My Blog

Trip to Collarenebri, Moree & Tamworth

02/10/2011 16:49:00

I've written previously about one of my trips in Israel and Europe with my Freedom Ebike and wanted to share another travel experiences which illuminates the amazing freedom and flexibility that our electric bike kits give you, especially when installed on a Brompton folding bicycle.

When I was in Australia recently I had to spend a couple of days in the NSW country town of Collarenebri, where I am installing a number of solar PV systems. My house in Coogee in Sydney is about 10km from the Airport and my flight left at 7am.

Having had bad experiences with taxi's to the airport in the past and not wanting to wake up any earlier than necessary I managed to pack all my luggage into the Brompton front luggage bag and a small backpack and ride to the airport.

The ride was pleasant and at 25 minutes, quicker than a taxi (15-20 min) when you include waiting time. I also saved about $35 in taxi fare!

I also discovered a lovely bike path along the Eastlakes wetland.

I rode right up to the lady at the check-in desk where I repeated my trick from Munich Airport and surprised her by folding the bike in front of her and placing it in the bike bag for check-in.

As I've mentioned previously, the Freedom Ebike is the only electric bike you can practically and easily fly with because:

1) at 13-15kg for the Brompton Freedom Ebike it doesn't take up your whole luggage allowance.

2) its the only one with a battery that is in the least restrictive category for flying under TSA regulations (ie treated the same as a mobile phone battery). You can take as many as you can carry on the plane. This is because each battery pack is 91Whrs, which is below the 100Whr (8gm lithium equivalent) threshold.

Batteries over 100Whrs are subject to greater restrictions and over 300Whrs (which many ebike batteries are) are prohibited.

When I arrived at Moree airport I put the bike in the trunk of the hire car and drove to Collarenebri where the bike gave me a quick, easy way to explore the town.

On the way back after returning the hire car I got a lift to Tamworth (where I had a property settlement) with the bike in the trunk. I then had another early morning flight back to Sydney and looked up the route on google map. It was a reasonably bikable 14km.

Unfortunately it was pouring rain with localised flooding so I resigned myself to catching a taxi which was as slow and expensive ($40) as expected.

When I arrived back in Sydney it was sunny so I unfolded my Freedom Ebike and repacked my luggage and bike bag into the Brompton bag and back pack.

I then rode 6km to my parents in law in Victoria Park where I dropped off some luggage and had a drink and quick recharge of the batteries (literally and figuratively!).

I then rode 5km into the city where I paid the stamp duty at one office in the city center and then lodged the property transfer documents at the Land Titles Office on the edge of the city. This was by far the cheapest and most efficient way to do these errands in the city as parking is horribly expensive and the taxi ride is about $40.

I then rode another 5km across the Sydney Harbour Bridge (saving a $4.50 toll) to the office of a company I advise. I folded the bike under my desk and recharged the battery.

At the end of the day I then rode 8km back to my parents in law where I had dinner, collected my luggage and put the bike in the trunk of our car for a lift home with my wife & kids.

On this trip the Freedom Ebike saved me at least $150 in taxis and or tolls & parking charges and was the quickest way to do all the things I needed to do. It gave me quick, cheap and healthy personal transport where-ever I was and was flexible even when weather prevented my riding.

Transporting Children on a Freedom Ebike

02/08/2011 11:49:00

Ever wondered about transporting children on a bicycle?

There are a number of options that can be used alone or in combination:

a) rear child seats;

b) front child seats;

c) child trailers for 2-3 kids;

d) riding double.

I've tried all except b) with much success and the kids love it.

Its also quite safe as long as you don't ride too fast and are aware of the extra size and weight.

However all of these options significantly increase the power demands on the rider such that its very difficult for normal people (ie not Lance Armstrong) to take multiple children in hilly terrain.

That's where the Freedom Ebikes electric conversion kit makes a huge difference.

I regularly transport my 2 kids (4 & 6) around hilly Jerusalem and Sydney on my Freedom Ebike. The motor really helps with the extra weight up hills and also makes it easier to ride double with the kids with them on the seat and me standing on the pedals. This way you don't have to pedal all the time and can use the motor to keep you going once you're moving.

Overall an electric motor vastly extends the usability of your bike for transporting loads of all kinds, including kids.

Now when we hail a taxi the kids complain and say they want to go by bike!

