Copenhagen wheel Rivs vs ebike

[Abcyclehank]

I think that every Rivendell bike can be elegantly electrified with a Red Copenhagen wheel.
I have ridden one on multiple occasions (miss you Amit) and feel that it provides the best of both worlds.

That said their are so many different e-bikes on the market currently that it is hard to compare apples to apples when discussing pros and cons of each.

Joe excited to see how you like the Copenhagen conversion compared to your previous Riv e-bike experimentations.

Sincerely,
Ryan Hankinson
West Michigan

[Alex Wirth- Owner, Yellow Haus Bicycles]

Are they making 650b Copenhagen wheels yet?

[Joe Bernard]

No, and Superpedestrian is going to get run out of the market if they don't expand their options soon. They need 650B/27.5, and all sizes need a disc mount option.

[Abcyclehank]

How long has this particular version existed? Anybody heard of a 2nd version Superpedestrian Copenhagen wheel with upgraded features?

Sincerely,
Ryan Hankinson

[Joe Bernard]

It's been on the market a couple years, after a rather long gestation period with numerous delays. There have been no major updates as of now, a lot of that got done in those delays.

[maxcr]

For anyone who has been looking for an opportunity to try the Copenhagen wheel, I just got a black Friday email from them offering the wheel for $995 (it was $1,100 after tax and shipping).

Use code: HOMEFORTHEHOLIDAYS

I tried out a couple of years ago and was impressed with how intuitive it felt. Since then, I've been thinking about one of these and finally went for it today. I'll probably install it on my Atlantis - hope that's not heresy! The idea is to make winter commuting a bit shorter to keep riding through Jan/Feb here in Boston.

Anyone else tried the wheel on something other than a Clem, an All-Rounder or a Rosco?

Max

[Joe Bernard]

Ryan "Abcyclehank" has one on his Quickbeam.

[somervillebikes]

Superpedestrian is a local company, and I see their wheels all over town, usually on bikes that blow past me :). I've seen them on nice road bikes and on clunky salvaged 10-speeds. I agree they need to start offering these in 650B. 20" would be great, too, if they'd fit-- I'd throw one on my Bike Friday Haul-a-Day in a heartbeat.

Anton "feeling a bit slow" Tutter

velolumino.com

[Steve Palincsar]

IIRC the maximum range on the Copenhagen Wheel is 30 miles.  That doesn't compare well with most e-assist bikes, and while that might be a fine range for an urban commuter, Rivs can be so much more.

-- 
Steve Palincsar
Alexandria, Virginia 
USA

[Howard Hatten]

Thanks for the heads up on this price max. I’ve been on the fence but this price forced my hand. Just ordered.

Howard
Livonia mi.

[Joe Bernard]

That's an average range for most ebikes, and can be stretched considerably on the Copenhagen with judicious use of the Eco and 0 settings. One of the things I like about it on my Riv is it still pedals like a Riv, I can ride with very little assistance on flats and click it off completely for descents.

That said, I *am* an urban rider. If you really want to tour with juice on a Riv you need a system that accepts switching batteries mid-ride.

[Abcyclehank]

I can not recommend the Copenhagen wheel enough for any Riv application.
Joe was correct I initially had my NOS purchased single speed on my Quickbeam.
My personal experience was it extended my SS rides into 35-40 miles vs mid 20’s. I personally have left it in ECO mode after one experimentation with the other boost modes. While riding it just feels like a continuous tailwind of sorts. Mostly noticed while taking off from stops or attempting accelerations for any occasion.
It has now been moved onto a 68cm Bombadil and performs just as magnificently.
Looking to pick up a 26 inch multigeared one to go on my wife’s 53cm Atlantis to potentially lengthen the distance we cover on 90 minute -2hrs rides together.

Ryan Hankinson
West Michigan

[Marty Gierke, Stewartstown PA]

I may have posted this before and if Jay is around, feel free to weigh in. I picked this Hunqapillar up from Analog Cycles before the move to points North, damaged in some ways (nasty seat tube dent mainly, some fork alignment issues) but fixable, and Jay did a great job getting it back on the road. Too small for me or I would have kept it. Looks like a fun ride.

Marty

[Jonathan D.]

Is there any company that produces a 650B version of something like this? Thinking of getting a wheel like this for my wife’s 45 Clementine to help with pulling kids in the bike trailer.

[maxcr]

I finally got my wheel and my lbs installed it today. It came with a Kenda 35mm tire... way too small for my Atlantis.

What tire do you guys recommend with the Copenhagen wheel? I’m thinking 700x50 with mostly road use.

Schwalbe Marathons? Joe’s e-Clem seems to have the green guard road cruiser.

Any other thoughts?

Thanks
Max

[Joe Bernard]

As big as you can get, and make sure you have flat protection because fixing one on the road (I haven't done it yet 🤞) will not be fun. The Road Cruiser I have came with the used wheel and fits under my fender, but it's a bone rattler. My eClem really needs fatter tires.

