– May 23rd –

After a month or so a coworker mentioned how gas prices were going up in price which made me glad my car gave me 30 mpg but then another coworker, who drives a Tesla and has a road bike told me “hey google Super73” and that was it, I started to go down the ebike rabbit hole.

Main reasons I went the ebike path were, well, one, to save on gas and two, to exercise since I recently canceled my gym subscription that I wasn't using because gyms are packed 90% of the time.

My commute to work is about 11 miles each way and according to google it would take me 55 minutes, so averaging 10-11 mph. An ebike would help in terms of speed, probably going 15-17 mph and to be able to rest if I'm tired, so I really didn’t need a big motor or large battery. 

After much research, the Soltera.2 was the bike that made the most sense for me to get. Light, small motor, torque sensor, and the including lights are a plus. Added the fenders, rear rack and a suspension seat post since the Solter.2 doesn't have any suspension.

I ordered the Soltera.2 on May 20th, 2024 for $999, plus the cost of the other items $1299. As always, there are discounts after I buy something. This time I contacted Aventon and was lucky enough that the promotion clause stated that any purchase done within 14 days, would be honored to get the discount, so two days later I got a $200 credit back to my credit card. 

Bike arrived two days later on May 22nd. Putting it together was pretty easy, except for the plastic cover covering the rear wheel motor/nut cover, so I had to remove the rear wheel to take the plastic cover that broke while I tried to remove it. 

I turned on the bike and tested the lights and also the battery was at 60%, I followed to plug it in to charge the battery and in about 2-3 hrs the bike finished charging. I will time the charging once I start using the bike.

As of today I haven't used the bike yet but I will once I get my helmet which arrives today and commute to work tomorrow. I will update log my experience.

– May 24th –

Drive to work (left at 6:10, 35 minute commute) According to the bike it was a 9 mile ride, but google says its 11 miles. Still got to work around 6:40-6:45) Battery was 77% when I got to my desk, I just checked it at 9:41 and the battery says its at 81 %

– May 25th –

Installation of Fenders and Suspension Seat post. 

• Suspension Seat post Installation is very easy, just remember to adjust the suspension firmness.
• Fender installation was a bit more complicated, since the instructions only tell you how to Put the fenders together and location on the bike. It doesn't give you much of HOW TO:
  • Rear Fender: 
    • Step 1: Remove/slide off the plastic that comes attached to the fender
    • Step 2: Attach the bracket that will hold the metal support bar to the fender, it will be easier to do it now.
    • Step 3: Undo the rear wheel bolts so you can move the wheel away from the frame.
    • Step 4: Feed the fender from the top between the tire and the frame. Once you have passed the top mounting point insert the plastic that was removed from the fender in Step 1. This will attach to the frame at the top. See Picture 1.
    • Step 5: Pull the wheel away so you can slide the fender L shape under the frame where it will be secured. See Picture 2.
    • Step 6: Secure all bolts to the frame.
    • Step 7: Attach the support metal bar to the bike and the frame.
    • Step 8: Secure all bolts making sure everything has the same spacing all around.
  • Front Fender:
    • NOTE 1: According to the instructions, the front fender needs to be installed behind the front wheel fork but it won't fit flush to the metal. It would be better if it was attached in front of the fork so it is flushed to the fork but doing this, the support metal will hit the front brake and affect the brake mechanism. See Picture 3
    • NOTE 2: Not needed but would be nice to have: Homemade rubber washers. I had some round robber feet and made washers out of them. Why? To add a gap between the bracket and the metal to prevent the bracket from scratching the frame.
    • Step 1: Attach the bracket that will hold the metal support bar to the fender, it will be easier to do it now.
    • Step 2: Feed the fender from the back of the tire.
    • Step 3: Feed the long screw to the fork with a washer from the front.
    • Step 4: Add the rubber washer/spacer to the Screw. Add the second rubber below it so it touches the frame. See Picture 3.
    • Step 5: Feed the fender bracket to the bolt and add the metal washer and nut to the bolt.
    • Step 6: Attach the metal support to the fender and the fork.
    • Step 7: Secure all bolts making sure everything has the same spacing all around.

– May 28th –

Second Day riding to work was eventful. I left the house with 51% of battery life. Anyone noticed the % goes up when the bike is turned off and then back on? So on Friday the 24th I rode my bike to work and both ways and battery percentage said 47% and like I said this morning it read 51%. As I rode the bike this morning I noticed it was moving down faster so figure be more conservative and not go too fast. As I approached work, the battery had gone down to 15% which worried me because I still had a steep road to go up and decided to turn it off, gain some speed from a downhill and turn it to Boost once I hit the uphill. At the top of the hill where my office is, my battery read 5%. I think I will be charging my bike everyday at work. 

Not sure why the first day I was able to go back and forth with 55% and the second day used the remaining 40% one way only. I guess time will tell.

Also, the Suspension seat post is the best thing ever, the ride was much smoother.

—

This last hill in my commute is a bit too much for the bike, but the bike does a good job the rest of the way. I could have gone with the Level 2 and have more power but I still like the idea of having to pedal and work out a little more. plus I will look at that uphill as a challenge and measurement of my fiscal strength and progress.

Carlos

https://preview.redd.it/99ck9k68kd3d1.png?width=1401&format=png&auto=webp&s=b59559215616c96bf3da36acf89f69f0a946bf48