Bad weather while transporting your Ebike

[Expidia]

in germany this is 2,99€. lol

Thats because Amazon pads into their prices their free shipping.

 

[veryoldfart]

Interesting.

This came up last winter when we were about to drive home from Lakes with bikes on back of car (Thule tow-ball rack).

Anyone who says the bikes don't get a soaking has never driven far in wet uk conditions.

Both bikes were clean prior to setting off , but filthy and covered in muck at the end of 6 hour journey.

Lakeland Bike shop said to me before departing, you need to protect the bikes ( especially the motor and battery and internal cable routing points) from rain which could cause damage.

So, we wrapped around those parts with cling film and taped over, but it just unwraps within an hour or so of motorway speed driving .....

So, when we got back, I did some online resarch. Found a Latvian firm that make MTB (& road bike) bike covers - water resistant, not waterproof. But they should stop rain being driven into "sealed" bearings etc and also keep road muck off bikes, derailleurs, chains etc. Covers are washable and not too expensive.

VELOSOCK | Bike Covers

VELOSOCK bicycle covers are premium quality, highly durable and beautiful bike covers for car racks or outdoor and indoor storage

velosock.com

Amazon even offer them now

I have no connection with Velosock whatsoever.

Wonder how many people who have had motor bearing problems take care to protect their bikes?

Riding at 20kph, even through deep water, is not the same as having heavy spray hitting bike at 70 mph.

Spesh say to remove battery and cover motor housing area with plastic bag

 

[billium]

We are all told, don't pressure wash your EBike! but keep in mind that an hour of 70mph motorway spray on the back of your car may actually be worse than a few seconds of pressure washer.

I think brand-specific neoprene with velcro 'travel kits' would be a good product for someone to make. Wrappers for Controller, Downtube ( if side removable battery) and motor. Suntour make one for their SP12 suspension seatpost ( I have one). Imagine something similar big enough to wrap the motor.

 

[Mungalot]

I just

Most the videos I see of my European cousins riding E-bikes are in absolutely the worst conditions. Mud soup trails, pissing hard rain. How you do it I don’t know.
Which got me to thinking.
How do you get your bikes around ?
We all know water is the #1 e-bike killer. What do you do to protect your electronics while transporting your bikes in that ungodly weather
Mainly asking the bike racks folks .

Thinking about designing a “wet suit” for e-bikes.

Just get a sprinter van for any wet or rainy transports.

 

[Gavalar]

Most the videos I see of my European cousins riding E-bikes are in absolutely the worst conditions. Mud soup trails, pissing hard rain. How you do it I don’t know.
Which got me to thinking.
How do you get your bikes around ?
We all know water is the #1 e-bike killer. What do you do to protect your electronics while transporting your bikes in that ungodly weather
Mainly asking the bike racks folks .

Thinking about designing a “wet suit” for e-bikes.

Look at, www.velosock.com

 

[BIG-DUKE-6]

Look at, www.velosock.com

Could you imagine what the wind load would be……. But yea. That’s kind of what I’m thinking.

The Saran Wrap is a brilliant idea ! Just add some Velcro straps to hold it down. I will be adding this to me kit today.

 

[Amelia]

Sealed all in one van liner

 

[Jimbo Vills]

Sealed all in one van liner

View attachment 115247

Looks well handy for shifting dead bodies on your way home too

 

[olde-mtber]

Most the videos I see of my European cousins riding E-bikes are in absolutely the worst conditions. Mud soup trails, pissing hard rain. How you do it I don’t know.
Which got me to thinking.
How do you get your bikes around ?
We all know water is the #1 e-bike killer. What do you do to protect your electronics while transporting your bikes in that ungodly weather
Mainly asking the bike racks folks .

Thinking about designing a “wet suit” for e-bikes.

I carry my Trek Powerfly fs5 on a carrier on the back of my car. I leave the battery in the bike and have no problems with the electrics getting wet. I ride through streams and ford's and flooded areas water has been up to the BB possibly a little deeper at times and have had no problems. I do check the battery compartment when I get home and so far everything has been fairly watertight and what water that has got in hasn't caused any problems.

 

[Growmac]

It absolutely has the ability and all the fixing points etc. However for some inexplicable reason Mercedes don't but certain vehicles through registration. Therefore on the chasis plate it says zero. I went to get a tow bar fitted and this was pointed out. He refused to fit it.

My Golf R Estate is the same. No tow rating. I found a fitter who was happy to put in the bar and electrics, they all fit perfectly, but I have clear instructions from TowTrust that while a bike rack is fine, towing would be illegal.

