Electric bicycle build (introducing "black & red")

[California98Civic]

The electric bike has reduced my annual miles in my car by about 20%.

2012: 19 fills @ about 600+ miles each
2013: 19 fills " " " " "
2014: 19 " " " " " "
2015: 16 " " " " " "
2016 (first half): 8 fills for a rate of 16 on the year

The electric bike got on the road June 10, 2015.

That is about 2000 miles a year, which is about what my cycle log shows. I need about 30 gallons to drive 2000 miles. So it is optimistically $100/yr... at that rate I need 13 years for the bike to pay for itself in gasoline alone. But it was also a gym fee replacement... what's that worth annually? Who cares... bike is great.

[ME_Andy]

That's a good way to think about it. I figure I save $1 every time I avoid starting the engine, with fuel savings on top of that.

I'll probably start a thread about my rebuild of a classic 2000 mountain bike pretty soon. It should be interesting for the recycling-minded people here. Which is almost everybody, I guess.

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by ME_Andy

... I'll probably start a thread about my rebuild of a classic 2000 mountain bike pretty soon. It should be interesting for the recycling-minded people here. Which is almost everybody, I guess.

Sounds like fun... I guess it means restorijg decals and shifter and such things...

[Grant-53]

A few years ago I did an economic analysis on driving (35 mpg Corolla) versus cycling since I had a 65 mile commute. I based calculations on a $10 wage rate for my time and the break even speed for the bike was 17 mph. This is well within the range of an aero bike or e-bike for all those trips inside the common 25 mile radius. Even better the local public transportation companies are now adding bike racks.

[California98Civic]

Gaaa! Seems last month when my derailleur popped off for the secind time this year that it took the threads with it. Is my only repair option a new frame? Is there a workaround? Remember, the electric motor is on the front wheel. If torque did this it would be because I stay in top gears all the time and charge/climb hills quite hard.



EDIT: What think you of this list? I like option one most, I think. http://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-me...ur-hanger.html

james

[Grant-53]

Helicoil is the most common repair and most automotive or motorcycle shops can do this. The other option is to use a steel threaded insert and secure it with epoxy or JB Weld.

[California98Civic]

Grrr... so many projects happening right now. This will have to wait a little more. I have a helicoil kit already. Will that really be strong enough? Is the insert stronger, though maybe heavier and therefore not used as often?

[jimhs]

Use a flat head bolt of the same diameter of the hole,and a nut
Or weld it!

[Grant-53]

A helicoil or a threaded insert will be quite strong. The difference is that the helicoil tap cuts new threads. It is commonly used in castings. An insert is often bonded to sheet materials. The trick is finding the insert that is the same length as the thickness of the drop out. I take it the frame is aluminum? If you go with a machine screw mounted to the drop out use a fine thread pan head screw and a jam nut then mount the derailleur with a nylon insert nut or use blue Loctite thread sealer.

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by Grant-53

A helicoil or a threaded insert will be quite strong. The difference is that the helicoil tap cuts new threads. It is commonly used in castings. An insert is often bonded to sheet materials. The trick is finding the insert that is the same length as the thickness of the drop out. I take it the frame is aluminum? If you go with a machine screw mounted to the drop out use a fine thread pan head screw and a jam nut then mount the derailleur with a nylon insert nut or use blue Loctite thread sealer.

Finally moving on this. Want my bike back! Ordered these for my stamped aluminum derailluer dropout repair. Hope it is the correct stuff. I had to take an hour or more to research what the hell I was ordering. Never done this repair before:
https://www.amazon.com/Wheels-Manufa...+dropout+saver

Thanks for advice!