CityCyclingEdinburgh was launched on the 27th of October 2009 as "an experiment".
IT’S TRUE!
CCE is 15years old!
Well done to ALL posters
It soon became useful and entertaining. There are regular posters, people who add useful info occasionally and plenty more who drop by to watch. That's fine. If you want to add news/comments it's easy to register and become a member.
RULES No personal insults. No swearing.
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What does research say about e-bikes?
– younger & part-time working women with kids is the fastest growing user group
– retirees are the largest user group & use e-bike for recreation
– the second largest e-bike user group are middle-aged full-time workers who use it to commute
“
https://twitter.com/natalia_barbour/status/1556702871537815557
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The new Trace has a well hidden 250 watt-hour built-in battery, which not only functions as an extra security feature but also allows users to arrive at their destination with no sweat.
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https://bikebiz.com/raleigh-launches-trace-its-lightest-e-bike-model-to-date/amp/
So, fine if you can store your bike near a powerpoint, less useful in tenements/flats?
I live in a tenement flat and store my bike on a hook on the wall so it is right next to two wall sockets. But what I really want is just a front wheel hub to convert my hybrid. Seems the market is confusing and never up front about the separate battery cost when showing the hub cost.
I'm amused by Raleigh marketing a bike weighing 16.5Kg as "light". That's more than double what either of my road bikes weigh! It does look like quite a nice everyday commuter though
It seems an odd product to me, though I admit I'm coming at this from the perspective of a completely casual utility cyclist. The e-assist will top out just over 15 like everything else, and anyone fit enough to make it go a lot faster at 16.5kg would undoubtedly be fit enough to make a "proper" road bike go faster with less effort. If you're going to be pootling along at or below the limit anyway then an upright step-through seems better suited to the job(and with a bigger battery so if it slips your mind to charge it one evening you don't end up having to huff it in to work unpowered), and if you're going to be belting along at general traffic speeds you're getting little benefit from the e-assist beyond a wee extra kick starting off on a green light at a junction.
Beyond the "step-throughs are for girls/uprights aren't *proper* bikes for *serious* cyclists" crowd the audience seems like it would be fairly limited.
Apparently there is a new electric road bike shop opposite Eastside.
Interesting.
My cousin in Glasgow bought a Merida sports e-bike over a year ago. Is fit but had knee problems. Regular rider out over Crow Road etc. (Campsie circuit).
So we joined him last year on our 35kg recliner tandem and from what I'm used to it seemed very light. Naturally he just sailed up hills. We still enjoyed as tandeming is pretty efficient and we were even able to cope with some steep stuff at Glen Affric.
I did wonder though that the promotion of this new fad by Ribble last year on TdF coverage featuring e-racers with younger riders was an unwelcome trend. Going out to East Lothian on a stealth e-racing bike seems pointless. Bikes have never been lighter - seems like an invented fashion market. Battery size on Raleigh restricts range too. I love cycling without that worry. My best bike is still heavy at 13kg but ok.
“My best bike is still heavy at 13kg but ok”
My current best bike is considerably more and not electric.
It’s obviously lighter than me. Last night it had an extra heavy pannier which *almost* defeated me when I had to lift bike over some railings. (See other thread - not written yet…)
Yesterday I went all over town on an electric cargo bike. Most fun, but definitely not an everyday thing.
Was thinking of an electric bike ‘sometime’ for a bit of powered off-roading.
Then I realised that the places I go have locked gates and styles…
I can lift my eMTB over locked gates, given enough room to do a proper straight-backed lift from the legs as you are taught in manual handling. Some stiles can be problematic if you can't get close enough to the actual fence to lift the bike over without bending at the waist and putting your lower back at risk.
Pure Electric closing retail stores:
Notably, Pure Electric is no longer UK exclusive, having opened in Madrid, Valencia, Barcelona and with several partners also active in France, among other destinations.
They expect UK to fall into line with EU and legalise e-scooters.
“They expect UK to fall into line with EU and legalise e-scooters..”
Wot agree with EU legislation?
Looking at electric - sad realisation that I'm past commutting in on my existing bikes.
Because of Hybrid working the cost/benefit calculations don't seem complelling now (for me). Was a no brainer before when commuting 4 days on bike and one on train.
More difficult choice when the salary sacrafice is more expensive than the train fare, and I'd only use the bike twice a week, and not in winter (I'm fair weather now, punishing myself at my age for no reason all year silly when the train is there).
I still want an electric bike though, head or heart....
