The Magical little Quando II
I'd like you to come on a journey with me, the first test of my huge 14 kilo fat tyred trailer on this bike. Starting at the garage with hitching the trailer, I ride down the hill to pick up several neighbours recycling stuff, a number of flattened very large cardboard boxes, an old microwave oven, some rolls of "lino", quite a respectable load. I decide on no pedalling to get the true measure of the outfit, so twist open the throttle and accelerate smoothly up to just over 18 mph on the fully charged NiMh battery. The bike is completely stable, no feel of any trailer being attached at all, nor is the performance diminished. Out onto the main dual carriageway, through a large roundabout and onto the wide cycleway at 17 mph to a toucan crossing. A moments wait then quickly
across the dual carriageway, through the bus/tram interchange and across the tramlines, turning up a slope behind the platform. The slope increases to 7%, the motor note now just about audible and the outfit settles at 9 mph, still no pedalling of course. Over the second toucan crossing, up a sharp rise onto the opposite cycleway and settle for three quarters of a mile of 5% uphill at 11 to 12 mph hauling
the load. Halfway up, the hill steepens to 8% for about seventy yards and the motor holds the speed steady at 9 mph still without pedalling, and then returns slowly to 11 mph as the hill reverts to 5%. Back across the tramlines and now through a couple of sideroads to enter the Council depot with it's view down across the North Downs that we've just climbed. Interest and smiles on a number of faces now, as they witness this outfit spinning silently across the yard at 15 mph, seemingly without any motive force. Unloading completed, I then step back on the bike and accelerate in almost total silence around the yard, all those faces still watching and intrigued at the lack of pedalling.
Now it's a fast first half return journey, over 26 mph flying downhill, outfit still absolutely stable as ever and feeling even more secure than without the trailer, I couldn't ask for better. Nearing the end of the six mile trip I'm met by the tough 12% climb up to my home, so stand on the pedals and stomp up there with ease at 10 mph. Stopping there to pop in for the camera for the first photo of the outfit on that hill, which you see above, I now face a standing start up the rest of the 12% hill with that big trailer attached, and only the one 70" gear to get up to my garage in a block at the top of the hill.
This would seem a tough call for any rider, let alone a seventy-one year old, and to put that into perspective, 70" is fourth gear on a 5 speed Lafree Comfort! Surely no-one would choose to start off up a 12% hill in fourth gear solo, let alone pulling that trailer. I needn't have worried, standing on the pedals, which the stiff frame of this folder permits without loss of energy, a few pedal thrusts and full throttle and it flew over the top at just over 10 mph. Six miles of hilly towing completed with less than one eighth of a mile pedalled. It's likely that no other British-legal full speed production bike in the world could do all of this riding a 70" gear and pulling that trailer, probably at all, and certainly not with such consumate ease. The average speed was about 13 mph, but if I'd pedalled in the normal way on all the hills, it would have been about 15 mph.
This is the world of the amazing Quando II, and if that sounds like a magician, that's what it seems to be, Hogwart's broomsticks have little to beat the tricks this bike can perform. I bought it just as a folder, but quickly learned that it's low centre of gravity and 25 kilo carrier keeping big pannier loads low and stable made this a great shopper, capable of carrying at least four carrier bags worth in maxi size panniers. The rear wheel motor is always best for towing, since there's no risk of wheel spin uphill on damp or poor surfaces, a common problem with powerful front hub motors when a trailer's weight is added. Having much of the weight low and at the rear also keeps a firm hold on the tow, much safer. If I was a toddler, this is the bike I'd want to be towed by, since with it's 20" wheels and low structure I'd get a much better view forward than normally. Mudguards are sooooo boring.
In many ways it's also a very safe bike too, it's stability, comfort, the lack of need to fiddle with gear changing, and little pedal effort required means there's nothing else to do but concentrate on the road and watch out for other road users. Not only that, it's a little charmer too, which the ladies love, one referring to it as the best bike she'd ever seen, and the demonstration fold outside Sainsburys is always a popular event. The local kids think it's cool too, especially those who've enjoyed a ride on it. With it's chainguard and easy step-on single strut frame, it's the sort of bike you grab at a moments notice regardless of clothing (as long as you're wearing some!) to use for local journeys. Despite owning a Twist and a Torq as well, as often as not I choose this for local journeys up to around 8 miles, but it's good for about twice that range in practice.
It will never be a purist cyclist's bike, with it's fat tyred 20" wheels, extremely comfortable saddle and single 70" gear it never could be, but in all other respects it's universal in a way no folder could reasonably be expected to be, and the more uses I find for it, the more beguiling it becomes. The Torq and the discontinued Lafree get all the publicity as the greats of electric cycling, but people forget or don't know that the Torq owes it all to it's parent. For it's the Quando motor that it inherited that led to it's well deserved status, using it's power for speed in lieu of some hill climbing. In it's own discreet little way, maybe the Quando II should join them on the plinth as one of the greats.
For details on the Quando II trailer attachments, click here
For details on this trailer and towing from my Twist site, click here
Why the Quando II and not the Quando I ?
This isn't a slight on the model I, which is an equally good and safe bike. However, in common with all suspension bikes, there are some limitations on all round uses. The swing arm rear suspension rules out many popular types of trailer attachment, and a soft rear suspension is undesirable when towing as it can lead to dangerous situations of bouncing with the loaded trailer taking control of the bike. Braking a soft suspension bike tilts it forwards, with the risk that the loaded trailer can lift the bike's back wheel, bringing the possibility of an accident. The rigid rear frame Quando II behaves quite differently in those circumstances, there being virtually no risk of any similar situation ever arising.
