Hi everyone,

After reading a few blogs about people cycling to Niagara I've decided to do it to. I plan on doing the trip on a bike similar to this one http://energplus.com/... which I'll be acquiring in the next week or so. I was originally planning on taking my scooter style ebike. But after some thought I felt that using something that I could actually pedal would be a safer option. Also since the route is mostly flat from what I've read. I do plan on pedaling quite a bit. Which is nearly impossible on the scooter. I could easily do this on my mountain bike which would take 2 days. However I'm trying to promote the value of an electric bike for this kind of distance.

This is the a map of the route I'd most likely be taking http://www.gmap-pedom... Someone else put this together. But it looks great to me. My goal is to do the trip in about 8 hours one way. I'd probably stay in Niagara over night and come back the next morning.

Any tips, feedback or suggestions here would be appreciated as this is the first time I'd be doing something like this. If all goes well I'll be doing this in the middle of April. It's my vacation time from work.

Also since I actually want to promote ebikes. I'm look for suggestions for making a sign too. Something like "Toronto to Niagara By Ebike" That people could see. So any suggestions here would be very welcome.

Thanks,

Vic

Interesting to compare the product energplus is offering... their 400W and 500W open frame bikes...

They don't mention the Ah size of the two packs (!) though one is lead and the other Li-ion...

500W bike w/24% more power than the 400W...

500W weight at 23kg versus the heavier 400W bike with lead batts at 40kg...

If I were you I wouldn't try the 500W bike as it would spoil you for the 400W heavier option (smile)

They also don't mention Amp ratings for their chargers... A smaller/slower charger would be less weight to pack on a journey of course, if you can afford the longer charge times...

Both bikes listed as pedal-assist, but is throttle-only also included or are they pedal-assist only?

500W mentions 7 speed Shimano gears but 400W is silent about its gearing?

Obviously a $600 price diff., but the diff. in experience would be night and day... and of course Li-ion would last at least twice as many cycles as the lead...

If ya go w/the lead pack be sure and get in a dozen or so shallow cycles to break in the pack before any deep discharges!

Trip sounds fun!
Lock

I could be wrong. But I think that the 400W bike uses a 48V battery. I'm basing this on the advertised range. It would be a bonus for me if it is. Because I could use my lithium pack. Or even if it's 36V most controllers in that range have no problem with 48v. I'll know more in the next couple of days. I'll keep you posted Lock.

Ok now being born and growing up in Niagara Falls for most of my life I can tell you one thing you will have to at some point deal with the Niagara Escarpment and I can tell you that it is very hilly on the back roads from Toronto to Niagara Falls. I use to love taking my 1977 Triumph spitfire along there for a Sunday drive. 8 hours seem like a very fast time but I could be wrong there. Anyways good luck with the trip and stay away from the tourist traps :)

Ya didn't mention how much time you wish to spend on the Niagara, or how much time you plan to spend enroute, but your map looks like a lot of road driving... hope you can spend some time at a slower (more circuitous) pace on the Waterfront trail!
http://www.waterfront...

Lock

How about taking our bikes on the Go train to Niagara and then zooming around there for the day? Niagara-on-the-Lake has some beautiful areas. There's a program for biking to Niagara. I don't see why our e-Bikes should be excluded. Your thoughts?

How about taking our bikes on the Go train to Niagara and then zooming around there for the day? Niagara-on-the-Lake has some beautiful areas. There's a program for biking to Niagara. I don't see why our e-Bikes should be excluded. Your thoughts?

I like your idea. But GO train usually has limited space even for regular bicycles. Although I'm doing this trip solo the first time. I wouldn't mind if we all went as a group in the summer. It would be a great meetup. Going on Roger's suggestion, I don't think we can use GO. But VIA is offering a service that I think could suit our purpose. Check out this website http://www.biketrain.... for more info.

Ya didn't mention how much time you wish to spend on the Niagara, or how much time you plan to spend enroute, but your map looks like a lot of road driving... hope you can spend some time at a slower (more circuitous) pace on the Waterfront trail!
http://www.waterfront...

Lock

I'm still planning. I was actually looking at the trail maps this morning. But thank you very much for the suggestion.

I'm not sure how long I'm doing to spend there. But I was thinking I would take the original route to get there. And then take the trails back home. I'm still in the process of figuring everything out.

Add this to yer list of stuff to figure out...

Prevailing winds on Lake Ontario are often out of the southwest in the summers... By the lake on your way to Niagara you might encounter this as headwinds (bad) but on the way back you might see tailwinds (good!)

LocK

If you were to follow portage road along the Niagara river it is very beautiful in the summer but it is again very hilly,you can go from Niagara on the Lake to Fort Erie along the Niagara river, I use to do this on my ten speed when I was a kid. If you have any questions regarding the Niagara area I would be glad to help answer any, I worked as a tour guide when I was a kid and worked at Marineland not that long ago. OMG I forgot about the hill at Queenston heights you would have to walk the bikes up it, you are basically going up the Niagara escarpment there. Again any help I can give just ask. This is a pic from atop of the hill at Queenston looking down to the Niagara river flowing out to lake Ontario just an indication of the height, even going down this hill I would not trust the brakes on my veloteq anyways I like the idea and would possible intrested in trying it.