Electric Bikes -- Any "Born again" Cyclists here

Hi there

After many years of not cycling (loved it when I was a kid) I treated myself to an Electric Bike and absolutely Loving it again. Bikes have come on such a long way since I last used them -- Gone are the days of fiddling with dirty oily messy chains etc -- and the tyres contain that stuff the Army uses for bullet proof vests (Kevlar) so getting a puncture is well nigh unheard of.

I treated myself to a VOLT folding Metro electric bike -- Brilliant -- and with the Larger battery (well worth it) I can get over 120 Km on pedal assisted or even more depending on the amount of pedal assist you use.

When I'm in London I HATE the really hot, expensive, unreliable,stinky and hideously overcrowded "Tube" or subway system -- even in London traffic using a Bike is fine if you just keep your eyes open - and finally about 50 years talking about it they are believe it or not finally constructing a load of cycleways in London --can't believe that's really happening.

I'm older now and not as fit as I used to be --Electric Bikes have bought the pleasures of cycling back again -- you don't need to be a "Lycra Clad flier" that scares everybody else from even LOOKING at a bike.

Great also to get away from Computers -- and in Iceland where it gets quite windy electric Bike is 100% brilliant -- cycling is still a bit of a curiosity here --they all think I'm totally Bonkers --but what's new about that !"!!!!


Folds easy to take on public transport and no problems getting it on to planes --even Ryanair !!!!!.

If you are slightly getting on in years and want exercise this is a really pleasant way of doing it -- very healthy too and the amount of money you save on public transport and Gym memberships soon repays the initial investment.

VOLT Metro | Folding Electric Bike

(I've got the Blue one other colours are Black and White --White no good for me in Winter in the snow !!!!).


Cheers
jimbo

Interesting stuff.
How do you find riding a bike with small wheels? I had a go on a Brompton (non-electric, but another folding bike) and found it felt unstable compared to a normal large wheel bike.

DavidY said:

Interesting stuff.
How do you find riding a bike with small wheels? I had a go on a Brompton (non-electric, but another folding bike) and found it felt unstable compared to a normal large wheel bike.

Hi there @DavidY

It's perfectly stable --haven't had any problems at all with it == the Volt is fairly expensive but the trick is when you get it originally to ensure everything fits perfectly. You actually are more stable on one of these than a normal bike.

You do need a carrying bag though when in folded mode otherwise there's nothing to prevent the chain guard from being "kicked / damaged" etc when you are on a Train. Found though people are interested in Bikes when you are on a Train - and if train gets cancelled or stops short of final destination (happens quite a lot in UK) then you jus get out and cycle the rest leaving all the commuters stewing away on a cold Station platform. !!

The longest I've done is about 60 Kms but I haven't been used to cycling for a long time -- I could have done more but not overdoing it at the start.

Would I buy another one --Yes in a jiffy -- Battery though is heayish --but I adopted deliberately for the higher capacity one. The next generation of batteries should hold even more charge and be lighter - especially with electric cars coming away from "Niche market".

I'm quite tall (above average) and don't feel unstable on it.

Cheers
jimbo

Thanks for the info jimbo.
How quick is it to fold and put in the bag when you're on a train platform?

I don't rate their website though - the brochure is in one of those annoying viewers with fancy page-turning effects... but you can't download it. Forget the fancy tricks - just let me download a PDF!

DavidY said:

Thanks for the info jimbo.
How quick is it to fold and put in the bag when you're on a train platform?

I don't rate their website though - the brochure is in one of those annoying viewers with fancy page-turning effects... but you can't download it. Forget the fancy tricks - just let me download a PDF!

Hi there @DavidY

seconds - 3 clicks and you're done. Takes well under 10 secs -- plenty of time even if train arriving at station. The most annoying thing is if there's no "Luggage" type wide automatic ticket gate you have to lift it over the top while putting a credit card on the ticket sensor --and since I use a mobile phone a lot of times for paying "London Oyster card" type fares it's a juggling act. - At bigger stations the wide gates are available so no probs. !!

Heaving it over the ticket barrier though adds to the fun and is part of the exercise !!!. You don't have any restrictions in Rush Hour with these types of Bikes.

As for websites --same with those people who always insist on Youtube Video presentations often with poor sound and hideous music -- just give me a BROCHURE that I can peruse at leisure. !!

Cheers
jimbo

I haven't switched to electric yet. This is what I ride for exercise. 26s Mountain Bike, Black - Walmart.com When I just want to get out and enjoy the area and relax I ride my Kawasaki.

Joan Archer said:

Looks an interesting bike Jimbo, hubby used to be a cyclist in his younger days and raced with a local club, went to the Isle of Man a few times. We both had road racing bikes when we moved to Wales, at the time hubby didn't drive nor me, I still don't, sadly health problems have curtailed that activity. :)

Hi there
@Joan Archer

The electric Bikes can be used by lots of people who can't even think of riding "normal Bikes" -- I don't know what your specific health problems are but if the streets are safe (relatively Car Free) you would be surprised at the sort of people who can start cycling again (or even for the first time --I know a guy who has started on a Bike for the first time in his life at 84 years old !!!!).

The WORST thing anybody can do is use an electric mobility scooter --once you start using those it's all over !!.

Back pain often afflicts people from around 40 years plus - especially if they've been used to working in offices sitting down most of the day. I've had it too -- the best mechanism is to go out and walk --even if the original walk is excruciatingly painful -- as you get older the bones don't grow back as fast but walking a lot - even with the pain -- develops the muscles which then allow the bones to re-heal -- and forget all the "Veggie" nonsense -- a load of Milk or other calcium food is good for getting bones to heal again -- even for older people.

I've now ridded myself of some hideous back pain I had for almost 2 years -- and the Bike is brilliant also in ensuring it doesn't return !!!!

Cheers

jimbo