Electric mountain bike

[Tashyboy]

As Tashyboys quest is to get a bit fitter. Ave got it in me head an electric mountain bike is the way forward. Living on the doorstep of Sherwood Forest, Well it ticks lots of boxes. A good pal said he would take me out on his E bike and so did a PP. So today I turned up at me PP house and off we set. The bike he had is a specialized hard tail. Now seeing as the last bike I went on had Raleigh Chopper written down the side. Suffice to say bikes have come on a bit in the last 45 years.
Getting the negatives out of the way, I fell off about 6 times. Every time when I had stopped or tried to set off. Nowt Major coz every time on grass. Suffice to say I loved it. We set off at 12.00 and 2 hrs 20 mins later we were having a cuppa at Hardwick Hall. When I got off the bike me legs had gone. I got the tray of drinks and snap and I had a wobble in the cafe. I nearly dropped the lot.
After 20 mins we set off again. This time to silverhill pit tip. I fell off again. We pulled up at his place around 4.20 pm and we had done around 27 miles with the last half a mile up hill. Having spoken to my PP he is 70years old and looks as fit as a butchers dog. I was gobsmacked. But he kinda endorsed my quest to get a bit fitter.
So now I am looking at E bikes, I had an idea what I wanted which was a full suspension. As I am sat here the bit down below between my sewerage plant and pleasure room is bruised to high heaven. It is throbbing and aching. So it endorses my quest for full suspension and a comfy seat.
I was astonished how easy it was to ride without feeling like I was gonna have a heart attack. Fresh air, using your brain and body. I ticked a lot of boxes.
Re a bike, I am leaning towards a Lapierre overvolt or Haibike. But the specialised was special.It felt a bit like I was over leaning though. Any advice on E bikes greatly appreciated.
Finally a few observations.
1, if you think the roads are rammel in a car. Try them on a bike.
2, some dogs love barking at cyclists.
3, Some dog owners like there dogs off a lead and let them go for cyclists.
4, most dog owners are responsible.
5, me perineum is on fire.

 

[Jimaroid]

It’s a bit of a minefield to be honest. Mostly it all depends on the budget you have in mind. Rather than look at the name on the frame look at the quality of the motor and components you get for the money.

Just don't aim cheap, it’s a false economy.

 

[Tashyboy]

It’s a bit of a minefield to be honest. Mostly it all depends on the budget you have in mind. Rather than look at the name on the frame look at the quality of the motor and components you get for the money.

Just don't aim cheap, it’s a false economy.

The guy I went out with was on his wife’s bike, he said exactly the same. His wife has had a lot of problems with hers.

 

[PJ87]

The guy I went out with was on his wife’s bike, he said exactly the same. His wife has had a lot of problems with hers.

Also can be unsafe, get a good one and you won't regret it

My father has one, has knee issues and it's enables him to cycle all over the place.

 

[Alan Clifford]

Aren't "e-bikes" essentially mopeds with an electric motor rather than a petrol one?

 

[RichA]

Sherwood Pines do e-bike hire and demos. Pretty good place to try one out. Get your hire / demo fee back if you buy and they've got loads.
Surely you can see it from where you live???

 

[Jimaroid]

It’s such a difficult market at the moment. The best e-mtbs will cost anywhere from £4,000 to £10,000+. The entry level e-bikes are around £2,000 to £4,000. Anything under £2,000 is in the avoid towards becoming an actual fire risk category.

Bosch, Yamaha and Shimano motors are all very good. But each have strengths and weaknesses.

Every manufacturer is offering decent alloy framed e-bikes around that £3k to £4k sweet spot. Anything around £4k with a good motor is going to be decent.

The only other thing is don’t be suckered in by huge amounts of suspension travel, it really isn’t necessary. 100mm to 150mm is more than enough for comfortable riding 99% of the time. Going more than that is for very technical trail and downhill use, and pointlessly inefficient on roads and paths.

A local bike shop is a good place to start. They will try before you buy.

Stay well clear of Halfords. Hopefully doesn’t need said.

 

[Tashyboy]

Sherwood Pines do e-bike hire and demos. Pretty good place to try one out. Get your hire / demo fee back if you buy and they've got loads.
Surely you can see it from where you live???

Ave actually been up there and called in. It will be on my list of places to call into again. And also a place to ride once am booted and suited

 

[Tashyboy]

It’s such a difficult market at the moment. The best e-mtbs will cost anywhere from £4,000 to £10,000+. The entry level e-bikes are around £2,000 to £4,000. Anything under £2,000 is in the avoid towards becoming an actual fire risk category.

