E-bike and dog trailer

[Hughman]

I use a Haibike full suspension e-bike and tow our 25 kg dog with no problem. Range is reduced a bit, depending on terrain - hills will obviously take more out of the battery. The dog travels in a Doggyride DoggyRide

It's a well-made and sturdy thing, quite heavy, but is man enough for the job. I've used it on bumpy dusty offroad tracks with no problems.

 

[Channa]

I am reading this post with interest, years gone past, My German pointer will trot alongside all day long but getting in his autumn years so I need to be careful with him.

I don't know whether it is a mid life crisis on my part or what, But I fancy doing Leeds Liverpool canal or Pennine way with tent or tarp a throw back to when I was a young lad cycling about. Ironically watching a lot of bushcraft videos recently on you tube ...And well inspired by it all.

I used to take the dog mountain biking before I fell ill myself and I once asked a vet in Holland if the dog was fit enough etc...He looked at me as if I had taken leave of all senses and suggested the dog was not a problem concentrate seeing your doctor and making sure you are fit.

Channa

 

[QFour]

Could you solve the range problem with an extra battery in the trailer??

If you build your own then yes you could take extra batteries BUT you just haul round extra weight ( 4kg ) for the 36v 15Ah batteries on our new bikes. Batteries came from Germany but are made in China and cost £240 each. The Pedalex Forum has someone who will fit new batteries to your old casing. I really thing the bike manufacturers are taking the piss though with the cost of some of the replacement batteries.

 

[QFour]

I am reading this post with interest, years gone past, My German pointer will trot alongside all day long but getting in his autumn years so I need to be careful with him.

I don't know whether it is a mid life crisis on my part or what, But I fancy doing Leeds Liverpool canal or Pennine way with tent or tarp a throw back to when I was a young lad cycling about. Ironically watching a lot of bushcraft videos recently on you tube ...And well inspired by it all.

I used to take the dog mountain biking before I fell ill myself and I once asked a vet in Holland if the dog was fit enough etc...He looked at me as if I had taken leave of all senses and suggested the dog was not a problem concentrate seeing your doctor and making sure you are fit.

Channa

Ours is quiet happy to chase a ball for an hour or so on the beach but when it comes to following you on a bike it's a completely different story. Tried her on a lead and she trots along happily UNTIL something takes her fancy then off she goes. This can be across in front of the wheels or just sideways. You have to just hold the lead lightly and pray she won't pull you off. She is now 8yo but still acts like a puppy sometimes.

 

[Channa]

Ours is quiet happy to chase a ball for an hour or so on the beach but when it comes to following you on a bike it's a completely different story. Tried her on a lead and she trots along happily UNTIL something takes her fancy then off she goes. This can be across in front of the wheels or just sideways. You have to just hold the lead lightly and pray she won't pull you off. She is now 8yo but still acts like a puppy sometimes.

A few days ago before this thread watching a few videos on bikejouring with the dog and It seems a growing pastime.

Obvious breeds are Huskies and Labradors ( and GSP.s) some being used to mush on forest cinder tracks, Dalby Clumber near yourself obvious locations. I understand there are booms you can buy which lessen the chances of falling off, with shockleads etc should the dog be distracted by an errant squirrel.

Looks good fun.

Channa

 

[QFour]

It will be with the new bikes they are a bit sensitive in the steering dept. With an ordinary bike peddling I know who would be knackered first. With a 350w motor driving me along at 15 mph It should not take to long to wear her out ..



Who said no swimming ....

Think the daft bit comes from the Poodle .. The stomach on legs is Labrador

..

 

[harrow]

I know my Labrador could hear a crisp packet being opened 100 metres away, would happily beg other customers for food in the pub garden

:dog::dog::dog:

 

[QFour]

When we went up to the meet near Inverness she worked out where all the dog bowls were and where all the BBQ's were and then when I opened the door on the MH she legged it. By the time I realised what was happening she was already emptying the first dog bowl. As for the BBQ's she found a sausage at one campsite and has remembered ever since that BBQ's mean food . The shame of it ..

Sorry OP we seem to have a bit of a thread drift going on here .....

..

 

[cozz]

im in to Ebikes and mountain bikes

Got a hai bike fat six, bought a dog trailer from eBay, about £85, we have a 28kg chow chow


so last week while we were away at a local campsite i tried him in it

the rear hook up connector doesn't fit because my bike has bolt through axles not quick release, so I have used 2 jubilee clips and some old inner tube for cushioning and fastened it to rear of chain stay

i put him in it and did 3 laps around the campsite, and then a baton the road and back, prob about half a mile in total

he was unsure to start, but then settled down

the idea is, if we are camping he will walk a mile or 2, but with he trailer we can give him a walk, then ride 5-miles to local village for shops/pub etc and then ride back to camper

the trailer cannot uncouple, it has a safety check strap as well as the primary fastening

of course good stuff costs money, the bike is around £5000 with some extras, spare battery is £700, it uses bosch motor, which is regarded as the best

for a more budget option look at bergamot bikes, the hardballs start around £1900 and have bosch motors

 

[m30]

There seem to be loads of e-bike brands available on mainland Europe that we dont get. A lot use Bosch, some Yamaha. I was browsing in a shop in France and the guy was telling me about another manufacturer possibly Borse or Bose, who he said make a lot of electrical parts for cars.

