Want to chat about electric bikes - come join me?

[katymac]

On the big thread about no more cars & the big thread about MAMIL there are lots of negatives and chat

But here there will be lovely discussions about how wonderful electric bikes are and how we can get the best out of them....I hope

I've had mine since March & I love it dearly

My small wheeled folding one doesn't really look electric as the battery is inside the frame but I tend to fold it and lock it whilst folded

The electric conversion MTB is rarely left alone

I've had my Giant electric bike for a couple of months now and it has transformed my life.

I have severe arthritis on my kneecap (no cartilage at all) and my knee started really hurting when I went up hills of cycled for more than 30 minutes or so. It takes nearly an hour to cycle to work with a bastard of a long, slow hill on the way home so I'd been having to commute by tube.

But with my electric bike I can turn the power assist up to max on the hills or when I get tired and I've had no knee pain at all. I am definitely getting exercise as mine gives more assistance the harder I pedal (and I've lost nearly half a stone). The battery is integrated into the frame so it doesn't scream electric bike - it was one of the more expensive models but I'm offsetting the cost against what I would have paid to commute anyway

It has helped my joints massively too - I am really missing riding on mine atm - I should be back on it tomorrow!

I have a raleigh captus sadly I had a bad fall (not cycling) and banjaxed my leg 2 days after I got it so barely ridden it.

It seems great though I can't wait to recover and get out properly

I have a d lock and also there is a frame lock on the bike

I was off to a job interview today & it pured down

So I drove :(

I need to sort of wetweather gear & most importantly SHOES!

I am about to buy one....
I was advised to get Woosh Petite. I think I am going to try it this weekend at their shop. I used to cycle a lot pre-kids and then couldn't get back to my fitness level + going to work was up the hill for 6 miles and I gave up.

My commute door to rood is around one hour. I think I will probably start with once/twice a week and as I build my stamina I'll see how it will go.

Ideally I would leave my bike in a secure storage somewhere half way through to work but I am not sure if there are lockable places under a roof like that. We have excellent storage provision at work so I may do one way trips to start with as an alternative. I am an experienced driver too. I think I just need to find a way to mount my phone for waze/google life maps reading.

The petite was too small for me (I am 5ft 5 - but I have long legs) - I got the crusa but tbh it is too heavy for me - so I am thinking about changing

The shop & the people are lovely

I got something similar to this from Go Outdoors (think it was about £20?)

Maybe see if you can park it at a big college or school they seem to have great cycle stores & may 'rent' you one?

There is an underground store in a local multistorey car park near here

I am 5'2'' so I guess Petite would be just right for me.
I was going to do it this weekend but had to go to a funeral today and that is my Saturday gone.

A

Only had mine a very short while and barely ridden due to banjaxed knee but love it! Only been on short journeys with it but it's fab.

I have taken out specific insurance for it now although I have the gold level lock it's worth it for the peace of mind.

Planning a cycle to work sometime problems are (a) I live in Glasgow so it rains constantly and (b) work role is client facing so have to turn up looking vaguely presentable! There is aholiday here end of September but my office is open so as long as there isn't torrential rain I will be cycling in that day.

I sold my old bike today with a pang of sadness as I love it but I am not capable of doing it justice. Love the electric bike and feel sure I have done the right thing but it's been a big investment.

Also I am plus sized but got cycling clothes from fat lad at the back and they're great! So comfortable.

Antimatter would you plan to walk/run the rest of the way to work?

My commute is 10 miles each way. Would have been able to do it on my previous bike but would probably have taken me 2 hours! Lol

I am too unfit to run and cycle on the same day
I think I would cycle all the way to work, have shower and change (can keep clothes at work in the locker and we get fresh towels too) . Leave bike at work and then next day or the day after come back home cycling after work.
Walking home part of the way would be boring, I'd rather cycle slowly.

Luckily I am not client facing and can wear sporty clothes every day, our boss cycles to the station (5 miles each way I think) and he wears sporty/cycling tops to the office so that helps.

Also to work is mainly down the hill.

Did anyone else see this article in the Guardian testing e-bikes?

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/aug/27/why-im-proud-to-ride-an-e-bike-philippa-perry

That's interesting

I have to be honest, I want a lighter electric bike - I wonder if I could look at dutch ebikes & see if they are more suitable

The pedelecs website says I can't have a lighter step through one & I can't get my leg over a mans bike!