Am i kidding myself? Advice please?

[burncycle]

I think you could do it Emma.

You would be best with a Kalkhoff as its so adaptable for increasing fitness.

Buy a Kalkhoff and 2 battery chargers. One for home and one for work.
That will give you the range of 50 miles.

Do 10 miles a day (not work) til you get your fitness up.
You will lose weight quickly.
Leave it constanly on high power til your fitness increases then on to medium power as your stamina increases.

It will cost a lot for the bike and another charger, but that degree of investment will probably make you use it rain or shine.

Regards Bob.

 

[dazzie]

As has been mentioned 50 miles a day is a long way on an e-bike - the time factor alone being a serious consideration. Say a 15mph average - 3h 20 minutes a day sat on a saddle and leaning on handlebars, in all weather.

I'm 21 stone and new to ebiking - I'm doing 23 - 27 miles a day in total and three weeks in I'm suffering with a bruised hand, persistently sore and tired legs and an increasing hatred of vehicle drivers (the number of near misses seems to be growing at a near exponential rate!). If it was any further I would probably give in and ride my motorcycle instead.

I would recommend a 125cc four-stroke scooter or motorcycle as the best option (you only need a CBT licence, they're cheap, low tax, low insurance and are have high mpg). You'll get to work and back much more quickly and have more time and energy to keep up with you 5 mile bike rides - much more suitable imho. Having said all that I've lost nearly a stone in 3 weeks so there is something to be said for all the agony and life-threatening situations I'm being put through!

Good luck with your decision Emma, I hope you find a solution you are happy with.

 

[Barnowl]

I'm with Essexman. It's way too far for me to do as a regular commute. If I was going to do it, though, I'd get a Wisper. There's no way I'd do it on my Cytronex. - even with 2 Cytronex batteries, the faster wheel, and 2 chargers. This one really is all about the battery.
I can do the distance for pleasure but I really wouldn't fancy it as a regular commute. I have spoken to a normal cyclist that does a 50 mile a day 4 days a week commute but he's fit.

 

[Mussels]

Basically its too far.
Your journey time will be enourmous. even if you mod a bike, get extra batteries and get xtra fit the best you will be looking at it ~20mph.

I don't think it's too far at all, I ride 40 miles a day through heavier traffic and bigger hills than Emma would need to. I also have delays waiting for the ferry and often spend 3 hours a day on the journey but I enjoy it and as it saves me time in the gym then overall I'm better off for time.
She knows what weather she is happy riding in and she wants to be on a bike, I would be quite happy to swap my commute for hers as hers is flatter and probably just as quick as there are much fewer junctions.

 

[dazzie]

3 hours a day. Your bum and hands must have calluses on their calluses!

Did you go from not very much to 40+ a day immediately or did you work up to it? I'm doing 23 a day and its killing me...?

 

[Mussels]

3 hours a day. Your bum and hands must have calluses on their calluses!

Did you go from not very much to 40+ a day immediately or did you work up to it? I'm doing 23 a day and its killing me...?

I went from couch potato to 40 miles a day with very little pain. It took a while for my muscles to adjust and my legs went through the aching and fatigue cycles. Now I don't really notice it at all unless I ride too hard every day and my legs can't recover, but that's what the battery is for.

 

[dazzie]

Much respect Mussels (I think that should be Muscles!), you are officially my new hero.

 

[Barnowl]

I don't think it's too far at all, I ride 40 miles a day through heavier traffic and bigger hills than Emma would need to. I also have delays waiting for the ferry and often spend 3 hours a day on the journey but I enjoy it and as it saves me time in the gym then overall I'm better off for time.
She knows what weather she is happy riding in and she wants to be on a bike, I would be quite happy to swap my commute for hers as hers is flatter and probably just as quick as there are much fewer junctions.

I've always been very impressed with your commute Mussels and it does make a lot of sense. We all tend to judge things by our own experiences and capabilities. I really wouldn't fancy it myself but then I don't know the terrain and Emmas current circumstances.

