Hi all,
I'm a new prospective rider, looking into ebikes as both a prospective way to help my commute to work, as well as a side hobby, though to be perfectly honest, I'm having difficulties looking into it.
For what it's worth my commute is about 9 miles, mostly uphill, though not at an amazingly steep gradient (noticeable after a while though !) , but I do like generally exploring my local area by foot, though I'm hoping to expand the distance I can comfortably cover by going via (e)bike.
I currently have a mountain bike, which is fine for my commute, and been alright for the few times I've gone off road, but generally I don't end up finding that I need all the gears offered by the bike, since my commute and local area isn't super hilly ( though the bigger tires than a road bike are certainly welcome for when going off the beaten path)
Currently, I'm thinking about getting an ebike to help me out with exploring more of my local area and go further out into the country, there's some lovely bits of the peak district not too far (~15 miles), but it does feel a bit much to go that distance + back when I don't drive so can't hitch a bike, I am relatively fit, but with covid (and xmas), that has, truthfully slipped. Notably, my work takes part in the cycle 2 work scheme, which would be great to get a bike on, since I'm an apprentice, so I don't have masses on masses of disposable income, but would like an ebike as a means of helping to get to work, especially when raining since it does tend to be quite rainy where I am in the UK.
I'm looking at a few options, and truth be told I don't know masses, but really the super73 is what got me back into cycling more, and got me interested in ebikes in the first place. I like the way it looks, and with the new models having suspension, it does seem like a nicer ride, however, I've heard that the build quality isn't always amazing, and that if something does go wrong, it can be a bit of a pain to get fixed (as well as it's models tending to be rather expensive for what you get). Overall, it seems good on paper, but aftercare doesn't seem great.
The cowboy or vanmouth bikes seem like alright options, but I'm 5"6, so I'm a tad worried about the whole one size-ness, and not being in London, it doesn't seem like it'd be possible to test ride them, especially not with covid as it is. They both seem like good options, but only as commuters, which I wouldn't mind as a way to help get me to work less sweaty, though I've heard some mixed things especially re: hills, and I kind of dont' like how they seem to be less repairable by yourself, and they seem to advocate for sending it to them/getting one of their repairmen out especially to fix up the bike.
The other major options I've seen are the rad power bikes, especially the rhino which would seem to tick most of the boxes I'm after, but having left the customs union, it does seem like a bit of a nightmare to get and not get taxed to high hell on it, and I wouldn't be able to get it on C2W (which would be nice to get it on because of that sweet sweet tax discount ). The rad power option does seem to be likely the right one, and the company and bikes have been around for awhile and seem quite reliable, but the tax does make me hesitant (though to be honest, I wouldn't mind a trip over to mainland Europe to get one, once travels opened up, and then Eurostar/national rail back). Notably, no test ride, which does make me hesitant since if I don't like it, it would mean a shipping back to mainland Europe, which I have a feeling would be rather expensive for a bike.
To be honest, the super73 does seem really good, but it does seem too expensive (i.e. that at that sort of price, I'd be better off finishing up learning to drive and buying a car), the rhino seems like a happy middle ground but the prospect of EU tax and having even less try before you buy puts me off. The vanmouth and cowboy seem good at soley commuter options, but they are pricey, and do have their own drawbacks.
I'd be super appreciative of some advice, and look forward to getting into the hobby .
Apologies for a super long post :^)
I'm a new prospective rider, looking into ebikes as both a prospective way to help my commute to work, as well as a side hobby, though to be perfectly honest, I'm having difficulties looking into it.
For what it's worth my commute is about 9 miles, mostly uphill, though not at an amazingly steep gradient (noticeable after a while though !) , but I do like generally exploring my local area by foot, though I'm hoping to expand the distance I can comfortably cover by going via (e)bike.
I currently have a mountain bike, which is fine for my commute, and been alright for the few times I've gone off road, but generally I don't end up finding that I need all the gears offered by the bike, since my commute and local area isn't super hilly ( though the bigger tires than a road bike are certainly welcome for when going off the beaten path)
Currently, I'm thinking about getting an ebike to help me out with exploring more of my local area and go further out into the country, there's some lovely bits of the peak district not too far (~15 miles), but it does feel a bit much to go that distance + back when I don't drive so can't hitch a bike, I am relatively fit, but with covid (and xmas), that has, truthfully slipped. Notably, my work takes part in the cycle 2 work scheme, which would be great to get a bike on, since I'm an apprentice, so I don't have masses on masses of disposable income, but would like an ebike as a means of helping to get to work, especially when raining since it does tend to be quite rainy where I am in the UK.
I'm looking at a few options, and truth be told I don't know masses, but really the super73 is what got me back into cycling more, and got me interested in ebikes in the first place. I like the way it looks, and with the new models having suspension, it does seem like a nicer ride, however, I've heard that the build quality isn't always amazing, and that if something does go wrong, it can be a bit of a pain to get fixed (as well as it's models tending to be rather expensive for what you get). Overall, it seems good on paper, but aftercare doesn't seem great.
The cowboy or vanmouth bikes seem like alright options, but I'm 5"6, so I'm a tad worried about the whole one size-ness, and not being in London, it doesn't seem like it'd be possible to test ride them, especially not with covid as it is. They both seem like good options, but only as commuters, which I wouldn't mind as a way to help get me to work less sweaty, though I've heard some mixed things especially re: hills, and I kind of dont' like how they seem to be less repairable by yourself, and they seem to advocate for sending it to them/getting one of their repairmen out especially to fix up the bike.
The other major options I've seen are the rad power bikes, especially the rhino which would seem to tick most of the boxes I'm after, but having left the customs union, it does seem like a bit of a nightmare to get and not get taxed to high hell on it, and I wouldn't be able to get it on C2W (which would be nice to get it on because of that sweet sweet tax discount ). The rad power option does seem to be likely the right one, and the company and bikes have been around for awhile and seem quite reliable, but the tax does make me hesitant (though to be honest, I wouldn't mind a trip over to mainland Europe to get one, once travels opened up, and then Eurostar/national rail back). Notably, no test ride, which does make me hesitant since if I don't like it, it would mean a shipping back to mainland Europe, which I have a feeling would be rather expensive for a bike.
To be honest, the super73 does seem really good, but it does seem too expensive (i.e. that at that sort of price, I'd be better off finishing up learning to drive and buying a car), the rhino seems like a happy middle ground but the prospect of EU tax and having even less try before you buy puts me off. The vanmouth and cowboy seem good at soley commuter options, but they are pricey, and do have their own drawbacks.
I'd be super appreciative of some advice, and look forward to getting into the hobby .
Apologies for a super long post :^)