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[Tim]

Originally Posted by NewCommuter

Hello everyone. I live in Louisville, Kentucky in the United States. With the price of petrol going up here, bicycle commuting is becoming more popular. I have tried it a few times, but several hills between home and work are a great challenge for my 61 year old body. I am thinking of buying a 2009 Kalkhoff Tasman when they are released. Then I got excited when I heard about the upcoming Schwinn Tailwind until I saw how underpowered the battery is (100 wh). From the Kalkhoff website it appears that the 2009 Tasman will ne similar to the 2008 (other than being available in a crossbar version). Doesn't appear to be much on this forum on the Tasman. Any comments on a good electrically assisted bike for an overweight 61 year old in not the best of physical shape? Thanks.

Hello, we've just published the latest Tasman spec here:

Tasman electric bike

Different paintjob and full chainguard this time around and I can confirm this will be available with a crossbar frame, as well as the step-thru.

[flecc]

Originally Posted by Thirdway

So how would an electric bike cope with these conditions, would I be any safer, what happens if I stick to the rough, glass strewn footways instead of the road, how do I get around bad weather while wearing a suit. In short, would it work for me and which bike would suit.

The consensus is that you would definitely be safer since your speeds would often be closer to other traffic especially up hills. For example, if you climb a hill at double the speed that you would on an unassisted bike, only half the number of vehicles would pass you, thus halving the risk incidence.

The latest puncture resistant tyres like the Schwalbe Marathon Plus and Continental Touring Plus are very effective due to a thick penetration resistant layer incorporated, and one can often ride for years without a puncture. They are particularly effective against glass shards.

I don't have to wet weather ride these days, but others can advise on suitable over wear for wet conditions, and an electric bike greatly reduces the problem of sweating due to effort.
.

[Ettica]

Hi Thirdway

I have just started (2 months ago) e-biking to the office and I love it. I have to wear smart trousers and shirt so I leave them in the boiler room and cycle to work in shorts, t-shirt, sweatshirt and flourecent jacket/tabard and get changed when I arrive.

I have saved over £200 in petrol costs since I started and am much fitter than I was.

Its fun going to work and 70% of the way is main roads but the other 30% is cycleways, thanks to the planners of Skelmersdale New Town back in the Seventies!

[Edrich]

Originally Posted by Edrich

So now that I'm totally sold on the concept I just need to decide on which actual model. I've arranged a Kalkhoff test shortly in London's Richmond Park while I'm in the area so I'm hoping that will finally make up my mind. I'll report back here after the test.

I've now ridden the Agattu and Pro Connect for half-an-hour each in Richmond Park, including the 10-12% hill, and was impressed with them both. Because of the generally poor surfaces on unclassified roads in my area, the helpful man at the hire centre swapped the suspension saddle from the Agattu onto the Pro Connect, which made for a good compromise between ride comfort and not wasting energy (and 50 Cycles have said that they can supply these for a small additional charge). I noticed that the Pro Connect's lever-driven gear change was very smooth, whereas the Agattu's twist-grip change produced a noticeable jump, like a traditional Derailleur gear. The Pro Connect also seemed simply to "get on with the job" better on the flat without power.

What about the all-important (in Devon anyway) hill-climbing ability? Actually it felt quite strange because "under the pedals" it feels as though nothing is happening, unlike bikes that have a power-only setting, but when I overtook someone with ease on the hill I realised that it works very effectively. I tried the Agattu on the hill first, after which the Pro Connect with the lower bottom gear (I think?) didn't really feel much easier but, having said that, it wasn't harder either and I had already used up some fitness once! A few days later I checked my fitness on a stationary exercise bike and saw that I was comfortable sustaining only about 135W, whereas the local serious hills are going to require about 160-175W (thanks for the chart with this info, flecc), so now I just have to recover my fitness level of 5 years ago and all should be well. Oh, and both bikes reveal their power noticeably when needing to start quickly, e.g. turning right at a junction.

