It’s just possible that my introductory posts have generated an interest in my choice of E-Bike. I thought it would be helpful if I shared my thought processes leading to my eventual decision. I live adjacent to the old Scarborough to Whitby railway line, also known as the Cinder Track, and part of the National Cycle Network Route 1. My old “bone shaker” was causing more aches and pains so I started looking for a new bike with suspension, which soon led me to consider the purchase of an E-Bike. Why should a 70 year old even be thinking of an E-Bike I hear you ask, dear reader. Surely, you should be thinking of laying up your bike clips and buying a mobility scooter instead. Alas, some people become old before they are wise.
All the advice about E-Bikes includes the very sensible refrain “Try before you buy.” Wise advice indeed. The difficulty occurs when we find ourselves in the middle of a Coronavirus lockdown. Stay at home - Save Lives - Protect the NHS, they said. My nearest E-Bike shop is at York, some 45 miles away, which made “Try before you buy” a criminal activity. The Internet has an incredible capacity to confuse mere mortals such as myself. Brands, styles of bike and shades of Lycra abound and all information is contradictory. I learnt about Pedelecs and read, in particular, the advice for first timers.
I suppose, in the end, we make decisions based upon trust. I had bought a Brompton from my York cycle shop some years ago and trusted them. I started a conversation and narrowed my focus to a few brands and models. Then it was a case of looking at E-Bike reviews on YouTube - particularly Citrus Cycles at Ladysmith on Vancouver Island in Canada. The reviewer certainly puts the bikes through their paces. Instead of a sedate ride on a sunny day in California, during which we learn very little, the Citrus reviewer takes the bikes out in the rain, mud and hills. We learn a lot about the bikes capabilities but, of course, we didn’t “Try before we buy.” What use is a quick pedal up and down the road outside the shop?
So Jonah. With apologies. I’m not going to name the bike I decided to buy, just yet. I will do that in my next post.
All the advice about E-Bikes includes the very sensible refrain “Try before you buy.” Wise advice indeed. The difficulty occurs when we find ourselves in the middle of a Coronavirus lockdown. Stay at home - Save Lives - Protect the NHS, they said. My nearest E-Bike shop is at York, some 45 miles away, which made “Try before you buy” a criminal activity. The Internet has an incredible capacity to confuse mere mortals such as myself. Brands, styles of bike and shades of Lycra abound and all information is contradictory. I learnt about Pedelecs and read, in particular, the advice for first timers.
I suppose, in the end, we make decisions based upon trust. I had bought a Brompton from my York cycle shop some years ago and trusted them. I started a conversation and narrowed my focus to a few brands and models. Then it was a case of looking at E-Bike reviews on YouTube - particularly Citrus Cycles at Ladysmith on Vancouver Island in Canada. The reviewer certainly puts the bikes through their paces. Instead of a sedate ride on a sunny day in California, during which we learn very little, the Citrus reviewer takes the bikes out in the rain, mud and hills. We learn a lot about the bikes capabilities but, of course, we didn’t “Try before we buy.” What use is a quick pedal up and down the road outside the shop?
So Jonah. With apologies. I’m not going to name the bike I decided to buy, just yet. I will do that in my next post.
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