I haven’t ridden a bike in over fifteen years, but having recently retired from an office job I fancy the idea of getting an e-bike. The reason primarily is for the sheer fun of it, but also to improve my general health and hopefully help me lose some weight.
I’m 58, weigh 115kg, in good health but unfit. I want something that can fit in the back of the car and that I can take to parks and bike routes away from traffic, with modest off-road capability such as dirt paths. My budget is £1000 and as the idea is to mostly use it with little or no assist, the motor would help me on inclines, so I need something that’s not too heavy to ride without assistance but doesn’t need to have an outstanding range.
In my internet search, the one bike that I feel would match my needs is the Rambletta by Woosh, but unfortunately, I’m a stone over the maximum load weight and they would, therefore, not be able to guarantee the frame.
This got me thinking about the overall design of folding bikes and it occurs to me that because they fold and have no top bar to create a triangle, their inherent strength is therefore compromised. UK sellers like Woosh value their reputation and have to sell reliable bikes and be able to honour their warranty commitments. Chinese brands, which I have considered, sell cheaper bikes and publish weight limits of 120kg which seems optimistic to me.
One other bike which could be a contender is the Mycle Compact, but there is very little review information available about the bike or the after-sales service.
Sadly, I’ve come to the conclusion that, given my current weight, a reliable e-bike that meets my needs probably doesn’t exist but I would like to hear your views and experiences and I would be grateful for any advice you can offer.
I’m 58, weigh 115kg, in good health but unfit. I want something that can fit in the back of the car and that I can take to parks and bike routes away from traffic, with modest off-road capability such as dirt paths. My budget is £1000 and as the idea is to mostly use it with little or no assist, the motor would help me on inclines, so I need something that’s not too heavy to ride without assistance but doesn’t need to have an outstanding range.
In my internet search, the one bike that I feel would match my needs is the Rambletta by Woosh, but unfortunately, I’m a stone over the maximum load weight and they would, therefore, not be able to guarantee the frame.
This got me thinking about the overall design of folding bikes and it occurs to me that because they fold and have no top bar to create a triangle, their inherent strength is therefore compromised. UK sellers like Woosh value their reputation and have to sell reliable bikes and be able to honour their warranty commitments. Chinese brands, which I have considered, sell cheaper bikes and publish weight limits of 120kg which seems optimistic to me.
One other bike which could be a contender is the Mycle Compact, but there is very little review information available about the bike or the after-sales service.
Sadly, I’ve come to the conclusion that, given my current weight, a reliable e-bike that meets my needs probably doesn’t exist but I would like to hear your views and experiences and I would be grateful for any advice you can offer.
