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| *Vultures Knob>>>Bike Pedals |
Can anyone give me advice on 'Electric Bicycles' please? |
I am thinking of buying an electric bike. I have no previous experience with one! Are they hard to pedal? Are they heavy? Are they easy to operate? Are they good or bad going up or down hills? Do they need recharging every day - i.e. does the battery charge last a long time? I would normally do a 5 mile return trip each day. If you have one would you buy one again? Are they just gimmicky? Gosh I am almost talking myself out of buying one already! Any input much appreciated. Many thanks - BikeMan! For a five mile ride I would not recommend an electric bike at all. Well not unless you have health reasons. A standard bicycle will do the job and it is so much less hassle. Since you have asked There are many different types but generally. They are easy to pedal and most can be ridden with no pedalling at all. Weight can very a lot the cheaper ones can be around 30 kg(66 lb) and a good kit can add as little as 5 kg (11lb) to the weight of the bike. Usually easy to operate simple throttle style is common. Some work just via an on off switch. They will make going up hills easier (for anybody). Most are limited by speed so at speeds above 20mph(32km/h) there is no assistance and you need to carry the extra weight. The batteries usually last longer if they are charged regularly. (And charged slowly). The bikes range will depend on how large the battery is (rated in Watt/hours) and how much it is used. Once charged the battery will discharge slowly depending on the type will last from a week to a month.(ish)(without use) There are many different kinds of battery most common types are Lead acid, nickel metal hydrate and Lithium. (Heaviest to lightest) (Also cheapest to dearest) (Also shortest life to longest life). I don't have one mostly because I can still ride to a standard that electric bikes are slower. (Wrong side of forty) I believe that they still have their place as many people think they are not up to riding any distance on a standard bicycle. After using an electric for any length of time they usually find they can. They also help people with health issues to continue enjoying cycling. My preference would be for a slightly larger all weather electric vehicles with a bit of payload capacity. Something similar to one of these http://www.aerorider.com/ For now I still love cycling. (Without the extra weight) just an idea and not taking the mick, but if you do 5 miles a day why not by a moped, at least you know the battery wont die at the wrong moment and it will work out cheaper to buy too, 1. It does not matter what make you buy, they are all made in Taiwan or China. 2. A 5 mile trip would be not problem at all. They are a great assistance in going up hill. When you coast or ride with the motor off, it charges the bike. As you know, an electric motor running in reverse, becomes a generator. That helps to extend the distance per charge from the mains 3 It is advisable to charge overnight on a regular basis. They cannot overcharge as the charging will cut out when the battery is full. 4. Like all rechargeable batteries, they will rapidly charge until about 80% of capacity, and then trickle charge over a longer period to full charge, it is only after the trickle charge that you will get maximum life before recharging. 5. The distance you can travel on a full charge will depend on several things. The terrain, uphills will deplete the charge, colder weather will reduce the distance possible on a charge, and different makes will have different battery sizes and configurations. The more peddling you do the further you will go on a charge. You need to research the different bikes available. 6. Go to your local bike store ask them. That makes more sense then asking YA Hope that helps, and good luck darling Having rode an electric bike and trying to answer your questions, no harder to pedal than a heavy bike, yes the are heavy compared to a normal bike in my case a MTB, easy to operate, hills, depends on the grade, easy hills they are ok on anything steeper they struggle, mileage depends on model/price. I personally would not buy, I suggest a decent road/hybrid as 5 miles should be easy to do after a bit of work, fitness is something you wont get from an electric bike. I work for dealers that sell ebikes, am a consultant to ebike manufacturers, ocaisonally build one for some customers, and do phone and email support for lots of presale and installation support of ebikes. There are several different styles of electric bikes at different quality and price points. Hubmotor drives are the simplist to install -but motors that drive thru the pedalling chain are much more verstaile-but tougher to install. There are many bikes that have a 10 mile range. If you are looking for reliable ebike that will give YEARS of reliable service, take you 15 miles without charging, and feel like a regular bike- you will need to spend about $1000. The ebike will normally save a person about $100/month in commuter csots if used regularly due to savaings in car insurance, fuel, and maintence. that will get you a Giant Suede-e (hubmotor) for one example. It will climb most 5% hills at 7mph with moderate peealling assitance from the rider. It is turn key bike with a great support network ( All Giant bicyle dealers) This is giants third model ebike since 1999, all have been great bikes. You can get one for about $500, but it will be about 10 pounds heavier, have less range and less hill cliombing power. Another optin is to go with a Cyclone-usa (pedal chain drive) system.. this requires installation localy from someone like me unless you are pretty good with hand tools. this system is the most powerful, fastest and has great range . It goes on your existing bike, an is a bit expensive. You may not need this much range. The lightest ebike is the Bionx.ca kit, adding about 12 pounds to your bike. It is pretty easy to install and is one of the few to have regen braking. Ebikes have great assistance going up hills, the brakes and regular bike handling determine your downhill speed. They are quite easy to operate. We recharge ebikes whenver we can, usually at work or stops lasting over 45 minutes, unless one has a battery pack with enough power to make it home. we recharge every night for sure. Tens of thousands of people use them daily for commuting and running errands. They help reduce traffic problems, help with pollution issues, are much better for your health than anything else except regular biking and walking, save lots of money and stop the export of US dollars for petroleum. Yes they are a very good transpoprtation option, look up other responses about electric bikes (by me and others) here at Answers. I and my wife have owned them and used them regularly for five years. There is a US law (HR 727) passed in Dec 2002, that specifies what a legal low powered electric assist ebike is, (20mph max. speed under e-power, max 1 hp/750 watts, pedals that work and 2 or 3 whels- not 4) and that they are legal where regular bikes are legal. also the website listed below http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/power... I have been using one for 2 years.. I can recommend e-bikes. My bike is 35 kg total.. and its power was 250w (means 0.33 horsepower) .. Its accu is 13 kg.. Range is 30-40 km for smooth surfaces.. Hills causes high enegy comsumpion, so, range is lower at hilly grounds. Maybe half times lower. You can charge your accu of your bike at home.. It takes 7-8 hours.. Easy.. I recommend you to buy powerful 400w+ unbrushed and geared (i mean bike must have gear like 7 to 21 and extra motor gear is very attractive) .. At low power like mine, hill performance is not so good. But makes you happy at smooth grounds. IT is like motor-bike at smooth surfaces.. It is very helpful at hills. But I am a big and heavy guy, it will be better if you are lower than 80 kg. Pedaling and electrical power assist can be used together.. I recommend you to try before buying one.. I am happy having one.. It was cheap (chinese totally 500$), and its gain is great. I did lots of good works for me.. And I use very harshly but it works fine, and never seen like it will be broken! Maybe I have gone 1000+ miles with that bike.. You sprit will feel good also , because of global warming prevention.. :) .. Cool future for our children! :) |
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