Another new "aged" newbie

[carpiste]

Hi folks,

I`m a retired 57 year old who until 4 years ago was a fairly fit cyclist. Typically with age bits started to break and after several ops on the old legs I`m a few weeks away from being able to cycle once again.
The idea of electric assist cycling has come from a Belgian friend who has similar health issues to me. I live half the year in a relatively flat area of France and a flat area of the UK.. The plan is to get somewhere close to 25-30 k rides 3/4 times a week. Without electric assist that might be too ambitious hence my search for an alternative to me Scott sportster hybrid.
I have a rough budget of £1200-1500 and hope to find a hybrid pedal assist.
I`ve been reading up the various types of drive and even the possibility of a conversion kit but haven`t yet come to any conclusion. I`m thinking it may be best to start my search by having a few test rides as I have no idea what to expect from a motor.
The one big question I have, which may sound odd, is all the bikes I`ve seen so far appear to have huge chunky tyres! I can only assume this is down to the width of the hub drives?
I guess if I go for a mid drive bike I would possibly have to pay a little more but would be able to get something with "regular" sized wheels/tyres?
Anyway, I can tell you all I`m starting to get giddy with the idea of getting back on a bike, even my exercise bike is beginning to look good!

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Tyre size is just fashion. it's nothing to do with the type of motor. Have a look at the Oxygen S-cross City bike. A bit cheaper is the Kudos Stealth or Alimo, and there's some quite nice Woosh bikes too.

Every type of motor works. I doubt that you'll be disappointed with any of them. My general rule is to use a hub-motor for touring, general travelling and commuting, and a crank-drive for sporting riding and serious off-road stuff.

 

[JuicyBike]

Electric assist offsets the extra drag that more comfortable, fatter tyres induce.

 

[carpiste]

Thanks guys, just love the look and spec of the kudos stealth....under budget too !
The reason why I mentioned chunky tyres is purely drag. The idea of pedalling with no assist on fat tyres when a battery dies is kind of scary
Also, the shallow side of me couldn't cope with the looks
Thanks again, that`s given me a great start

 

[Nealh]

As mentioned not a retro look like the two Kudos bikes is the Woosh Karoo with mech disc brakes and a choice of two batteries, though no effort to upgrade the front brake if needed.

 

[carpiste]

that's food for thought.another really neat looking bike with good spec. cheers

 

[Danidl]

Hi folks,

I`m a retired 57 year old who until 4 years ago was a fairly fit cyclist. Typically with age bits started to break and after several ops on the old legs I`m a few weeks away from being able to cycle once again.
The idea of electric assist cycling has come from a Belgian friend who has similar health issues to me. I live half the year in a relatively flat area of France and a flat area of the UK.. The plan is to get somewhere close to 25-30 k rides 3/4 times a week. Without electric assist that might be too ambitious hence my search for an alternative to me Scott sportster hybrid.
I have a rough budget of £1200-1500 and hope to find a hybrid pedal assist.
I`ve been reading up the various types of drive and even the possibility of a conversion kit but haven`t yet come to any conclusion. I`m thinking it may be best to start my search by having a few test rides as I have no idea what to expect from a motor.
The one big question I have, which may sound odd, is all the bikes I`ve seen so far appear to have huge chunky tyres! I can only assume this is down to the width of the hub drives?
I guess if I go for a mid drive bike I would possibly have to pay a little more but would be able to get something with "regular" sized wheels/tyres?
Anyway, I can tell you all I`m starting to get giddy with the idea of getting back on a bike, even my exercise bike is beginning to look good!

The chunky tyres on UK bikes is part of the ethos of mountain biking. In other countries the attitude is smoother tyres for urban use and knobby ones for off road. .. the standard tyres , as on bikes decades ago are fine and more comfortable in any event..

 

[carpiste]

I did have an mtb before I bought my scott sportster,the tyres,i soon found out, were terrible for roads and especially hills!
The bikes above have 700/28 so are much closer to the sportster and will, hopefully, be much better if the battery/motor was to fail.

 

[Danidl]

I did have an mtb before I bought my scott sportster,the tyres,i soon found out, were terrible for roads and especially hills!
The bikes above have 700/28 so are much closer to the sportster and will, hopefully, be much better if the battery/motor was to fail.

I find it difficult to differ from dv8 by who has much more experience, but for the kind of activity you have in mind, ... Not much different than what I do, I am suggesting a central crank drive. More expensive certainly, but a better experience. I am also suggesting one of the Dutch style types, where one sits up rather than hunched over. You see more, induces a relaxed style and I believe gives increased road awareness.. They are available at the upper end of your price bracket, and highly suited for on road use . Using standard tyres they are excellent for roads and maybe gravel paths, canal paths that type of surface.. not good for off roading or rock jumping...

 

[carpiste]

lol... I`m well past rock jumping!
I take your point of view regards the dutch style but I`ve been very comfortable with my hybrid.I definitely get the crank drive appears to be most efficient system but as I only need assistance,mostly on hills, I`m almost certain the hub drive will be more than adequate.
I`m amazed that since I opened this thread I`ve learnt more,with all your guidance,than I ever did looking through forums on my own.
Vive la forum!

 

[soundwave]

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/cube-reaction-hybrid-hpa-pro-500-e-bike-2017/rp-prod157984

 

[Trevormonty]

Crank drive hybrid with thinner road tyres will allow to pedal well over 15mph cutoff on flat. With dutch style and fat tyres your will be struggling to go much over 15mph.

The hardtail eMTB are good compromise, with road tyres not a lot slower than hybrid. While still having option to explore offroad eg forestry roads, bridlepaths.

 

[Danidl]

Crank drive hybrid with thinner road tyres will allow to pedal well over 15mph cutoff on flat. With dutch style and fat tyres your will be struggling to go much over 15mph.

The hardtail eMTB are good compromise, with road tyres not a lot slower than hybrid. While still having option to explore offroad eg forestry roads, bridlepaths.

Read the OPs original post, ... Speed is not a prerequisite. Using the Bosch central drive on a Dutch style bike and with thin tyres, but wearing a very large open and flapping anorak, for added aerodynamics, achieving 15 mph is easily achievable for maybe two hours .... I can confirm. And I have 10 years up on the OP