Bikes for Big Blokes

[Falco]

Newbie here. I've been reading slack-jawed about people powering up hills at warp speed.
Being 16.5 stones and using a Powacycle Salisbury NiMH bike, even a fairly gentle gradient means I can hardly get it moving on throttle alone, let alone tackle 1 in 8s.
Don't get me wrong - I'm enjoying being out on a bike again after many, many years, and I even leave the battery switched off for half the journey to work, but I have to admit I'd like a bit more help on the hills.
What's the opinion of all you large chaps out there? What do you reckon is the best bike for taking heavyweights up hills?

 

[flecc]

No question Falco, the eZee Forza and Forte models for a fully equipped bike, and the eZee Quando, though that's a folder with only a single gear so has some limitations. The model 1 Quando is for larger people.

Even those need some help from the rider to get the best performance, but the Forza and Forte motors have peak powers of 2.5 times that of the Salisbury, and the Quando at just over 2 times.

The Powabykes, any model, are also good climbers and have peak power again at more than double the Salisbury, which is economical but one of the lowest powered electric bikes.

No other legal bikes are as powerful as those.
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[allotmenteer]

Hello there

I'm only 12 stone so maybe I not best qualified to answer but I can tell you the Currie Electrodrive kit is good at hill-climbing.

I have a 24V hub motor kit and also a recently purchased 24V Currie electrodrive kit. Both my kits use 24V 8Ah Nimh batteries. The Currie kit outperforms the hub motor by quite a margin. It pulls strongly away from standstill and maintains a good speed up hills that would cause the hub motor kit to stall.

On the other hand the Currie kit is quite noisy in comparison (though you wouldn't notice in traffic) and being more powerful than my hub motor the range is a bit less, 10-12 miles on my commute whereas I can get 12-15+ with the hub motor kit. This may be because the Currie being so much more powerful on the hills means I'm less inclined to put as much pedalling effort in.

I'm planning on selling the Currie kit soon as I'm going to need to raise some funds to buy a 36V Nimh battery for my hub motor kit. If you are interested then PM me.

 

[Falco]

Thanks for that, guys.
I kind of suspected the eZees were the ones to have, but I baulked at the price.
Maybe I'll get a year or two out of this one, get fitter, then get an eZee. But not the Quando - single gear would drive me mad!
Again, thanks for setting my sights for me.

 

[Falco]

Sorry - should have said thanks for info on, and offer of, Currie kit, but it all sounds a bit complex for someone of my simple tastes, not to mention simple mind!

 

[gkilner]

Good bike for fat lads - Powabyke Commuter 24

Hi,

I'm 6' 2" and currently weight 20st!! Hopefully this will come down now I've swapped my car for a bike.

I did a lot of research, almost bought a used Ezee Quando but I'm not sure if a folder is a good idea for someone my weight, I also think the lack of any gears would have have made some of the steeper hills difficult.

I've had my Powabyke Commuter 24 now for just over a week(Bought used 1 yr old), my ride to work is 6.5 miles and must be 80% up hill, with some quite steep climbs.

I always pedal and try keep the speed above 10mph. The bike has surpassed all expectations so far, I pass many much lighter and fitter riders every day(Up hill).

I can highly recommend it for the heavier chap!

Thanks,

Gavin.

 

[Falco]

Hi Gavin.
I'm beginning to think I dived in and bought the wrong bike!
Oh well, this one will certainly get me fitter!

 

[Jeff Mowatt]

IZIP and heavy rider

A heavy bike and me at around to 16st making about 140kg in total. Hills are hard work but a lot easier than hauling myself. Yes, I'd like a better bike like the Forza but at a quarter of the price and taking my need for a little exercise into account, it will do for the time being.

 

[Fat Girl]

Bikes for heavies

Hi Gi's
I weigh in at 15stone and I'm short - 5'1". I'm looking to buy an electric for the first time.

