electric bicycle retailer in edinburgh

stupot

I have just moved to a longer commute with hills.
~35mins into work is good.
~55mins getting home is not so good.

So I thought that an electric bicycle may be the answer to boost my
average speed going home.

I have heard that electric bikes are becoming a bit of a hit in
London with the congestion charge. Is that true?

I have seen that Dahon do a nice folder...
http://www.dahon.com/rooel.htm

But I dont really want a folder. So any other recommendations?
I met a man last week with a nice electric Yamaha with a 5speed internal
hub. Any others?

Also at a cost approaching ~1k I like a couple of test rides.
Anywhere you can hire these things?

thanks for any info,
Stuart.

Geoff Pearson

"stupot" <xxx@nospamwowo.com> wrote in message
news:cre2od$e22$1$8302bc10@news.demon.co.uk...
>I have just moved to a longer commute with hills.
> ~35mins into work is good.
> ~55mins getting home is not so good.
>
> So I thought that an electric bicycle may be the answer to boost my
> average speed going home.
>
> I have heard that electric bikes are becoming a bit of a hit in
> London with the congestion charge. Is that true?
>
> I have seen that Dahon do a nice folder...
> http://www.dahon.com/rooel.htm
>
> But I dont really want a folder. So any other recommendations?
> I met a man last week with a nice electric Yamaha with a 5speed internal
> hub. Any others?
>
> Also at a cost approaching ~1k I like a couple of test rides.
> Anywhere you can hire these things?
>
> thanks for any info,
> Stuart.

I can't see that an electric bike will be much help here in Edinburgh - you
will soon develop the muscles to get up Dundas Street!

stupot

I think it is the coupling of distance ~8miles with the uphill climb from
sea level (Leith Links) to near ski slopes (Colinton).

Leith Walk - constant climb.
Lothian Road - slow climb.
Polwarth - slow climb.
Craiglockart - constant climb.
Colinton - steeper last climb.

The other alternative is to take a roundabout route on the north ed
path and then the water of leith path. But that route goes in a big loop
and so is slower again.

> I can't see that an electric bike will be much help here in Edinburgh - you
> will soon develop the muscles to get up Dundas Street!

Jon Senior

stupot wrote:
> I think it is the coupling of distance ~8miles with the uphill climb from
> sea level (Leith Links) to near ski slopes (Colinton).
>
> Leith Walk - constant climb.
> Lothian Road - slow climb.
> Polwarth - slow climb.
> Craiglockart - constant climb.
> Colinton - steeper last climb.

An alternative:

Leith - Duddingston (Restalrig; Willowbrae Road)
Duddingston - Newington (Round the back of Arthur's seat)
Newington - Colinton (Along Grange Road then Colinton Road... depends on
where exactly you're heading!)

Involves the same or more climbing, but tends to slightly steeper short
ascents which can be less demoralising.

With the exception of Restalrig, it's also a nicer route involving fewer
major roads.

> The other alternative is to take a roundabout route on the north ed
> path and then the water of leith path. But that route goes in a big loop
> and so is slower again.

How long have you been riding the route? What sort of bike do you ride?
If it's a mountain bike then fitting slicks and pumping them up
reasonably hard will make a hell of a difference. While the motor will
make the hills a little easier, you do still have to carry the extra
weight. If you're not used to hill-climbing on the other hand, you'll
find that your fitness and ability increases rapidly

Depending on what time you ride the return journey, I'll gladly act as
an occasional pacer if you want (I normally leave Leith at around
17:45). I could do with getting some extra miles in, and it's always
good to have something take your mind off the hills.

Jon

stupot

Yes the Leith - Duddingston route might be interesting. Again its a bit
of a loop that I think will add some time on. But Ill give it a go. And
yes the Leith Walk/Lothian Rd route is very nasty for traffic and bike
un-friendliness.

I have only been on the current route for 3 wks doing the ride twice
a week. So a bit more fitness possible?

I have a tourer frame with 700c wheels and schwalbe marathon tires pumped
to ~80psi so it should be quite quick. However at the moment I dont have
a low enough gear for the hills ~ :-)

I recently moved to a 7sp shimano hub but the front chain ring has 44t
which is too big. My old route was okay as it was completely flat. Im
changing the chain ring next week for a 38t or maybe even a 36t as max
speed is not that important to to me. At the moment I never get beyond
gear 5 even downhill. max 20mph is good for me.