 

[Wisper Bikes]

Embarrassed............... me?

Hi, David.

It's a 14Ah battery. A 518Ah battery would be like two or more truck batteries

I think you mean Wh with that figure (37V x 14A = 518Wh).

Your batteries will deliver a juicy and slurp some 14A for 1 hour

Best regards.

Vikki.

Ooooops!

 

[Vikki]

If you can get it down to the size of a lemon and weigh less than a tennis ball then stick that 518Ah puppy on my wish list Erm, but no plutonium in it please. Whadyamean the suckers gotta be nuclear!

Vikki.

 

[joanna]

similar commute.

Hi Emma

I am totally with you. I have recently (well yesterday actually) got a wisper 905 city. I plan to cycle the 20 miles to work (40 miles round commute), which while it is not quite as far as yours, is over the chilterns, so there are lots of hills. I am not very fit and not the lightest either!

I tried the powabyke (wouldn't recommend) the wisper, kalkahoffs and we have since bought a powacycle for my husband.

While the powacycle is good, I am not sure it would last the distance, though in theory according to the blurb, it should. My husband is going to try it for a 8 mile journey each way.

I would suggest looking at the wisper or kalkahoffs. The different is that the wisper can act as power without you pedalling. I decided I would go for this instead of the kalkhoff as I was worried that my fitness would not be up to the distance, and could fall back on the powered mode if need be. I am also buying a second charger to keep at work and charge up each way as I think it helps promote the battery life.

As to money I looked at what I would need, including servicing, insurance and buying at least one battery a year and figured it would save me around £100 in the first year (including bike purchase) then around £1500 per year.
Time wise I expect it to take around 1 to 1and 1/2 hours, which is what the train takes on a good day.

I will let you know how I get on, let me know what you decide!

Jo

 

[nigel]

That distance
would be to much for me and also what would happen if you get some kind of breakdown you could be stuck 25 miles from home or work i sometimes ride my kalkhoff to work southampton to winchester and even after a few days the ride becomes boring and slow and also the traffic is a constant worry my advice buy a small 125cc mortorcycle nigel

 

[dazzie]

Congratulations on your new bike Jo, and good luck with the commuting. I started commuting on a 23 or so mile round trip three weeks ago and it takes roughly an hour and a quarter each way (including all the stops and starts, and getting washed and changed, locking the bike up, removing the lights and speedo etc.). The actual cycing (excluding stationary time at traffic lights etc.) is taking me 43 minutes there and 41 minutes back (15 - 16 mph average).

Hope this helps,

Daz

 

[joanna]

long commute

I am impressed at that timing!

I am planning to do one trip to work over the next week, then I am on holiday for two weeks (when we will be cycling), and I will start properly after that, when hopefully there is not too much ice and so one aorund and the days start getting lighter.

so will let you know how it goes. Just a bit nervous at the moment.

 

[dazzie]

You'll be fine! I was really nervous too, very worried to be honest but I'm amazed at how you can do something if you really set your mind to it. As well as commuting that far I'm at the gym three times per week and now playing badminton on sundays too! Bring it on!

 

[flecc]

As well as commuting that far I'm at the gym three times per week and now playing badminton on sundays too! Bring it on!

It's a wonder you find the time to ignore the kids and forget the wife's birthday!
.

 

[dazzie]

It's a wonder you find the time to ignore the kids and forget the wife's birthday!
.

Hehe!

 

[River Ecologist]

Thanks for all the advice, you've all been a great help. And i have good news! The company i work for is buying a Wisper 905e City as a pool bike! Woohoo! This means i can try out the Wisper without buying it myself first. Soooo excited! I'll keep you all posted on how it goes.

Emma x

 

[flecc]

That's great news Emma, the best of all worlds, nothing compares with a proper "try before buy" in your home territory.
.

 

[Mussels]

I had a full test ride of the entire commute before I bought, well worth it.
You'll probably find that nobody else ever uses it and it becomes 'yours' anyway.