No idea which bike to buy or where to go for best advice!

[Lynne]

Hi, I have been diagnosed with MS for the past 20 years. When walking became difficult I started riding a bike (Ladies Trek 700). Now riding that bike is too difficult and because I often fall off (only when stopped!), I cannot go out on my own. Getting up the hills around Barnsley is also too much for me these days. I do not want to stop riding bikes so assisted pedaling seems the obvious answer.

And the good news is that the MS society in Barnsley are impressed with my positive attitude so they will give me a £2000 grant to buy a new bike. So it should be a doddle! BUT it isn't and I am struggling.

I need a low step through, something that will go up hills. I would like a reasonable range- who knows I may try the Trans Pennine Trail- easy to use brakes, my right hand is weak these days. A throttle would be good, for when I have to push.

My first question is where should I go for some really good advice? I am prepared to travel and spend some time getting the right bike, because I want to use it lots and I want it to last.

I have tried a Kalkhoff, and a Wisper....

What would you get?

Thanks

 

[flecc]

As a start point Lynne, the bike you like most is the right one when it comes to choice. What suits anyone else won't necessarily be right for you. The Kalkhoff (if a crank drive one which it probably was) and the Wisper are very different drive systems. If you can tell us if you had any preference between those two, it will help us to point you in the right directions.

 

[Lynne]

I did like the Kalkhoff, just not the service! I tried the Wisper some time ago and so my recollections are not great. Really I just need advice about a good bike shop, where the staff will hear and not blind me with science! The problem is that I do not look like I have any specific needs...and I don't until I've done a 15 minute bike ride and then my right leg won't move unless somebody lifts it and my right hand doesn't work that well!
Thanks

 

[Willin']

You are not far from Juicy Bikes in Buxton. Why not contact Bob and see if you can go down there and try out one his step throughs. Even if you don't buy from him you will have a good idea of whether you can handle the hills (Buxton is obviously a good place to test this) and he will give you good advice and you are near enough for good support as well.

Dutch style electric bike: The Juicy Bike Classic

 

[gray198]

hi Lynne,
further to the previous answer from Willin, My wife has a juicy bike folder which suits her fine as she is only 5'2. She has never been a cyclist but recently coped with some quite large hills in Derbyshire without much trouble. It has a throttle so can give you a rest. Great value. £789 I think. We went to Buxton for it and they could not do enough for us. Well worth a look

gray

 

[banbury frank]

Hi lynne

Have you looked at a trike conversion with our kit you will ride up the steepest hills with no pedalling

In fact we have a customer in Banbury with MS with one we can convert the following He was a keen cyclist but now looses his balance and falls off 2 wheels


trikes for disabled cycling, adult trikes, adult tricycles, special needs cycling


Pashley Picador Tricycle £695.00 Free Delivery

The best Made in UK But step through not as low as the mission at 6 Inches

Frank

Range 15 miles no pedalling Throttle only

Frank

 

[neptune]

Hi Lynn. Love your attitude. If you tend to fall over when stationary, you need a light bike, but you also ask for a long range, and that means a big battery . Try as many bikes as you can. A trike might work for you, but daft as it sounds, some people having ridden 2 wheels, can not ride a trike, because they try to balance it. Try it anyway. Trikes are not so handy in traffic, being wide.
Whatever you choose, consider having the front brake lever moved to the left side, if your left hand is strongest. I really hope you have lots of happy miles on your chosen machine.

 

[Kudoscycles]

Lynne,sorry about your MS. My brother in law has MS,it is such a cruel illness. Can I suggest that you visit Christine at All about the Bike,near Manchester,please look on my website for contact details,they represent many different e-bikes and will give you unbiased advice.
We have a new bike named Safari that was specifically designed to be an easy step through and to accommodate a range of different heights and leg lengths . Also out lightweight folder is an easy to use e bike,
Both bikes have a throttle and are good hill climbers.
Hope that helps
Dave
Kudoscycles

 

[JuicyBike]

Hi Lynne
You'd be more than welcome to borrow any of our bikes from Buxton. It would be a good excuse for one of us to go along for a ride too, or you could bring a friend.
Can you tell us how tall you are and any other stats you might be willing to reveal can help recommend the right bike for you.
The Edinburgh Bicycle Shop in Sheffield have some electric bikes, including from Wisper, Storc and Giant, and towards Dore to the south is the excellent Bike Tree, which stocks Juicy.
All About The Bike in Chester also gets good reviews for the care Christine takes to find the right bike for her customers.

