Click Click (or clipless pedals)

About 800 km in odometer and here it goes. Before I took the bike to its first service I had gotten new pedals. Unfortunately my tools are not good enough to remove the old ones so I took the pedals to Velosport and they changed them during the checkup. Happy, happy, joy, joy!

The new pedals: Time Z. They come with the cleats.

Don't take this too seriously but clipless pedals are the next thing after the training wheels that everyone should learn to use with bicycles. After you are familiar with them and can spin (it is worth practicing a at least a little bit of that skill). It is up to you if you will be continuing to use them. Initially I thought that pedelec really does not need clipless pedals, but ... once the 25 km/h cutoff point is reached and more velocity is needed! Riding is also more efficient and  that has positive effect to the range of the bike. My guestimate would be around 15-20% more range from the battery due the clipless pedals. If you do start learning to use clipless pedals make sure that you learn how to get your feet off from pedals. Another drawback is that special shoes are needed in order to get the benefit out of the pedals. Then again if you have hard soled cycling shoes you will be able to transfer more of your energy to the pedals. Other plus side I can mention that it is easier to maintain your balance when you are locked in. Waiting in the red lights and you can just balance it out :).

350 km on the pedal, about 5 km with normal shoes.

I've been using Time ATAC in my Trek Fuel pretty much from the start. I learned to ride clipless with the Shimano SPD's. Pedelec has to have option to be ridden without cycling shoes. So I got Time Z pedals. They are big enough to be ridden without special shoes. At first it feels weird when you press against the spring action, but after a little while you hardly notice it anymore. I also suspect that if you would use light soled shoes the soles of the shoes might get chewed down pretty rapidly. Naturally any longer trip I would  use shoes with the cleats. I have three main reasons for going with Time system:

1. No adjustments. There is no adjustments to the locking system. Only adjustment is done with the cleat but I have always found the normal 13 degree rotation good for releasing the foot from the pedal.

2. Float and sideways movement in the pedal. The foot can turn few degrees as well move sideways in pedal, thus you won't break your knee while cycling.

3. Constant release. I always know how much I have to turn my leg in order to open the lock in the pedal. And as there is no adjustments this will not change. Well in the time when the cleat gets worn down there may be little change. But then it will be time to change the cleat soon anyway.

Click - Click

Getting around

While replacing the car I have a new kind of dilemma. How to get to the places? The optimum routes that I use by car are not optimum routes by bike. I mean I could pretty much use the same routes, as there are dedicated bike routes next to roads but why bother. Riding a bike next to busy road is not the most fun you can have, especially when the alternative routes are shorter and off from main traffic routes. We have many good bike routes that are completely separated from motor traffic.

Helsinki metropolitan bike map. It is free.

I have explored some tools to aid my navigation. In the process I even found couple of new routes to work. Roads change and there can be better routes than you were aware of. Over here the paper version of the local outdoor map is free. Electronic version can be found from  http://ulkoilukartta.fi. You could check if this kind of service is available at your local area.

Google Maps and phone mount. Phone can be charged from Intuvia computer.

Google Maps are great on this field as well. Beauty of Google is that you can navigate with a smart phone. https://maps.google.fi/. Over here Google is offering also bicycle and walking navigation. Bicycle navigation is in beta and often using the walk option gives better routes also for cycling. I checked out Bing Maps (Microsoft) and Here.com (Nokia), but for cycling use both of them loose to Google. Currently there is no comparison. However, development is fast on this area.

Garmin makes GPS almost for any use. But apparently not for a commuter cyclist.

I took a look at the dedicated GPS devices. Garmin seems to be offering the cycling model Edge 810 or 800 with a map and routing function, yet they don't include free map updates to that line. They have been pushed forward as training aids, heart rate, cadence, power etc meters. Garmin Finland recommended Montana line with European maps (sold separately) that would be around 700 euros with lifetime map updates. Montana line is big and heavy. Are those maps for car use? I got the impression that Garmin does not use bike routes. It really looks to me that Garmin does not appreciate the potential of commuting needs that e-bikes will create. I talked to Garmin rep at a fair today and he said that you would have to make waypoints to your route using a PC and then upload that to the GPS device.

