Flecc, you're very kind. To be completely honest, especially at this time of year, I should have added "couch potato" to the list. And I don't think that's gender-biased. 
Mary
Mary
Pedelec gender agenda
- Thread starter jimmyengland1000
- Start date
Nope, I love this forum and am most definitely female, ok, I am a newbie, blonde and a girl racer of 48! lol!! but have read posts before I registered.
I have relied on a leccy bike for 3 years and would not change to a normal one for love nor money, unless cheaufour (think may have spelt wrong?) driven everywhere! I have just purchased an SE from Germany (well Almost) and am looking forward to recieving it.
I think that the GOOD electric bikes on the market are aimed at the male population and not at the girlies :0(.
Most ladies like step throughs and lets face it, they are not the coolest looking bikes on the planet, lol!
I am a bit of a shorty at 5ft 2inch so am hoping that I will be able to get my leg over that cross bar and have my toes on the ground as it has 26 inch wheels?
24 inch wheels also seem a no no for good leccy bikes, why? There are short guys out there too, aren't there? lol. My current Powabyke has 24 inch wheels. I could be seen sawing the seat post off of this one! Only kidding (Hopefully)
I would not touch a step through with a barge pole! My fiance owns a Yamaha R1!, just couldn't keep up! lol!! He takes the mick constantly but I have given him the job of assembling my German SE when it arrives, LOL!! He is really looking forward to it (NOT), :0)!!!
I can understand why the market is mainly aimed at the lads.
I don't think you could make a step through that good?
Could You???
Lads and ladesses out there, do you think any different?
Regards
Mand
LOL Mandy
Step through can be cool!
Look at the history of Scooters, later called Mopeds.
First the Vespa, then the Lambretta, these were all step through and the coolest thing on the planet for generations of young men, and still today many youngsters dream of owning one of the many makes on the market. They tend to be step-over, rather than true step through these days, but still easy to mount and dismount.
The same was true of the hugely successful Velosolex petrol assisted bike, all of which were step through and the great majority of the owners male, so a gender non-specific design.
For a utility bike, step through makes a lot of sense, and never more so than when there's a child seat on the carrier with a hefty toddler on board. They tend to dislike being regularly kicked in the head.
.
Hi Flecc
Yes I do agree with you there for the petrol motored scooters.
I had one similar to a Vespa myself, well a Piaggio, same branding but newer.
Also had a Honda Vision Met In (showing my age) lol
I think an electric step through could be good but just don't feel the manufacturers spend as much time on these as they do on the normal mountain bike sort. They kind of don't look as good design wise.
There may be one out there that is the full monty, but I have yet to come across one that I really like the look of. However, if there were one I liked then I may change my mind :0)
Regards
Mandy
Yes I do agree with you there for the petrol motored scooters.
I had one similar to a Vespa myself, well a Piaggio, same branding but newer.
Also had a Honda Vision Met In (showing my age) lol
I think an electric step through could be good but just don't feel the manufacturers spend as much time on these as they do on the normal mountain bike sort. They kind of don't look as good design wise.
There may be one out there that is the full monty, but I have yet to come across one that I really like the look of. However, if there were one I liked then I may change my mind :0)
Regards
Mandy
I know what you mean Mandy, but it's a difficult problem. Given the wheel placements on a bicycle, the need for the bottom of a step through to accommodate a shoe passing through it leaves the down tube from the headstock with a fixed shape.
On an electric bike where the best place for the battery is behind the seat tube, that foreshortens the frame in a particular way that leaves a one design shape. It doesn't really look stylish, but function tends to make it inevitable.
One way it can be changed to look more stylish is to make the frame longer and lengthen the wheelbase, but that has various disadvantages, like changing the handling and creating storage problems.
Another way is to use smaller wheels with the longer more stylish frame, thus keeping the wheelbase within bounds, but that would mean wheels no larger than 20", bring the problems of adequate gearing that small wheel bikes suffer. The small wheels would possibly undo the styling gain in the frame as well.
All in all, the sort of problems that drive designers to stick with what they know works, the traditional step through shape.
.