Jon Senior wrote:
> Leith - Duddingston (Restalrig; Willowbrae Road)
> Duddingston - Newington (Round the back of Arthur's seat)
> Newington - Colinton (Along Grange Road then Colinton Road... depends on
> where exactly you're heading!)
> Involves the same or more climbing, but tends to slightly steeper short
> ascents which can be less demoralising.
> With the exception of Restalrig, it's also a nicer route involving fewer
> major roads.
> How long have you been riding the route? What sort of bike do you ride?
> If it's a mountain bike then fitting slicks and pumping them up
> reasonably hard will make a hell of a difference. While the motor will
> make the hills a little easier, you do still have to carry the extra
> weight. If you're not used to hill-climbing on the other hand, you'll
> find that your fitness and ability increases rapidly
>
> Depending on what time you ride the return journey, I'll gladly act as
> an occasional pacer if you want (I normally leave Leith at around
> 17:45). I could do with getting some extra miles in, and it's always
> good to have something take your mind off the hills.
>
> Jon

stupot

And the handy kinetics gear calc...
http://www.kinetics.org.uk/html/k_gear.html

Tells me that I maybe should consider a 34t at the front.

Jon Senior wrote:
> stupot wrote:
>
>> I think it is the coupling of distance ~8miles with the uphill climb from
>> sea level (Leith Links) to near ski slopes (Colinton).
>>
>> Leith Walk - constant climb.
>> Lothian Road - slow climb.
>> Polwarth - slow climb.
>> Craiglockart - constant climb.
>> Colinton - steeper last climb.
>
>
> An alternative:
>
> Leith - Duddingston (Restalrig; Willowbrae Road)
> Duddingston - Newington (Round the back of Arthur's seat)
> Newington - Colinton (Along Grange Road then Colinton Road... depends on
> where exactly you're heading!)
>
> Involves the same or more climbing, but tends to slightly steeper short
> ascents which can be less demoralising.
>
> With the exception of Restalrig, it's also a nicer route involving fewer
> major roads.
>
>> The other alternative is to take a roundabout route on the north ed
>> path and then the water of leith path. But that route goes in a big loop
>> and so is slower again.
>
>
> How long have you been riding the route? What sort of bike do you ride?
> If it's a mountain bike then fitting slicks and pumping them up
> reasonably hard will make a hell of a difference. While the motor will
> make the hills a little easier, you do still have to carry the extra
> weight. If you're not used to hill-climbing on the other hand, you'll
> find that your fitness and ability increases rapidly
>
> Depending on what time you ride the return journey, I'll gladly act as
> an occasional pacer if you want (I normally leave Leith at around
> 17:45). I could do with getting some extra miles in, and it's always
> good to have something take your mind off the hills.
>
> Jon

Geoff Pearson

"stupot" <xxx@nospamwowo.com> wrote in message
news:cre7r9$rep$1$8300dec7@news.demon.co.uk...
> Yes the Leith - Duddingston route might be interesting. Again its a bit
> of a loop that I think will add some time on. But Ill give it a go. And
> yes the Leith Walk/Lothian Rd route is very nasty for traffic and bike
> un-friendliness.
>
> I have only been on the current route for 3 wks doing the ride twice
> a week. So a bit more fitness possible?
>
> I have a tourer frame with 700c wheels and schwalbe marathon tires pumped
> to ~80psi so it should be quite quick. However at the moment I dont have
> a low enough gear for the hills ~ :-)
>
> I recently moved to a 7sp shimano hub but the front chain ring has 44t
> which is too big. My old route was okay as it was completely flat. Im
> changing the chain ring next week for a 38t or maybe even a 36t as max
> speed is not that important to to me. At the moment I never get beyond
> gear 5 even downhill. max 20mph is good for me.
>
>
> Jon Senior wrote:
>> Leith - Duddingston (Restalrig; Willowbrae Road)
>> Duddingston - Newington (Round the back of Arthur's seat)
>> Newington - Colinton (Along Grange Road then Colinton Road... depends on
>> where exactly you're heading!)
>> Involves the same or more climbing, but tends to slightly steeper short
>> ascents which can be less demoralising.
>> With the exception of Restalrig, it's also a nicer route involving fewer
>> major roads.
>> How long have you been riding the route? What sort of bike do you ride?
>> If it's a mountain bike then fitting slicks and pumping them up
>> reasonably hard will make a hell of a difference. While the motor will
>> make the hills a little easier, you do still have to carry the extra
>> weight. If you're not used to hill-climbing on the other hand, you'll
>> find that your fitness and ability increases rapidly
>>
>> Depending on what time you ride the return journey, I'll gladly act as an
>> occasional pacer if you want (I normally leave Leith at around 17:45). I
>> could do with getting some extra miles in, and it's always good to have
>> something take your mind off the hills.
>>
>> Jon

I often do Leith - Randolph Crescent and arrive in good form for my French
class. For me the trick is alternating up and level. Coming round via
Arthur's Seat sounds good but there is a slog to do there too. The cycle
track from Leith to the west end and beyond is quite well graded and
well-used.

stupot

That was my old route.
But you have to leave the path somewhere near stockbridge and then go though
some streets and inverleith park and then up a steet climb to the west end
etc. Straight up Leith Walk (climb) and along George Street (flat) is a lot
more direct - but dangerous due to the bad design at the top.

