argosnotch
1 µW
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2021
- Messages
- 4
I've been reading these forums for a few weeks now as I'm contemplating adding a mid-drive to my bike (for only recreational riding in the city on roads and some paths). I currently own a 2010 Norco Ceres https://www.norco.com/bike-archives/2010/ceres/. It's a belt drive with an Alfine 8 IGH. I really liked the belt drive, and am trying to keep it if I can overcome its drawbacks. Reading about the builds people have done with the belt drive, it seems ditching the Alfine for a Sturmey-Archer cs-rk3 3-speed with spacers, solves the belt line problems. I've not owned a 3-speed before, so am concerned the gear range isn't enough.
I only rode recreationally (3-4 times a month, 6 months out of the year), but stopped riding about 5 years ago as the Seattle hills (plus age, fitness, and injuries) became just too hard and not much fun. It's five years later, and the hills look 5x as steep today. For context, I live at the top of a 1 mile, 450 foot elevation hill, and any riding I would do ended with that hill. Not to mention, going anywhere in the city is up/down/up/down hills (lots of them quite steep at 9-15% or more.
With the hills here, and my lack of fitness, is trying to go to a 3-speed a mistake? Ideally, I'd like to pair it the with torque-sensing TSDZ2 but worried it wouldn't have enough power. With either Bafang motor, I'm also concerned about the cadence required. Being an older, recreational rider, my "cruise" cadence is slower (60-75). It seems these motors are happier spinning a lot faster. Is this a recipe for disappointment?
If the hill issues can be solved by gearing, is the 3-speed going to be just be too slow (or spinning to fast) when not on hills? Bike currently has 50T/22T. I don't think smaller than 50T fits on the mid-drives. The largest rear cog is only 24T.
I'd also need to upgrade my wheels (for the 3-speed plus existing wheels are too narrow), brakes (have lower end mechanical discs), and Gates drive system (currently have the original non-centertrack system). Given all this, would I be happier buying an new off the shelf ebike that includes a belt drive like the Priority Current.
Thanks in advance for any insights,
Argosnotch
I only rode recreationally (3-4 times a month, 6 months out of the year), but stopped riding about 5 years ago as the Seattle hills (plus age, fitness, and injuries) became just too hard and not much fun. It's five years later, and the hills look 5x as steep today. For context, I live at the top of a 1 mile, 450 foot elevation hill, and any riding I would do ended with that hill. Not to mention, going anywhere in the city is up/down/up/down hills (lots of them quite steep at 9-15% or more.
With the hills here, and my lack of fitness, is trying to go to a 3-speed a mistake? Ideally, I'd like to pair it the with torque-sensing TSDZ2 but worried it wouldn't have enough power. With either Bafang motor, I'm also concerned about the cadence required. Being an older, recreational rider, my "cruise" cadence is slower (60-75). It seems these motors are happier spinning a lot faster. Is this a recipe for disappointment?
If the hill issues can be solved by gearing, is the 3-speed going to be just be too slow (or spinning to fast) when not on hills? Bike currently has 50T/22T. I don't think smaller than 50T fits on the mid-drives. The largest rear cog is only 24T.
I'd also need to upgrade my wheels (for the 3-speed plus existing wheels are too narrow), brakes (have lower end mechanical discs), and Gates drive system (currently have the original non-centertrack system). Given all this, would I be happier buying an new off the shelf ebike that includes a belt drive like the Priority Current.
Thanks in advance for any insights,
Argosnotch