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We will soon be a one-car household, and for ages we've been saying that we should get an e-bike for the 'nipping to the shops' duties that we currently do in the car anyway.
It's only about a mile and a half to the shops, but the shops are 300ft below us and the hill touches 10% in places (12% if you believe the signs); it's rideable on a normal bike, I do it regularly on 'proper' rides, but, unless you want to recreate that Hovis advert, it's not really what you want when you've just bobbed out for milk and a loaf of bread.
The first thought was an e-shopper/city-bike kinda thing, as anything more than a basketful of stuff from the Co-Op means a proper shop, in the car, from further away anyway. However, the other thing at the bottom of the hill is the pub, so the thought struck us that if we get an e-bike that can take a passenger, then, well, happy days...
I'm tempted by the Decathlon one, as it gets great reviews, comes with foot rests and you can get a seat for the back. However one of the reviews I read said that it only just got up a 9% gradient with a 80kg-ish rider and 50kg-ish passenger, so I'm not sure how it'll cope up our hill with 80kg-ish me and 60kg-ish MrsIHN. So I think I'd like something like that, but with a bit more oomph.
Ideas?
The oomph is affected by the strength of your legs? If you ride the hill unassisted usually you may be ok, I looked at the decathlon model and it looks good, if a bit pricey.
Pick the Tern long-tail that fits your budget? Bonus is that it can be stood on end for storage (if you have the headroom in the shed).
I looked at the decathlon model and it looks good, if a bit pricey.
I thought it looked like a good deal, given it's about half the price of a similar bike from Tern
Pick the Tern long-tail that fits your budget?
I don't think any of them do, they're all basically £5k
Another vote for the Tern GSD. I used a local community one a fair bit (doing food bank deliveries, local runarounds for shops, that kind of thing) and it was an absolute blast, it's such a good and versatile bike. But yes, it's £5000+
There is this:
https://uk.fiido.com/products/fiido-t2-longtail-cargo-ebike-for-versatile-all-terrain
No knowledge of them other than that name has cropped up before when cheap e-bikes get mentioned. There may be a reason it's so cheap, who knows?!
+1 for a decent longtail, most of the decent ones have 200KG system weight limits, so will be fine with you and the other half and they're not quite as cumbersome to ride or store as trikes or long-johns. One with a Bosch motor and MTB gearing should be able to winch up almost anything.
Tern are the originators but Trek, Riesse & Mueller etc al do good options now. We have a Benno which we love but the rear rack has a 60KG weight limit which precludes carrying most adults.
Three things I would say are:
1: buy local if at all possible, you do not want to have to ship this back somewhere if you have a problem.
2: Fit the longest dropper post that you can so that you can easily switch between riders and get both feet flat on the ground to brace the bike as the passenger clambers on. also nice when you're stopped at the lights with a heavy load on the back.
3: Get the front rack accessory (ideally bolted straight to the frame) and mount a box or crate to it, you will use it constantly.
Surely an e-tandem would be better if you're never going to carry big loads
Surely an e-tandem would be better if you're never going to carry big loads
My mate Pete has a bafang-equipped tandem he's intending to sell that will suit you fine. You met him once years ago when we did a road loop from Macc Forest area.
I'm not convinced a single 41Kg cargo ebike is the right tool for the job, for transporting two of you (weighing ~140Kg total, max load for ebike is 170Kg), up a 10% gradient hill!
Depending on the motor specs, you will get ~250W assistance (a UK legal ebike only needs to meet this as an average power over 30mins).
It will be down to the gearing and then how much effort does the rider want to put in while wearing casual clothes, trying to fight gravity for 1.5 miles up a 300 foot climb that hits 10%! 😮
200W in casual clothes will have you in a very sweaty mess, even if ~2.5W/Kg keeps you moving at a speed that keeps you all upright.
1.5 miles at 10% average gradient (which appears worse than actual scenario) would take ~18mins with 450W total power, according to http://bikecalculator.com/
Surely an e-tandem would be better if you're never going to carry big loads
I know my marriage. We are not getting a tandem.
I would buy the cheapest e-shopper solo bike not a £5k Tern or whatever the budget is. Then you can walk to the pub and spend the rest in the pub.
Tandem, tandem, tandem!
It will be "fun" with a partner on route home from the pub
Mine seen here with wife sized seatpost.
Photo taken by wife for reasons I can't remember😀 probably not wanting to ride it and unleash the 5 year old on his bike. 🤪
In a more useful suggestion I had about 5kg in the basket and the handling was very weird. I'd get pannier bags for a proper shop.
If your marriage won't tolerate a tandem, will it tolerate a pinion passenger? Will the back seat driving not be similar?
I don't think any of them are really designed for that kind of load and gradient.
I'd get two bikes. Or just accept you need a car. Citroen AMI?
Or a twizzy 😀
If medium fitted either of you, I'd consider this 18Kg Momentum 10-speed ebike for under £1k.
I don't think any of them are really designed for that kind of load and gradient.
I had "my" (the community...) Tern up and down those hills routinely. I'm only a couple of miles from @IHN.
