Electric bikes (pedal)
Comments
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David, if you are looking to use a rear rack and dont want the strain of hoisting heavier bikes up high, there are many towball fitted racks that make loading childs play, can even be raised/lowered with a simple handle....very robust, much easier to put
a cover on etc, and stong locks for better security than on an aluminium rack.also, if you want to load this way, and dont need to fold for space reasons, why have a folder...?
the folding mechanism will wear over time, restricts the designs on offer (as they all have to hinge somewhere) will add weight....there are locks/welds/hinges where a normal framed bike wont have these....
if you want to carry inside folders might be the answer, but if you dont have the constraint, then the market/choice must be larger, id say....
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We use our none electric folders for trips up to 2 to 3 miles each way (and more sometimes) but will probably go electric to lengthen that to 5 or 6 each way for this year.
Don't do all day biking so 30 mins to 1 hour in the saddle is plenty.
Never folded them as they go on the rack.
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Amongst our collection of bikes we have a couple of Bromptons and I am considering an electric conversion. Front wheel drive and conforming to new UK and European standards.
http://www.nanoelectricbikes.co.uk/home
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Bromptons are one of the most compact and comfortable foldables around. I haven’t tried the front hub conversion but am dubious about it’s ability to pull on unsound surfaces. You’ll also have the added inconvenience of removing the battery when folding.
Bromptons are not cheap, but you’ll already know that. I bought separate e-bikes altogether but, if you need to stick to a compact folder, the Brompton is a neat solution. I think the range is rather limited, though.0 -
one thing not yet mentioned is wheel size....
given two identical bikes, one with full size wheels and one with much smaller wheels, most would choose a bike with the larger wheels for better stability and handling.....small wheeled bikes can be a bit 'skittish'....
generally, folding bikes (by space necessity) have small(er) wheels...
if your storage requirements dictate a folding bike (and you cant/dont use a rack) then its likely to be of the small wheeled variety....
as ever, a decent long test ride is important as it will be a bit different if moving from a 'normal' frame/wheel size....
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BB, it was in Benicassim last winter.
.....a few hills to sample.....but also a lovely prom and cycle tracks.....
did you (will you) get back this year?
Write your comments here...
Apologies for being off topic. BB we're in Calpe this winter, gone all posh in an apartment while we look for a property. Funnily it's proven to be far cheaper than camping though. Do miss me van though!
Benicassim;s a lovely place and a nice site too, but felt a bit too cliquey for me.
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Small wheels ride up and down the bumps more, which is why Mr Moulton put suspension on his small-wheeled bikes. Even so, you’ll lose more energy than with a larger wheel that rides over them instead. Energy loss may not be such an issue if you have assistance, of course. The vibration through solid front forks on a small wheel can become uncomfortable unless you just ‘pootle’ around for short distances.
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BB, it was in Benicassim last winter.
.....a few hills to sample.....but also a lovely prom and cycle tracks.....
did you (will you) get back this year?
Write your comments here...
Apologies for being off topic. BB we're in Calpe this winter, gone all posh in an apartment while we look for a property. Funnily it's proven to be far cheaper than camping though. Do miss me van though!
Benicassim;s a lovely place and a nice site too, but felt a bit too cliquey for me.
good look with the search....I guess sites (and hotels) that get returning guests will seem cliquey.....we were new comers
stuck here till March (parents moving house to new build...) but will get some sun then.....
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Decided to drive up to Northampton today to look at the Pro-Rider bikes. Had a go on a couple of them and its quite a surprised how powerful they seem compared to a push bike. Some of the Pro-Rider range are quite large bikes and most of them heavy which ruled a few out. I did quite like the Pro-Rider Colt which is more full size. However I think the Wayfarer folding bike might be the better option for us because of the compact size. I do tend to look like an elephant on a pea riding one!!! Margaret had a go and looked much more refined!!! Given that its unlikely we will go for miles and miles on them, more likely for trips into nearby villages and towns or supermarkets I think the folding ones could suit us well. I do have question for owners of these bikes, its to do with the rear gear/chain mechanism which seems very low to the ground, has this ever caused an issue?
David
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hi all
went over to earnshaws two wheel centre in huddersfield they where at the caravan/motorhome show at manchester last week.spoke to rob they have a large range of e bikes and demos to try around car park.quality bikes but not cheap.tel 01484 421232
amazing things to ride so easy think my minds made up e bike the way to go for us older riders
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Hi, we purchased 2 Connect folding electric bikes from Cycle Republic, (Halfords). It depends what you wish to do with them, ours work well for what we use them for. They are good for about 20miles max, i'm 100kg, to do that you need to be conservative with
the power setting. We have an estate car so keep the bikes in the back so that we have them for when ever we find a nice area to cycle, along canal tow paths, country parks, as well as parking out of town and cycling in and around. The bikes seem robust enough
for that type of riding, they are not light to cycle when the battery goes flat, but still doable. For the price, £500, they had a deal on them, well worth considering.0 -
I'm reaching the point where an old knee injury is stopping me cycling much more than about 5 miles each way and I'm starting to look seriously at electric bikes
My problem is that most of the unisex bikes are too big and those that are my size are too ugly or too girly so if anyone has any suggestions I'd appreciate them.
