Electric bike from Halfords

50Twuncle

poppasmurf_bewdley wrote: »

Have you pointed out to your neighbours that it is illegal for under 14's to be riding ebikes?

Have you informed the police? How do they get onto your lawn?

Have you done anything to prevent anyone being killed?

As far as I can see, the law on who can ride an ebike is very clear. And very up to date.

The wording is vague - it doesn't say "UNDER 14's can't ride" - it says "if you are OVER 14 - you don't need a licence"


And as for me - stopping them from riding - it is not my problem/job - they want to act like animals screaming and riding across my lawn - they should get what's coming to them - be it a lorry at 60mph or whatever !!
As long as they don't make any more mess than at present.

50Twuncle

Johnmcl7 wrote: »

No I can't imagine such an absurd situation as it wouldn't be possible, an electric bike is only a few kilograms heavier than a standard bike (around 20kg) so a fraction of the weight of a moped and the weight of an eight year old and the bike would be less than most adults. So even if they could reach the pedals to get the electric assist, they'd at best be able to crash into one person and would likely do themselves more damage coming off the bike. Any eight year old wanting to go on an assault rampage would likely be better getting a baseball bat or similar weapon.

I think the electric bike legislation is entirely sensible as 15mph isn't that fast and the bikes behave almost identically to a standard pedal bike it's just you get a hand to make it easier for hills, head winds and covering longer distances.

John

Bring back the "Cycling Proficiency Test" - make it mandatory !!

poppasmurf_bewdley

50Twuncle wrote: »

Bring back the "Cycling Proficiency Test" - make it mandatory !!

It's never been taken away. It just changed its name to Bikeability. Maybe it should revert back to its original name - it's something everybody had heard of. Bikeability doesn't mean anything.

And I agree - it should be manatory. I passed mine when I was 11 in 1959.

poppasmurf_bewdley

Richard53 wrote: »

I got talking to a couple in a motorhome on a site in Northumberland a couple of weeks ago. They had purchased a pair of Volt Metro folding bikes and couldn't praise them enough. I even was allowed a short 'go', and thought it was pretty good. After reading this thread, I have discussed it with my wife and she seems pretty keen on the idea. We always took bikes with us in the caravan and used them all the time in France, but she has had serious health issues in the last few years which have persuaded us to leave them behind and use the car. I reckon with an electric bike she might be able to get back onto two wheels again, which would do her morale a lot of good.


I popped into my local Halfords to check out the OP's bike, but they didn't have any in stock - special order only. That's a shame, because I won't buy one without seeing it first. But the search continues, and I am reading this thread with great interest. Keep the posts/experiences/opinions/advice coming!

It's a pity Halfords don't have a bike for you to try.

You don't say where you are. If you're anywhere near Bewdley in Worcestershire, then message me and you can come and have a go of mine. Or if you are anywhere near Poole in the next two weeks, or Southampton at the beginning of August, again let me know as I shall be there in my caravan on holiday.

You can also try:

http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/forums/electric-bicycles.2/

Richard53

poppasmurf_bewdley wrote: »

It's a pity Halfords don't have a bike for you to try.

You don't say where you are. If you're anywhere near Bewdley in Worcestershire, then message me and you can come and have a go of mine. Or if you are anywhere near Poole in the next two weeks, or Southampton at the beginning of August, again let me know as I shall be there in my caravan on holiday.

You can also try:

http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/forums/electric-bicycles.2/

Nowhere near any of those (West Wales), but thanks for the kind offer. We have sort-of ruled out the Halfords bike (or at least the £600 one) as it has a fairly high step-over height, and that is a big issue for Mrs R53. With her MTB (frame with dropped top tube) she has to lay it down on the ground and step over it, and then I have to lift the bike up beneath her. I have seen some pics of ebikes that have a very low frame, and these might be OK. We shall see.


I have mooched around the pedelecs forum a while ago, but I can see I will have to get a bit more engaged there.


I'm getting more keen on the idea, and she seems to be picking up some enthusiasm. I'm even wondering if I will be able to commute with one (25 miles round trip, hilly), although this may mean paying a premium price for something more robust and with a monster battery. In my late 20s/early 30s I used to commute 32 miles a day over the Yorkshire Wolds, even doing a whole winter on a fixie, and I would love to get back to that, but I know that at 60 and with some health issues myself it is just unrealistic on a normal bike.


Thank you.

50Twuncle

Richard53 wrote: »

as it has a fairly high step-over height, and that is a big issue for Mrs R53. With her MTB (frame with dropped top tube) she has to lay it down on the ground and step over it, and then I have to lift the bike up beneath her. I have seen some pics of ebikes that have a very low frame, and these might be OK. We shall see.

My wife will not buy a "normal" bike for the same reason - she had a bike accident 30 + years ago - in which she ended up going over the handlebars (breaking both wrists) but now - wants a pedal cycle with a very low top tube - but must be strong (she is a big girl) - they are not readily available.....it needs to be built like an old Puch "step through" moped - but just pedals !!

Richard53

50Twuncle wrote: »

My wife will not buy a "normal" bike for the same reason - she had a bike accident 30 + years ago - in which she ended up going over the handlebars (breaking both wrists) but now - wants a pedal cycle with a very low top tube - but must be strong (she is a big girl) - they are not readily available.....it needs to be built like an old Puch "step through" moped - but just pedals !!

I've been hunting around, and have come across the Whoosh Big Bear, advertised as 'almost a motorbike' and suitable for the 'larger rider'. I'm pretty sure they do one with a low step height.


http://www.wooshbikes.co.uk/?bigbear


Yes, they do:


http://www.wooshbikes.co.uk/?santana-cd


Seriously interested in these, as the prices are pretty fair.

50Twuncle

Richard53 wrote: »

I've been hunting around, and have come across the Whoosh Big Bear, advertised as 'almost a motorbike' and suitable for the 'larger rider'. I'm pretty sure they do one with a low step height.


http://www.wooshbikes.co.uk/?bigbear


Yes, they do:


http://www.wooshbikes.co.uk/?santana-cd

Seriously interested in these, as the prices are pretty fair.

That is a fair price but I was really just asking about non-powered cycles (normal bikes for heavy people) !!

Richard53

50Twuncle wrote: »

That is a fair price but I was really just asking about non-powered cycles (normal bikes for heavy people) !!

Ah, sorry. I read your comment in the context of a thread about ebikes and thought you meant one of those.

silverwhistle

Richard53 wrote: »

I'm even wondering if I will be able to commute with one (25 miles round trip, hilly), although this may mean paying a premium price for something more robust and with a monster battery.

If I had the money (and I don't!) the Cytronex bikes look good (from memory so may be mispelt). Decent light-weight frames and so forth.. Only commenting as I've been drooling over one..