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A friend's wife is seriously considering getting an electric bike for a 6 mile comute over hilly but fireroad smooth terrain.
Does anyone have any recommendations?
I know there have been a number of threads about this but the search function hasn't revealed any 😳
I suspect that this will lead on to the purchase of a non electric bike (for which I'm happy to advise) so I consider this to be a gateway bike 😉
My father (who is not in great shape) bought a Kalkhoff electric bike a couple of years ago. Nicely made if slightly weirdly sized thing with quality kit - but at a serious price.
My wife has used it to ride with me and its been surprisingly good at narrowing the difference between us. They weight a lot (I mean a proper lot - 45-50lbs) so when the battery is not engaged it's hard work but if you contribute reasonably too the battery lasts a long way.
For the right sort of person, who just wouldn't or plain couldn't MTFU and ride the journey with a normal bike they are a great compromise. They can be used to flattened out lumpy terrain or make sure in a commute environment you can wear normal clothes and arrive without being clammy. When I was in Holland recently a couple of bike retailers I spoke to said they were out selling in terms of numbers normal bikes in their shops.
Would I have one - hell no! But for the right person doing the right thing they are great.
Since he purchased his a few more main stream UK known brands such as Giant and Trek have come into the market and might be worth a look.
There is a new Specialized electric bike coming out:
http://www.muddymoles.org.uk/news/specialized-turbo-e-bike-shakes-things-up
I mean a proper lot - 45-50lbs
that's only the same as a Boris bike...
that's only the same as a Boris bike...
Yes - but a boris bike is designed for the flat streets of London and didn't cost £2.5K!
That Specialized bike will not be released in the UK , it's too fast to be legal as a bike . 15MPH maximum assisted speed is what's allowed not 28 .
Thanks for the replies guys.
That Spesh looks very smart but will be out of budget I suspect...
Ton had one I think? Cost about £2k, though.
Ben Kinetic used to do a lot of that type of stuff.
still got mine, and looking to invest in a proper offroad capable one.
mine is a kalkhoff pro connect disc model. cost me £2k.
comes with a alfine rear hub, deore discs and a crappy pair of 24 spoked wheels and a crappy set of suntour forks.
rear hub was swapped by 50cycles for a 32 hole version so i got some proper tough wheels built. forks were ditched for a set of singular 29r forks, and now the bike is ace.
furthest i have ridden on a charge is 60 miles, when i weighed about 21stone.
a normal sized person (10 to 14 stone) would get 80 miles from a charge.
it is heavy but it is very well made.
3 settings on the power assist, setting 2 was fine for hills in the lakes and dales.
setting 3 got me up and over rooley moor road and salter fell.
i may be interested in selling mine to buy a new more costly £3k offroader.