no.. i am spartacus

[wissy]

sorry but that should have read 'which bike shall I buy' - sorry!!


Have read quite a few threads whilst I was in the moderation queue over the weekend and I started thinking 'aha... And I know which one I want...' But then I read some more and now I am in 'argh' mode so bear with me, especially those fed up with same questions.

I will be making a cycle to work claim thingie so I guess I will possibly need to pay a bit more on top of £1000 to a company but they somehow make price of nike to be £1000? I think that is right although not sure if this is such a wise idea as the council will claim ownership of the bike (they have yet to do than with anybody so should be safe as long as I keep paying!)

I am female and used to cycle'normally' a lot. in fact I have two lovely boardmans - one in my bedroom and one in the lounge. I guess that gives the low down on my cycling efforts nowadays. As a result I am no longer thin nor young (time to blame for that).

I have this massive hill on the way to work - also knows as Snowdonia - from Anglesey so that is my main concern. I need a bike that is good for hills. Steep nasty ones. i would like the bike to get me up the hill with ideally no pedalling whilst I am overwight and unfit. I may join in afterwards. i do downhill really really well. Flasts.. Hmm ok but I am really an expert on how flat a flat really is. By the way Anglesey is not flat not flat not flat!!!! malltreath is but that is it and I don't go there.

my journey to work is probably 8 miles and two of those is massive hill bendy thing. It will be a nicer ride on way home.

I would probably be charging the bike once a day then I take it, on my return. I will need a battery that can cope with 16 miles a day with me cycling some parts normally to assist and cope with being charged very day. i hear battery life depends on so many things.

I am not sure why a twisted throttle is an extra on some bikes.. How would it work otherwise?

i do like the design and for sure the quality brand name that Kalkhoff have but possibly their hill bike would be too expensive for me... I prefer crossbar as that's how all my bikes are and don't really like the shopping basket shaped girly design bikes.

I may use the bike on rough terrain 'maybe' but am trying to get as light a bike in weight as possible in case I have to push the machine sometime. I remember having a mountain bike and it was awful to push becaus eof weight and knobbly tyres.

I am nowhere near any supplier and getting to any of them is nigh on impossible due to high costs of petrol using a 1972 vw camper van (daily driver - gulps) and of course it may break down on long journeys (another forum story another day)

As mich as I like the idea of the battery being inconspicuous I think the reality of changing battery would have to be simple for me to cope with on my own.

I have read that rear hub thingummies is best and perhaps panasonic or bosch motors also. hmmm?

It needs to be road legal - at least with a sticker I believe?

I only seem to have read positive reviews of the Tonaro Bighit (is there actually a bighit 4 and 5 separately???) but it seems the other tonaro models would climb hills just as well as the bighit? It would be good,in a strange way, to hear negative things about the Tonaro especially the bighit one.. to get a perspective?

Are the Tonaro models sold in Germany with a different name and cheaper price? We may get one if I go over sometime but not sure the cycle to work people would be allowed / cope with me wanting to buy overseas, although in EU?? Exchange rate etc.. Another hmmm. I would not really be ale to take much, if any, advantage of service assistance from Uk supplier as I am not ale to transport myself easily (BMUS)

I am 5'5" (this sounds dodgy putting this in a forum thread) and have noticed many bikes don't do different sized frames?

I had other things to ask but need a cuppa to get brain on track. Hopefully some of you might be able to assist with responses. Ologies for asking the same thing but my mind is boggled.

diolch

 

[JuicyBike]

Hee Hee, love the sentiments expressed in your post!
Go and try a range of bikes before you decide!
If you can get to Chester, All About The Bike have an excellent range and reputation. Christine there will look after you and probably sell you a great bike (which could be a Juicy - She stocks us).

At £1000 you have a very wide choice of bikes from all sorts of suppliers, though buying through Cycle To Work scheme narrows that choice considerably. I would advise choosing a BEBA registered dealer or manufacturer, simply because they all subscribe to a reliable code of practice, and can not be members unless they adhere to that code.

I think that rear wheel driven e-bikes are much more like bikes are supposed to be: bike frames are designed to be pushed, not pulled. Others will disagree and there are arguments for front wheel driven bikes that are both pulled by the motor and pushed by the rider through the back wheel, two wheel drive effectively. But not to my taste, and taste is everything as your Boardmans demonstrate.

I hope you can take that trip to Christine in Chester, she's able to give impartial advise, unlike myself (did I say you should buy a Juicy Bike yet?), as she has such a great range.

If you can't easily get to Chester then both our own shops, in Buxton and New Mills, are within 300 metres of a rail station, and offer pleasant days out.

Good luck with your search.

