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Flecc, I'm not sure how the availability of cheap bikes 'restricts the sales of more expensive machines', but it's undoubtedly true that some cheap bike purveyors try to kid people that their products are as good as more expensive varieties. Hopefully I didn't get suckered into believing that...

Ouch! Cost is clearly a contentious issue, though I still think there is an economic case for the cheaper machine. I bought mine to commute on, and at current usage rates it will have paid for itself by year end. That is the only useful measure I have. I wasn't suggesting that expensive machines...

I hope my bike isn't 'destined for a premature end' Flecc! Maybe that's the difference between expensive and cheap bikes, the 'hope factor' (being in inverse proportion to the price!). However, compared to the initial outlay, most standard bicycle components can be replaced for a marginal...

Absolutely right Bob. As most electric bikes are made either in China or Taiwan anyway I've yet to be convinced where the extra thousand pounds or so for the more expensive machines actually goes, other than in the importer's pocket. If I bought a conventional bike for £300 and another for...

Hmm yes, the motor did seem to make rather a racket on the video! My thoughts were along these lines: an ideal electric commuter bike for me would be as light as possible, following the Colin Chapman philosophy of performance through low weight and simplicity, a sort of 'Lotus 7' of electric...

Not sure if this has been referred to on this forum before but I found this website interesting: http://www.slofly.com/ebike/ Clearly the installation is a little 'Heath Robinson' but the size of the motor is appealingly tiny compared to current hub motors, yet seems to have plenty of...

What we're talking about here are the 'marginal costs' of an electric bike, which is indeed low, still not convinced about 500 miles = 50p though. To get a true cost per mile figure for electric bikes however, a full life cycle analysis would have to be done. This would include energy figures...

Something random, along the lines of 'New Happy Dream Cycle' or 'Sun Electro Titan Bike' perhaps?

According to a BBC news report accessible via the pedelecs site: "A climate campaigner from Machynlleth is travelling 500 miles to Brussels on an electric bike to lobby a conference on carbon trading...Dr Howard said the trip was low-carbon and would cost only 50p". 50p! Does that sound...

regular (for unassisted bikes) & e-regular (for assisted)? Rather like the e-regular/irregular theme...

Also along the lines of 'you get what you pay for', it has come to my attention that Synergie have some new electric bikes including a folder, a tilting tricycle (!), an upgraded Mistral (with a throttle) and an eighteen speeder. Maybe worth a look if you're at the budget end of the market like...

Thought this info might be of some interest to you... If you go onto BIKE SHOP UK. Buy mountain bikes, road bicycles, cycle parts, bicycle store. Discount cycling bike shops London and enter SPARC into the search box, a whole load of relevant parts seem to be available, even some 5 speed...

I lived in Milton Keynes many years ago and that has a marvellous system of "redways" - basically pavements separated from the road, usually by a grass verge and/or shrubs which are well lit and wide enough for both pedestrians and cyclists to co-exist quite happily. Potential venue for an...

Is the 'Tour de Presteigne' the only ebike event in the country where people can see a variety of cycles in action and try them out? After venturing to the event it occurred to me how 'off-the-beaten-path' this might be for others. Without wishing to usurp the Presteigne event (hats off...

Excellent stuff as always Flecc, thoroughly enjoyed reading about your Q bike. Commuting to and fro on my ebike has made me aware of the compromises inherent in an 'off-the-shelf' machine. I was even beginning to wonder whether a converted regular bike into an e-regular might bring about a...

Absolutely right, Mr Flecc. I hope my comments weren't misconstrued as a criticism of the Torq (or any Ezee product for that matter), as I'm sure they're fine machines. Personally I think it behoves us as consumers, particularly in the nascent electric bike market, not to get too carried...

Have you considered the "Synergie Mistral"? At around £499 it's in the budget range but has a Li-ion battery. Pedelec only. I've been using one nearly every day for commuting and am about to pass the 500 mile mark. Overall quality is fine, but I've replaced the tyres (for puncture resistant...

Oops, sorry. The link is correct but forgot to mention that you then need to click on the 'New E-bikes' link at the top of the web page to see the bikes, or the 'Services' link to find out more about test rides.

Came across this link on the Synergie forum the other day: www.nrgbike.com Seems that there is a Synergie dealer down in Beckenham nowadays (the main company is based in Scotland) who is willing to let people have a test ride. Thought this might be of interest to prospective buyers. No...

Hi, this is the first week that I've been using the Mistral for commuting and can report that it really does take the pain out of the hills, I tackle gradients of around 10 per cent here in Birmingham, with some very much steeper (but shorter). I'm 5 foot 8 inches tall, weigh 65 kilos and the...