Electric bicycles - who buys them?

[Electronicpants]

Dog Star said:

Bang!

Cause and effect.

On Sunday when that old boy let me have a ride on his e-MTB I was grinning from ear to ear after a few seconds.

My old man is very into his ebike, had one for a few years now and had been banging on to me about them, he 71 and regularly rides ridiculous distances.

I had a go about a year ago and MY GOD, it had me laughing out loud, it was like my mums roast dinner had bestowed me superpowers, I tried to lift my car above my head and set a tree on fire with my eyes at the same time, but no, it was just the ebike.

I've not got one, but when I get a bit more spare time on my hands would defiantly buy one, those knocking it, give it a try, I'm not saying you'd buy one, you may even hate it, but you'll maybe understand why others would.

[Hoofy]

Electronicpants said:

My old man is very into his ebike, had one for a few years now and had been banging on to me about them, he 71 and regularly rides ridiculous distances.

Imagine how far he'd manage if he drove a car.

[Trophy Husband]

Did 22k of trails last night. All around home in Trefriw, Snowdonia. I would suggest that it equated to perhaps 10k in terms of effort but, as many have said, I got to some great places. I've even got the mrs into it. She is managing 9k per night from our place and around Crafnant lake which is one side track and one side road. The route down is great fun where 30mph is easily achievable.

[Tampon]

I have one. I have a cylocross bike I used to cycle to Paris for a challenge and do some fitness in the sunnier weather riding 54 miles to work round trip, couple of times a week. Took the motorbike the rest of the time.

I am no "cyclist", it is a means of transport and it helps keep me "less fat".

I moved to a town on the coast in Dorset and work locally, but it bloody hilly. Used my Cyclocross to get about but was sweaty as I arrived, MiL lives at the top of the biggest hill in the town. I got a 1 month old Carrera mountain E bike off eBay for £500. It is brilliant. I have got rid of my car now and and just use the e bike, we use our campervan as our main car for travelling anywhere of any distance or moving us all as a family.

Me/ Me and 1 kid + less than 10 miles = E bike

Anything more = Camper

It lives outside, some bits have pitted but nothing that couldn't be replaced (I won't be), Stick panniers on the back and go shopping, stick the kids seat on the back, school run. Take them off and backpack of fishing gear, I can ride up the hills to the cliffs, lock the bike up and go fishing.

I can get to work or to the nursery quicker than driving as I do a naughty up a one way section of a street (hop onto the pavement). I don;t worry about tourist traffic or parking in the summer, I never arrive sweaty anywhere, even up the biggest hills, go to work in a suit no probs. I had a stag do to go to at a campsite 3 miles up a farmers track, up hill pretty much all the way. Took the bike and didn't worry about drink driving. I can pop to the pub for a few and be back in 3 mins, don't have that worry of the 2nd pint and a breathalyser.

I can go 10 miles down the road to the next village and unless it is lashing it down I will take the bike.

As a means of transport, it is perfect for me. If I want to go somewhere, E bike, if I want exercise I get up early and go for a ride on my other bike. I get some exercise from the E bike, more than if I was in the car nipping about.

When this thing dies I would happily spend more money on another.

Wish I had found out about them eariler, I would have commuted the 54 miles a day to work from surrey to south London most of the year and saved a fortune in petrol.

Edited to add - It is bloody heavy when the motor is off or you have to lift it over something, I am 6ft 5in and 18stone so the battery range with me going up hills most of the time, normally with a 3 year old in tow as well is less than 20 miles. On the flat around 25miles (I have the cheaper smaller battery model).

Edited by Tampon on Wednesday 23 May 16:31

[lukefreeman]

To answer the original question in the original title of thread:


Lazy people and disabled people.

[Zoon]

lukefreeman said:

To answer the original question in the original title of thread:


Lazy people and disabled people.

Quite a generalisation, did you know all people called Luke are c*nts?

[Dog Star]

lukefreeman said:

To answer the original question in the original title of thread:


Lazy people and disabled people.

[Trophy Husband]

lukefreeman said:

To answer the original question in the original title of thread:


Lazy people and disabled people.

You is tit. My friend is lazy and disabled and he doesn't have one but then he is tetraplegic. I repeat, you is tit. If you have no contribution to make other than proving you is tit I suggest you get on your bike, tit.

[lukefreeman]

Zoon said:

lukefreeman said:

To answer the original question in the original title of thread:


Lazy people and disabled people.

Quite a generalisation, did you know all people called Luke are c*nts?

Ah, you see, I'm not denying it.

[stuckmojo]

Dog Star said:

Agreed

[paulrockliffe]

Tampon said:

I have one. I have a cylocross bike I used to cycle to Paris for a challenge and do some fitness in the sunnier weather riding 54 miles to work round trip, couple of times a week. Took the motorbike the rest of the time.

I am no "cyclist", it is a means of transport and it helps keep me "less fat".

I moved to a town on the coast in Dorset and work locally, but it bloody hilly. Used my Cyclocross to get about but was sweaty as I arrived, MiL lives at the top of the biggest hill in the town. I got a 1 month old Carrera mountain E bike off eBay for £500. It is brilliant. I have got rid of my car now and and just use the e bike, we use our campervan as our main car for travelling anywhere of any distance or moving us all as a family.

