Hi All,
So I have now had the GTECH for 1.5 weeks. I wont go over my earlier post which you can refer back to but will update on how it has performed,
I am approx. 90kg male aged 57, so not belonging to the lycra brigade. Simply I liked the idea of some exercise and pleasure cycling with my wife, she's got one too, is about 60kg and 59 years, so the result so far
In the last week we have done 28 miles and still not empty but close to it, its on the last red bar, but I will run it down completely and it is possible that I will get the 30 miles.
My usage has been predominantly on half power position changing to full power on the hills (because im lazy) why do more than you need, same as having gears but not using them!!!
We have one quite steep hill close to us and we achieved it from a sitting position which we definitely did not expect. In fact my wife shouted out loud "incredible" we were so chuffed. Most of our journeys were admittedly reasonably flat, but I find even slight inclines and wind against you can really be draining and this is were it really performs with what seems like a brisk pace of 10 /11 mph with little effort.
My wifes bike on the other hand is only down from 4 bars to 3 but she would insist on switching it off saying she wanted the exercise, which by my view somewhat defeats the object, but the point is also demonstrates that the single gearing of the bike is ok, she also fired it up for hills and inclines
At my age and weight I was really unlikely to get back into cycling with my standard bike, for me its meant to be the pleasure I had when I was young and not some kind of fitness torture and for sure it really brought the pleasure back. I cannot describe the feeling at each stop start when it drives you back up to cruising speed with no more than a little pressure on the pedals and for sure this low intensity exercise is for sure the right way for me and I expect will indeed improve my fitness anyway as well as opening up the countryside which with walking is even more limited range for me with arthritic hip
So on balance our decision (unanimously) is we are keeping them and look forward to many more rides, other than walking into the pub with the helmets and having to explain to everyone what they are like!!!
A few points on the GTECH strategy that seems contentious, but only my opinion
- Gears. I think the bike is just fine without them, its clearly less complicated, crucially less weight and they have done their homework on getting the base gearing right and the motor torque right, so why would you need both unless you are clearly in the lycra brigade for which this bike is not designed for you
- The carbon drive is really neat, again light weight, clean and enables a very tight and precise control of the torque, ie no slack or play etc
- For those that somehow resent GTECH entry to the market and decry their credentials, I would point out that their design nouse so far has been spot on with all there pducts and they are clearly developing some "know how in battery technology" and the bike seems designed for the western market and not just CHina with some small niche sales in the West.
I admit that I did not really look at E bikes till the GTECH came along but after some research "my god some of the bikes out there are dam ugly and clunky technology. I certainly wouldn't be seen dead on one no matter what the range!, and the better ones that you do see are not cheap
- So a classic situation of horses for courses. My view is this bike is for either city workers of all ages, or for older types who use it for pleasure and fitness, pleasure put first and as such there is clearly a market.
Now to the point about price, at £1000 it is a little expensive, £700 would be nice but be realistic they are not yet shifting volumes so it will come down in time and they have to cover development. This has clearly be designed from the bottom up, not like some of the bikes out there that have just be bolted together is a Chinese workshop, and the quality is really top notch
One big criticism they seemed to get from some of you was the original £1700 price tag. Um!!! I have a feeling they new exactly what they were doing. They are market building / exploring, better to bring the price down once they have gauged the market, but I also understand manufacturing and I bet 100% they had limited start-up supplies so did not want to oversell and not be able to supply or have too many that they could not shift.
As far as the spec is concerned and the range. They have clearly aimed at a specific market, so why over engineer but again my experience is this is probably there opening price point model so don't be surprised in 12 months they don't find the way of increasing the range for the rest of the market and add a few gadgets such as odometers etc, sat nav, anti theft locking devices etc
I for one will enjoy my bike but look forward to the development of this market and indeed this thread, which whilst it has been very negative so far with perhaps some vested interests being a little protective, I do believe that GTECH could actually develop a market which could be good for everyone
Only one negative for me, it won't hoover the stairs
