A proper Introduction

Back in Sept I posted a coy entry about my new electric trike purchase. I had planned to write more in depth information about it directly afterward. However I soon became busy happily biking and never got around to it until now.

In a way, this has given me some time to get to know the bike better.

If you hadn't guessed by my photos, I bought a Christiania Electric Trike through Boxcycles. Boxcycles has been importing Christianias to the US perhaps for a little under 2 years. When I was first looking at cargo trikes three years ago, Boxcycles were not yet on the scene and Christianias could not be found in the US except for the few people who shipped them over themselves. In fact I found the Sorte Jernhest by googling Christiania and Boston. I found a link to a guy in Arlington who brought his Christiania over from the UK when he moved here. Somehow on his blog, he linked the Dutch Bicycle Co which at the time was selling Sorte Jernhests. Basically back in 2009 I was looking into Electric Christianias and now full circle I have one.

The bike is similar and yet very different to the Sorte. It has front steering and the whole box moves away from the bike when turning. This took some getting used to for me since I was used to rear steering. For a while I didn't like that I had to do three ( and sometimes four) point turns to turn around. However I am used to it now and I find that having the box and front wheels move actually makes it easier to back out of the garage as I can avoid other bikes or toys with a subtle turn of the front wheels.

Once on the bike and turning I tend to let go with one hand and let the bike move far a way from me to turn in a stable way. However, when full of kids I stay stable even at higher speeds. But this and most cargo trikes are really meant to be taken slowly. Especially on turns as they can pop a wheelie.

The gearing on this particular bike ( electric) is derailleur and it has 7 or 8 gears. They aren't numbered and I just see the little red line move from right to left. I miss the internal gearing mainly because I enjoy the option of changing gears when stopped. I had to re-learn how to ride and now remember to gear down when stopping. I had a few moments of being stuck at a red light because I had been moving fast or was on a slight hill and had it in the hardest gear upon stopping. At the green light I couldn't start pedaling. That whole momentum thing.

However, I have gotten used to the gearing and it works really well. I do shift all over the range and it's nice to shift into an easier gear on a hill without having to do a pedal pause for it to kick in.

I have no idea really what kind of motor or battery it has. It works is all I care about. The biggest issue is that being European made the battery plug would like a 220 voltage. I was originally worried about this and upon the first few chargings I found the charger box light would never get to green. However after letting it charge over night I did see a green light and now know I just wasn't charging it long enough. I was worried about leaving it alone charging for fear of some voltage revolt and having my garage blow up, but I think I am over that fear. The other issue is that as per the website specs, the battery is best charged over 68 degrees! Luckily I can bring the battery inside for charging, although I haven't done that yet. Didn't want my house to blow up... But now that we are moving toward December I will likely be charging it inside. It's too bad as we have plans to upgrade one area of the garage to 220 and that won't be as useful to me for half of the year.

As far as battery life, I don't believe I get the full range the manual says it can go. I however have an extremely hilly terrain and I carry 100 pounds of people in it on those hills. I'd say though I have been charging it once a week. If it's just myself and groceries, we seem to not run the motor out as soon. But even twice weekly charging will give me a good battery life of 600 charges total.

Once the battery is in and going- the motor works well. More than well. It is a true pedalec and it will only engage if I am pedaling. This is why down gearing is so important as I must revolve the pedals once before the motor will kick in. I do wish it gave a throttle start no matter what so I wouldn't have those awkward moments, however I have learned how to avoid them. Once pedaling, the motor kicks in with a twist of the throttle and it gives nice power. As long as I pedal even slowly the motor stays engaged. However if I end up going too fast for my comfort and I start to coast, the motor shuts down too. This is nice as one never feels out of control on it. It will make it up fairly steep hills with and without the kids. If I know I am going someplace far and hilly with both of them I tend to make sure it is fully charged.

The ride quality of the bike is great. Like the Sorte I love the stability I get from three wheels. I also like the visibility I get from such a big bike. I notice I am braver and able to take the lane or ride more in a VC manor on this bike. And also it does hope onto a sidewalk and fit most sidewalks well at times where I feel I am too big to navigate a narrow and busy road.

My biggest complaints would be the lack of throttle start action, the noise and the lack of coaster brakes ( only electric bike doesn't have coaster brake probably b/c the motor is in the rear wheel? I dunno). I have finally stopped trying to back pedal to slow down on big hills. The coaster brake wasn't crucial- but it's the little things on most Dutch/ Danish bikes that make riding so nice. Now I have to hold onto the brakes to remain stopped. I wish I could use my hands to fix my hair or some other little tweaking.

The bike is fairly noisy. I find that things bang around as I hit pothole after pothole ( or tree root on sidewalks) and the box makes a huge noise. I have startled people, toddlers and dogs as I come barreling down the road. I am thinking about ways to dampen the noise. I already keep as much as possible in the lock box but it is currently full.

Those three complaints are really nothing in the grand scheme of things. I am very happy with the bike. It really has become my "go to" bike, especially when I am going someplace and I just want to get there and not make it a journey. For instance, this past Tuesday, friends were meeting for coffee at one person's house all the way across town. It was cloudy and looked like rain. But it was warm out. I was also running late. I stood in my driveway and looked at the sky and felt the warm air on my face. I hopped on the Trike, me and my cargo of a yoga mat that happens to live in the box ( like it used to live in a trunk years ago) and enjoyed a sweet carefree ride across town. I knew if the rain did hit I could zoom home over the hill fast. The rain held and I made a stop at Harris to change out my saddle ( actually the 4th issue I have with the bike- the saddle is too squishy. ) After that I got home just in time to park the Trike back in the garage and walk over to the bus stop to pick up the kids from their half day.

My neighbor was at the bus stop early taking pictures of her younger son. She caught this pic as I headed home to ditch the bike.