Electric bike

[PyjamaFan]

I'm thinking of getting an electric bike as we've recently moved to somewhere quite hilly and my legs can't take it!

Does anyone have one? Would you recommend it? Anything to watch out for when choosing one, etc?

Thank you

I don’t have one but live where a lot of people do.

My next bike will definitely be a e-bike!

Look for battery life of course but also weight, so that if the battery does fail you can still move the bike!

And I’d say don’t put it off - they really are great!

you need to check whether the motor will run whilst you are not pedaling, even if that is allowed where you are you will still need to pedal to go uphill.

I have a Kahlkof (sp) endeavour electric bike. It feels as if you are being pushed from behind. I live in hilly north Wales and hills are so easy. You drop to a lower gear and a higher power and hills are a doddle. My knees don’t hurt.
I bought it when I was 55 and having not ridden a bike seriously since my early twenties, I took it on a 14 mile ride on my second outing.
You have to pedal to engage the motor. You can use it as a normal bike too. I use it as a normal bike until I tire and then switch to electric until I recover, then back to normal again.
They are heavy.

I walk up the hills near to me - every direction, especially to come home. Call it cross-training of sorts
But I also put my bike into the boot of my car, so it needs to not be heavy..... so it would not work for me for that reason.

I think that as they are heavy, it is almost as though you need it be electric to make it easier/possible to ride (as you always have to think about weight of any bike really - whether or not you ever have to lift it), if you see what mean.

I do think there are safety considerations on the road as well, such as when cars may not expect you to approach at the speed you do and may turn out of a junction thinking they had plenty of time (I have senn it happen),

Just my thoughts - having ha ddiscussions with a friend (male) who just got one

Just got a Trek Allant 7, loving it so far. Bought it to commute to work as there’s a few hills on way there and I don’t want to arrive sweaty. Got it on bike to work scheme which made it much cheaper. Still keeping my ‘normal’ bike to take on holidays with family as the electric one is super heavy.

Thank you everyone, there's a lot to think about and you have all helped with my research.

I hadn't really thought of the weight when lifting the bike into a car boot or up steps, or whatever, so that's something to look out for.

What bike do you have now?
Don't underestimate the difference of a proper mountain bike vs a normal bike. They are not on the same level at all.

If you've only recently moved, why not give your self some time to get used to the hills? Especially if you're wanting to bike for fitness, an electric bike won't help you do that?

If you do go electric: brakes. I've heard most accidents with e bikes are because people underestimate how much time you need to brake vs a normal bike.

I don't have a mountain bike, hmmmm... hadn't really thought about that, thank you!

I used to have one to commute into work and it was great, unfortunately as it was quite a long time ago the battery only lasted for a couple of years.
A few years ago I treated myself to one, but went too cheap with a Halfords Pendleton and the electric motion felt jerky and unsafe so I sold it on.
It's worth paying for a decent bike and also knowing when you're going to use it. My SIL and BIL have good electric bikes and they use them for weekend cycles and holiday days out, neither would be able to cover the distances they do on a non electric bike. It does provide a decent workout though as you still have to cycle to make the motor work.