Electric push bikes.

[leavesontheline]

14 hours ago, Kris said:

If you want to try one out, Halfords lend them (free of charge) to prospective purchasers. When we were looking for one for my wife we borrowed a couple of different ones to see what they were like. https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/electric-bike-trials/

I think also many local councils have schemes for lending out ebikes either to individuals (subject to a returnable deposit) for a couple of weeks or to businesses for a few months, so people can see how they get on with them for 'real life' applications.

[ejstubbs]

On 11/07/2024 at 21:02, JZ said:

I have visited a specialist in Bath, but despite saying my budget was around £2k, kept showing me bikes in the £6k bracket.

 

There's no real need to visit a specialist e-bike dealer, especially at at the budget you're working within.  Apart from Halfords, which has already been mentioned, Decathlon does e-bikes and I've heard generally positive things about their products and service.  Go Outdoors and Evans Cycles also do e-bikes.  Many local independent bike shops also do e-bikes, made easier for them because a number of the major manufacturers are well into that market these days - it's no longer just a niche served by specialist "boutique" manufacturers (and at least one of those that I was aware of has recently gone out of business.)

 

There was for a while a specialist e-bike retailer in Edinburgh, but they shut up shop at least four years ago.  It was no real loss since a good many of the local bike shops were stocking and selling e-bikes from their mainstream suppliers by then.

 

I bought my eMTB from Halfords after taking the bike I was interested in buying from them for a lengthy, free test ride.  I had to make a bit of a trip to a branch which had one available to test ride, but they were quite happy for me to place my order at my local branch.  I know that Halfords don't have the greatest reputation but I have to say that the mechanic who set up my bike very clearly knew what he was talking about and did an excellent job.  Unfortunately the quality of their staff does seem to vary quite widely between branches - but for all I know that's true of other retailers as well.  (Although my local Evans Cycles has been fine when I've bought stuff from there in the past, knowing that the company is now  part of Mike Ashley's empire doesn't entirely fill me with confidence that that situation will continue in the longer term.)

[Butler Henderson]

There are some good offers out there. Bike models typically change annually so the previous years can typically be found cheaper

Would recommend a mid drive motor rather than a front or rear wheel drive.

Winstanley Bikes have 382 ebikes reduced in price https://winstanleysbikes.co.uk/bikes/sale-bikes/sale-electric-bikes

I have a four year old Giant ebike which I got just before the first lockdown with for a similar discount to this current one (£750 off) https://www.giant-bicycles.com/gb/roam-eplus-gts-2022?partnumber=2223703104

I visted a Giant dealer in a nearby town to check out the bike and then ordered it on-line from a cycle shop in Norfolk who were selling it cheap. It was delivered the next day. The sole issue I had initially was one of the disc brake plungers neeeded pushing back.

The bike pays for itself substituting for the car on shopping trips into and across town  (5-13 miles round trip) which largely account for the 344 miles and 22073 feet climbed  it has logged so far this year. 

 

 

 

Edited July 16 by Butler Henderson

[Mike 84C]

 I have a Westfield Classic step thru , bought a couple o years a go from a cycle shop in Wellington , Somerset, very happy with it , disc brakes , cadence assistance, rack on the back, lights , 7 speed derauiller gears and approx 45 mile range, only disadvantage is its all steel so quite heavy, no lifting it over gates and fences! But I am a happy customer of Kings cycles.

  I chose a Step thru because lifting my leg over a conventional male type frame is very difficult. Cue ribald laughter!  😎

[DLT]

Hasn't Paris completely banned electric bikes and scooters, because of the irresponsible and downright dangerous behavior of too many riders?

[DLT]

Its true that FAR too many people seem unaware of the legalities involved.  Kids round here can be seen riding at dangerous speeds through parks and along cycle tracks.  

[JZ]

7 minutes ago, DLT said:

Hasn't Paris completely banned electric bikes and scooters, because of the irresponsible and downright dangerous behavior of too many riders?

NO. E-scooters have been banned, but the operators are expanding the use of electric assist bikes ready for the Olympics.

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/28/paris-becomes-one-of-the-only-european-cities-to-ban-e-scooter-rentals.html#:~:text=Paris will this week become,ahead of the 2024 Olympics.

[njee20]

18 minutes ago, DLT said:

Its true that FAR too many people seem unaware of the legalities involved.  Kids round here can be seen riding at dangerous speeds through parks and along cycle tracks.  

