The steepest hills

[Lowell]

Treehugger.com?? Hahahah, probably some whiners that had their pedals blown off by an ebiker.

I always slow down when I pass cyclists so they can get a good look at an ebike. Especially funny is when they start pedaling faster as they see me approaching.

[knightmb]

Treehugger.com?? Hahahah, probably some whiners that had their pedals blown off by an ebiker.

I always slow down when I pass cyclists so they can get a good look at an ebike. Especially funny is when they stard pedaling faster as they see me approaching.

That's so cruel, I thought I was the only one that did that in public

Yeah, I have noticed a developing divide between cyclist and e-bikers. Mainly the cyclist hate the e-bikes because they can go faster, but I just shrug it off and zoom up that steep hill like I was Lance Armstrong x 4

[xyster]

Yeah, I have noticed a developing divide between cyclist and e-bikers. Mainly the cyclist hate the e-bikes because they can go faster, but I just shrug it off and zoom up that steep hill like I was Lance Armstrong x 4

Just wait until 20-50 years from now when the digital divide is between cybornetically enhanced humans and the neo-luddites.

[Lowell]

I prefer Lance Armstrong x 10...

[fechter]

Holy S*it! - that's a steep hill.
I'd be afraid to go down that.

[lemmiwinks]

Holy S*it! - that's a steep hill.
I'd be afraid to go down that.

My thoughts exactly! Especially in the wet, those cobblestones or whatever they are don't inspire much confidence.

[fechter]

I took my Vego up a local street called Esmeyer Drive in San Rafael.
I was able to motor up to the highest part at around 15mph.

On the way down, my brakes almost completely faded.

Here's the profile of the hill using National Geograpic Topo:

The upper portion is an AVERAGE 15% grade.

[Lowell]

I tried Royal Oak hill in Burnaby, BC the other day and managed a steady 57km/h heading south between Deer Lake Parkway and Kingsway. I looked online, but couldn't find any info on percent grade. Anyone know where to find that info?

[Lowell]

[Lowell]

It turns out the city of Burnaby has fantastic topographical data on their web site! The middle of Royal Oak ave has exactly 12.77% grade. So my bike goes 35.4mph up a 12.8% grade carrying a 7lb charger/rack assembly and my work backpack of about 10lbs.

[Lowell]

Stewardson Way in New Westminster, BC: 55ft rise in 1290ft = 4.26%. My best speed up that hill is 47.8mph, and at that speed wind and an aero tuck make a big difference. Normally I top out around 44-45mph up that hill in comfort.

[EbikeMaui]

The video didn't have the wide angle so when climbing the hill it was pointed at the ground too much.The trip included going down to the ocean then back to where I started in 11.1 miles using 6.4 amp hours on 72 volt pack.Also using one gear ratio.You may notice that it took anout 4 amp hours to go about 4 miles up a average 20* grade.with a 2000 ft elevation rise in 2o minutes.Now lets see a hub motor ebike do the same.

http://tinyurl.com/ynsh69


Here is the video..
http://tinyurl.com/3ad8g2
http://tinyurl.com/yp8378

[Lowell]

Isn't this the exact same post as the one in the thread right below this one??

[EbikeMaui]

Isn't this the exact same post as the one in the thread right below this one??

The point is Where is there any video of a hub motor ebike climbing a 2000 ft rise in less than 18 minutes ?On the dirt pedaling or not ?

[TylerDurden]

I'm confused...

is that a 4mi run with a 2000' rise?

that would work out to a 9.4% grade.

4 x 5280 = 21120 2000/21120 = .0946

[Lowell]

Seems like every time a story is retold, the grade becomes a little steeper...

[EbikeMaui]

Seems like every time a story is retold, the grade becomes a little steeper...

If the steepest part of the was 30% and you couldn't do that what would the average grade matter?

[TylerDurden]

Seems like every time a story is retold, the grade becomes a little steeper...

If the steepest part of the was 30% and you couldn't do that what would the average grade matter?

For the sake of discussion we can say the average is 10%.

18mph, 50lb MTB, 160lb rider, 10% grade = 976 watts to the road... for 20min continous.

Seems like it might be doable...

[EbikeMaui]

Seems like every time a story is retold, the grade becomes a little steeper...

If the steepest part of the was 30% and you couldn't do that what would the average grade matter?

For the sake of discussion we can say the average is 10%.

18mph, 50lb MTB, 160lb rider, 10% grade = 976 watts to the road... for 20min continous.

Seems like it might be doable...

Get out the Xlyte dyno caculator to see how a loaded hub motor reacts at 18 mph burning up half of the 9oo watts in heat.Better yet lets a ViDEO of a 2000 ft rise climb no matter how long it takes.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 2082053937

[wren]

I live near Pittsburgh PA.

