Hi all,
I'm sure I haven't been missed, but just in case anyone's wondering, I am in sunny Mexico (29 degrees, sorry everyone), enjoying birdsong, blue skies, turquoise seas, very interesting food and lovely friendly people...but bikes are never far from my mind (sad really......)
There are five problems though: firstly, the Yucatan peninsula is as flat as a pancake, secondly potholes can be as large as wheelbarrows, thirdly, the unannounced speed bumps are deadly, fourthly, going on any bike means Dodge the Dogs (pedalling like the clappers while they chase after you barking like mad) and fifthly but most importantly I guess, money. Most Mexicans are pretty poor and make do with either clapped out standard bikes or equally clapped out scooters. Ah - I also just thought of another problem - most older Mexicans are about 5 feet tall (and some are not far off 5 feet wide)......now THERE's a challenge if ever there was.
I reckon an e bike here has got to be built like a tank to get around all of the above and cost less than £400 - probably lead acid batteries, stodgy body to resist all the dents and humungous, thick tyres to cope with all the bumps.
The first photo is a bike workshop - outdoors of course with a minimum of equipment but doing a good job all the same. The second is a very common cargo bike - well built, light and easy to handle (many are driven by children and women) - and costs around 3000 pesos (£150) - so excellent value. Food for thought!
Hatti
I'm sure I haven't been missed, but just in case anyone's wondering, I am in sunny Mexico (29 degrees, sorry everyone), enjoying birdsong, blue skies, turquoise seas, very interesting food and lovely friendly people...but bikes are never far from my mind (sad really......)
There are five problems though: firstly, the Yucatan peninsula is as flat as a pancake, secondly potholes can be as large as wheelbarrows, thirdly, the unannounced speed bumps are deadly, fourthly, going on any bike means Dodge the Dogs (pedalling like the clappers while they chase after you barking like mad) and fifthly but most importantly I guess, money. Most Mexicans are pretty poor and make do with either clapped out standard bikes or equally clapped out scooters. Ah - I also just thought of another problem - most older Mexicans are about 5 feet tall (and some are not far off 5 feet wide)......now THERE's a challenge if ever there was.
I reckon an e bike here has got to be built like a tank to get around all of the above and cost less than £400 - probably lead acid batteries, stodgy body to resist all the dents and humungous, thick tyres to cope with all the bumps.
The first photo is a bike workshop - outdoors of course with a minimum of equipment but doing a good job all the same. The second is a very common cargo bike - well built, light and easy to handle (many are driven by children and women) - and costs around 3000 pesos (£150) - so excellent value. Food for thought!
Hatti