LIFTING AN ELECTRIC BIKE

I found it impossible to lift my 23Kg electric bike onto the Thule rack fitted to my Warwick Duo.  The solution shown here is offered to the several people who have expressed  difficulties in previous posts. It is essentially a 6ftx1"  removable aluminium tube and a four part pulley system.[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]  
The Thule rack came with a long arm clamp and a short arm clamp.  The long clamp can be seen here holding the upper part of the "boom".  The short clamp is just visible placed to fasten to the seat post when the bike is lifted.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

This photo shows the bike almost at the top of the lift. It illustrates the harness which is designed for this bike but would need to be tailor made for a different bike.  It needs careful fettling to ensure the bike hangs evenly.

The lifting tackle is essentially a four part pully system. The theoretical explanation is that you have a four part mechanical advantage.  You pull the effort rope four feet and the bike rises one foot,  but the  effort you apply is only one fourth of the mass of the bike.  In the real world, friction makes that less favourable, but I am able to apply enough downforce to raise the bike using only one hand. The other hand is free to guide the bike into position.


[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

I purchased one four sheave pulley, (bottom pulley) and one four sheave pulley with jammer and becket (top) plus a length of 8mm rope five times the length of the lift (plus an extra two metres for the harness).and a snap shackle for easy hitching of the harness shown above.  All available from Dinghy Shack, an online chandler who specializes in dinghy (lightweight) gear.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

This photo of the upper pulley shows the effort rope through the jammer.  It is strongly recommended that you use this type of pulley as it means it will hold the bike suspended when you let go of the rope.  You need to let go to reach up for another pull. 
  

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

In my arrangement, the long clamp is now opened and swung out of the way and the bike pushed upright to engage the short clamp on the seat post.  After removing the two harness ropes, the aluminium boom can be lifted out complete with the pulley system, and stowed.

It takes about five minutes to load and a little less to unload.  The key consideration is that I couldn't do it any other way without help.
I'm willing to expand on any point if required.
Keith

over ten years ago, i met a lovely elderly couple who were keen cyclists and he used a rack like this one
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
which lowered to an easy lifting height and then just glided up as he attached his drill to the winding mechanism....terrific bit of kit but more expensive than Keiths block and tackle....but far prettier too.
sorry Keith.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Our van swing means we only have to lift them up about 2ft.

J and P That's interesting.  Would you explain what a van swing is please.

Link [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] clever bit is you just pull out a pin and can open the rear doors 

bolero boy wrote:over ten years ago, i met a lovely elderly couple who were keen cyclists and he used a rack like this one
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
which lowered to an easy lifting height and then just glided up as he attached his drill to the winding mechanism....terrific bit of kit but more expensive than Keiths block and tackle....but far prettier too.
sorry Keith.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Wish I had seen that model before I bought our bike rack + lighting board + having electrics extended. I think it would have worked out a lot cheaper.

Mind you saying that, bikes, rack and board have been in the shed for last 12 -18 months collecting dust, just another thing I really didn't need to waste my pensions on

Anyway thanks for the post, should be of help to some and I know a lot less extra weight than a swing out type, allowing me, when able, to bring back loads of French wine again one day
----------
Richard

Looking at your picture again, not sure it would fit on Boxer door.
----------
Richard

Just an example of the type, Richard. im sure Fiamma make most of their racks in various sizes.

Richard

Latest, to us Duo came with one, see pic, we thought we'd use it, but we couldn't get the bikes easily up there either! Sold it on ebay!!!! BTW superb device for banging your head on, never fails!![You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

IanH wrote:Richard

Latest, to us Duo came with one, see pic, we thought we'd use it, but we couldn't get the bikes easily up there either! Sold it on ebay!!!! BTW superb device for banging your head on, never fails!![You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Yes I rather rushed into it, thinking we were young again, having a dog does not help, as only one can ride at once.
-----------
Richard

Richard

Purely out of interest, but how did you teach your dog to ride a bike?

I had one of the lifting Fiamma racks (shown in rgrmain's photo, 5 posts above this) fitted to my Nuevo as new. Works well, using a cheap drill. Takes our two heavy Kildermoes [Danish] sit-up-and-beg pushbikes without problem. Lifts the bikes such that all rear lights are not obstructed. I can lift bikes on to the lowered racks (about a foot off the ground) but couldn't manage much higher these days.

Cymro