E-Bike

Not so much a sign of getting old but trying to get to work without getting sweaty and needing a shower (massive refurb going on at work and hence very poor showering and changing facilities). It’s only a 15k round trip too which is far enough to work up a sweat but not far enough to do me much good. And I’ve learned in Amsterdam I can’t ride slowly.

So I picked up a new (old stock?) Smart E-Bike. It was a purchase from the charity the Children’s Society on eBay. Slightly bizarrely, it’s a non-UK spec which, in practical terms means the brakes are the wrong way around but the motor is 250w rather than the U.K. 200w (why the U.K. has the less powerful motor I don’t know because you’re allowed 250w and the speed limit of 25kmh is the same).

It’s well-spec’d with integrated B+M lights, belt drive, and 180mm hydro discs. Range is supposed to be 60-100km and it has regen capability - in fact, applying the front brake also puts the rear-mounted hub motor into regen. It’s pedal-elec which means you have to pedal to get drive. Oh, and it’s bloody heavy - 26kg - despite an aluminium frame.

I’ve done a few rides on it and it’s pretty good. Being so heavy, and despite quite big tyres, it’s pretty harsh over bumps. The biggest “problem” I’ve found with the concept is that you get electric power up until 25kmh and much of the time I find myself at 26+Kmh because I just want to go faster. That’s a Good Thing in that I do at least get some exercise but it does rather defeat the objective. Worst comes to the worst, either Mrs MRS can use it or I’ll donate it to my folks.

I've thought about it too, though they are expensive. I like the idea of a cheap way of commuting without arriving drenched in sweat. I suspect the weight is mostly battery and motor. 15kg for an average mountain bike, so that's 10kg of extras.

Tempted though. The ultimate would be an electric folding bike which doesn't weigh a tonne.

I was just looking at an add from someone selling a secondhand one. And the add was saying that it could be de restricted and can do nigh on 50kmh.

650 euro they wanted for it.

In the U.K. at least, I’m conscious that that guy was recently successfully prosecuted for manslaughter because he had no front brake. Getting into an accident with a derestricted ebike isn’t something I’d want to risk as you’d be nailed whether you were “at fault” or not. The 25kmh limit is a bit silly as I’d normally average 30kmh and it’s not as if the ebike can’t travel faster than 25kmh anyway.

The hub motor is very heavy and the battery weighs 3kg. The tyres aren’t far off a kilo each and the wheels are very “solid”.