Another electric bike question

[Northernboy]

I've not done so well during lockdown, and from happily doingthe Tourmalet a few years back, my fitness has dropped right off. I'm also working longer hours, and have two very young children, and it's all taken its toll.

I'm going to be communting a quite hilly thirteen miles to and from my London office soon, ad know that if I try to cycle it as I am now, it'll just not happen. Biking some of the way and getting the train is also not a great option, so I quite fancy getting a good electric bike to go in and out on.

Can anyone offer any advice on which way to go with them? I'm happy to spend a good amount, and would like something that's not Heath-Robinson and that is a genuinely good bike that happens to have electric assist, not a posh electric motor with apps and a cool name attached to something rubbish.

[Northernboy]

RedWhiteMonkey said:

There is a huge amount of options, but I suggest the two starting points are:
1. What is your budget?
2. What style of bike do you want or really need?

I'm happy to go up to around £3k if needed, and although 'm most comfortable on a road bike I do think that crossing london a bit more upright is going to be helpful to stay safest, so maybe a hybrid design / gravel bike with disc brakes.

[Northernboy]

jodypress said:

I've just fitted this mid drive 750w motor to my brother in law's Hybrid (A Carrera Crossfire 2 with hydraulic dics): https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07ZCTXDKK/ref...

I bought a couple more tools for him so it was easy to fit. All in was about £750. Took a month for the battery to arrive but the rest of the kit was much quicker. It was pretty straight forward to fit (lots of youtube videos out there, ut I have a bit of experience having built two road bikes from bare frames a long time ago)
So how is it to ride (I personally have a Gtech sport E-bike to fit my toddler up front on a seat and loads of ste in the two panniers on the back and the pedal assist is great). Well with a 750w motor and twist grip throttle, it's epic. The pedal assist is totally adjustable from 0-9. My bil uses it to travel all over london with loads of tools onboard as he's a handyman for a maintenance company. Has great range and good battery life.
So with a new bike at say £3-400 you're looking at just over a £1k for a pretty good e-bike.
I've seen the 1000w motor fitted to a road bike and it's mental. Here's a link to his 1500 w monster: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjefSotenIU

Thanks, that's maybe a good idea. I've no qualms about the legality side, but is 750W necessary for an easy commute?

I know most bikes are limited to 250, and i'd expected that I'd want to find one that was able to be "unlocked" to take it up to 400-500 watts.

More is always good, but I'd rather not spend a large multiple of the price of a slightly less powerful motor if it;s not needed. I've the "good" Boardmant carbon hybrid hanging in the garage that I could fir it to.

[Northernboy]

PushedDover said:

surely something like an Orbea Hybrid?

https://www.e-bikeshop.co.uk/Electric-Bikes-UK-Dea...

Might not set your heart alight - but I bet it does what is says on the tin.

Or the cool Van Moof - https://www.vanmoof.com/en-GB/s3?color=light ?

And there was an alternate : https://electricbikereview.com/flx/baby-maker/ Babymaker

That Orbe alooks very nice.

I've just been browsing the Ribble electric hybrids too, which also look very good.

I think that I shoudl wait until their shops re-open and go in and give one try.

[Northernboy]

stargazer30 said:

The problem I see here is the "I'm most comfy on a road bike" statement.

eBike's are limited to 15mph and for a roadie that's a real pain as typically roadies are between 10 to 20 mph. Above the cut off its just a heavy bike. Orbea and the like have tried to mitigate this by making the bike as light as possible which ends up with a ebike with a small battery and limited range unless you're doing most the work. They are a bit pointless and expensive to boot.

You can of course buy a regular ebike with a decent 15ah battery but that will most likely be a mtb or hybrid with flat bars.

I think your best bet is get a regular gravel bike as it will have drop bars but a sturdy frame and wider tyres to support the extra weight. Then add a hub kit and de-restrict it. A 250w 36v road legal kit can be derestricted and will hit 20mph. If you want to go faster you are into 48v 500w kits but they are illegal.

As lovely as the bafang mid drive kits are that have been mentioned, I'd stick with a hub. Mid drives do like to eat gears and chains and for your usage they don't add value, assuming you're not going on steep off road stuff where you need the extra torque and control of the mid drive. Hub kits are pretty much fit and forget and are ideal for commuters. They are forgiving and allow you to change gear anytime you like, a mid drive can snap a chain if you get it wrong.

It’s a good point, and I’d never want to use one for a long road ride, but for my commute, with a seemingly infinite number of junctions, roundabouts and traffic lights, I think that even the 15mph limit won’t be too much of an issue, it’s the constant starts and accelerating, and the hills that it’ll help on.

I’ll see if they can be “unlocked” or not.

[Northernboy]

okgo said:

If you've ridden up french cols before, do you really think you won't get in good shape fairly quickly by just getting on with it and doing it on your existing bike?