Factor in some extra benefits to ‘balance’ the costs.
Score health benefits (ebikes still need pedalling) highly.
Think of trips you might use bike instead of car.
Etc
To add - I am so much less happy if I commute by car or bus than by bike
@Amir true. :) And for me an electric bike would reduce the cycle vs train deficit, and probably get me home in less than an hour and a half, as opossed to 2hrs normal bike now (but still 30 mins each way longer than train).
@chdot yes, definately considerations, maybe for others. I already have 3 other bikes, my Pashley I still use very often for local shopping and other things, and an electric bike wouldn't replace that. tbf though the other 2 now just gathering dust, so maybe n-1or2 could help fund - but I don't like selling things...
@baldcyclist A used Nihola has been offered to me. Shimano Steps with lights step through one size fits all. 10 speed. Danish spec.
This not one of my hacked trailer towing demos but was supplied new 18 months ago and built up. Only sold 10 or so of these.
@Laidback, I think my wife would love that bike. I'm not sure how it would fare on the rock laden off road Fife coastal path on my way home though. Range wise, would it manage 21 miles, or even better 42 miles for a charge free return? (I'm aware range much better now).
I'm also maybe not ready for a step through, though I think I am ready to give up the curly bars, or at least my neck reminds me I should whenever I get on my commuter.
@baldcyclist- It's a 700c model so really a 29r. @chdot had one for a while. I cycled coastal path no problem as had front air shock. @dave also has one that he's fitted 650 wheels on.
Frame is designed to take belt drive.
So 'quite good' although battery is on rack so not fashion now.
Fuel consumption is fine - 420Wh would just do.
I also have beaten up one kept at BW as courtesy bike. PM if you want me to give you contact info. They just want to clear as need space.
I see quite a lot of "home-brew" electric bike conversions as I bimble around the streets. Majority are ridden by Deliveroo guys. But also I've started to notice some very "street-wise" looking chaps on similar bikes. I have a feeling that a few of them might be delivering something else, that is currently against the law to possess or sell...
Better with a sub £1k pre-owned Shimano step through.
Home brew stuff can't be diagnosed easily and spares could be a problem. If anyone interested in spec with frame lock and all the stuff that you would get on a Gazelle then pm me. I'll put them in touch with seller.
this mid-drive from India getting a lot of love on twitter:
@SRD there's a few gismos like this coming along, one Chris Hoy is advertising which clips onto the rear disc looks promising. Really light, and temporary, range might be an issue, but looks good. 'https://www.skarper.com/'.
I've also looked at the diy rear wheel conversions (think a front wheel conversion will kill bike balance, might be wrong) for my existing bike. All about the £1K mark.
@Laidback Thanks for the offer, I think if I am to buy a 'full' electric bike it will be on the C2W scheme as the discount practically makes the bikes 2nd hand price. :)
FYI our Nihola is fine on the rough stuff. For example I rode it up Maiden's and then up to the top of Harbour Hill the other day (with a tiny bit of pushing on the steepest section) and then rode it down again.
It just has the stock wheels, but with Big Apple giant tyres.
"I've also looked at the diy rear wheel conversions (think a front wheel conversion will kill bike balance, might be wrong) "
Home brew stuff can't be diagnosed easily and spares could be a problem.
Mine has had a lot of use for 5 years with my son sharing it, 10 mile each-way commutes or 3 mile climbs up out of Comely Bank.
Oh, i could just pop alomg to cyclotricity, didn't know they were there.
I think the diy kits all (or mostly all) use the same Dafang motors, so parts are pretty easy to come by, and they seem to last some time.
Saw a rather old and knackered-looking hardtail MTB with a rear wheel conversion the other day. A slight giveaway that it wasn't EAPC-compliant was the fact that there was no chain...
That's an interesting question. It's there anything in the RTA which requires the pedals to be connected to the wheel? Or does it just require the motor to cut out when the pedals stop turning?
Some of the sales info is contradictory on these DIY motors.
I have seem some shops state that if you are retrofitting then there is no requirement for motor to cut. Only needs to cut off on complet bikes.
Also seen the dual 250/500 or 1000 motors say higher power is for off road private land and that 250W should be used on road.
Tbf 250W and 15.5mph seems fine to me, If I could basically cruise at 15mph for 20 miles that would be awesome, no dipping to 10 on the hills etc, which is what is 1. Killing me, and 2. Killing the time benefit analysis for cycle commuting when you have young children you value seeing in the evening before they go to bed.
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