Electric bike
- Thread starter Iainj837
- Start date
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Iainj837
Guru
- Location
- Glastonbury Somerset
That would be great if you couldsloe said:
OP
OP
Iainj837
Guru
- Location
- Glastonbury Somerset
I have a normal bike but but the place I am going to work has a few hills and a really step one it is not to bad when your out for a leisure ride but for commuting in a rush I would need that extra powerJ4CKO said:
OP
OP
Iainj837
Guru
- Location
- Glastonbury Somerset
I have found a bike, it is a Giant Twist Express RS1 it is an upgrade from the Twist Express RS2 the only difference that the RS1 is a 24 speed and the RS2 is 7 speed. It has a motor on it but works with pedal power and the motor will help me to go further and faster. (if that makes sense)
Only thing it's not available till Feb 09
Only thing it's not available till Feb 09
threefingerjoe
Über Member
- Location
- St. Louis, MO, USA
Ok, I rode a Giant "Hybrid" electric bike about 3 weeks ago, and was impressed! Now, I'll grant you, I only rode it around the bike shop lot, but it had a short, but reasonably steep hill behind the building. I intentionally approached the hill VERY slowly, so I could test it climbing. As soon as I started pedaling, I could feel it pulling me, effortlessly, up the hill.
They call it a "hybrid". I'd call it "electric assist." Whatever you call it, you MUST pedal. It is supposed to somehow, "sense" how much power you are delivering, and adjust it's assist power. It seemed to work well. You can turn it on or off, easily, with a switch on the handlebars.
It was a "comfort bike" design. It comes with a rack, with 2 sealed battery packs, one on each side, that easily snap in or out of the holder. It also comes with small panniers that fit on, outboard of the battery packs. It also comes with mudguards and kickstand.
You use these 2 batteries individually. When the bar-mounted indicator lights indicate that one battery is low, you flip a switch, and it transfers to the other battery. They claim a 70 mile range. Recharge time is supposed to be about 4 hours.
Now, WHY, are we, as cyclists, concerned about what others think? Non-cyclists are already laughing at us! ;-) On this side of the pond, you need a thick skin to ride a bike! I have no need for an electric bike (at THIS time), but if you need one to get you out of a car, by all means, get one! I thought it was pretty cool! I like my bikes, but I certainly wouldn't want to race one of those electric bikes up a hill!
They call it a "hybrid". I'd call it "electric assist." Whatever you call it, you MUST pedal. It is supposed to somehow, "sense" how much power you are delivering, and adjust it's assist power. It seemed to work well. You can turn it on or off, easily, with a switch on the handlebars.
It was a "comfort bike" design. It comes with a rack, with 2 sealed battery packs, one on each side, that easily snap in or out of the holder. It also comes with small panniers that fit on, outboard of the battery packs. It also comes with mudguards and kickstand.
You use these 2 batteries individually. When the bar-mounted indicator lights indicate that one battery is low, you flip a switch, and it transfers to the other battery. They claim a 70 mile range. Recharge time is supposed to be about 4 hours.
Now, WHY, are we, as cyclists, concerned about what others think? Non-cyclists are already laughing at us! ;-) On this side of the pond, you need a thick skin to ride a bike! I have no need for an electric bike (at THIS time), but if you need one to get you out of a car, by all means, get one! I thought it was pretty cool! I like my bikes, but I certainly wouldn't want to race one of those electric bikes up a hill!
OP
OP
Iainj837
Guru
- Location
- Glastonbury Somerset
Price £995. I will be buying it through the bike to work scheme.col said:
Only thing I'd suggest is something like a Stokemonkey.
Hub motors are in general, rather rubbish, they have a peak range of efficency.
There are other kits which do the same thing as the Stokemonkey for a non-converted bike, though I'm having trouble digging the link out.
The arguments for are quite simple, bikes have gears, because they allow us to peddle in a steady manner, instead of having to spin our legs around really really fast to go faster, ect. So why not use them with a motor, instead of doubling up (as some of the more expensive geared motors do)
Hub motors are in general, rather rubbish, they have a peak range of efficency.
There are other kits which do the same thing as the Stokemonkey for a non-converted bike, though I'm having trouble digging the link out.
The arguments for are quite simple, bikes have gears, because they allow us to peddle in a steady manner, instead of having to spin our legs around really really fast to go faster, ect. So why not use them with a motor, instead of doubling up (as some of the more expensive geared motors do)
OP
OP
Iainj837
Guru
- Location
- Glastonbury Somerset
the bike I want is pedal assorted motor, I don't want a bike that you can just ride with out pedalling because I will then become dependant on the motor and become lazy.
I want to ride the bike in the normal manner just with some assistance to get to work quicker and not turn up all hot and sweaty
I want to ride the bike in the normal manner just with some assistance to get to work quicker and not turn up all hot and sweaty
BentMikey
Rider of Seolferwulf
- Location
- South London
pedalling
jay clock
Massive member
- Location
- Hampshire UK
I thought that when I started commuting. I was seriously concerned that I would be physically incapable of cycling a 10 mile round trip. Very quickly I was more than able. I appreciate you are trying to sell electric bikes but for much of the population they are not currently a good choice.
But I will put money on them being big in the next 20 years
OP
OP
Iainj837
Guru
- Location
- Glastonbury Somerset
Spelling mistake corrected
Electric Bikes
I happen to think Electric Bikes have an excellent future for a number of reasons - cheap, affordable transport, no emissions, good for the less fit and great in hilly areas.
I loved cycling as a teenager and needed to cycle when I first started work. But since moving to the Peak District and spending so much time in a car, cycling is now something I do when I have the time and I have become much less fit. In particular I have "bad knees"...
I have an electric bike now and find the joy has come back to cycling. I can cycle with half the effort - still enjoying the wind in my hair and the contact with the world, and gradually build my fitness level again.
The bike I have is a pedal assist, meaning I can add as much effort as I want, but still cope easily with the hills around me.
I chose the bike through a recommendation from a friend who has one and found it reliable. He imported his from Holland for a small fortune, but I tracked down the European importer and have paid only £600 for mine. I know the bike, called Juicy Bike has recently become on sale in the UK and compares well to bikes costing £900 or more. If you can find it I can thoroughly recommend!
I happen to think Electric Bikes have an excellent future for a number of reasons - cheap, affordable transport, no emissions, good for the less fit and great in hilly areas.
I loved cycling as a teenager and needed to cycle when I first started work. But since moving to the Peak District and spending so much time in a car, cycling is now something I do when I have the time and I have become much less fit. In particular I have "bad knees"...
I have an electric bike now and find the joy has come back to cycling. I can cycle with half the effort - still enjoying the wind in my hair and the contact with the world, and gradually build my fitness level again.
The bike I have is a pedal assist, meaning I can add as much effort as I want, but still cope easily with the hills around me.
I chose the bike through a recommendation from a friend who has one and found it reliable. He imported his from Holland for a small fortune, but I tracked down the European importer and have paid only £600 for mine. I know the bike, called Juicy Bike has recently become on sale in the UK and compares well to bikes costing £900 or more. If you can find it I can thoroughly recommend!
Update on Juicy Bikes
I've found these electric bikes (e-bikes, electrically powered bicycles, what have you...) at www.juicybike.co.uk
Hope this helps!
I've found these electric bikes (e-bikes, electrically powered bicycles, what have you...) at www.juicybike.co.uk
Hope this helps!
