E8000 with Integrated Light - Followup

I've decided to abandon using the Shimano Steps E8000 integrated headlight on my ICE Sprint. See post from October 20th, 2019. I'm going to stay with my DiNotte headlight with it's battery mounted on the boom. In the end I decided it was best not to be limited to what headlight could be integrated into the E8000 system. I really like my DiNotte 400L headlight (discontinued) for daytime running. Very bright but maybe a little to intense for nighttime when on high. Over 11 years I've never had an issue with DiNotte (other than a battery getting old). Yes they are expensive but I feel they're worth it. The DiNotte headlight pictured below is about nine years old. Also my DiNotte 400R daytime tail lights are still going strong.

 The DiNotte light is secured onto a solid T-Cycle accessary mount. ICE has thoughtfully provided two screw holes for mounts. 

 The mount required T-Cycles 90 degree adapters for the accessary mount. The red dot is a plug closing off the hole that the integrated light wire passed through to tie into the E8000 terminal.

The light is mounted high enough and far out enough to mitigate the strobe effect of my size 12.5 shoes when pedaling.

Instagram Post

Sunny but cold after an overnight rain. 

My Instagram

Wildflower Century 2020

Canceled due to COVID 19

Registration for the SLOBC (San Luis Obispo Bicycle Club) Wildflower Century opened today. SLOBC has always been a recumbent friendly bicycle club. Now it is also a e-bike friendly bicycle club. Just like last years Lighthouse Century sponsored by the SLOBC the Wildflower Century welcomes recumbents and e-bikes. Unlike the Lighthouse Century that takes riders on a cruise along  the coast line of the Central Coast the Wildflower Century takes riders into the beautiful interior of the Central Coast region. 

I'll be doing the Half Century with it's 3,200 feet of gain on my ICE Sprint FS E8000. For me the 100 miles is too much to take on and end up right back where I started. Plus my two 418Wh batteries are good for about 80 miles when hills are part of the ride.

Click here and visit the Wildflower Century page.

Even though I live 150 miles away from the Central Coast where the SLOBC is headquartered I still maintain a membership in support of their good work and open door policy to all riding styles.

2019 - Looking Back

January

Preparing to move back to Thousand Oaks after nearly three years on the Central Coast.

No time to ride. Just some spinning in the garage surrounded by packed moving boxes.

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February

No posts. Too busy of a month driving back and forth from the Central Coast to our new house in Newbury Park (Thousand Oaks) preparing it for move in.

March

Riding in Thousand Oaks along the Santa Monica Mountains after moving back from three years living on the Central Coast of California

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April

Ordered my ICE Sprint FS E8000 (e-Trike)

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May

Picking up my ICE Sprint FS E8000

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June

Getting the feel for climbing with the E8000

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July

I sold my Catrike 700. After 10 years of owning Catrikes I no longer have a Catrike in my garage after opting for the ICE Sprint FS E8000. 

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August

Another post about about climbing with the E8000 after about 500 miles and 36,000 feet of gain.

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September

Lighthouse Century sponsored by the recumbent friendly and now e-bike friendly San Luis Obispo Bicycle Club on the Central Coast. Even though I now live 3 hours from the Central Coast I maintain a membership with the club in support of their good work and acceptance of all biking styles. 

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October

Still learning how to customize the E8000 with a little help from Neil at ICE Trikes.

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November

Now the National Park Service allows e-bikes (and trikes) I'm thinking about an off road e-trike. Not wanting a full fat the first trike that came to mind was the HP Enduro. But I'm considering equipping my ICE Sprint FS E8000 with mountain bike tires and give it a try on the unpaved fire roads. No decisions made yet.

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December

More information on E-Bikes and E-Trikes in the National Parks - Santa Monica Mountains

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Instagram Post - E Trikes on NPS Trails

Long hikes are a memory from the past as age tightens it’s scaly clutch. But now the National Park Service allows e-bikes (pedal-assist only) on trails where bikes are currently allowed. The Santa Monica Mountains NR defines a bike as pedal powered with 2 or 3 wheels. Yup...3 wheels is getting legitimized. So my e-trike can get me off the surface streets and back onto the trails. Well at least the tame fire roads for now. But that’s good enough for me.

Click here for National Park Service information for the Santa Monica Mountains

"Mountain Biking in the Park"

Instagram Post - Hidden Valley

Cruising along Potrero Rd in Hidden Valley. A short but welcomed escape from suburbia.

My Instagram

Next Trike? HP Enduro?

Update 1/8/20

I've decided that before blowing money on a dedicated off rode trike I'll simply put a set on MTB tires on my ICE Sprint FS E8000 and give it a try on the unpaved fire roads and maintained trails. With the minimalist suspension of the Sprint coupled with low pressure 57mm or 60mm MTB tires I just might accomplish what I'm looking for...getting me off the roads for awhile. Besides the big cost savings...I really like riding my ICE Sprint. Now to just do it.

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Is this going to be my next trike?

HP Velotechnik FS 26 Enduro

with a Shimano Steps E8000 (not pictured here)

Since moving back to Thousand Oaks, CA with the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area at my backdoor I've missed hiking into the hills. The problem is, since my 2013 hip replacements and ensuing Piriforis Syndrome, my hiking legs are gone but not my desire to get off the road and into the mountains. As of October the National Park Service (NPS), which makes up part of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, along with State and other public land holders, now allows e-bikes on the trails where regular bikes are permitted. The other public land holders generally follow the lead of the NPS. I even went so far as to confirm with my contacts at the NPS that e-trikes are cool on the trails. And yes they are as long as you have too pedal to move, no throttle.

After the Thanksgiving holiday I'll be checking in with Dana at Bent Up Cycles to test ride an HP Velotechnik Enduro.

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My Hiking Days

Last real hike in 2013 before hip replacements. The arthroscopic surgery on my hips prior to the full hip replacements gave me a short window of being able to hike. 

Now that I'm 65 and on Medicare I can afford to put forth the effort to hopefully figure out how to mediate the Piriformis Syndrome that is a nuisance when walking or standing to long. In the future I hope to have more pictures of me hiking on the trail.

Cheeseboro Canyon where I  Volunteer for the National Park Service

I've been volunteering since 2000 with a three break (2016-2018) while living on the Central Coast.

My son Byron volunteered in 2013 for High School credit.