Hi I’m Dave and I’m a new ebike owner having just purchased a Raleigh Motus Grand Tour. I actually took delivery of it in early December but it was a Christmas present and my wife and adult children wouldn’t let me use it until Christmas Day.
I’m now 66 yrs old and I’ve been a bike enthusiast all my life. For the last ten years I’ve been riding a Dawes Galaxy tourer and I owned a Raleigh tourer for 25 yrs before that. I’m self employed and I haven’t been out much for a couple of years, virtually zero and was concerned that I was becoming well overweight and sitting behind a computer all day. I commute 25 miles regularly, but it’s too hilly a route to do it at my current fitness level on an ordinary bike, plus I have a heart condition (well controlled cardiomyopathy, not noticeably affecting me so far), so I figured an ebike would make that feasible, get me fit and motivate me in to the bargain. I did 25 miles on Xmas day, 20 on Thursday and 20 in the dark last night. Verdict; it’s awesome and should fill all my requirements.
I went for the Nexus hub gear upgrade to reduce maintenance, as chain cleaning is awful. The first 25 miles on Xmas day also convinced me that a hint of padding on a bike seat is a no no so I when I got home I ordered a Brookes B17 from Amazon which I fitted before last nights ride. The improvement is huge and when it beds in to the shape of my arris it will be perfect. I’ve also changed the standard pedals for combinations; SPD on one side, platform, for normal shoes on the other. I have some Stan’s fluid to provide some puncture protection and will change the tyres for some marathon pluses when cash flow improves a little. Apart form that I’ve bought a large Rixon and Kaul bag for the rear rack and fitted two flashing lcd’s to both
handlebars and rear rack, so it’s more or less set up as I want it.
I’m very pleased with the whole thing, both the bike and its psychological impact on me. I see this as a new chapter, particularly as I reduce my working week over the next few years!
Regards
I’m now 66 yrs old and I’ve been a bike enthusiast all my life. For the last ten years I’ve been riding a Dawes Galaxy tourer and I owned a Raleigh tourer for 25 yrs before that. I’m self employed and I haven’t been out much for a couple of years, virtually zero and was concerned that I was becoming well overweight and sitting behind a computer all day. I commute 25 miles regularly, but it’s too hilly a route to do it at my current fitness level on an ordinary bike, plus I have a heart condition (well controlled cardiomyopathy, not noticeably affecting me so far), so I figured an ebike would make that feasible, get me fit and motivate me in to the bargain. I did 25 miles on Xmas day, 20 on Thursday and 20 in the dark last night. Verdict; it’s awesome and should fill all my requirements.
I went for the Nexus hub gear upgrade to reduce maintenance, as chain cleaning is awful. The first 25 miles on Xmas day also convinced me that a hint of padding on a bike seat is a no no so I when I got home I ordered a Brookes B17 from Amazon which I fitted before last nights ride. The improvement is huge and when it beds in to the shape of my arris it will be perfect. I’ve also changed the standard pedals for combinations; SPD on one side, platform, for normal shoes on the other. I have some Stan’s fluid to provide some puncture protection and will change the tyres for some marathon pluses when cash flow improves a little. Apart form that I’ve bought a large Rixon and Kaul bag for the rear rack and fitted two flashing lcd’s to both
handlebars and rear rack, so it’s more or less set up as I want it.
I’m very pleased with the whole thing, both the bike and its psychological impact on me. I see this as a new chapter, particularly as I reduce my working week over the next few years!
Regards
