Yes but not just a simple bicycle, an amazing technology feast… It is an electric bike, but a mountain bike one… It is electric but it is not a motorbike, you must pedal and the electric motor will “Help”. The motor can provide between 40% and 275% of what you put into the pedals. It constantly measure the level of torque applied at the pedals and help you. The motor and the intelligent bits around the motor are made by Bosch. You can select between several levels of support from ECO to TURBO… It is a proper mountain bike as well, with oil actuated disk brakes, full lockable suspension, hydro formed aluminium frame, quick shifting Shimano gears etc etc… I bought this beautiful machine from E-bike shop in the UK. I spoke to Martin and he helped me decide which model to go for. He is only 25 or 27 years old but has 10 years of electric bikes experience and a really nice business, I can only recommend.
I picked up my bike yesterday after a month wait for the right model to be released by the German manufacturer Haibike. Like all “fancy” bikes they are expensive but when the manufacturing is of this quality and the overall design is this well balanced you have to accept that it takes hours and hours of research and development to get to this point.
So far, I love the bike even if I have had a bit of a disastrous first day with it…. I went out with my son to the local hockey field. All good. Then I decided to go an “test” my new capabilities. Unfortunately a small glitch with the speed sensor is removing a bit of the fun. The assist power gets very confused by wrong speed readings and the system goes into an error mode. However, the rest of the bike is still amazing.
Yes, it is a bit heavy but so am I….and I am a lot more heavy than the bike….it will be easier for me to lose a few kilos than buy a lighter bike. During my little excursion I absolutely adored the going up the grass fields in the local park and I felt free to go anywhere with the comfort feeling that coming back was not going to be an issue. I was out for about an hour and the batteries were still showing full. Unfortunately between 2 nice pieces of off-road, I managed to get a puncture (!!!). I have not had a puncture for 20 years ! A small piece of glass went trough tyre and inner tube…had to walk back to the hockey field and get picked-up by Manu…. Then all afternoon running around the shops to get the right size of inner tube (27.5inch). I fixed the puncture quickly but took time fiddling about with the speed sensor. I managed to get it working again, but it is sporadic. I think it will need a new part.
I still went out this evening and was able to try the “moon lights” which are really good as well. I went for this model for the front. This is the kind of light that allow you to see where you are going not just a small blinking led. Long post. Lots of fun. Can’t wait to go out with my brother at the local trail centre in Bracknell. And check the Blue Loop here.
(Update) After a few emails exchange with Martin from the bike shop, I have fixed the speed sensor issue and everything is in good working condition. I love the bike, it is great fun and still proper exercise.
(Update 2) We went to the Bracknell forest tracks. It is a great place and we all had a blast. My wife and kids rented bikes onsite from the Swinley bikehub. The bikes were in very good condition with the kids ones only 1 week old. It was very wet but the tracks are really good. Only a couple of closed sections to keep it safe.
We got all muddy and had a lot of fun, unfortunately within minutes of bouncing up and down on the track, the speed sensor failed again and the motor would kick-in and kick-out, which was very frustrating. I tried to fix back home on the stand but I definitely think it will require a new part. Will wait on Martin’s expertise but I am pretty sure the sensor cable is faulty. Still the bike is a proper mountain bike so I had a normal ride, just a bit heavier.
(Update 3) Went to the bike shop and had the speed sensor replaced for a new one. Now bike is working as expected. Great fun. Have done 100 km on it already ! Yesterday went on a 25km trip around Chiswick/Richmond and Twikenham along the river. Very nice. Spot the MOTORWAY !
With the Quadcopter, it is really important to make sure that the batteries you are using are properly charged. This is because the voltage of the Lithium Polymer batteries drops very quickly at the back-end of their life. As such, you can be caught by surprise with your Quad away from you, running out of juice and no opportunity to come back to home base. Losing the quad and the video camera is an expensive problem.
Nothing can beat a Sunday morning breakfast home made croissant and home made caramel au beurre sale…Happy Sunday.
