Like a kid in a candy shop I'm spoilt for choice at the moment when it comes to using an ebike as my mode of transport to commute to and from the shop here in Hampton Wick. Over the last 6-8 weeks I decided to use one of the bikes each time to see how they behave etc on the journey. if I'm honest it was my first time in many years that I'd used a bike to commute anywhere, I was actually very nervous to begin with as I drive a car regularly and I'm sure like others on here what with the recent media attention on cyclist being injured or killed it did play on my mind and made me a little nervous. The other thing I found a struggle was the 'gear' required to actually ride a bike. I also need to bring my 'office" with me to the shop, I managed to get a good deal on Swiss Gear back pack which enables me to pack, laptop, diary, notes, leads etc as I also run a publishing business and need to take the relevant 'tools' to work with me. The back pack is a little heavy even empty because of the protective padding for the laptop but it is comfortable on. I bought some really cool lights (Cat Eyes) from Sigma (what an amazing cycling shop!) next door that can be swapped easily to a different ebike that I choose to ride, they are small but very effective and look 'cool'.
I already had a Specialised helmet which at first I didn't use but it’s a must I think as I've had one near miss with a car pulling out on me.
So as its got colder I've added gloves, and then the eyes were streaming and so I looked at the glasses and would love a pair of Oakleys but at £200+ for the pair I saw just for riding I thought I’d source a cheaper pair and I am very happy with BBB yellow tint antiglare riding glasses at £15!
Next purchase I think would be a lighter (hi vis?) jacket but must be able to cope with the current climate! (any recommendations?) and may be some waterproofs (again any recommendations).
E-biking has been fun to and from work (16 mile round trip) and you do see things you are somehow missing in a car, there's the banter at the lights with other cyclists and just the general sense of achievement in reaching your destination knowing you didn't use the car etc. And when you've beaten the traffic which I often do at the moment what with Christmas shoppers coming in and out of Kingston I feel very smug knowing I’ve shaved 10-20minutes of my journey had I gone by car.
I’m using the Strava app on my iPhone which is great at monitoring my distance covered, speed etc, it’s really fun seeing my personal ‘bests’ on certain parts of my journey and times do vary depending on the day, time and bike etc.
As for the bikes, I’m smitten on the KTM range especially the new Macina Sport 400, Kudos’s Arriba and new Eiger with the Nuvinci hub, I think the Eiger pip’s the rest so far as the gearing is so smooth, just seems to suit the crank drive and makes changing gear effortlessly. Still have 30 odd other bikes to try and more coming in so the next few months may see me change my mind!
I already had a Specialised helmet which at first I didn't use but it’s a must I think as I've had one near miss with a car pulling out on me.
So as its got colder I've added gloves, and then the eyes were streaming and so I looked at the glasses and would love a pair of Oakleys but at £200+ for the pair I saw just for riding I thought I’d source a cheaper pair and I am very happy with BBB yellow tint antiglare riding glasses at £15!
Next purchase I think would be a lighter (hi vis?) jacket but must be able to cope with the current climate! (any recommendations?) and may be some waterproofs (again any recommendations).
E-biking has been fun to and from work (16 mile round trip) and you do see things you are somehow missing in a car, there's the banter at the lights with other cyclists and just the general sense of achievement in reaching your destination knowing you didn't use the car etc. And when you've beaten the traffic which I often do at the moment what with Christmas shoppers coming in and out of Kingston I feel very smug knowing I’ve shaved 10-20minutes of my journey had I gone by car.
I’m using the Strava app on my iPhone which is great at monitoring my distance covered, speed etc, it’s really fun seeing my personal ‘bests’ on certain parts of my journey and times do vary depending on the day, time and bike etc.
As for the bikes, I’m smitten on the KTM range especially the new Macina Sport 400, Kudos’s Arriba and new Eiger with the Nuvinci hub, I think the Eiger pip’s the rest so far as the gearing is so smooth, just seems to suit the crank drive and makes changing gear effortlessly. Still have 30 odd other bikes to try and more coming in so the next few months may see me change my mind!