We've done that a couple of times already, there are a lot of illegal ones out there. If you buy through a proper shop it will be legal (that is unpowered above 25kph and limited to 250w or whatever it is. We don't need every other post to contain handwringing about how irresponsible people are. Gold star for blaming "kids" though. I see far more adults riding illegal/modified/downright dangerous ones.

[jjb1970]

1 hour ago, Mike 84C said:

 I have a Westfield Classic step thru , bought a couple o years a go from a cycle shop in Wellington , Somerset, very happy with it , disc brakes , cadence assistance, rack on the back, lights , 7 speed derauiller gears and approx 45 mile range, only disadvantage is its all steel so quite heavy, no lifting it over gates and fences! But I am a happy customer of Kings cycles.

  I chose a Step thru because lifting my leg over a conventional male type frame is very difficult. Cue ribald laughter!  😎

 

Nothing wrong with steel bikes. I'm not really into E-bikes (though if others are then go for it) but I do love nice artisan made steel frames.

[JZ]

I have my eye on this one I can get another 8-10% off from my former employer, either by getting voucher myself, of getting my son to get the voucher. Former workmate has one and is over the moon with his. Weight is a concern though. Most seem to be in the 20-25kg bracket unless I pay considerably more and I know many are much, much heavier.

[big jim]

This is the impel 3, slightly lighter with a better range for a touch more 

 

https://www.halfords.com/bikes/electric-bikes/carrera-impel-im-3.1-electric-hybrid-bike---s2fm-m2fl-frames-709798.html

 

my old carerra e-bike was about 25kg and I managed to lift it into locos and roof racks ok, taking the battery off helps a little bit, I didn’t really notice the weight too much until I switched to a normal hybrid bike that weighed less than 1/2 the weight of the carerra, the time you notice the weight is when the battery goes and you have to pedal it without assistance! 

[JZ]

5 minutes ago, big jim said:

This is the impel 3, slightly lighter with a better range for a touch more 

 

https://www.halfords.com/bikes/electric-bikes/carrera-impel-im-3.1-electric-hybrid-bike---s2fm-m2fl-frames-709798.html

 

my old carerra e-bike was about 25kg and I managed to lift it into locos and roof racks ok, taking the battery off helps a little bit, I didn’t really notice the weight too much until I switched to a normal hybrid bike that weighed less than 1/2 the weight of the carerra, the time you notice the weight is when the battery goes and you have to pedal it without assistance! 

Missed that one. Looks good.

 

As for weight, I arrived at Ashchurch one Sunday and there was a woman with an e-bike. I yelled that she needed to put it in the TGS. She came to the back, handed me the bike and walked off. Bl00dy hell, it was heavy. She got off at Cheltenham and expected me to get it off for her.

[DCB]

 

42 minutes ago, njee20 said:

We've done that a couple of times already, there are a lot of illegal ones out there. If you buy through a proper shop it will be legal (that is unpowered above 25kph and limited to 250w or whatever it is. We don't need every other post to contain handwringing about how irresponsible people are. Gold star for blaming "kids" though. I see far more adults riding illegal/modified/downright dangerous ones.

Its the ones ridden by people listening to eye pads or what ever which are dangerous, not the ones ridden by young knowledgable enthusiasts who circumvent the "Restrictions" and enjoy the full performance envelops.  Ridden sensibly using the battery for hill climbing assist  makes an awful lot of sense but how many ebikes with drop handlebars have you seen? None?  27" wheels 52/14 single gear, drops and e assist  would make a very  sensible mile eater  However The collection of rental eBikes at Inverness station recently were appalling, broken spokes bent wheels obviously never inspected between rentals made a very good case for banning rental bikes completely.

[JZ]

14 minutes ago, DCB said:

 

Its the ones ridden by people listening to eye pads or what ever which are dangerous, not the ones ridden by young knowledgeable enthusiasts 

That also goes for ordinary bikes, unpowered scooters AND pedestrians. I am seriously thinking of getting a louder horn for the car.

