I am considering buying an electric bike. In the UK they are limited to 15.5 maximum speed, otherwise the rider needs licence and insurance.
This is the bike which is the favourite, but I haven't finally made my mind up.
www.oxygenbicycles.com/e-bikes/e-mate-cb
It retails at £1499, but is being offered at £1099 at a number of outlets.
This is my second choice:-
tinyurl.com/gowdv4t
I enjoy my cycling and I ride with three groups, but find that it is getting to be hard work - the hills in particular.
Anybody got one, or considered buying one?
Last edited by: Duncan on Sun 14 Feb 16 at 19:26
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Was stuck in a slow convoy behind a dozen or so keen speedo-clad cyclists today. They aren't always considerate in the narrow roads round here, but I don't suppose all motorists are either so getting in the way is legitimate self-defence.
Had to wait for a long empty straight and use all the road to avoid being threatening to the bike folk, once the cars ahead had all gone through the same manoeuvre one by one. You need a measure of patience in South East England.
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>> Was stuck in a slow convoy behind a dozen or so keen speedo-clad cyclists today.
>> They aren't always considerate in the narrow roads round here, but I don't suppose all
>> motorists are either so getting in the way is legitimate self-defence.
>>
A road user heading a queue of others who want to go faster is supposed to pull over at the first opportunity and let them pass. It applies to caravans, tractors, Sunday drivers, horses, mobile cranes and pedestrians, so why not cyclists?
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A few fellow participants in the Origami Phoenix rides have Nano or other electric assistance on Bromptons. Seems to help them up the hills a bit.
The weight of the bikes you mention though....... Bloomin hard work if the electrics give up.
Have you looked at reducing the weight of your existing bike or at lowering the gear ratios?
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I would be looking for a light weight bike first and use the gearing to keep your cadence (legs up and down movement) at a constant speed that you are comfortable with, even if you are moving forward slowly up a hill. You may need to get the gearing changed, most good bike shops will sell you and fit a low gear cassette at the rear.
Batteries and motors are heavy and I hope in a few years there will be better solutions.
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If it's not too impertinent a question Duncan, how old are you, and are you in good health? If the former is a, well, advanced number, and the latter is shall we say, subject to qualification, then just go for it. Why not? If however, neither answer is in any way remarkable, then just getting yourself a better bike might be all you need.
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>> Batteries and motors are heavy and I hope in a few years there will be
>> better solutions.
>>
There will be, a hydrogen fuel cell, same way cars will go. It won't make the system any lighter though.
Last edited by: Old Navy on Sun 14 Feb 16 at 20:39
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I think, what knows really, you have to "be there" to really have a view, but come to the day I can't ride my push bike to my own satisfaction, I may well look into getting a motorbike of some kind. The half way house of a powered bicycle doesn't hold a great appeal.
Can't say why. Just me.
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>>>There will be, a hydrogen fuel cell, same way cars will go. It won't make the system any lighter though.
How about a network of low voltage cables run from street lighting that cycles could connect to via a long pole - a sort of personal trolley bus!
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>> How about a network of low voltage cables run from street lighting that cycles could
>> connect to via a long pole - a sort of personal trolley bus!
>>
Added bonus; you could switch 'em off when the traffic lights are at red to stop the beggars jumping them! ;-)
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...SWMBO and I have had electric bikes for almost three years now.
We've been keen cyclists for years, but my knees are now dodgy, and we wanted something we could do longish days out on when away in the motorcaravan motorhome campervan.
Technology has moved on apace, but ours are still pretty competitive, and were bought at the time for their large capacity battery and long range.
I test rode a few (including the Whisper as it was then). The Kalkhoffs we finally bought sold themselves straight away as just feeling right.
I would strongly suggest you don't buy without riding, and I would also (as you mention hill climbing) strongly suggest you test some bikes with crank-drive motors (as these drive through the gears, whereas front and rear hub drive don't).
Battery capacity is also important if you want to have challenging days out.
Ours are relatively heavy (but well-equipped) touring bikes. We tend to use the assistance sparingly (or, at least, I do ;-) ), but they are good for a couple of long days varied cycling without recharge (50 mile day-journeys are not unusual). Patently, a lot of hills changes this somewhat, but one very hilly day of 50 miles is fine.
There is still a remarkable amount of exercise to be had with pedal-assistance bikes, but it adds enjoyment to long rides knowing you can "smooth" the terrain and diminish the headwinds if you want to - important on the way back if you have an extended outward journey.
(and, though heavy, with good components it is quite possible to ride ours for long distances on the flat without assistance. We did 55 miles along the Mosel last year with three assistance spells of no more than a couple of hundred yards).
We both think these were a very good purchase, and keep us (more) mobile.
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I had a go on one once, our office was offered one as a promo from a company whose name escapes me now. Not for me though.
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A work colleague had an electric bike, not sure of the make. Commuted ten miles each way but she used the electrics more than not.
Difference was she could park up and go straight to her desk whereas I need to head to the shower first after my 12 mile commute!
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Electric bike too slow?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIKu6oSLj6I
Unrestricted should be good for 60mph
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A friend of mine bought an electrically powered bicycle recently (Viking brand) and this is the place she found to be the cheapest source around:
www.bikes2udirect.com/
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Autonomous riderless bikes is the way to go.
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I have a friend who is a bike-nut and technically very savvy. He bought his wife a kalkhoff e-bike. Not big in UK but well known in Germany. It's been used for commuting 8 miles each way for about 6 months. I had a brief go and it feels heavy so I wouldn't want to pedal unassisted for long. However it's a bottom up built e-bike rather than an adapted push bike and feels very well built. Ideal as a commuter bike but there may be others more suited to cycling unassisted with just occasional help for hills.
