Considering a 12m commute...

[sobrique]

Well, that's the long and short of it. I'm moving house soon to Oxfordshire. And am contemplating my options for my daily commute. I own a bike, but also know my current 12 mile run is _just about_ on the wrong side of 'too far' - I find I'm looking for a few too many excuses to skip it.
Given my general fitness, with the 'short' route including a vicious-but-fairly short hill, and the long route being another 4 miles.

So - I'm considering my options for when I move. There are of course, the usual - car being quick (although I may need to park/ride, at around £50/month) and bus being slow (but probably cheaper if I don't have a running cost of car) and train - may not be an option at all (Depends exactly where I end up, but it looks like 'near station' inflates prices because of London commuting)

So - electric bike. I'm starting from scratch, and have absolutely no idea. What I will be wanting is a commuter bike that can:
- Do me a 12ish mile each way, reliably. Not sure I'll be able to charge during the day.
- My current route looks like (over 12m) fairly flat - overall 'climb' of about 200ft over the course of a couple of a couple of miles, and I don't think there's any particular 'horror' hills.
- Can cope with me being horribly unfit initially. (I can do moderate distances, but my average speed is more like 8mph)
- And can cope with me being on the heavy side (also - initially only, I hope!).

Can anyone point me in the right direction in terms of figuring out:
- Budget - how much should I expect to spend for a primarily commuter bike (e.g. mostly on-road)
- Ongoing cost (how often do batteries need replacing, and how much are they?)
- Models/makes to look at as my initial point of comparison.
- Is aiming for ~15mph each way a reasonable thing to try for? (I know that's the road limit, but I'm also unfit and heavy)
- Is a 'commuter' bike actually going to be ok for a bimble through the cotswolds (where it's considerably hillier)? This isn't too much a problem if it isn't, as I don't routinely ride at weekend anyway.

... and where do I get started? I think I can get cash on Cycle2Work, but I'm not actually how good a deal that is, given the bike might be more than £1000, and even if it isn't, am I right in thinking that cycle shops might be more able to discount if I'm _not_ using it?

Are there places that do a 'moderate' term hire? I'd be thinking about, say, a week or so, so I can make the ride each day and see how it 'works out' (e.g. could I do this routinely).

 

[DAJ]

I can help with some of your questions, I have just purchased a Cube SUV Hybrid 500 and its maiden voyage was over the Pennines climbing from 64ft above sea level to 1426ft with relative ease at an average 11mph. On one section I climbed on the way there at 7-8mph and gravity assisted on the return hit 37mph (to give you an idea how well it copes with hills).

The bike has road tyres yet coped with rough stone covered track, single track through wooded areas, extended very muddy sections (although this taxed all my bike handling ability to stay upright and moving forward) and tarmac.

The journey each way was about 34 miles and was achieved with battery life left, I charged the battery before my return journey.

I am about 16 stone but quite cycling fit and very used to my saddle. I should add though the bike cost £2k and I am not entirely happy with the hub gears - yet!

 

[trex]

for that distance, I recommend the woosh Big Bear on cycle to work:
http://wooshbikes.co.uk/?bigbear

 

[Kudoscycles]

Well, that's the long and short of it. I'm moving house soon to Oxfordshire. And am contemplating my options for my daily commute. I own a bike, but also know my current 12 mile run is _just about_ on the wrong side of 'too far' - I find I'm looking for a few too many excuses to skip it.
Given my general fitness, with the 'short' route including a vicious-but-fairly short hill, and the long route being another 4 miles.

So - I'm considering my options for when I move. There are of course, the usual - car being quick (although I may need to park/ride, at around £50/month) and bus being slow (but probably cheaper if I don't have a running cost of car) and train - may not be an option at all (Depends exactly where I end up, but it looks like 'near station' inflates prices because of London commuting)

So - electric bike. I'm starting from scratch, and have absolutely no idea. What I will be wanting is a commuter bike that can:
- Do me a 12ish mile each way, reliably. Not sure I'll be able to charge during the day.
- My current route looks like (over 12m) fairly flat - overall 'climb' of about 200ft over the course of a couple of a couple of miles, and I don't think there's any particular 'horror' hills.
- Can cope with me being horribly unfit initially. (I can do moderate distances, but my average speed is more like 8mph)
- And can cope with me being on the heavy side (also - initially only, I hope!).

Can anyone point me in the right direction in terms of figuring out:
- Budget - how much should I expect to spend for a primarily commuter bike (e.g. mostly on-road)
- Ongoing cost (how often do batteries need replacing, and how much are they?)
- Models/makes to look at as my initial point of comparison.
- Is aiming for ~15mph each way a reasonable thing to try for? (I know that's the road limit, but I'm also unfit and heavy)
- Is a 'commuter' bike actually going to be ok for a bimble through the cotswolds (where it's considerably hillier)? This isn't too much a problem if it isn't, as I don't routinely ride at weekend anyway.

... and where do I get started? I think I can get cash on Cycle2Work, but I'm not actually how good a deal that is, given the bike might be more than £1000, and even if it isn't, am I right in thinking that cycle shops might be more able to discount if I'm _not_ using it?

Are there places that do a 'moderate' term hire? I'd be thinking about, say, a week or so, so I can make the ride each day and see how it 'works out' (e.g. could I do this routinely).

How much do you weigh?
How tall are you?
Our Kudos Tornado is still a good all round bike @ £1095.00.
Our Kudos Sonata (step thru) or Rapide are purpose designed commuter bikes with very good specification,available on discount from some dealers @ £1250.00.
Any bike with more than 10 Ah battery should give 30 plus miles,but it would be sensible to charge at work to avoid range anxiety,
Any bike with the BPM motor is about as good as a hillclimber you will get,staying within the 250 watt legal limit,as long as you can turn the pedals it will get you up most hills,even if you are unfit.
IMHO the cycle to work scheme is a ripoff by the companies that manage it,most charge 10% plus vat for pushing some bits of paper around,it should be £30.00. Yes.most dealers will prefer to give a discount.
Batteries,should last 3-5 years,Kudos replacement cost is £160-260,others you must ask.
You dont need to hire,most good dealers will loan you a bike to try for an hour,you will soon know if you like the idea..there is a good guy at Welwyn Garden City-Bike Electric, on our website or the London Electric Bike Company at Hampton Wick has a nice local ride through Bushy Park...the latter has just been restocked by Kudos and KTM.
KudosDave

 

[Nealh]

Sobrique for your journey practically any decent e bike will manage a round return trip of that distance your first criteria is to decide on the style/type of bike you are after. Crossbar or step through , road bike, hybrid or mtb style ?