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Cycling around Ireland on a DIY electric bike

  • 13-05-2014 10:13am
    #1
    The One Doctor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,339 ✭✭✭


    I know that most of you are athletes who think nothing of cycling up a cliff with a flat tyre. I'm not an athlete, but I do have a dodgy electric bike to make up for some of it. In July I might be at a bit of a loose end and want to make the most of it, so I'll be setting off around Ireland on it for a very cheap Not So Grand Tour.

    The bike has a range of about 60km with pedalling. A quick charge at lunch will take about an hour and get me another 40km. That's 100km total. The kicker is that I want to do the whole thing without staying in a B&B/hotel/hostel and stay away from main roads as much as possible.

    (On a more serious note, I also want to raise awareness for people who are coping with depression and how others can help them.)

    This all sounded easy enough until I thought about weight. My neglected Carrera hybrid will be shouldering 140kg of me, battery/motor combo and camping stuff. If the ebike bit fails I'll be screwed if there are hills in my way.

    To summarise, I need a bit of advice. What's the best (i.e, flattest) route? Is there a good way to minimise weight on the trip? Is 100km a day enough? Is camping really feasible?

    Thanks.


Comments

  • #2
    beazee
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,343 ✭✭✭beazee


    www.warmshowers.org should address your sleepover needs.

    1 hr to charge 2/3 capacity? What type of battery is that? Li-Poly?


  • #3
    The One Doctor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,339 ✭✭✭The One Doctor


    beazee wrote: »
    www.warmshowers.org should address your sleepover needs.

    1 hr to charge 2/3 capacity? What type of battery is that? Li-Poly?

    LiFePo4 with a fastish charger.


  • #4
    The One Doctor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,339 ✭✭✭The One Doctor


    It occurs to me that some cyclists might think I'm cheating by using an ebike. They're right - and wrong. I'm not very fit, I have almost no time for exercise and I live too far away from work to commute by bike. But I do get the advantage of being out in the air riding at my own pace, not having to worry about losing momentum like so many cyclists do. It's freedom, it's exercise and it's so much easier then slogging up a hill in bottom gear!


  • #5
    beazee
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,343 ✭✭✭beazee


    You're not cheating as long as you're not overtaking them on the steepest hill pointing fingers. Otherwise whatever floats your boat.
    Show us your bike, tell us more about it.


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