 

[wissy]

Hi juicy. Thanks for the welcome and for replying. I had looked at your website but only considered the 'normal' shaped bike you have ie the hybrid. It seems quite light but it hasn't shouted out at me in this forum. I have come across hsyteria almost for the Tonaro bighit and some good reviews for the kalkhoff 2012 c8 going up hills. Now I don't quite know the technical differences for these opinions.. Is it battery, throttle, something else?? I'm still learning so feel free to educate me in my shortlisting.

My short list thus far

1. Tolado (I can never remember that name) bighit or the but not sure which version is 2012 or 2013 model one of this? is there a number to go with bighit model... Eg bighit 4. And bighit 5? or the hybrid style one from same place.

2. Kalkhoff agattu c8 impulse hs which is on sale at present.... But not sure when 2013 modle out and whether will be way too expensive for me or nearer sale price ish.? I like the normal look of it and it seems to have an excellent reputation.

3. I think consideration also to BH emotion neo?? Battery accessibility an issue and price but I think it goes up hills well and regarded in good esteem? Any comments?

Not sure yet about frame size suitability or how much the agattu weighs? i am also interested in their weight also.

But am willing to listen to alternatives with basic reasons why? bear in mind I really do mean hills are steep and go on and on... I need to be able to cycle faster than 15mph and still not sure why some have throttle and others don't or are an extra???

 

[Cyclezee]

Hi Wissy,

Welcome to the forum.

Have you considered converting one of your Boardmands to electric rather than a new bike.

We supply eZee conversion kit that would be compatible with one of them, we also have a 10% off winter sale on the range of eZee bikes and Tonaro Enduros from only £925.

For more info check our website here electric bikes and conversion kits - Home

Regards,

 

[funkylyn]

Tolado........oh wissy, thats a new one ROFLOL
.... but much more acceptable than the silly nasty names certain 'victor meldrews ' give them.

If you take the sensor magnet off the back wheel of the TONARO's then it will assist up to about 18+ mph which is a help.
As I said in your other thread ....it will eat your hills with ease

Other plus points its a crank driven motor WITH throttle

Lynda

 

[wissy]

What the hell is a throttle?? Argh??? It's driving me insane... What is one without then??

Ps my hills are mountains honest they is!

 

[wissy]

hanks for reply.... had thought about this but a few things put me off....

1. changing my existing bike setup..
2. Cost of it vs all done set up with new bike chucked in I guess
3. Time factor of taking bike, getting bike back
4. Not being able to understand complexity it all or test review / compare with allin offerings cos all bikes different I guess with your stuff on it

not tempt me.. Not hurting my beautiful boardmans!!! they look nice doing nothing indoors
One is carbon racer and t'other is cute hybrid...

i do have a lovely old Peugeot vintage milk racer thing in shed and a peugeot triathlon..... Do kits never go on racing bikes????

Also I would not get cycle to work thingie I assume.. Guess that must lose you business which seems unfair really?

 

[funkylyn]

OK wissy......

First there are different motors......hub and crank driven ones.
A powerful hub will get you up hills as long as they dont last for ever and arent too steep...

Many hub motors arent powerful for long sustained hill climbs....I am talking here only of legal hub motors

A crank driven motor will get you up just about anything as it drives through the gears, it might be a bit slower going up long steep hills ....but it WILL get you up.
It also takes more physical effort as it works when you pedal and you have to get used to using your gears
Until Tonaros came along there wasnt a crank drive bike that had a throttle too ...which has lots of advantages........not associated with hill climbing maybe but advantages none the less

My Tonaro has got me up the mountains of Andalucia and Portugal without any problem at all.....my previous bike ...a Powacycle Windsor could only dream of......
So, for hill climbing a crank drive motor is 'generally speaking' better than most hub motors.

The throttle allows you to move without pedalling at all, but not advised for too long if you are wishing to conserve your battery....throttle use eats battery power.

I hope that explanation is slightly clearer than mud......if not then maybe someone more knowledgable will come along and help out

( to be honest Im still laughing about tolados )

Lynda

 

[wissy]

Hi

i got most of that stuff bit thanks.. It's the optional throttle I don't understand... How the hell does the bike work if it is not an option????

 

[wissy]

Ps funkylyn have you thoughts on the Klakkenhoff bikes?

 

[JuicyBike]

I think you must mean "hassellhoff"? These have been around a long time and ridden by many women by all accounts...
Sorry to hear you're not keen on a Juicy.

 

[wissy]

I hope not!!! he was dating a Welsh girl though last I heard. Yukk....


Kalkhoff.

 

[wissy]

Ps am hoping to make mind up what to buy by this Friday!

