How many electric bikes do you see out on the roads?

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,161
30,577
Funny incident today.

Leaving home, rode down the hill to the T junction at the foot on the Q bike and at the bus stop opposite were five of the local teenagers who often see me on my bikes, lolling around.

I snapped open the throttle as I accelerated off the foot of the hill to go past them, and all five burst into a synchronised electric acceleration sound mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Kids! :D
.
 

Ian

Esteemed Pedelecer
Apr 1, 2007
1,333
0
Leicester LE4, UK.
:D . That reminds me of the time I rode past a group of teenage girls, one of them shouting "hey mister... your back wheel" as I turned round in alarm she finished the sentence with "it's going round". :D
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,161
30,577
Yes, I've had that one happen to me as well! :D

Kids can be everything from hateful to wonderful, but the world would be one heck of a dull place without them. :)
.
 
C

Cyclezee

Guest
Saw my first electric biker whilst I was out riding this morning in Milton Keynes. He was on a Powabyke, I said hello as I passed him on my Torq, don't know whether he replied or not, I was out of earshot fairly quickly!
 

Fat Girl

Pedelecer
Sep 15, 2007
44
0
Hilly Cotswolds
I once saw an electric bike on the bristol to bath railway path. A woman has a small electric bike hire service based in a shed (concrete box) beside the door of the flats a couple 100 feet from the beginning of the path in bristol.
Mil
 
Nov 10, 2006
178
14
Midlands
I once saw an electric bike on the bristol to bath railway path. A woman has a small electric bike hire service based in a shed (concrete box) beside the door of the flats a couple 100 feet from the beginning of the path in bristol.
Mil
Wow. All she needs is a shed at the other end with power and people could commute on rental bikes..mm not battery replacement bills.
 

derrick7

Pedelecer
Aug 22, 2007
107
0
Llanberis LL55 4TD (Snowdonia)
electric bikes - where are they

The first electric bikes I saw round here were two middle-aged Irish tourists in this village (Llanberis) with Lafree Twists. I had long been thinking of getting an electric bike, but the ones I had seen on the Internet I was't impressed with, they all seemed to be adapted mountain bikes, but the Twists impressed me, it was the first e-bike that I had seen that had been designed from the ground up as an e-bike.
I later met a woman in Bangor who said (of the Twist) "it is the best thing I have ever bought", a few days later I bought one, That was about 4 years ago & I have never seen an e-bike since. I am the only one in the village (e-biker I mean)!

Derrick - Llanberis
 
Last edited:

Ian

Esteemed Pedelecer
Apr 1, 2007
1,333
0
Leicester LE4, UK.
Biking Snowdon.

Derrick,

do you know if bikes are allowed to use the path up Snowdon. I've walked down it and didn't see another soul on the way but have shied away from attempting the ascent any other way than the train, but on an e-bike it a possibility. So if it's permitted another e-bike may well visit Llanberis.

Thanks
 

derrick7

Pedelecer
Aug 22, 2007
107
0
Llanberis LL55 4TD (Snowdonia)
Riding up Snowdon

Hello Ian,
At the moment I don't know, but I will find out for you. A year or so ago they (Snowdonia parks etc.) tried to ban mountain bike riders from using paths, I think they were worried about the damage mtb's were doing to paths & running into walkers, some of the riders are just louts (I write as a former rock climber & mountaineer!). I cannot remember what became of the attempted ban but as soon as I find out I will post to you.
I would not like to ride an e-bike or any other sort up Snowdon, it would be just a grind!!

Derrick - Llanberis

PS When you are walking you don't fall over no matter how slow you go!!
 
Last edited:

Ian

Esteemed Pedelecer
Apr 1, 2007
1,333
0
Leicester LE4, UK.
Thanks Derrick. It might be a grind riding a bike up Snowden but its a grind in both directions on foot.

I have seen mtb'ers riding down mountain paths at breakneck speeds, they don't mix well with walkers.
 

Ian

Esteemed Pedelecer
Apr 1, 2007
1,333
0
Leicester LE4, UK.
You can it's mine! I can provide many very good photo's, but they are much to big (MB's) to put on this website.

Derrick - Llanberis
Derrrick,

If you open a free account with a photo hosting site such as Flickr you can upload your photos to there and insert them on your posts using the insert image button and providing the link to the photo at Flickr. Thats the way most photos on this forum are done. Example below.
 

Ian

Esteemed Pedelecer
Apr 1, 2007
1,333
0
Leicester LE4, UK.
Hi Derrick, it seems you need a Yahoo account, this is free and can be signed up for by going to my Yahoo and clicking on new user sign up at the top left by the Yahoo logo, it is safe and you don't need to give away any confidential information.
 

silversurfer

Pedelecer
Jun 15, 2007
91
2
mountain bikes up snowdon.

Hi Derrick7
I used to be a National park Ranger (in peak District) up to 8 years ago. Unless the rules have changed bikes are not allowed on the footpaths that cross all national parks. Bikes and horses are allowed on bridleways and of course on cycle ways. During my time with the 'park' mountain bike 'trespass' was becoming an issue. I think the powers that make the rules were finally realising that the bikes were not going away and they were going to have to accommodate them, with appropriate tracks. To be honest going UP Kinder Scout on a bike was virtually impossible anyway. I imagine the fun is coming down, but of course you have to get up there to do that!
As for Snowdonia, as the focus of this thread is the possibility to go up Snowdon, unless there is now a cycle permitted route, up I think it rather irresponsible for 50 cycles to say 'go for it' and take some video. I have walked the popular wide track from main car park but for the last third of the way it is certainly not a cycle route !!!
And, I was advised by flecc that Torq's are absolutely not recommended for any off road use, the motor spindle it too weak. Surprised 50 cycles did not realise this. I like to amble on bridleways, but only very, very gently ! Silversurfer.
Silversurfer.
 

nigel

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 18, 2006
467
0
Nigel

Hi i saw 2 new electric bikes in portswood southampton today 1 was a brand new powabyke and the other was a powacycle cambridge:D
 

Ian

Esteemed Pedelecer
Apr 1, 2007
1,333
0
Leicester LE4, UK.
Thanks for for the website link Derrick, unlimited access during the off season sounds good, subject to sensible mountain safety of course.

The Torq is fine off road if ridden within it's capabilities, mine's carried me miles down forest tracks in the North York Moors National Park and other places. of course we're not talking about high speed downhill mountain biking, I'm too old for that anyway. The photo below is the path about 2/3 of the way up, as I remember things thats fairly typical of most of the path and while its a bit rough it should be ok at a moderate speed.