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"The electric bike is not a short-term trend"

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  1. Harts Cyclery
    Member

    Just to chip in, I'm a dealer for both Gazelle and Focus ebikes. I currently have a Gazelle Vento C7 HMB as a demo e-bike, which anyone here is welcome to trial for a few days or so. My last demo (Gazelle Orange C8 HMB) was bought by a certain lady transforming the city centre!

    The Gazelles are super practical and comfy, the Focus' are a bit more sporty. Both have Bosch and Shimano Steps options, as well as other systems (Fazua, Panasonic etc)

    Pop out some time if you're in the market for something.

    Posted 5 years ago #
  2. crowriver
    Member

    India's electric vehicle goals being realized on two wheels, not four

    https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-electric-scooters-idUSKCN1P80E6

    Posted 5 years ago #
  3. chdot
    Admin

    Many older cyclists use e-bikes, which provide pedalling assistance from a small electric motor. Rowntree says her range is intended for “people who want to ride under their own steam for as long as possible, and then might switch to an e-bike when they need to”.

    https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/jan/25/islabikes-bicycle-firm-wants-keep-older-people-pedalling

    Posted 5 years ago #
  4. chdot
    Admin

  5. LaidBack
    Member

    Electron Wheels at Tollcross has closed. Competition in e-bikes is hotting up. Margins are thin. Consumers expect 'fire sales' as a consequence of Brexit and will wait to see what happens (maybe).

    Posted 5 years ago #
  6. chdot
    Admin

    “Consumers expect 'fire sales' as a consequence of Brexit”

    OR ‘buy now higher prices coming’(?)

    Posted 5 years ago #
  7. Trixie
    Member

    Aldi has entered the e-bike fray. It's a decent price however no specifics are given on the actual bicycle so it might be a pile of tat.

    https://www.aldi.co.uk/white-hybrid-electric-bike/p/013847271177800

    Posted 4 years ago #
  8. chdot
    Admin

  9. HankChief
    Member

    PedalMe raising the bar once again. 300kg of whisky across London on 1 bike & trailer!

    https://twitter.com/pedalmeapp/status/1188058858360627205?s=19

    They are also about to launch some crowdfunding for more bikes #JustSaying #NotInvestmentAdvice

    Posted 4 years ago #
  10. LaidBack
    Member

    They seem to have found a niche there between fast transport with slight entertainment value and moving van loads of stuff.

    Last night we were wondering what trailer was being used. Answer is the three wheeled Carla model (which Sustrans may still have at Haymarket). Idea is to make any e-bike into a massive stable load carrier and the trailer can be pushed around easily unhitched in fork lift style.

    The trailer brakes are activated as front bike slows up with 'over-run' device on towing arm.

    Bullit with Carla trailer

    Posted 4 years ago #
  11. neddie
    Member

    That is cool.

    Where can I get one of those trailers?

    Posted 4 years ago #
  12. Frenchy
    Member

    https://www.carlacargo.de/en/carla-en/

    ~€3k. Might well have UK-based suppliers.

    Also have electric-assist (as in, the trailer itself has electric assist!) options in the €4-7k price range

    Posted 4 years ago #
  13. HankChief
    Member

    https://www.independent.co.uk/independentpremium/long-reads/ebike-environment-climate-change-cycling-car-amsterdam-netherlands-a9166486.html

    E-bikes are revolutionising European cities. Why is the UK not following their example?

    Posted 4 years ago #
  14. Is it possible to share that article this side of the paywall @HankChief?

    Posted 4 years ago #
  15. HankChief
    Member

    I didn't actually read the article, I just thought others might...

    Posted 4 years ago #
  16. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    I used an e-bike for the commute this morning. Would rather have been on my m-bike.

    Uphill in the dark tonight will probably show the e-bike off in a different light.