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Thanks for the replies and helpful comments.
I would like to continue with my cycling, even if in some restricted form and this is what my query is all about.
One of the questions was about my age and health. I am older than AC and Roger. I had a heart attack and triple bypass in 1990. There is no doubt I am slowing down, and I think an electric bike will enable me to get a bit of fresh air, exercise and some social activity.
I will probably plump for the Oxygen bike @ £1100. It's one that can be ridden just on the throttle without pedal assistance if required.
Wish me luck.
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Yes,good luck. Enjoy your cycling.
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I've got a patient with advanced emphysema - can manage to walk about 50-100yds on the flat with a tailwind.
He can cycle around his hilly town with an e-bike without dying.
I'm sure you'll be fine D.
Last edited by: Lygonos on Wed 17 Feb 16 at 10:47
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Both older and less crotchety, Duncan. Mobility clearly has its benefits, and if a bit of electric assistance keeps you in good habits, then good luck from me too.
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>> I will probably plump for the Oxygen bike @ £1100. It's one that can be
>> ridden just on the throttle without pedal assistance if required.
>>
...be careful with that.
EU rules already make that illegal (unless insured and taxed - as per your original post these are treated as motor vehicles, not Pedelecs (Pedal Assisted) which are exempt).
UK rules on electric bikes have historically allowed the use of a throttle (though a lower maximum power assistance of 200W, rather than the EU 250W). These rules are about to be/have been recently, harmonised with EU law. AFAIK, there will be no retrospective sanction on previously legal bikes with a throttle bought before the harmonisation, but it will (I think) make bikes with a throttle sold after harmonisation subject to taxation and insurance in the UK.
...whatever, such throttle-only use is definitely already subject to tax and insurance in most of the EU.
A bike bought marked as EN15194 compliant will be no problem, if it is not, it is at best a legal "grey area".
www.bikebiz.com/news/read/uk-joins-eu-e-bike-laws-but-fast-e-bikes-fail-to-win-dft-approval/017402
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>> UK rules on electric bikes have historically allowed the use of a throttle (though a
>> lower maximum power assistance of 200W, rather than the EU 250W).
I understand, and I am subject to correction, that there has been since January 2016 a limit of 6 kph on bikes with a throttle and it is now illegal to use a bike that can do more more than that.
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...as I have a compliant bike, I haven't followed the detail of the harmonisation, but my understanding was that purchases that pre-dated the harmonisation (and were legal at the point of purchase) would not come under the new rules as far as throttle-use is concerned. Those bikes purchased after most certainly would.
The EU has always allowed a start-up or push-assist throttle that works up to 6kph, but no more(and this will harmonised into UK law).
In reality. I have a 250W bike which was legal everywhere in the EU when I bought it, except the UK (where the limit until harmonisation was 200W). The value is a nominal, diificult to measure one quoted by the manufacturer anyway, and my understanding is that there was tacit agreement that (pending the harmonisation) the higher value would be allowed in the UK.
This page seems to have a reasonable summary of the change(s) (though some of it may be conjecture)
www.juicybike.co.uk/uk-europe-ebike-law
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...our two bikes are also Kalkhoffs (when bought, these had the biggest battery and greatest range of the bikes generally available).
As I've posted above, they would be hard work without assistance for long rides in hilly areas, but I've done well over 50 miles unassisted in moderate terrain.
Built like the proverbial brick outhouse, and with decent components, a pretty good ride. The more upright stance probably suits me better than my other bike (or one of them at least) which is a Trek hardtail MTB.
Lighter bikes are available, but part of the weight (apart from the mechanics of course) arises from the fact that they are fully equipped with good racks, guards, lights, etc. - all of which I wanted.
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Duncan. No matter what speed it can achieve. What it's power output is, at any age I wouldn't give a Monkey's cuss about 'The Rules', and as far as I am concerned you should use what works for you and sod the authorities. There's far more serious matters going on to worry about that. If plod can't pursue uninsured drivers conveying disaffected youth (around here) then I shouldn't worry one bit about compliance with a Bicycle. Good luck to you - I'm mildly envious.
Last edited by: MD on Wed 17 Feb 16 at 18:52
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I'm new to all this and am thinking of getting an e-bike.
But, I'm not quite clear on the negative (?) implications of use of full throttle with no pedalling, i.e. to make decent progress you must pedal as well as use the electric power.
So I can't just cruise along admiring the scenery without putting in some effort ?
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>>
>> So I can't just cruise along admiring the scenery without putting in some effort ?
>>
Cough.
EU legislation which came to force recently, decreed that the unassisted top speed would be, I think, 5kph, in other words walking speed. I don't know if that means made, imported, or first used on the road before an unspecified date in 2016.
Lots of the bikes were produced before 2016, weren't they?
A bloke down the pub was saying that if you disconnect that white wire in the control box your bike will be propelled, unassisted up to 25kph. Another bloke said that if you adjust the settings you can do an unlimited speed.
Perhaps an off-the-record chat with your friendly e-bike retailer would be beneficial.
If you want to PM/email me I will tell you what I know.
Last edited by: Duncan on Wed 6 Jul 16 at 10:02
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Thank you so much. I've earmarked the forum to peruse over the coming days.
In the meantime, I get the gist of what is being said about speed / assistance issues.
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An Electric Bike? - Armel Coussine
