Help needed with buying the right bike!

[BeckyH]

Hi
I would like to buy an electric bike. I live in a fairly hilly area (the Isle of Wight) and am not very fit. I would like to use the bike for general use as well as putting on my car bike rack and going on tow paths and trails off-road.

I am a lady user - 5ft 6" and 150lbs, so need a bike that is lightweight and comfortable.
I am willing to pay up to or even over £1000 if necessary.

I am very limited to trying bikes as there are only two shops on the island that sell electric bikes.

Can anyone advise me?

Thanks

 

[flecc]

Difficult one Becky, electric bike and light weight don't really go together. The Powacycles are among the lighter bikes at around 24 kilos but aren't the most powerful ones for climbing those steeper hills. Powabyke make more powerful models, but you'd need the optional Li-ion battery to get a weight of 28 kilos.

50cycles market the very powerful eZee models and if your height can cope with their main models they'd handle the hills without any problems. Their weights are around 25 to 29 kilos. Their Quando might interest you, as although it has no gears, it's a very good hill climber, very comfortable, and can fold to go into the car. Not only that, your height won't be a problem with it.

You mention trail use, but electric bikes in general aren't suitable for rough off road use, things like supports for the heavy batteries breaking when subjected to extreme loadings. If the trails are fairly smooth it will be ok, but really bumpy stuff is out.

P.S. There are dealers in Southampton and e-bike users there, including at least one member of this forum, so a ferry trip may be worthwhile. The contacts I've given can offer test rides, and I'd strongly recommend you take advantage of that.
.

 

[TwistNgo]

Hi BeckyH, I totally agree with what flecc has said.

I live in Guernsey so your terrain will be much like mine.

I own a Powabyke Commuter 24 and its an excellent bike for climbing hills. I've gone up the steepest ones I can find and I only have to pedal assist a little bit.

The downside is my bike is a heavy beast !, I wouldn't like to lift it onto a car too often !.

 

[electric.mike]

BeckyH
you could be asking for what we are all waiting for, it will probably never come unless flecc gets his tools out again,at your weight 150lbs lots of bikes will perform well for you, i think i would break your needs/wants into order of importance and work from there.
i can only speak for one bike and that's the powabyke 6speed euro.
i would imagine it will take you up any hill you choose with very little effort from you, i ride mine along dirt tracks through woods and on un made roads but only slowly,as for putting it on your car, the bike without battery(which you can remove easily)comes in at around 24kg,can you lift a bag of potatoes they are 25kg.
that's not a recommendation from me its just some facts and thought about my bike.
what bikes can you try locally
if i ever get enough time to use it i would add a cheap alloy full suspension mountain bike with lith battery, keep the powabyke for road work and take the other for trail riding.

mike