 

[tillson]

I did like the Kalkhoff, just not the service! I tried the Wisper some time ago and so my recollections are not great. Really I just need advice about a good bike shop, where the staff will hear and not blind me with science! The problem is that I do not look like I have any specific needs...and I don't until I've done a 15 minute bike ride and then my right leg won't move unless somebody lifts it and my right hand doesn't work that well!
Thanks

Lynne, I have just read you comment about leg mobility restrictions after 15 minutes of cycling. A bike like the Kalkhoff with its crank drive is very much like riding an unassisted bike only the pedal pressure is lighter due to the motor assist. It makes me wonder if this type of system is suitable, or if you would be better served by a system which will do all of the work when necessary. The crank dives generally require a continuous pedal input from the rider, whereas some of the hub motors can work like an electric moped if your legs start to feel the strain.

Whatever you do, spend a decent amount of time trying both systems and go for the quality end of the market. It isn't really enough to just go for a quick spin around the block, especially since you will have some specific needs.

However well intentioned, the trade members are just that, trade members, so bear that in mind when reading advice on here.

I can't recommend any specific bike to you, but if you want to try a crank driven system, a visit to 50 Cycles and a trial on their Kalkhoff range would be time well spent. They should have examples of the Panasonic, Bosch and the Kalkhoff Impulse drive systems.

 

[Lynne]

Thanks to everybody, these replies are so helpful and giving me plenty to think about. I feel very fortunate to have been given a grant and want to spend the money wisely. A bit more info: I am 5' 8'' so tall! Getting out and about in the fresh air is important to me, I used to love fell walking, riding a bike has filled the gap and I believe kept me mobile. I want to keep exercising my legs. I like the feeling of 2 wheels, and my balance is reasonable. When I stop, if very tired and without assistance from somebody to lift my right leg over the cross bar, I can't get off my bike. And then if I can't pedal when going up a hill, I slow down, stop and over I go!

I have considered a trike, problem is the gates on the TPT.

So I want 2 wheels that I pedal with assistance especially up the hills. I guess the bike needs to not be too heavy. And I need to plan a trip to Buxton!
Don't suppose any bike suppliers are exhibiting during the Preston Guild?

I'm sure the effort will be worth it and thank goodness I plucked up the courage to join this forum!

 

[Cyclezee]

Hi lynne

Have you looked at a trike conversion with our kit you will ride up the steepest hills with no pedalling

In fact we have a customer in Banbury with MS with one we can convert the following He was a keen cyclist but now looses his balance and falls off 2 wheels


trikes for disabled cycling, adult trikes, adult tricycles, special needs cycling


Pashley Picador Tricycle £695.00 Free Delivery

The best Made in UK But step through not as low as the mission at 6 Inches

Frank

Range 15 miles no pedalling Throttle only

Frank

Of the two trikes, I would not recommend the Pashley Picador, both the brakes operate on the front wheel, the rim brake and the drum.

One of them is just a parking brake.

The forks are too narrow and not strong enough to stretch.

I was asked to convert one by a young lady who wanted to carry her toddlers on the back, but had to tell her it was unsuitable on several levels.

The Mission Solo could be much more suitable, but I don't know if the forks are wide enough for a 100 mm wide motor.

 

[banbury frank]

Hi Lynne

I see This the other day sets off stabilizer wheels

Stabilizer Wheels - training wheels for adult bicycles


Bike Usa Adult Stabilizer Wheel Kit - 16 Training Wheels - outdoor recreation


http://www.eztrainingwheels.com/category/adult_bike_training_wheels/

Then you can use a standard Bike

Hope this helps

Frank

 

[hopper_rider]

Hi Lynne,

This is my first post. I joined the forum to provide feedback on a bike I have recently bought. The Tesco Hopper. Currently retailing at £399. It is also a folder.

My experience of electric bikes is with this alone. But I have been impressed. It does not have a throttle but has 6 gears and even in first gear very little pressure activates the motor so unless on a hill you can feel that it is doing all the work.

I am a little shorter than you but there is ample room to raise the saddle. I dont need to. My foray in the the world of electric bikes was also due to health concerns and potentially compromised independence. It is not something that I will likely be using for long distance rides and I feel it satisfies my current requirements. It was shipped in the UK from a dealer in Manchester who also sells the Viking E2Go which to my eyes is the same bike but in a different colour with a different name, but which costs £699.

I am not saying that this bike would be the best for you. But it provides a cheap way of seeing if an electric bike is the solution for you. There may of course be other ways to test that. Some electric bike retailers do have facilities where you can test out different models prior to making a full purchase. That may be a good route for you.

I am impressed by what these bikes can offer and only wish I had known about them beforehand.

Good Luck.

