I want to try out an electric bike!

Posted by Lucy Craig on May 11, 2020 at 4:58pm in Sharing stuff other than tools

Hi, Does anyone have an electric bike I could borrow for a few hours? I don't want to buy one until I'm sure we (the bike and I!) can manage the hills around here. I'm not sure how bikes are 'sized' but I'm a woman of 5'3". Happy to leave something of value if need be as 'collateral' for your expensive bike!

You need to be a member of Alexandra Park Neighbours to add comments!

Join Alexandra Park Neighbours

Email me when people reply –

Replies

Grant Gahagan May 18, 2020 at 5:06pm

Hi Lucy. You could try getting in touch with Peddle My Wheels (https://www.peddlemywheels.com/) who provide a 'try before you bike' scheme in Haringey, including e-bikes. Should be a way of trying one out without making too much of an initial outlay, and if you like the bike you can keep it and pay it off in installments. They are prioritising key workers right now though so there is probably quite a long wait.

Just to echo what Richard says, the quality of the motor makes a huge difference to how useful an e-bike is. The better quality ones offer an almost completely seamless transition between powered riding and your own effort - the best way I can describe it is like having a fair wind at your back on every ride, with the motor also appearing to flatten out any hills. Definitely worth trying out a few options.

Welcome | PeddleMyWheels
Richard Riddle May 17, 2020 at 9:18am

Hi Lucy - I have lived in North London for ages and I can guarantee a eBike will manage the hills. As long as you buy a good one - you should be looking at a budget of around 1.5K (minimum) I think my bikes would be too big for you to try but I can recommend two good eBike shops - one in Camden and one in Bermondsey - you can at least see what they have to offer. As I said an eBike will easily deal with the hills around here.
- Lucy Craig > Richard Riddle May 17, 2020 at 11:32am
  
  Thanks so much, Richard. That's a lot more than I can spend, I'm afraid! I had looked at Halford's who if I remember correctly had one for about £850. I'm 72 and don't need it for a daily commute or anything, so a cheap & cheeful one may do me!
  
  Thanks again for the advice!

This reply was deleted.

To add a post - click on +Add new Post at top right (if it is not there, you are not signed in - see link at top of page); fill in the details, then click on black button below.

To later edit it, click on the post header to display it, then on +Edit at top right.

If you wish to give somebody your contact details, you may prefer to do so by personal message (click on little envelope at top of page, then on +Compose) rather than putting it in a post which is visible to everyone.

Click on an advert for more info.