At a Crossroads....Ideal Electric Bike.....and stuff.

[SEATALTEA]

I started cycling a year ago having recovered from spinal problems, gently on an old MTB, then with a Mistral on the cycle2work scheme (still in use almost daily) and finally to a reasonable quality MTB which has been upgraded to death.

I cycle more than I drive and am fitter than at any point in my life.

The reality is that thanks to cycling and in particular the electric Mistral I can now out ride the motor on all but the steepest hills.

I will continue with the 'leccy but it's just not good enough now.

My wish list goes something like this.

No suspension front or rear.
Thudbuster seatpost.
Hydraulic disc brakes (Hayes Nines in-bleeding-credible anchors)
High torque motor only for the steepest Pennine hills.
Alfine 8 speed hub gears.
Alloy frame.
26" wheels with puncture proof road tyres at 100psi.
Battery in a rucksack or batteries inside the frame.
35lbs max weight.
£1000.

It doesn't exist and I can't build it so I reckon my electric bike days are numbered, this years cycle2work scheme is almost here and I think I'm going to order......a Boardman carbon road bike.

One last thing, I can't help thinking Ebikes are hideously overpriced. My brother runs a company which imports a large amount of stock from China. He visits trade shows in the Far East and buys ££££s of products, even with the financial situation the markup on goods is huge.

One common outdoor product with complex production needs and a rrp of £300 is landed on the docks in the UK all taxes paid for £60, maybe retail is not my thing but a 500% increase is I'm told quite common.

Anyhow a cup of tea and an early night awaits, 6am commutes are still a beggar even now the weathers better.

 

[flecc]

I think I'm going to order......a Boardman carbon road bike.

maybe retail is not my thing but a 500% increase is I'm told quite common.

Not 500%, but it's normal for suppliers to double the received cost of their e-bikes, but none of them are wealthy. It's purely a problem of scale, e-bikes being barely one percent of bicycle sales worldwide and only 0.75 % here in the UK. As a result the overall company staffing, running and support costs are spread over a very small number of bikes, making each very expensive.

An example of one known better quality e-bike. Manufactured cost with shipping, insurance and duties included as it arrived in the UK was £500, which included roughly £100 margin for the Oriental manufacturer. The price then doubled by the importer and VAT added, hence the final price in the region of £1150/£1200. This was a little while ago and the costs and price have change since then, but the ratios remain about the same.

If e-bike sales ever really took off and were 40 or 50 times higher than they are now, the costs and prices would plummet.
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[Barnowl]

It doesn't exist and I can't build it so I reckon my electric bike days are numbered, this years cycle2work scheme is almost here and I think I'm going to order......a Boardman carbon road bike.

This years cycle2work scheme has just passed for us. I was looking at the boardmans too but managed to get distracted and totally miss the end by date. I was thinking of getting a bike for the wife but she's feigning a lack of interest.

I take it you mean the the £999 road bike. I'd certainly like to try one so I can compare it. I have a nagging suspicion it would be a bit of a disappoinment (especially up the hills as I am probably lagging well behind your fitness level). Still a long way to go before I ditch the battery for anything more than a couple of flat miles.

PS. Are you also considering some of that tight fitting lycra stuff?

 

[SEATALTEA]

Yes the £999 Boardman, I had the chance to look at one in York a couple of weeks ago it was a real work of art. Coupled with the incredible reviews it has had it's a great buy on the scheme, it weighs nothing at all.

Not too sure about the lycra, I may buck the trend and go with a kilt and an arran jumper, that should keep them guessing.

 

[wibble]

Ebikes are overpriced, but riding an e-bike is the equivalent to riding a regular bike that's under 0kg.

How much would it cost for 0kg boardman bike?

Yeah, I know, it's not possible. But when you consider the lighter the bike the higher the costs then ebikes aren't quite so bad.


A Cytronex Trek sounds close to what you want. and you could put a 2nd battery in your backpack if you need the extra range.

 

[Mussels]

Ebikes are overpriced, but riding an e-bike is the equivalent to riding a regular bike that's under 0kg.

How much would it cost for 0kg boardman bike?

Yeah, I know, it's not possible. But when you consider the lighter the bike the higher the costs then ebikes aren't quite so bad.


A Cytronex Trek sounds close to what you want. and you could put a 2nd battery in your backpack if you need the extra range.

Ebikes are relatively slow and if you want to ride a bit faster then they are just a heavy unpowered bike. I can ride quite a bit faster than my ebike but it is a hell of a lot of effort, I could ride a normal lighweight bike at higher speed for longer. A lightweight bike doesn't help a lot with stamina though which is why I'll be using a battery for a while yet.
I've considered a second battery a few times but it is always the poor alternative, I always decide it needs to be one battery or none.

 

[Barnowl]

A Cytronex Trek sounds close to what you want. and you could put a 2nd battery in your backpack if you need the extra range.

I believe the boardman is 8KG.
In comparison the Trek 7.3FX is about 11Kg.
Add the electrics and battery and it's 17KG with the battery being 2.5Kg of that.

So yes the Cytronex Trek is a good electric bike for people who want something like a normal bike but for many (like it was for me) it's impossible to get one on the Cycle scheme (Halfords factor). For the rest it's probably just impossible to get one! They don't appear to be available and Cytronex have instead been busy putting a kit together.

The Boardman looks to be a great bike and for people who work for organisations that use the Halfords scheme it is a very good deal. Personally though, my wife would not be pleased if I added one to the collection. Also I think that for hilly runs, and most my journeys are, the Cytronex would end up easily as first choice every time.

Also I'm thinking the Boardman is much more "nickable".

 

[flecc]

Or the Boardman with a Cytronex kit?

Maybe the higher revs motor for up to 20 mph assist.
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[Barnowl]

Or the Boardman with a Cytronex kit?

Maybe the higher revs motor for up to 20 mph assist.
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Yes, I have thought about that including the higher revs nano. Only problem is the carbon forks and the disc brakes that would have to go. It would have to be one of the cheaper (fortunately) and slightly heavier models but there's not much extra in it as far as the weight goes.
I can't put my hand on the boardman catalogue at the moment but there's a fair range of MTBs, Hybrids and road bikes. I don't think the £999 road bike is a good candidate for a conversion, for so many reasons, not least the cost.

 

[wibble]

I believe the boardman is 8KG.
In comparison the Trek 7.3FX is about 11Kg.
Add the electrics and battery and it's 17KG with the battery being 2.5Kg of that.

Well I was comparing the Cytronex to the bike in Seataltea's wishlist and not the Boardman.