...

Lycras criticize me for desiring a pedal-assist bike for commuting.

...

I don't think they have any idea of what the hills are like around here - not miles long like you would find in the Rockies but very, very steep with no flat parts.

I'm hoping that pedelecs, ebikes (whatever) get more popular around here. We've got great bike trails (former railroad tracks) but the roads sure could be made more bike friendly.

DanEL,

Absolutely! I'm from Pittsburgh as well. The hills are the main reason I'm adding electric assist. They're also the reason I've purchased gears for the project. The secondary reason for an electric assist is to better maintain speed with the flow of traffic, since it's often necessary to take the lane around here.

I'm more than a little disappointed that an e-bike with gears may not be legal in Pennsylvania.

Anyway, here are some more Pittsburgh hills (just listing some above 20%).

37% Canton Avenue
32% Dornbush Street
29% Boustead Street
28% East Woodford Avenue
24% Rialto Street
23% Hampshire Avenue
22% Capital Avenue
22% Fallowfield Avenue
22% Potomac Avenue
21% Flatbush Avenue
21% Belasco Avenue
20% Walbridge Street
20% Dagmar Avenue

[Lowell]

Those are some pretty mean hills! What's the typical length?

[EbikeMaui]

I live near Pittsburgh PA.

...

Lycras criticize me for desiring a pedal-assist bike for commuting.

...

I don't think they have any idea of what the hills are like around here - not miles long like you would find in the Rockies but very, very steep with no flat parts.

I'm hoping that pedelecs, ebikes (whatever) get more popular around here. We've got great bike trails (former railroad tracks) but the roads sure could be made more bike friendly.

DanEL,

Absolutely! I'm from Pittsburgh as well. The hills are the main reason I'm adding electric assist. They're also the reason I've purchased gears for the project. The secondary reason for an electric assist is to better maintain speed with the flow of traffic, since it's often necessary to take the lane around here.

I'm more than a little disappointed that an e-bike with gears may not be legal in Pennsylvania.

Anyway, here are some more Pittsburgh hills (just listing some above 20%).

37% Canton Avenue
32% Dornbush Street
29% Boustead Street
28% East Woodford Avenue
24% Rialto Street
23% Hampshire Avenue
22% Capital Avenue
22% Fallowfield Avenue
22% Potomac Avenue
21% Flatbush Avenue
21% Belasco Avenue
20% Walbridge Street
20% Dagmar Avenue

Dam ! The world is NOT flat after all.

[knoxie]

Hi Randy

Yes it is good going up a 20% grade using only that much power and yes your system is efficient nobody is denying that but most people don't need their bikes to do this? also the hub motor geared or not is far simpler than what you have done for people to add to their bikes.

Your concept is a good one Randy there is no doubt and maybe it would work as a mass production bike system if made properly again nobody would argue that however as an add on kit its a little more impractical and as most people don't need the sort of hill climbing ability that you need then there is a very limited market for a dual chain driven kit with an expensive hub, you may have the skills but most e-bikers are not as practical, like them or loathe them the simple hub motor even with all its inefficiency is a good all rounder?

10 million sold last year in China alone!!

You have been talking up this system for so long now we all know about it Randy and again yes its a good idea but your constant bragging just wears people down, when folks have spent 1000's of dollars on e-bike kit and come here for some friendly advice they dont need to be told they have bought a pile of shit when they havent? as they don't need motors to climb volcanoes.

Also Randy don't forget your bike in most countries would be illegal due to its output power, I doubt it would climb any better than any current geared alternative at 250-500W and again its illegal to use on the road around your volcanoes again not much Market for it in Hawaii. I cant see the Chinese changing their designs any time soon Randy.

I agree with you that gears are a better option for hill climbing than none geared systems, that's why I also use gears as well on my USPD and in the Puma, I haven't found a hill yet that I have slowed under 10mph and can climb using similar power to what you are using.

Its a shame Randy as maybe with a bit more diplomacy you may have been able to get your system off the ground properly a few years back but if you treated your business partners the same way you do the folks on this board I very much doubt you would get past the first meeting.

Leopard spots etc etc.

Knoxie

[EbikeMaui]

Also Randy don't forget your bike in most countries would be illegal due to its output power,Knoxie

...........................
So is any hub motor that is overvolted with out a limiter.The rest is only your opinion and others who are in deninal about hub motor use on hills.

[Lowell]

10 million hub motors sold? That's a lot of asses!

I think someone is just bitter that the world doesn't see ebikes his way. 10 million people must be wrong...