Electric bicycles - who buys them?

[Howaboutthis]

Hi guys, my Univega Renegade with Impulse RS motor is acting up. When I switch on, the display says "Wait for Drive" and no power is supplied. The previous ride I thought it felt funny, kind of intermittent. Luckily it got me home ok that time. There are no nasty mechanical noises like the earlier versions of that motor. Any suggestions?

[gangzoom]

GSE said:

I just made it into Brighton before the battery was out!

Given how much you use your am suprised you haven’t been tempted by the range extender for the Orbea?

A second battery has made me lazier .

[RizzoTheRat]

gangzoom said:

They look fine, and review seem good. However I personally have find it spend money on bike where the company uses PR material that has the saddle height LOWER than the handle bars and don't even bother to line up the pedals, even Halfords knows that just isn't acceptable....I mean us electric bike riders gets enough mocking from 'real' cyclists, to get a bike from a company that clearly doesn't take bike photography seriously is just a step too far .

That's how proper bikes should be You'd hate my (non electric) Gazelle, the bars are several inches higher than the seat

A colleague has a Van Moof and loves it, but i suspect we get better dealer backup here than you do in the UK which might help prevent issue like BigPants above. Personally I'm not a fan of thier look but love the technology, who doesn't want a bike unlocks via bluetooth and has a built in tracker if someone nicks it?

Edited by RizzoTheRat on Monday 16th May 09:16

[N0ddie]

I've ordered a Cube Reaction Hybrid Race 625 (In lunar grey obviously) with the intention of cycling to work (30 miles either way). The route I'll take is 3/4 canal tracks so reasonably flat. Worst case scenario I do average 15mph (eBikes top assisted speed) and it takes me 2 hours.

My only concern is indeed punctures. How full-proof is the tubless stuff? I'm buying the bike through the cycle to work scheme so a nice wee saving is being had. Just waiting on the voucher arriving in my inbox and I can collect the bike.

[GSE]

gangzoom said:

Given how much you use your am suprised you haven’t been tempted by the range extender for the Orbea?

A second battery has made me lazier .

My commute is ~15 miles each way, so on the standard battery I can do 3 trips on a charge. As you say e-bikes are game changers for commuting, I use mine full time now and average about 5000 miles pa. The range extender is interesting but I'm not sure I would need it that much based on my cycling profile, I have a road bike that I use for occasional longer trips at the weekend and for touring

[Driver101]

N0ddie said:

I've ordered a Cube Reaction Hybrid Race 625 (In lunar grey obviously) with the intention of cycling to work (30 miles either way). The route I'll take is 3/4 canal tracks so reasonably flat. Worst case scenario I do average 15mph (eBikes top assisted speed) and it takes me 2 hours.

My only concern is indeed punctures. How full-proof is the tubless stuff? I'm buying the bike through the cycle to work scheme so a nice wee saving is being had. Just waiting on the voucher arriving in my inbox and I can collect the bike.

The worst case scenario will be slower than the bike's limited top assisted speed. You will have to slow down and stop at various points.

[RedWhiteMonkey]

N0ddie said:

I've ordered a Cube Reaction Hybrid Race 625 (In lunar grey obviously) with the intention of cycling to work (30 miles either way). The route I'll take is 3/4 canal tracks so reasonably flat. Worst case scenario I do average 15mph (eBikes top assisted speed) and it takes me 2 hours.

My only concern is indeed punctures. How full-proof is the tubless stuff? I'm buying the bike through the cycle to work scheme so a nice wee saving is being had. Just waiting on the voucher arriving in my inbox and I can collect the bike.

Can't help on tubeless question. Never tried it myself, looks easy enough and I would be interested in the answer as well.

As far as I can see the Cube Reaction Hybrid Race 625 does not have pannier mounts. If you are looking at 3.5 to 4 hours a day on a bike you want panniers not a rucksack.

[JeffreyD]

Regarding the top speed on canal tracks

It's difficult to build up speed as they are very narrow so you have to slow right down when you meet someone, and for bridges etc.

[N0ddie]

JeffreyD said:

Regarding the top speed on canal tracks

It's difficult to build up speed as they are very narrow so you have to slow right down when you meet someone, and for bridges etc.

Shouldn't be many people at 5am in the morning Our canals tracks (But for a 640m horrible dark haunted tunnel) are nice and wide so speed should not be a problem. Even if it takes me 2.5 hours I'm doing it to up my fitness. Getting an E-Bike just gives that extra little help for the hard bits.

A work colleague had his E-Bike chipped which got me looking into getting it done. But what is the point? Surely I'd have been better just buying a motorbike?

Edited by N0ddie on Monday 16th May 10:12

[JeffreyD]

N0ddie said:

Shouldn't be many people at 5am in the morning Our canals tracks (But for a 640m horrible dark haunted tunnel) are nice and wide so speed should not be a problem. Even if it takes me 2.5 hours I'm doing it to up my fitness. Getting an E-Bike just gives that extra little help for the hard bits.

Good stuff
Most round here are single file with loads of low bridges.

As you get closer to Manchester they open up and you can press on.

[Zoon]

N0ddie said:

How full-proof is the tubless stuff?

Not sure, but it is quite foolproof

[Jobbo]

N0ddie said:

I've ordered a Cube Reaction Hybrid Race 625 (In lunar grey obviously) with the intention of cycling to work (30 miles either way). The route I'll take is 3/4 canal tracks so reasonably flat. Worst case scenario I do average 15mph (eBikes top assisted speed) and it takes me 2 hours.