That latest Mio cycling GPS the 500 series has just come out. I have not seen that device. Oh well, at this time I will see how far an Android phone (I suppose any smart phone would work the same) will take me. If I would want to follow my heart rate and cadence, I could do that with a smart phone as well, using solutions like Sports Tracker or Endomondo. Currently I'm happily using my phone as a map and navigator as well. I got the bike mount from Teknik Magasinet for 15 euros. Mount is cool. I tested it also with Sony Xperia Z and mount held that big phone with ease. Drawback with my current setup is rain. I need either weather sealed box for my current phone, or I just need to remove the phone if it starts raining or get a weather proof phone like that Sony (it is cheaper than the latest generation of Garmin GPS devices).

This mount can be installed to almost any orientation.

Week One

One week - 200 km. My pedelec'ing has started well. I've ridden to work and used bike for all the other errands as well. Average speed has been around 23 km/h. That coupled with the fact that you often get shorter routes with bike compared to the car. So far I have been lucky and enjoyed good weather. Then again rain would not be that bad. You just need to have right gear with you.

Intuvia e-bike computer

My commute to work is 12.5 to 13 km one way and  it has taken 30 to 35 minutes. By car it takes about 20 minutes. When I ride the bike, I am outside moving in fresh air. I don't get the "morning rush" frustration that one can sometimes experience in rush hour traffic by car. I've not done the commute the easiest possible way so far. Little sweating, but nothing heavy like "all out" cycling would be. Granted I'm not in the best possible shape. I really haven't done regular physical exercises for months. So far I have not monitored my heart rate. I have not gone to anaerobic zone at anyone time, yet I have managed to maintain nice and constant pace.

Bike with the panniers

It feels safer to commute now with pedelec than my earlier commuting with bike. Or maybe it is me getting older and less pedals-to-the-wall attitude. When I used to ride the Trek Fuel major frustration was loosing the speed and then regaining it. E.g. you have to give way to a car yet I had right of way. I've also noticed that now I have no problem of slowing down to safer situational speed. This week I passed a mother with 2 small kids who were just learning to ride a bike. I slowed down, passed them by very slowly and safely and I was back at the 25 km/h with ease. In the old days of my commuting I would have just looked if there would have been room to pass them from the grass and passed them at some 30 km/h.  I did that a few times - well that is something you can do with full suspension XC bike, but it does not mean it is smart thing to do! I feel that one of the biggest advantages pedelec has in commute is the ability gain back the lost speed without too much effort coupled with the assist on uphill and headwind.

Front brake

Cannondale has 9 speeds, but with the assist on I have used maybe 3-4. So far I have not really gone down from Turbo assist mode. I suppose once I will start experimenting with the lesser assist modes I will be using more gears. Brakes of my bike are just awesome  Once you have experienced hydraulic brakes on a bike it is hard to go back. Rear brake is little squeeky. That is something I will be taking up when I will take the bike to the 1st maintenance after 300 km

Drive and Pedal

One thing is wrong with the bike: Pedals! I miss the sound click-click at the start of the ride. Clipless pedals are just right for any bike. And I can sense how much more effective the boost would be if I could spin properly. There has to be a way to use this kind of bike without being forced to wear special shoes with cleats.

Unboxing

Tuesday the 30th April the bike was supposed to be ready around the noon. I packed a small backpack with some rain gear, couple of different riding gloves (weather really was not that warm around 6 deg C), a scarf and helmet. After that I bummed a ride from my brother and off to the Bike store...

I just left my backpack to car and in we went. There it was standing. Battery charged and ready to roll. Time to take a close look of the bike and get it ready to be ridden out.

Alfine hub dynamo with Trelock LS 865 light. This model has been meant for German markets. 

Intuvia control unit and Magura brakes. Headshock locking lever.

Drive unit is visible under the bottom bracket Battery pack can be seen in the rack. Same lock works for battery pack and to bike lock. That is major convenience factor. Rack mounted battery will also leave the frame free for bottles. Tail light takes its energy from the dynamo not from the battery pack.

Pretty heavy to be scaled with a tool that is meant to be attached to carbon fibre frame - not to an unbalanced piece of aluminum like this. The battery and electric drive unit make the bike tail heavy.

