I’m now a few days into using an electric cargo bike (a Tern GSD) as my primary form of transportation. It’s…awesome.
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Paul Cantrellreplied to Paul Cantrell on last edited by
#BikeDiary The Tern’s design is just chock full of Good Choices. Over and over I’d notice a potential problem and then notice, “Oh, they thought of that!” Examples: the way the lockstand works, the way the cargo bags latch and fold, how the shape of the seat fits the riding posture, the way it remembers that I want to always ride with the lights on, the brake light. It has a brake light! Frigging brilliant.
The beautiful nerds who designed this bike are my kind of people.
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Paul Cantrellreplied to Paul Cantrell on last edited by
#BikeDiary By far the most difficult and frustrating part of it has been storing the bike. I keep my bikes on our porch, which is up a short staircase. I'm used to just hopping up the stairs with my light little Redline. Getting •this• bike up the stairs is an ordeal. I'm a mess at it. Searching for new strategies. Considering a ramp.
The bike’s vertical storage is ingenious, but maneuvering it in & out of a tight porch, I feel like I'm parallel parking a semi truck.
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Paul Cantrellreplied to Paul Cantrell on last edited by
#BikeDiary Answering @harpaa01’s question:
At first I •hated• the Enviolo CVT (continuous variable shifting). My instincts were all wrong. I rubbed a spot on my thumb raw trying to move it the ways it didn’t want to be moved.
TL;DR: You still have to stop pedaling to shift in anything but •tiny• increments. You therefore still end up shifting in discrete steps, not continuously adjust as you accelerate (as I’d wrongly imagined). BUT…
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@inthehands welcome to the ebike world! You may also want to check out the tags #BikeTooter & #BikeNite. I ride a Tern NBD & my spouse rides a Tern Quick Haul, and they’ve helped us move from being a 1-car family to a mostly-not-driving family. The Tern upright posture takes a while used to, but once you used to it, it’s so comfortable!
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@harpaa01 @inthehands we have a plain Yuba Kombi to which we slapped an electric kit. The 0 to moving is snappy[1], the biggest challenge it to get used to the kids changing your balance in those critical moments.
[1] maybe too much. From my non motorized bike experience, I keep a foot on the raised pedal when stopped, and the system feels the weight as force and tries to start moving. Maybe I should talk to the BRM who installed it.
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Paul Cantrellreplied to Paul Cantrell on last edited by [email protected]
@harpaa01 #BikeDiary …I don't know if it loosened up with usage or I just got better habits or what, but I like it just fine now. It works. It’s not futuristic and amazing, but it works well. And one •huge• advantage: you can shift back down to the lowest gear when at a complete stop, no problem. That means starting from a dead stop is perfectly fine, even if you didn't have a chance to prep for it while decelerating.
CVT remains one of the few things that's not aaaawwesome.
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Paul Cantrellreplied to Marcos Dione on last edited by
@mdione @harpaa01
I find myself adjusting the assist controls a fair bit as I ride. Pedestrians, narrow place? Assist 0/4 or 1/4. Needing to move through an area quickly, maybe get out of traffic, running late? 4/4 (“turbo”). Wanting to start quickly but not too quickly? 1/4 or 2/4 (“tour”) etc.Maybe just because I’m used to a manual car transmission, this constant adjusting feels natural and even helpful.
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@kimu
Thanks for the hashtag tips! The upright posture just clicked for me right away. Still getting used to the limits of turning, but as far as comfort, it instantly felt right! -
dimsumthinkingreplied to Paul Cantrell on last edited by
@inthehands all of that. My only complaint is that the striker for the bell was mounted on a flimsy spring and is long gone
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Rachael Ludwickreplied to Paul Cantrell on last edited by
@inthehands We have a bunch of cargo bikes -- my retires mom has a big front box trike, partner has a pakster (front box) and we had to just give up and got a shed just for bikes (we don't have a garage.) The storage issues with ebikes are real and since they are often pricy bikes few are going to want to lock up outdoors (even if there is a place to). A lot of apartment buildings have car parking but not bike, etc. It is a real challenge. Thank you for sharing yours.
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Paul Cantrellreplied to Paul Cantrell on last edited by
#BikeDiary Quick build notes for anyone specifically considering a Tern:
- Just get the lockstand extensions
- Just get the wide decks
- Just get the side lights
- Consider the belt drive if you’ll be riding in bad weather
- Consider a battery cover if you'll be riding in the cold
- Consider Tannus Armour inserts (fewer flats)
- All the bag, seat, rack, and passenger shelter choices are good choices, exactly what they seem to be on the web site; go based on expected usage & needs -
Paul Cantrellreplied to Paul Cantrell on last edited by [email protected]
#BikeDiary Figuring out my locking / security strategy has been a joooouuurrney. I’ll post details on where I ended up later, but one big thing that’s easy to write up now:
There is bicycle insurance that’s a lot like car insurance: theft, yes, but also damage, liability, medical. Who knew? I got this one: https://velosurance.com It was a quick online application, and it will run me ~$33/month. Reasonable enough for what it gives. Hell of a lot cheaper than car insurance!
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Davits???
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Laura Savinoreplied to Paul Cantrell on last edited by
@inthehands Me too actually (down to the squeals of glee)!! I just got my GSD last week, and I can’t believe how when I arrive at home or work, I feel hopeful and energized just walking in the door. How can a commute be joyful?!
Opposite research experience, though: I heard about a place with month-to-month rentals and ordered the one model that could schlep two kids. I customized nothing and am in love
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@clew
Hopefully it doesn’t come to that!! -
Ideally davits so reliable that you could load the bike on the porch and GET ON IT and lower away and then bike off pronto.
(Singing chanteys.)
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@clew
There once was a Tern in a Twin City and the name of that Tern was the GSD -
Paul Cantrellreplied to Laura Savino on last edited by
@savinola
Great minds think alike!(Apparently many great minds, since half the models and parts seem to be backordered)
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Paul Cantrellreplied to Rachael Ludwick on last edited by
@r343l
The GSD’s vertical storage is brilliant; once it’s in place, it’s great. It’s the steps that are the killer. Doesn’t help that the pedals come so low to the ground at their low point.If only I had the skill/strength to fully lift the thing up the stairs….
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Brian Marickreplied to dimsumthinking on last edited by
@dimsumthinking @inthehands You can get these bikes in the US? I idly peeked and it seemed to be a Europe bike.
