Godanubis
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Anubis is known as the god of death and is the oldest and most popular of ancient Egyptian deities.
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Post by Godanubis on Sept 13, 2021 14:18:32 GMT
I have the dreaded osteoarthritis. Knees and Hips wearing away (not helped by my weight) Exersise is the physio cure. Due to my weght and pain it is difficult to walk etc. Local swimming pool only has smaller (kiddy) pool that is easy to access and mums tend to look unkindly on 65+ men in their pool .
I like a walk along the sea front or on a nature trail but sadly this is now very painful,
I found the perfect solution a 36v folding 20" E-Bike on Amazon late deal at £309 it is now £750-850. I bought 2 and Brother got 2.
This has been on of the best bargains ever. The bike was quck to set up and I was soon on the bike trail (better than main roads) I bought a few extras Panniers (again late deal £6 instead of £30 ) Some lights and a huge padded seeat for my big posterior.
As bike is pedal assisted you have to do some pedaling which as my weight is supported is doable.
The bike has 5 gears so can be used without assistance . I started small 2 mile ride to shops the more and more. Now 10mile ride to further shops no problem. I will be able to pop the bike in the boot and go further afield to canals,beaches and trails. I have puncture repair kit and andi puncture additive in tyres so happy to try a long ride. I can take my partner's battery if I want an extra long ride. Range is up to 30miles on 3hr charge so 60 miles for 2 batteries. This is if you are a skinny wee thing .
I am on the near 20 stone mark so if used battery drains quicker.
On evening on the way home from shops I was going up a long, long steep hill and passed a struggling ordinary young biker, at the top I stopped and he went passed sweating and breathing hard. Further up the road we both went into a shop. We chatted and he was amazed the 65+ old guy that had had a heart attack could do trip without breaking a sweat,
Lots of folk comment and ask is it electric as i whizz past at up to 15 mph assisted.
Several bikers and folk have asked for a go and are amazed at the power available if required.
I go out every day and get exersise as you must pedal. I find I am reducing or turnng assistance off more often and only really use it on inclines.
Check Youtube for E-bike fun. There are lots of videos.
The only downside is initial price (They can be silly money) If you can get bargain on AMAZON OR eBAY Etc. go for it you won't regret it. At least try one out at you local bike shop.
I will be trying a long run soon. If I get fed up I can always fold the bike and use my Free bus pass and carry it on board to get home or take on bus to destination and ride home.
As you can see I think everyone should try one.
On the saving planet side I have now done 15 trips to shops that I would have taken my 3l diesel car and get 11 MPG for short trip. With panniers and rucksack I can carry a small Aldi size trolly full of food easily,
Your comments and experiences welcomed.
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lara
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Post by lara on Sept 13, 2021 16:38:33 GMT
Good for you!
Don't let those mums intimidate you though. Get back in the little pool too if you benefit from it.
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mogish
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Post by mogish on Sept 13, 2021 18:29:19 GMT
Certainly was a bargain at £309. I just paid £320 to get my bosch motor refurbished with new bearings and seals.
I love mine however the price of parts have shot up over the last year... mountain bike tyre us more than a tyre for my civic, brake pads a tenner, rear cassette £90.
Glad you are enjoying it , it's fun and keeps you fit.
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Godanubis
Member of DD Central
Anubis is known as the god of death and is the oldest and most popular of ancient Egyptian deities.
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Post by Godanubis on Sept 14, 2021 0:09:01 GMT
Saw video with Bosch mid motor they look fantastic. However bike was £6k This is mine link
Great wee bike with disc brakes and good gears. One of bikers said he would have bought it for motor/battery etc and convert his road bike. Anyone who wants a spare Just put alert on Amazon to notify when reduced and get one to pop in the boot when you don’t need your big boys bike
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aj
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Post by aj on Sept 14, 2021 8:28:35 GMT
I'm all for ebikes, while other personal electric mobility remains illegal in the UK they're a great option for short journeys and leisure use.
The pricing for a decent one is a bit high still; spending just over £2K will get you a decent Japanese built 125cc motorbike. For my hilly 10 mile commute, petrol power is still in the lead at the moment. (Though I wouldn't mind swapping my commuter for a Zero FXS)
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mogish
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Post by mogish on Sept 14, 2021 10:12:02 GMT
I'm all for ebikes, while other personal electric mobility remains illegal in the UK they're a great option for short journeys and leisure use. The pricing for a decent one is a bit high still; spending just over £2K will get you a decent Japanese built 125cc motorbike. For my hilly 10 mile commute, petrol power is still in the lead at the moment. (Though I wouldn't mind swapping my commuter for a Zero FXS) Indeed , new honda crf300 otr , 5149 , average e mountainbike with full suspension and 85nm motor(from 4-5 different manufacturers) 5-6k. Motorbike still better value per mile , mtb is more smiles per mile.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2021 10:49:36 GMT
Fantastic story, Mrs Bobo is thinking about converting her 30 year old bike as her knees and blood is making the hills of Yorkshire a bit hard.