[njee20]

17 minutes ago, DCB said:

 

Its the ones ridden by people listening to eye pads or what ever which are dangerous, not the ones ridden by young knowledgable enthusiasts who circumvent the "Restrictions" and enjoy the full performance envelops.  Ridden sensibly using the battery for hill climbing assist  makes an awful lot of sense but how many ebikes with drop handlebars have you seen? None?  27" wheels 52/14 single gear, drops and e assist  would make a very  sensible mile eater  However The collection of rental eBikes at Inverness station recently were appalling, broken spokes bent wheels obviously never inspected between rentals made a very good case for banning rental bikes completely.

I'm loathed to continue engaging you on this, but there are dozens of drop bar ebikes out there. Most of the big brands have them. The challenge (in the UK at least) is that the assistance can only work at a speed around/below that which is easily accomplished on road by pedal power alone. At that point you have a really heavy bike with assistance coming and going. I'm not even going near the idea of a singlespeed drop bar ebike, that sounds like a proper frankenbike 😆

 

Trek Domane electric: https://www.tritoncycles.co.uk/electric-bikes-c321/domane-al-5-electric-road-bike-2024-p43609/s117388

Scott Speedster Gravel: https://wetrocknride.co.uk/products/scott-speedster-gravel-eride-50-bike?variant=44406302769370

Giant Revolt E+ Gravel: https://www.giant-bicycles.com/gb/revolt-eplus-2022

 

etc

 

[mcowgill]

34 minutes ago, DCB said:

 

Ridden sensibly using the battery for hill climbing assist  makes an awful lot of sense but how many ebikes with drop handlebars have you seen? None?  27" wheels 52/14 single gear, drops and e assist  would make a very  sensible mile eater

They do exist but at a price.  

 

This is my Orbea D30, aluminium frame, full hydraulic disc Shimano 105 groupset and Mahle rear electric hub. Spot the battery...   It's in the downtube with the charge socket above the bottom bracket.

 

Not cheap, it cost the wrong side of £3k a few years back, this is the current version, hasn;t really changed in price https://www.e-bikeshop.co.uk/products/electric-bike-orbea-gain-d30-2024?variant=44370684543214

 

I use it to commute 12 miles each way to/from work, stops me arriving hot and sweaty, deals with the climbs with little effort and the battery lasts well as I'm generally pushing it past the 15.5 limit on the flat.  However, I wish I'd spent a bit more on the carbon frame to reduce the weight a bit, it's still on the heavy side.

 

Martin

 

 

Edited July 18 by mcowgill

[big jim]

38 minutes ago, njee20 said:

The challenge (in the UK at least) is that the assistance can only work at a speed around/below that which is easily accomplished on road by pedal power alone. At that point you have a really heavy bike with assistance coming and going

I found that after I switched from a 15 mph max assist bike to a normal one after about 9 months/1600 miles total mileage I struggled for a while to actually go above that speed as my muscle memory/ body conditioning stopped me exerting any effort beyond the point where the assist stopped, it took a fair few weeks of regular riding to break the 15mph barrier on a normal commute

[JZ]

Not having ridded a bike for probably 5 years now, I think electric assist is the way to go for me. I'll be digging out my exercise bike from the shed to get muscle attuned to riding again. Plan is to have it as an excuse to get myself out of the house days, weather permitting, visit a few local pubs for lunch and generally keep me active. As I mentioned earlier, my old mountain bike will be brought up to scratch, need new tyre and brake blocks and a general clean up, and take it to my son's, where we can use it to take the kids, grandkids out on the Bath-Bristol cycle track. Thinking of taking the electric as far as my son's house, there is about 450ft of climb to get there and about 700ft coming back via roads, but obviously must less using the Two Tunnel/ Route 24.

2 hours ago, big jim said:

This is the impel 3, slightly lighter with a better range for a touch more 

 

https://www.halfords.com/bikes/electric-bikes/carrera-impel-im-3.1-electric-hybrid-bike---s2fm-m2fl-frames-709798.html

 

my old carerra e-bike was about 25kg and I managed to lift it into locos and roof racks ok, taking the battery off helps a little bit, I didn’t really notice the weight too much until I switched to a normal hybrid bike that weighed less than 1/2 the weight of the carerra, the time you notice the weight is when the battery goes and you have to pedal it without assistance! 

Cheers Big Jim. Taken the plunge and bought that one. Got another £100 using the rewards scheme from my former employer.

