Is an electric bike for me?

[sandys]

Hi all,

I've been thinking about an electric bike recently basically I used to cycle everywhere but stopped years ago due to distances and the convenience of a car but I get no form of exercise this way and consequently I'm now a big lard arse and very unfit.

I'd like to get back into cycling as it used to keep me fit and healthy, I don't really have a lot of time for recreational cycling these days so was considering a bike for a commute (20 miles) in my current state that would kill me but thought an electric bike might be an answer in that it wouldn't do the whole job but help me with the tough stuff and could be the key to seeing my fitness improve over time hopefully to a point where I dust off my old bike and get back on it unpowered.

Any thoughts on this, also what sort of impact do fatties (105kg) have on battery life or machine wear?

Cheers

 

[burncycle]

Same situation sandys.
Im there with you !

 

[flecc]

The stronger bikes and batteries are up to coping with your weight, but it would limit the help you get on hills, where weight is crucially important.

I might advise you that so and so a bike can climb a 1 in 8 hill with ease, but that's with my 70 kilos.

Have a look at this chart I posted some while ago, when I calculated hill climbing for four very different riders on three different bikes. You'll see that weight on any given bike well over halves it's climb ability. The rider number 3 is the one closest to you I think.

Hill climbing
.

 

[burncycle]

im about rider 2.3

 

[sandys]

Thanks very useful charts, I guess I need to assess my routes gradients and figure out what sort of benefit I might get, there are a few hills on my route which would make cycling it difficult but obviously coming home should be a blast.

I'm probably nearer rider 4 with my fitness level.

Are there any online mapping resources that show inclines etc?

Cheers.

 

[Bikerbob]

I'm sure an electric bike would be a good idea for you sandys. If you went straight to an unassisted bike you would probably swiftly give it up because of pain involved. With the electric bike, as you suggest, you can slowly take on a greater proportion of the effort yourself as your fitness improves. It worked for me. I lost two stones in weight during my first year of electric bike ownership and have felt much better for it ever since.

 

[flecc]

Are there any online mapping resources that show inclines etc?

It's a long time since I posted this, so I'll repeat again here, a cheap and simple way to check your hill gradients.

You need a spirit level, you may have one already in a set square or separately, but if not, buy a cheap one from a DIY or tool shop. If you haven't got one, also get an extending rule with centimetres on it. Then get a strip of straight metal or wood and cut it to exactly 50 centimetres long. Tape an expanding rule on one end so that the tape extends down against the end of the 50 cm strip. Tape the spirit level next to it on the top surface of your straight strip and secure it firmly with tape or rubber bands.

That's your measuring apparatus complete. If the hill you want to measure isn't at home, you can tie that strip to your crossbar to ride to your destination.

Now on a representative sloping part of the hill, rest one end of your strip on the road surface with the spirit level above and the bubble kept centralised. With the other hand, hold the rule extended and vertical against the road directly above the other end of the strip and note the number of half centimetres measured where it meets the underside of the strip right at the end. Thats the percentage measure of your hill, it's as easy as that, just the distance from the road surface vertically to the 50 cm point on the underside of your strip. If it's 5.5 cm, there's 11 half centimetres so it's an 11% hill. Just make sure the bubble is central as you read the measurement.

Here's my one:

.

 

[fishingpaul]

My advice if you are reasonably strong would be to try and buy a cheap second hand powabyke often available for around £200,they are quite heavy but cope well on hills with heavier riders,and if it could not achieve your range a new second battery could be added for around £100,this may be better than spending several hundred pounds,and not using the bike much.try and get a trial somewhere if you put your location, somebody local to you may let you try there bike.

 

[flecc]

Further to Paul's advice, here's the page you want to see if there's a dealer who has a Powabyke you can ride:

Powabyke dealer locator
.

 

[stokepa31]

Hi Sandy

I weigh considerably more than you do and I have not come across a hill which has left me defeated yet. I think Bikerbob is right on the money as I know I would have given up on week 1 if i'd chosen a conventional bike to spearhead my keep fit regeime.

I'm Fleccs no4 rider although i'm only 37. You should see the faces on fit regular cyclists when I leave the cycle lane to overtake!!!

I have not modified my diet in any way and i've droped 11lb since just before xmas

I have the new Torq and do about 40miles each week

Regards
Paul
PAul

 

[fishingpaul]

I DID NOT JUST MEAN DEALERS, FOR EXAMPLE IF YOU LIVED NEAR TO BIRMINGHAM I WOULD BE HAPPY TO LET YOU TRY MY E BIKE.i am sure other members would feel the same.

