Getting fit again on a Cyclotricity Stealth

[Artstu]

I'm hoping to try a KTM this Saturday.

Me too ooh that message was too short, I hope Dave is letting people try the Macina Bold, it is only on display at today's event.

 

[Steve Hall]

Moving off my subject of getting fit on a budget to help my new found friend bite the bullet and get the bike he really wants. I also had a look on their web sites and the Rose does sound pretty impressive on the write ups. I am delighted that you are taking heed to ‘we only live once’ and life is too short to mess around with past thoughts of ‘I wish I had bought one’.

Don't let summer days pass by. Buy the bike and enjoy life.

 

[Artstu]

You're quite right. I've lived with a chronic illness for seven years now, and whilst it isn't getting any worse it also isn't improving and time is passing by and I'm certainly not getting any younger. I will buy one shortly. Thanks for the reality push

 

[Steve Hall]

You're quite right. I've lived with a chronic illness for seven years now, and whilst it isn't getting any worse it also isn't improving and time is passing by and I'm certainly not getting any younger. I will buy one shortly. Thanks for the reality push

.

That's a long time to be unwell. Will the cycling improve the illness at all or will you simply feel better because you will become fitter with good strong lungs and heart? My legs are feeling tired and my muscles hurt a lot. It's that long since I had any exercise on my legs. It will be worth it though, getting fit again. Lovely weekend here in Leeds.

 

[Artstu]

I find being as fit as I can be helps to some degree with the effects of the illness, in exactly the same way a person who isn't ill will feel better if they exercise. Very few of the people I know with this illness exercise, most even claim it is bad for us to do so, sadly that means they can now barely walk.
I was determined to not end up like that, so have been pushing the limits of what the illness allows since finding out what was wrong with me around five years ago, it has been a very slow and steady journey to the level I'm at, and it needs very careful pacing to keep me at this level.
Being a club level cyclist doing 150 miles a week pre-illness does of course help, and I have no doubt that if I wasn't ill I'd still be a very fit person.

I imagine that for a short duration I'd be fitter than 90% of supposedly healthy people on a bike, but once I've expended that energy it takes much longer for me to recover. So my heart. lungs and muscles all work perfectly when fully rested for a short duration only.

Getting fit will transform how you feel, and an electric bike is a fantastic way of doing it. When I bought mine I was actually looking to buy a mobility scooter because I thought I'd never walk or ride far again. Luckily for me I chose the bike instead, and looking back now I believe that was a very significant decision, a pivotal point if you like.

Spring arrived here at the weekend too

 

[anniegirl]

Hi Steve

Like yourself, I purchased an electric bike in order to get fit again. I purchased a Woosh Sirocco Sport at the beginning of March, at a cost of £599. I set my budget at £1000, because I was not too sure how I would get on with an electric bike, and can always upgrade later if I wish.

My legs are getting stronger already and today I cycled for 15.5 miles. The bike is great, and on each outing I am trying to increase my distance. At the moment the majority of my cycling is mainly on the canal towpath, but try to incorporate a few miles on the road/hills to build up my confidence on the roads and increase my stamina.

I'm very happy with the performance of my Woosh bike, but as I have not ridden any other electric bikes, I have nothing to compare against. For my first electric bike, I am impressed with how easy it is to cycle now

 

[Steve Hall]

My son his cycling from Liverpool to Leeds down the towpath next month for charity. Not on an electric bike though. It must be great to be young and fit. 15.5 miles is just great, are you using all the battery power??. One thing I was wondering, can two batteries be fitted with a switch to turn one off and start the second battery? I have a bottle battery on mine and could fit an additional battery on the rear. If its possible.

 

[anniegirl]

My son his cycling from Liverpool to Leeds down the towpath next month for charity. Not on an electric bike though. It must be great to be young and fit. 15.5 miles is just great, are you using all the battery power??. One thing I was wondering, can two batteries be fitted with a switch to turn one off and start the second battery? I have a bottle battery on mine and could fit an additional battery on the rear. If its possible.