 

[103Alex1]

Wissy, Kalkhoff Agattus use Impulse drive motors and do not come with throttles. If you want to get up hills without pedaling they will not suit you and if you have long steep hills they are very good climbers and very efficient on battery use, but you will still be getting fit again fast and burning a few calories in the process unless you wish to cycle at low speeds

The Tonaro is apparently a very heavy bike and so you'd need to make sure you could do your required trip without running out of battery as heavy bikes can be very hard going unpowered. Your commute looks pretty short so you might well be in with a good chance.

 

[wissy]

Thank you!! Now firther questions sorry. i take it a throttle then is just like a motorcycle and 'makes' it go then... Still not sure why the tonora bighit for example has that as an option.. Wat does it do to go if you don't choose it?

Arghref your comment on the kalkhoff... so I definitely have to move my legs uphill.. Was hoping to do that after I got a bit fitter. if I do not pedal a. NOT At all or b. a bit will the Kalkhoff move?? Love the good climbers and battery longevity comment on this bike.

So the Kalkhoff agattus goes slow if I do not pedal??? Or just slow?

 

[funkylyn]

Thank you!! Now firther questions sorry. i take it a throttle then is just like a motorcycle and 'makes' it go then... Still not sure why the tonora bighit for example has that as an option.. Wat does it do to go if you don't choose it?

Arghref your comment on the kalkhoff... so I definitely have to move my legs uphill.. Was hoping to do that after I got a bit fitter. if I do not pedal a. NOT At all or b. a bit will the Kalkhoff move?? Love the good climbers and battery longevity comment on this bike.

So the Kalkhoff agattus goes slow if I do not pedal??? Or just slow?

No wissy....it doesnt go slow if you dont pedal...it doesnt go at all !......no pedelec bike without a throttle will move if you dont pedal it.......unless you are free wheeling DOWN your big hills !!

If you had a Tonaro without a throttle of course it would still move when you pedal it as any bike does.

Using throttle only would use your battery up very quickly,

The Tonaro Esprit weighs 25 kilos with battery....not enormously heavy...many are more and many are less, it will easily do your range required on one battery charge

If you dont want to pedal then it sounds like you would be better off with a moped or scooter

Lynda

 

[wissy]

Aha... I thought the nice Kalkhoff bikes would move, for a while at least, without any pedalling?

hmmmm... Now if I stick with Kalkhoff how slooooow would I have to pedal...? I mean I can pedal so slow it would be as if I wan't actually pedalling...! Does speed of pedalling on a kalkhoff affect speed of actual bike speed... Wll ot reah 15mph uphill if I pedal dead slow?

 

[eddieo]

welcome! Thanks for the PM..to be honest I dont really look on any other section on here just the main one. if hill climbing your main concern, my recommendation is a Bosch powered bike, second a Panasonic but a 36 v one, problem being these are expensive. Just make the effort to try before you buy, have an away day to a good dealer. Onbike a good example as they sell a good range, or alternatively wait for a show..or better still do both.

there is a new cheaper centre drive bike on the way from Kudos..but no one knows anything about it. but at times you can get a Bosch/Panasonic bike for around the same money abroad. You can get better deals from Germany at times. need to know if you are happy with a crossbar bike (they are normally a lot lighter) and once you have tried a few happy to help further.....

I wont be drawn on one particular creation recommended here... and you are right you dont need a throttle on a modern centre drive bike. Thee is only so much you gan clean on a forum you really just have to make the effort and get out a nd try a few different bikes..and for heavens sake dont be tempted to buy blind!

 

[wissy]

Many thanks for the replies and thanks eddieo for replying.

I am tempted still by the klakkenhoff c8 impulse despite having to always pedal. I can always get off and push . they have a good reputation for various aspects and the sale price seems a good deal but perhaps a new 2013 model will be coming in?

Any views on the c8 impulse or the emotion neo bikes? There is much on here on the tonaro bikes so pretty much know quite a bit (yes honest It doesn't sound like it but I do!!) about that one.. Just looking tomfindout more about t'others.

I probably will be daft enough to buy unseen and untested as getting places is a problem and I hate the A55 dual carriageway so much I avoid. in fact Dublin day trip probably a better option. Anyhow back to research before my 'impulse' buy!!

Views on these last 2 appreciated.. Or smilar models / anything I may have missed?

 

[SRS]

Aha... I thought the nice Kalkhoff bikes would move, for a while at least, without any pedalling?

hmmmm... Now if I stick with Kalkhoff how slooooow would I have to pedal...? I mean I can pedal so slow it would be as if I wan't actually pedalling...! Does speed of pedalling on a kalkhoff affect speed of actual bike speed... Wll ot reah 15mph uphill if I pedal dead slow?

Wissy take a look here for some good infoA to B magazine - Electric bikes, folding bikes, e-scooters and more!