The Money Mustache Community
Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: dismalscience on July 20, 2017, 12:25:13 AM
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// , "You must ride a bike. We all must." --Mr. Money Mustache
I heed the call.
I'm considering my first Automatic Life Balancing Machine for commuting.
I have mostly commuted by motorcycle, but I have moved to an area which allows me to make most of my commute, 8 kilometers and 20 minutes, on a nice trail designed specifically for bicycling. The other 4 kilometers take me over some major roads.
The total route takes 40 minutes over 12.6 kilometers. Not exactly beginner territory, here.
I think an E-Bike might actually be a better option for me. My housemate and I are rather handy with tools, and I think we could fashion one together. I have saved up enough in a bitcoin account for an EBike Kit.
https://www.ebikekit.com/collections/performance-500w-1000w-12-26-mile-range-300lb-load-limit-from-1473/products/rear-wheel-26mph-w-li-ion-battery
or
https://lunacycle.com/bafang-bbshd-1000w-mid-drive-kit/
http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2016/05/25/recipe-for-a-badass-diy-electric-mountain-bike/
My house mate has a Public frankencycle he borrowed money from me to get and repair from craigslist, now. I am somewhat jealous. I'm going to borrow his to try out the trail some time soon, and see what I think.
But I'm sort of curious, what do you fellow Mustacheans think? For whether 'tis nobler to start out with an E-Bike, or to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous leg-only power first?
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I'm an out-of-shape middle-aged soccer mom and I bike 5km each way to work and back on a 50-lb Dutch 3-speed. It's fine. If you have a 10-speed and the route is relatively flat, a 8km ride sounds perfectly fine.
If you've got gnarly hills, an ebike may help out a lot.
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I have done that commute on Ebike and on regular bike for 11 years, it is do able both ways, but If you want an Ebike I say go for it. The mid drive kit from Luna is more dificult to install and may limit your bike choices. I have have heard good things about both vendors. The prices are similar.
The Ebike kit battery will get you 20 miles, and I have had good experience with those geared hub motors. If you find yourself chugging on a major hill make sure you pedal assist it up the hill.
I really like the 48 volt battery with a hub motor, I have been riding that combo for many yars, I have no experience with the mid drive.
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// , The Bafang BBSHD 1000W Mid Drive Kit (https://lunacycle.com/bafang-bbshd-1000w-mid-drive-kit) costs less, at $679.00, than the $1,152.00 EBikeKit (https://www.ebikekit.com/collections/performance-500w-1000w-12-26-mile-range-300lb-load-limit-from-1473/products/rear-wheel-26mph-w-li-ion-battery).
Does anyone think I could install the Bafang BBSHD on https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/bik/d/disney-princess-bike-helmet/6222778427.html or https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/bik/d/tall-gt-mountain-commuter/6225688837.html ?
I'm quite tall, about 185cm, and leggy to boot.
Right now, I'm just looking for a bicycle that will fit me, will fit the Bafang kit, and has shocks in the front and back.
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For whether 'tis nobler to start out with an E-Bike, or to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous leg-only power first?
It depends whether you want to,
a) just commute cheaply and have some health benefits (just being in the open air rather than A/C is good for you), or
2) commute cheaply AND have many health benefits