Category: Bicycle
Summer Mountain Trail Ride – 20″ Fat Tire Folding Bike
#scootercowboy #ebikes #vitilan
I live in the American West and it gives me a variety of places to ride. This ride video is in the summer, riding a mountain trail. I love the views, the blue skies and the wildflowers. I had audio issues, so this has a soundtrack, you can turn it down if you like. I’m riding a 48v 16ah 750W Vitilan i7 Pro. Multiple companies sell this frame, so if you are looking at buying this type of ebike, be sure to check the specifications. These bikes can look the same and perform quite differently.
This is a folding 20″ fat tire bike. It is easy to put in the back of my vehicle and take it places. This bike weighs 80 lbs, 20 lbs less than my non-folding 20″ fat tire bike. The suspension is great, especially if you upgrade the rear shock. The seat height is adjustable so it can be set up for a variety of people to ride. I switched out the thumb throttle for a half-twist and the response has smoothed out and made it better to ride. There’s a lot to like about this bike. It’s great for a ride like this.
Vitilan recently update this bike to version 2.0 and it now comes with either a 16 ah or 20ah battery. https://www.vitilanebike.com/products/i7-pro-folding-full-suspension-electric-bike?variant=43319802888370
Ebike laws are changing now that so many people have ebikes. I’ve tried to be conscious about the bikes I’ve purchased and the trails I ride them on. I haven’t gone higher than a 750W motor because once you do you are no longer an “ebike” in some of the states that I ride in. I try to follow the markings for the trails. Because of my age and physical condition, I could never be out in the outdoors like this without the aid of an ebike. I’ve been scowled at, yelled at and had long discussions with other riders about what is and what isn’t legal to ride on trails.
There are so many different types of bikes now, and so many more people riding them, that places traditional bicyclists had to themselves are now impacted. And after someone stays in good shape and works hard to climb up a mountain trail, I can can see how they would get a bit miffed when an ebike goes cruising by. But people are crawling all over everything. It’s not just ebikes that are disruptive. UTV’s didn’t exist a few decades ago, now they are driving over everything and having a far bigger impact on the available space to recreate than ebikes. People who don’t ride ebikes don’t know which bike is what, so the confusion is quick and real. We are having to adjust to each other.
So I’ve learned to take it on the chin, but sometimes I don’t. Just depends on the situation. But when I have a talk with most people they don’t have a problem with someone like me riding an ebike on mountain trails.
Vitilan i7 Pro – Urban Ride
The snow has melted and it’s time to hit the streets! You can see what it is like to drive this bike in traffic. Vitilan i7 Pro urban ride. See the bike in traffic. I ride throttle only, top speed around 26-27 m.p.h. Used to get top speed of 28 m.p.h. until I added Flat Out and the bag. The acceleration is good off the line and the top speed is good. Can handle a hill too. I am wearing my full-faced motorcycle helmet, felt appropriate on the street. Also helps keep my head warm when it’s cold out.
I’ve put around 80 miles on the bike up to this point. It’s great. It’s easy to load into my SUV, I don’t fold the bike, just the handlebars. I strap it down and it is easy in and out. I’ve taken it on the train, no problem. I’ve been using it on a work shoot this week where parking is extremely limited. I park a little bit away, then pop out my bike and head to the site. I work as a photographer, so I use the bike to move around the site that I’m shooting and it was fantastic.
Still wish it had a twist throttle, my first attempt failed, but I’ll find one. I’m going to replace the shock and see if I can’t get a better ride.
Be careful out there. Stop talkin’ and ride!
#vitilan #vitilani7pro #insta360
Bike: Vitilan i7 Pro https://www.vitilanebike.com/products…
Flat Out: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08X6JSXB8?…
Camera: Insta 360 https://www.insta360.com/product/inst…
Bag: Rock Bros 35L https://tinyurl.com/4rdep7ea
Bag on Aliexpress tinyurl.com/4k3nt2fc
Hafny E13 Mirror https://tinyurl.com/uh9d8bun
Schwinn Comfort Bike Seat https://tinyurl.com/aw7wdu25
Does a Seat With a Back Make A Difference? Sunlite Backrest Saddle
Picked up this seat, wasn’t sure what difference it would make, if any. Synopsis: A seat with a back makes a big difference for stability. I would buy it again.
This is the seat I bought, the Sunlite Backrest Saddle, 9″x11″. It was the cheapest I could find at the time (~$35 at time of purchase). I bolted it onto my eBikeboard and took it for a spin. It took a little getting used to, but the difference was obvious from the first ride. Now I’m quite comfortable with it and it’s hard to describe why it would make a difference. Maybe just because it keeps me from shifting around in the seat as much.
I would like a seat that is softer and had a better tightening mechanism for the back brace pad. It’s pretty lightweight, which good and bad. The size is good, it’s comfortable enough and it’s not obnoxious on the scooter. The seat pan is plastic, so I don’t know how much abuse it can take. I would like something a little softer and better built, so maybe I’ll spend more money next time and try to get a nicer one. All-in-all, it gets the job done!
iZip EZGO Folding Bicycle Spokes
Need rear spokes for your iZip EZGO? They are HARD TO FIND and expensive when you do. I am selling 10 for $10 plus shipping. They are 94mm in length, 13g. The bike calls for 93mm for the left and 94mm for the right, so you can use these on both sides and just trim the length. My iZip breaks spokes on the back with the small 16″ tire, no suspension and a hub mounted motor. I trued my wheel using this excellent guide and I quit breaking them regularly. Now I break them occasionally. It took a long time to true the wheel, but I did it using simple tools.
iZip EZGO spokes. You need ’em, I got ’em.
