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E-Bikes

Today was very hot. The first triple digit day of many I'm afraid. I mowed my lawns and came home and rehydrated :) I didn't even cook dinner. I ordered a pizza I was being such a slug. After dinner I went riding. I took my best battery and rode it home on fumes. I logged 47 miles. It was 103° when I left and only 89° when I got home. Oddly, there was zero traffic on the sidewalk. :)

My third loop I pulled into the doggie park to get a drink. They have a very nice non refrigerated water fountain there. It has a little guy fountain, a water bottle fountain, a big person fountain, and a place to fill up a water bowl. I rode past two ladies and a dog on their way from the parking lot to the dog park. After getting a drink I walked back to my bike to find the elderly lady staring at my bike. She asked how I liked it and naturally that spawned a lengthy conversation. She has an interest in acquiring an e-trike and was quizzing me for information. I have not shopped trikes and really know little about them. I know what I would be looking for if I were in the market.
I tried to give her some good advice. The worst part about shopping for an e-bike or trike around here is you are at the mercy of less than a hand full of retailers where you can do a hands on and maybe even a test ride. That hands on luxury costs around a couple of grand more than comparable bikes on the net. It's scary to be a consumer!

I took the incorrect brake purchase to my local ups store this morning before mowing. I said that I have an amazon return, I showed the return qr code that was on my phone to the young lady, she scanned it, gave me a receipt, and whiz bang it was a done deal. Before I got home I had an email stating that I had successfully returned the item and should receive my refund by tomorrow. I have never returned anything to amazon. I was pleased with the ease of the process. I hope I don't make such a blunder in the future. The replacement brakes are to be delivered tomorrow. With some luck, I'll get them installed and bedded in. I'm more than anxious to have a functional front brake again. I reach for it every time I want to brake.
 
There was no riding today. I awoke to an early morning thunderstorm. It has rained a little to a lot at times the entire day. The temperature had fallen from eighty two degrees at midnight to fifty eight this morning. The high today was sixty three, wet and overcast. My brake delivery showed it was out for delivery so I pulled my front wheel off of the bike and brought it in. I removed the old rotor that I had reinstalled to keep the threaded mounting holes clean while riding. I got all of the tools out to install the new and waited... and waited. I brought up the tracking around six pm and it still showed out for delivery with an expected time between nine and ten. That's crazy. I can't imagine anyone needing an ordered item at that time of night. Oh well.
I hope to get the rotor installed tonight. I'm scheduled to take my wife's jeep in for service in the morning, then I have todays lawns to mow, and with some luck I will then have time to install my brakes.

I received an email at 8:54 saying my delivery was attempted. Unfortunately, we ran into an issue when attempting your delivery. We will try again tomorrow.

I can't imagine what "issue" they ran into. Perhaps they broke a nail or were simply not in the mood. 🤣
 
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While I waited for the water to dry from the grass, I ran to Lowes and found the correct size and thread for a little bolt that vibrated out of my display clamp. It was too long so I had to cut it down. I then went mowing. I hadn't been home fifteen minutes when my brakes showed up. I put the rotor on the front wheel and proceeded to install the caliper and the lever/reservoir. These brakes are shipped with the brake fluid pre bled. I watched videos and assumed that the cap on the line to the caliper would pierce when tightened into the lever. That was wrong!! Without instructions I tightened it in but it wasn't about to pierce. Instead it was supposed to be unscrewed. Sooo.. I ruined the end of the hydraulic line. It was longer than needed so I ordered a set of barbs and olives to make up a new end once I cut the old off... five bucks and change. Supposed to be delivered Sunday. Live and learn.
Next I discovered that the cutoff wire from the brake is the male half of a two pin connection and the wire from the controller is also a male two pin. I'm on Amazon again to order two female to female two pin cables. I had hoped for adapters but no such luck. I'm supposed to receive the cutoff connectors by the 9th of July. If it sounds like I'm having fun.. I'm not. I was out of time so I put my tools up and cooked dinner.