[big jim]

2 hours ago, JZ said:

Cheers Big Jim. Taken the plunge and bought that one. Got another £100 using the rewards scheme from my former employer.

had I not switched to jim powered propulsion then I was going to get rhe impel 3, they do the 1 and 2 but they have less range and slightly less spec regards brakes etc 

 

you won’t regret it that’s for sure, make sure to follow the cycling thread in wheeltappers too 

[Butler Henderson]

An important thing to consider is where will the ebike be stored - if its somewhere cold you need one with an easilly removable battery .A cold night and needing to use the ebike first thing may be fouled by a flat battery until it has warmed up

[ColinK]

My wife and I both have Gazelle e-bikes (made in the Netherlands) bought from Cycle Heaven in York.  They let us try them out before buying. We had a lot of problems with our first e-bikes (new technology at the time) but both Gazelle and Cycle Heaven sorted everything out very satisfactorily.  The current bikes have been reliable and are excellent to ride.  I’ve done 2,500 miles on mine with only one problem - a rear wheel puncture.  Getting the rear wheel off to replace the inner tube was so difficult I had to take it back to their workshop. It’s worth asking retailers about this because as well as the chain, there are sensors and cables which may need detatching. The bikes are currently advertised at `£2,300 each, which we think is reasonable for bikes which are made to be used every day and in most weathers.

 

One lady I know bought a e-bike about the same time and in 5 years has done 22,000km on it!

 

The Gazelle bikes have a choice of battery, giving a choice of range. We bought the ones with the biggest battery, partially because batteries do lose charge as they get older.  I often cycle along the seafront and the wind can be so strong that I have to use full boost power plus me pedalling in just 2nd gear, that does eat up battery power quickly, but coming back the wind blows me home.

 

The bikes are insured, including third party liability, the policy does require the use of a high quality (expensive) lock even when in the garage at home.  The insurance has ‘breakdown cover’, but all it is is arrange a taxi for you and your bike yourself and we’ll pay for it.

[melmerby]

On 12/07/2024 at 12:39, Cwmtwrch said:

Note that the Bristol-Bath cycle path, like all others AFAIK, is for pedestrians and vehicles legally classed as bicycles, which most e-Bikes are not as @phil-b259 has pointed out. If you own such a vehicle you are not legally permitted to ride it anywhere except on private land with the owner's permission; elsewhere you are breaking the law, and you are also uninsured, and so open to prosecution for that as well. Enforcement is ******, much to my irritation, I admit, but if you are involved in an accident of any sort you are likely to come to official notice, and you will have no insurance to pay damages if you are responsible for damage or injury.

All the delivery riders in Birmingham now use the high power bikes which can do 30mph and have tyres like small motorbikes.

As you say enforcement is non existent and thay carry on annoying other legal road users and ignoring traffic signals* with complete impunity.

*going the wrong way down one-way streets, riding through red lights like they aren't there etc. etc.

 

It really gets my goat but the police completely ignore them.

I suppose like many less serious crimes, they just can't be bothered with the hassle.

 

[JZ]

9 hours ago, Butler Henderson said:

An important thing to consider is where will the e-bike be stored - if its somewhere cold you need one with an easily removable battery .A cold night and needing to use the e-bike first thing may be fouled by a flat battery until it has warmed up

My chosen bike will be kept in a shed, but the battery is removeable.

[jjb1970]

7 hours ago, melmerby said:

All the delivery riders in Birmingham now use the high power bikes which can do 30mph and have tyres like small motorbikes.

As you say enforcement is non existent and thay carry on annoying other legal road users and ignoring traffic signals* with complete impunity.

*going the wrong way down one-way streets, riding through red lights like they aren't there etc. etc.

 

It really gets my goat but the police completely ignore them.

I suppose like many less serious crimes, they just can't be bothered with the hassle.

 

 

I think in fairness that delivery riders are a law unto themselves whether on an e-bike or a regular push bike. When I worked in London quite a few of the cycle couriers were serious incidents waiting to happen, and that was all push bikes.

[JZ]

1 hour ago, jjb1970 said:

 

I think in fairness that delivery riders are a law unto themselves whether on an e-bike or a regular push bike. When I worked in London quite a few of the cycle couriers were serious incidents waiting to happen, and that was all push bikes.

After getting almost bowled over by a Deliveroo rider in Sydney, I came to realise that this logo

is not a kangaroo, but the rider putting two fingers up to you.

 

Edited July 19 by JZ