To cut to the chase, I ordered a Pro Connect 3 days ago (new delivery expected in 7-10 days, said 50 Cycles) -- I can hardly wait!

Hope this helps anyone wondering how these two Kalkhoff models compare.

[psiagarik]

hello to all within these forums. i am the proud owner of a cytronex modified trek 7300.I have owned the bike for almost a week now and can honestly say that i think it is superb. the sense of freedom is the one factor that has impressed me most. with a conventional bike one has to anticipate the journey insofar as contemplating where the gradients and hills are and the routes that will not cause too much exertion and stress.the cytronex has freed me from having to think about it and this is very liberating for me. the main consideration that i have to consider now is energy use and conservation of the battery which i am gradually getting use to. i would like to thank mark searles and phil of no-hills.com for their excellent and prompt service, i am recommending them to my friends and i wish them every success in the future.
this is a great way to travel and i am extremely pleased with my purchase...
roll on electric bikes

[Bigbee]

Hi

My first day

Ive been reading this forum for over the last month trying to decide what to buy.Ive started a thread about buying an ebike or doing a conversion.

speak to you later

[Barnowl]

Originally Posted by psiagarik

hello to all within these forums. i am the proud owner of a cytronex modified trek 7300.I have owned the bike for almost a week now and can honestly say that i think it is superb. the sense of freedom is the one factor that has impressed me most. with a conventional bike one has to anticipate the journey insofar as contemplating where the gradients and hills are and the routes that will not cause too much exertion and stress.the cytronex has freed me from having to think about it and this is very liberating for me. the main consideration that i have to consider now is energy use and conservation of the battery which i am gradually getting use to. i would like to thank mark searles and phil of no-hills.com for their excellent and prompt service, i am recommending them to my friends and i wish them every success in the future.
this is a great way to travel and i am extremely pleased with my purchase...
roll on electric bikes

And a very nice looking bike it is too. I wemt down to Winchester and bought the 7.3 but the 7300 certainly made me look twice. Totally agree about the sense of freedom. It just makes you want to use the bike more. Also found the service to be excellent. Welcome to the forum and good luck

[ritmo]

Hello,

I'm Jake.

I am a design/engineering student currently developing a new ebike in Glasgow. It's very wet and hilly up here and as a result we don't have such a big cycle community. I spending my final masters year working on electric bikes with regenerative braking and new ways of controlling the power at your feet! I think that today's ebikes lack a wee bit of style and need a little rethink to gain a more elegant solution.

I hope I will get to hear about some of your opinions about your electric bikes and how you use them!

[WALKERMAN]

Originally Posted by ritmo

Hello,

I'm Jake.

I am a design/engineering student currently developing a new ebike in Glasgow. It's very wet and hilly up here and as a result we don't have such a big cycle community. I spending my final masters year working on electric bikes with regenerative braking and new ways of controlling the power at your feet! I think that today's ebikes lack a wee bit of style and need a little rethink to gain a more elegant solution.

I hope I will get to hear about some of your opinions about your electric bikes and how you use them!

I am also in a wetish and slightly hilly part of the N.E. of England but I have found my recently purchased Kalkhoff ProConnect works really well. We have had some serious downpours lately and the bike sailed through the standing water without a murmur. The battery holds its charge for ages.
The style is one of the best around as well and often gets a 'wow' from teenagers. Most people however can't even tell it is an electric bike which is one of the reasons why I bought this model.
The only thing I have a problem with is that it doesn't have suspension like the Agattu.The roads seem to be in a serious condition round here and I feel every bump

[flecc]

Originally Posted by WALKERMAN

The only thing I have a problem with is that it doesn't have suspension like the Agattu.The roads seem to be in a serious condition round here and I feel every bump

You could consider the Pantour front hub and a suspension seatpost. The Pantour is surprisingly effective in taking away the shocks and one of our members uses one to good effect. They make them in 24 spoke as well for bikes like the Pro Connect:

Pantour suspension hubs
.