[Alex Wirth- Owner, Yellow Haus Bicycles]

Marathon Supremes (700c x 50mm) on mine...going into my third season without a flat 🤞🏼

[Joe Bernard]

I should clarify a thing that might not be obvious if you don't have a Copenhagen Wheel: The dang thing is heavy and doesn't budge over bumps. That's where the need for a big, cushy tire comes from.

[Steve Palincsar]

Are there issues besides the weight when it comes to fixing flats?

On 2/29/20 6:26 PM, Joe Bernard wrote:

I should clarify a thing that might not be obvious if you don't have a Copenhagen Wheel: The dang thing is heavy and doesn't budge over bumps. That's where the need for a big, cushy tire comes from. 

[Abcyclehank]

Also Marathon Supremes on mine Copenhagen Wheel. First thing I did on both Copenhagens was toss those crappy Kendra tires!

Ryan Hankinson
West Michigan

[Joe Bernard]

- Fixing flats -

It's heavy, bolt on, and there's a stabilizer that uses a 22mm (included) wrench on the hub end and a hose clamp at the chainstay. This adds three wrenches to my kit that aren't necessary for removing the front wheel, and I would really rather not do that job on the side of the road.

It's not a deal breaker because I love the way the hub/battery works with no wires on the frame, but the flatting situation is the one area where I really miss my mid-drive kits.

[Patrick Moore]

I'm intrigued by the Copenhagen wheel myself, though for the present solely in an academic way. But I think that having a Rivendell with assist would beat another electric bike.

Me, I think I'd use 60 mm Big Apples. They are pretty darned bulletproof and you can run them soft enough to absorb bumps (that is, about 25 psi; I don't know why Schwalbe puts a 35 min pressure label on their 60 mm tires, since 35 in such fat tires is rock hard. Me, I say 25 or 27 psi max).

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Patrick Moore

Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique, Orbis Terrarum

[J Imler]

I’ve recently ordered this guy -
www.ridekick.com

Let’s you have your Riv and e-propulsion too. I’m getting it for my wife really whose got some health conditions but another selling point is that we can share it. I like the companies ideals also (easy parts replacement and longevity).

[maxcr]

Looks like Marathon Supremes are the winners 700x50mm. (I can't fit a 60mm under the current fenders anyways.)

Thanks everyone!

Max

[maxcr]

Joe and other Copenhagen wheel owners, did you have any problems with chain slack when coasting on the copenhagen wheel? I haven't used it much but I'm surprised to see my chain completely slack and sitting on the chainstay when I coast... something doesn't' seem right.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

Max

[Alex Wirth- Owner, Yellow Haus Bicycles]

Heavy lube and cold temps had that effect on my drivetrain in winter...I think the free hub has more drag than a standard free hub. Did you strip your chain of the factory oil they put on it?

I’d apply several rounds of a light lube with lots of solvent in the formula. Something like clean ride or T9. That might eliminate the resistance causing the slack chain. I had considered going to a clutch derailleur but I always forget because I don’t have issues until I switch to heavy lube and get cold temps (sub freezing)

Hope that helps?

Alex

[Joe Bernard]

Sounds like what Alex is saying. Here in usually warm California I didn't have that issue.

[Abcyclehank]

Max,
I never had any chain issues here in Michigan on my Quickbeam nor on my wife’s multi geared Atlantis.

Ride conditions 90+ degrees F in late summer down to 25 degrees F in early Winter on dry roads with no snow.

Good luck!

Ryan

[maxcr]

Thanks for all your replies! I’ll try the lube suggestion to see if that fixes the issue.
Max

[Joe Bernard]

Check your chain length, too. Usually with my wheel I was spinning out and coasting in a too-short top gear, which is big/small ring/cog. You might have just enough extra chain going on in combination with a little drag on the freehub to cause the slack. But make sure big/big still works!

[Jim A]

Copenhagen wheels incorporate regenerative braking - when backpedaling, there is extra resistance in the freehub caused by a battery charging mechanism. The charge supplied is minimal but many people like the idea of this feature. However, it means that the chain is very prone to slackness and bunching when backpedaling, especially in smaller cogs. This shouldn't be having an effect when simply coasting, but your phenomenon may be related in some way.

[Joe Bernard]

Jim, that's a good point I forgot (I don't have the wheel anymore). When coasting you don't actually keep your feet still and it's easy to activate that backpedal braking unintentionally. It bothered me a bit because I kept slowing myself down.

[Alex Wirth- Owner, Yellow Haus Bicycles]

FYI the “braking assistance” as they refer to it in the app can be adjusted for sensitivity or turned off altogether. I happen to really like that feature as I rarely use my own brakes except when coming to a full stop at a light etc.