She wants a bike that works like her present one, but is lighter and better balanced. I think she has an old Woosh Crusa. Read post #1 to see what her problem is.
Disabled cyclist; with one bad choice behind her, needs help with a new bike
- Thread starter Katymac
- Start date
I'm going to put in another penneth worth.
For your needs I doubt if one will find a bike that fits the bill to be as light as one wishes it to be, one is likely going to have make a compromise on the weight issue.
For the mo Kat forget about the weight issue of the bike and think about first the attributes of the bike that will help you the best.
We have come to the conclusion that a TS set up is not the ideal option so we are looking for a hub cadence bike and I expect tbh one with a legal 15.5mph speed switch ( aka a thumb throttle). One such EAPC which is legal having gone thru the SVA is a Wisper step thru or any of their bikes ( Wisper will supply such a tested bike with the certificate ,a one off test).
With the Wisper cetified bike there is no Grey area itis classed as a LPM 250W ebike and has the same rights as any 250w EAPC so one can use it on cycle ways , bridle ways and the road without any other bureaurcracy.
Wipser have widespread dealers all around the country so look for one and arrange a test ride.
For your needs if one finds pedalling gets to much or one needs a breather then simpy us ethe legal speed switch, also it will be an advantage for starting off or for ascents.
For your needs I doubt if one will find a bike that fits the bill to be as light as one wishes it to be, one is likely going to have make a compromise on the weight issue.
For the mo Kat forget about the weight issue of the bike and think about first the attributes of the bike that will help you the best.
We have come to the conclusion that a TS set up is not the ideal option so we are looking for a hub cadence bike and I expect tbh one with a legal 15.5mph speed switch ( aka a thumb throttle). One such EAPC which is legal having gone thru the SVA is a Wisper step thru or any of their bikes ( Wisper will supply such a tested bike with the certificate ,a one off test).
With the Wisper cetified bike there is no Grey area itis classed as a LPM 250W ebike and has the same rights as any 250w EAPC so one can use it on cycle ways , bridle ways and the road without any other bureaurcracy.
Wipser have widespread dealers all around the country so look for one and arrange a test ride.
For your needs if one finds pedalling gets to much or one needs a breather then simpy us ethe legal speed switch, also it will be an advantage for starting off or for ascents.
The only advice you really need is to ride before you buy. Don't just read websites and guess, and don't dismiss torque sensored riding until you have tried a top end motor like a Bosch Performance CX or Shimano EP8.
Your previous bike was not typical of a torque sensored bike because it was designed for minimal assistance for an able rider, not extensive assistance for a rider that requires it.
Only you will know, and you will only know by trying one, ideally on your regular route.
Your previous bike was not typical of a torque sensored bike because it was designed for minimal assistance for an able rider, not extensive assistance for a rider that requires it.
Only you will know, and you will only know by trying one, ideally on your regular route.
And what happens Matt when Katy hasn't the energy to continue when out on a ride ?
TS mid drive don't have a speed switch.
This is why try before you buy is so important.
I may be wrong, but I think part of Katy's desire is that cycling has a therapeutic effect as well as being basic transport.
A Bosch Performance CX in maximum assist with a cassette suitable for the gradients encountered does not required much effort from the rider: the assistance is I think 400%, so the rider is not doing very much. The 15 mile journey easily fits within range of even a 500Wh battery, and chances are the 30 mile round trip would be fine too.
The therapeutic advantage is that although the rider is forced to do a little bit all the time, except downhill, it is small enough to be manageable even on a bad day, and there is the opportunity by changing mode to choose to work harder.
You and others may well be right, but only Katy will know, and she risks missing out on a very positive assistance with her recovery.
Pedibal also do one with a legal throttle and a DVSA test certificate. It's quite light at only 19kg. They also do a 14 day try before you buy scheme, so if you don't like it, you can send it back (£30 by their courier).
pedibal.com
Pedibal Navigata® Folding Electric Bike - Long Range Lightweight Compact
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Yeah I did that originally, and thought I was giving info that would be helpful at least, or even that the suggestions were moved away from the general East Asian gas pipe special imports which are particularly heavy, and with the Crusa being 24kg, which is the weight of my full susser.
