West Midland - Dealers?

[JohnnyB]

Hi everyone,

I have just joined the forum (said 'hello' in the introduce yourself bit!). I have been looking around for the last 12 months. I'm trying to 'wean' myself out of my car, I have a 'human-powered' push bike at the moment but unfortunately am struggling with a pair of dodgy kneecaps (seems quite a popular ailment!) and I do like the idea of some assistance. I suspect the new bike will be used for local errands and the like. I didn't think that I lived in a particularly 'hilly' part of the world until I started accompanying my daughter on her training runs (only on the pushbike I hasten to add!). It turns out that I live on the top of a 'mild' incline, so setting off on a journey is great - coming back, well that's a different story!
Anyway the point of this post - I would like to try a number of bikes, I've read lots here - I have a vague idea of what I want - which seems to be what everyone else does too (long range,low weight, hill climber with an everlasting battery all for a pittance!) I am realistic enough to know that I will have to compromise, however there doesn't seem to be anywhere in the west mids that stocks anything (wolverhampton is my home) for me to try!

Can anyone advise of any localish retailers with demonstration facilities?

Many thanks.
John

 

[JamesC]

Most makes will be on show at The Tour de Presteigne on 9th/10th May.

You also have OnBike at Kidderminster not too far away.

James

PS Good description of what makes a useful ebike.

 

[Barnowl]

"long range,low weight, hill climber with an everlasting battery all for a pittance!"

1 out 5 should be acheivable (and it's not the battery or the pittance..)

Yes I recommend a trip to Presteigne as well if you make it. Many people here seem to have had their bike delivered boxed up and assembled it rather than purchasing locally. That's why a trip out to Presteigne where you can try them out and compare is recommended.

 

[Django]

Hi John,

Have a look at this map and click on 'Dealers, Suppliers and Repairers' towards the top left hand corner.

Not too many at the moment so if anyone reading this knows of more, please let us know.

 

[JohnnyB]

Thank you JamesC / Barnowl / Django, I will definately make a point of visiting OnBike and maybe get down to Presteigne on 'the' weekend. The more I read the more confused I get, I think it will only be resolved if I actually see the metal. I've been out tonight on my ordinary bike and it really has taken a toll.

What I can't appreciate at the moment is that many pedelecs share the same components and yet their costs are so different. I have been looking at the 'Alien' offerings and see that they use the same hub motor as the 'Wispers' but can be had for about half the price! I'm wondering, as a newbie, whether I would be able to tell the difference!

Once again, many thanks.

John

 

[Barnowl]

John, Know what you mean. The big thing to take into account is the battery, what range it will provide, how many charges you can expect from it, and how much it costs to replace.
As far as the duff knees go the e-bike is a vast improvement over a pedel only bike and much, much, more enjoyable.
I've also found keeping the gearing down with a high cadence above 60 rpm, getting the saddle adjusted just right and nice hard, slick 700X32 tyres helps.

 

[fishingpaul]

They have both used the same make of motor,not sure if it is actually the exact same motor,i think alien uses cheap chinese bikes to fit a motor and rack mounted battery to, while the wisper is designed to be an electric bike,the wisper battery has one of the highest ranges available at present,but a replacement battery is over £500,so if your budget allows the wisper is probably a better bike,but if you want a reasonably priced bike the alien may well do, if you are prepared to replace some of the cheaper parts as they wear out.

 

[Saddlesore]

West Midlands Dealers

There's a couple of electric bike dealersin Shrewsbury which is not too far away - Stan Jones and Easy Rider - nice run out to Shrewsbury as well - all the best

 

[Django]

There's a couple of electric bike dealersin Shrewsbury which is not too far away - Stan Jones and Easy Rider - nice run out to Shrewsbury as well - all the best

Easy Rider has closed I'm afraid. I didn't know that Stan Jones did e-bikes so that is interesting. I will pop in next time I am in town.

 

[Andy Grayland]

Hi John
Onbike have shops in Kidderminster and Presteigne with the biggest range of electric bikes in the country. We are next to quiet roads with over 15 different demo bikes. See OnBike - The Electric Bike Specialists.
Andrew

 

[Scatty]

Hi John
Onbike have shops in Kidderminster and Presteigne with the biggest range of electric bikes in the country. We are next to quiet roads with over 15 different demo bikes. See OnBike - The Electric Bike Specialists.
Andrew

you might have the biggest range in west midlands not the country poweredbicycles in the east midlands has over 30 electric bikes to test ride or buy making them surely a contender for biggest range

 

[jac]

hi what are the e-motion bikes with panasonic drive i have never heard of this make of bike

jim

 

[flecc]

hi what are the e-motion bikes with panasonic drive i have never heard of this make of bike

jim

It's the model name Jim, made by the Spanish manufacturer BH. There's also two companies in the USA using the e-motion name on different electric bikes and I see 50cycles have a cycle helmet with that same e-motion name.

These are all the manufacturers/brand names I know of using the Panasonic crank drive in addition to Panasonic themselves:

BH

Biketech Flyers

Gazelle Easy Glider

Gitane

Helkama

Kalkhoff ( Derby Cycle Group)

Kettler Layana

Monark

Raleigh ( Derby Cycle Group)

Rixe
.

 

[Andrew harvey]

There is also a LBS in Kidderminster owned by a forum member, I have to confess we do not stock as many e-bikes as Onbike, but the shop has been here 90 years.

 

[JohnnyB]

Hi John
Onbike have shops in Kidderminster and Presteigne with the biggest range of electric bikes in the country. We are next to quiet roads with over 15 different demo bikes. See OnBike - The Electric Bike Specialists.
Andrew

Hi Andy,

Thanks for showing us around yesterday, we really enjoyed trying out the different types! I think that I am now more inclined to the pedelec system - although, I could get very used to a throttle only e-bike! I was much taken with your new e-motion city, once I had mastered the hill climbing technique! I have been out on my 'non-assisted' machine this morning (only a 6 mile round trip, but carrying a very heavy backpack) and I realise how much easier it would have been on one of yesterdays offerings!
Thanks once again - my daughter really had a good time too. Hopefully we will get along to Presteigne in a couple of weeks.

John

 

[Tim]

I see 50cycles have a cycle helmet with that same e-motion name.

Nearly - they're Casco E.motion helmets (note the all important and distinctive '.') - and they're specifically designed for pedelec riders.

I'm not sure what makes them uniquely suited to riding a pedelec bike, but they are very smart, well-made, ventilated and stylish. No batteries required.

 

[flecc]

I'm not sure what makes them uniquely suited to riding a pedelec bike,

I think ideally a helmet should give as much protection as possible around the head, but the potential for heat buildup problems prevent cycle helmets being adequate in that respect.

With an e-bike there's a lesser degree of rider effort required, so less heat buildup, enabling more helmet wrap-around, and I think that's what makes this design ideal for them.
.