Personally i swear by my Haibike Allmountain Sduro with Yamaha power. Haibike do a massive range of bikes to suit your needs, and budget.
One guy i know who is in the trade, said they wer having a few issues with the Bosch stuff just lately, but might only be software.

Mid/crank drive is the way to go for climbing and battery life/range. 50km on level going wouldn't be any problem at all on mine in eco setting. I tend to do more climbing, but can still do 30 miles , and range increases in warmer weather.

I understand the argument about buying a scooter for the same price, but thats just something else to tax and insure, and you have access to more places on a push bike than on a scooter, plus the fitness aspect.

Stu

 

[witzend]

I understand the argument about buying a scooter for the same price, but thats just something else to tax and insure,
Stu

Isn't there any requirement to insure one of these I'd feel the need to personally as it could be expensive if you where involved in a collision with someone of something.

 

[QFour]

They are rather nickable so it's worth getting them insured although our House Insurance provider is not interested so I went to ETA Cycle Insurance

 

[witzend]

They are rather nickable so it's worth getting them insured although our House Insurance provider is not interested so I went to ETA Cycle Insurance

Thats not a bad price I think it ought to be a legal requirement to have insurance as being silent and used on footpaths I think there a accident waiting to happen especially as most people seem to be using a phone while walking or wearing headphones

 

[m30]

Thats not a bad price I think it ought to be a legal requirement to have insurance as being silent and used on footpaths I think there a accident waiting to happen especially as most people seem to be using a phone while walking or wearing headphones

I dont see why an e-bike would need insurance when a normal push bike doesnt, we'll be demanding those "silent" pedestrians get insurance next, strolling up and down the pavement bumping into each other.

 

[cozz]

being a cyclist, the worse thing on shared paths are the walkers/runners who have noise cancelling headphones on, you can ring a bell/shout all you like and they are oblivious till you overtake them and then they jump out their skin !!

 

[Channa]

I dont see why an e-bike would need insurance when a normal push bike doesnt, we'll be demanding those "silent" pedestrians get insurance next, strolling up and down the pavement bumping into each other.

It all gets a bit confusing. A lot of people don't realise that club riders have insurance arranged through CTC for £19 for the year or British Cycling.. Membership of the latter gets 10 percent discount on cycling gear at Halfords so net cost to a lot is nothing.

The insurance in effect is third party cover. Our Insurance at club level allows new riders 3 taster rides before they need to join ..the need part is insurance related and a stipulation of constitiutions for cycling clubs.

Equally I am a member of a breakaway group using in the main tow paths and a bit of road cycling. we are really just a large bunch of pals so no need for insurance as such.

Back to British cycling , well worth joining if buying bikes for xmas pressies....insure first then use the discount card to save money in Halfords

Channa

 

[Channa]

For one thing, ebikes are not silent. There is always tyre noise, usually a little motor noise. But being silent doesn't make them dangerous.
Cycle insurance adds cover for theft, loss and maybe damage. Most household insurance would already cover you for personal liability claims.
My ebikes weren't insured for several years, but last year the house insurance covered them at no extra cost, which is good!

Interesting HD, on my mountain bike I changed the tyres to Michelin road tyres using predominantly Greenways. My Strava speeds increased deffo quicker less rolling resistance and the bike cycles better, perhaps this would help range too on e bikes indirectly Job speeded up without additional effort

Channa

 

[clf86ha]

We have 2 x 20" folding bikes from AS Bikes in Coventry . One has the towing bracket attached and pulls the trailer ( a medium size doggyhut trailer) plus 2 x miniature poodles totalling 25kg, the other doesn't.
Both bikes batteries diminish at the same rate

Forgot to add, the trailer is brilliant, quick to erect and dismantle and fold. And if has a brake away cable to prevent detachment from thd bike should the hitch fail

 

[Channa]

A year or two ago, the motorhome batteries were running down in the midwinter.
Too busy for a trip away, I arranged with a local CL to leave the van there on hookup for 24 hours.
I drove there, plugged in the hookup and connected a couple of hefty battery chargers.
Then I took my ebike out of the boot and cycled home.
On the way, I had a revelation!
I looked at the spectacular scenery, the beauty of the glowering sky. And I realised that there was no need to pedal as hard as I could to get up the hill fast: I could ease off, take it easy and enjoy the scenery much more if I went slower.
This may be obvious to most people, but if I had known it, I had forgotten.
I now try to savour every ride, so tyres that let me go faster are not on.my radar.

My point was less energy seems expended your own or I suspect a motors for the same result. If you cadence at the same speed you do go faster...that's the tricky bit as you say slow it down and enjoy

Channa

 

[Clunegapyears]

Sorted

Well, will be by tomorrow. DoggyRide, the Dutch mfr, are based near Utrecht. They are happy for us to swing by to buy. €290 for the Novel, so a lot cheaper than home. Result.
Just hope Oscar will not try to burst out of it. If this works, onto electric bikes.
Thanks for all your posts.