Me/ Me and 1 kid + less than 10 miles = E bike

Anything more = Camper

It lives outside, some bits have pitted but nothing that couldn't be replaced (I won't be), Stick panniers on the back and go shopping, stick the kids seat on the back, school run. Take them off and backpack of fishing gear, I can ride up the hills to the cliffs, lock the bike up and go fishing.

I can get to work or to the nursery quicker than driving as I do a naughty up a one way section of a street (hop onto the pavement). I don;t worry about tourist traffic or parking in the summer, I never arrive sweaty anywhere, even up the biggest hills, go to work in a suit no probs. I had a stag do to go to at a campsite 3 miles up a farmers track, up hill pretty much all the way. Took the bike and didn't worry about drink driving. I can pop to the pub for a few and be back in 3 mins, don't have that worry of the 2nd pint and a breathalyser.

I can go 10 miles down the road to the next village and unless it is lashing it down I will take the bike.

As a means of transport, it is perfect for me. If I want to go somewhere, E bike, if I want exercise I get up early and go for a ride on my other bike. I get some exercise from the E bike, more than if I was in the car nipping about.

When this thing dies I would happily spend more money on another.

Wish I had found out about them eariler, I would have commuted the 54 miles a day to work from surrey to south London most of the year and saved a fortune in petrol.

Edited to add - It is bloody heavy when the motor is off or you have to lift it over something, I am 6ft 5in and 18stone so the battery range with me going up hills most of the time, normally with a 3 year old in tow as well is less than 20 miles. On the flat around 25miles (I have the cheaper smaller battery model).

Edited by Tampon on Wednesday 23 May 16:31

If you get the urge to spend, you might find it worthwhile getting one of the unrestricted ones and getting it registered, taxed (£0) and insured. It would up your range and speed considerably, enough to open up loads more uses I imagine.

[lukefreeman]

Trophy Husband said:

You is tit. My friend is lazy and disabled and he doesn't have one but then he is tetraplegic. I repeat, you is tit. If you have no contribution to make other than proving you is tit I suggest you get on your bike, tit.

I've rode my leg powered bike 4000 miles this year cheers. Probably more than you. But I agree, I'm a tit.


So far, the people who I've seen on E bikes are lazy or disabled. It's a brilliant way to get around if you haven't got the leg power due to a disability, which I don't have any problems with!

I have problems with people who've got E bikes for no other reason than "CBA to pedal" . Get a moped or drive. Don't pretend to pedal.

I race with a chap with one leg (He's got a blade shoe thingy). Proves you don't even need an entire body to pedal successfully.

[lukefreeman]

stuckmojo said:

Dog Star said:

Agreed

Ahhhh you to lazy to pedal too champ?

[stuckmojo]

lukefreeman said:

I've rode my leg powered bike 4000 miles this year cheers. Probably more than you. But I agree, I'm a tit.


So far, the people who I've seen on E bikes are lazy or disabled. It's a brilliant way to get around if you haven't got the leg power due to a disability, which I don't have any problems with!

I have problems with people who've got E bikes for no other reason than "CBA to pedal" . Get a moped or drive. Don't pretend to pedal.

I race with a chap with one leg (He's got a blade shoe thingy). Proves you don't even need an entire body to pedal successfully.

Quoting for posterity. Your choice to look like a clown.

[stuckmojo]

lukefreeman said:

Ahhhh you to lazy to pedal too champ?

Actually, yes. I like not to spew my guts going uphill. I find no fun in that.

I can now go uphill and blast down hill when I'm not at the race track with my MX bike (which has no pedals).

[lukefreeman]

stuckmojo said:

lukefreeman said:

Ahhhh you to lazy to pedal too champ?

Actually, yes. I like not to spew my guts going uphill. I find no fun in that.

I can now go uphill and blast down hill when I'm not at the race track with my MX bike (which has no pedals).

Lazy, adjective.

Unwilling to work or use energy.


For gods sake this sub forum is called "Pedal powered". The irony!

Edited by lukefreeman on Thursday 24th May 14:03

[RizzoTheRat]

lukefreeman said:

I've rode my leg powered bike 4000 miles this year cheers.

So you're saying you're too lazy to run?

lukefreeman said:

I have problems with people who've got E bikes for no other reason than "CBA to pedal" . Get a moped or drive. Don't pretend to pedal.

Why do you believe it's better to use a petrol powered moped and get no exercise than an electric assisted bicycle and get some exercise? Not having a go, I'm genuinely interested in the rationale here.

[troc]

Don't feed the troll................

[Zoon]

lukefreeman said:

I've rode my leg powered bike 4000 miles this year cheers.

Part timer?

[Trophy Husband]

It isn't CBA to pedal either. Pedelec needs pedalling and I work really hard when I'm out. I just get to go further and see more of the beautiful N Wales countryside. The most amazing thing about e-bikes is that I can decide on a cadence and maintain it via the assist combined with the mechanical gears. This allows for steady cardio and BPM management. It makes cycling more like swimming or rowing if that makes sense? The road ahead is not deciding your effort, you are. Since getting my bike 3 months ago I have managed to increase my peak flow by 30% and drop my RHR by 15 BPM. If that is what laziness does for me then I'm all for it.

My ride destination last evening. Lower end of Crafnant.



Upper end of Crafnant. 6 minutes later.