Choices, Choices!!

I have been hovering around this site for a while now, read loads and learnt loads so first off, thanks to all the posters and site managers for such a great resource. Last week I visited an (un-named) electric bike retailer for a try ride and a chat and while I was impressed with the electric bike concept the person I met knew less about them than I did (and I know nothing!).

 

I've wanted to be into cycling for years, I'm a 31 year old man and in reasonable shape and I have (until recently) been a keen SCUBA diver but something about cycling (and running) kills me! I've tried a few different bikes, I think I just get bored and at the first sign of a way out, I give up and stick the bike as far into the back of the garage as I can muster. So I discovered the e-bike online and queue my next foray into trying to cycle, reasoning that an e-bike will take some of the strain and give me more reward for my effort possibly easing me gently into cycle commuting. I also reason that even if I take the tube on rainy days, I should save £400-£600 per year on train fares which is money saved (or at least diverted into the bike).

 

I want to ride from home to the station - 1.25 miles and then from London Paddington to Victoria which is 2.75 miles and then return via the same route at the end of the day. Constraints... the train company website says they wont take bikes unless they are folded and will only take folding bikes if they are 18" wheel or smaller, the cycle to work scheme won't let me have a bike over £1,000 and my preference is for both throttle and pedal assist.

 

Any suggestions on which bike I should be looking at?

Am I better to go for Boris Bikes in London and get over myself?!

 

Help appreciated.

the woosh Gallego seems to fit all your requirements:

http://wooshbikes.co.uk/?gallego

 

it semi-folds in a couple of seconds and folds very compactly, small enough to go under a desk.

lightweight and does not look electric.

Seconded the Gallego, for price and foldability.

It's £1900 ish for nearest equivalent Brompton

A third vote for the Gallego, it seems almost to have been designed for your specific need.

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Have any of you actually ridden it?

I haven't, but with the required journeys being only 1.25 and 2.75 miles, any riding compromises with the design are of relatively lower importance. At 12 mph say, the journey times will be insignificant.

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Yes, but in that case you need to know about the folding as well to recommend it.

Yes, but in that case you need to know about the folding as well to recommend it.

 

I studied the photos in the Woosh website before posting and noted this from there:

 

Easy to fold

Push the trolley wheels down, you can then move the bike around.

Lift the safety latch upward to unlock the lever.

Pull the silver lever out to unlock the frame. Fold the front wheel.

 

It didn't look too challenging to me, and easier than a GoCycle stripdown.

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Edited March 16, 201511 yr by flecc

I have, that's why I recommend it.

There is a small latch just behind the seat post, in front of the neoprene bung. Flick the latch forward to unlock the bung then lift the saddle. The rear of the bike folds down, you can then wheel the bike around on its two rear wheels like a wheeled luggage case. It only takes a couple of seconds to fold.

To unfold, lift the saddle up a little, kick the rear wheel out and push down the saddle. The bike unfolds, the latch kicks in locking the bike in its unfolded state. Again, it takes less than 5 seconds to unfold. You don't have to take out the seat post. If you want more details, download the user manual:

http://wooshbikes.co.uk/manuals/Gallego.pdf

It's hell a lot easier and quicker than folding and unfolding a Brompton.

Edited March 16, 201511 yr by trex

Retail....an electric bike is a waste and too heavy on such short journeys and Victoria to Paddington is all on the flat.....I watched a girl arrive for a nights work in a bar in Holland,she used a Brompton,the speed of fold was impressive,in a few seconds,it was light to handle,easy to stowe.

A case of horses for courses,the complication and weight of lugging an e-bike around is just not justified. The biggest effort will be carrying the bike around the stations,at times you will need to pick it up and carry it,you need a bike weighing less than 10 kg.

Raleigh bikes had a lovely light folder-non electric,it had a Brompton style fold,I saw one at the NEC show,I will try to find the name...it was a really nice little bike.

KudosDave

I have ridden both the Brompton and the Gallego.

One is hard work, the other isn't.

Ordinary e-folders don't have rack wheels but the Gallego does. On the rare occasions when you need to take your bike into the underground, you don't have to carry the bike, just hold the saddle and push it on its rack wheels.

Trex one is hard work.

