Captain Stupido
Senior Retro Guru
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Right... I know e-bikes are neither retro, nor particularly popular among certain members of the forum, and I get the reasons why some people don't like them.
Pretty soon I am (hopefully) starting a new job which is a bit too far for me to comfortably commute by normal bike, especially given the hilly surroundings.
I could drive, I could probably get the train half way and ride the rest of the way, or I could get a motorbike.
Or I could do an e bike conversion and use that...
I'm torn between all the possibilities. There are some nice roads between here and my future workplace and the traffic shouldn't be too bad, especially if I use the lanes. So I'd like to be in a "fun" vehicle of one type or another. I'd also like the commute to be cheap and and low in environmental impact. Winter is likely to be a bit harsh, but if the worst comes to the worst I do have a car...
Anyway, assuming I go for the eBike option I'm looking at a Tongsheng TSDZ2 kit.
At the moment I'm considering 2 bike options. This is really where I'd welcome input on which way to go - first idea was to convert my Alfine-equipped Genesis Day One. The other thing I'm thinking about is building up an Orange P7 with rigid forks.
Both give me the option of disc brakes, which has to be a good thing. Both should be able to take mudguards and a rack. Both are steel and reasonably comfy. So it comes down to gearing and wheel size/overall geometry.
I expect the Genesis to be faster (and more efficient), the Orange to be a bit more planted feeling, forgiving of poor roads, etc. But maybe I'm wrong. I can't really decide. I'd quite like to have the Orange as an MTB, and I'm fairly bored of the Genesis...but on paper it's close to being an "ideal" commuter... On the other hand an electric P7 sounds pretty cool. Probably a case of either sell the Genesis to fund the build or convert/use it and keep the Orange for its intended purpose.
What do you guys reckon?
Pretty soon I am (hopefully) starting a new job which is a bit too far for me to comfortably commute by normal bike, especially given the hilly surroundings.
I could drive, I could probably get the train half way and ride the rest of the way, or I could get a motorbike.
Or I could do an e bike conversion and use that...
I'm torn between all the possibilities. There are some nice roads between here and my future workplace and the traffic shouldn't be too bad, especially if I use the lanes. So I'd like to be in a "fun" vehicle of one type or another. I'd also like the commute to be cheap and and low in environmental impact. Winter is likely to be a bit harsh, but if the worst comes to the worst I do have a car...
Anyway, assuming I go for the eBike option I'm looking at a Tongsheng TSDZ2 kit.
At the moment I'm considering 2 bike options. This is really where I'd welcome input on which way to go - first idea was to convert my Alfine-equipped Genesis Day One. The other thing I'm thinking about is building up an Orange P7 with rigid forks.
Both give me the option of disc brakes, which has to be a good thing. Both should be able to take mudguards and a rack. Both are steel and reasonably comfy. So it comes down to gearing and wheel size/overall geometry.
I expect the Genesis to be faster (and more efficient), the Orange to be a bit more planted feeling, forgiving of poor roads, etc. But maybe I'm wrong. I can't really decide. I'd quite like to have the Orange as an MTB, and I'm fairly bored of the Genesis...but on paper it's close to being an "ideal" commuter... On the other hand an electric P7 sounds pretty cool. Probably a case of either sell the Genesis to fund the build or convert/use it and keep the Orange for its intended purpose.
What do you guys reckon?
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