Tag: Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park Trail

I sold my 2006 Honda Accord EX-L V6. The car had been sitting on the street or in my garage for a long time, and I was tired of the insurance expense and upkeep. After hours of reading reviews online, I bought a Lectric eBikes XPremium electric bicycle, which arrived earlier this week. I was excited to ride the bike but waited until the weekend to ride it. The bicycle had two batteries that needed to be charged; the tyres needed air, and I needed to read the manual.

The Lectric XPremium has a mid-drive motor which delivers power more intuitively to the rider, allowing the bike to tackle hills and take on more challenging terrain. The foldable frame design accommodates a dual battery system, doubling the range to 100 miles.

Motor: 800 Watts Mid-Drive Motor
Batteries: Two 48V lithium-ion batteries, with a 4-6 hour charge time and up to 100+ mile range.
Speed: Class 1, 2, or 3 eBike with PAS and Throttle abilities with a top speed of 28 mph.
Peddle Assist: Five levels of pedal assist and a half-twist throttle. A dynamic torque sensor measures how fast and how hard I'm pedalling to increase motor responsiveness.
Tires: Puncture-resistant Lectric 20" x 4" fat tires make for a smoother ride. Slime is installed to prevent flat tires.
Weight: Total bike weight is 75 lbs with the 7lb battery installed.
Rear Rack: Rear Rack holds up to 55 lbs and is equipped with mounting holes for accessories.
Shift Sensor: A shift sensor detects movement in the brakes and temporarily cuts the motor output to protect the drivetrain and keep the ride smooth & controlled.
Brakes: 160mm Hydraulic disc brakes provide a smoother braking experience and increased stopping power. They are also equipped with motor inhibitors.
Safety Lights: A headlight and rear brake light combination powered by the internal battery

On Saturday, after breakfast, I checked the air in the tyres, tested the brakes, adjusted the seat, put on a helmet, and, inspired by Jim Grey, headed toward the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park Trail. This is my first time riding a bicycle outside the streets of my development. It was also my first time riding the Lectric eBikes XPremium for more than a few minutes. I wanted to be safe, so I planned my route to keep off busy roads as much as possible. My route took me through Van Horne Park, which sits in the borough of Rocky Hill on the very edge of Montgomery Township.

I rode the Van Horne park trail to Washington Street and then nervously took Washington Street over the bridge to the Rocky Hill entrance to Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park Trail. The canal is one of my favourite walking paths. I considered riding the canal into Kingston but wanted to try something different. Several winters ago, the Montgomery Friends of Open Space organised a walk from the canal lock in Griggstown to the canal lock in Kingston. It was a fun but cold walk. A quick look at Apple Maps showed that the Rocky Hill entrance to the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park trail was about an equal distance from the Griggstown Lock and the Kingston Lock. I choose to ride north along the canal toward Griggstown.

The air was cool, but I soon warmed up with the effort involved in riding the bicycle. The XPremium has five power assist (PAS) levels, but I never needed to move beyond PAS level 2. With its mid-drive motor riding, the XPremium felt like riding a traditional bicycle. The fat tyre provided a comfortable ride on the compacted gravel pathway. I encountered many walkers, dog walkers and other cyclists. I was nervous each time I had to pass someone coming the other way or when I had to manoeuvre around walkers, but my confidence grew as I pedalled along.

It takes me a long time to recover from hypoglycaemia, and I always feel drained after. I wanted to be sure my blood glucose stayed within range. I stopped to check my blood glucose level and popped some jelly beans. While the jelly beans shored up my blood glucose, I took photos of a man fly fishing his way along the canal. When I looked down to steady myself on the edge of the canal bank, I saw a frog hopping around near my shoes.

I continued on the XPremium, eventually stopping at the Griggstown Spillway to rest and take more photographs.

I enjoyed the sound of the rushing water for several minutes before looking at my watch. The trip had taken longer than I expected. It was time to get back home for lunch. On the way back, I remembered that the XPremium has a throttle. The canal towpath was clear, and I was more comfortable on the bicycle, so I used the throttle for a few minutes to boost my speed. The bike shot forward, getting almost 32 kilometres per hour. This feature was fun and might be helpful on hilly rides. I went back to pedalling.

I was tired but satisfied when I returned home. The bicycle ride was fun. I got exercise and got some photography as well. I think I understand why Jim Grey enjoys this so much.