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Bike and equipment for small "fleet" - recommendations?

(18 posts)
  • Started 6 years ago by lorlane
  • Latest reply from LaidBack
  • This topic is resolved

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  1. lorlane
    Member

    I managed to secure some fairly generous funding to promote cycling at my place of work and was looking to buy 2 bikes with lights, panniers etc., some tools and equipment to start of a small fleet of bikes with a workstation for staff to use between premises and to try out riding to work before committimg to buying a bike etc - overcoming those initial obstacles hopefully!

    I wonder if anyone could recommend (a) a good place to take our business and (b) bike models which we could go for? Ideally "unisex" enough that anyone would be happy to use them - maybe even the same model but different sizes?

    Thanks in anticipation!

    Posted 6 years ago #

  2. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    @HartsCyclery was punting these;

    https://www.gazellebikes.co.uk/bikes/ultimate-s8/

    Well done getting budget from your employer. Impressive.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  3. crowriver
    Member

    I would try for something a bit less "sporty" than the Gazelle above. Less maintenance has to be good? Something with hub gears and brakes? Like the Pashley Parabike for example? 5 speed hub gears provide enough range, cut down on maintenance. Some people might not get on with a Brooks saddle but they are at least sprung. They'll need a rear rack but that's a minor cost.

    Oh and you can afford more of them as are less than half the price of the above Gazelle...

    http://www.pashley.co.uk/bikes/bicycles/parabike.php

    Pretty sure BikeTrax in Tollcross are a Pashley dealer. Or there's Evans nearby.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  4. lorlane
    Member

    Great - thanks for your tips. The funding I got was from Cycling Scotland's "Cyle Friendly Employers" grants.

    It includes hardware plus things like training and maintenance courses and taking part in events.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  5. Harts Cyclery
    Member

    Hi Lorlane,

    IWRATS has posted a rather high spec machine there! Was in another discussion when someone was discussing spending that money.

    If I was suggesting a bike for a workplace fleet, the Gazelle Esprit would be my go-to bike. Available as 3 speed or 7 speed, with full mudguards, fully enclosed chain case, dynamo hub, lights, wheel-lock, rack, stand etc. Very well priced as well, meaning your budget can stretch to quite a few bikes and with the benefit that they're very low maintenance indeed. 3 speed comes in at £499.

    https://www.gazellebikes.co.uk/bikes/esprit-c3/

    https://www.gazellebikes.co.uk/media/bike/gazellebikescouk/type/espritc3d49blackt3mat/6009_espritc3blackmatt_123-6_fpsvs.jpg?width=640&quality=60

    I recently did a quote for a large financial company based in Edinburgh... so I have figures ready to go.

    Graeme

    Posted 6 years ago #

  6. Harts Cyclery
    Member

    PM'd you Lorlane :-)

    Posted 6 years ago #

  7. sallyhinch
    Member

    Depending on your work dress code, I think you'd need a low cross bar if they're to be used between offices but that may make them look like 'women's bikes'. Folders might get around that objection though - Dahons seem pretty reasonable and most people who have them love them. That would also mean people could use them for multi-modal commutes and they're great for one-way trips of having a bailout option if the weather turns foul

    Depending on your budget, a couple of e-bikes would be most likely to get used as they do seem to appeal much more to people who don't ride bikes already. But obviously that's a bigger initial cost and also maintenance would be more expensive

    Posted 6 years ago #

  8. lorlane
    Member

    Sally, yes, that's what I was thinking too. Fairly low but not a "ladies" frame which might put men off (although at work today quite a few men were questioning why their bikes didn't have a lower crossbar for comfort/sudden stops and potential hazards). I have no idea!

    I think ebikes would be a big hit, but sadly the budget wasn't that generous...

    Thanks Graeme, pm'd you back :)

    Posted 6 years ago #

  9. gembo
    Member

    We have to e-bikes at work, they are great. The step through frame has a nuch better feel, wider handlebars are the big thing rather than no crossbar.

    I will always book the step through over the higher crossbar

    Posted 6 years ago #

  10. crowriver
    Member

    Graeme, that looks the ticket. Hub (or roller) brakes too.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  11. LaidBack
    Member

    E-bikes would be ideal - one size fits all Nihola, as link below. Shimano Steps isn't cheap though.
    Paper Bicycle was our earlier 'normal' fits everyone upright but that is proving hard to get now. This one is from Denmark (Taiwan frame probably).
    https://www.flickr.com/gp/66067108@N08/m241dd

    Posted 6 years ago #

  12. LaidBack
    Member

    Link on last post private. We have two of these at shop. One as demo for anyone wanting to see how nice Shimano Steps is (same system used on ICE trikes and Azub). The other one is for sale.
    20170728_183722 by LaidBackBikes, on Flickr

    Posted 6 years ago #

  13. Min
    Member

    Just tried the Nihola (thank you Laidback) and it was great fun. And I definitely did NOT scream when the electric kicked in..

    Posted 6 years ago #

  14. LaidBack
    Member

    Min wasn't persuaded it was her Surly replacement! It is more a city or path bike. Limited to 16 mph so outstripped by the one wheeled e-Thing on 'spotted' thread. Sure that would raise a scream or two amongst some other forumers (but NOT Min as she is very calm).

    Posted 6 years ago #

  15. Kim
    Member

    I would have though something like the Kalkhoff Durban 8 (which the Bike Co-op currently have on sale at £629) would fit the bill nicely.

    It comes with front and rear racks for carrying stuff, dynamo lights as standard (as require for utility bikes in Germany), disc brakes (so it can stop in the rain, unlike rim grinder bakes), mudguards (apparently it is fitted with a chainguard although the picture doesn't show this) and a low maintenance hub gears.

    There are two frame types, one with a high crossbar and a step though, sadly and rather regressively, these are referred to as women's and men's bikes. Both should rightly be regarded as unsex.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  16. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    Limiting to 16mph is pretty irritating. I'm wondering if a leccy bike isn't the way for Madame IWRATS to commute. She needs to mix with 30mph to get to work and is quite capable of 16mph under her own steam. Needs to get beyond that to feel safe.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  17. gembo
    Member

    16mph is fine. You can observe, you can flow. You can go faster but the battery does not like it. At any junction you can accelerate away from any vehicle. Into the wind, still 16, up a hill, still 16. You do not arrive sweaty, you can wear a suit should that suit you. Other bikes and cars pass you on the flat but you catch them up at the junctions. I am about the same speed between meetings dotted around Edinburgh but far less haste. There is some spinning type exercise too.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  18. LaidBack
    Member

    Agree. With e-bike you can go off an asl ahead of traffic easily. You click through gears up to max speed. Assist works with you. Someone on a manual bike will catch you as they go up to whatever speed they are capable of. Forumers do commute very quickly without assist but many more away from our world of bike use would find that sort of speed beyond them.

    Posted 6 years ago #

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