Bosch, Yamaha and Shimano motors are all very good. But each have strengths and weaknesses.

Every manufacturer is offering decent alloy framed e-bikes around that £3k to £4k sweet spot. Anything around £4k with a good motor is going to be decent.

The only other thing is don’t be suckered in by huge amounts of suspension travel, it really isn’t necessary. 100mm to 150mm is more than enough for comfortable riding 99% of the time. Going more than that is for very technical trail and downhill use, and pointlessly inefficient on roads and paths.

A local bike shop is a good place to start. They will try before you buy.

Stay well clear of Halfords. Hopefully doesn’t need said.

I actually thought that where I am going I thought the front suspension was hardly used.

Re Halfords I went in a couple of weeks ago. It’s a mi Ute of my life I will never get back.

 

[Tashyboy]

Aren't "e-bikes" essentially mopeds with an electric motor rather than a petrol one?

No, it’s a bicycle with an electric motor.

 

[Pants]

A Tash, in lycra, with crocks, on a bike - NOOOOO can't get the image out of my head

 

[nickjdavis]

£3-4k or even more?

Tash...you'd be better with a normal bike and use the excess funds for a "masseuse" to rub some Voltarol into your perineum!!

 

[clubchamp98]

Just bought myself a Specialized SL4.0
its very light and you can ride it without the power on if you want fitness.
but at 50%:it’s a great bike but no suspension
so I bought a suspension seat post and stem it’s brilliant total cost £3200.

 

[patricks148]

So let me get this straight... you want to buy an electric bike in order to get fit???

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Personally, I would get a decent non electric mountain bike, probably a hard tail with decent front suspension.

 

[Neilds]

So let me get this straight... you want to buy an electric bike in order to get fit???

When you think about it, it isn’t as daft as most things Tashy says
The power can be used when required, hills etc and legs at other times. This means Tashy will get out on the bike without being worried about getting too tired and stuck miles from home. For me, it is the same argument as ‘is golf exercise?’ - a couple of days a week on an e-bike isn’t as much exercise as 3 stages of the TdF but better than 3 days sat on your backside watching tv

 

[RichA]

So let me get this straight... you want to buy an electric bike in order to get fit???

I know you're joking, but you still have to pedal for the motor to work and, if it gets you enjoying a physical activity you'd otherwise avoid, it's great for fitness.
When Dad was in his mid-80s and still using his mountain bike, he expressed an interest in e-bikes, just for a bit of help on inclines. He asked me to test a few, so I did.
I've always ridden "manly" road bikes and hardtail mountain bikes, so I was really surprised when my favourite was this ugly European style step-through thing...

OMEGA Dutch style electric bike - BATRIBIKE

Electric Bikes For Sale | Folding Electric Bikes | Battery Powered Bikes | Lincolnshire, UK

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It was great fun, but probably not very suitable for rough trails.

 

[Mel Smooth]

Get a motorbike. Far cooler than a leccy push iron.

 

[Beezerk]

Choose motor over bike brand, personally I'd get a Bosch (had one on my Whyte) and they're pretty much regarded as the best e bike motor. Battery size as well, IIRC mine had a 620W battery and I could get 40 miles range easy, I reckon if could get another 20 miles out of her if I looked after it and was cycling on fairly flat terrain. There's also hybrid type EMTB's which are much much lighter (average ebike can weigh around 25kg ) but the payoff is the assitance power and range are reduced significantly.
Haibike are fugly as hell , not really seen a Lapierre, personally I'd be look at Trek, Whyte or if you want a Specialized (not sure on their motor now) then the Levo is what you want.
Don't go for masses of travel like 180mm on the front fork you won't need it, 150mm or even less will be fine for your needs, full suspensions are great and much more comfortable if you're doing trail riding but you'll be paying another grand or so for the privelage. You won't need a really high spec bike but the higher the spec they do tend to ride a little nicer, smoother gear changes, stronger brakes etc.
I sold mine around 6 months ago as it was 3 years old and the motor was starting to get a little noisy, I was looking at around 1k for a replacement so I decided to cut my losses. I ended up wth a Ragley hardtail, absolutely love it, no motor but it's as light as a feather and great fun to ride

 

[AmandaJR]

Aren't "e-bikes" essentially mopeds with an electric motor rather than a petrol one?

Nope. Don't pedal they don't assist. Over 15mph they don't assist either.

As has been said you can ride with varying degrees of assistance, or none at all.