Hello, complete newbie here, I've been reading up a fair bit but think I've just got to that stage were knowledge is dangerous and need advice!
I currently cycle to work a couple of days a week during the summer on a regular Hybrid, it's a great ride but at 25 miles is just that little bit too far to do everyday so am looking at getting an electric bike in order to do most days, say four a week.
It's 12.5 miles each way, 10 miles of which is along a canal towpath so it's reasonably flat, the rest is forest track and a few quiet residential roads, again no major hills. Only negatives are there are a couple of sections which get dangerously muddy and slippy after heavy rain, not very long, 300 meters or so but I've caught myself travelling sideways a few times and doing that along the canal, in winter, at night is enough to have put me off until the spring although I do still cycle to the station.
I probably should add I'm quite heavy at 15st which I guess would affect which motors will carry me? I'm also short 5'7" which will affect which frames will work for me. I usually take a small frame.
My objectives are: To lose weight (so I will be pedalling) and to save money.
With two kids and a stay at home wife the purchase needs to be self financing so I'm looking at the ride2work scheme my work offers which limits my budget to £1k (or maybe a little over if they can sell the battery seperately).
Can anybody make any recommendations?
My thoughts /concerns:
If I get a front wheel hub driven one, will that be better for grip in the muddy sections, a bit like 'four wheel' drive on a 4x4 but 2x2 in this case? How much of a difference will that make?
Hybrid or MTB? I have a hybrid which is great in spring/summer but not grippy enough in winter. Maybe just upgrade hybrid with offroad tyres for extra grip?
'off the shelf' packages seem to only have 8 gears, does that matter less with an electric bike?
Longevity of motors / batteries, bearing in mind I can pick up a cheap electric bike on Ride2Work for less than the cost I can buy a replacement battery full price, is cheep and cheereful like the 8fun bike or cyclamatic a better choice than paying more and keeping for longer?
Build or buy? realistically I don't have the skills to build but reckon I could get a much better bike and motor for my budget (even if I buy the motor seperately) if I go that route. Anybody recommend bike shops willing to do this who can mail out bikes or are in south East area?
Getting throughly confused, any advice or recommendations gratefully accepted and apologies for the length of my first post!
I currently cycle to work a couple of days a week during the summer on a regular Hybrid, it's a great ride but at 25 miles is just that little bit too far to do everyday so am looking at getting an electric bike in order to do most days, say four a week.
It's 12.5 miles each way, 10 miles of which is along a canal towpath so it's reasonably flat, the rest is forest track and a few quiet residential roads, again no major hills. Only negatives are there are a couple of sections which get dangerously muddy and slippy after heavy rain, not very long, 300 meters or so but I've caught myself travelling sideways a few times and doing that along the canal, in winter, at night is enough to have put me off until the spring although I do still cycle to the station.
I probably should add I'm quite heavy at 15st which I guess would affect which motors will carry me? I'm also short 5'7" which will affect which frames will work for me. I usually take a small frame.
My objectives are: To lose weight (so I will be pedalling) and to save money.
With two kids and a stay at home wife the purchase needs to be self financing so I'm looking at the ride2work scheme my work offers which limits my budget to £1k (or maybe a little over if they can sell the battery seperately).
Can anybody make any recommendations?
My thoughts /concerns:
If I get a front wheel hub driven one, will that be better for grip in the muddy sections, a bit like 'four wheel' drive on a 4x4 but 2x2 in this case? How much of a difference will that make?
Hybrid or MTB? I have a hybrid which is great in spring/summer but not grippy enough in winter. Maybe just upgrade hybrid with offroad tyres for extra grip?
'off the shelf' packages seem to only have 8 gears, does that matter less with an electric bike?
Longevity of motors / batteries, bearing in mind I can pick up a cheap electric bike on Ride2Work for less than the cost I can buy a replacement battery full price, is cheep and cheereful like the 8fun bike or cyclamatic a better choice than paying more and keeping for longer?
Build or buy? realistically I don't have the skills to build but reckon I could get a much better bike and motor for my budget (even if I buy the motor seperately) if I go that route. Anybody recommend bike shops willing to do this who can mail out bikes or are in south East area?
Getting throughly confused, any advice or recommendations gratefully accepted and apologies for the length of my first post!