I don't know where you live but I've ridden out of London in every direction and the worst of it is surely less than 5 minutes long (Crystal Palace/shooters hill/whatever the hill to Highgate are the only notable things I can think of) and if you live up a hill you'll get the benefit one way anyway?

If you really think otherwise then presumably you'll want to go for the value brands with that budget, Canyon a good call generally.

Edited by okgo on Thursday 4th March 17:43

I may well, but I know that I just won’t start at the moment. I’m not doing well through lockdown, and my motivation has just dropped close to zero.

I hope that a new toy, and an easy way to get up the hills will make the difference.

It mightn’t, but I have to try something, and this feels the most likely way to get me there.

[Northernboy]

Ungarsee said:

Having not ridden a bike in anger since I was 17 I bought my first Ebike last year at the age of 43 for the same reason as you. Not in peak physical fitness and a normal bike would have broken me. I’ve been commuting across London since June for 11 miles each way and it’s great. I can press on if I have the energy but can take it a bit easier if needed.

I opted for the GoCycle GX on the basis it folded and reviews were good. Bought for £1,800 with 250 miles on it but would have cost £3000 if bought new. The are just about to launch its replacement next week (G4) so you should be able to pick up a GX relatively cheaply. The other big bonus is ease of use. I’ve had 1 puncture in 2,000 miles and as the wheel is only attached on one side it’s really easy to change an inner tube without removing the wheel. You can set the app to say you’re in the US which means it will provide power up to 20mph. Technically not legal in UK though.

GoCycle themselves are great. Just had a bolt break (missed the recall notice) and they are replacing the frame free of charge. For a commuting bike it’s a really good bit of kit.

Thanks. Was that from a bike shop, or eBay?

[Northernboy]

dontlookdown said:

Ebikes look like great fun, but to me they seem to be a moped alternative rather than a bike alternative.

The way the Covid road closures are going round here, I am seriously considering a cargo ebike for shopping however.

How much exercise do you actually get on an ebike? Genuine question.

And re being a 'sweaty mess'. If you don't sweat it's not doing you any good;)

I live in Amsterdam at the moment, and that’s really not how people view using bikes here. They are for travelling on, and if an e-bike lets you travel further then that’s a good thing.

I don’t want my ride to work to be a training session, but getting a bit of exercise each way while arriving able to work would be good.

[Northernboy]

The Ribble that looks good has a three month lead time, so I’ll get something off eBay for now, and make sure I do actually use it. I can sell it on when the new one arrives.

[Northernboy]

MaxFromage said:

I changed tack on the Giant Fastroad as I'm moving more rural shortly.

So I'm picking up a Giant Road E+ 2 Pro 2020 model in the morning Great price too at £1K off now the 2021 model is out...



It's an absolute monster. I can really feel the difference with an extra 10nm and 18kg vs the Haibike at 24kg.

The 2020 model still uses the external speed sensor, so I can whack a Badass box on. I think the 2021 uses a sensor on the brakes, so you have to take the bike apart if you want it derestricted.

Where are they reduced like that? I may prefer not to fanny about waiting and eBaying if there’s a bargain to be had.

[Northernboy]

leyorkie said:

What size?
There are bikes around if yo know where to look.

Edited by leyorkie on Sunday 7th March 10:02

Large. I’d be happier buying a discounted new one or ex-display than getting one from eBay. A fair few of the prices on there seem a little optimistic.

[Northernboy]

nyt said:

Have you got somewhere safe to leave it? I'd worry about a £3k bike parked in London? I had my bike stolen while secured with a high end lock. Thieves with battery grinders seem impossible to guard against.
If you haven't then a folding ebike might be the only option.

When your in london, I'd visit: https://www.fullycharged.com/ and https://www.vanmoof.com/en-GB/stores/london. I think that both do test rides.

Yes, fortunately. It’ll be in my very secure garage at home, and in the office at the other end, so it should never need to live out in the street.

[Northernboy]

I picked up a new BMW Urban e-bike off eBay.

It was £1,750, which is a bit of a discount, and will do while I see if I’m going to actually make use of it

If I do I’ll order something better (and lighter) and sell this one on.

It’s 18kg, which isn’t too heavy for these things, but it feels like it weighs a ton.

[Northernboy]

gangzoom said:

Don't worry about the weight, you are getting 250watts+ extra power for the additional 10kg weight gain over a 8kg road bike - so 25watts/kg gain, far more than any training will get you .

Hope you get to use it, todays commute into work is why I love the eBike. Lovely weather, but actually quite a stiff headwind all the way into work, on a normal bike it would have been a pain, but the eBike means you can enjoy the ride and arrive at work not looking like a sweaty mess!

I’ve been out and about just getting used to it. The brakes are a bit spongy, so I’ll have a look at them, and I need to get some (larger) kit to make it comfortable. It feels like being a child again, using the bike for going out to have a play.

The wind went right through my top, and my hands were frozen, so I’ll want to dress a bit more sensibly and / or start the longer rides once it turns a bit milder.