e bikes
There's been a recent death in my family and I'm about to have a bit more spending money. I'm considering buying an e bike. Otautahi/Christchurch is a great place for cycling as it's mainly flat, although the easterly wind can be challenging. I've biked for years, but my last cycle fell over and the gears were damaged.
I'm around 5 ft, unfit and in my early 70s.
I'd be interested in hearing any advice, comments, experiences, warnings etc
I'm around 5 ft, unfit and in my early 70s.
I'd be interested in hearing any advice, comments, experiences, warnings etc
Comments
The only stuff I can add to the above is the stuff I'd say to anyone, that I'm sure you already know, and that any decent shop should do anyway, which is get them to set it up properly for your height and posture, and make sure you can come back for adjustments.
Happy ecycling!
I also have a friend who lives near Accrington - very hilly - who has a neighbour who is older, rather heavy, and who swears by her e-bike and gets a lot of use out of it. Sounds like a good thing.
I am getting there shortly. Been thinking about an electric three-wheeler myself.
You can by reflecting strips. Also, get a reflecting vest for yourself.
Everyone I know who rides e loves it and would never go back. Personally I stick to pedal-power alone but then my commute is flat and perhaps if I lived in Cornwall (where we holdayed last month) where flat has to be re-defined in relative terms I would have already gone e.
My mother in law got one a couple of years ago, and uses it regularly (except when she fell off it and broke her wrist. Hers is the pedal-assist kind: she's not a speed demon, but does appreciate the help up the hill.
I'd encourage you to get one from your local bike shop (because then they'll repair and maintain it) rather than a cheap supermarket one that might use components of dubious provenance and non-existent maintainability.
@The Rogue I did wonder about whether an ordinary bike frame would be strong enough given the extra stresses the speed would put on it. Also it's less straightforward than choosing a purpose built one.
I'm also going to check out new bike helmets as the one I have is a few years old,
Years ago, before bike helmets were compulsory here, my youngest
brother told me to buy one. "But they're expensive." I whined.
"What's your brain worth? " he asked - Then, lest he seem too caring, he said, "Not a lot I know, but all the more reason to protect it".
I bought the helmet.
Every fortnight it seems our police or the South Wales force announce that they have confiscated and destroyed some hundreds of e-bikes or e-scooters.
I may have misunderstood something, and independence is vital but I believe it could be worth checking the situation wherever you are.
In the UK, at least, it is very certain: if you exceed the limits for an electric assisted pedal cycle what you have is a moped or motorbike and hence require type approval, registration, insurance and a licence with the appropriate categories. Key points:
- max continuous power 250W
- max assisted speed 25kph
- no electric power without pedalling (i.e. no throttle)
@Arethosemyfeet has set out the rules about e-bikes. Fundamentally it needs to be an electrically assisted pedal cycle. Rules here
Thanks, I should have done more research than personal observation!
I’m sure some e-bikes and e-scooters exceed these standards but I find the way many are used very disconcerting. Newport has a mixture of flat floodplain and very hilly areas and should be prime territory for e-bikes but I have seen few mature people riding e-bikes hereabouts, they are mostly young.
I think they are regarded here as a cheap intermediary between a bicycle and a motorcycle proper.
If you’re at least 16 years old, wear an approved helmet, and your e-bike’s motor is 500 watts or less with a top speed of 32 km/h, you're pretty much set. Best of all, you won't need a licence, registration, or insurance to get out there and ride.
There's little enforcement, and from experience of dodging them, the maximum speed is easily exceeded, especially downhill. If you are a banned drunk or drugged driver, then this the way to get around. The e-scooters are a particular menace, as they are fast, used on pavements in pedestrian areas and even in shopping malls. I saw two people without helmets riding on one scooter this morning, fearlessly mixing with the traffic. I've even seen a scooter rider with his dog running alongside on a lead.
Some people seem to think they are invincible.
They have no maximum speed. The motor assistance has to cut out at 15.5mph but you can pedal or accelerate under gravity to any speed. There is no regenerative braking on any I've ever used.
I've got 60kph out of mine downhill. I've been even faster on non-electric but more aero road bikes.
And that’s on the road. Strangely there’s no general limit for shared use pavements, but the police may stop a rider for dangerous, reckless, wanton and furious riding (nb, local authorities may impose restrictions).
General road speed limits do not apply to cyclists, including EAPCs. The legislation applies very specifically to mechanically propelled vehicles.
However, the number of places in urban locations where it would be possible for most cyclists to excede the motor vehicle speed limit is minimal. This is probably why speed limits were only introduced for motor vehicles, because they can go very fast very easily.