Hello! (looking to buy soon)

[MikeFromLFE]

I've been a cyclist for most of my 67 years. In my teenage years I was a club rider and tourist. In the 1980s I discovered Audax riding. I commuted across Leicester for years, but when I retired a decade or more ago my fitness plummeted.
Various family factors have conspired to keep my cycling to very low miles in the last few years - not helped by my purchase of a (legal) e-moped!
I sold the e-moped today and am looking at getting an e-bike to encourage me to get out more on two wheels.

I'm looking at a 'utility' ebike for trips to the allotment (carrying produce home) and for my volunteering job on the canal (carrying tools etc). Plus, I'd like it to have a range sufficient for longer trips, up to 40 miles maybe.
I'm currently looking at step-through hub-geared hybrid bikes (and belt drives appeal) - the Gazelle Ultimate C8 looks impressive, but seems to be perpetually out of stock - so and advice on alternatives would be appreciated!
I'm here to learn.

 

[Nealh]

For your proposed use a cargo bike or a trailer addition may be an option.
One has to be carefull with some bikes that may use proprietary components or Can type communications , after a few years they may be expensive to repair if a fault occurs.

 

[Benjahmin]

Hello Mike,
As Neal says, bikes with proprietry systems are great when bought but, if anything goes wrong, you are locked into their systems with little being capable of user repair. This can lead to expensive battery replacements or 'mysterious' electrical faults only diagnosable by techy mechanics with specialist computers.
Have a look at Woosh bikes. Whilst only available by mail order (unless you live near Southend) their hub drive bikes are all generic parts easily available. Their customer service is very good and they have a presence on this forum. My wife has a Big Bear and, whilst it's pretty basic parts wise, it is proving to be robust with good hill climbing torque.
The other option is to convert a bike you like. Your years of cycling must have lead you to be a competant bike mechanic and that's all that's needed. Buy a kit (with help from the forum) and it will be plug and play as far as the electics are concerned. You learn lots as you go and end up with a bike that you understand and can be fixed in the shed if needed.
Almost any bike with 140mm rear dropouts will take a hub motor. Step throughs are bit awkward for mounting the battery with little option but to go rear rack. This can make weight distribution a bit rear endy. Any bike with 100mm front dropouts will take a hub giviving a bit more weight balance. People will tell you that front hubs don't have any grip. All three of my bikes are front hub and whilst they are a bit scubby on greasy or loose surface steep hills it's nothing an accomplished cyclist can't handle and actually come to quite enjoy.

 

[Nealh]

The idea of wanting a belt drive e bike will almost likely be a proprietary made bike esp for a step thru so one should choose the brand carefully.
As for the carrying of tools etc,etc, if only hand tools then panniers are the easy option but if wanting to carry longer tools like Hedge trimmer, strimmer, spades/forks etc then a single wheel touring type trailer may be a better solution towing the items in a safer manner. Single wheel trailers being ideal for tow paths or narrow spaces.

Two motor types often metioned not to buy are Brose and Steps ebike.
Like any motor type whether hub or mid drive there will be many happy owners of such bikes.

If you have the room to keep abike then a do-it -all type bike might be better and a longtail e-cargo bike with the large rear deck and extra large 80 -100l panniers.