In addition, the Quando II has a full size 25 kilo capacity rear mounted carrier which takes full size panniers. The Quando I, in common with all swing rear arm bikes fitted with one, has a small carrier of only 10 kilo capacity mounted forward, meaning that large panniers are likely to be in collision with the heels when pedalling. Since the rigid Quando II with it's fat tyres and superb Velo saddle is extremely comfortable anyway, the compromises of suspension aren't in any way essential, and not having it makes the bike a bit lighter.
If you don't intend the use of panniers or a trailer and you are tall enough for it, there's absolutely no objection to choosing the Quando I of course, it's also an excellent bike.
Now it's a fast first half return journey, over 26 mph flying downhill, outfit still absolutely stable as ever and feeling even more secure than without the trailer, I couldn't ask for better. Nearing the end of the six mile trip I'm met by the tough 12% climb up to my home, so stand on the pedals and stomp up there with ease at 10 mph. Stopping there to pop in for the camera for the first photo of the outfit on that hill, which you see above, I now face a standing start up the rest of the 12% hill with that big trailer attached, and only the one 70" gear to get up to my garage in a block at the top of the hill.
This would seem a tough call for any rider, let alone a seventy-one year old, and to put that into perspective, 70" is fourth gear on a 5 speed Lafree Comfort! Surely no-one would choose to start off up a 12% hill in fourth gear solo, let alone pulling that trailer. I needn't have worried, standing on the pedals, which the stiff frame of this folder permits without loss of energy, a few pedal thrusts and full throttle and it flew over the top at just over 10 mph. Six miles of hilly towing completed with less than one eighth of a mile pedalled. It's likely that no other British-legal full speed production bike in the world could do all of this riding a 70" gear and pulling that trailer, probably at all, and certainly not with such consumate ease. The average speed was about 13 mph, but if I'd pedalled in the normal way on all the hills, it would have been about 15 mph.
This is the world of the amazing Quando II, and if that sounds like a magician, that's what it seems to be, Hogwart's broomsticks have little to beat the tricks this bike can perform. I bought it just as a folder, but quickly learned that it's low centre of gravity and 25 kilo carrier keeping big pannier loads low and stable made this a great shopper, capable of carrying at least four carrier bags worth in maxi size panniers. The rear wheel motor is always best for towing, since there's no risk of wheel spin uphill on damp or poor surfaces, a common problem with powerful front hub motors when a trailer's weight is added. Having much of the weight low and at the rear also keeps a firm hold on the tow, much safer. If I was a toddler, this is the bike I'd want to be towed by, since with it's 20" wheels and low structure I'd get a much better view forward than normally. Mudguards are sooooo boring.
In many ways it's also a very safe bike too, it's stability, comfort, the lack of need to fiddle with gear changing, and little pedal effort required means there's nothing else to do but concentrate on the road and watch out for other road users. Not only that, it's a little charmer too, which the ladies love, one referring to it as the best bike she'd ever seen, and the demonstration fold outside Sainsburys is always a popular event. The local kids think it's cool too, especially those who've enjoyed a ride on it. With it's chainguard and easy step-on single strut frame, it's the sort of bike you grab at a moments notice regardless of clothing (as long as you're wearing some!) to use for local journeys. Despite owning a Twist and a Torq as well, as often as not I choose this for local journeys up to around 8 miles, but it's good for about twice that range in practice.
It will never be a purist cyclist's bike, with it's fat tyred 20" wheels, extremely comfortable saddle and single 70" gear it never could be, but in all other respects it's universal in a way no folder could reasonably be expected to be, and the more uses I find for it, the more beguiling it becomes. The Torq and the discontinued Lafree get all the publicity as the greats of electric cycling, but people forget or don't know that the Torq owes it all to it's parent. For it's the Quando motor that it inherited that led to it's well deserved status, using it's power for speed in lieu of some hill climbing. In it's own discreet little way, maybe the Quando II should join them on the plinth as one of the greats.
For details on the Quando II trailer attachments, click here
For details on this trailer and towing from my Twist site, click here
Why the Quando II and not the Quando I ?
This isn't a slight on the model I, which is an equally good and safe bike. However, in common with all suspension bikes, there are some limitations on all round uses. The swing arm rear suspension rules out many popular types of trailer attachment, and a soft rear suspension is undesirable when towing as it can lead to dangerous situations of bouncing with the loaded trailer taking control of the bike. Braking a soft suspension bike tilts it forwards, with the risk that the loaded trailer can lift the bike's back wheel, bringing the possibility of an accident. The rigid rear frame Quando II behaves quite differently in those circumstances, there being virtually no risk of any similar situation ever arising.
In addition, the Quando II has a full size 25 kilo capacity rear mounted carrier which takes full size panniers. The Quando I, in common with all swing rear arm bikes fitted with one, has a small carrier of only 10 kilo capacity mounted forward, meaning that large panniers are likely to be in collision with the heels when pedalling. Since the rigid Quando II with it's fat tyres and superb Velo saddle is extremely comfortable anyway, the compromises of suspension aren't in any way essential, and not having it makes the bike a bit lighter.
If you don't intend the use of panniers or a trailer and you are tall enough for it, there's absolutely no objection to choosing the Quando I of course, it's also an excellent bike.
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22.1.2007
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