Pear-shaped & Bristol Fashioned!

[henleazehen]

Lots of helpful info here, thanks peeps! I have emailed the Batribike dealer, who also sells all sorts of e-bikes, and I will try some two-wheelers as well - though I'm not all that confident about riding on two wheels, and the thought of doing that and having a trailer dragging along behind me fills me with dread! Am curious at Welshdragon's comment about unwieldiness and the general concensus that I would be better off on two wheels: I know the trike is wider and heavier than a 'normal' bike, but I don't plan on carrying the thing, weaving through traffic or transportng it on it trains. Or is that not the point?

 

[welsh dragon]

Its a very heavy bike and while I see your point about mainly using it for shopping and doing errands, and even though it is electric, being that heavy without even having anything on it or in it, may make it difficult to use. What happens if the battery doesn't last as long as you thought it would and you can't get home? On such a heavy bike how long will the battery last?

All im saying is, you should leave yourself open to suggestions, and to try more than one tyoe of bike and style. If it is what you want, then go for it. Personally I wouldn't like it, but that's me, but if you are too fixated on one bike, you could make a bad decison. Good luck, as I said above. Summerdays gave some great advice.

 

[Scoosh]

How about an Urban Arrow ?
http://www.urbanarrow.com/en/ (sorry no direct link - on a wee mobile thing)

It might look a bit cumbersome but is pretty manoeuvrable and nippy once you get used to it ... so I am told

 

[summerdays]

What sort of height are you .... I could ride a folding bike over to Henleaze when I have my opticians appointment (if you are around in the day time - just after 9, or I could arrange another time), for you to try that (easy to lower the saddle but more twitchy than a normal bike), or if you are similar height to me you could have a go on my bike - I'm 5' 5 (and a half!).

 

[Scoosh]

How about an Urban Arrow ?
http://www.urbanarrow.com/en/ (sorry no direct link - on a wee mobile thing)

It might look a bit cumbersome but is pretty manoeuvrable and nippy once you get used to it ... so I am told

 

[henleazehen]

@summerdays - Many thanks for your very kind offer, but I think you might regret it if I took you up on it! I'd hate to 'ding' one of your bikes, and in any case, Atmosphere Bikes is arranging a date when I can try ouit the Batribike and various others. I'm happy to wait for them, because I'm in no rush, and it allows me lots of time to work out exactly what I want out of the bike, and the questions I need to ask. But wow, what a lovely person you are - if you're representative of the cycling fraternity on Bristol, I can't wait to join - and I promise I won't behave like this!

 

[henleazehen]

How about an Urban Arrow ?
http://www.urbanarrow.com/en/ (sorry no direct link - on a wee mobile thing)

It might look a bit cumbersome but is pretty manoeuvrable and nippy once you get used to it ... so I am told

Yikes! Have you seen the price? £2,900

 

[Saluki]

HI &
Sorry I know nothing about e-bikes or trikes but I'm a smidgette over 50 and a bit round of shape and have no problems riding around on 2 wheels (not anywhere as hilly as Bristol though). Trailers are just fine and are really no problem to tow and they don't feel wibbly at all. Ditto with panniers. Obviously the upside of these is that you are not dealing with any extra weight all the time.
I am not wildly fit and despite the dodgy back, totally frapped wrist and an odd shaped pelvis, I love riding my bikes (I have 3 of varying descriptions). I do know that I would seriously struggle with an 85lb bike if the battery died on me though.

Looking forward to hearing about your test rides and whatnot though.

 

[summerdays]

My folding bike gets used by various people as I sometimes lend it out, so I'm definitely not precious over that one, and the others have plenty of knocks put in by me. If you change your mind before Wednesday let me know. Just back from Henleaze as I'd forgotten one of my children had an opticians appointment today. And I spotted a unicyclist walking with his unicycle, up the main road.

 

[Hop3y]

Welcome!