During (or possibly before) the pandemic, fren Mario got an e-bike. A long time ago in a land far away (there lived a pineapple princess tiki), I considered e-bikes as a commuting option to UBC given the tedious uphill climb on 8th near Alma. I test rode one, liked it but didn’t think much of it.
Come 2020, Mario introduced me to his e-bike modified with a Grin Technologies kit. A variety of motivations intersected to push me over the edge and electrify my bike as well.
- The coronavirus pandemic (I’d try avoid public transit whenever I could)
- A better way to get around than cars
- Economical
- Healthier
- An existing desire to do tech-y engineering-y things that moved away from my background of being the ‘sensing’ guy to ‘doing’ things
- I’d taken a couple of woodworking classes at Yaletown roundhouse
- Built raised planter beds w/ Iva
- Coming up on year 3 of ceramics at UBC
- Joined the hackspace to regain access to the laser cutter
- Learnt sewing and welding at VHS
Due to the aforementioned motivations, I got a Grin ready to roll kit with the eZee motor that was a lot of fun to put together and use. The motor controller, the motor w/ laced wheel, the battery and the cycle analyst were all modular components that I could upgrade and replace at any time. So far, the kit has served me extremely well.
The more I learn about grin, the more excited I am that an organization at the very cutting edge of electric personal mobility is based in Vancouver.