My new bike's on order!

Just wanted to say hello and thank you for all the advice I've gleaned from this site! For all those that didn't see my first posts, I've got a displaced knee with arthritus - but I desperately want to be able to go out on cycle rides with my kids. I simply don't have enough "pushing power" in that leg to ride a standard bike - especially if there's a head wind or even the slightest of inclines.

 

I finally got chance to have a test ride today on a Powacycle Windsor. It had just the level of assistance that I was after - not so much that I wasn't doing any of the work, but enough to give me a fighting chance of keeping up with the kids without being in serious pain. I was very impressed at how quiet and inobtrusive the motor was and that I could still freewheel on the flat without the whole thing feeling horribly heavy or like the brakes were binding. In fact, I have to say that the bike didn't feel anything like as heavy as I was expecting it to - in fact, it probably felt lighter than the steel framed Raleigh racing(!) bike I used to ride when I was a kid myself.

 

I pootled around for about 20 minutes without any difficulty at all. I'm sure I could've ridden for much longer without any problems.

 

I'd initially looked at the Cambridge, but have to say that the low step-through frame of the Windsor is more practical for me.

 

The clincher for me with the Powacycles is the good pedal assist (without needing to hold the throttle open) AND a throttle. I don't want an electric moped - I want to pedal and almost forget about the electric side of things - but there will be times where I won't necessarily be able to get going without the throttle (for instance on a slight hill at a road junction).

 

All in all, I thought that the Windsor was just about as spot on as I could get - especially in my price range - so I've left a deposit and my Windsor (NiMH) is on order to arrive late February - and I can't wait!

I think it's a good choice for your needs nin26, and very good value too. I hope you gets lots of enjoyment from it.

 

Fingers crossed for better summer weather than we had last year.

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Congratulations

 

Very good news that you've managed to find and try just what you wanted. I wish you all the pleasure in the world with the kids. And feel confident that you will find it.

Thank you! I'm hoping for some decent weather at the end of next month so I can go exploring the local cycleways. Here's to a whole year of decent weather!

Hope you have a great time this year on your new bike (it will most probably help your knee a bit too). This forum is great for impartial advice and I have got a lot of useful info from it.