Two Reasons for Range Anxiety

My e-scooter is six years old. It has been chained to the wall of my parking space downstairs. I had a few old sheets thrown over it, but it did manage to get a little grimy.

The battery pack contains standard lead acid cells. So, I am a little concerned about taking off on a 25K adventure nowadays. It weighs a figurative ton and rolling it back just a mile and a half a few years ago, when I didn't plan things right, was no picnic.


That was not the only reason I didn't venture far on it today. The back tire has a history of not staying full. I bought an foot air pump yesterday at Walmart and sure enough there was nothing in the tube at all. It's not too easy to get the pump locked onto the valve because of a tight fit. Nevertheless, I thought I put it up to 40 psi. I rode up to the outside garden hose of our building and gave the bike a good wash. Perhaps I'd never done that before, I don't know.

Later, after an hour, I went back down and checked the tire before hopping on. It read only 20 psi, so I pumped it up again. Needless to say, I was a bit scared to go far and now not only because of the aging battery.

I zipped down to the other end of downtown, crossed over the tracks to the quay, and sped through the parking lot. Then, I quickly went back to Columbia and passed Fourth Street. Next to the new red condo, I rode up to Carnarvon Street and then went back into our parkade. The total was probably less than two miles.

Still it was fun because of the sun. I like silently whooshing along at 45 kph hearing only the wind. The e-scooter is now back behind my truck. I hope to find air in the tire when I try again tomorrow.

Lithium Ion Next?

I awoke to summer this morning. Apparently it had been stalled somewhere along the way here.



It was obviously a day to enjoy a little trip on the e-scooter. I plugged the battery in to top off. I hope the old lead-acid cells are getting weak. I'm not sure if it wasn't completely charged or whether it cannot hold much of a charge nowadays. I went around downtown, down to Sapperton Landing Park, then up across the bridge into Queen's Park. (Apparently, the cow is back at the Petting Zoo.) I rode around a bit of uptown and then came back down Fourth Street through Friendship Park. It was less than eight miles all together and I was just about flat upon getting home. Hum. Let's hope a deep charge will improve the capacity for the next zip about.

Compressed Air

I was walking past the bike shop on Sixth Street when I noticed a little sign near a bicycle tire pump which read, "Community Pump -- Free Air."

The first thing I thought about was the basketball I bought last summer. It seemed to have gone flat sitting around over the winter. Then, more importantly, I thought about my electric scooter. I hadn't even uncovered the e-bike this year. It sits against the wall in my parking space covered by an old sheet. I did however remember that the tire went flat at the end of last summer.

I asked the guys at New West Cycle if they fixed the little 18-inch tires on such a bike. What a friendly place! They assured me they'd look at it and try their best. Although I was going to do it this week, I thought I may as well get at it this afternoon. I turned in marks for my class that finished yesterday and I am already prepared for the one which starts next Monday. This means the wonderful weather we're supposed to get over the next several days will be all mine to use as I see fit!

My battery was charged as I try to always keep it so. It has regular lead-acid cells so it's not good to let it sit in a discharged state. I brought down the heavy battery and slid it in under the seat. Then I proceeded to walk along beside the bike up to the main parkade doors and the one block to where the shop is. I had to pass right by the New Westminster Police Station. Obviously I aroused suspicion as a cop on the beat met up with me an asked for identification! Rather than be insulted, I should be thankful for the proactive policing, I guess.



The bike shop changed the tube in less than an hour and called me. I went to pick up the bike and just had to take it for a little spin. Getting to the Westminster Pier Park afforded me the chance to try out the new air in the back tire.

Park Hopping

We have been quite short on the expected hours of sunshine in June. So, it was with great pleasure, I witnessed bright sun on a day off. To start right off in it, I headed down to my old e-bike on P7. I popped open the seat, slid in its battery, and commenced a round of New Westminster park hopping.



First, I rode down the bike lane on Columbia and Begbie. I zipped across to the Westminster Pier Park. I took my shirt off and sat on the grass. After a half hour, I took the bike back to Woodlands and crossed the overpass into Queen's Park. My next relaxing location was the Rose Garden there. Later, I went down and also spent some time lounging near the brook in Tipperary Park.



I raced down Fourth Street and figured that as long as I was already out, I'd return to the park of my initial visit for a bit. On foot it takes a half an hour to walk there but it only took a few minutes on the Ecoped.

My e-bike's battery is recharging at the moment, but I feel perfectly recharged after teaching all weekend.

Deep Blue

I've always sort of considered blue as my favourite colour.



Today, I can remember why. My e-scooter is probably not my most practical purchase, but on a day such as this one, it seems worth every single penny. I had a doctor's appointment uptown this morning. He wanted me come in for a prescription renewal. He's like that.



