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Thread: e-bike

  1. #111
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    e-bike turned up today.

    On initial impressions, very pleased with it. The motors are restricted to around 15mph in the UK, and on the bike this seems quite a low speed to cut out. But It does mean you can ride at 15-16mph with a token effort on the pedals, which i can see being very handy in the Lakes when hills are a feature.

    Given the power of the motor, i could have perhaps managed with a lesser motor and gone for one of the Bianchi road e-bikes... but given the extras such as integral lights, guards, rack, plus being at least £1000 cheaper than the Bianchi bikes, it would look like i made the correct choice.

  2. #112
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    Quote Originally Posted by Travs View Post
    The motors are restricted to around 15mph in the UK, and on the bike this seems quite a low speed to cut out. But It does mean you can ride at 15-16mph with a token effort on the pedals, which i can see being very handy in the Lakes when hills are a feature.
    So will it take you up Hardknott Pass at 15mph?
    In his lifetime he suffered from unreality, as do so many Englishmen.
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  3. #113
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    Quote Originally Posted by anthonykay View Post
    So will it take you up Hardknott Pass at 15mph?
    Given my experience this afternoon, i'd say that a powerful ebike (such as this) would probably take you up a lakeland pass at 15mph in turbo mode... it would probably drain about 20% of the battery, although free-wheeling down the other side would balance that out a little.

    I'll be cycling over the Kirkstone Pass to the Loughrigg Fell Race in a few weeks time, so i'll let you know!

  4. #114
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    I know very little about e-bikes but do they have regenerative braking?

    Whilst walking in the Italian alps a couple of years ago we were surprised at the number of e-bikes up at the high mountain huts and fighting for the very limited number of outlets available for re-charging their batteries.
    Cause tramps like us, baby we were born to run

  5. #115
    Quote Originally Posted by Marco View Post
    ...the top speed comes out at 1.9mph.

    At this speed balance becomes an issue..
    It certainly does!
    "...as dry as the Atacama desert".

  6. #116
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    Quote Originally Posted by Graham Breeze View Post
    It certainly does!
    When I was a young child at school the only thing I ever won on our school sports days, was the 100 yard slow bicycle race.
    I can see where I am headed, slowly.

  7. #117
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    Quote Originally Posted by Marco View Post
    My understanding of the legislation is that all e-bikes have their electrical assistance terminated at 15.5 mph, on the basis that a higher value would make them a motorbike, and subject to compulsory helmet, insurance etc.

    Of course this doesn't mean you can't exceed 15.5 mph, it just means that you'll have to pedal or roll downhill to achieve a higher speed. Talking to the portly rider of the Bianchi Aria e-bike I met a few weeks ago he explained that cycling with an e-bike involved using a different strategy. He chose to deliberately keep the speed below 15.5 mph on the slight inclines that pass as hills around here, so that he got full electrical assistance. On the flat and the slight downhills he could, and did, look after himself
    I think that the legislators have made a pigs ear of the legislation in relation to e-bikes and e-scooters both of which are limited to a speed of 15.5 mph.

    A minimum of a provisional licence is needed for a scooter, which can only currently be ridden in a public place if hired, but nothing required for an e-bike.

    Another area where the lawyers will be laughing all the way to the bank in the next few years.
    Visibility good except in Hill Fog

  8. #118
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    Quote Originally Posted by Llani Boy View Post
    I think that the legislators have made a pigs ear of the legislation in relation to e-bikes and e-scooters both of which are limited to a speed of 15.5 mph.

    A minimum of a provisional licence is needed for a scooter, which can only currently be ridden in a public place if hired, but nothing required for an e-bike.

    Another area where the lawyers will be laughing all the way to the bank in the next few years.
    My son has just bought himself an e-scooter, and he was told that the Police take a sensible attitude, i.e. they will only stop you on an e-scooter if you are actually causing a nuisance; they recognise that the current legislation is daft.
    In his lifetime he suffered from unreality, as do so many Englishmen.
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  9. #119
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    Well, I'll report back in 3 weeks after the practical test on Kirkstone!

  10. #120
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    Took the Scott e-bike up Howtown zig-zags this evening.

    Really is a case of using the gears as if you were using a normal bike, and just letting it assist and do its thing. But onto the zigzags.... in low gear, went up them between 12-13mph without breaking sweat or even nearly needing to get of of the seat. Kirkstone may prove a tougher test... there's a knack to it, but was a promising first trial.

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