I went riding after dinner. It was a nice evening and riding was fun. It was cool and the sidewalk had riders and walkers enjoying it. When I was finishing my third loop I could see some dark clouds to my North. It looked to be raining as well. It was far enough away that it wasn't a thread. About the time I got into town and contemplating another loop, the wind suddenly came violently from the North. It was a cold wind and was making riding difficult as the gusts almost swept the bike out from under me a time or two. I decided to head on home. I felt certain it was going to rain but somehow it didn't. It did drop the mid eighties into the sixties which seemed pretty cold dressed in shorts.

Tomorrow, I plan to install the rear brakes. I might as well find out what else can go wrong so I can order more parts. :) I should be able to install the brake but it won't shut the motor off. There are riders that think brake cutoffs are just a problem waiting to happen. The other camp thinks the brakes last longer without fighting any rider delay in pedaling when braking. I figure the bike came with cutoffs for a reason.
Once I get the female to female patch cords, I'll use them if I can. The wiring could easily be exactly backwards and there is no fixing that. However, upon inspecting the cutoff from the original brake I removed, it looks to be a magnet switch. It either breaks or makes a complete circuit when the lever is pulled. It's DC so polarity shouldn't be a factor. (that's my guess anyway) I'll know the answer sometime in mid July... sheesh.
 
Today was a better day in the olbriar bike shop. It took some time to remove the existing rear brake and install the new. I didn't encounter any problem and the brakes work fine. The lever has more travel before braking than it should. I suspect there is a bit of air in the line. It will bubble into the highest point which is the reservoir after a few rides. I don't have a bleeding kit but I can get most of the air out by adding more mineral oil. I will probably have to do the same thing to the front brake when I get it working... hopefully tomorrow.

I took the bike out and bedded the back brake in. It's a matter of coming to a few quick stops just short of locking up the wheel. It beds a microscopic layer of brake pad onto the rotor which aids in braking and keeps the brake quiet. I returned home, put up my tools, changed clothes and went riding. It was nice and the wind wasn't ruining it for everyone. It wasn't crowded on the sidewalk but I wasn't the only person on it for a change. I enjoyed 46 miles of fun before I was low on battery.

I had a new tube ordered to repair a flat on my mower velke I use at the cabin. It had arrived while I was riding so I installed it, fixed dinner, and ate. I then went riding again. It had gotten a bit windy and that thinned the sidewalk users. I think I only saw one cyclist and two walkers. I managed to get 46 miles out of my original battery, much to my surprise. The bike is running good and it shows with the better battery mileage. Ninety two miles out of the two oldest batteries today is great.

I hope to go riding in the morning. I'm smoking a rack of beef ribs and will have a four to five hour window without needing attention. I'd like to get the front brake functional but it all depends on the timing of the parts delivery. It's also father's day so my local kids will likely be by. My best shot is to ride before parts and company.
 
It rained 3.57" of rain early this morning. The front put on quite a light show with wind that took out branches and a few trees about town. It was super wet and riding was out of the picture. My two children that live local came by with their significant other and spent most of the afternoon. I needed to be home to tend to my beef ribs I was smoking. My parts and the tool were delivered to fix my brakes while my kids were here. It took no time to finish the brake job once my company left. I had a short window while my rack was resting and I rode two quick loops. I came home and we ate dinner and then I went riding again. I rode until it was almost dark and I was nearly out of battery. Between the two rides I logged 65 mile.

I had fun riding today. It was mostly overcast sky with nearly zero wind. The temperature reached 88° at it's peak which is ideal for riding. There were more people out enjoying the weather today. I saw three different mom, pop, and kids groups riding as well as five or six single cyclists. There were numerous dog walkers and lone walkers and joggers out today as well. It was fun seeing so many people enjoying the day.

After my first ride, I tried to top off my brakes. Both levers do nothing for half of their travel. All the braking happen with the second half of the pull. There is plenty of braking power but I'm not accustomed to partially pulling the lever without a little braking happening. Adding fluid didn't gain me a thing. Neither reservoir seemed short of fluid. I'll have to do some R&D on the brakes. They might be designed to be braking the way they are. I will say that both levers act exactly the same. I am very happy with the braking function. I can stop the bike faster than I ever could with the old brakes. They run quite and I don't mind not having the cutoffs functioning. I'll use the female to female patch cords I ordered when they come in. If they work, I'll keep them installed. If not.... I'll just live without.
 