Admittedly it wasn't carrying another adult but we did all sorts of bulky delivery stuff. You do ride them quite differently to a regular bike and at times you have to accept that they're going to be quite slow but they'll winch their way up most hills, even fully loaded.
Only thing I'd say is that the first three levels of assist are basically there for show. You pretty much ride the thing in Turbo mode the whole time. I think Tern may have renamed the modes now, I think the top one is now called Cargo or Cargo+.
Tandem, tandem, tandem!
Not a chance, not a chance, not a chance!
Intrigued by a super-tiny leccy car though...
I had a Kona Ute (not e-assist) and just about used to be able to get up a smaller hill that hit 10% with 2 x 20kg kids on the back (system weight of about 140kg), albeit it felt like a max heartrate situation.
30kg extra but 250W of assist I think it'd be straightfoward enough even after a few pints.
Still quite a lot of money unless you are likely to use the bike for other things too.
Intrigued by a super-tiny leccy car though...
Always assumed they would be pointless anywhere hilly... but looks like I might be wrong...
Citroen Ami
I've a longtail e cargo with 750watt bafang mid motor and on a private road it would struggle to get up that gradient with that weight without significant input from the human rider. - afterall its not a motorbike. If you put in some effort its grand.
E-cargo bikes are rad and everyone should have one.
Not suggesting you get a big trike, but weve got a Babboe Flow, which weighs 75kg on its own, and then will take 80kg in the box and 100kg of pilot according to the spec.
Its got a Yamaha PW series motor that hasnt batted an eyelid. It came with an Envolio City hub, which was underspecced and popped recently due to a bad gear choice on my part, but ive just replaced it with a Heavy duty version rated up to 250kg and 100Nm.
A decent longtail would be fine, and great fun. i would suggest one with bigger wheels, rather than a 20" wheeled tern, else your passenger will have their knees around their ears.
Though I have seen people make box seats to go on the smaller wheeled bikes that act as a seat raiser and a bit of storage at the same time, which is neat.
As well as the Babboe, we also have a Yuba Mundo, which have been an absoloute work horse.
https://yubabikes.eu/product/mundo-ep801/
Tern Orox would be pretty sick.
Ticks the Cargo bike box, but also ticks the fat bike box and the rigid trail bike box,
There is this:
I'd say that is ideal for taking two drunken bums back from the pub.
Look, it even has a shelf at the front to carry the post drinking kebab or pizza
Only thing I'd say is that the first three levels of assist are basically there for show
We've a Shimano Steps EP8 motor on the eTandem, we only ever use Eco. it's faster up hills than when we use the non-electric tandem
1.5 miles at 10% average gradient (which appears worse than actual scenario) would take ~18mins with 450W total power, according to
Just a point on this - the OP said that he lives 1.5 miles from the pub/shop, 300ft elevation, and it touches 10% in places, not an average 10%. If it was an average of 10% gradient then he'd live about 800ft up the hill.
I know this because I also used to live 300ft up a hill, but only 0.5 mile from the shop.
I have a GSD and have only ridden with an adult on the back a couple of times, I found a it pretty sketchy, not something I would want to do regularly unless I lived somewhere really flat. Borrow one and see what you think.
Just a point on this - the OP said that he lives 1.5 miles from the pub/shop, 300ft elevation, and it touches 10% in places, not an average 10%. If it was an average of 10% gradient then he'd live about 800ft up the hill.
Yeah, the climb is about 250ft in the first mile, with a 200yd-ish section at the start that's between 7-10%. The rest of the climb is probably 4-5%. The last half mile is flattish.
Why not a normal ebike, a tow rope and a pedal power bike for the wife.
Come out of pub, chuck bike in turbo and tow her up the hill?
Why not a normal ebike, a tow rope and a pedal power bike for the wife.
Come out of pub, chuck bike in turbo and tow her up the hill?
Kiffy Capsule is rated for 200kg (100kg on the rear rack) and has a Bosch Performance Line motor.
https://cyclesphere.co.uk/product/kiffy-capsule-ecargo-bike/
The shop is in the process of closing down at the moment (hence the discount) - send a PM if interested and I can pass details on (full disclosure - I used to be involved with the shop).
<DUP>
Intrigued by a super-tiny leccy car though...
I'd assumed fur your OP that you wanted something more compatible with the pub.
Obviously bikes aren't supposed to be ridden intox either... But
I'm already seeing the local news headline...
Drunken eBike Riders Cause CHAOS in Local Village
😆
I don't think any of them are really designed for that kind of load and gradient.
They are used like this in the Netherlands all the time ( well not the slopes) - even two folk on a standard bike
What happens if you're discovered riding your e bike on the road after 3 pints?
What happens if you're discovered riding your e bike on the road after 3 pints?
Long as its a <250w and limited to 15.5mph and not throttle operated .... exactly the same as if you were caught riding your accoustic* bike
*Boak.
What happens if you're discovered riding your e bike on the road after 3 pints?
To be prosecuted you have to be incapable of riding the bike. There is no mg/ml limit. In practice certainly around here cops will tell you to walk home and have been known to let your tyres down or lock the bike up if you look like you are not going to comply. You do not lose your driving license
I haven't read all the replies, only the first half.
