E-Bike Advice Please

[KFN]

Hi,

I'm new to the idea of e-bikes. I have a health problem that results in chronic fatigue so I lack stamina and get fatigued after physical exertion. I would like to go cycling with my partner and daughter so thought an electric bike might be the answer. I don't envisage very long bike rides but I do live in a hilly area. I'll start by doing gentle canal path rides and forest rides but I would like a bike that would help me get up hills. Can anyone suggest a good model or place to start?

Thanks
Karen

 

[JuicyBike]

The best place to start is at your nearest specialist with a variety to test ride.
You'll really enjoy the experience.

 

[Emo Rider]

Find an ebike shop, walk in, tell them what you want to use the ebike for, your state of health and then let them help you find the right bike for you. You will be able to test ride a number of likely bikes that will suit your needs and budet. After purchase you will have bike you picked out and a dealer that will look after your purchase servicing and warranty wise. It is as easy as that.

There are a great many different brands and styles. Making a choice can be daunting. Put yourself in the hands of a reputable dealer and the rest is easy. Good luck

 

[awol]

Can anyone suggest a good model or place to start?

KFN, I would recommend starting with contacting this forum sponsors in the ad's, not only will they have all the answers you need, they all also offer excellent help on here too, and as mentioned above a test ride on a few would be a good idea.

 

[Suseka]

All good advice -but, as a newbie myself, I do think Emo Rider has pretty much captured the best. Aside from trying various models to suit your needs and budget, having the aftercare service of a local dealer is, in my view, a must

 

[KFN]

I'm still on my search for an e-bike. I've spoken to a few dealers and visited a shop, sat on a few bikes but have yet to try a bike out. I plan to do this when I'm feeling a little better than I do at present. To help with my fatigue and low stamina, I've been advised to go with a Bosch performance or CX battery or similar to give maximum assistance. I think I would be using assist for the vast majority of the time. I've looked at some KTMs and Kalkhoffs but wonder whether I would be better going for a bike with a throttle? The bike needs to be comfortable too and the bikes I've sat on so far - mainly mountain bikes don't seem that comfortable. My budget is around £2k. I would be grateful of any advice.

Thanks!

 

[LeighPing]

In your case, for when you're feeling too drained to pedal, a throttle would be helpful.

 

[JuicyBike]

And I'd suggest trying a Cadence sensor, rather than torque (we have both).

 

[Deleted member 4366]

To help with my fatigue and low stamina, I've been advised to go with a Bosch performance or CX battery or similar to give maximum assistance.

Bad advice. Those motor systems are not suitable if you suffer from fatigue. You can still get bikes with throttle. throttle or not, a cadence sensor would be better than a torque sensor.

In case you don't know, a cadence sensor gives a fixed amount of power when you pedal. The amount of power is adjustable from a control panel. That means that you can get the maximum power without making much effort.

A torque sensor gives power proportional to how hard you pedal, so to get the most help, you have to make the most effort. With tired legs, that means that you won't get much help from the motor.

 

[KFN]

Thanks everyone. I'll have a look at juicy bikes. Does anyone know of any other brands that use a cadence sensor?

Karen

 

[JuicyBike]

Thanks everyone. I'll have a look at juicy bikes. Does anyone know of any other brands that use a cadence sensor?

Karen

Most brands that use Hub motors will also use cadence or "speed" sensors Karen. Most centre drive motor systems use torque.
Very few brands have torque sensors with hub motors.
It is best to try both to make your own decision but if rider energy is an issue then a cadence sensor is likely to be a significant benefit.

 

[trex]

Very few brands have torque sensors with hub motors.

woosh had one.

http://wooshbikes.co.uk/?sport-ts

However, it was not selling well. Woosh need to sell at least 100 a year to keep the model going, the Sport TS did not make the number. My personal view is TS bikes are not as practical as ordinary pedelec sensored bikes. The main benefit of TS is the zero start, you can kick in the power as soon as you move the bike. However, if you have a throttle, you also have zero start. The downside of TS is the need to keep a constant pedalling effort. It can be exhausting and unpleasant to some.

 

[Danidl]

Thanks everyone. I'll have a look at juicy bikes. Does anyone know of any other brands that use a cadence sensor?

Karen

As others have said most of the rear hub e bikes will have "cadence" sensors this is just a fancy way of saying that if the pedals rotate that power will be supplied to the hub. You can have the gear set at its lowest possible setting and full power will be supplied. Even if the chain were removed full power from the battery will go to the hub motor a throttle is therefore unnecessary. Another advantage is that rear hub bikes are generally cheaper than the mid motor bikes , which usually have the torque or force measuring sensors . but and it's a big but, the range is much shorter e.g 15 to 18 mile's typically on a fresh battery ,if there is limited additional Human efforts ,-- For hub mounted motors

There are other considerations when choosing an e bike. They are much heavier than conventional bikes. This is not a concern when you are up on them, but can matter if you need to bring them upstairs or store them in confined places.