I researched my half pull brakes last night. With half of the lever travel being soft or non braking is either worn out brake pads, low on liquid, or air in the line. I know the pads are new and I have topped off the brake fluid in both brakes. That only leave air in the line as the culprit. I tried driving the air to the top of the reservoirs without any luck. I ordered a bleed kit for the brakes. It increases the fluid capacity and lets you tap on the lines and pump the brakes to get the air to bubble to the added reservoir. For twelve bucks, I will give it a try.

It rained again early this morning so it was too wet to ride or mow. It was one pm when the grass was dry enough to mow. I was late getting my mowing done and eating dinner. I went riding after dinner but I didn't dress warm enough and called it once I got cold. It only dropped into the upper sixties but with the wind chill it was too cold for shorts and a mesh jersey top. I logged thirty four miles. I met one rider my first loop and two joggers. It was a pretty evening to ride. I just didn't dress for the occasion.
 
So there's no bleed nipple on the calipers like on car brakes?

You could remove the caliper, elevate it, crack the line and pump the brake to get the air out, then tighten it. Doing that a few times should be enough. I suppose that functionally that is what the bleed kit will do.
 
Fox Mulder said:
So there's no bleed nipple on the calipers like on car brakes?

You could remove the caliper, elevate it, crack the line and pump the brake to get the air out, then tighten it. Doing that a few times should be enough. I suppose that functionally that is what the bleed kit will do.
Click to expand...
The bleed kit is nothing more than an added reservoir that screws into the access port of the brake. Pumping the lever and tapping on the lines forces the air to the high point of the system which is the kit while keeping the system submerged in fluid. For twelve bucks I've ordered the added reservoir, the converter to connect the kit to the brakes I have, and a stopper that fits into the kit to preserve the brake fluid once the air is purged so it can be reused.
 
It was boggy all day and then it rained. I waited until after noon before I started mowing. The grass was still wet and a couple of the yards were muddy in places. The ground has gone from being like concrete to being muddy and slick. I managed to mow all but one back yard that was just too muddy to put a mower on. When finished, I came home and employed my delivered bleeding kit. I would say it was over priced for such a simple design but it worked great. There was air in both brakes and the bleeder cup made removal easy. It started raining before I was done working so there wasn't a test ride. I can tell by the feel and it's easy to see the action of the front caliper that I'm all fixed up. I'll still try the cutoff patch cords when and if they arrive from China. I'm good with or without.
 
It rained again this morning so it was afternoon before I could mow. It was slow mowing with the wet grass and the soft ground so I didn't get home until dinner time. I went riding after dinner. As miserable as the day was, it was a beautiful evening. I rode with my best battery and logged 50 miles. The sidewalk was busy with walkers and joggers and I saw one lone rider and two different couples riding. It was a fun evening.

My brakes performed flawlessly. They are no longer mush but they still have some unnecessary lever travel before the pads make contact with the rotor. It is the way they are designed. I read that a fix is to remove the wheel and close the brakes without the rotor. Then gently pry them open enough to reinsert the wheel with the rotor. I just don't think I'll be doing that. The extra space will make the reinstall of the back wheel following a flat a lot easier. It also allows slight wheel wobble without the rotor ticking on the pads. I'm happy! I'm thinking my old brakes should have had more clearance. I will get accustomed to these brakes and love them.
 
It rained a third of an inch today. Most of it fell this morning but it sprinkled a bit here and there throughout the afternoon. I didn't get to mow at all today. Counting Sunday, so far 4.79" has fallen here and we have a system just North of here that might add to that. My buddy that I sold my first RCS to lives around ten miles North and just text saying he's closing in on two inches for today. It's starting to be a bit boggy.

