Advice for wannabee eBiker!!

[kwackerman]

Hi Everyone

I would be very grateful for any advice from you all to aid me in making the correct choice of bike.

I work 4 nights per week ( 14 hour shifts) and currently commute from Newport Gwent to Severn Beach near Bristol (24 miles). I want to save on petrol and bridge toll costs so intend to park my car in Chepstow ( various locations to try and avoid its theft) and cycle the rest of the journey approx 6 to 8 miles depending on where I park.

I currently use my Specialised Crosstrail hybrid non electric bike but due to the long shifts I am finding it a strain. The route is fairly flat but both the severn bridge and the 4 mile long coast road I have to use is fairly windy and it always seems to me that I am cycling into the headwind

I am fairly fit but a bit heavy at 15 stones and 5ft 10in. It takes me about 40 mins to cycle each way at the moment but I am pretty tired afterwards and don't get a lot of sleep before getting up to take the kids to school in the morning!

I am thinking of dipping my toe in the water and purchasing either one of those Cyclamatic bikes on offer at £340 or a second hand eZee Quando off eBay. I would prefer a full size MTB bike but I find it hard enough lifting my 12 kilo crosstrail onto my roofrack at the end of the day so not sure if I could manage a 26 kilo monster! A folder would make more sense but they look a bit naff and never look as robust as a MTB.

Any help and advice you can give will be gratefully received.

Cheers

Andy

 

[flecc]

A second hand Quando weighs 25 kilos so no weight advantage, and its single speed so not so good for pedalling. However, it has the power to do all the work on the flat so good for taking it easy with no pedalling needed on the flat.

Make absolutely sure the battery is ok though, new ones are a least £400 each. These bikes are frequently sold once someone realises the replacement battery cost and gets rid of one quick when the battery is on it's last legs.
.

 

[brucehawsker]

Not trying to a hard sell...... but..... We do a very non naff (IMHO) folder which would meet your needs and I could get probably get you one with a reduction on our list price of £800. It has a 10Ah battery so would more than meet your needs. Picture attached. 19kg with 3.5kg battery in the other hand.

 

[brucehawsker]

and our battery replacements for this bike are under £300

 

[NRG]

...
I am thinking of dipping my toe in the water and purchasing either one of those Cyclamatic bikes on offer at £340 or a second hand eZee Quando off eBay.

Andy

You know what this is exactly what I would do, £340 for the Cyclamatic is the least risk option IMHO.... If it doesn't work out you've spent the least cash upfront and you can always move to something else if necessary.

 

[kwackerman]

Thanks for all the advice guys


Andy

 

[Jim Taverner]

Andy, I see you would prefer a MTB. If the main reason for buying is transport for work, I suggest you would be better off with a 'proper' bike such as the Cytronex which has less rolling resistance than most MTB's. I have always found it difficult to understand why folk use the wrong sort of bike for commuting unless of course they use the same bike for work and play.
Please excuse me being in 'Grumpy Old Man' mode.
Cheers,
Jim

 

[Mussels]

Andy, I see you would prefer a MTB. If the main reason for buying is transport for work, I suggest you would be better off with a 'proper' bike such as the Cytronex which has less rolling resistance than most MTB's. I have always found it difficult to understand why folk use the wrong sort of bike for commuting unless of course they use the same bike for work and play.
Please excuse me being in 'Grumpy Old Man' mode.
Cheers,
Jim

I have considered Cytronex for commuting and decided the bikes aren't ideal for commuting as they have no mudguards or luggage racks and seem to be rim brakes only. Maybe they are all fixable but the battery is too small for my needs so I didn't look any further into it.
I do agree though that they are good bikes and well worth considering.

 

[flecc]

I have considered Cytronex for commuting and decided the bikes aren't ideal for commuting as they have no mudguards or luggage racks and seem to be rim brakes only. Maybe they are all fixable but the battery is too small for my needs so I didn't look any further into it.
I do agree though that they are good bikes and well worth considering.

Their Cannondale is far too pretty to be put onto dirty public roads though.

Best kept on a plinth in the lounge for occasionally drooling over, with a hack e-bike outside for workaday use.
.

 

[Alex728]

I have considered Cytronex for commuting and decided the bikes aren't ideal for commuting as they have no mudguards or luggage racks and seem to be rim brakes only. Maybe they are all fixable but the battery is too small for my needs so I didn't look any further into it.
I do agree though that they are good bikes and well worth considering.

this is exactly why I didn't go for one, although I'm sure the earlier model was available with mudguards and racks. The real deal-breaker was the battery range, though had I still been living in Reading where I had a shorter commute I would probably have got one.

 

[Old Timer]

Have you read my review?

http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/electric-bike-reviews/5304-cyclamatic-folder.html

I agree with NRG. A full size E bike is not the answer if you intend to use the car for the bulk of the journey. For keeping fit rides and outings then the full size E bike is the way to go.

