Electric bike - gamechanger

[squashyhat]

Bit of a pointless thread but I just wanted to say if anyone is thinking of getting an e bike - go for it! I did a lot of research (including old Mumsnet threads) and took the plunge with a mid-range hybrid bike. It's wonderful. It still feels like I am getting exercise (you can put in as much effort as you want) but sooo much easier uphill and it will encourage me to leave the car at home for short trips. Very easy to get used to the extra power and it actually makes me feel safer on the roads knowing I'm not going to stop and fall get off in traffic.

Disclaimer: I am not in the pay of a well-known high street bike shop beginning with H. Other suppliers are available

I don't need one but the Babboe City bike is beautiful!

Totally agree about electric bikes being a gamechanger. I have an Orbea Vibe and it's fantastic. It has the added bonus that it's reasonably light so I can turn the power off and use it as a normal bike when i'm feeling fit!

Grest that so many of you are feeling the e bike love

Mine is a Carrera Crossfire hybrid from Halfords. I paid a bit extra to have it built and delivered so apart from a few tweaks, fitting mudguards and charging the battery it was ready to go. I live on a quiet dead-end lane so was able to practice a bit first to get the feel of it before venturing further afield. It's noticeably heavier than my old pushbike but the power available more than makes up for it.

I am 60 and have rheumatoid arthritis and angina. So even though I have a good fairly flat bike trail (ex railway line) nearby I found I was using my old bike less and less. Now I'm using the trail a lot more and also feel more confident on the roads - I'm in the SE although semi-rural and traffic is pretty heavy most of the time. I will only be using the bike for leisure and local shopping, appointments etc but leaving the car at home is now much more likely. I am a bit paranoid about it being nicked and always take the battery off when I chain it up.

I bought one two months ago, also from Halfords, and I adore it.

Some days I’m doing 20 miles and it’s a dream. I’m cycling about four times a week now.

I’ve got the cross city E folding bike, as I wanted one that could fit in my car boot rather than on my roof.

It’s a heavy bike, but it’s not in my car often.

Ok absolute novice cyclist here (as in, haven't cycled for about 15 years except very recently). I hired an electric full suspension MTB at a National park and it was amazing. But the seat caused my bum to ache for days. Is that because it was a men's seat? Can you get wider softer seats too? And if so can your bike be suitable for both a man and woman (we are the same height) as both me and DH plan to use this.

My fiance and I have volts. Bought them on the cycle to work scheme so you get tax relief if your work is part of this. We love ours. You Will need a tow bar bicycle rack if you want to take them away as they are very heavy.

@MistySkiesAfterRain there are loads of conversion kits out there already why do you think Swytch is going to better and any idea of the cost?

I bought a , MiRider , particularly to use when we are out in our campervan .. Its fab, folds up and so far I have got a 30mile range with hills in easily .. have used it a lot so far on cycle tracks and trails ..

[quote RandomMess]@MistySkiesAfterRain there are loads of conversion kits out there already why do you think Swytch is going to better and any idea of the cost?[/quote]
No idea- saw it on an advert. Have you got links to other conversion kits? Nothing much came up on google.

I think its £500 but that would mean a 6 month wait time. £1000 would be 1 month wait time. Company has them made to order from China.

My bike cost 1.2k new, but got I for 500 from a friend, converting it makes financial sense to me. The Swytch is detachable and they have customer support, it seemed to tick the boxes but I will do more research.

got it

Really encouraged to hear. I’m happy with my traditional bike for now (flat round here) but am looking forward to an upgrade at some point and really hope they take off

Here's a review of several of them

www.cyclingnews.com/features/best-electric-bike-conversion-kits-give-your-current-bike-a-power-boost/

@TiddleTaddleTat

Ok absolute novice cyclist here (as in, haven't cycled for about 15 years except very recently). I hired an electric full suspension MTB at a National park and it was amazing. But the seat caused my bum to ache for days. Is that because it was a men's seat? Can you get wider softer seats too? And if so can your bike be suitable for both a man and woman (we are the same height) as both me and DH plan to use this.

Speaking from experience, the more you ride the less your bum aches!

However some seats provided with bikes are fairly basic so it might be worth upgrading. I've swapped the one on my ebike to the one I've had for years on my manual bike.

There's no reason why you and your DH can't share a bike & saddle as my DS shares with me.

@WhatHaveIFound thanks that's really helpful

I flirted briefly with cycling in the first lockdown when the roads were almost deserted but really struggled to get the hang of gears. I’m in a rural, pretty hilly area, and wondered how the single-speed/no gears e-bikes perform on hills.

Has anybody put a switch kit on a Brompton?

I am very tempted, but then I remind myself that I don't use it much at home because of the enormous pot holes in the local roads.

How easy is it to secure bikes (like during a supermarket trip or a pub lunch) so some lowlife doesn't take the battery/do you take the battery off to play safe?

Hi my parents have just each got the switch kit - no going back to normal bikes now for them- they are amazing!

I live in Manchester and would love an e bike but I would be worried about it being stolen. Several of my friends have had their normal bikes stolen. My friend bought a new bike and chained it up outside shop. Someone came with bolt cutters and stole it by the time she got out. An other person got knocked off theirs and it was stolen.

I’ve had ebikes for a couple of years now. I converted my trek mountain bike (pre swytch) which is great. Rear wheel motor, 18 speed 5 levels of pedal assist and a throttle which wasn’t illegal at the time. Then I bought a cheap 20”folder for holidays and I use it all the time.

They make a huge difference when you have knee problems. I can cycle happily for miles on the flat but the slightest incline makes me suffer with my knee.

If I had my time again I wouldn’t have converted my mountain bike. The folder cost about the same as the conversion kit.

This may be a bit late but Halford doing 3 years interest free on electric bikes until 31.3.22

Dh bought his 2nd e-bike yesterday. 1st one was a few years ago, pre covid lockdown. Now technology has moved on and his new one is much better.

I've got one, so I could keep up with my very sceptical husband. When I bought it the man in the shop said, give it 2 months and he'll be in buying one.

It was actually 6 months but he's got one too. Uses if for 'proper' mountain biking - and then whacks it on turbo to do the boring bits between trails.

We live in a valley so to get anywhere is up hill, I love the bike. Step son borrows it all the time too.

I totally agree!
We got ours less than a month ago and I've cycled more in a month than in a year.
It takes all the apprehension out of it and I'm always in fat burning or cardio zones except when freewheeling down long hills.
Previously I wouldn't have attempted most of the rides we have done because of the hills. It means I can more or less keep up with my much keener husband.
We are using them in lieu of the car for smaller shops and errands so it will be great for our carbon footprint too.