I did go riding after dinner. I rode up my original battery which gave me 39 miles of fun tonight. I didn't see any cyclists on the sidewalk but I did see a number of pedestrians and one jogger. It was a nice night but super humid with a threat of rain my entire ride.

We have an early evening out planned with my son and his wife tomorrow. I am hoping I have a chance to get my lawns mowed first. I doubt that I get to ride tomorrow. I hate getting behind but that's the way it works sometimes.

I might get to ride and not mow tomorrow. Flash flood warnings blowing up my phone because over two inches of rain has fallen in the last half hour. ... sheesh!
 
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Before the rains moved out, a little over five inches fell in my area. There was flooding in the low areas as you can imagine. I waited as late as I dared to give the yards a chance to dry some before mowing. I started on the crummy yards and worked my way towards the the nicest of my Thursday lawns. It all worked out and I was home, showered and dressed when the kids came and picked us up. We were eating at a hot spot in town so we ate early to beat the crowd. I was home early enough that I had a chance for that ride I thought I wouldn't get to have.

I rode four loops and it was pretty much dark when I got home. There were a few walkers and dog walkers on the sidewalk but I didn't see any riders. It was humid with no wind and a pleasant upper seventies temp. I found a billfold tonight. It was in the road beside the curb in the town South. I stopped and picked it up. It was well worn. Being as it contained nothing at all, I suspect either the owner, or whoever cleaned it out if not the owner, tossed it out their window. I logged 47 miles today and hope I get to ride some more tomorrow.
 
It rained again early this morning but only .11". I rode early and being as there was zero wind, I did an experiment. I rode the battery down like usual but I rode entirely in #2 assist level, avoided using the throttle and I kept the bike under 20mph. The experiment would have proved better but the next to the last loop the wind started blowing from the South. My last loop it was blowing at least ten mph or more... I'm only guessing. The results of my test ride was eye opening all the same. I was riding with my second best battery that was getting around 35 miles use before the motor and brake change and then maybe 40 miles max with similar weather and my normal riding. Today, I logged 55 miles by riding in the next lower assist level and basically cruising instead of working hard at it. That really is a lot of difference. I like riding hard and pushing the bike... and myself. It comes at a mileage cost. The sidewalk was busy this morning. I liked that!

I spent the afternoon trying to get to my cabin to mow. Every avenue we attempted was closed due to high water. We gave up and then couldn't find a direct route home.
It was fun just driving around. I've lived in this area 73 years and actually traveled a couple of roads that I've never been on before today.

I wasn't hungry so I went riding again once we found our way home. I pretty much had my loops to myself. It had warmed into the low nineties with high humidity and a fairly strong South wind. It wasn't riding weather without some assistance. I rode 48 mile tonight to bring today's total to 103 miles.

I saw a funny... or not so funny sight on my way home after my last loop. I have to cross an East West four lane to go home. I was heading North and a truck was across the intersection signaling to turn East. I never consider I have the right of way on my bike so I waved him to turn in front of me. Behind his truck, he had a small trailer with a trampoline on its side standing straight up. It was a full size tramp so either 12' or 14' was standing up until he turned which put the surface of the trampoline catching that South wind I mentioned. The trampoline started to lean to the North and slowly fell onto the road though it was still strapped to the trailer. It twisted that trailer right off of his truck and he was in one lane and the tramp was in two lanes. Only the far right West bound was debris free. I thought about offering my assistance but quicky realized I was not going to be of any help. I have no idea how to fix that mess. Getting it off the road would be the priority. It's not like there was a twelve foot space to drag it to. I don't know if the trailer was ruined. I have no idea how long it would take to break down the tramp so it could be safely hauled. Bad deal....
 
Today was a miserable weather day. It was hot, windy, and humid. I spent the day working in the yard. I then cooked out and ate dinner. I wasn't going to ride but I decided I would be sorry if I didn't. I geared up and did battle with the wind and humidity. My station said it felt like 103° and the max gust was 28.9mph. Even riding an e-bike struggled to make the ride fun tonight. I saw nobody out during my ride.
It was that crummy. I logged 42 miles and I hope the heat dries out the humidity in a couple of days.
 
