Sorry, not sure if you need War and Peace but anyway skip to the end if you like...
Tried a mate's ebike recently - a £2500 cube 20+kg, around Kinver Edge, South Staffs (if anyone knows it) and totally blown away but I won't bore you except to say it opens up a new, bigger world.
I used to commute about 10 miles to work each way which included one bloody big hill around half way and I would see the mamil's racing off while I was a huffing and a puffing! Usually pushed the last bit (lowest gears are not what they were) and spent 10 minutes before going into the office cooling down. This was on a Boardman Hybrid Pro at around 10kg (not including work stuff and sandwiches).
I have now moved jobs and can only commute by train so cycling time is limited - the missus is never going on a bike again (even longer story) and I agree with her that a motorbike is not what I really want to return to from my youth (costs, upkeep, pollution, not really needed/practical for our lifestyle. Yes we are veggie tree huggers).
So, thanks for staying with me.
Aged mid 40s, 5'10 and 11.5 stone, office worker and my knee is a little dodgy but able to peddle for a fair whack, the Boardman will be kept for short sojourns, can pay a bit more if required for an ebike. My experience with normal bikes proves that quality matters, such as pick a budget and then double it! Then it comes down to price to component ratio.
I live in a flat and with one flight of stairs and the walls are showing serious tyre marks and weight (along with looks) is my priority. When I had a 15kg Carrera it soon becomes a pain to keep lugging the thing up and down especially with panniers/shopping/ work stuff (beer) - you know what I mean.
I mainly want to get some distance, up to 30 or 40 miles out and climb some hills but am able to work my legs as well. Coming from the Black Country I know what hills look and feel like but my best memories on any type of bike are reaching the top of anywhere and surveying the surroundings.
When I said earlier looks are important I think the Pinnacle Lithium Ion from Evans in Brum is perfect but the weight is a big issue. 18 kg is a bit of a lump to get up n down the stairs so the gtech may be okay at a push for now but battery life is an issue (try going up to the reservoir in Netherton, my motorbike couldn't make it years ago!).
The Woosh Karoo looks a doozy but 19kg is a non starter. I think I am looking for lightning in a bottle and may need to wait for technology to advance over the next ten years but thought I would put this out there anyway.
Well done if you have got this far, thank you.
Right then tl;dr
Lightweight as poss, reliable components, no suspension, able to go up and down big hills, good battery life, good after sales support for electronics/electrics.
And. And. Look good - this is very important. Along with lightness.
Mtia, cheers.
Tried a mate's ebike recently - a £2500 cube 20+kg, around Kinver Edge, South Staffs (if anyone knows it) and totally blown away but I won't bore you except to say it opens up a new, bigger world.
I used to commute about 10 miles to work each way which included one bloody big hill around half way and I would see the mamil's racing off while I was a huffing and a puffing! Usually pushed the last bit (lowest gears are not what they were) and spent 10 minutes before going into the office cooling down. This was on a Boardman Hybrid Pro at around 10kg (not including work stuff and sandwiches).
I have now moved jobs and can only commute by train so cycling time is limited - the missus is never going on a bike again (even longer story) and I agree with her that a motorbike is not what I really want to return to from my youth (costs, upkeep, pollution, not really needed/practical for our lifestyle. Yes we are veggie tree huggers).
So, thanks for staying with me.
Aged mid 40s, 5'10 and 11.5 stone, office worker and my knee is a little dodgy but able to peddle for a fair whack, the Boardman will be kept for short sojourns, can pay a bit more if required for an ebike. My experience with normal bikes proves that quality matters, such as pick a budget and then double it! Then it comes down to price to component ratio.
I live in a flat and with one flight of stairs and the walls are showing serious tyre marks and weight (along with looks) is my priority. When I had a 15kg Carrera it soon becomes a pain to keep lugging the thing up and down especially with panniers/shopping/ work stuff (beer) - you know what I mean.
I mainly want to get some distance, up to 30 or 40 miles out and climb some hills but am able to work my legs as well. Coming from the Black Country I know what hills look and feel like but my best memories on any type of bike are reaching the top of anywhere and surveying the surroundings.
When I said earlier looks are important I think the Pinnacle Lithium Ion from Evans in Brum is perfect but the weight is a big issue. 18 kg is a bit of a lump to get up n down the stairs so the gtech may be okay at a push for now but battery life is an issue (try going up to the reservoir in Netherton, my motorbike couldn't make it years ago!).
The Woosh Karoo looks a doozy but 19kg is a non starter. I think I am looking for lightning in a bottle and may need to wait for technology to advance over the next ten years but thought I would put this out there anyway.
Well done if you have got this far, thank you.
Right then tl;dr
Lightweight as poss, reliable components, no suspension, able to go up and down big hills, good battery life, good after sales support for electronics/electrics.
And. And. Look good - this is very important. Along with lightness.
Mtia, cheers.
