Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

I honestly have no idea. We don't get much "weather" here in Carlsbad.

A lot of folks use this system, however, in areas where they do get weather. The throttle assembly uses a hall-effect sensor, so it's probably immune. The motor is not sealed, but designed in such a way that water entrapment is unlikely. The controller itself is reasonably well-sealed, and I have no idea whether water would be likely to enter the battery. The end-caps themselves are not sealed, however you could always run a bead of RTV around them.

Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

You know how after you build a turbo Miata, there follows several months of juvenile bliss in trouncing older Corvettes and newer 350Zs at stoplight races, just so you can see the look on the driver's face when they catch up to you at the next light?

So yesterday afternoon I'm riding home, and I've taken the long way west on Poinsettia Ln. It culminates with a half-mile stretch of solid 10-15% grade before you finally crest at El Camino Real.

As I approach the uphill section, I see off ahead of me at some remove a pair of riders. They are the stereotypical weekend warrior set around these parts; lean and muscular, shiny spandex shorts, clip-in shoes and carbon-fiber road bikes that weigh about 2 lbs and cost several thousand dollars. And they're gunning it hard up the hill.

Well, this obviously cannot stand.

With its little 36v battery, my bike isn't exactly a screamer, but there's one thing it can do and that's climb hills. Well, some serious human effort is required if you want to climb a hill with anything resembling speed, but I'm headed home for a shower anyway, so who cares if I work up a bit of a sweat.

I managed to pass them just as we were approaching El Camino, whereupon we all paused for a few swigs from the water bottle. I was breathing pretty hard, but here I am shirtless, a bit flabby, wearing denim shorts and chunky leather boots, on my cheap steel-framed mountain bike with a friggin' basket on the back, standing there next to Lance Armstrong Jr. and Lance Armstrong Jr. the second. And the look on their faces as one of them asked "did you catch up to us back there?" as their eyes ran up and down my rather motley-looking rig was just absolutely priceless.

Braineack

iTrader: (62)

you troll.

gearhead_318

iTrader: (1)

Dude, you need to loose the jorts. Please Joe, go buy a few pairs of basketball shorts instead. But that was some good real-life trolling.

curly

iTrader: (25)

I've found basketball shorts to be too slippery, allowing my boxers to easily ride up to places they're not supposed to do.

cargo shorts however, provide much more freedom of movement over jorts, and avoid the above mentioned wedgies.

God job Joe, they hopefully gave you kudos for your efforts, although no offense I'd rather have their bike and be in their shape than vise versa. Although, like you, there's no way I could get in shape around my area on a bike with the hills here.

Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

Who knew you could troll someone on a bicycle?

I live in So Cal. Denim jeans are a common and acceptable form of attire here, and go well with Hawaiin shirts. This allows me to ride to work, spend a day at the office, and ride home without having to change my lower attire.

Basketball shorts, by comparison, are the mark of a douchebag wanna-be gang member around these parts. This ain't hoosier country.

Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

Yeah, I hear you there. I do respect the hell out of those guys and normally do my best to be courteous. Our bike lanes are pretty wide on most streets, so I always allow them room to pass on the straight sections, and I don't usually overtake them on the hills. I just couldn't resist the temptation yesterday.

It's only been a few weeks, but I can already feel results. I'm definitely gaining both strength and endurance, and picking up speed on the inclines. Long way to go, but it's nice to see results, however small.

The thing which I didn't expect is that it's really improving my energy level throughout the workday as well. On those days when I bring the car (usually because I need to transport something) I notice a difference in how I feel, particularly later in the afternoon. In hindsight, I recognize this as having been the old "normal."

curly

iTrader: (25)

Ah. Here in Portlandia it's cargo shorts, Birkenstocks (no ******* socks), and hemp t-shirt.

pusha

iTrader: (5)

He went to the University of Florida.

Gah, cargo shorts are ******* terrible. If anyone has doubts, stop wearing them for a few weeks and you'll realize how awful they really look.

mgeoffriau

iTrader: (7)

Get an NBA jersey with the name of an obscure (preferably white) basketball player from 1995 or earlier and wear it with your jorts (and if you have them, some Rayban Wayfarers). The hipsters will love you.

JasonC SBB

I take it the Armstrongs didn't recognize the battery and motor?

gearhead_318

iTrader: (1)

Gators wear jean shorts

pusha

iTrader: (5)

Honestly, if you go to any SEC school on a gameday, you're going to see old ******* in jean shorts.

My Fourth attire:

Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

WTF?

You get a cat picture:





I don't think I even owned a pair of shorts in college. Black jeans were my standard attire. In retrospect, owning shorts would have made the summers slightly less unbearable.

This is also the first time I've heard of this. Guess I didn't fraternize with enough Georgia fans. Of course, the only times I ever actually went to a game, I was wearing an ESPN vest.



No, that's the weird thing. So far, not a single bicyclist has recognized (or even noticed) it.

I admitted my secret to the Armstrongs though, and usually take the time to proselytize to anybody who will listen.

The weird thing, however, is that motorcyclists always seem to notice. None of them have guessed it on the first try so far, but I've pulled alongside a number of bikers at stoplights who has asked me what "that thing" is. Just this morning, a guy on a Harley thought it was a coffee thermos. Now that I think about it, they've all been on cruisers. Might just be a coincidence, as there tends to be a sharp division in helmet styles. The cruiser guys all wear half-helmets (conducive to conversation) while the sportbike guys all wear closed lids.

mgeoffriau

iTrader: (7)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/19/fa...19noticed.html

golftdibrad

http://www.mevltd.co.uk/exocet_gallery.htm


I like the idea of building a hybrid. There was a guy in GRM that did it with a fiero.

Personally, I like goin' fast to much to 'waste' time building a penny pincher. I'd rater my TDI.

y8s

iTrader: (8)

such a weird cause you have.

Stein

iTrader: (46)

No offense, but, why wouldn't it be? I could have guessed that from here, 1500 miles away and having been there exactly twice in my life. Stereotypical PNW'ers.

MazDilla

iTrader: (7)

Joe, I live about 6 (hilly) miles from the office and I am seriously considering an ebike kit to make commuting by bike feasible. Your post has got me lurking hardcore over on the ES forums.

I like the clean simple battery pack in your Amped kit, but it sounds a little weak. Would you recommend upping the volts? Perhaps changing to a 48v 15 Ah LiFePo4 pack in a trunk bag on the back rack?

Morning summer temps are bearable here (80's), but afternoons can be 100+ (109 today) and I would like to zip home all electric at the end of the day.

FRT_Fun

iTrader: (19)

I'm also seriously considering this and have the same thoughts.