My only concern is indeed punctures. How full-proof is the tubless stuff? I'm buying the bike through the cycle to work scheme so a nice wee saving is being had. Just waiting on the voucher arriving in my inbox and I can collect the bike.

Have you got somewhere to charge at work? I have a 625Wh battery in my Orbea and I'm sure it would do 60+ miles from a full charge but probably not if you did any serious climbs en route.

[N0ddie]

Jobbo said:

Have you got somewhere to charge at work? I have a 625Wh battery in my Orbea and I'm sure it would do 60+ miles from a full charge but probably not if you did any serious climbs en route.

I do yes.

[PushedDover]

N0ddie said:

A work colleague had his E-Bike chipped which got me looking into getting it done. But what is the point? Surely I'd have been better just buying a motorbike?

Edited by N0ddie on Monday 16th May 10:12

I wouldnt want to tinker with due to the warranty either...

[JeffreyD]

N0ddie said:

Shouldn't be many people at 5am in the morning Our canals tracks (But for a 640m horrible dark haunted tunnel) are nice and wide so speed should not be a problem. Even if it takes me 2.5 hours I'm doing it to up my fitness. Getting an E-Bike just gives that extra little help for the hard bits.

A work colleague had his E-Bike chipped which got me looking into getting it done. But what is the point? Surely I'd have been better just buying a motorbike?

Edited by N0ddie on Monday 16th May 10:12

I think mine goes up to 20mph assisted which is enough for me.

I just find it a great help on bigger hills where you can whizz up - you still have to put effort in. It makes a big difference going up a hill at 15mph rather than turning yourself inside out to keep it at 8 to 10.

[MOBB]

PushedDover said:

N0ddie said:

A work colleague had his E-Bike chipped which got me looking into getting it done. But what is the point? Surely I'd have been better just buying a motorbike?

Edited by N0ddie on Monday 16th May 10:12

I wouldnt want to tinker with due to the warranty either...

I've put a badass box on my Giant Road E+1 - it changes the 15.5mph limit to 31mph and is simple to fit and remove. Not sure on warranty issues but I'm not too fussed.

It does use considerably more battery, and the warranty is something to think about.

However for a road bike I think they are essential - 15.5mph isnt enough for the road imo.

Pre modding my bike my commute of 20 miles was done at an average speed of around 17mph.

Post modding its usually 23mph, pb is 25.2mph with a tail wind.

I still pedal like mad so I get a good workout, but I get there significantly quicker :-) pb is 46 minutes on this bike, it takes me 35 minutes by car

[Barchettaman]

N0ddie said:

A work colleague had his E-Bike chipped which got me looking into getting it done. But what is the point? Surely I'd have been better just buying a motorbike?

That’s exactly what an e bike is. A bike with a motor, just a heavily restricted electric motor.

Anyway, a mate of mine here commutes from Frankfurt to Darmstadt daily on a chipped Bosch e-hybrid.

He does the whole commute on ‘tour’, so he’s getting a moderate assistance and is still doing a reasonable amount of work, but that assistance continues beyond 25kmh and he generally sits (apparently) at 35-40kmh.

Sounds ideal really.

[Gruffy]

I'm on the reserve list for the Vanmoof V but whether I follow through will come down to how negotiable the speed restriction is. It's hard to find much benefit if it red lines at 25km/h.

[mike9009]

Gruffy said:

I'm on the reserve list for the Vanmoof V but whether I follow through will come down to how negotiable the speed restriction is. It's hard to find much benefit if it red lines at 25km/h.

I am maybe teaching you to suck eggs - but the top assisted speed is 15mph. You can go quicker if you put the effort in yourself.

My hilly 26 mile daily commute takes about 45 minutes each way. I max out downhill at about 33mph. And I average about 17 - 18mph. Some steep hills I will drop down to about 12mph as the 250W motor struggles with me either not concentrating or not putting enough effort in (both most the time).

The speed restriction is not a negotiation point. Over 15 mph assistance takes you into a different class of vehicle legally in the UK, which would need insurance, helmet, tax, etc, etc.

Plenty of people do chip their bikes, but I am quite happy trundling along at the speed I do whilst still getting a small workout. It feels 'right' to me......

[gangzoom]

mike9009 said:

I am maybe teaching you to suck eggs - but the top assisted speed is 15mph. You can go quicker if you put the effort in yourself.

Given the 'look' of the V, with massive tyres, chunky frame, you will need to Chris Hoy to get that thing over 15mph without the motor assistance.

With my pannier loaded, water bottle, D-lock etc my 'light weight' eBike comes in at near 25kg. It's very very noticeable how hard the bike is to keep up to speed without motor assistance even on the flat let alone any hill.

I drain the battery flat in mine nearly daily for a 15-20 mile commute, but I have a charger at work and a spare battery ready. The 15mph assistance cut off is fine for cycle path/canals but not if you are sharing the road with inpatient motorists.

Been able to get up a narrow hilly road at 20mph versus 15mph feels massively safer, as the cars stuck behind you can get past quicker once the narrow bit is over, and 20mph is within the realms of 'acceptable' in a 30mph zone where as 15mph is well and truly makes you a moving bollard to skirt past.

The V does look like an interesting bike, but it's design is getting far closer to moped than pedal bike. I suspect legislators will only budge on speed with more formal registration etc.