I'm swithering about what to do with my old bike since its sad demise.
I would like to keep a normal bike and an electric bike in the future.
Electric bike would need to be a good hill climber, light enough to cycle without power if the battery went flat, comfortable for city cycling and available in a low step through model. I don't care about going fast. I think having a LaFree before means I'd want something similar, a change to a hub motor might not be pleasant, perhaps.
I'm really swithering about what to do with the old bike though. I got it in 2003 and had it serviced twice in the winters and once in the summers every year, but the motor is broken, and the wheels need a repair. Otherwise the shop says its in good condition and would cost maybe £300 for repairs and stripping off the broken motor, giving me a good quality secondhand town bike. For £300 I could buy a new bike from the same shop, but they said such a bike would feel like a step down from the basic bike quality I had before in the LaFree, even with the bonus of finally having more than three gears.
The thing I can think of that would make a difference is, what would the LAfree weigh once it was stripped back to a normal, non electric bike. I've been riding it for a while without the battery on - though not really enjoying it - would the weight of the motor being removed really make that much difference? And would the build quality feel so differrent on a cheaper bike?
If not - I think I might just buy a cheap folder like the Urbanlite which would at least feel improved if only because its only 15kg and has more than 3 gears. I can manage a non electric bike with my asthma for some journeys, and not others, and would like a spare bike for when things go wrong, but would appreciate any advice on what my next bikes should be.
I would like to keep a normal bike and an electric bike in the future.
Electric bike would need to be a good hill climber, light enough to cycle without power if the battery went flat, comfortable for city cycling and available in a low step through model. I don't care about going fast. I think having a LaFree before means I'd want something similar, a change to a hub motor might not be pleasant, perhaps.
I'm really swithering about what to do with the old bike though. I got it in 2003 and had it serviced twice in the winters and once in the summers every year, but the motor is broken, and the wheels need a repair. Otherwise the shop says its in good condition and would cost maybe £300 for repairs and stripping off the broken motor, giving me a good quality secondhand town bike. For £300 I could buy a new bike from the same shop, but they said such a bike would feel like a step down from the basic bike quality I had before in the LaFree, even with the bonus of finally having more than three gears.
The thing I can think of that would make a difference is, what would the LAfree weigh once it was stripped back to a normal, non electric bike. I've been riding it for a while without the battery on - though not really enjoying it - would the weight of the motor being removed really make that much difference? And would the build quality feel so differrent on a cheaper bike?
If not - I think I might just buy a cheap folder like the Urbanlite which would at least feel improved if only because its only 15kg and has more than 3 gears. I can manage a non electric bike with my asthma for some journeys, and not others, and would like a spare bike for when things go wrong, but would appreciate any advice on what my next bikes should be.
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