Advice needed on my first e-bike

[CXRAndy]

I went with a male/unisex aluminum commuter bike as the donor for the wife's conversion.

I fitted suspension on the front with lockout and dropper post for her. She loves this feature, dropping the seat at junctions, so she can confidently place leg for stability.

 

[SteveH80]

Two websites I found useful when first looking into getting an ebike:
https://www.cyclingelectric.com/
https://road.cc/ebiketips

 

[Dadam]

Given your needs in the OP, I'd recommend either a relatively lightweight regular ebike, or an electric folder.

A non-folding bike needs lifting up. Your existing bike weighs 19kg so I'd suggest you need to consider no heavier than that. Sub 20kg usually implies a non-removable battery due to reasons I outlined up thread. It typically means a fairly small battery too. However that's not necessarily an issue as range extender batteries are an option on many bikes.

A folder removes the need to lift the bike onto the racks, and also increases flexibility for getting on the train. It's luggage so you don't have to book a bike slot or risk one not being available. Electric folders do come with other compromises of course.

I'd carefully consider whether belt drive is worth the other compromises. Nothing wrong with it as a drivetrain, but it does reduce options. For example the Tenways bike you mentioned is a single speed. Given your use case of a day's riding with a few light hills that may be fine, but potentially reduces the kind of gradients you can get up. If you want gears with a belt drive you need a hub gear which means a mid motor, and quite a bit more expense. Going for chain drive gives more choice of bikes with more gears, for the price of a teeny bit more maintenance (i.e occasional use of a rag and a bottle of oil).

 

[This Wreckage]

I'd carefully consider whether belt drive is worth the other compromises. Nothing wrong with it as a drivetrain, but it does reduce options. For example the Tenways bike you mentioned is a single speed. Given your use case of a day's riding with a few light hills that may be fine, but potentially reduces the kind of gradients you can get up. If you want gears with a belt drive you need a hub gear which means a mid motor, and quite a bit more expense. Going for chain drive gives more choice of bikes with more gears, for the price of a teeny bit more maintenance (i.e occasional use of a rag and a bottle of oil).

Thanks for the advice. My five decades of experience with chain drive bikes drove me to abandon them for my Gazelle belt drive which, though heavy, is a marvel in every other way. I will not return to a chain bike; I would rather walk or take the bus and never cycle again. As things stand, my Gazelle is doing well for me so there is no tearing hurry for me to move to an e-bike yet. The more I investigate them, the less attractive they become with all their fuss and bother. But the replies here have been helpful and informative.

 

[CXRAndy]

Chain drive has been around for 900 years if not longer
Its a simple, robust, cheap efficient drive system. There is very little to do in maintaining the chain drive.

Only downside is a chain tattoo now and then.

 

[404 Not Found Anywhere]

I have a Kalkoff Agattu ebike with belt drive, inherited from my dad in 2017. Apart from tensioning the belt once I’ve never had to touch it. And I’m a fan of hub gears (Alfine 8 in this case) so I guess I’m a lost cause!

 

[CXRAndy]

My next ebike project is adding motor kit to Afline 11 Di2 Genesis touring bike. I'll be using a pannier rack battery mount

 

[mjr]

I was going to ask, what is the bike made of weighing 19kg, then looked it up, ah a Dutch bike. I'll be brutally honest, dutch bikes aren't the nicest things to ride and are very heavy. Plus handling is 'interesting at best.

there's nothing about the Netherlands that makes Dutch bikes heavier. Some gazelles are pretty light. Of course, that's not what they hire out to clueless Brit tourists!

Handling is different to the typical leaning-forwards hybrid, more the old English roadster swooping steering, but not worse.

Back on topic, move that 25kg is the maximum for those train bike hooks on LNER

I'd probably get a folding bike if you can, to avoid the hooks and any future spreading of the London e-bike bans.

 

[dicko]

I’m going to be 80 this year and am looking forward to buying possibly my last cycle. I do like the look of the Gazelle range of Dutch E bikes especially the ones with the belt drive. I discovered that CyclingMickey rides a Gazelle like the one I hope to acquire.

 

[Drago]

I discovered that CyclingMickey rides a Gazelle like the one I hope to acquire.

Hardly a glowing endorsement!

 

[dicko]

Hardly a glowing endorsement!

My very first cycle was a Dutch back pedal brake bike in 1958 so irs fitting that my last bike will be a Dutch bike too.

 

[Dadam]

I will not return to a chain bike; I would rather walk or take the bus and never cycle again.

Fine... it does seems a little extreme to me, but you do you.

The more I investigate them, the less attractive they become with all their fuss and bother. But the replies here have been helpful and informative.

There's a lot of internet FUD around them, and not all from people with experience of them. They're not really much fuss at all and good ones are a revelation in the length of rides, the steepness of hills etc.

 

[albion]

The fuss and bother certainly comes to those who ride 10,000 or so miles per year.

 

[Dadam]

The fuss and bother certainly comes to those who ride 10,000 or so miles per year.

OK. The minority I suspect.

 

[Drago]

The fuss and bother certainly comes to those who ride 10,000 or so miles per year.

But the chain users ride those 10,000 miles so much more quickly.