After that couple of bottle holders were attached to the bike. Some tools and spare tires packed as well. I also got ready and picked spiked winter tires. Unfortunately I could not find panniers that I liked. Time to settle the bill and head out. Correct tire pressure was set.  Helmet to the head, final adjustments to the seat. I wanted to make some changes to settings of  intuvia as well. Cannondale had not send the Intuvia manual with the bike, but the older manual. Fortunately I had downloaded right manual from Cannondale web site and checked it before. So it was not too hard to change the language and do other set ups to the computer.

Next stop was in Olari to North-West imports to check out the panniers. I had never ridden there by bike.  Fired up Google maps and checked where I should ride. One must just like applications like that in modern phones. It was nice to do a first ride with some purpose. Great way of getting used the the bike.
The weight of the bike can be felt. Especially when you are riding without assistance. Once you get the motor assist climbing in head wind goes with ease.

Anyhow I got to the pannier store. Talked about my needs with the staff. I had thought of getting Ortlieb Bike-Tourers, but after chatting in the store I ended up getting Ortlieb Bike-Packer Plus in black of course. Main argument being the soft pannier can be tightened so the contents do not shake during the ride. That makes a lot of sense. I also got a saddle bag. Panniers were installed to my bike at the store and it was time to head home.

I ended up riding close to 38 km in one hour and 40 minutes during the 1st day. First impression about Cannondale E-series. It is not "fun ride" like my Trek Fuel.

Trek Fuel 90: My other bike

Then again it should not be anything like Fuel. After all other is full suspension mountain bike and Cannondale is trekking pedelec. Climbing uphill in headwind  at good speed makes you smile. With the Fuel that kind of climb would have send my heart bumping really hard, filled the legs with lactic acid and I could not have done it as fast.

Also worth noting: I had no aches or pains after the  first ride. Riding was comfortable, even after only quick adjustments were made to the bike at the start. As I started to compare apples and oranges it is certain that with Fuel I would not have done that distance in hour and 40 minutes. Yet I felt I had enjoyed healthy exercise in fresh air. I like this Bike!

Story from a bike store

I went to this bike store in Helsinki.
I asked: "Do you have any good E-Bikes"
Sales dude, had a long hair on pony tail and a little bit of stomach quickly answered  "Aren't they all bad?"
After little pondering:
"Hey, wait a minute, I can order you one - let me check it from my books."
Dude goes through a big folder of bike pictures and then he shows this:

Photo: Specialized

   Specialized Turbo

He continues: "This goes for around 6000 Euros."
I ask: "Can I test ride it?"
Sales dude: "Unfortunately not as it is order only bike"
"Thank you and bye"
"Bye"

I must say it looks pretty cool and fast, It would most likely be a fun ride, but not the one for my purpose. Oh and bike would not be street legal here in Finland as far as I know no Pedelec 45's has been accepted for road use yet.

How I chose the bike

Once I had decided get the Pedelec the long wait for spring started. This year spring was late pretty much everywhere in the Northern Hemisphere and wait for test rides long. I used that time to learn what I could about bikes.

Being here in North there is not that much supply on pedelecs yet. And interestingly enough I ran to the some kind of attitude toward E-bikes on several stores - you could sense that they want to do business only with "Real Cyclists" not with some dude who wants a "weird half-moped". I have had the same initial attitude from my friends, but from guys who make their living from bikes I don't get it. Needless to say none of those stores got my business (all the stores mentioned below had good service and I would not hesitate to buy a bike from any of them).

On the other hand I understand the lack of E-bikes on stores. The stores that had them, seemed to have some last years models still in stock. It looks to me that here E-bikes have not taken up yet. Pedelecs are still quite fast evolving field - specially the battery capacity seems get better yearly.

I had some loose criteria about the bike I was going to get. Purpose is the replace car as far as it can be done. That means that bike needs to be able to carry decent load as well as being easy and comfy ride.