 

[Lynne]

Again thanks to everyone for taking the time to send suggestions. I have in the past considered stabilisers! And now I know where to look for them.

I am working in Newmarket soon and so intend to visit the Electric Transport Shop in Cambridge. I have a lot to think about and really need to get clued up about..the law, crank drives, batteries, throttles...and that is before I've even considered what adaptions I'm going to need.

And I thought this was going to be easy! I do know I'm going to enjoy this....

 

[Deleted member 4366]

I can't see those stabilisers as being very safe. You steer a bicycle by pushing the handlebars in the opposite direction to what you want to turn to make the bike lean over and turn the way you want to go. The moment one of those stabiliser wheels touches the ground, you can't lean any further, so your steering effort is reversed. It would be very confusing. If you've ever switched between a solo motorbike and one with a sidecar or a bike and a trike, you'll know what I mean.

 

[jackhandy]

That third set, with springing that let's the bike lean, looks interesting:

As I looked at the first two, I was thinking that something similar to the canting sidecar mechanism for Harleys & Goldwings would be nifty; but those springs look too simple - One's forced to wonder how far over they'd let you go before, either the back wheel let go, or the stabilizer rebounded - Either one resulting in a noseplant

 

[Lynne]

Don't like idea of a bruised face.....and balancing on 2 wheels is good for my core stability...so will stick with that. Can you test drive kalkhoff anywhere other than 50 cycles?

 

[tillson]

Don't like idea of a bruised face.....and balancing on 2 wheels is good for my core stability...so will stick with that. Can you test drive kalkhoff anywhere other than 50 cycles?

50 Cycles used to have a database of Kalkhoff owners who would be willing to allow people to try out the bikes. Here is the link to their dealer page It looks like they still do the Owner Demo thing.

 

[Kudoscycles]

Lynne,
Just to make sure you are aware that many of the Kalkhoff bikes are not cycle path legal,because the motors exceed the maximum power of 250 watts,unless you register them as mopeds(then they can only be used on the highway),currently they can only be used on private land,the following article from A to B explains all.

Is the BS10 legal?
In a word no, but like so much in the Alice in Wonderland world of Euro-legislation, it is legal in parts, and can be made 100% legal quite easily. Just to recap, if you ride an electrically- assisted bike rated at more than 250 watts, weighing more than 40kg and capable of more than 25kph, you are liable to be prosecuted for riding an untaxed, unlicensed and uninsured moped. At 22.2kg, the BS10 sails through the weight clause, but is a tad powerful at 350 watts, and very very fast, so on paper at least, the rider is liable to prosecution. In practise, prosecutions of ordinary commuters riding ordinary-looking, but fast electric bicycles seem to be exceedingly rare, although the risk is certainly there.

Interestingly, the BS10, and presumably a few others, have now passed European Type Approval as L1e or ‘Low Powered Electric Mopeds', a category that seems to mean different things in different EU countries, or perhaps not. Type Approval means the bike comes with a certificate of conformity, proving that it has been properly tested, and it has a motor of less than 4kW (well under in this case) and a top speed of 45kph (28mph). Armed with your Type Approval certificate, you can register the bike with the DVLA, pick up your free tax disc (excellent), pay for basic insurance and plop on a helmet (both good ideas anyway). The bad news is that you have to fix a full-size number plate to the back of the bike (it already has a bracket), which is a real pain and makes you look like a first class plonker. Mind you, you may look like a plonker, but you'll be a squeaky clean, legal plonker, although presumably putting a licence plate on a bicycle will attract the attention of bored traffic police, so you're liable to get stopped once in a while.We almost forgot to add that youngish people who passed their car driving test after 1st February 2001 will also need a motorcycle licence or CBT certificate to ride the bike. Oldies don't need to worry.

Importer 50cycles takes care to point out that this legislative route is a necessary evil, and unlicensed BS10s can only be used on private land. There are now several hundred of these bikes at large in the UK, and the vast majority seem to be unregistered. Perhaps one or two really are used for beetling about on country estates, but we can assume most are being ridden to work like any other bicycle.

Where's it all going? Heaven only knows. The DfT has just ruled that it's minded to make Euro-friendly 250-watt electric bikes legal - that's after about a decade of deliberation. Yes, the DfT still thinks the 1983-vintage 200-watt limit applies. They should get out more. No doubt there are some at Marsham Street who still believe motorcars are proceeded by a man with a red flag. If it's taken the DfT a decade to get to grips with this very simple bit of law-tidying, it's never going to deal with the much tougher prospect of legislating for 28mph machines. And in the absence of clear guidance, more and more people are simply going to start riding these bikes illegally.