Greetings oh wise and knowledgable ones.

It was my mums 80th birthday yesterday, so her and my dad are both now embarked on their 8th decade on the planet. They’re both fit as butchers dogs, healthy and active, still do loads of cycling and don’t think anything of going out for a twenty mile ride, taking in a pub lunch half way around. Living the dream. Being in Cheshire where it’s as flat as a pancake helps, and they live in an area with loads of proper cycle paths so generally use their bikes a lot for getting around, rather than jumping in the car.

So to mark their milestone, they’ve decided to treat themselves to a pair of e-bikes so they can carry on doing what they’re doing. However, they know absolutely nowt about e-bikes. Neither do I, other than I’ve ridden a couple of them and they’re bloody great fun, so I’m not much use (I rarely am)

At the moment they both ride decent Hybrids and they’ll be looking for the same in e-bike form, but they don’t know where to start. I’m going to take them into leisure Lakes in Bury on Saturday as they’ve now got a whole massive e-bike section. I suspect a lot of the kit their will be a bit GNAARRR for their requirements though

My dad is looking to do a bit of research though, to see whats available out there to suit their needs. They’ll not be shy of spending a few quid as I can imagine they’ll be getting used almost daily, so they’ll be looking at decent kit

Has anyone gone down the e-bike route recently? Any advice gratefully received that I can pass on to the old man. Any links to websites, tests etc

Thanks in advance…

Not specific advice, only to say that Leisure Lakes do have plenty of that sort of bike for sale. The branch in Daventry does at least.

Another good place that has more that sort of bike is Pure Electric, who have a shop in Manchester. I demoed a bike there and they were helpful.

Pure Electric

Have a look at Moustache bikes. They do some pretty sick looking rigs.
Broadway Tower in the Cotswolds has a fleet of them on hire so you see lots of tourists out in big packs with them.

Was thinking of one of these for mum when she has to stop driving. Step through (easy to mount) integrated lights, hub gear, rack for a pair of small panniers for going to shops, chunky tyres, small wheels easy to manouver, high stack.

Kind of an electric version of her Bike Friday shape which she like to ride. Seen quite a few elederly ladies riding similar on New Forest gravel wizzing along with a big smile on their face.

Cheers @kayak23. That Pure Electric place looks perfect, especially as they’ll be able to test some. They’ve never ridden e-bikes before.

I’ll suggest a trip into town before we go to Leisure Lakes. Got them over for a birthday barby on Saturday so we could do a bit of a magical mystery tour round the bike shops of Manchester in the afternoon

Get at least one of them a full blown mtb and you could take it for the weekend for some ‘servicing’.

Ahem, 9th decade.

Nothing to add, other than that your folks are awesome binners, love that.

What about a Swytch conversion of their existing bikes?

I would also like to point out that I know nothing. @binners Steve Horridge has done a Swytch IIRC.

From the basic research i’ve done, I’d go for a mid-mount motor with a torque sensor rather than a hub motor. Swytch is ok if you want to upgrade an existing bike and HAVE to have a hub motor, though the tongsheng kits (a la Tandem Jeremy’s thread) are possibly better

also, look for a battery mounted as low as possible, downtube mounted or even integrated is WAY better than the batteries mounted in the pannier rack – think about it, the centre of gravity is way higher like this and makes the bike a bit more unwieldy

downtube mounted or even integrated is WAY better than the batteries mounted in the pannier rack – think about it, the centre of gravity is way higher like this and makes the bike a bit more unwieldy

Good for wheelies though 😉

<Deleted> 🙂

Apollo electric ?
https://www.halfords.com/bikes/folding-bikes/apollo-transport-electric-folding-bike—20in-wheel-750855.html
Reasonably priced, but more importantly I think lighter than the average and folding for easy storage.

Nothing to add, other than that your folks are awesome binners

I recently had to administer an admittedly half-hearted bollocking for them going to their mates house, 5 miles away, for a barby, drinking copious amounts of wine all evening, then riding home (on off-road cycle paths) at 2 in the morning, completely pissed.

