I had the opportunity to have a decent (~20 lumpy miles) test ride on an electric bike over Christmas, mainly because my neighbour who sells cars for a living has decided to take out an agency for these things for my area and asked me to give my thoughts on it. I can't remember who made it now but it's German, top of the range and €1,900 and has a range of 50 - 60 miles.
To be honest, it didn't do it for me. The novelty of playing with the three boost settings had worn of after about a mile, and then you are left with a seriously heavy bike, fitted with heavy, sluggish puncture resistant tyres, a single chainwheel (probably about 48t, I couldn't see it properly with the hockey stick chainguard) with 7 speed megarange 14 - 34t block. I attempted a hill (it's not that steep, it's a doddle on anything with gears or even a lightweight steel frame with 65" fixed wheel, doable standing on the pedals of a 70" gear on a heavy vintage Humber roadster) without the electric assist and struggled, even in the lowest gear. It was obviously much easier with the electric assist but even a heavy normal bike like my vintage Humber would be easy, albeit probably slower if it had such a wide gear range.
Riding this thing without electric assist is not that easy unless it's dead flat road. I can only imagine the motor in the hub has a lot of drag as it seemed more difficult than I thought it should.
It occurred to me that I didn't really like it because I simply didn't need the electric motor. There may come a time I might need it in the future. There are probably people out there with knee, hip or back problems who would love this bike. 6 or 7 years ago when I started cycling again as an adult, overweight and unfit, I may have liked it myself if I'd know such things existed at the time and could have afforded the asking price. But after cycling several thousand miles a year, mostly leisure, I don't particularly aim for fitness, I don't try to beat personal bests or anything like that, I just ride at the pace I feel like on the day, I see myself as someone who enjoys the countryside and fresh air, not an athlete, I'm still heavier than I should be, I'm still partial to the odd fag, I don't consider myself fit but simply from clocking up the miles, I have obviously attained a level of fitness which is enough to comfortably ride a bike in my hilly locality. It has occurred to me that the routes I used to consider difficult on a geared bike, I now often do without gears. My definition of a short ride has changed from about 2 miles to about 30 or 40 miles.
I honestly believe the media have people convinced that being fit and active is really difficult and involves spending hours in the gym, that it is dangerous and difficult to ride a bike, or walk, run on the road so most people don't bother.
I am living proof that a better than average level of fitness can be achieved by adding a little activity into your normal everyday routine and building on it. It doesn't take a huge amount of effort at all once you get started, just don't overdo it to begin with. I have had many people tell me they have no time to take exercise but have the time to spend hours watching TV. I used to do that too. I now generally spend the spare time I spent watching TV on the bike. At this time of year, when I ride the country roads at night and pass houses and glance in to see through the window and see overweight people sitting on a sofa eating crisps in front of Eastenders, I actually feel sorry for them. I used to be like that, fat, permanently tired and miserable, looking enviously at thin, fit people.
I never thought about it before but I am very happy to have got of my arse and changed my life for the better, the extra fitness is nice, but I have also learned loads and met very interesting people as a result of my re-newed interest in cycling (and hillwalking). As someone who has always been prone to bouts of depression, I find exercise has had a huge positive effect on my mental health as well.
I'm not sure I really have a point to this rambling other than highlighting my recent musings on the advantages of getting out and about in the fresh air and being active has had on my life (and as this is a cycling forum, I'm obviously preaching to the converted). But if you can, do gently persuade (don' t preach or bully) any inactive friends or relatives you may have to start taking a little exercise, even a walk down the road once in a while. They will thank you eventually.
To be honest, it didn't do it for me. The novelty of playing with the three boost settings had worn of after about a mile, and then you are left with a seriously heavy bike, fitted with heavy, sluggish puncture resistant tyres, a single chainwheel (probably about 48t, I couldn't see it properly with the hockey stick chainguard) with 7 speed megarange 14 - 34t block. I attempted a hill (it's not that steep, it's a doddle on anything with gears or even a lightweight steel frame with 65" fixed wheel, doable standing on the pedals of a 70" gear on a heavy vintage Humber roadster) without the electric assist and struggled, even in the lowest gear. It was obviously much easier with the electric assist but even a heavy normal bike like my vintage Humber would be easy, albeit probably slower if it had such a wide gear range.
Riding this thing without electric assist is not that easy unless it's dead flat road. I can only imagine the motor in the hub has a lot of drag as it seemed more difficult than I thought it should.
It occurred to me that I didn't really like it because I simply didn't need the electric motor. There may come a time I might need it in the future. There are probably people out there with knee, hip or back problems who would love this bike. 6 or 7 years ago when I started cycling again as an adult, overweight and unfit, I may have liked it myself if I'd know such things existed at the time and could have afforded the asking price. But after cycling several thousand miles a year, mostly leisure, I don't particularly aim for fitness, I don't try to beat personal bests or anything like that, I just ride at the pace I feel like on the day, I see myself as someone who enjoys the countryside and fresh air, not an athlete, I'm still heavier than I should be, I'm still partial to the odd fag, I don't consider myself fit but simply from clocking up the miles, I have obviously attained a level of fitness which is enough to comfortably ride a bike in my hilly locality. It has occurred to me that the routes I used to consider difficult on a geared bike, I now often do without gears. My definition of a short ride has changed from about 2 miles to about 30 or 40 miles.
I honestly believe the media have people convinced that being fit and active is really difficult and involves spending hours in the gym, that it is dangerous and difficult to ride a bike, or walk, run on the road so most people don't bother.
I am living proof that a better than average level of fitness can be achieved by adding a little activity into your normal everyday routine and building on it. It doesn't take a huge amount of effort at all once you get started, just don't overdo it to begin with. I have had many people tell me they have no time to take exercise but have the time to spend hours watching TV. I used to do that too. I now generally spend the spare time I spent watching TV on the bike. At this time of year, when I ride the country roads at night and pass houses and glance in to see through the window and see overweight people sitting on a sofa eating crisps in front of Eastenders, I actually feel sorry for them. I used to be like that, fat, permanently tired and miserable, looking enviously at thin, fit people.
I never thought about it before but I am very happy to have got of my arse and changed my life for the better, the extra fitness is nice, but I have also learned loads and met very interesting people as a result of my re-newed interest in cycling (and hillwalking). As someone who has always been prone to bouts of depression, I find exercise has had a huge positive effect on my mental health as well.
I'm not sure I really have a point to this rambling other than highlighting my recent musings on the advantages of getting out and about in the fresh air and being active has had on my life (and as this is a cycling forum, I'm obviously preaching to the converted). But if you can, do gently persuade (don' t preach or bully) any inactive friends or relatives you may have to start taking a little exercise, even a walk down the road once in a while. They will thank you eventually.