The Mrs and I also went down to one vehicle (a van) so we use the Tern GSD for nights out. Total train weight is 200kg or so but that includes the bike. As we're 130kg combined that's fine for us.
I've had it up Dean St. Newcastle, admittedly I turned it up to Sport mode.
https://strava.app.link/9tw87kiQNVb
Yes they are pricey..
The gsd is an absolute **** to work on
All the advice is wrong.
All these longtails require both captain and passenger to be capable of sitting and holding on.
Bakfiets... Then you can pour the paralytic one in, dump a carryout ontop and mosey up the hill.
What happens if you're discovered riding your e bike on the road after 3 pints?
To be prosecuted you have to be incapable of riding the bike. There is no mg/ml limit. In practice certainly around here cops will tell you to walk home and have been known to let your tyres down or lock the bike up if you look like you are not going to comply. You do not lose your driving license
Yep its a little mooted benefit of riding a bike, you can do so intoxicated.
Its different in Spain 1,000 euros for a few pints and 100 to 600 euros for speeding and 200 euros for ignoring traffic lights,
they do give you a discount of 50% if you pay up quick.
2.- La bicicleta está considerada, por Ley, como un vehículo y el ciclista como un conductor
Así, recuerda que pueden sancionarte si:
-
Te saltas un semáforo. Con 200 euros.
-
Si te metes en dirección prohibida. Con 200 euros; con 80 euros si incumples la prohibición de la señal R-114, que prohíbe únicamente la entrada a ciclos.
-
Si conduces utilizando auriculares o hablando por el móvil sin manos libres -no están permitidos tampoco los manos libres con cable y auriculares-. Con 200 euros.
-
Superas los límites legales de alcohol y drogas. Recuerda que, al conducir un vehículo, estás obligado a someterte a las posibles pruebas de alcohol y drogas que te soliciten los agentes de la autoridad; si no lo haces, podrán sancionarte con 1.000 euros.
-
Si te saltas los límites de velocidad. Las bicicletas (incluidas las que cuentan con motor eléctrico=, tienen un límite de 45 km/h en cualquier tipo de vía. Si bien podrán superar esta velocidad, según el art. 48.42e del Reglamento de Circulación, “en aquellos tramos de la vía en los que las circunstancias permitan desarrollar una velocidad superior”. ¿A qué tramos se refiere? Por ejemplo, a los descensos. Según en cuánto superes el límite de velocidad, podrían llegar a multarte con entre 100 y 600 euros.
Q411: Can cyclists be prosecuted for drink driving on a pedal cycle?
Answer
Yes, it is an offence to ride a pedal cycle on a road or other public place whilst being unfit through drink or drugs, basically so as to be so under the influence of drink or drugs that the person does not have proper control of the pedal cycle
Source
I always assumed if someone got caught riding drunk they would get through same as a driver?
Is that incorrect?
I'm loving the Bakfiets version 😀
We love our Tern GSD but it’s over your budget. I’ve picked @ahsat up from the train station a few times, but it’s main job is getting shopping back over the chevin without getting sweaty. It’s brilliant, it makes mundane stuff fun.
As for two adults up a steep incline, it’d be possible, but might be hard work. You can rent them and try it out first.
From our test ride:
The gsd is an absolute **** to work on
Agreed, part of the reason we bought belt drive and hub geared version to make life easier
I always assumed if someone got caught riding drunk they would get through same as a driver?
Is that incorrect?
yes - there is no legal limit - you would have to be shown to be incapable of riding. I guess the cops could do the old fashioned sobriety tests - walking in a line etc but even then does that prove you are incapable of riding? IME cops just give drunk cyclists a telling off and tell them to walk home. Its also quite a small fine IIRC
S4 RTA 1988 covers mechanically propelled vehicles, as opposed to motor vehicles https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52/section/4
Not so sure about Scottish legislation
Courts can disqualify people from driving in limited circumstances when not in the car (or whatever). It'll be an interesting case, but don't tempt fate 😉
I think whether you'll get up the hill will depend on the gearing. Some of the e cargo bikes I've ridden have surprisingly high gears, especially the hub geared ones. Something with a mtb groupset is what you want I reckon. I personally think bigger wheels (and good brakes obviously) would make me less nervous on the way down too.
Decathlon long tail seems like great value for the quality
Q411: Can cyclists be prosecuted for drink driving on a pedal cycle?
Answer
Yes, it is an offence to ride a pedal cycle on a road or other public place whilst being unfit through drink or drugs, basically so as to be so under the influence of drink or drugs that the person does not have proper control of the pedal cycle
Source
I always assumed if someone got caught riding drunk they would get through same as a driver?
Is that incorrect?
I'm loving the Bakfiets version 😀
Its better than that. You don't even need to deal with them at the top. Throw a blanket over them and leave them to sleep it off.
I'd be tempted to go tri-cargo, purely for the post-pub stability...
These people make really good bikes, butt... Sweden only.
Come out of pub, chuck bike in turbo and tow her up the hill?
Post pub, what could possibly go wrong?