Anything that stops FF usage is good in my mind.
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Post by moonraker on Sept 14, 2021 11:02:27 GMT
They seem a good option when, as with all other vehicles, they're used sensibly and within the law.
But many models are, understandably, heavy. One of my environmental volunteer colleagues rode out to a site a couple of miles from her home and then realised that it might be unwise to leave it in the car-park. Colleagues had to struggle to manhandle person-handle it over a locked gate and on to site (and back again at the end of the task). And she punctured both tyres ...
(Dunno if e-bikes come with some form of integral locking system or whether one should buy a heavy-duty chain.)
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2021 11:23:37 GMT
A friend managed to use one down hill with power on and discovered that the bike brakes were insufficient for what was, by that point in time, a hurtling missile. Luckily a drystone wall broke the fall.
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Post by bernythedolt on Sept 16, 2021 1:33:15 GMT
That's surprising, because they mostly come with beefed-up brakes to handle the additional weight. Furthermore, of itself, "downhill with power on" is unlikely to get you into trouble - the power delivery tapers with speed and cuts off completely at 15mph, so it's just a conventional bicycle after that point, albeit a heavier one.
I've been cycling electric for over 30 years now and love my e-bikes. I currently have 4 in my stable (e-mountain bike, two e-step-thrus, e-touring). All have really impressive Magura hydraulically operated brakes and stop more positively than any other cycle I've ever ridden.
I pay four figures for my bikes though, so you'll get less braking capacity (as well as build quality, component reliability, longevity, etc, etc) if you buy cheaper, but each to his own. Horses for courses.
Regarding the e-bike versus motorbike equation, I accepted from the outset that a new motorbike was less expensive and much better value than an e-bike, but for me that misses the point. I bought my e-bikes to maintain fitness - something my motorbike will never do. I enjoy the motorbike occasionally, but do more miles on the e-bikes!
I agree wholeheartedly with the OP - e-bikes really are great fun 👍. I tackle hills for fun that I would have shied away from years ago as a younger, fitter man on a conventional bike. Just feed in a bit of power and I arrive at the top warm and breathing faster, but not a sweating wreck! 😎
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mogish
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Post by mogish on Sept 16, 2021 7:12:47 GMT
That's surprising, because they mostly come with beefed-up brakes to handle the additional weight. Furthermore, of itself, "downhill with power on" is unlikely to get you into trouble - the power delivery tapers with speed and cuts off completely at 15mph, so it's just a conventional bicycle after that point, albeit a heavier one. I've been cycling electric for over 30 years now and love my e-bikes. I currently have 4 in my stable (e-mountain bike, two e-step-thrus, e-touring). All have really impressive Magura hydraulically operated brakes and stop more positively than any other cycle I've ever ridden. I pay four figures for my bikes though, so you'll get less braking capacity (as well as build quality, component reliability, longevity, etc, etc) if you buy cheaper, but each to his own. Horses for courses. Regarding the e-bike versus motorbike equation, I accepted from the outset that a new motorbike was less expensive and much better value than an e-bike, but for me that misses the point. I bought my e-bikes to maintain fitness - something my motorbike will never do. I enjoy the motorbike occasionally, but do more miles on the e-bikes! I agree wholeheartedly with the OP - e-bikes really are great fun 👍. I tackle hills for fun that I would have shied away from years ago as a younger, fitter man on a conventional bike. Just feed in a bit of power and I arrive at the top warm and breathing faster, but not a sweating wreck! 😎 Totally agree with all above. Just fitted a new chain, magura pads all round and serviced dropper post last night.... all ready for the e bike challenge on Saturday. 1000m climbs, 35km over extreme terrain with timed sections... no doubt be in agony by sunday😁
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Post by bernythedolt on Sept 16, 2021 23:11:13 GMT
That's surprising, because they mostly come with beefed-up brakes to handle the additional weight. Furthermore, of itself, "downhill with power on" is unlikely to get you into trouble - the power delivery tapers with speed and cuts off completely at 15mph, so it's just a conventional bicycle after that point, albeit a heavier one. I've been cycling electric for over 30 years now and love my e-bikes. I currently have 4 in my stable (e-mountain bike, two e-step-thrus, e-touring). All have really impressive Magura hydraulically operated brakes and stop more positively than any other cycle I've ever ridden. I pay four figures for my bikes though, so you'll get less braking capacity (as well as build quality, component reliability, longevity, etc, etc) if you buy cheaper, but each to his own. Horses for courses. Regarding the e-bike versus motorbike equation, I accepted from the outset that a new motorbike was less expensive and much better value than an e-bike, but for me that misses the point. I bought my e-bikes to maintain fitness - something my motorbike will never do. I enjoy the motorbike occasionally, but do more miles on the e-bikes! I agree wholeheartedly with the OP - e-bikes really are great fun 👍. I tackle hills for fun that I would have shied away from years ago as a younger, fitter man on a conventional bike. Just feed in a bit of power and I arrive at the top warm and breathing faster, but not a sweating wreck! 😎 Totally agree with all above. Just fitted a new chain, magura pads all round and serviced dropper post last night.... all ready for the e bike challenge on Saturday. 1000m climbs, 35km over extreme terrain with timed sections... no doubt be in agony by sunday😁 That's out of my league, but hope you have a great day! For the uninitiated, a 'dropper post' remotely lowers or raises the seat in an instant from a simple thumb press. I keep promising myself one one day, but they are for the serious mountain bikers (to lower their centre of gravity on gnarly downhill sections). I enjoy downhill trails, but at my age can't risk to go b@lls out like mogish obviously does 😁.