I rode following my mowing. It was simply terrible out. When I left the office, my station said it felt like 108° outside. Temps in the mid to high nineties with the humidity around 70% with a double digit mph wind takes the fun right out of riding. I saw zero people on my 40 mile trek. I came home and fixed dinner with no intentions of additional riding. After dinner, I settled down to watch some baseball and noticed that the wind had died down some and the temperature had dropped into the upper eighties. What the hell.. why not. I went riding again. I still didn't see anyone on the sidewalk but it wasn't nearly so miserable out. I rode another 42 miles and put the bike up.

I'm really happy with the performance of my bike. Getting that heavy tire off the back wheel has helped my mileage. I also think the latest motor is a bit more battery kind. I don't have the upgraded controller installed and that is also helping with the mileage. The new brakes might be gaining me a bit too. Between all of the new variables, I'm getting at least ten miles additional riding per charge.

Speaking of additional miles, the 20th of July will be the anniversary of riding this bike.
The last anniversary, I rode 10,763 miles that year for a 29.49 miles per day average. So far this year, I have around 9,600 on the RCS and 2,000 on the Aquila. With almost a month yet to ride, I will shatter last year's average. The first year's average is all skewed because I had my heart attack and had to wait three month before I was cleared to ride again. To increase that average each year makes me feel like I'm giving it my best shot.
 
I came home from mowing and was pretty much worn out. Almost ten inches of rain last week has the grass going crazy. Every lawn I mowed today was in dire need of mowing. Most looked like I forgot to mow them last week. Added to the extra work in trying to make the lawns look groomed, it was miserably hot and humid. I had all the fun I needed. After relaxing, rehydrating, and having a sandwich, I felt up to riding a loop or two. I rode up the original bike battery and came home. I logged 40 miles which was impressive to me with it being so windy. Naturally, I was the lone idiot out riding tonight.
 
Today was very much like yesterday. It was just a bit cooler and windier. It really wasn't too bad working even though the humidity was stupid high. I finished up my mowing and came home and relaxed. I ate a sandwich and then suited up and went for a ride. I used my best battery tonight and managed to get 46 miles out of it even though the wind was brutal. There were a few people on the sidewalk tonight. I saw a lone cyclist on my first loop and a couple riding my third loop. There were a couple of dog walkers and two ladies walking together as well. It wasn't nice out but it seemed half decent after the last couple of days. Here in Kansas, we are accustomed to wind but not humidity.
 
I rode after dinner again tonight. The heat and wind along with the high humidity had the sidewalk nearly clear of traffic. I saw one lady walking and another walking her dog and that's all. It was pretty crummy out. I logged another 46 miles out of my best battery.

I received the two female to female patch cords today to connect my new brakes to the electronics of the bike. I thought there was a more than decent chance, with the bike being DC, that no matter if braking completed or broke a circuit, it would tell the controller to cut the power to the motor. I'm happy to report that the brakes are working as intended. The three inches of patch cord added to the wiring that was already longer than needed wasn't the end of the world. I was able to fold it over before bundling it with a twist organizer. A female to female adapter would be ideal. I'll keep looking. I rode over 500 miles without the brakes cutting off the motor. I could ride like that without a problem. I will use the cutoffs of the brakes being as they work. It is how the bike was designed.
 
I believe it was steamier today than the past couple of days. I rode tonight but it wasn't any fun. I saw a couple of riders in town but nobody on the sidewalk. It is easy to understand that most people ride to relax and enjoy the outdoors. With weather like this, fighting the wind and melting into your shoes, is not enjoyable.

I was thinking how people's reactions to e-bikes have changed since 2019 when I got my first bike. Back then it was new and took people by surprise. Some were amazed and others just couldn't figure out how to drive around them. Now there is no novelty about the bikes or e-vehicles. They are quite everyday. Drivers are either annoyed by them or respect them. They anticipate the speed they are likely to travel and most try to accommodate them and share the road. I'm guessing the time will come where there will be some sort of traffic laws to govern the e-traffic. It is amazing how many kids are zipping around town on their scooters or little bikes, acting like idiots, texting, racing, jumping... being kids mostly. All at alarming speeds and no human effort and most without any protection. It looks dangerous to me.