 

[Growmac]

So, when we got back, I did some online resarch. Found a Latvian firm that make MTB (& road bike) bike covers - water resistant, not waterproof. But they should stop rain being driven into "sealed" bearings etc and also keep road muck off bikes, derailleurs, chains etc. Covers are washable and not too expensive.

VELOSOCK | Bike Covers

VELOSOCK bicycle covers are premium quality, highly durable and beautiful bike covers for car racks or outdoor and indoor storage

velosock.com

Amazon even offer them now

I have no connection with Velosock whatsoever.

I've seen those. Seems like it would put a truly enormous load on both the bike and carrier? It's effectively a couple of 2m^2 sails hung on the back of the car. Do you have any concerns about the bikes being ripped off the rack? I had a massive gust of wind rip a correctly mounted roof rack off years ago, and that was just a single bike mounted transversely, no cover. The rail clamps went through the paint to the metal and dented the edge of the roof.

What does it do to your fuel economy? What's the max cruise speed?

 

[thewrx]

Roof rack, on too of the bed of my truck, sometimes I wrap foil around headset, or lights, when washing to keep direct spray off, also usually lube and wash bike once at destination if in rain.

This helps too for you car rack mount peeps:

 

[gooral]

2 people, 2 e-bikes and all the gear inside a Nissan Micra

View attachment 114963

Lol, not if you are 6'3 with an XL bike! However I do manage to fit XL Trek Rail inside my VW Up with both wheels off and front passenger seat moved all the forward, so 1 bike and one person only...

 

[Bearing Man]

Just so you know, according to our records. Carrying an eBike on a car rack without covering the motor is the third biggest killer of eBike motors!!

No 1 Pressure washer / hosing.
No 2 Deep water fording.
No 3 Transporting a bike on a car rack in the wet.

The bike is not protected or shielded behind the car (this is why they put a windscreen wiper on the back window). Most eBike motors will just about tolerate road puddles being splashed at them at 15 mph. They are not good at sitting in a maelstrom of heavy spray hitting them at 60 - 70mph from all angles.

If you're transporting your bike on wet roads, wrap a simple plastic bag around the motor. It does not have to be water tight, just offer some protection from direct spray.

 

[LankyLancs]

Look at, www.velosock.com

#yorkshirebattlecry

They're a bit spendy for a cover. Lycra for bikes...!

 

[Growmac]

#yorkshirebattlecry

They're a bit spendy for a cover. Lycra for bikes...!

I suspect the cover is pretty cheap compared to the cost of the fuel you'll burn dragging a 2 metre square sail through the air at 70 mph.

 

[steve_sordy]

I suspect the cover is pretty cheap compared to the cost of the fuel you'll burn dragging a 2 metre square sail through the air at 70 mph.

I agree with that. I have discovered on two different cars that with just my bike on the towbar rack that it increases my fuel consumption by 10mpg. I don't drive any slower or faster when the bike and rack are on the car. When i get a tow bar fitted to my current car (in 2 days time) I will then be able to compare with three different cars.

 

[BIG-DUKE-6]

Just so you know, according to our records. Carrying an eBike on a car rack without covering the motor is the third biggest killer of eBike motors!!

No 1 Pressure washer / hosing.
No 2 Deep water fording.
No 3 Transporting a bike on a car rack in the wet.

The bike is not protected or shielded behind the car (this is why they put a windscreen wiper on the back window). Most eBike motors will just about tolerate road puddles being splashed at them at 15 mph. They are not good at sitting in a maelstrom of heavy spray hitting them at 60 - 70mph from all angles.

If you're transporting your bike on wet roads, wrap a simple plastic bag around the motor. It does not have to be water tight, just offer some protection from direct spray.

Thanks for your valuable input Bearing Man. I thought as much. At least enough to ask here about it .
This stays permanently in the car now . Extremely inexpensive, easy to apply and has perfect results. Add some packing tape to the wrap for longer trips

 

[BIG-DUKE-6]

Thanks for your valuable input Bearing Man. I thought as much. At least enough to ask here about it .
This stays permanently in the car now . Extremely inexpensive, easy to apply and has perfect results. Add some packing tape to the wrap for longer trips View attachment 116994

 

[Growmac]

I agree with that. I have discovered on two different cars that with just my bike on the towbar rack that it increases my fuel consumption by 10mpg. I don't drive any slower or faster when the bike and rack are on the car. When i get a tow bar fitted to my current car (in 2 days time) I will then be able to compare with three different cars.

I am not sure mine is as bad as that, but certainly drops a motorway run from 40 mpg to more like 34-35 (Petrol Golf Estate)