After, I rode all all over New Westminster. I went through Queen's Park and down through the Woodlands. I stopped for a bit at Sapperton Landing and then went up by the Royal Columbia Hospital. I also 'roared' through downtown silently, and spent a little time at the Quay.

I am very happy with my Ecoped. At the moment, its battery is recharging.

Where Have You Been?

Thank you, reasonable temperature, for finally showing up today on the first official day of summer. I have been waiting for you all spring, but you weren't in contact at all. I really missed you. Please stick around for a while as it's really nice getting to know you again.


I was able to take out the electric scooter today. Here, it's parked
by the totem pole near Centennial Lodge in Queen's Park.

Dusting Off the Cobwebs

I was finally able to pull off two old sheets from the electric scooter! The bike had been pushed up against and chained to the wall in my parking stall for the past nine months. It wasn't nearly as grimy as I had imagined though. I was also little relieved as one time this winter I backed up a little too close and heard a noise. I guess it wasn't plastic breaking as all looked as it should!

The lead-acid battery module had been up in main closet in the apartment. I regularly kept it charged up though the winter months. I don't think one can get a long lifespan from this type of battery if it remains discharged.


Looking up Sixth Street from the city's downtown parkade.

I first rode to the gas station at the foot of Twelfth Street as my little tires were only at about 15 p.s.i. but should be between 35 and 45. Then, I rode uptown. My city is on a enormous hill. The bike really doesn't have the guts to go directly up Sixth Street, the easiest access route. Instead, I meandered up by the site of the former St. Mary's Hospital and continued along side streets. The neighbourhoods are quite handsome and the bike gives an excuse to actually enjoy them. I primarily buzzed around Queen's Park making sure not to hit all the gaggles of kids and chaperons.

Following that, I parked on Carnarvon Street near our building's main entrance and got some cleaning supplies. There wasn't much to clean so it didn't take long. Finally, I just went for a spin at the Quay. I love flying up the bike lane while the traffic is all stopped on Columbia Street. It's near silent power so even a max. speed of about 35 kph gives the illusion of being dangerously excessive! I love it.

A Fair-Weather E-Bike Rider

There are a great number of bike paths accessible in New Westminster, BC. I really never knew about them before I bought my e-bike scooter last year. I only bike-around as a form of recreation on good weather days.

Today was surely one of them. The weather was absolutely perfect today. It has been a very nice summer although it got off to a rather damp start in June.

Today, I went over to the Woodward's site, through Queen's Park, and down the 7th Avenue Crosstown Greenway. Then, I rode from 22nd Station to the Queensborough Bridge (as shown in the picture below). I next slid down by the Kuger paper mill and through the Quay coming home. Unfortunately, I forgot to turn on the trip tracker on my phone, so I'm not sure how far it was. It doesn't matter, as it was very pleasant.


This is a dedicated pedristrian / bike bridge over Marine Drive.

The Path Captured by My Phone

View Trip to walmart on my bike in a larger map

Phew! It seems warmer today than yesterday. It might just be that the ground and objects are finally heating up. You won't read any complaints about this from me! Even though it may hit 32C (89F) today, I am thankful we'll sleep well as it will dip down to about 13C (55F) tonight. This has got to be the epitome of perfection! There sure seems to have been a great deal of blogging about weather in recent days. I guess it's nice to have all this extra time to talk about this subject.

I just returned from a ride on the e-bike over the Queensborough Bridge to Walmart. I didn't go for anything other than the scenery.

Turning Water into Motion

Most of the power in British Columbia comes from hydroelectricity. In fact, BC Hydro is the name of the entity that is responsible for power generation in the province. Today, I got a chance to convert a tiny bit of the energy produced by falling water to turn these tiny wheels.

At long last, the weather was nice enough to take out the e-bike. I don't think I've been on it since a really nice patch of weather back in the middle of April. I got this little Chinese-made scooter from a Canadian Walmart almost exactly a year ago. It hasn't got a lot of gumption on the hills around here but it does well enough to shuttle me around. It is hard to remember it's a bicycle. Driving it is always a little confusing. I go through parks on sidewalks and we've got lots of dedicated bike paths, but there are times when I have to act like a motorcycle at street corners. Cars always assume I've got a real engine. The beauty is though, because it doesn't, I don't have to register it or pay insurance.

I love just silently whooshing around on a fine day like today. Finally, summer arrived with perfect 20C (70F) temperatures!

Our Fair Little City

I stopped at several spots in Queen's Park this morning.

I don't think I took out the e-bike at all during March. It was a mild winter this year. In February there was a stretch of nice weather, so like today, I took the charged battery down to my parking stall. I extracted the Ecoped from between my truck's back bumper and the concrete wall. I thew the covers into the truck, donned a helmet, and scooted uptown.