They’re like a pair of bloody teenagers

Actually…thinking about it, I may have to reappraise this whole e-bike idea. Christ only knows what they’ll be getting up to 😀

What about the Islabikes Jimi range?  Designed for older riders, who might have difficulty getting their leg over . . .
E-Jimi

Make sure they get something from somewhere local(ish), when ebikes have issues you need decent levels of support for warranties etc. Hahahaha getting pissed and riding home at 2am, hope I’m like that at 80.

Mrs Pondo has a Ribble Al-e on order, let you know what it’s like when it turns up. 🙂

if they want to get rid of the car and look at bikes for shopping locally as well this might work

https://www.kinetics-online.co.uk/others/kiffy-capsule/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ReviveOldPost

I recently had to administer an admittedly half-hearted bollocking for them going to their mates house, 5 miles away, for a barby, drinking copious amounts of wine all evening, then riding home (on off-road cycle paths) at 2 in the morning, completely pissed.

They’re like a pair of bloody teenagers

I have no advice but want to say that your parents sound **** brilliant 😀

A decent range from what I’ve seen at Ribble valley electric bike shop in Dunsop Bridge, lots of hire bikes so they could potentially test hire a bike they maybe interested in. Lovely area to test them as well followed by a brew at Puddle ducks.

my dad’s 76 yo and last weekend said he was looking for an e-bike. So as the families Mister Bike I started looking for him and drew up a list of best places to look etc. He mentioned Halfords and i was very ‘meh’

I was hoping he’d come back with a shortlist so I could possibly point to the gnarliest one or best specc’ed one

but I found out second hand off my mum that he’d gone on a frolic of his own and bought a Carrera Subway from Halfords without telling me. He’s very excited about it too.

Obviously I had a rancid taste in my mouth when I saw the word ‘Carrera’ but we’re all bike snobs lets be honest. Its got hydraulic tektros and should be good for roads and towpaths. Lets just hope the battery is okay.

https://www.halfords.com/bikes/electric-bikes/carrera-subway-e-mens-electric-hybrid-bike-2.0—16in-18in-20in-frames-445926.html

I recently had to administer an admittedly half-hearted bollocking for them going to their mates house, 5 miles away, for a barby, drinking copious amounts of wine all evening, then riding home (on off-road cycle paths) at 2 in the morning, completely pissed.

They’re like a pair of bloody teenagers

Actually…thinking about it, I may have to reappraise this whole e-bike idea. Christ only knows what they’ll be getting up to 😀

🙂 boomers are all p…heads. I remember when I was a kid and seeing my parents literally watch the clock tick past 5pm so it was then okay to open a bottle of wine on a weeknight

I recently had to administer an admittedly half-hearted bollocking for them going to their mates house, 5 miles away, for a barby, drinking copious amounts of wine all evening, then riding home (on off-road cycle paths) at 2 in the morning, completely pissed.

They’re like a pair of bloody teenagers

Actually…thinking about it, I may have to reappraise this whole e-bike idea. Christ only knows what they’ll be getting up to 😀

Your parents sound **** brilliant!!

Where in Cheshire? I’m trying to think of shops that specialise in eBikes in that area rather than just selling the odd token bike, or those who concentrate on eMTB rather than the hybrids your folks will likely wish to buy…

Bit of a drive, but these guys get people travelling from all over the country with similar requirements of those of your parents… Cheshire is pretty close compared to some of their customers!

https://www.onbike.co.uk

A little closer to home… These guys are worth a visit too…

https://www.lifeonwheels.co.uk

I’m struggling to think who else in the immediate area might have stock of bikes that would interest your folks…

EDIT: Graham Weigh Cycles in Shotton might be worth a look in depending on how high end they’re looking, possibly Alf Jones in Wrexham. There’s also Evolution Bikes on the seafront in Colwyn Bay too if they fancy a Specialized in particular.

About 15 years ago I bought my mum a Giant e-bike and it has been used almost every day since, making it amazing value. I’d echo nbt- just make it’s a design with the weight as low as possible. (Mum’s bike has the battery on the seat tube which is OK but down tube probably better). Then I’d probably be looking for the lightest bike with the best warranty.

Whatever you buy, I’d aim to get it locally from someone with a decent reputation.