    Posted 4 years ago #
  17. Arellcat
    Moderator

    I spotted 20 Milers Neil R on Friday afternoon at the big Liberton Brae junction. He was riding his gnarly big black e-bike. I don't know what make it is, but it has the Bosch system. On the green he absolutely took off up the hill and disappeared, leaving me to winch my way halfway up whereupon I decided walking was easier.

    Posted 4 years ago #
  18. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    OK so as expected uphill the e-bike comes into its own. My stately primary through the Hellscape was majestic. 15.6mph everybody.

    Downhill this morning I start to see the real irritation of the thing. 15.6mph everywhere as it's like cycling a motorbike when the electrickery cuts out.

    Posted 4 years ago #
  19. Trixie
    Member

    "...it's like cycling a motorbike when the electrickery cuts out."

    And that's exactly how you still burn calories/get a work out on an e-bike. :D The easy bits being harder balances out the hard bits not existing. I recently discovered mine has a 52 tooth chain-ring as well as the weight of a small elephant. Now I have zero shame about my un-powered uphill struggles.

    Posted 4 years ago #
  20. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    Also the e-bike spontaneously switched over to Imperial units in some kind of Brexit spasm.

    There are now 765¾ candle-ounces of electricity remaining in the accumulator.

    Posted 4 years ago #
  21. amir
    Member

    Somedays, or most days just now, I could do with an ebike. But it's expensive for a one off.
    I did see this https://www.swytchbike.com/p/universal-swytch-ebike-conversion-kit/, but it's still a non-negligble cost of upgrade.

    Posted 4 years ago #
  22. Arellcat
    Moderator

    I was watching a jovial Kiwi(?) guy on YouTube, demonstrating the Bafang-based kit from a NZ company called Lekkie. It all looked really good, but $1600 is still a lot.

    Posted 4 years ago #
  23. "...it's like cycling a motorbike when the electrickery cuts out."

    That's why I went for an eBike with a lighter, removeable Fazua drive system. The bike + battery and drive is as heavy as my old MTB was, so even when I'm over the assist limit it's still like riding a normal bike (plus the drive system disengages fully so you're not also fighting against the motor). The downside is that it's not as powerful as the eMTB mid-drive units, so you still have to expend energy when you're going uphill.

    Plus I live in a top-floor flat, so the weight of what I was going to be carrying up so many stairs was a huge consideration!

    Posted 4 years ago #
  24. neddie
    Member

    Cargo bike sales forecast for 2 million new units by 2030, says expert group

    https://cyclingindustry.news/cargo-bike-sales-forecast-for-2-million-new-units-by-2030-says-expert-group/

    Posted 4 years ago #
  25. LaidBack
    Member

    Eurobike data on e-bikes is interesting.

    Bosch dominates, Shimano and others a bit behind. Brands like Bafang and Yamaha significant share.

    https://cyclingindustry.news/extraenergy-maps-the-market-share-of-the-e-bike-biz/

    Posted 4 years ago #
  26. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    the drive system disengages fully so you're not also fighting against the motor

    Is this a real thing or just my imagination?

    Posted 4 years ago #
  27. gembo
    Member

    should be real on the newer models

    the one i am about to use - no

    Posted 4 years ago #
  28. On the eMTBs I've rented for a couple of days on holiday for the last three years, yes - it's a real thing. You really did have to pedal against resistance from the motor once you were above assistance levels (or when the bike was powered off and you were riding it as a 'normal' bike).

    On my own new eBike there's zero resistance.

    Posted 4 years ago #
  29. acsimpson
    Member

    If anyone is in the market for a superb e-bike deal my friend is selling his as he no longer commutes to Alloa:

    https://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/orbea-gain-d31-2019-ebike/1356293904?utm_source=org.telegram.messenger&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialbuttons&utm_content=app_android

    Better be quick though as he is already having second thoughts about selling it.

    Posted 4 years ago #
  30. gembo
    Member

    Quote for postage interesting as currently rejecTed by the post office for sending a battery in the post.

    Posted 4 years ago #

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