze along with traffic on the one little parkway that cars go 30 ~35 mph on. Since I can time how long the charger takes at 3 amps to charge the battery to 90%, this seems the easiest way to measure "mileage"of sorts. This also means that I have a huge reserve, so if I ever need to make a side trip for any reason, range is not an issue to worry me. This also has me toying with the idea of getting one of the minicube batteries and another charger for work. Although for this bike saving 3 pounds is not a concern, but maybe on a second stealth bike build! Hnmmmmm...)
6) - 24"balloon Schwalbs on a long bike handle really well and are comfortable.
7) - This light the Tern came with works surprisingly well and is sufficient for lighting a curvy dark roadway far enough ahead when going 25 ~30 mph that I am not outrunning my brakes, if you get my drift. DEER! The light is Tern specific though, so this is just an observation for those considering buying one.
8) - Good brakes are a MUST for a heavy bike. Even more so if you like to go fast. Cars like to hide behind other parked cars and are fast buggers - like deer.
9) - I programmed the controller:
- for a gentle power and from a standstill it still will spin the tire in BOOST when I stand on it to shoot across an intersection
- so that it doesn't kick in until the pedal travel is twice the rotation as what it came programmed, because when I first installed it, trying to make a little forward adjustment while stopped red light, it nearly shot me into the crosswalk which was filled with ready victims minding their own business.
- so that the power does not diminish when I pedal faster - great effort is rewarded with great speed! Something my factory chicken legs never could give me.
- Having to pedal to go makes it very stealthy - some of our bike trails are heavily policed and they don't seem to notice I am going faster than my twiggy legs should be able to make a bike this big go, because I am sweating and panting so hard. The redness of my face makes it seem more believable too I guess.
10) - TOUR, at ~600 watts, is plenty to keep from sweating in the hot summer weather and ruining dress clothes should you find yourself wanting to bike somewhere nice to lunch from work without having to shower again when you come back (another benefit to the extra range from the big battery in this case).
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