Yes, I agree .......oh to be young again, I'm 58 by the way.

No, I did not use all the battery power. Today, I used the lowest pedal assist and varied between the 6 highest gears on the towpath. Mine is an 18 speed bike. On the hills, I used lowest and middle pedal assist, and dropped the gears right down and used the easier lower gears. The bottle battery still had 3 out of the 4 lights showing. Should imagine though that the 3rd light would have gone out had I travelled much further? My average speed though was only 7.1 mph......too many pedestrians on the towpath lol. I have not yet been able to cycle to see what the maximum distance is on a full charge.

 

[Steve Hall]

I cannot get used to the gears on this bike, 21, when my last bike had three. God knows what they all do. I've only used three of them..lol I didn't realise you had a bottle battery, I have seen one other fitted on a Burish on here. I think thats what they called it, anyhow I like the idea, stealth looking. When I first got the bike, my son drained the battery for me, it did 18 miles on level five with throttle assist. He drained it three three times to condition it. Second time, for some reason it did better at 21 miles. Don't know why. Third time 20 miles. I will have a look on the net what a woosh looks like because I have no idea.

 

[Steve Hall]

Yes, I agree .......oh to be young again, I'm 58 by the way.

No, I did not use all the battery power. Today, I used the lowest pedal assist and varied between the 6 highest gears on the towpath. Mine is an 18 speed bike. On the hills, I used lowest and middle pedal assist, and dropped the gears right down and used the easier lower gears. The bottle battery still had 3 out of the 4 lights showing. Should imagine though that the 3rd light would have gone out had I travelled much further? My average speed though was only 7.1 mph......too many pedestrians on the towpath lol. I have not yet been able to cycle to see what the maximum distance is on a full charge.

The Woosh looks like a superb bike, I can't understand why you are considering the extra expense of the Rose. Like I said though, if it's that the bike you want then go for it. On this Pedelec site you've got to be careful and try not to fall for all this brand name snobbery. Ask yourself what you want the bike to do, from what I guess, a commute to work every day is not something you will use the bike for. If its leisurely trips down the canal towpath at a steady MPH to improve your fitness, you don't need the Rose for that. I also like German brands, Since passing my test, setting aside the first starter cars, I drove Mercedes E class vehicles, however, when my family grew up and left home, I didn't need a family car, so I bought 2 Mercedes Smart cars, one for the wife and one for me. Why, because that's all I need and can't see the point in driving to work and back carrying three additional empty seats. If the Germans did a budget bike, I would buy one, they, to the best of my knowledge don't do a budget bike. I do agree with people on here that Germans make really good products and I can also understand why people on here rave about them. However, they are not for everyone, unless you get a very honest person, they will try make you buy an expensive bike when I don't think you really need to. For what you do, to keep fit and enjoy life, you have the best bike for the situation.

 

[Artstu]

I can't understand why you are considering the extra expense of the Rose.

I don't think She is. I mentioned the Rose.

With regard to your 21 gears, there will be some overlap to some gears. I run the Shimano Nexus 8 speed hub (think modern Sturmey Archer) and the Rose I linked to runs the later 11 speed version of the same hub. Mine has a very simple twist change and a very clear gear indicator window.

 

[Steve Hall]

I don't think She is. I mentioned the Rose.

With regard to your 21 gears, there will be some overlap to some gears. I run the Shimano Nexus 8 speed hub (think modern Sturmey Archer) and the Rose I linked to runs the later 11 speed version of the same hub. Mine has a very simple twist change and a very clear gear indicator window.

I think I follow this, do you not have the three, five, six coggs on the bike? or is it the motor that changes the gears like on a car etc. Or is this shown in the picture not the motor and just the gear section of the bike? Sorry, if I sound a little thick, but I am not sure I have got this concept.