I have some money in a credit union uptown. Today, I did want to start a $US checking account, so I exchanged a bunch of money. I thought I should strike as the bucks are near par in value. After that, I just leisurely rode around uptown. I went along the pleasant streets, through Queen's Park, and eventually back to my parking stall.

I often forget between riding how nice it can be. It's easy to cover more ground than when walking but it's not as confining as driving. Now, all the trees are dutifully covering themselves in leaves. Many also flower profusely. I love the neighbourhoods of uptown New Westminster by the park. The area is relatively unknown to those who don't live here. Many non-residents only see this city from the roads they take on a hectic commute through it. My trip on two wheels was actually very quiet and pleasant. Of course it helps that the only noise I make is the whoosh of the electric brushes and bike chain.

Oot and Aboot!

There have already been a lot of benefits to reducing my teaching hours this semester. I can devote more vigor to the hours I'm teaching and I am more relaxed when not. This morning was a prime example of how nice it is to be free. As it was a nice sunny morning, I was able to get right out in it.


I keep the battery to my electric bike in the entry closet and it's always fully charged. It was easy to unchain my Ecoped from my parking stall, slip in the battery, and head out on a little jaunt.

I just went over to Queensborough, a part of my city. Recent bridge work has provided bicycle lanes to match up to the extensive bike paths in the area. Although it will be about 10C (50F) today, the sun was shining on my face. Gloves kept my fingers warm. The air was refreshing.

It Ran Out of Juice

I found out what it's like when the battery of my electric bike goes flat. I first started out just for a ride up to Queen's Park. I had thrown my netbook in the back, so I sat in the gazebo at the Rose Garden with it. Imagine, there was a non-secured wireless signal there, so far away from everything! It worked well enough for me to tweet and upload a photo. I found that fact rather amazing and also enjoyed all the young mothers with kids out strolling around the gardens and the kid's play area.

Next, I rode over to the uptown London Drugs. I am able to fit right beside the shopping carts, near the door, on the second-floor parking garage. I bought several bottles of spray nasal decongestant. I know it's habit forming but I've now gotten into a routine of a squirt or two before going to bed. I don't want to mess around with those nasal-tape thingies.

From there I headed out to Seventh Avenue, mainly to see if the new swimming pool at Moody Park was operating. The city just opened it last month but has run into technical difficulties. I didn't plan on swimming; rather, I just wanted to see where my tax dollars are going.

Seventh Avenue is the Cross-Town Bike Route. I continued west and was at the 22nd SkyTrain station in the blink or two of an eye. I figured I would run the trail under the SkyTrain just because it was such a nice day out. I ended up going to Burnaby's Central Park as well as the Metrotown branch of the library. I picked up a tourist guide for Sri Lanka. We'll be landing there in just about one month.

I nearly made it home by re-tracing my route. Except by the time I got to 13th Street, my battery was nearly dead. I'd never encountered what the bike is like on a dead battery. There was enough juice to walk beside it, but it wouldn`t go anywhere if I hopped on. I needed to walk it for the last half mile back home. It is not nearly as fun without power.

My GPS said I'd only been about 32 kilometers. The bike should go twice that but New Westminster is cursed with numerous steep hills. The City45 really cannot go where an ordinary pedal type can't. It looks like a scooter but although electric, it functions more like a bicycle. Today, I saw places I've not visited in 13 years of living here.

To Ride It is to Love It

One of these days, I will have to take it all the way to work. After all, it is teaching which has prevented me from making a great deal of use of my new, little e-bike.

Last weekend, I did take it out in the evening. I headed on the new Central Valley Greenway which meant riding down Columbia and past the hospital in Sapperton. Then, the path veers to the back side of Hume Park and crosses North Road. Following the river through the woods proved effortless. On both tar and gravel the City45 handles well. I had walked along some sections of this trail in the past. Quietly being whisked through the scenery by battery was a new pleasure though. I passed Cariboo Road and then ventured into completely unknown territory. I had no idea the trail system around Burnaby Lake was so immense. I rode and rode. The Greenway is not posted well along here. In fact, it was often hard to tell whether I should've even been on a bike as some trails were posted for pedestrians only. Eventually, I made it to a parking lot. I had to ask someone for directions. Who knew I could be lost so relatively close to home. Or wait, was I close to home? I had already travelled to the Sperling Skytrain station. Not wanting to retrace the trip, and as it was getting late, I crossed the brand-new bike bridge and returned home via the SkyTrain. Bicycles can use the back cars during non-peak hours, and although the Ecoped City45 doesn't look much like a bicycle, it is classed that way. Mine proved its reliability as dependable, two-wheeled transportation.