Snow Ride
Take it easy. It has been a while since I posted last, got caught up in the holidays. It is the busy time of year for my work as well. As this new year begins I hope it is a good one for us all.
I have been riding regularly. Most of it has been on my Lyric eBikeboard scooter, but have also been taking a quick ride on the tandem bike here and there with my beautiful wife. I don’t know what it is, but that bike is fun.
It has been snowing where I live and that makes scootering — treacherous. I’ve said it before and I will say it again, people are not serious about anything other than cars for transportation. The roads are plowed quickly here, but the sidewalks… forget about it. 
The sidewalks are the roads for everything other than cars and no entity maintains them. Private property owners should clear their walks, but that is hit and miss. I get that you don’t want to shovel the snow from your walks, but the collective “we” of our community needs you to. I know people are busy and have jobs and shoveling snow isn’t always a priority. But whenever I hear politicians or people who don’t ride talking about how important riding is, I can’t help but laugh.
Snow riding is off-road riding. It can be very dangerous with the rough terrain of ice and snow, you never know what is under what you see. My Lyric eBikeboard was designed to handle off-road riding and in the winter it really comes in handy. My scooter is super rugged, and the aluminum construction really helps with all the wet that comes at it from the snow. I let some air out of the front tire to get some more traction. It’s a wild ride, and in some ways it is fun, just like the unpredictable nature of off-road riding. Just very treacherous, freezing off-roading.
EW 36 Revival
This past week has had several good rides. Threw my scooter in the car and ran it up the hill to the garage, about 4 miles. Scootered home then scootered back when it was ready.
Picked up a beautiful vintage beach cruiser in excellent condition this week. Did a little research and found out this is one of the original beach cruiser frames. You can read here if you want more info on how these bikes came to be, it’s interesting. Wasn’t really looking to buy a bicycle, but we came across it and jumped. The ride is really smooth and the bike feels long and sleek. Really feels good in turns.
I put in several days on a project scooter I have, a EW 36, and FINALLY got it running. It is an interesting design, with a full complement of turn signals, horn, lights, tail lights — and wires everywhere. Took a while but I identified the wires and got a new controller and started hooking things up. Tested the throttle, good. Tested the motor, good. Replaced the controller and then chased down a bunch of bad connections.
When the wheels finally turned I was thrilled. It has been a lot of work to understand how to check things and what to check. I still have some work to do on it but it is working great now. I took it for a few short rides and then today I took it out for for 4 or so miles. It’s a very comfortable ride with the big wheels and big lazy boy seat.
This project should be finished soon. I have an exciting project waiting for me and I finished another project right before this one that I have yet to share.
Good things are happening!
Urban Riding and Mobility Challenges
Finding information about mobility and urban riding has not been easy for me. There has been a lot of learning by trial-and-error. I realize that it is a small segment of the population who share these interests and concerns, but I know there are people like me. That’s why I share what I am experiencing, so someone like me who is looking for information can find more information.
Recently someone in our community was using a wheelchair on our urban train and got their wheel caught in the tracks while crossing. Unfortunately a train was coming and he was struck and killed. Using mobility devices includes dangers, and for those of us who use them it is serious business.
Working on a new piece of safety equipment for myself right now. Once I get further along I will share. My friend and I came up with an idea and it’s been fun to try making it. We have ordered parts and will begin prototyping soon. I am excited.
Been continuing to ride and been thinking about how maintenance is a key element to factor with any device. This week I replaced a faulty throttle on my Trailz, so that is back on-line again. Found a broken rear spoke that needs replacing on my EZGO bicycle. And I need to make some decisions and move ahead with my battery configuration upgrade on my Lyric, or should I say eBikeboard, scooter. Got my first flat on the Lyric the other day, goathead sticker. They are brutal in the spots where the weeds have been left to grow. Also picked one up in the front tire of the EZGO, so two flat tires in one week. I run Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires with puncture protection, still got me.
With the weather changing, I am heading into the winter riding season, which can be some of the most challenging riding.
Folding Bike On The Train
I often ride the train to get places. To get to the train station I ride a folding bicycle. It takes me about 10 minutes. Then I fold the bike up and get on the train. With the bike folded I can keep it with me in the seat, it’s great. When I get to my stop, I can unfold the bike and ride farther still.
I took a ride the other day and snapped a few pictures out the window. This is mobility to me. The ability to go, to do, to get places.
My folding bike is great. It has 12″ wheels and is a bit wild to ride, which to me makes it more fun. It is a one speed but is a pretty good gearing, I can ride most everywhere without much trouble and it actually goes pretty good. I have never seen another one exactly like it. It is a great ride, folds quickly and fits in the trunk. Super easy to transport. I have taken it with me on several RV trips and it allows me to ride wherever I go.