 

[Artstu]

The same as a Sturmey Archer, one cog at the front and one cog at the rear, 8 or 11 gears inside the rear hub. There are also 7 gear versions. None of the pictures show a motor, just the hub gears. It does of course mean the motor has to be either a crank drive or in the front wheel.

There's no duplication of gears and you can change gear whilst stationary too. The Rose and KTM
use these hub gears.

This is my none electric bike

 

[anniegirl]

I cannot get used to the gears on this bike, 21, when my last bike had three. God knows what they all do. I've only used three of them..lol I didn't realise you had a bottle battery, I have seen one other fitted on a Burish on here. I think thats what they called it, anyhow I like the idea, stealth looking. When I first got the bike, my son drained the battery for me, it did 18 miles on level five with throttle assist. He drained it three three times to condition it. Second time, for some reason it did better at 21 miles. Don't know why. Third time 20 miles. I will have a look on the net what a woosh looks like because I have no idea.

I'm a little confused here about battery care, so maybe someone can clarify this for me. My Woosh manual does not say anything about draining the battery 3 times to condition it. It states that I have to initially fully charge the battery, and then top up the battery regularly. Manual also states that the battery should not be allowed to completely run down. Do some bottle batteries need maintaining differently from others?

 

[Steve Hall]

I'm a little confused here about battery care, so maybe someone can clarify this for me. My Woosh manual does not say anything about draining the battery 3 times to condition it. It states that I have to initially fully charge the battery, and then top up the battery regularly. Manual also states that the battery should not be allowed to completely run down. Do some bottle batteries need maintaining differently from others?

Not sure, Artsu could answer this for he owns a Woosh

 

[Woosh]

Hi Anniegirl,

The battery on your Woosh Sirocco Sport is a high quality one with Samsung cells. It does not need conditionning and you should avoid draining the battery completely.

Hatti

I'm a little confused here about battery care, so maybe someone can clarify this for me. My Woosh manual does not say anything about draining the battery 3 times to condition it. It states that I have to initially fully charge the battery, and then top up the battery regularly. Manual also states that the battery should not be allowed to completely run down. Do some bottle batteries need maintaining differently from others?

 

[Geo13647]

Hi, conditioning of batteries dates back to the days of old NiCad batteries and is not so important for modern(ish) chemistry I.e. LiPo etc.
However, ANY rechargeable battery (including your car battery) can benefit from a few discharge & recharge cycles. Just run the appliance until the low battery light comes on, then charge up again to full power.
A few caveats...
NEVER short out ANY battery to quickly discharge. The battery will quickly overheat, and may explode.
NEVER charge a hot (or warm) battery. Let it cool to room temp.

My personal preference is to (where possible) with a new gadget is to use the battery fully for 3 times.
After that, then just charge as need it. Approximately every 2 months discharge battery fully until the charge me light comes on. Well that works for me.

George...

 

[Artstu]

Not sure, Artsu could answer this for he owns a Woosh

You're mixing me up with Annie.

 

[Steve Hall]

You're mixing me up with Annie.

Sorry, I am at work, so I wasn't on the ball, got it now. Going for lunch now, I shall return later to chat more about those excellent looking gears.

 

[hopper_rider]

I can concur with Steves assertion of brand snobbery with regard to ebikes. It sort of feels like an exclusive club of essentially hobbyists. Thats fine if thats the way the traders really feel. But if they want a business some may consider that its better to open the doors a little to the hoi polloi.

That essentially means possibly producing a few loss leaders to grow the market.

I bought a bike from TESCO. Sorry for swearing But it allowed me a cost effective way to enter the market.

I attended the Redbridge event yesterday and was able to judge the bike against others.
Yes it did show up its limitations, and yes it gave room to think about upgrading to something better in future. But without the first step buying a cheaper supermarket bike I would probably never have had my interest tweaked.

I believe that is the same with so many other people.