I also weighed quite heavily how good the bike is to ride without assist. Good bike parts will make more enjoyable ride and help the battery last longer as well. Battery capacity is one big factor and being lithium based technology I accept batteries from reputable manufacturer only.  Other things that I value is front suspension and hydraulic brakes. The winter tends to do havoc on our bike routes so the suspension is very nice. I know that I will be riding fast at the times in crappy weather so brakes are very important. I remember on my winter bike commutes that clear ice is nice and fast surface to ride, just keep in mind your vector math when turning :). I realise that my specifications dropped many pedelec models and also pushed the budget toward the higher side.

At early April I started the test rides. That was really eye opener for me! I had read about the pedelecs few months, but that  was no preparation for the experience! WOW was my first impression.

First place I visited was Bikeplanet. They had one pedelec that I drove; Tunturi. I liked the bike. Bosch with Intuvia is very nice, but the brakes and 300 Wh battery dropped this bike out from finals. 

Day later I headed to Velosport. They had some pedelecs. I test drove Cannondale E-bike. It was last year's model so it had 288 Wh battery and old control electronics for the Bosch engine. Ride was awesome and very good unassisted. Assist was similar to Tunturi but that was to be expected. 

Next to  Lauttasaaren pyörä. They had some last years Kalkhoffs and Focus' in stock. One bike they had was closer to my specs: Focus Jarifa Cross 2012 with BionX rear drive engine. This bike made me smile. I liked it alot. Fun and aggressive ride. The regenerative braking is cool feature even it won't really get you that much extra distance. Full regen on and I was doing 8 km/h on down hill while not pedaling. Computer interface and display was in par with Intuvia. But for my purpose bikes needs rack, lock and the works. For unassisted riding I liked the mid engine more. Having that extra 4.5 kg in the rear hub is not something I prefer. Then again it is available right now. I was very close to getting it!

Last stop was Electrobike. Over there I tested Kalkhoff with impulse drive and BH with their rear drive. Unfortunately I don't recall the exact models anymore. For the limited experience from central engine I would pick Bosch over Impulse drive and for rear engine I would pick BionX over BH's engine. I do realise that bikes that I tested were not equal. On the other hand I had no means to properly compare the bikes side by side. 

I wanted to test drive Trek Pedelec but after checking two Trek stores neither had none. On paper it looked to be pretty close to Cannondale or Tunturi. It has been pretty frustrating to check the net for all the bikes out there, and then you will find only handful of them to test. But that is the way here at the edge of Europe. On the other hand having only fraction of brands available makes the selection process more straightforward and shorter. 

In the end I went for Cannondale. I will have mine with Intuvia, 400 Wh battery and 9-speed Shimano STX derailleur. It simply had pretty much everything I spec'ed right out of the box. I guess Focus  helped to make the final call when I was doing the final eliminations on bikes. Why does this year's Focus Jarifa Cross have Bosch engine? Bosch also claims the shortest battery recharge times. Only modding that needs to be done is to make fixture for my Travoy as the Bosch engine makes the bottom bracket longer thus making the bike long. Travoy won't reach the seat post.

The Beginning

Years ago I used to commute to work with bike. Then one day I noticed that I was driving by car every time. I like riding the bike and kind of think that riding would be better that driving. So why not ride then? Remembering the unpleasantness of the commute - I was not too eager to start again. Even I kind of want to. But I'm not looking forward of riding to head wind when I leave little late ending up squeezing too much from body in order to make it in time. I do have shower at work so in that sense I have it good, but taking the shower every morning and still sweating since I cannot take my time with it.  Dressing up the sweaty riding gear on at the evening is not really fun, especially during the winter time when we experience temperatures below freezing. Excuses maybe, but not just a stuff I want to do daily.

This winter I started to think about E-Bikes. I Learned that they have come a big leap forward. Here could be the solution I've been looking for. Could I go to work relatively fast yet take it so easy that I would not need to take a shower? Then on return trip I could either use assist or  just blasts my legs full of lactic acid.

Go Pedelec is the one document that  I found very helpful when I started to learn about E-Bikes or Pedelecs. It introduces the technology, but also talks about policies, impact for society. Highly recommended reading to anyone who is even remotely interested in light transport.

Today I'm in the point that I have ordered my Pedelec. I should have it by the end of this month. Lets see if that is the tool that does the trick! You will be able to read about my experiences with it  from here.