My friend has a disability that makes them tire easierly so can't ride a normal bike up the edinburgh hills. He wants to buy an electric mountain or hybrid type bike a road legal assist type for going up the walk and the mound etc. He wants me to pick out a bike for 1000 to 1500ish. Any one have any ideas on what to look for or where to go to get one.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
electric bike advice
(44 posts)-
Posted 7 years ago #
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I think http://laid-back-bikes.scot/ would be your easiest option. David is quite good at acquiring that unique/unusual bike you need.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Electron in Tollcross sells a range, they're in the arches next to Forest Cafe
Posted 7 years ago # -
This guy http://the2wheeledwolf.blogspot.co.uk is crowdfunding for an electric bike for similar reasons. Might be Worth chatting with him for info.
There's also an electric bike shop in Granton that a guy in Twitter recommends.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Electric Bike Company on Granton Road definitely worth a visit. I went to ask about an e-bike for someone else from a position of knowing nothing about them. Got good advice and even though I wasn't going to be buying soon, was invited to try one out on the road.
I was blown away by the 'assist' though I was told on return that the power had been on max, but the hill up from Granton Square was so easy...
It's all too decadent for me, but I would recommend to anyone who, for whatever reason, wants a bit of help when needed.
You should be able to get one within your price range. Seems to me that the technology most likely to improve over the next few years is the battery, so would these bikes allow the substitution of batteries as they get better?
Posted 7 years ago # -
I tried a few at Edinburgh Bike (marchmont branch) a few seasons back. Their range this year seems to split into the "cheaper" and dearer, not so many in the 1-2k range.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Check the length of the manufacturer's guarantee on the battery and the replacement costs as this will probably be the biggest on-going expense.
Cheap bikes will probably only guarantee for a year, but I don't think anyone will guarantee for more than two years?
Posted 7 years ago # -
For quite some time I've had a Roomba with a NiMH battery. After 24 months you can pretty much guarantee needing to replace it due to lack of charge capacity - I'm about to buy #3.
Don't know how comparable these ebike lithium ion packs are, but my experience with mobile phones leads me to thinking they won't be that much different.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Most experience we've had has been with the Bosch systems. Latest batteries on the Urban Arrow are 400w. These batteries cost a bit but seem good and three years in, all are working with one replaced. UA very heavy and carries loads so worse case scenario. Solo Bosch bikes from EBC Granton.
A2B bikes use hub motor. Big seller in Berlin and London. Electron sell at Tollcross. Owner has used EBs for years so he walks the talk (did commuter challenge).Shimano also does a 'Steps' crank drive motor which seems very good. As bikes are their thing expect good support.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Hi, just reviving this thread to find out what the latest with electric bikes is in Edinburgh. My friend would like to buy an ebike for her commute. She's going to look in decathlon. Anywhere else not mentioned in the thread yet?
Posted 6 years ago # -
@daisydaisy
Now have couple of solo, low step, civilised Nihola e-bikes. Very happy to lend one for a day for your friend to research. Danish design with built in lights, rack and stand. Disc brakes.
Uses Shimano Step system so 'nice to ride'.
Other places are Electron Wheels, Electric Bike Co, Hart's Cyclerly (Gazelle).
Every shop has e-bikes now but mid-drive models are better IMHO.Posted 6 years ago # -
So, mid-drive means the motor is next to the pedals instead of in the back wheel.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Or front, yes.
Posted 6 years ago # -
@LaidBack Thanks very much. Have passed that on to my friend.
Posted 6 years ago # -
@daisydaisy
Mid drive harmonizes with pedals.
Someone borrowed one to try on regular commute from Musselburgh to near East Calder. Meant a 17 mile each way commute dropped by 25 mins in each direction. Of course time could be improved with lighter more aero non assist bike but done without burning out.I'm happy for Steps Nihola to be used to judge the many other offerings. Not our core thing so not offended if she goes elsewhere after. Already helped to sell idea for others.
