Want to keep riding

[tgame]

I badly want to continue riding a bike as I have for most of my life, but at 74 and (gulp) 17 stone I find that I get breathless too quickly to enjoy it nowadays. I'm also 6'4" which makes finding a fit difficult. This is made more of a problem as I can't any longer lift my leg over the saddle so need a step through frame. The new Kalkhoff Agattu sounds a smashing option but I wonder if my weight and size might be a bit much for it. It's too expensive to just hope for the best and purchase, and I rather live in the sticks and couldn't travel for a test ride. Any comments from you knowledgable people would be deeply appreciated.

Tony Game.

 

[flecc]

In part it's definitely ok Tony, since it's strength is more than adequate for your weight, and they are available in a huge range of frame sizes, including a monster that would suit at almost seven feet tall.

The one question mark comes in power and fitness, since you will need to provide either 50% of the required effort in standard mode or 43% of the effort in high power mode. If you are in an area without the steepest hills, you will probably be ok, up to around 10% hills for example. If you have steeper hills from 12% to 20% that are found in some of the hillier parts of the country, your share of the effort might be a problem with the breathlessness.

That said, if you haven't got an actual medical problem, the riding you do will improve your fitness and reduce the breathlessness, especially if you are able to lose weight as well due to the added exercise.

If you can give some indication of your hills, or the area you are in, we should be able to advise further.
.

 

[tgame]

Thanks

Very kind of you to answer in such useful detail. I live in Suffolk actually which is pretty flat generally though with a few steep hills which however are short enough in general to walk up if need be. I don't have a medical problem other than general lack of fitness and inability to lift my leg over a saddle. I suspect that something that would take over half the effort might suit me very well. It's head winds as much as anything that finish me off.

Tony Game.

 

[tgame]

Two bikes

Further to my first message, the two ebikes that I've found that might suit me are the Kalkhoff Agattu as I mentioned and the ezee Sprint. Both have the step through frame which I need. Unfortunately the really big Agattu is only available in a crossbar frame.

Tony Game.

 

[flecc]

I'm sure you wouldn't need the really big one Tony. These are large bikes anyway, and the standard sprung seatpost makes them even taller. The Dutch especially, and Germans, are frequently famously tall people, and their bikes often cause problems to those of lesser stature like me, suiting the tall perfectly.

Either the Sprint or the Agattu would be ok in your area. The Sprint would make life easier for you, as it's throttle controlled motor would do most of the work all the time, but the penalty for that is that you'd gain less fitness, and probably have less range. It wouldn't be as capable on the steepest hills, but on those it could climb, it would be faster up them.

Since the Agattu enforces the contribution, you wouldn't suffer the same reduction in speed of fitness gain, even in your relatively flat area.
.

 

[Tim]

Further to my first message, the two ebikes that I've found that might suit me are the Kalkhoff Agattu as I mentioned and the ezee Sprint. Both have the step through frame which I need. Unfortunately the really big Agattu is only available in a crossbar frame.

Tony Game.

Hi Tony, Kalkhoff also offer a really, really big Agattu pedelec, their XXL with a 64cm (25 inch) step thru frame.

 

[tgame]

Good news

Hi Tony, Kalkhoff also offer a really, really big Agattu pedelec, their XXL with a 64cm (25 inch) step thru frame.

Thanks Tim - that might well be good news. The point is that I want the thing to be a really ridable bike, not at all a moped, and nothing is less efficient than very bent knees! My use would be that I would ride out perhaps ten miles or so under me-power, and then come home knowing that if I run right out of steam I would have a real helping hand. and Fleck's wonderfully useful information that the top mode would provide me with a full half or whatever was needed to propel me sounds as if it would be just the thing.

So good of you all to reply to me like this - and very very very useful.

Anthony Game.

 

[tgame]

frame size

Hi Tony, Kalkhoff also offer a really, really big Agattu pedelec, their XXL with a 64cm (25 inch) step thru frame.

Incidently, Tim, would you have any information as to suitable frame size for man with 36 inside leg?

Tony Game.

 

[UrbanPuma]

Hi Tony,

I think you also need to consider how easy the bike is to ride with the motor switched off, as you mentioned you would ride part way without assistance.

Good luck with your eventual purchase.

UrbanPuma

 

[Citrus]

Hi Tony,

I bought my Agattu just before Christmas and have ridden a little over 250 miles since the 24th December. The bike is incredibly easy to ride on the flat or downhill, with no motor assistance what-so-ever, feels just like a normal very well-made bike. When riding into a headwind I use 0.5 assist (i.e. the bike puts in half the effort you do). When I hit a steepish hill I use 1.0 assist (i.e. the bike puts in the same effort you do). I don't use the 1.3 setting ( bike puts in 1.3 times what you do), it only gives you a little bit more than the 1.0 setting and I have only tried it to see what it was like. I would rather save some battery life for longer journeys.

I bought the small frame Agattu as I am 5' 8" with a 30" inside leg. They are big bikes. I think the large frame would suit you fine - XXL might be overkill.

Let us know how you get on.


Regards

Citrus