Greetings!

[TobyAnscombe]

Hi all

I thought that I would post here as I have been converted ;-)

Rapidly approaching 40 and nowhere near my optimum weight I've been looking for a way to get fit and lose weight but with 2 kids (11 weeks and 20 months) and a long commute into London fitting exercise in is a problem...

Many moons ago I used to be a decent cyclist - Several trips to Les Gets for downhill MTB-ing and when I lived in Bath plenty of hills to keep me busy.. however, that was about 20 years ago. I hate running (which, given my partner is a marathon and triathlete is sort of annoying) so thought about going back to cycling..

I live in Epping Forest and have a drive of about 5 miles each way to the tube into London - I know, why dont I cycle to the tube a couple of times a week, the weight will drop off and I'll save on £5.50 a day car parking and petrol etc.. Dragged my old Cannondale MTB out one weekend and found that after a couple of hundred yards I was soaking wet and wheezing like an old man..I could blame the chunky tires, I could blame the fags but at 20 stone something it was probably just me being unfit...

I used to live in Holland (The Hague) so saw loads of eBikes which gave me the idea of getting a bike that could assist me but not a full-on no peddling required bike. This was a couple of months ago and as always, I did nothing other than find this forum and look at websites..

Being an avid fan of Robert Llewelyn and the various podcasts that he does, Fully Charged this week was on eBikes; Watching the episode has spurred me into action, the weather has been good, the forest is calling and I need to get fit so that I can get a trailer to take my two daughters out...

So, thats me! I'm coming at it from the "it will help me get fit by allowing me to commute and I can dial down the assistance as I get fitter". Clearly the first couple of weeks will be battery driven but I hope after three or four weeks I can go on my own and that *shock* I might actually want to go out for pleasure again...

All I have to do now is choose a bike ;-) I'm favouring the Cytronex as it seems to fit my needs - with the battery removed it will look like a normal bike in the bike rack at the station (I am worried about either the bike or bits getting nicked!)..

I'll keep you posted - of course feel free to suggest makes and models that I should be looking at ;-)

 

[Davanti]

... Clearly the first couple of weeks will be battery driven but I hope after three or four weeks I can go on my own and that *shock* I might actually want to go out for pleasure again...

Hi Toby. Welcome to Pedelecs! I started e-biking just a few weeks ago. Started with mainly throttle for first few days ... discovered use of gears ... haven't used the throttle for ages ... but do use maximum pedal assist most of the time. Got fitter without realising it.

Best advice (wished I had taken it!) is to try out as many bikes as you can! Only you can decide which bike is best for you ...

But ... GO FOR IT ... !!!

Best of luck!

Don

 

[timidtom]

Welcome to the land of big grins! J & I are both about twice your age and our ebikes have restored us to life! We can bore for England, clear pub bars, with our tales of joy on the road, propelled by the electric breeze ... most other forum members are normal though! We've extended our runs from the first few 3 mile wobbles to the local Co-op for essentials (Guardians & wine) to 25 mile charity rides. NB - must ask Bob Wales if the 16amp battery is a straight swop for the 10amp, or does it need electronic surgery?
Since you ask - our JuicyBike Classics are as near perfect as we're likely to need.

 

[JuicyBike]

must ask Bob Wales if the 16amp battery is a straight swop for the 10amp, or does it need electronic surgery?
Since you ask - our JuicyBike Classics are as near perfect as we're likely to need.

Straight swap Tom, supplied with a new locking strip (which will need a hole drilling - easy really).

 

[jasono]

Hi Toby
Welcome to the World of eBikes. I've been riding them for a few years now and think they're great. I have been a keen cyclist for quite a few years and used to do quite a bit of road riding, but for a number of reasons decided to go electric, the main ones being I was fed up arriving at the office sweaty and after becoming a Dad was quite often abit too tired to cycle! I see you've got two young children - mine are similar ages 5 months and 2 years 5 months
The best advice I can give is too try as many different bikes as you can
All the best
Jason

 

[TobyAnscombe]

Thanks all - Still plowing through the various options but up until I actually get on one then its just pure bike porn ;-)

Jason - Like the website; you really are in the same position as me, the child seat and trailer is what I want to end up with..

50Cycles seems to have a good rep so I will arrange to go and see them as well as they cover more than a single brand..

For those that commute - have you found that you have to get additional locks etc to make sure that your bike and all the bits are still there at the end of each day?

 

[jasono]

Thanks Toby - the eBike is great for transporting the kids - my daughter loves it!

With regards to your security question, I tend to use 2 Oxford cable locks and have had no problems as yet, however I am able to use the company's cycle facilities, which are pretty good too

 

[benjy_a]

Thanks Toby - the eBike is great for transporting the kids - my daughter loves it!

With regards to your security question, I tend to use 2 Oxford cable locks and have had no problems as yet, however I am able to use the company's cycle facilities, which are pretty good too

Pretty much any cable can be cut in seconds with bolt croppers...not recommended as the sole locking method in higher risk locations.

 

[devon_skylark]

My husband started to commute to work on his e-bike a couple of months ago - 15 miles each way with hills and to begin with he needed to recharge the battery each now, now one charge lasts 3 days so he got much fitter quite quickly. So far I've only e-biked home from work 20 miles and very hilly as I can't face it early in the morning - I lift share so sometimes the bike comes in with me in the morning and I cycle home.

It really is a good way to get fit - I love the fact that no hills scare me and I can even manage a 1 in 4 hill.

 

[TobyAnscombe]

Pretty much any cable can be cut in seconds with bolt croppers...not recommended as the sole locking method in higher risk locations.

Benjy - So combination on U shackle and cable? Shackle to bike post through frame and rear wheel and cable around frame and front wheel?

Promise I'll move this out of the introduce yourself thread ;-)

 

[benjy_a]

Benjy - So combination on U shackle and cable? Shackle to bike post through frame and rear wheel and cable around frame and front wheel?

Promise I'll move this out of the introduce yourself thread ;-)

Hi Toby,

Yes this is the commonly accepted method for better security...I have seen bikes with multiple D locks plus cables in London...the higher the risk the more locks of different types you should use. Thieves generally carry the tools to attack one kind of lock so multiple systems are better. Also be aware of what you lock to...I have seen a whole rack of bikes taken where I used to work...thieves cut through the single long pole that all the bikes were locked too and took them all!

Ben