This was the sort of day I would normally have wanted to go out on. It was wet and cold for most of the day but we did see some sunshine mid-afternoon.
Graham Black and I were first at the start, joined by John Durham, Andy Prideaux, Mike Willacy and Andy Easton. Graham Reed phoned to say that he was not coming out because of the weather.
Of the 'B' riders only Bryan Richardson turned out, drawn by the prospect of seeing my electric bike. After a few teething problems the bike was finally ready on Friday and due for its test drive on a club run today.
The route took us up the Plym trail where we met Sue from Natural Cycles and Mike who was doing a marshalling course in Tavistock. Most of the run from Plympton to Morrison's in Tavistock was along the flat or gently uphill, so either I had the motor turned off or on the first setting, giving a gentle push
Things got serious after elevenses. John suggested that we approach "Pork Hill" via Whitechurch and the golf course, thus initially avoiding the 'B' road to Princetown. This involved Down Road, a notorious and prolonged hill, which we always seem to go up. Totally misnamed, if you ask me.
The bike coped with it easily, arriving me at the top before Andy P and John, who are both strong cyclists.
Our mid-day stop was at the Fox Tor café in Pincetown. The battery was still half full and the ride from Princetown mainly downhill as far as Yelverton. Graham Black suggested a detour via Meavy, but I shot ahead and went to Yelverton instead of turning left at the Burrator Inn. I managed to catch up Andy E and Graham B at the start of the cycle path back to Coypool. Somehow, Mike had got detached from the group, so three of us made our way to Plympton, only to be rejoined by mike at the end of the Plym Trail.
I had 42 miles on the clock in Plympton and still some juice in the battery, which I burned off when I got home. The bike continued to give power for 50 miles, which is more than we do normally on a club run.
The downside, if course, is that once the battery is flat, I'm like fly with no wings.
Graham Black and I were first at the start, joined by John Durham, Andy Prideaux, Mike Willacy and Andy Easton. Graham Reed phoned to say that he was not coming out because of the weather.
Of the 'B' riders only Bryan Richardson turned out, drawn by the prospect of seeing my electric bike. After a few teething problems the bike was finally ready on Friday and due for its test drive on a club run today.
The route took us up the Plym trail where we met Sue from Natural Cycles and Mike who was doing a marshalling course in Tavistock. Most of the run from Plympton to Morrison's in Tavistock was along the flat or gently uphill, so either I had the motor turned off or on the first setting, giving a gentle push
Things got serious after elevenses. John suggested that we approach "Pork Hill" via Whitechurch and the golf course, thus initially avoiding the 'B' road to Princetown. This involved Down Road, a notorious and prolonged hill, which we always seem to go up. Totally misnamed, if you ask me.
The bike coped with it easily, arriving me at the top before Andy P and John, who are both strong cyclists.
Our mid-day stop was at the Fox Tor café in Pincetown. The battery was still half full and the ride from Princetown mainly downhill as far as Yelverton. Graham Black suggested a detour via Meavy, but I shot ahead and went to Yelverton instead of turning left at the Burrator Inn. I managed to catch up Andy E and Graham B at the start of the cycle path back to Coypool. Somehow, Mike had got detached from the group, so three of us made our way to Plympton, only to be rejoined by mike at the end of the Plym Trail.
I had 42 miles on the clock in Plympton and still some juice in the battery, which I burned off when I got home. The bike continued to give power for 50 miles, which is more than we do normally on a club run.
The downside, if course, is that once the battery is flat, I'm like fly with no wings.
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