Geoff Pearson wrote:
> I often do Leith - Randolph Crescent and arrive in good form for my French
> class. For me the trick is alternating up and level. Coming round via
> Arthur's Seat sounds good but there is a slog to do there too. The cycle
> track from Leith to the west end and beyond is quite well graded and
> well-used.

Tony Raven

stupot wrote:
>
> But I dont really want a folder. So any other recommendations?
> I met a man last week with a nice electric Yamaha with a 5speed internal
> hub. Any others?
>
> Also at a cost approaching ~1k I like a couple of test rides.
> Anywhere you can hire these things?
>
>

Have a word with Ben at Kinetics (not Edinburgh but close ;-)) or read
the AtoB summaries and chose which ones you would shortlist and find the
local dealers.

http://www.kinetics.org.uk/html/electric_bikes.shtml
http://www.atob.org.uk/Electric_Buyers'_Guide.html

Tony

David Hansen

On Tue, 04 Jan 2005 12:38:38 +0000 someone who may be stupot
<xxx@nospamwowo.com> wrote this:-

>But I dont really want a folder. So any other recommendations?

http://www.atob.org.uk/Electric_Buyers'_Guide.html


--
David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E
I will always explain revoked keys, unless the UK government
prevents me by using the RIP Act 2000.

stupot

Thanks Dave,
That is a good list of bikes. I should be able to find some good
info there.

Im kind of interested by the lack of rental options?
If I was keen to try a car I could rent first to see how it felt.

David Hansen wrote:
> On Tue, 04 Jan 2005 12:38:38 +0000 someone who may be stupot
> <xxx@nospamwowo.com> wrote this:-
> http://www.atob.org.uk/Electric_Buyers'_Guide.html
>
>

Jon Senior

stupot wrote:
> Yes the Leith - Duddingston route might be interesting. Again its a bit
> of a loop that I think will add some time on. But Ill give it a go. And
> yes the Leith Walk/Lothian Rd route is very nasty for traffic and bike
> un-friendliness.

It will add time but also remove a little of the stress. I habitually
ride Leith Walk home, but rarely enjoy it, even late at night when it's
quieter.

> I have only been on the current route for 3 wks doing the ride twice
> a week. So a bit more fitness possible?

I think so. If you're only doing the ride twice a week, I would ride it
for another month or more before looking too hard for alternatives. If
you can do the route more frequently, you'll see a faster improvement,
but the large rest period between rides probably wont do any harm.

> I have a tourer frame with 700c wheels and schwalbe marathon tires pumped
> to ~80psi so it should be quite quick. However at the moment I dont have
> a low enough gear for the hills ~ :-)

Spin, spin, spin! But you seem to have grasped that one already. If
you're reasonably handy with your tools and know about BCD / PCD then
you might want to try the Bike Station (www.thebikestation.org.uk) as
they have a selection of chainrings which might allow you to experiment
without too great a cost.

Good luck.

David Hansen

On Tue, 04 Jan 2005 17:15:49 +0000 someone who may be stupot
<xxx@nospamwowo.com> wrote this:-

>Im kind of interested by the lack of rental options?
>If I was keen to try a car I could rent first to see how it felt.

Why not ask? Bike shops advertise this for Bromptons. Kinetics is
the obvious place to ask in Scotland regarding an electric bike, but
I believe Bike Trax have some in the capital.


--
David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E
I will always explain revoked keys, unless the UK government
prevents me by using the RIP Act 2000.

Steve W

Do not be put off the electric bike option by "real cyclists"
I have a Giant lafree Twist (the basic model with 3 speed hub) and find it
great even on quite steep hills here in Kent. Remember you still have to
pedal but it's just that you put in less effort.


Regards
SW


"stupot" <xxx@nospamwowo.com> wrote in message
news:cre2od$e22$1$8302bc10@news.demon.co.uk...
> I have just moved to a longer commute with hills.
> ~35mins into work is good.
> ~55mins getting home is not so good.
>
> So I thought that an electric bicycle may be the answer to boost my
> average speed going home.
>
> I have heard that electric bikes are becoming a bit of a hit in
> London with the congestion charge. Is that true?
>
> I have seen that Dahon do a nice folder...
> http://www.dahon.com/rooel.htm
>
> But I dont really want a folder. So any other recommendations?
> I met a man last week with a nice electric Yamaha with a 5speed internal
> hub. Any others?
>
> Also at a cost approaching ~1k I like a couple of test rides.
> Anywhere you can hire these things?
>
> thanks for any info,
> Stuart.