eBike Advice!

Palladium

Well my commute is sub-10km, but I try to lengthen it to about 30-35km each way when the weather is nice, which is not far off OP's commuting distance. Indeed with a tailwind i usually average 35kph, which is fantastic, but the cycle back is incredibly demoralising, which is when I cut back to the <10k route

I can totally see where OP is coming from, rainy day doing 40km after a long day isn't fun at all, but sometimes I see a few guys along my route and I jump on a wheel, or take the wheel from a lorry/truck/bus

As for the e-bike..

The UK legislation was harmonised with EU law EN15194 in April 2015, which means that it could change as Brexit takes effect. But for now it’s pretty clear in defining what can – and what cannot – be called an ebike.
Your steed is an “electrically assisted pedal cycle” (or EAPC, or ebike, or Pedelec) if: the bike has pedals that propel it; the electric motor won’t assist you when you’re travelling more than 25 km/h (15.5mph); and the power doesn’t exceed 250 watts.
Read more at http://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/produ ... tYSkKAF.99

As others have pointed out, you won't get any assistance at over 25kph. Dunno about you but even on a windy day I'll go under 25 if I have to stop for a set of lights. Much better to catch that wheel of a bus on a road bike imho 8)

edit: didnt see 2nd page

huskie69

ugo.santalucia wrote:

but you said it was flat... :roll:

There's about 900ft of climbing over 25 miles, that's flattish! I'm on the North Wales coastal path for most of it and hit a lovely hair-pin zig zaggy ascent about halfway into the commute, it's difficult enough on a normal bike, would be impossible on the quest.

Palladium wrote:

Well my commute is sub-10km, but I try to lengthen it to about 30-35km each way when the weather is nice, which is not far off OP's commuting distance. Indeed with a tailwind i usually average 35kph, which is fantastic, but the cycle back is incredibly demoralising, which is when I cut back to the <10k route

I can totally see where OP is coming from, rainy day doing 40km after a long day isn't fun at all, but sometimes I see a few guys along my route and I jump on a wheel, or take the wheel from a lorry/truck/bus

Exactly this - it's pure bliss with a tail wind and I'm bombing along, but the prospect of a headwind on the return trip fills me with dread. Conversely, fighting a headwind for 25 miles at 6.30am with no-one to share the burden just saps all your energy.

Granted I'd still be against the same headwind on an eBike, I wouldn't be putting the same effort into and I'd have energy reserves for the return leg!

ugo.santalucia

huskie69 wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

I'm on the North Wales coastal path for most of it and hit a lovely hair-pin zig zaggy ascent about halfway into the commute, it's difficult enough on a normal bike, would be impossible on the quest.

What a coincidence, I did that same stretch during the Cestyl Cymru last saturday... I know what you mean, that zig zag under the Expressway is too nasty for a recumbent

https://www.strava.com/activities/1074990618

Stunning commute you have, very envious!! 8)

huskie69

ugo.santalucia wrote:

What a coincidence, I did that same stretch during the Cestyl Cymru last saturday... I know what you mean, that zig zag under the Expressway is too nasty for a recumbent

https://www.strava.com/activities/1074990618

Stunning commute you have, very envious!! 8)

Haha! Fantastic - even more coincidental, I was doing the slightly shorter 135km AUK (my first audax!)

ugo.santalucia

huskie69 wrote:

Haha! Fantastic - even more coincidental, I was doing the slightly shorter 135km AUK (my first audax!)

300 next year?
Stunning ride... did you go up the Crimea pass? The descent was mental, never gone so fast for so long... :shock:

fenix

ugo.santalucia wrote:

huskie69 wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

I'm on the North Wales coastal path for most of it and hit a lovely hair-pin zig zaggy ascent about halfway into the commute, it's difficult enough on a normal bike, would be impossible on the quest.

What a coincidence, I did that same stretch during the Cestyl Cymru last saturday... I know what you mean, that zig zag under the Expressway is too nasty for a recumbent

https://www.strava.com/activities/1074990618

Stunning commute you have, very envious!! 8)

Nice route - you went past my Aunties house. Hope she waved ?

huskie69

ugo.santalucia wrote:

huskie69 wrote:

Haha! Fantastic - even more coincidental, I was doing the slightly shorter 135km AUK (my first audax!)

300 next year?
Stunning ride... did you go up the Crimea pass? The descent was mental, never gone so fast for so long... :shock:

Hmm, we'll see!! I didn't do the Crimea on the audax, but I did it as part of the "Ffestiniog 360" last month, the ascent nearly killed me. Coming back down it though (the same way, back towards Betws Y Coed) has to be the biggest adrenalin rush ever - maintaining close to 60mph for at least 3 miles. Such a rush! I'd do it more often if it wasn't for the climb!

darkhairedlord

electric moped.
ride this when the weather is rubbish and the road bike when you want to.

huskie69

darkhairedlord wrote:

electric moped.
ride this when the weather is rubbish and the road bike when you want to.

Too late, the deed is done and my new eBike is in the post 8) . Anyway, even when the weather is good, I can end up being too knackered on the road bike.

huskie69

Just a quick update on this post - Wow! The Haibike is amazing. I couldn't get further from the light as f*** carbon road bike if I tried, this thing weighs at least 3 times as much. But it effortlessly propels itself and my 115kg up 1/6 gradients.

I'm concsiously seeking out climbs just to try them out and came home via 2 massive hills the day I got it. The 15mph speed limit is pretty frustrating as my AVG speed on the road bike is normally higher than this and it feels like it's bogging down just as you get some speed up. However, a few minutes messing with the magnet and sensor can "fix this" allowing for more sensible speeds, and making this a viable alternative to a car as a form of transport and for the long commute as opposed to simply a leisure machine. Lots of fun, very happy!

Best ££££ I ever spent!!

mercia_man

I'm so pleased to read this. Electric bikes are brilliant - as long as you get a decent one such as the Haibike.