 

[Mandy]

Thanks very useful charts, I guess I need to assess my routes gradients and figure out what sort of benefit I might get, there are a few hills on my route which would make cycling it difficult but obviously coming home should be a blast.

I'm probably nearer rider 4 with my fitness level.

Are there any online mapping resources that show inclines etc?

Cheers.

Hi Sandys
Well I would not be without mine but only have a 10 mile round trip so could go all the distance without pedals I guess if I wished.
I have a bad back so I can pick or choose whether I will pedal or not on the day.
I have recently changed from a Powabyke after using for 3 years with no problems whatsoever, although heavy and lead acid battery it was a good starting point for me and was terrific with hills! However it is not the greatest for pedaling as a conventional bike as so heavy, but I was lucky with mine.
I am currently getting used to my SE which looks great goes fast but hasn't come problem free so far, lol!
I personaly feel I could never not have a "Leccy" bike and if you live within a reasonable distance you are quite welcome to take it away and trial it for a couple of weeks if you wished? I need to give it a good service and clean up and you would probably want to go for a lighter battery in the long run, but you could see how beneficial having one could be?
A thought?
Regards
Mandy

 

[flecc]

I DID NOT JUST MEAN DEALERS, FOR EXAMPLE IF YOU LIVED NEAR TO BIRMINGHAM I WOULD BE HAPPY TO LET YOU TRY MY E BIKE.i am sure other members would feel the same.

I didn't say you did.
.

 

[Mandy]

My advice if you are reasonably strong would be to try and buy a cheap second hand powabyke often available for around £200,they are quite heavy but cope well on hills with heavier riders,and if it could not achieve your range a new second battery could be added for around £100,this may be better than spending several hundred pounds,and not using the bike much.try and get a trial somewhere if you put your location, somebody local to you may let you try there bike.

You can buy the 3 battery cells needed on the net and do it yourself so no waiting around and no need to pay the extra price.
I will find my link where I got mine and will post on the site as the postage was free if you spent a certain amount.
Bit of soldering involved and need to be careful but beats paying over the odds!
Cool
Mandy

 

[sandys]

I like the tool to measure gradients, simple but effective, nice cheap engineering solution

The secondhand powabyke might be an idea, these bikes do seem quite expensive for what they are, I think I need to try one out, there is bound to be somewhere in Bristol that does them, I've not really looked that hard to be honest as I wasn't sure if it was a realistic proposal which is why I stumbled upon this site looking for information.

Reading through the posts the e-bike sounds like it could be a good option for me.

 

[flecc]

Sandys, if Bath is convenient, ring Frank Curran of Powabyke there and he can arrange a convenient day/time for you to try one:

FrankCurran
Powabyke Ltd
01225 443737
sales@powabyke.com

Otherwise, check with the Bristol Powabyke dealers on this page.
.

 

[sandys]

Thanks Flecc, I'll give him a call, I'm in chippenham which is sort of equal distance from Bath or Bristol, neither are too far.

 

[Mandy]

My advice if you are reasonably strong would be to try and buy a cheap second hand powabyke often available for around £200,they are quite heavy but cope well on hills with heavier riders,and if it could not achieve your range a new second battery could be added for around £100,this may be better than spending several hundred pounds,and not using the bike much.try and get a trial somewhere if you put your location, somebody local to you may let you try there bike.

Hi Paul

Where would you put a second battery on a powabyke? It is somewhat heavy anyway weighing in exess of 30kg with the lead acid battery already on it and would weigh an absolute ton to pedal if the power failed.
I would advise that you would not need an extra battery with this bike whatever your weight as although a heavy bike has amazing torque and consistency and coped with a very steep incline from our bike shed to the road every day even with people twice or more my weight trying it out to just see what it was like? I can't remember all the values of motor's etc but believe this one to be one of the most powerful on the market?
Well I offered my bike up for use for free for 2 weeks but did not get an answer from Sandy's.
I hope Sandy's gets the bike he wants but just having a test ride is not the same as using it and seeing if it fits your needs over a 2 week period with your journey's?
Well it was just a thought which I offered in good faith and I didn't get a reply so I wish Sandy's well but I appreciate the distance between mine and his may be too far for a pick up? I guess it is a bit, lol
But I do think this would be the bike for him.
Kind Regards
Mandy

 

[gkilner]

I would agree that buying a cheap used Powabyke is a good option for someone in your position wanting to try out elecric bike ownership.

I'm just over 19st and the Powabyke performs very well. I've used it almost everyday to get to work and back(13mile round trip) for the last 6 months. I paid £400 for a 12mth old model in 'as new' condition.

 

[fishingpaul]

I would not carry a second battery,but would leave it charging whilst using the main battery,this way you are always ready to ride,even when your main battery needs charging.