When I first got our Cyclamatic and rode it I wasn`t impressed. I set it up properly and invested in a 55Tooth chain ring and it transformed the bike completely. The original chainring is 46tooth BTW. Now if you are riding into the wind and are just looking for a bike to get you there with help then the standard chainring will probably be fine.

Now, today my wife and I went out for a local ride to blow away the cobwebs, she took her MTB E bike and I grabbed the Cyclamatic folder. We visited a local castle and when we came out i jumped on her MTB and made her ride home on the folder because she was never convinced. When we arrived home she had a big smile on her face and couldn`t stop talking about how much she had enjoyed the riding position and the relaxed manner with which it propelled her along and (eddio won`t believe this) she is trying to convince me to get another one so that we can put them both in our car and go further afield.(at present I have to unload the tools from my van to make room for our E bike MTB`s) apart from the fact that the van does 30mpg and the car does 55mpg it will broaden our horizons.

Now! is the cyclamatic the best folder on the market? I doubt it. Does everything work and is the fit and finish any good? you bet ya. Will it last as long as a folder twice the price(time will tell)
Do I know what I`m talking about(leaving myself open) well I`ve only been back on bikes for several months since riding time trials in my youth and having motorbikes and cars all my life and spent the last 50 years as an engineer so I`m pretty sure I have a reasonable judgement on value for money and the cyclamatic (although probably nothing like a top of the range folder) seems as if it would fit the bill perfectly for you.

As far as the embarrassment of riding a 20" wheeled bike goes( what embarrassment BTW) if that sort of thing bothers you then you maybe should be looking for a cheap motor scooter to do the whole journey with.

Read the review and E mail me if you want more info.

Dave

 

[eTim]

(at the risk of becoming a Cytronex bore)....

Some are dismissing the Cytronex as a commuter, my Synapse has mudguards and a rack capable of hauling up to 10Kg's, so plenty for commuting duties. Range is around 15-20miles with a very small amount of leg input (more with more physical input), for the OP 6-7 miles with minimal physical effort is easily achievable. I think the lower priced Cytronex's have lugs for racks etc.

And my SuperSix is currently covered in crud and never stands on a plinth, maybe I should be treating it better

But if an ebike is required JUST for a 6-7 mile work journey, then my advice would be to spend the least amount of money you can get away with. You can always spend more if ambitions grow.

 

[Mussels]

(at the risk of becoming a Cytronex bore)....

Some are dismissing the Cytronex as a commuter, my Synapse has mudguards and a rack capable of hauling up to 10Kg's, so plenty for commuting duties. Range is around 15-20miles with a very small amount of leg input (more with more physical input), for the OP 6-7 miles with minimal physical effort is easily achievable. I think the lower priced Cytronex's have lugs for racks etc.

And my SuperSix is currently covered in crud and never stands on a plinth, maybe I should be treating it better

But if an ebike is required JUST for a 6-7 mile work journey, then my advice would be to spend the least amount of money you can get away with. You can always spend more if ambitions grow.

I wasn't dismissing it and said it was worth considering, the range is still a bit low for me. I can't see any mounts for racks or mudguards in that picture, maybe Cytronex's marketing is a bit too focussed on image.

 

[tagray]

I have considered Cytronex for commuting and decided the bikes aren't ideal for commuting as they have no mudguards or luggage racks and seem to be rim brakes only. Maybe they are all fixable but the battery is too small for my needs so I didn't look any further into it.
I do agree though that they are good bikes and well worth considering.

The Cytronex make superb commuter cycles. I do a 16 mile round trip across Sheffield, up and down the hills on my commute, and the battery I bought with my original bike 3000 miles ago is still good for the whole journey. (I am not permitted to recharge at work!). I have full mudguards and rack on my Trek so carry a heavy lock, full waterproofs, my briefcase etc routinely.
The whole Cytronex set up encourages you to use what is a good road bike faster than you would normally travel, so it knocks about 30% off my travel times, largely, of course, because of the assistance on the hills. It isn't good at low speed lugging you about with little assistance as the motor will cut out if you aren't going fast enough to generate sufficient back emf. But I definitely recommend it as a fast commuter.

 

[Barnowl]

(at the risk of becoming a Cytronex bore)....

As if..

I wasn't dismissing it and said it was worth considering, the range is still a bit low for me. I can't see any mounts for racks or mudguards in that picture, maybe Cytronex's marketing is a bit too focussed on image.

I agree. The range is way too low for your regular commute. It would work as a backup for the Wisper but you'd have to recharge at work or get a second battery. Cytronex do fit racks and mudguards to their bikes if you request (Cytronex Powered Claud Butler Urban 500 & Genesis Day 1). I don't think that's possible with the Supersix - but really how could you..

Their Cannondale is far too pretty to be put onto dirty public roads though.

Best kept on a plinth in the lounge for occasionally drooling over, with a hack e-bike outside for workaday use.
.

LOL. And I would given half a chance.

Kwackerman, if you're lucky enough to see a decent Cytronex bargain on ebay it's worth considering. It would do the job. You can remove the 2.5Kg battery easily and the weight of the bike is going to be around 15Kg.