Which one?

That's what I was working up to. I've ridden and folded the Gallego. I like Woosh bikes, but I have to say that this one was not quite what it promised. We discussed some changes, which would have made it better. Maybe they've implemented them now. I'm sure the bike would suit sone people, who need a compact folding bike, but I wouldn't want to use it like OP intends. I think a normal Brompton would be a lot less effort overall. I reckon that for both legs that OP wants to cycle, he would have arrived on the Brompton and be on the train before he's got the electric bike unfolded.

perhaps you should do a review of the Gallego, d8veh.

Personally I'd also prefer unpowered for those short distances, particularly as the longer of the two is so flat anyway.

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How about the Yikebike,that's electric,very small folded,11kgs,15 mph,you have to learn to ride it.

How about the Yikebike

 

Not legal in the UK though, no pedals.

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I have looked at so many of these folders at the Shanghai show,it seems every other stand has one but they are still mostly 17 KGs plus. The small bikes that weigh about 10-12 KGs are what they describe as magnetic drive,every one of these was underpowered.

I think that with clever design the fold should be able to be not much more than the wheel diameter and not much more than 2 rim widths wide. I have pointed out the VW concept folding electric bike which was designed to fit into the Golf spare wheel well.

The fold was absolutely brilliant,very clever design-there is a video of the fold and concept launch in China. It had many shortcomings,it wasn't a pedelec it had no pedals or chain drive but the fold was the best I have seen,maybe someone could link the video.

I think the manufacturing could be a plastic injection mould,with the battery in one wheel and the motor in the other,maybe shaft drive,with spiral bevel gearing. To do it properly would require big injection moulding tooling and resources way beyond what Kudos has available,it is also beyond my design abilities,but it would be an amazing product,just a shame that VW did not appear to produce it.

KudosDave

Wow, thanks for all the replies and thoughts. Yike bike looks like yikes priced! D8veh - what concerns did you raise on the Gallego? Would be interesting to get the view of someone who has some experience in e bikes and this product (anyone else tried it too?). Seems like a popular suggestion so looks like I've got a trip to Cambridge coming up to meet the woosh team.

 

I might also get myself up to Paddington to try the route on a Boris bike. Looks like a few options then:

 

1. Gallego.

2. Cycle my current bike to station. Boris bike other end.

3. Brompton/ other non electric folder.

4. Give up the idea and take the tube.

 

Thanks to the posters who told me to go non electric for using language softer than "pedal you lazy @@@@"!

When it comes to pedal you @@@@"!

If you go slow ie 6 to 10 mph it's realy easy.

It's only above 10 when wind resistance comes into play and effort is required.

So go slow and it's quite easy.

Infact you get legs that work more and more. So you get faster.

Retail, go see woosh in Southend, where they have the Gallego, not Cambridge. I don't know what problem d8veh found when he tried it. The only problem I found with the Gallego is speed. Maximum speed is around 13-14 miles while all the other bigger wheeled bikes are faster. I took the Gallego up Piers hill OK, only a little pedalling near the top. One particular feature of the controller on the Gallego is that its throttle is only active after you rotate the pedal for half of one revolution. Honestly, folding is not a problem, once Andy @ woosh shows you how it's done. Flick and kick, and the bike is folded. Only when you want to put the bike in its carrying bag that you have to remove the seat post.

The most comfortable bike I have ridden is the Birdy. Mine has 24 ratio's in the gears, capable of getting you anywhere. Not as good folding as the Brompton but certainly worth a look. Think about it, how much time riding, how much folding? Light enough to carry, electric bikes are not so easy to handle, depends how strong you are.

DahonJifo 2014, we have one, its not electric....yet, but it suits the bill perfectly, light (9.4kg), cheaper (RRP £300) then a Brompton and folds very quickly and very easy to carry. I'm all 105kg of muscle and 6.2ft and can ride easily this bike over 1-2miles.

Edited March 17, 201511 yr by LEBC Tom

You know what Retail I'll lend you the bike to do the journey on, you're in London and so am I, dont know until you try, right? The shop is closed on Tuesdays but call me on my mobile 07841 412 199 and we can arrange a hand over of the bike.

There you go Retail an offer you can't refuse !!!