So something alloy, and again as i said, weight reasonably low down, or at least balanced more than having everything at the back- the Brompton is weight on front wheel, battery weight at the back, or the Ribble, which is rear wheel weight, with the battery int he down tube
As opposed to the majority of the suggestions which were not far off the Crusa format-battery rack, rear wheel motor, which i've found seems to over balance the bike that is only made worse when you add a pannier or two of shopping to it.
Then the conversation turned to sensor type, which to my mind appeared to be more about academics or sensor type rather than what Katy actually asked for- that being the parameters of her needs
You must admit you lot can go off in technical directions and possibly lose sight of what was actually asked for.
On that note I fully admit to not really understanding the types. My two bikes are Bosch, with whatever that uses, but is an instant pick up, and the Bafang with its BB mounted sensor, both of which are ok on my now older and far less power/springiness legs.
So from my scant experience of two types of sensor, I would think you either would need to have zero muscles in the legs, and i mean zero, or that Katy isnt quite understanding as to how much or little as the case is of what power is required to turn a set of pedals- keeping in mind of course that previously she rode the 50lb Crusa
I know a rider with one leg who can ride fine, so to say they are having difficulty turning the pedals seem off to me and if you were in that bad a state a disability scooter would probably suit better
I mean the mate is old and has one friggin leg, and still rides with a Bosch gen 4, so I cannot compute anyone with two legs being less able than that.
I've also got acute tendonitis in both legs and vascular issues in the right, meaning less oxygenated blood circulating those muscles, which as you can imagine means i wont be doing the tour de France any time soon. I should also add i have asthma and copd
Yet despite those disabilities can still ride ok
A legal trottle is ideal. What could be easier than throttling along? Tired of pedalling? Throttle until you can pedal again. Bear in mind your child trailer will add a fair bit of extra weight. Easier to move with a throttle.
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Having the weight distribution low and balanced front/back is important for lively riding, but less important for pootling/shopping.
An extra consideration is if your arms are at all weak. A fit but weak armed friend found that having weight further back and a bit higher made the bike much easier to shift and to walk over pavement edges etc. She discovered this while we were standing on the pavement after after a successful test ride of a traditionally well-balanced bike and she had to shift the front of the bike quickly to get out of a passer-by's way. She ended with a Gazelle Orange with rack battery.
This probably doesn't apply to OP, Katymac, but worth a thought. The weight and balance of the Orange may well be similar to the Crusa she has already ruled out.
An extra consideration is if your arms are at all weak. A fit but weak armed friend found that having weight further back and a bit higher made the bike much easier to shift and to walk over pavement edges etc. She discovered this while we were standing on the pavement after after a successful test ride of a traditionally well-balanced bike and she had to shift the front of the bike quickly to get out of a passer-by's way. She ended with a Gazelle Orange with rack battery.
This probably doesn't apply to OP, Katymac, but worth a thought. The weight and balance of the Orange may well be similar to the Crusa she has already ruled out.
For towing a trailer, a bike with small wheels would be better because a hub-motor gets more torque with them and the motor runs faster and more efficiently. With big wheels, it would probably run too slowly which would overheat it. A bike with big wheels would need a crank-motor, but nearly all such bikes use torque sensors, which are mainly not suitable.
You can get strong hub-motors for big wheels that can tow OK, but they're going to be heavy.
When you put all your desired criteria together, it's something that can be easily achieved. You can have everything, but not both big wheels and towing capability under the constraint of easy to pedal. You have to either give up on the idea of towing or child seat, or give up the big wheels.
You can get strong hub-motors for big wheels that can tow OK, but they're going to be heavy.
When you put all your desired criteria together, it's something that can be easily achieved. You can have everything, but not both big wheels and towing capability under the constraint of easy to pedal. You have to either give up on the idea of towing or child seat, or give up the big wheels.
The gazelle orange with front hub motor is even heavier than the crusa if memory serves well.
The Orange she got has Bosch crank drive. I think it was around 25kg with battery and all fittings.
Anyway, not suggesting it for OP.
p.s. I did try to suggest the Santana3 to the friend, I forget why she decided against it; probably that she really wanted hub gears (Danish and brought up that way!)
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