Mountain bikes are special designs for a specific purpose and are much less comfortable than a touring bike. The suggestion that you get a Bosch performance or CX model was probably linked to comments you made about going on forest paths and the supplier assumed a mountain bike. . As was previously stated as these are torque controlled mid motor units you would need to be expending effort all the time. The old style upright bike with swept back handle bars is actually the most comfortable on the arms and wrist . These go by titles such a "Dutch" style

 

[D8ve]

Danili
The upright is more comfortable. The most comfortable by far is a recumbent. Trikes for the wobbly and my preference mid racer gives feet down easy with eye line on drivers.

 

[grldtnr]

Danili
The upright is more comfortable. The most comfortable by far is a recumbent. Trikes for the wobbly and my preference mid racer gives feet down easy with eye line on drivers.

Plus trikes can make climbs really easy, you can come to a standstill,stop, and then pull away again easily, if you have the right trike, recumbent are really good at that, just push the wheels round as you pedal and off you go, mucky mitts tho'.

Only problem with that ,is most will exceed a £2k budget. Plus learning to ride a trike,fairly easy if you've not ridden before,

 

[Danidl]

Danili
The upright is more comfortable. The most comfortable by far is a recumbent. Trikes for the wobbly and my preference mid racer gives feet down easy with eye line on drivers.

Thanks for the comment, I will comfortly bow to your superior knowledge of recumbent s as I have never used one. My comments were in the context that Karen was looking for a bike with which she could join up with her family. I am assuming that she would like to appear as ,"normal" as possible, and recumbent s trikes or cargo bikes while each is optimum for specific roles, are not quite mainstream. I am not trying to antagonise any one here who will be passionate supporters of specific geometries, but it must be acknowledged that the vast majority of bikes are of the upright variety.
By midline racer are you referring to what in the old days would have been called butterfly handlebars or sport handlebars not dropped or racing bars. ? I f so , there would be little difference between these and the swept back type, except for a little extra wrist and back support in the latter.

 

[grldtnr]

Thanks for the comment, I will comfortly bow to your superior knowledge of recumbent s as I have never used one. My comments were in the context that Karen was looking for a bike with which she could join up with her family. I am assuming that she would like to appear as ,"normal" as possible, and recumbent s trikes or cargo bikes while each is optimum for specific roles, are not quite mainstream. I am not trying to antagonise any one here who will be passionate supporters of specific geometries, but it must be acknowledged that the vast majority of bikes are of the upright variety.
By midline racer are you referring to what in the old days would have been called butterfly handlebars or sport handlebars not dropped or racing bars. ? I f so , there would be little difference between these and the swept back type, except for a little extra wrist and back support in the latter.

Really ought to Lt 8ve reply to that, but I believe he was referring to recumbent cycles.
None the less ,recumbent are extremely comfy and really quite safe,is the OP living in Bucks. 'coz I think there may be a dealer nearby...but I digress , it seems a 'ordainary' EPAC is being sought.

 

[D8ve]

It was a minor point. Recumbents are the most comfortable, and aerodynamically efficient too. They tend to be classed as low racer, small wheels rider very close to ground, mid racer, mine is full suspension with 20" wheel at front 26 at rear with the rider on eye level with drivers. ( hardly a racer) and high racer with 700c wheels and a long drop ...
Then you get faired or not. A fully faired bike can be ridiculously fast world record is just under 90 mph on measured mile there and back.

 

[KFN]

A big thank you to everyone for all the replies. I feel I'm getting a better idea of what is out there to consider. I'm looking for an upright bike. I've found a local dealer that sells Volt bikes as well as torque sensored ones so I can try both. The speed sensor plus throttle definitely sounds promising. I'm looking forward to trying them out.

Does anyone have any experience of Volt or Juicy bikes?

Thanks again

Karen

 

[Danidl]

It was a minor point. Recumbents are the most comfortable, and aerodynamically efficient too. They tend to be classed as low racer, small wheels rider very close to ground, mid racer, mine is full suspension with 20" wheel at front 26 at rear with the rider on eye level with drivers. ( hardly a racer) and high racer with 700c wheels and a long drop ...
Then you get faired or not. A fully faired bike can be ridiculously fast world record is just under 90 mph on measured mile there and back.

Thanks for the info. I t is a terminology I was unfamiliar with.