On an electric bike where the best place for the battery is behind the seat tube, that foreshortens the frame in a particular way that leaves a one design shape. It doesn't really look stylish, but function tends to make it inevitable.
One way it can be changed to look more stylish is to make the frame longer and lengthen the wheelbase, but that has various disadvantages, like changing the handling and creating storage problems.
Another way is to use smaller wheels with the longer more stylish frame, thus keeping the wheelbase within bounds, but that would mean wheels no larger than 20", bring the problems of adequate gearing that small wheel bikes suffer. The small wheels would possibly undo the styling gain in the frame as well.
All in all, the sort of problems that drive designers to stick with what they know works, the traditional step through shape.
.
OMG!! Come and join the gang ladies!! Seriously though if you have or want to purchase an electric bike join this forum.
I have one and wouldn't be without it.
Mandy XXX
Somehow, I don;t think you'll be able to use this bike though. I'm 6'2" and found the Wisper 905e only slightly too small for me. With the seat post down as far as it would go, my feet were flat on the ground. I once had a girlfriend of 5'2", so am familiar with the dimensions! I'd definitely double-check before buying...
OMG! I hope you are wrong there Jimmy?
I asked the guys at Wisper when this was the "Knight Rider" and was assured that it would be fine for my inside leg measurement and height.
Better be! Not recieved it yet though and am a little worried.
I know it is not the fault of the guys in Germany as they have been great!!
I will let you know if I have to chop it down!!
Just gets better!!!
C
Cyclezee
Guest
Hi Mandy, I would suggest changing to a non suspension seat post and a pair of platform boots similar to those worn by Elton John
If that doesn't do it just take hacksaw to the crossbar
Do you know what hacksaw is
If you don't like any of the above PM me, that's Private Message, I haven't missed off the T
John
If that doesn't do it just take hacksaw to the crossbar
Do you know what hacksaw is
If you don't like any of the above PM me, that's Private Message, I haven't missed off the T
John
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In Felixstowe you'd get whistled at by all the boy buggy racers!
leccy bike
Love it
. Mine is a "leccy bike" from now on.
It's what comes of diving into the "Introduce yourself" thread promptly and chatting them up Tony.Oh . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.
I first fell in love with my wife on a Lambretta scooter in 1955. The sexiest accessory for a girl ever invented.
Mandy,
The large suspension forks on the Wisper have the effect of jacking the front of the bike up so, as Jimmy says, the cross-bar is quite high. It's curved so it depends where you measure it, but in the middle the standover height is 31".
Rule of thumb is that you should add an inch to get the minimum inside leg measurement to ride the bike safely. I'm 5'7" with about 30" inside leg and the bike is on the big side for me but just about ok, but I do think you will find it a bit of a stretch!
I'm feeling guilty now as I had meant to post a review of the bike and make this very point (amongst others), but have not yet got round to it.
Frank
The large suspension forks on the Wisper have the effect of jacking the front of the bike up so, as Jimmy says, the cross-bar is quite high. It's curved so it depends where you measure it, but in the middle the standover height is 31".
Rule of thumb is that you should add an inch to get the minimum inside leg measurement to ride the bike safely. I'm 5'7" with about 30" inside leg and the bike is on the big side for me but just about ok, but I do think you will find it a bit of a stretch!
I'm feeling guilty now as I had meant to post a review of the bike and make this very point (amongst others), but have not yet got round to it.
Frank
Oh Yes I can Jimmy!!!! and I have, lol! Must be my inside leg
Okay, I was forwarned about the size directly from Wisper some time ago and gave them my inside leg measurement, lol! After a couple of hilarious emails where I was misinformed of the frame size which would have made me like 2 foot tall ( yes if you are on the forum you may remember me? lol it was funny) I already knew I would need to buy a standard seat post to lower the height of the saddle and on delivery today and taking note of the diameter I took the original seat post to our local cycle suppliers and bought a new one :0) I had also pre armed myself with a posh memory foam saddle to combat my loss of suspension. So I thought it through and the bike is some beast compared to my very small and now very unsuperior PowaByke this bike is the DOGS!!!
