That seat was not chosen!
Pam went with a cushy gel, cruiser-bike seat - noting this bike isn’t meant to be ridden with padded shorts - it’s also worth noting, within a few minutes you realize that you’re just cruising on this bike — in no big hurry.
- Photo 21 of 37
- 1 September 2006
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throttle/grip/cable is better, but still i worry a little. i’ll send a thumb paddle type throttle pronto if you find there are interference issues. no big hurry? was there a malfunction? reports to follow? i’m dying here.
o, saddle: 2 words: brooks b17
I think the thumb throttle would be mucho betta — this setup works, but I find myself squeezing the throttle with just my thumb and index finger. Not sure exactly why, but suspect it’s the barcon cable running under the bar. I’ve got a full posting report coming, after an underwhelming first ride from, of course, all the guys in the shop and then myself.
The anemic power, we later realized, happened because the battery didn’t get a full charge. Eamon did plug it in, but when you turn the shop lights off, the power goes off as well! Remarkably, on a 1.5 hour charge before Pam rode it, it did ok. And I took it up a steep hill with a child on the back and it was definitely a powered assist, not snappy but good. As you said, Your timely and appropriate shifting permits the motor to operate within a small band of powerful and efficient speeds at all times. This is key.
So today, after a full charge, we’re going to ride Bettie all over town and report. I’ve also got a video I’m editing now and will upload it and post on first impressions, our plans for Bettie, and all.
Agreed. Pam picked out the Brooks Lady Edition (I’m calling it that, cause I can’t find it on their site). It’s wide, with a flowery imprint. It needs an adaptor to fit a modern seatpost so that’s coming.
i’ll send you a thumb throttle today. with barcons, i prefer to cut the first housing section a bit straight, and wrap it at most 1 turn so the cable peels away from the bars rather sharply to the downtube stop. if you can touch the cable with your fingers while engaging the throttle, it’s questionable i’d say.
please note per the getting started docs (http://cleverchimp.com/products/stokemonkey/support/getting_started/) that the battery will be a tad anemic for the first few cycles, and you should avoid very hard use (high mode - outboard toggle position) during this period. you could damage the battery by pushing it hard to start out. if performance continues to be underwhelming, i’ll send you a DrainBrain to help diagnose whether the battery’s sub-par.