Freedom Ebike Trip in Israel & Europe

09/17/2010 08:37:00

I thought I'd share with you my recent trip in Israel and Europe as an excellent example of how a good quality folding electric bike can transform the way you travel.

I had a wedding on a somewhat isolated Kibbutz in central Israel on Sunday night then my nephew's Bar Mitzvah (Jewish coming of age ceremony) in Strasbourg France on Monday night and Tuesday, then Eurobike 2010 on Lake Constance in Germany on Wednesday & Thursday returning to Israel on Thursday night / friday morning.

I have a Brompton M3L-X (Kojak tyres) with Freedom Ebikes electric conversion (it's our demo bike). The bike weighs 12kg incl motor plus another 1kg for one battery & controller).

For this trip I managed to pack all my clothes etc (incl dress clothes) as well as two 950gm batteries, charger, chain, lights and other equipment for the 5 day trip into a Brompton C Bag.

I used a small (child's) backpack to carry a couple of extra items and the Phil & Ted's stroller travel bag I use to put the folded Brompton in (it's the perfect size and is dual use!)

My trip went like this:

1. I rode from my home to the Jerusalem Central Bus station. A 4-5km mainly steep uphill ride that takes 30-45 min by bus and 20-30 min by taxi (because of traffic and indirect roads) but only 15 min by Freedom Ebike via some pedestrian / bike path short cuts and through parkland (with bike tracks). At the bus I folded the bike an stowed it and the back pack in the under bus luggage area. The C bag came with me on the bus.

2. I then caught a bus for 45 min to the closest bus stop to the wedding venue. I unfolded the bike and rode 5km to the wedding, arriving with a minimum of sweat thanks to the motor. I changed and locked up the bike and enjoyed the wedding.

3. At around 1:30am as the wedding ended I gave the used battery a quick 15 minute (20%) top up charge and then I rode 20km to Ben Gurion international airport surprising the security guards as I arrived via electric Brompton at 2:15am.

4. Once at the airport the Brompton was an excellent luggage carrier which I folded and placed into the Phil & Ted's bag just as I was checking in. Importantly all my check-in luggage (including bike, batteries, Phil & Ted's bag, shoes, toiletries and other non-carry on items) came to exactly 20kg - No excess luggage to pay.

5. I then took a 4:50am flight to Berlin then Stuttgart where I hired a VW Golf and put the bike and luggage in the trunk and drove to Strasbourg where I could have used Strasbourg's excellent cycle lanes to explore the city (had I not been too busy with family).

6. On the Wednesday morning I drove to Eurobike 2010, parked a few km away in free parking and rode to the show where I explored the huge electric bike pavilions with my electric Brompton and was able to give many interested parties demo rides on the test track including showing off its hill climbing abilities. My Freedom Ebike M3LX was by far the lightest folding electric bike at the show - at 13kg 30% lighter than Birdy's 18.6kg Bionx hybrid, the only other high quality folder on show. At the end of the day I rode back to the car (thanks google maps & iphone) and drove to my hotel in Lindau.

7. Next morning I drove to the parking lot beside Lindau Island, took out my Freedom Ebikes electric M3L-X and rode around the quaint historic island with gorgeous views across the lake to the Swiss Alps.

8. I then drove back towards Eurobike and took a detour through some quaint German countryside to avoid the traffic and parked just outside a village about 5km on the other side of the bike show from the city thus avoiding heavy traffic and parking issues. I rode through some lovely countryside to Eurobike and then back in the afternoon.

9. Afterwards I drove to Munich Airport (at 180kmph on the autobahn) and used the Brompton as a luggage carrier as I raced through the airport to checkin (I thought I was late). The check-in girl asked whether I'd paid for carriage of a bike - I said it was normal luggage and promptly folded it and put it in the Phil & Teds bag. She said wow and agreed.

10. Arriving back in Israel at 2:30am I caught a shared taxi to Jerusalem and then, knowing that my area was often the last to drop off, got out at the first Jerusalem stop, unfolded the bike and rode 15 minutes home thus saving 30 minutes and much frustration of always being last to be dropped off. Over 5 days across 2 continents my Brompton Freedom Ebike had given me enormous freedom to get where I needed, saved $$$ in parking & taxi fares, gave me complete flexibility, and kept me fit as well.