Dear pedelec fans
So I was asked if I would be the ride doctor (I'm a GP) for the Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research London to Paris. This was a big new fundraising event for 2013. Between 70 and 80 miles a day for 4 days. I don't suppose I had ever cycled more than 15 miles in a day before and that would have been at pottering-along speed.
"You'll be fine" said the organiser (by brother-in-law). You can go with the "slow" group at 12mph, you're skinny and fit. Well skinny yes but not fit (and nearly 50) and I knew there was no way I could manage it given the 2 months (ish) notice.
So I dithered for a bit. I tried cycling 20 miles in a day on a mountain bike (knackered!) just to prove to myself I was correct about my fitness.
But then I had a cunning plan!
On a weekend in Alderney (Channel Islands) earlier this year we had hired some electric bikes. A first time for all of us and we had a fantastic day visiting all corners of the island, steaming up the hills with big grins on our faces. I had toyed with the idea of buying an e-bike since then. And here was the perfect excuse.
So I took to the internet and many hours later despite finding this site and learning a lot, I was overloaded with information and options, baffled and confused.
I had a day off work on a sunny Tuesday so I took a trip to Woosh Bikes in Southend, met Hatti and went for a spin along the seafront on some of her bikes. Before I knew what had happened I was on the train home with a Sirocco CD. My brother-in-law didn't know whether to laugh or cry when he saw it! He had previously organised lots of London to Paris rides for the British Legion and had never seen anything like it before. My Midwife's bike he rather rudely dubbed it. Despite this he got me drunk and I agreed to go, then got lost on the way home and had a puncture. Bad omens perhaps?
I did a 42 mile test ride and was so impressed with the bike and had such good fun, I knew we could make it to Paris together. Well. that's not quite true as I had no idea how far it would go on a fully charged battery (especially French electricity). The marketing information said range 60 - 70 miles, so not quite enough. Even Hatti had looked a bit worried when I told her of my plan for the Woosh.
I had started checking the weather forecast for wind direction in the week before day 1, which was to be Greenwich to Folkestone. North-easterly wind so not good. At the start there were nearly 200 road bikes which in total weighed about the same as my trusty steed. I wondered why people were looking at me in a funny way but I am used to that and after some words of encouragement from Alistair Cambell amongst others we were off through the South London rush hour (power off, saving battery!).
Anyway, to cut an already long story short the bike was a triumph in every way. After completing the almost 80 miles into the wind on day 1 I knew it could easily cope with the rest of the trip (wind generally blowing from Calais to Paris). The best thing on day 1 was that not far from Folkestone was a timed uphill section (bikes were all chipped). It was a pig of a hill (it even had a name, which I forget I'm afraid. Something Hill it was!) but the Bob/Woosh team threw battery caution to the wind, gave it the beans and were the 12th fastest up it, leading to some hilarity and some mild abuse. The general pattern was, overtaking people going up the hills, peddling smoothly, taking some friendly (I think) ribbing. Down the hills a different story. Blimey they go fast and once my motor stopped at 15.5 mph I was on (skinny) leg power only, as I tried to explain to the lycra gang as they flew past me gloating.
I had a terrific time and am so glad I did it. I wouldn't have been possible without the Woosh so I am very grateful to Hatti (she is not paying me I promise!) and the Woosh team. The bike attracted lots of attention and interest and I have been spreading the word about how fabulous electric bikes are and demonstrating how they make hills disappear.
I was going to post on here before I set off, asking for tips but I thought people would probably say it was a ridiculous thing to attempt and try to dissuade me. So I decided for the head in the sand/what could possibly go wrong approach. So, phew!
I hope this may have been of interested to some of you e-bike fans.
Have I passed my initiation?
Regards
Bob
endurance e-bike rider
So I was asked if I would be the ride doctor (I'm a GP) for the Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research London to Paris. This was a big new fundraising event for 2013. Between 70 and 80 miles a day for 4 days. I don't suppose I had ever cycled more than 15 miles in a day before and that would have been at pottering-along speed.
"You'll be fine" said the organiser (by brother-in-law). You can go with the "slow" group at 12mph, you're skinny and fit. Well skinny yes but not fit (and nearly 50) and I knew there was no way I could manage it given the 2 months (ish) notice.
So I dithered for a bit. I tried cycling 20 miles in a day on a mountain bike (knackered!) just to prove to myself I was correct about my fitness.
But then I had a cunning plan!
On a weekend in Alderney (Channel Islands) earlier this year we had hired some electric bikes. A first time for all of us and we had a fantastic day visiting all corners of the island, steaming up the hills with big grins on our faces. I had toyed with the idea of buying an e-bike since then. And here was the perfect excuse.
So I took to the internet and many hours later despite finding this site and learning a lot, I was overloaded with information and options, baffled and confused.
I had a day off work on a sunny Tuesday so I took a trip to Woosh Bikes in Southend, met Hatti and went for a spin along the seafront on some of her bikes. Before I knew what had happened I was on the train home with a Sirocco CD. My brother-in-law didn't know whether to laugh or cry when he saw it! He had previously organised lots of London to Paris rides for the British Legion and had never seen anything like it before. My Midwife's bike he rather rudely dubbed it. Despite this he got me drunk and I agreed to go, then got lost on the way home and had a puncture. Bad omens perhaps?
I did a 42 mile test ride and was so impressed with the bike and had such good fun, I knew we could make it to Paris together. Well. that's not quite true as I had no idea how far it would go on a fully charged battery (especially French electricity). The marketing information said range 60 - 70 miles, so not quite enough. Even Hatti had looked a bit worried when I told her of my plan for the Woosh.
I had started checking the weather forecast for wind direction in the week before day 1, which was to be Greenwich to Folkestone. North-easterly wind so not good. At the start there were nearly 200 road bikes which in total weighed about the same as my trusty steed. I wondered why people were looking at me in a funny way but I am used to that and after some words of encouragement from Alistair Cambell amongst others we were off through the South London rush hour (power off, saving battery!).
Anyway, to cut an already long story short the bike was a triumph in every way. After completing the almost 80 miles into the wind on day 1 I knew it could easily cope with the rest of the trip (wind generally blowing from Calais to Paris). The best thing on day 1 was that not far from Folkestone was a timed uphill section (bikes were all chipped). It was a pig of a hill (it even had a name, which I forget I'm afraid. Something Hill it was!) but the Bob/Woosh team threw battery caution to the wind, gave it the beans and were the 12th fastest up it, leading to some hilarity and some mild abuse. The general pattern was, overtaking people going up the hills, peddling smoothly, taking some friendly (I think) ribbing. Down the hills a different story. Blimey they go fast and once my motor stopped at 15.5 mph I was on (skinny) leg power only, as I tried to explain to the lycra gang as they flew past me gloating.
I had a terrific time and am so glad I did it. I wouldn't have been possible without the Woosh so I am very grateful to Hatti (she is not paying me I promise!) and the Woosh team. The bike attracted lots of attention and interest and I have been spreading the word about how fabulous electric bikes are and demonstrating how they make hills disappear.
I was going to post on here before I set off, asking for tips but I thought people would probably say it was a ridiculous thing to attempt and try to dissuade me. So I decided for the head in the sand/what could possibly go wrong approach. So, phew!
I hope this may have been of interested to some of you e-bike fans.
Have I passed my initiation?
Regards
Bob
endurance e-bike rider
