Phew, That eBike Experiment!

[crunchysteve]

As I wake on day 3 of converting my bike to e-assist, I ache all over from days 1 and 2. It's kind of proving to me I need this thing, but jeez, this DIY lark is moider.

So far, the front wheel is fitted. Yep, 2 days to fit the front wheel. 2 days of hauling the bike on and off the workstand. 2 days of rummaging in the bike shed for my old front brake because the mechanical/hydraulic hybrid front brake won't fit with a motor hub. 2 days of figuring out how to get a VERY large front wheel motor hub into a very sleek gravel bike fork. I have got there.

And I thought getting my bottom bracket (pedal axle to non-cyclists) was going to be the hard job. Please let it not be harder than the front wheel!

There's also the matter of the battery choice I made. A little buyer's remorse. It's fine. In fact, 15Ah, it's going to go all day on level or level 2 boost. Just... it's big. I have to rethink all the stuff I used to carry inside the frame's main triangle. My snack bag, my bottle cage (no more 2 litre bottles), my 3D printed and recycled bidon-mount toolbox! (scream emoji)

Oh well, back to a tailbag, rethink the taillight mount and rethink the tools I carry. All part of accepting that I'm no longer a part time randonneur. Heart attacks suck. Cancer was easy compared to having my wings clipped by my "widow maker" 3 years ago.

So today, I (hopefully) fit the pedal assist sensor. This involves tearing out the bottom bracket (which, in turn means remembering stuff like which side is left hand thread) and inordinate amounts of grunt and grunting. Bottom brackets are designed to tighten as you pedal, thus keeping the bearing just the right amount tight. This is the factory original on an 8 year old bike. I should replace it. I just bought an ebike kit... Expensive! later. Oh god, I've become that cyclist... squeak, squeak, squeak.

Still, this is worth it. Four years ago I was a rider capable of 100km a day for 3 days, 50km for a rest day, 2 more hundred k days, another 50k rest day, wash, wipe, sand, repeat coat. All with still enough grunt to pitch a bivi and forage for nourishment, either cooked from the best produce of the local shops or a hearty pub meal.

Now, I'm barely good for 20km in a day, then on my arse the next. I can walk 4km day after day. That's the same energy burn as riding 20km. While it's more efficient, clearly that efficiency was charging my heart with delivery duties. Hence all this gut busting to fit an e-kit. To keep my favourite bike going until the end, rather than weathering next to the hot water tank.

But a 4 day job?! Jesus! Oh well. Bottom bracket today, wiring loom and test ride tomorrow. Full leg-stretch 20k on Sunday if it's all good. Onwards, Stephen! Boldly onwards!