Even this morning, I took the little orange machine out. I wanted to get a better feel for riding around my city. New Westminster has some hills too steep for a 500 watt bike but I am getting the hang of how it handles. I stopped by the new outdoor swimming pool at Moody Park, buzzed around Queen's park and made a 9:50 appointment with my doctor for a prescription renewal.

At first riding the machine was disquieting. It looks like a scooter, but it really is more akin to being on a bicycle. Luckily the same laws affect me too so I don't have to register it.

Random Un-Thoughts

I'm not one to complain, damn it! I really don't have the wherewithal to create a well-organized blog entry today. I'll just play hit and miss with a few ideas. I'm giving a midterm examination to my class, so I have a bit of extra time.

I have to note the weather first. Summer has been playing hide and seek since May but now the switch has flipped to full blast. The room where I'm typing is air conditioned but after I return home from BCIT, I will have to switch on the fan. At least I know that it'll cool down to less than 15C (59C) at night. It always does.

Earlier today, a guy from Walmart called. Just before buying my electric bicycle last weekend, I noted that the province of BC would only collect half the usual sales tax on it. It didn't ring though the cash register that way, so I left a print out from the provincial website with the manager of automotive. He said he'd check on it. Sure enough, he called back to say he was looking into it. We are still not sure about the procedure but it appears as if I must apply for the rebate. Supposedly, it will also positively affect my provincial taxes next year. We're not talking vast funds here but even if I get the equivalent of a free bike helmet, I'll be satisfied.

On another front, I talked with my domain name and web-hosting service in Toronto. Due to circumstances, I need to sign on for a new account in order to obtain more disc space. My old account cannot be upgraded because of hardware restrictions and so if I sign up again, I can get over 15 times the storage space for approximately the same amount of cash. It seems a little unwieldy but sometimes stuff just happens, I guess.

I could continue typing on a variety of strange tangents. For some reason I want to reiterate now stupid I think Twitter is. Yet, because this post will automatically end up as a link on my account there, I won't spend much time discussing this. As well, I'm not ready to make comments about either of the trips scheduled for later in the year. We did book three nights in Bangkok on the return from our month in Sri Lanka. We've also been looking into what to do in Cambodia for a week. Writing about that, or the end of year trip to NYC seems premature. I could complain about how awful my sister is at keeping in touch unless I happen to be in her plans. Or maybe, I'll just sign off.

Sitting on My City45

It's a hot summer day and after grocery shopping, I did pick up this electric bicycle. There is a whole category of power-assist bikes on the market nowadays. I think they're just about all made in China and imported through different names. In Canada, Ecoped is what's sold by Canadian Wal-mart.

The box was enormous, about the size of a large refrigerator, so we had to bust it out at the store. It took a bit of cramming to get it in the back of the pickup. The canopy meant we had to lay it on its side and slide it in. I figure the bike will encounter more extreme punishment in its future with me. I am not sure how long it will last but I already cracked a side mirror and some of the plastic pieces seems fairly flimsy.

The battery was almost completely charged out of the box. Plugging it in down by my parking space in the building is going to be tricky without a long extension cord and permission from the strata council. The lead battery is pretty hefty, at about the weight of an ordinary car variety. It can be taken out. That way I charge it right in the apartment with a little black device about the size of a laptop one.


I put about 10 kilometers on it just running down to the Royal Columbian hospital on the new bike route. I also made to the top of the hill in New Westminster but that required a bit of pedaling as there's a big incline getting uptown.

Expect some serious reviews here after I've had some time to play.

It'd Make a Great Little Toy

By chance, earlier in the week I was looking at websites thinking about buying a tiny motorcycle. I had a 100cc Kawasaki at the age of 16 which used to zip me between my house and nearby towns. I used to run it right up until the NH snow flew as it was better taking it to school than going on the bus!

I was a little shocked by the price of motorcycles nowadays. They seem too expensive for what one ends up with. For twice the price of a 500cc motorbike, one can get a set of four wheels, a roof, and car doors to boot. Even tiny bikes cost a lot. Then by the time I would have added insurance and gas, it would hardly be worth it. Especially since there are only about six weeks a year when the weather is cooperative around here.

Today, we went to downtown Vancouver just because the weather was nice. We walked to David Lam Park and then along False Creek to Science World. We saw many bicycles out and about. I was thinking of trying to convince Jay that we should buy several. I don't think he's been on one for forty years.

On the Walmart Canada website, I discovered these little machines made in Ontario. They are basically just electric bicycles. They require no special license or insurance. Now that we have a newly-completed Central Valley Greenway running by our door, it would make sense for me to buy one. They're $995 at Walmart. Plus, I'd need a helmet.


Click this picture to see the Ecoped City45 Specs.