Hello Pedelecs forum members.

[Valerian]

My name is Marcus, I'm 43 and i live in Pembrokeshire Wet Wales.
From the age of 22 to 38 i was into competitive cycling. I got married when i was 36 and started a family soon after.
I found i could not maintain my training schedule, cycling competitions, full time job and raising a new family. Something had to give.
Of course my priority was to my family and i gave up competitive cycling ( for now anyhow)
I still commute regularly to work 4 times a week which has kept up my base fitness.
As i get older i find the commuting a little harder, it's a very hilly route to work and sometimes very windy here on the Pembrokeshire coast.
I want to maintain cycling to work because it saves me alot of fuel and also i have to cross a toll bridge everyday which is free to cyclists.
I started researching electric bikes about 12 months ago and have now made my choice.
I would like to share with you the route i took and why.
I hope my experience might guide others in knowing what type of electrical assistance bicycle to purchase.

Cheers
Marcus

 

[GaRRy]

Welcome Marcus. Look forward to hearing your story.

But for starters what bike did you get

 

[carpetbagger]

hope it wasn't one of those ' i can't believe its not butter bikes' !

 

[Valerian]

Well, firstly as i'm still quite fit on the bike, i wanted a system that would still give me a challenging ride but would give me some assistance on the hills and head winds.
I wanted a system that would harmonise with my own leg power not replace it.
I wanted to keep the bike as light as possible and also i didn't want a bike that looked like an electric bike.
The system i used was a 200watt motor which was cleverly housed in the seat tube and the battery was stored in a saddle bag behind the seat which just looked like a puncture repair kit. The power is delivered through my cranks and therefore am able to still use my gears for more efficient riding.
The total bike weight is 10kg including the battery which i thought was pretty good.
There are only certain frames that are compatible with the power drive system and with the help and assistance of a UK based electric bike dealer i put together my electric bike.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

That sounds like a Gruber system. Is this the one?
Gruber Assist is a Stealth Electric Bike: No One Will Know But Your Mechanic : TreeHugger

 

[flecc]

Yes, it is the Steinbeck Gruber.

 

[GaRRy]

Nice Bike.

How close to Newgale do you live ?

Would recognise that beach every time as I have spent far to much time there.

 

[Valerian]

Wasn't sure if i was allowed to mention any names on here but yes it's the Gruber assist. The new Gruber Vivax system which is an improvement on the older system. It has an oil filled gearbox and is silent running when in use.
I got my frame which was pre-fitted with the Gruber Assist system from 'Steinbach bikes' in Austria via Steve at Electric Mountain Bikes.com who is the only UK distributor of the Gruber Vivax Assist system.
Steve will then build your bike to the exact spec you require or you can just get the frame and power drive installed and do it yourself.

 

[Valerian]

I live in Haverfrodwest near Tesco, are you close by?

 

[GaRRy]

I live in Haverfrodwest near Tesco, are you close by?

Nowhere near but spent all my summer holidays at Newgale from about 1965 tp 1977 and most years since at least 2 weeks.

Definitely the one place in the world I have never tired of

 

[Valerian]

Hi Garry

The Newgale campsite has suffered really bad flooding this year. The pub, Duke of Wellington flooded out.
My wife is from Roch, the village where you see that castle from the beach.

Marcus

 

[GaRRy]

Hi Garry

The Newgale campsite has suffered really bad flooding this year. The pub, Duke of Wellington flooded out.
My wife is from Roch, the village where you see that castle from the beach.

Marcus

Not suprised I know when i was a kid it used to get flooded out at least once each summer. in recent years they had built flood defences so with exception of one part it seemed to be ok but its been that wet this summer I doubt it stood a chance. One of reason I always camp up the hill (others being its a lot cheaper and quieter)

Yea I know where Roch is. As I said apart from a true local I probably know the area almost as well as where I live (and in some ways probably better)