Thanks for the words of wisdom all.

Looks like we’ll be doing a bike shop tour on Saturday. See whats out there.

I’ll keep you posted on their further adventures/wine tours/piss ups 😀

This doesn’t add up. They want a bit of motorised assistance getting about, they’re irresponsible drinkers, and they’re related to binners. But they don’t want to just buy a pair of Greggs Chariots??!

if they want to get rid of the car and look at bikes for shopping locally as well this might work

https://www.kinetics-online.co.uk/others/kiffy-capsule/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ReviveOldPost

This chap who owns kinetics Ben has a really good reputation. He’s on the spectrum and obviously quite obsessed in how he does things. Cares about what he sells so it wont be for a quick profit choice to appease the masses.

Kinesis Range flatbar is worth a look Binners. I picked up one for Mrs S from Alf Jones between Chester and Wrexham. It uses the Fazua drive system so is only 15kg for the medium so not a massive lump. In fact I took it out this morning for a blast around the Cheshire lanes and also onto the fireroads in Delamere so it ticks all the boxes for both on and off-road riding. Review here to give you a better idea but it is a sponsored ad so treat with a pinch of salt.

Now on my 3rd e.bike, expensive learning curve, I would put weight as very high up on the list. 1st was a Kalkoff Automatic when ebikes were only just taking hold & I thought I ought to bike, learnt from that weight at the back made it like driving without Power Steering if anybody remembers those cars. Hardly rode it as felt it was too big for me apart from weight.
Always been into exercise but biking never appealed but following an accident & making a mess of my knee decided that biking was now going to be best so thinking I now knew what was important to me I did loads of research on line & at shops, the Moustache seemed to be my dream machine, it’s amazing how when you find something you really like you forget the most important thing on your list, weight. Probably because I chose a top of range that had everything & of course couldn’t find this exact model in a shop, ordered one.
Beautiful bike but just couldn’t take to it at 27kg, lifting weight has never been a problem to me but now probably because of ageing found it heavy to lift on & off bike rack even with battery off, plus had to admit that I did not need all the great things on it & it spent more time in garage not being used. Within a short time of buying this saw Islabikes were doing e.bikes in their Icons range, having been very much a childrens Islabikes fan I was gutted, then Singletrack did a review & that finished me so with heavy heart the Moustache went & the eJimi came. My only consolation is 3rd time lucky & I love it, it has brought it home to me how important weight is & to be honest with myself what I actually needed on a bike.
During last lockdown my Grandson took great delight in bike handling training & had me around cones & all sorts of bike exercises, still not as good as him on figure of eight & got a needs more practice on picking up a water bottle. I did have no problem beating him on hills though although not on change of rules, slowest up the hill. All these things would have been impossible on a heavy bike. These things were challenges, not needed to ride a bike but very confidence building for a previous non-biker & very much brought it home how weight was important in an older age group, maybe not at a present time but things can happen that changes ability without warning.
To sum up from my own experience be honest with what you actually need, not just at this time but perhaps near future, don’t let the eyes take over when you see a bike you like, go back to that list & check it off & most importantly weight.
If they are looking at bikes I live a few miles from Manchester Airport & they are very welcome to come & have a good look at my e.Jimi.

I have a mother in law and a step mother, both in their late 70s and both what you’d probably think of as quite elegant. In lockdown they both bought Vanmoofs and have genuinely gone crazy. They love them.

I help out at a local project where we do free ebike rides and lessons to help people get started on their own ebikes. The advice so far on weight is good, but in our experience is also about where the weight is. We find that the mid drive bikes with a downtube or seat tube battery seem to be a lot more confidence inspiring than the hub drive and rack mounted battery versions. Have had several people come through to us who bought their bikes but then lost control and fell so lost confidence to use them despite being ok riding a non assist bike. It doesn’t seem to matter when moving it is more at junctions and low speed manouvering where they can take more effort to handle if the weight is higher up or the feel of being pushed by the hub drive can be unsettling. Probably not noticeable for most people but if already a bit cautious then can knock confidence.
All our fleet are mid drive and mostly step through which seems to be the most popular option for ease of getting on and off.