On Bicycles

 You may have read my earlier post on my motorcycling, and my decision to buy a NIU UQI GT Pro. If you have you will have noticed that most of my motorcycling journeys are less than 15 miles. Ha! You say 'Ride a bicycle for those. You are lazy. Get fit!'

So why an e-moped as opposed to a bicycle or electric bike?
Good question.

I am proud to be a Cyclist. I have always been a cyclist. I am a lifelong member of The Cyclists' Touring Club (or Cycling UK as the fashion now disctates). I am a member of Audax UK and YACF. I own several bicycles (and a tricycle in a state of disrepair).

Personal circumstances dictate that I can no longer tour by bicycle or take part in Audax events - although I did volunteer at a control for the last London-Edinburgh-London event. I now only do shorter rides lasting half a day or less. I have lost most of my fitness for cycling, and frankly, the local roads are boring!

If I were to attempt to do the 'motorbike journeys' by bicycle I would - I am sure - fall out of love with my bicycles. The road to the right degree of fitness would be long, arduous and unforgiving - I would not do it. This says more about me than it does about cycling - remember I am not a young man any more.

Get an electric bicycle - you say.
Good point, why not?

There are two routes into the world of electric bikes - buy a new one or convert an existing bike.

Electric bicycles, e-bikes,  are expensive. Yes, cheap ones are available, but they are cheap for a reason - cheap bike components, and a cheap battery underpowering a cheap motor. Cheaper ebikes are the modern equivalent of The Bike Shaped Object of recent years - they will die in the back of garages and sheds all over the land.

EBike conversions are available, and an attractive alternative. But again they are not as cheap as might be expected. As I write this they are in short supply if required as a kit. I am doubtful about the suitability of my chosen donor as a suitable candidate for electron power using the available kits (it's a 1970s Raleigh frame, much messed around with) and I don't trust that after-sales advice would be available. Electrifying a bike from components seems to be minefield of mismatched parts and dubious legality.

I am not a snob when it comes to ebikes. Electric bikes have opened up cycling to a whole new population of riders and kept many older people on two wheels. I even had an electric kit at one time - go Google the Sinclair Zeta ! It was not a success.

Electric bicycles have their place in the pantheon of personal transport, but it's not a road I want to travel 

Popular posts from this blog

On Life & Death (or serious injury)

 Read almost anything on the internet on 30 mph mopeds and you'll quickly be convinced that they are dangerous. You will come away assuming that anyone riding one has a life expectancy measured in minutes. Is this really the case? If it is, then why are they allowed on the roads of the UK? I haven't got access to collision statistics - if they exist separately for 30 mph restricted machines - if you do have then I'd love to see a link in the comments. What I do have is - as noted in earlier posts - a vast experience of cycling, and a number of years experience of casual motorcycling (and slightly more as a car driver). There are a number of interesting comments made by "Teflon-Mike" in the BCF Forum at  https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=299314&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=50   and I've drawn on these comments extensively to shape my thinking. A two wheel rider in Britain faces - in my opinion - two main dangers : vehicles turning in
Read more

Wet, wet, wet!

I've taken the NIU on a couple more rides and today was intended to be a ride up to my doctor's surgery and back. But it rained! The rain had nicely gathered in droplets on the seat and was easily brushed off - helmet on, key pressed, green button pressed, brake lever in - no green GO light.... try again, nothing. and again..... Eventually the penny dropped - the kick stand was down. Away I went. I parked it at the surgery in a 'non-parking' space where I'd seen a staff bike before, and went in for my appointment. That's when it started raining - not just any old rain, this was a biblical downpour.  As I came out into the waiting room, there was a 'proper biker' there (you know the type full leathers and a mean look!) and we commiserated each other on the weather. He was interested in the NIU and I told him my reasons for getting it - and far from being dismissive or ridiculing the bike he was interested and could see this type of machine as a good urban
Read more