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Godanubis
Member of DD Central
Anubis is known as the god of death and is the oldest and most popular of ancient Egyptian deities.
Posts: 2,011
Likes: 1,013
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Post by Godanubis on Sept 18, 2021 1:20:15 GMT
A few more journeys under my belt. Bike easily takes me 123kg plus 20k shopping up very steep hill. Battery shows strain but never actually seems to struggle and returns to 4 bars when normal riding resumes. Out in wet today and disc brakes worked great , perhaps a bit too strong as nearly went over handle bars when dog on lead ran in front of me. . All lit up ready for winter nights. Luckily no roads on 10mile long shopping trip just cycle paths. Sooooo much fun and exercise to boot.
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one21
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Post by one21 on Sept 18, 2021 8:41:03 GMT
A few more journeys under my belt. Bike easily takes me 123kg plus 20k shopping up very steep hill. Battery shows strain but never actually seems to struggle and returns to 4 bars when normal riding resumes. Out in wet today and disc brakes worked great , perhaps a bit too strong as nearly went over handle bars when dog on lead ran in front of me. . All lit up ready for winter nights. Luckily no roads on 10mile long shopping trip just cycle paths. Sooooo much fun and exercise to boot. Yes I share your joy, we have owned a couple for a few years now and is always fun to travel on them! We have hybrid / mountain bike type so go off road and along canal towpaths etc also. Puncture proof tyres are proving to be great value, as not had a single puncture since fitting them! We have occasionally travelled up to 50 miles round trip with ease! No sign of battery deterioration either after few thousand miles, a couple of the best purchases we have ever made! Oh and can still peddle them home if battery did happen to go flat😊
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Godanubis
Member of DD Central
Anubis is known as the god of death and is the oldest and most popular of ancient Egyptian deities.
Posts: 2,011
Likes: 1,013
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Post by Godanubis on Nov 8, 2021 2:21:35 GMT
Well had to happen. Fell off bike a couple of weeks ago grazed hand and bruised leg. Entirely my fault headed for short cut across small bit of grass that was really green mud and wheel just sank and threw me off. Couple helped me up and 5 mile ride home was no problem just put bike on highest power. I will stick to good old tarmac and paved paths from now on. It has not put me off one bit. I put bike in car and went to the garage to get automatic boot fixed. My mechanic is great but very busy so I leave car and let him work on it at his leisure. It works out cheaper. I then used bike to go home/shopping it was on that trip I fell. He had the car for a week and I never missed it as I only had small trips I used bike for. Getting dark and cold but most paths I use are well lit and I have good LED lights. It is less than 10mins to supermarket so I can usually find a dry time. I will not use it when icy or snowy. That’s what my all season + mud and snow car tyres are for. With Amazon prime and Uber eats vouchers large products can be delivered most time cheaper than supermarkets ie. Soft drinks etc. I go most days to Asda to get bread at 10p however chicken, lamb, steaks and other foods are now doubled to 20p. All fruit vegetables etc are still 10p so panniers and large rucksack full. Cats, and chickens love the treats like left over meat and pomegranate seeds for chickens. I got nice pork joint I cooked sliced (50 slices) for 20p and vacuum sealed in meal sized portions. I can get a months fruit and veg for a couple of £. Apples etc keep fresh for weeks in fridge when vacuum sealed. You may think I have gone off topic but I have not. A big pro is the the e-bike which means I can save the £1.50 each journey I used to pay in fuel ( getting more expensive now) and that alone could buy me for each day. 15 loaves or 15 lots of fruit and veg that would do 45 servings and £1.50 buys lots of expensive protein as I got the other day. Such as whole chicken 20p ,10 pork steaks 20p ,10 sausages 20p ,4 lamb chops 30p, 500g mince turkey and beef 50p and some coleslaw 10p. So the e-bike with the addition of a chamber vacuum sealer and food slicer and freezer after initial outlay will save me hundreds of £ over the year by cutting my food bill by at least 75% and they are really really So much fun even in the dark. I think it is even beginning to help me reduce my substantial bulk (Due to 10p pizzas etc 😆) due to increase in actual exercise. So that is my update on my version of Sheldon Cooper’s “Fun with Flags” to Anubis’s “ Fun with E-bikes “ Get yourself one and increase your fitness and the time before your time to meet me comes !!!
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