Electric Bikes
Hi
Having just got back from a lovely trip from Croatia to Germany we have realised that what we need are electric bikes ( too many hills for my legs). We have had a look at a few and wondered if anyone out there had any top tips.
Comments
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have a look at a shop called 50 cycles....
not only do they sell top class (generally german) ebikes, but also have a web section where returning customers can advertise their one/two/three year old bikes, some lovely stuff there....like buying a used Merc. for the price of a new Fiesta.
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Make sure you try before you buy! We tried quite a number of electric bikes and didn't really find anything that we liked. In the end my clever husband bought kits and converted our bikes into electric ones. They are absolutely brilliant, I love going
to the pub on mine having a nice meal and then sauntering back. No longer that black cloud hanging over me as I think about the hills. The hills are always up on the way back, have you noticed that? LOL0 -
You might have a look at Juicy bikes. We have just purchased two, Having previously enjoyed two folding bikes from Proryder, we decided to go for the bigger wheels and Juicy bikes met all our requirements. You will find that what you can afford will dictate
the bikes you get.0 -
We have a couple of Pro Rider Wayfarer folding electric bikes. They are a good product if you want to do the minimum of peddling. The electric power will get you up some surprisingly steep inclines. My only issue with them is that they only have 7 gears.
This suits Margaret down to the ground but if you are used to a bike with a full array of gears your could find them a bit weird to ride as even on the level your legs are turning at a fast rate which makes my knees ache. However like all things its a trade
off between weight and bulk. Although the Wayfarers are heavier than our previous push bikes with the saddle down to its lowest setting and the handle bars folder they are comparitively easy to get on the motorhome bike rack.David
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David, had the same problem with our Pro Ryder bikes, legs going like billyo. I investigated this and found the crank gear was only 38 teeth, changed to 52 teeth and no problems after that.
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David, had the same problem with our Pro Ryder bikes, legs going like billyo. I investigated this and found the crank gear was only 38 teeth, changed to 52 teeth and no problems after that.
Was that relatively easy to do as it sounds like a possible solution and are they standard parts?
David
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if they are rear hub driven, it would just mean changing the front crank, assuming the chain is long enough....
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Changing from a 38 to 52 tooth chain ring would definitely require a new chain.
38 is incredibly small, 50 is what most 'serious' leisure cyclists would use, 52+ is what a professional or very serious cyclist would use.
But of course, any proper bike would also have a smaller chain ring of about 38 for climbing.
This all obviously depends on what size cassette you have at the back.
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Q4, what kit did you get please and where from?
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"This all obviously depends on what size cassette you have at the back."......no Thetford jokes please......
OH has a 7 gear hub gear set, i have a 10 speed derailleur....
when travelling together at, say, 12-13 mph on a nice flat run, her legs go round much more than mine, so she asked me why...
i asked her what gear she was in and she said "5....i always use 5"
i was using (probably) 8 or 9 and just turning the crank over gently...
i suggesting she try 6, or even 7 (top gear) and she was amazed at the difference...though obviously might have to drop a gear for a hill....
well, you wouldn't drive a car along a motorway in third gear, with the engine hunting, would you
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Make sure you try before you buy! We tried quite a number of electric bikes and didn't really find anything that we liked. In the end my clever husband bought kits and converted our bikes into electric ones. They are absolutely brilliant, I love going
to the pub on mine having a nice meal and then sauntering back. No longer that black cloud hanging over me as I think about the hills. The hills are always up on the way back, have you noticed that? LOLWhere di you buy your Ebike converson kit Q4?
Thanks!
vintageb3
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