I took it out for a spin after having help from a great guy on here sending me pics on how to wire in the throttle etc and it went like a bat out of hell up and down my road outside my house!! This is on the flat.
It was funny though, my son wanted a go when he got home and he is 6ft plus and weighs 14 1/2 stone and he was much slower, so guess it is all relative to weight and speed as I only weigh just over 8 stone, it FLEW!! lol!! Took me by surprise to put it nicely, lol!!
If I am honest, it is better than expected and I simply would not have needed to pedal and was too scared to look at the dash board, lol, oops I mean on board computer :0)
I don't know what is included in the box from Wisper Uk but I was very impressed with all the bits I had included with my German purchase: A solar front light and back. Dynamo lights (Problem is they turn off when bike not in motion which you would already know, but a great added extra for safety) Pump, pump holder, full panier rack, cradle for bottle, both sets of mudguards, mountain and city and just a super great looking bike!!! I also love the drop handle bars in any position too, nice touch Wisper what ever spec it is? lol!!
I bloody love it!!!
You can fit the nicer mountain bike mudguards with the panier rack if you wish as I have and looks nicer for anyone who is thinking of buying one :0). You don't need to fit the full city one's which I personally didn't like so best of both worlds, lol!!
I also have my sensible head on and will not be riding it to work in the rush hour till next Monday as I need to get the feel of it over the weekend as it is somewhat larger and significantly more powerful than my old bike but it is not too big for me, my legs must be long for my height, PMSL! I am sure that makes sense although I will be thinking of what I am missing when I am pedalling away on my powabyke tomorrow morning, lol!!! Yikes!!!
I love it !!!! and at this present moment in time and seeing what it can do, I would totally recommend!!! Consider the weight factor though :0)
Regards
A very happy
MandyGlad you are happy with it Mandy!
My concern wasn't the height of the saddle but the height of the crossbar - if you are ok when you come to a stop and put your feet on the ground while straddling the crossbar.
I know I can only just manage it. Perhaps its because I have my seat high for efficient pedalling. If you have the seat very low, because of the curve of the crossbar you may be able to reach the ground while still in the seat. Anyway - I'm glad it works for you.
FYI - the UK Wisper box contains exactly the same bike and goodies! The confusion between UK and Germany has arisen because the Wisper guys have said that they intend to tweak the UK spec on a future re-release. However the current UK and German ones are identical.
Frank
My concern wasn't the height of the saddle but the height of the crossbar - if you are ok when you come to a stop and put your feet on the ground while straddling the crossbar.
I know I can only just manage it. Perhaps its because I have my seat high for efficient pedalling. If you have the seat very low, because of the curve of the crossbar you may be able to reach the ground while still in the seat. Anyway - I'm glad it works for you.
FYI - the UK Wisper box contains exactly the same bike and goodies! The confusion between UK and Germany has arisen because the Wisper guys have said that they intend to tweak the UK spec on a future re-release. However the current UK and German ones are identical.
Frank
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LOL!!! I missed this one Mr Johnny, ha haHi Mandy, I would suggest changing to a non suspension seat post and a pair of platform boots similar to those worn by Elton John
If that doesn't do it just take hacksaw to the crossbar
Do you know what hacksaw is
If you don't like any of the above PM me, that's Private Message, I haven't missed off the T
John
No I am not offended, lol!!! Yes I do know what a hacksaw is you cheeky monkey! Had to saw the new seat post in half!
I do know what you mean about the platform boots, lol!
I am fine when I am on, it's just getting on and off that is the problem! lol!!
I will get some practice in at the weekend and will leave the platforms at home!!
Mandy
They wouldn't be able to keep up!!!!In Felixstowe you'd get whistled at by all the boy buggy racers!
leccy bike
Love it
It's got to be Leccy bike, I named my old one Leccy but what will I call my new one? Leccy 2?
Mandy
You are right Frank, I has a high cross bar and finding it a little tricky but where there is a will there's a way, lol!
When I am on it my toes touch the floor seated on the saddle and I can dismount and break fine by lowereing myself off the saddle.
It's getting my leg over it that is the problem!!! LOL!!
Mandy
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