Posted 6 years ago # -
One tenet on buying something like this is to make sure it suits you - obviously with basic bikes you get cheap or s/h bike and as you use it improve the saddle, wheels etc and then you know exactly what changes you want to maake when spending serious money on the bike that suits you.
Cannot stress enough that buying a bike is something that the person who will use the bike needs to be closely involved with so it should involve getting the person to be in at the selection stage as far as possible.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Was heading up Bruntsfield on shop's Nihola Steps e-bike. Female rider ahead was moving along quite swiftly but in normal darker clothing. I decided it was bad manners to overtake on an e-bike but as a group of students were walking and blocking path, I rang bell on her behalf.
Caught up alongside and discovered her neat city bike was a KTM with Bosch from Granton shop.
Upshot is that she's now cycling to ERI but lives on west side of town. E-bike is useful tool to get her to work. Before she found it too long and would need time to change.
Think the potential for making cycling viable for longer commutes for 'non sport' riders is a positive aspect. Down side is that children will want e-bikes!Posted 6 years ago # -
Electric bike are good for hills and not sweeting on the way to work also much safer at round abouts and intersections, as can accelerate as fast as a car (bosch CX can at least). I commuted on one for a month.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Think the potential for making cycling viable for longer commutes for 'non sport' riders is a positive aspect.
Yes. This should really be on the radar screen for Transport Scotland, Councils and Scottish Government's strategy for decarbonising transport (I'm not sure they are even there at all). They have much higher potential to change urban commuting than Electric Vehicles by my reckoning.
Posted 6 years ago # -
If they made an electic bike that was any good that could get on cycle to work would get one, if ever they get to cycle to work money then could catch on, either put cycle to work up or if decent e bikes came down. I know Halfords makes one for 1000 but reviews all say a pup that brakes down has suntour system not bosch.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Brilliant ad from Evans. Show it to anyone who tries the "Edinburgh is too hilly to cycle" line.
Posted 6 years ago # -
@Ed1 If you are wanting to get an e-bike on a cycle to work scheme check out the Green Commute Initiative, which is a "revolutionary new Cycle to Work scheme perfect for é-bikes. It offers up to 42% savings on bikes for employees as part of the Government’s Green Transport plan but without a £1,000 Limit!"
There are several independent bike shops in Edinburgh which have signed up to it.
Posted 6 years ago # -
“
The ‘battery behind post’ layout is somewhat dated, but it does mean the Pulse is able to accommodate a 36v 12ah Panasonic battery which wields 80+ hours of assisted cycling per charge, putting it top of the class!
“
Posted 6 years ago # -
Whatever the e-bike I passed at Flotterstone was - don't buy it. Massive front hub making a noise like a stick blender to little effect in the speed stakes.
Posted 6 years ago # -
The last sentence of that review chdot posted a while back just gave me a flutter of minor Rage.
"However, most men should have no trouble lifting a 23kg bike onto a rear-mounted bike rack or up some stairs."
Posted 6 years ago # -
St Malo trialling 'e-bikes' that are actually hydrogen powered electric autocycles....
https://www.actu-environnement.com/ae/news/video-velo-hydrogene-saint-lo-manche-31153.php4
Posted 5 years ago # -
e-Mountain Bike hire advice needed - my husband is looking to hire a hardtail or full suspension bike for a long weekend for some 7 Stanes in Dumfries & Galloway (end of June). It would be needed from Friday to Sunday but probably he couldn't return it until Tuesday due to work patterns. Does anyone know anywhere in Edinburgh that hires out nice mountain bikes? There's a place in Kirroughtree that looks good (http://www.thebreakpad.com/) but they are a 50 minute drive further on from where they're staying so wouldn't fit into the weekend.
Posted 5 years ago # -
My husband got his Van Moof ebike today. It is awsome. It's far too big for me, but so much fun to ride. I couldn't help laughing as the engine kicked in and boosted me along. Love it.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Posted 5 years ago #
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