This is a part of a ‘Real Bike’. A Real Bike has no battery but just pedals. And you push – in my case I grunt as well and the bike moves forward. On a good day with the wind behind us we go up hills too.
My E-Bike is at the vet. The E no longer connects to the Bike. But there is a whirring sound – like grandad’s pendulum clock when it was about to do something grand.
So I delivered to the Bike Man. He is now about retirement age. In his time, an engineer qualified to work on all sorts of machinery. Except Grandda’s pendulum clock. We know each other well. I’m curious he’s happy to tell.
I have no right to, but I go into the workshop. He’s happy to knock off.
“Yes?”
“My E-Bike doesn’t E.”
Looks at bike, manufacturer. “Ah!”
Holy kippers what does that me mean ??
“I won’t need to pull it all apart . . . Just the side plate. Three screws need to be replaced. See you Friday”
Today is Wednesday. Can’t help but call in to see, “‘Ow’s it going then?”
He looks at me, then amongst a row of bikes in recovery postion, identifies mine.
“Actually yours is the later model. Good. But here’s a plastic gear wheel on order.”
Plastic! in this day of whizz technology. Plastic!
“Yes, plastic. In medicine it’s used inside people, computers, aircraft. Yours is just common, well, industrial plastic. Almost friction free and silent. A metal spur wheel and I’d hear you coming.
the gear itself is a straight Helical cut, not Hypoid . . .”
I can feel the E part of my brain going into economy mode.
I know what caused the fail. Going up a steep hill in the wrong gear – should be a warning in the hand book.
Back onto the bike. Average speed 10kph. Off to the wharf. Cheery dog walkers, old guys not sure where they’re going, fishing boats and slow moving in and out tide.
Turn to go home.
Hills.
Steepest hill managed at 3.7kph. At that rate, non stop, I would get to Wellington in just eighteen days.
David in Pen and Pics 