I found a Milwaukee battery operated pruning saw tonight. It was laying on the inside North bound lane of the state highway. I stopped to get it out of the road and a lady stopped her car and jumped out to get it. We were like two dogs seeing one bone. She claimed she would put it on the local facebook chatter which was more that I would have done. I didn't want or need it. Hope the owner gets it back.
The tool, battery, and charger new runs $269. The charger wasn't in the street but it's not a cheap tool to lose.
 
I rode this morning and again this afternoon. I clean and lubed my chain and the jockey wheels on the derailleur while I watched the questionable weather before riding. The temperature dropped nearly ten degrees before my morning ride and the wind switched to be out of the North. It was hot again before I finished my morning ride. It really warmed up this afternoon with wind dying down and the humidity high. It was pretty uncomfortable. I saw a few riders in town but none on the sidewalk today. I rode 84 miles between the two loops. I now have put over 2K miles on the new motor. It's a keeper!
 
I didn't expect a chance to ride today but I squeaked in a short outing. I mowed a large yard this morning for some friends that were on a vacation. I then met some very good friends down at the cabin and we had a great party on the patio. I had originally planed to cook out but it was a bit late when we got home. I grabbed some take out Chinese, ate, and then went for a ride. I only managed 28 miles before dark but I'm glad I took the time to ride. It was a beautiful evening with nearly no wind. It was in the low eighties which is just perfect riding temp. I would have rode in town a bit after dark but they were setting off fireworks here and there and I didn't want to become part of the show. I hope it's nice again tomorrow.
 
It was pretty hot and humid this afternoon. There was zero wind so I went riding. With the breeze of riding helping to cool me off, I rode 40 miles before dinner. I did see a few walkers and a couple of cyclists on the sidewalk. My last loop South I met four young ladies. I'm guessing middle school age or just starting high school. They were all riding little e-bikes. When I say riding, I mean just that. There wasn't any pedaling going on. They looked to be having a great time. That's the bottom line. I went riding again after dinner and logged 43 more miles. I didn't see anyone riding this evening. I passed one and met another young female pedestrian. I'm surprised there wasn't more traffic. The temperature had fallen into the eighties and it was nice out.

I was on YT last night and a suggested video was a bike that caught my eye. I ended up watching the entire review on this bike. If I wasn't so heavily invested in my Juiced bikes and batteries, and or I was a younger man, I would be considering getting this bike. It is a 72v bike running a 3000w hub motor. It's designed to be a very fast bike... far from street legal. That doesn't mean it has to be ridden that way.
Instead, it should assist a man travel many miles. It's a good thing my bike is fixed :)
 
I had a busy day and didn't get to ride until after dinner. It was still plenty hot and I saw no riders on the sidewalk. I only saw one jogger and a young couple walking. It was a little bit cooler with the bike created wind. I logged 43 miles tonight.

The county is finally mowing the sidewalk. They mowed each side of the sidewalk with a 4' cut mower today and then they will mow down into the ditch and up to the road with a tractor and 3 point mower deck behind in a day or two. It was mowed once this year but with all of the rain it is in dire need of mowing. The county does a better job keeping the grass cut than the state boys that mow the state highway that is the other half of my loop.
 
Hot and humid but there was a South wind today. I finished my mowing and came in and and cooled down. I saw feel like temps in the 109° range and the real temp at 96.6°. The wind kept it from being melt down weather. I went riding after dinner and logged 44 miles. It really wasn't that uncomfortable riding. The wind helped though it cut down on my mileage. I shared my time on the sidewalk with two different walkers.
I didn't see any cyclists. I saw my buddy Tim the trike guy this morning. I think he was just heading out to ride when I was heading out to mow. I suspect that most all of the retired cyclists try to get their rides done before it gets way hot. I know I would if I didn't mow lawns.
 
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