Hi all, I'm new to this forum so I'm sorry if I'm posting in the wrong thread! I'm posting to ask for advise on which electrical pushbike to get. I currently have a mobility scooter to get around but my local canal paths and walk ways have a lot of gates and posts to stop horses and motorbikes getting onto the paths therefore stopping my mobility scooter. I suffer from heart disease and heart failure so a regular pushbike would be way too strenuous for me. I was wondering if anyone had any advise on the distance electric pushbike motors could travel and maybe if anyone already owns one let me know any views and opinions you have on them. Thank you for taking your time to read my post, happy cycling!
Cycling with heart disease?
- Thread starter Niall357
- Start date
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Ganymede
Veteran
- Location
- Rural Kent
Hi Niall! - welcome to the forum.
I'm not the right person to ask - I'm only saying hi! - but if you use the search function at the top right of the page and try searches for "electric bike" and "heart problems" (or similar), ticking the box "Search titles only" you will probably find some good threads. There have been a few good threads recently from people with heart problems etc either starting cycling or getting back into cycling, so you should find something helpful. Also, you could try starting your own thread with "electric bike" in the title which might bring out the e-bikers.
Have you talked to your GP about cycling?
I'm not the right person to ask - I'm only saying hi! - but if you use the search function at the top right of the page and try searches for "electric bike" and "heart problems" (or similar), ticking the box "Search titles only" you will probably find some good threads. There have been a few good threads recently from people with heart problems etc either starting cycling or getting back into cycling, so you should find something helpful. Also, you could try starting your own thread with "electric bike" in the title which might bring out the e-bikers.
Have you talked to your GP about cycling?
E Bikes are very popular abroad and I noticed a lot of locals used them in the Alps. However, they are cycling downhill, doing their shopping in town and using the motor to get back up. Then they plug it in again.
E Bikes are really motor assisted cycles and the more you use the motor, the quicker the battery drains. The more powerful the motor and the bigger the battery, the further you can travel but, the bike also becomes heavier when you pedal alone. Speed is also a factor, using the battery to drive the motor at high speeds drains it very quickly. As an indication, with a 300kh battery you will get a range of 40km to 100km on the flat, depending on speed.
Batteries are the expensive item. Not only do you need capacity, but you also want a quick charging time. Some can take 10 hours to recharge. I have a torqeedo electric outboard engine and a spare battery is £400. I can but a cheap engine and a camping battery for less than that.
Have a look at this list of e-bikes from a supplier in Germany. These are proper bikes adapted for electric motors sold into a market that is becoming discerning about electric bikes. These are all well above £1000. If you are wanting to do some distance and rely on the battery a lot, you are likely going to be disappointed with a sub £1000 bike.
http://www.bike-discount.de/en/ebike-trekking
Alternatively, if you want somthing very futuristic and special, you can get a specially designed electric bike from Mercedes, currently reduced from £2500 to £1800
On the continent, there are loads of places to hire these things. I have never looked in the UK though. There ought to be some places. That way, you can get a feel for how useful they would be.
There are lots of reviews on youtube. Have a look at this one which shows different types:
You may also like to read this article, http://www.bike-eu.com/Shows-Events...ng-Going-Ballistic-at-Eurobike-2014-1579376W/
E Bikes are really motor assisted cycles and the more you use the motor, the quicker the battery drains. The more powerful the motor and the bigger the battery, the further you can travel but, the bike also becomes heavier when you pedal alone. Speed is also a factor, using the battery to drive the motor at high speeds drains it very quickly. As an indication, with a 300kh battery you will get a range of 40km to 100km on the flat, depending on speed.
Batteries are the expensive item. Not only do you need capacity, but you also want a quick charging time. Some can take 10 hours to recharge. I have a torqeedo electric outboard engine and a spare battery is £400. I can but a cheap engine and a camping battery for less than that.
Have a look at this list of e-bikes from a supplier in Germany. These are proper bikes adapted for electric motors sold into a market that is becoming discerning about electric bikes. These are all well above £1000. If you are wanting to do some distance and rely on the battery a lot, you are likely going to be disappointed with a sub £1000 bike.
http://www.bike-discount.de/en/ebike-trekking
Alternatively, if you want somthing very futuristic and special, you can get a specially designed electric bike from Mercedes, currently reduced from £2500 to £1800
On the continent, there are loads of places to hire these things. I have never looked in the UK though. There ought to be some places. That way, you can get a feel for how useful they would be.
There are lots of reviews on youtube. Have a look at this one which shows different types:
You may also like to read this article, http://www.bike-eu.com/Shows-Events...ng-Going-Ballistic-at-Eurobike-2014-1579376W/
Last edited:
Ganymede
Veteran
- Location
- Rural Kent
What Yorksman says is true, but I get the feeling that you just need your bike to get around locally...? I've seen a bloke in my local village going along on the flat with the motor running!
Nice vid Yorksman, like the smart bike and the specialized turbo..
@Niall357 I used to go by the store in Camden Town everyday http://www.electricbikesales.co.uk
@Niall357 I used to go by the store in Camden Town everyday http://www.electricbikesales.co.uk
If you do want to just get around and it is the case that a mobility scooter is too big for the sort of tracks that you want to ride down, have a look at electric scooters. They are small enough to keep assembled. You don't have to fold them down all the time, but useful if you need to put it in the boot of a car.
Hi all, thank you ever so much for taking time to reply and try and help me. I've decided to get an electric scooter! Ive ordered one today so hopefully I'll be able to get out and about by next week! You have all been extremely helpful and informative so thanks again for helping me out.
Don't forget to do what exercise you can though. I had CHD over ten years ago and was in the very severe category. Even a couple of years ago I'd have difficulty walking to the car in the car park. By then the CHD had improved greatly with the help of certain tablets but the excess weight, osteoarthritis, lack of fitness, diabetes, loss of balance and feeling tired all the time made exercise almost impossible. How to recover?
I started with two mins floor exercises per day and now I can ride a bike for a couple of hours. I have a life again. Even a small amount of exercise will make you feel just a little bit better and if that can persuade you to do 2 x 2 mins per day, you'll be on the road to getting many functions back.
You don't have to be 'fit', just fit enough to do a few ordinary things. Swimming too is 1st class. Good luck and I hope you enjoy the scooter.
I started with two mins floor exercises per day and now I can ride a bike for a couple of hours. I have a life again. Even a small amount of exercise will make you feel just a little bit better and if that can persuade you to do 2 x 2 mins per day, you'll be on the road to getting many functions back.
You don't have to be 'fit', just fit enough to do a few ordinary things. Swimming too is 1st class. Good luck and I hope you enjoy the scooter.
jefmcg
Guru
sounds like you are buying the right tool for the job, but do spend some time in this thread http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/any-survivors-on-here-cardiac-arrest-heart-attack-cancer.164623 to see how others have remained physically active after life threatening conditions.
(I know not everyone suffering from life threatening conditions can lead an active life)
(I know not everyone suffering from life threatening conditions can lead an active life)