I have just been recommended an Izip and a quando 11. I don't like the idea of one gear. I'd love an option for more gears. My route to work is Very steep cotswold roads, only 7 miles each way.
I've been a regular cyclist for many years but my weight and these hills don't go together.
I have some money to spend but can't afford a giant. I wonder what your views are re: used purchase?

any comments/suggestions/advise as to which bike to buy are welcome
thanks
Mil

 

[frank9755]

Mil,

You should think about a Powabyke. They may not be the most elegant or refined machines around but they are very solid, powerful, reasonably priced and certainly can climb hills. Don't buy one without trying though as the battery position (effectively where the crossbar would be) means the frame is quite long - not to everyone's liking. Thankfully they do have a lot of dealers so trials are easier than most.

If I were you, I'd see if you could try any bike you are interested in on the actual hills that you need to go up. If you are commuting, you can't change your route and there is no better way to find out if it will do the job!

Frank

 

[flecc]

I've put an answer on your thread Mil, but I agree with Frank for a budget purchase, the Powabyke is very good on hills for weight carrying, and is a strong bike.
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[Fat Girl]

What is going to get me up my 180metre hill?

Hi Frank
thanks for your suggestion. I've asked Frasers of Gloucester if they will let me do that. They are recommending a powabike euro with 6 gears at around £700. the hill i have to negotiate is at Nailsworth about 180 metres to the top over 1/2 mile. Do you - or anyone - think this bike can manage that?
Mil

 

[gkilner]

Hi

180 meters over 1/2 mile sounds very steep to me. I think my powerbyke is good at hills but I think I would struggle with that one.

Part of my journey to work invloves climbing approx 90 meters over 1.4 miles, the bike does that quite easily keeping a steady 12mph with only minimal effort from me.

180M over a distance of 1/2 mile, can anyone calculate the gradient?

 

[flecc]

That is a tough call FatGirl, and you will have to put in a big contribution. Please try it out on your Frasers test ride before buying, as you could find it impossible.

That hill is 1 in 4.5 (22%), so one of the steepest around.

Only an F series e-bike or my Q bike would be comfortable with that, and the low geared 11.5 mph Heinzmann motor version would manage reasonably well. All much dearer or not available though.
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[flecc]

In addition to my posting above about this hill, I've now done some calculations.

To climb the hill at 7 mph, the Powabyke's maximum torque point, taking into account your weight that you gave me, you would need to contribute 352 watts for over four and a half minutes, which is outside the capability of anyone other than an extremely fit athlete.

A little more practical at 5 mph, you would have to contribute 250 watts, but for 6 minutes. That still calls for a fitness that NASA figures give for a very fit young adult.

You can see why I say that this may not be a practical proposition, and you should test ride that hill before buying.
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[Ian]

It's worth adding Mil that bikes with a throttle only option (ie no pedaling required) can be walked up very steep hills by walking and "pushing" the bike while holding the throttle slightly open. Although to some extent this is defeating the object it is sometimes the only way to cover a certain route on an e-bike and in actual fact can be easier than walking as you can lean on the bike as it "pulls" you up the hill. I'm not sure if the Powabyke is suited to this technique though as it may require some initial pedaling from a standing start.

 

[frank9755]

Good point Ian

The Powabyke motor doesn't operate until you reach c.2mph, so you can use this technique but it is not as simple as with other bikes. For example my wife's Powacycle, on which you can use the throttle from stationary.

If you were relying on that technique, an Ezee or Wipser would probably be better.

Frank

 

[fishingpaul]

powabyke tip

a little tip for powabyke and sakura s300 owners, if you open the throttle and pedal backwards the bike will pull away for you,

 

[Fat Girl]

Latest on Test rides

Hi Guys
I tested a euro chopper in painswick today. It got me up some steep (12%)short hills very easily, maybe 7mph with me pedalling.

I am going to test a powabike this week too.
My partners work has agreed to join the gov't bike scheme so i can purchase a bike through it. Well actually they purchase, we rent, then after 2 years we get an option to buy it. The scheme pays for upto £2500 fantastic!

 

[flecc]

That's good FatGirl, 12% is much more reasonable that that earlier hill that was nearly twice as steep that we were discussing. You'll find the Powabyke won't have any trouble on that 12% either, and will climb it at around the same speed.
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