I prefer small wheeled bikes (learned to ride on a shopper) and don't want a wheel size bigger than 24 but 20 will do. Folding would be OK but not essential. I won't be doing huge distances due to the boredom factor but will be doing more than a potter. I'm just under 1.6m tall and my current MTB has a 13" frame. Price wise I would like to be below £1000, preferably as far below as I can get
Current leader in preference is possibly the pro rider wayfarer but I'm not struck by its looks
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We have recently bought a couple of Evora electric bikes mainly due to the light weight. Have found that many advertised weights are not strictly correct!
David re gears...our 16" wheel normal folders were never a problem. Our new bikes (20" wheels) have a small bracket to protect the gears.
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Thanks TG. Are they quite adjustable? My folding bike doesn't have adjustable handlebar height and it's something I would like
I'm looking at this one too but it doesn't fold. There's more thought needed
the shaft adjusts for height and the handle bars have a forward back kind of adjustment, (not as much as some bikes do) I have the handles bars at the highest setting as I have a lower back problem and leaning right forward aggravates it.
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I do have question for owners of these bikes, its to do with the rear gear/chain mechanism which seems very low to the ground, has this ever caused an issue?
David
The only time I have been aware of an issue was when going over rough ground, it was a track with grass at the sides, you might catch it then if not careful. If riding on cycle paths and roads or open tracks then no you should not have a problem.
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I have been thinking on getting one for the last 2 years, obviously not a high priority but feel certain I would have one by now if only there was somewhere nearby to try them out. It's a fair investment to purchase a half decent one in a style I like, and maybe one day I will be in the area where they are sold and demonstrated.
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Another option would be to convert my MTB I guess. Has anyone heard anything about conversion kits?
...no in depth info, Jay, just the odd anecdotal stuff....seen a few kits on ebay...generally a new hub/gearset rear wheel....
again, a lot depends on the battery price/power/longevity matrix.
cant really help you with the smaller wheeled style....OH has a 26" Raleigh Leeds Tour with a smallish frame size, which is not overly large or heavy for her to ride....she is 5' 4" tall.
shes considering a change to either a Kalkhoff or Gepida (i have the mens Gepida/Bosch) for a longer range.
hers will do around 40miles but, as we are often away from ehu (aires, etc) and reliant on our leisure batteries/sp to recharge the bikes, a longer range means less charging between trips....
her new bike will be the same sized wheel and frame.
good luck with the search.
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I am not sure how large the market is for electric bikes but it must be growing which makes it more surprising that the likes of Halfords/Go Outdoors don't get into it in a bigger way. I know Halfords have a lot on their website but most are sold through
third parties so often you can't see any on display. Another issue, well it was for us, is that of weight. Not only for where you carry them but also your own ability to lift them, say, onto a motorhome bike rack. One of the reasons we went for the Pro Rider
folding Wayfarer bikes. We have not long had them but we have sorted how they will be mounted on the bike rack. All we need now is some nice weather to try them out!!!David
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Thanks BB. The Raleigh frame size is too big for me. My MTB is a 13" frame which is just right.
I think I'll look into a conversion as the MTB is a good one and I never use it
Weight isn't an issue for me. I can lift 25kg easily enough onto a towball rack. Wouldn't like to say I could lift it to shoulder height though
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I am not sure how large the market is for electric bikes but it must be growing which makes it more surprising that the likes of Halfords/Go Outdoors don't get into it in a bigger way. I know Halfords have a lot on their website but most are sold through third parties so often you can't see any on display. Another issue, well it was for us, is that of weight. Not only for where you carry them but also your own ability to lift them, say, onto a motorhome bike rack. One of the reasons we went for the Pro Rider folding Wayfarer bikes. We have not long had them but we have sorted how they will be mounted on the bike rack. All we need now is some nice weather to try them out!!!
David
David, we have the Bailey 625SE not sure if the bike rack is at the same height as yours (I would think so) its an easy lift for OH on his own, however we tend to do it together to stop any straines. We fold the handlebars down and hold them in that position with a bungy, we found if we didn't do that the inside bike caught on the window if in the upright position, OH didn't like tilting the bike outwards to clear the window. We both have locking boxes on the bike rack for putting our helmets in (or shopping) I also have a clip on the handle bars for a basket should I need extra shopping space.
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Tammygirl
I think on the Bailey's with rear windows, like your 625, the bike rack might have a lower fitting. See picture below and see how they compare and let me know.
David
Obviously not the electric bikes on the rack!
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Just been out to check it David, I think we are about 5 - 6" lower than you are, would definately do it as a 2 person life so save straining something, not the way to start a holiday. Are you going over the water? if so safe travels and have a good time.
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