377: eBike Project - The Build

377: eBike Project - The Build

Author: Tim Mooney September 19, 2024 Duration: 1:34:31

In this episode, follow an in-depth, step-by-step journey of transforming a surprisingly decent Ozark Trail mountain bike into the first Pedalshift e-bike (n=3 or 4 if you're counting). This mega-pod takes you from the initial setup to final tweaks, including component replacements, brake and pedal adjustments, and install of a mid drive motor. I'm hardly a bike mechanic, so will things to go sideways at least once like my typical bike adventures?

eBike Project - The Build

  • Hey I got an ebike! Where did I end up?
  • Decided on build over buy - more flexibility
  • Decided on new over used - couldn't find a good used one that wasn't $$$
  • Went with a Bafang middrive motor and a 52v 20Ah frame mounted battery - smaller than Brian's, but still pretty big.
  • Watched a ton of YouTube videos and bought some tools!
  • This took me several weeks because the bike lived at the cabin and I was back and forth a bit as I built it
  • This was a journey… and the episode is a little long, but definitely brings you along tour journals style for how it went…

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

01:54 Choosing the Right Bike for the E-Bike Conversion

05:52 Initial Setup and Component Replacements

10:56 Challenges and Adjustments

18:05 Programming and Configuration

28:45 Battery Insights and Expectations

41:03 Assembly and Troubleshooting

48:11 Rear Brake Discovery

48:27 Chain Installation Challenges

48:30 Nighttime Reflections

49:27 Final Adjustments and Cable Management

50:51 Chain Sizing Tips

51:47 First Ride Impressions

52:32 Handlebar and Screen Setup

52:51 Rear Brake Issues

55:28 Pedal and Crank Problems

58:54 Cable and Sensor Installations

01:01:44 Tire Upgrade

01:04:14 Battery and Range Concerns

01:04:53 Shakedown Ride Plans

01:07:23 Final Preparations

01:16:47 Shakedown Ride Execution

01:25:48 E-Bike Confidence Boost

01:30:36 Closing Remarks and Future Plans


There’s a particular kind of freedom that comes from traveling by bicycle, where the journey itself becomes the destination. The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures, hosted by Tim Mooney, delves into that experience through a mix of personal stories, practical advice, and wide-ranging conversations. Rather than just a how-to guide, this podcast feels like sitting down with a knowledgeable friend after a long day on the road. You’ll hear firsthand accounts from fellow bike tourists, each with their own unique tales from the pavement and gravel, alongside Tim’s own reflections and experiments in bicycle touring. The discussions naturally cover the logistical tips and tricks that make trips smoother, but they also explore the cultural and educational aspects of moving through the world at a human pace. It’s about more than gear and routes; it’s about the connections made and the perspectives gained when you embrace a slower, more engaged form of travel. This audio companion to Pedalshift.net aims to demystify bicycle adventure, making it feel accessible and deeply rewarding. By sharing these stories and ideas, the hope is to inspire your own two-wheeled explorations, proving that a bicycle can indeed shrink the world in the most wonderful way. Tune in for a thoughtful, grounded take on seeing the world from the saddle.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Pedalshift Project: Bicycle Travel Adventures
Podcast Episodes
380: eBike Shakedown Takeaways + 2025 Adventures [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:47
So, the ebike works… and my confidence is up! What were my takeaways from the shakedown ride and what are the kinds of rides I'm considering for 2025 and beyond for my electric wonder? Housekeeping Live Show! Friday Dece…
379: eBike Project - Shakedown Ride [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:30
On this episode, I take my new ebike on its first shakedown ride to test its capabilities, from battery life to chain tension to, well… does this thing work? It's a 40 mile round trip from my cabin in West Virginia to a…
Best of Pedalshift 137: Fall Touring (Live) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:18
Originally recorded live from Hedgesville, WV, this episode of the Pedalshift Project includes the (semi-doomed) 2018 fall tour reveal and gear tips for your fall bicycle touring. Plus banter with you… because it was liv…
378: E-Bike Project - Shakedown Preview [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:37
On this edition, we preview a short but momentous little overnight adventure on my brand new ebike… we'll discuss goals and strategies, plus recharge options and… hey, we're getting back on the C&O again! eBike Project -…
376: Oregon Coast Remix Takeaways [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:32
The remix is in the rear view mirror, but as always I like to look back and discuss takeaways from every trip. On this edition, ten takeaways from the Oregon Coast Remix, celebrating ten years of the pod! Oregon Coast Re…
Best of Pedalshift 010: Pacific Coast 2014 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:01
In the summer of 2014, I took 6 weeks to ride the Pacific coast from Victoria, BC to the US-Mexico border. I recorded a 2-5 minute audio entry every day for the Tour Journals podcast to share the more detailed aspects of…
375: Oregon Coast Remix - Part 6 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:47
Sometimes journeys have distinct ends and sometimes those endings are a little more flexible. In the penultimate episode of the Oregon Coast Remix we mash together my departure from Bandon and my return a week later a fe…
374: Oregon Coast Remix - Part 5 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:38
A short but challenging ride up and over the Seven Devils would be the last days of cycling for James and I on this adventure, but the remix theme gave us new things to try… a new brewery, time in a great town I usually…
373: Oregon Coast Remix - Part 4 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:31
If you can't fuel your cycling, you can't ride very far. At least that's what grandma always told me (editors note: she did not). So, waking up in camp without much appetite doesn't really bode well for making very many…
372: Oregon Coast Remix - Part 3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:35
I always say day 3 is when bike tours click in, but don't sometimes exceptions prove the rule? And don't my bicycle adventures always find some way to go sideways? Everything seems to be going just fine as James and I cy…