Many thanks to James Fitzgerald and most particularly, his young apprentice sorcerer, Lee for their hospitality, information and advice on their beautiful range of bikes at the Old Chapel Works at Leiston yesterday.
It was a necessarily fleeting visit for me but Lee, a young man hugely appreciative of what ebikes are about, found time to permit me test rides on several bikes and also persuaded my other half to have a go on one too.
I had heard or read previously that James intended to open a branch in London and I believe a new outlet is almost ready to open for business on Portobello Road. I shall certainly visit those premises, not least because I am on record as saying I'm a big fan of Dutch bikes and Justebikes deal in top quality machines.
At Leiston, I had the opportunity to ride the full-sus Haibike and I agree with others who have commented positively on that machine. It really is a class apart from other bikes of that sporting ilk and the motor/gearing combination seems just about as perfect as most riders would want or need. Of course, Haibike is German and not Dutch but it's not for that reason that I say it wasn't my favourite ride. A couple of Sparta models and the exceptionally finished, beautifully engineered Koga model I tried were my favourites.
What did I learn from riding the various machines? Most particularly, I learned that hub-driven ebikes can be as smooth and pedal-responsive as my Panasonic crank-drive. I also discovered that twin-strut suspension with 50mm + travel is not required to provide a smooth ride over irregular surfaces. Both the Sparta and the Koga models were superb in that regard. Perhaps less surprising but nevertheless welcome was the silent travel all of the bikes I rode provided. For a variety of reasons, we read a lot in these pages of the the bikes at the budget and bargain basement end of the market but the machines in which Justebikes deal are certainly not in that category.
So, for those readers who can reach either Leiston or the new Portobello Rd outlet when it opens and most pertinently, whose budget might stretch to the big numbers involved at this end of the market, I can heartily recommend the warm welcome and (I think) genuine interest in the customer's needs as exhibited on my visit.
For comparison, my partner and I arrived at Leiston, me riding my Gazelle and she, a Cytronex Quick4, both good machines in their own way. Both bikes were easily beaten by models from Haibike, Sparta and Koga. I don't refer to speed or power; I mean all-round ride quality, gear range, torque curves peaking in the right places and providing a lovely, serene ride with easy hill-climbing.
My biggest problem, on reflection, is reconciling how unaware I was as to to which rides were powered by 24/26V and those with 36V. Methinks this recent preoccupation with 36V system advertising is more to do with hype than actual substance. I'm sure our electrician friends have the explanation but I found the reality somewhat different from the theory and bear in mind that Storck are still utilising 24/26V systems and many readers here voted that brand as ebike of the year last time round. What do I know?
Many thanks to Lee and James. I wish you every success with the new venture and fully intend to pop over to the new London branch soon.
Cheque to the usual address thank you James,
Indalo
ps The "sorcery" allusion refers to the adjustments these guys can produce to stock motors using nothing more than a laptop and a couple of leads. More Newton metres required sir?......just hold Control + for a couple of seconds.......or something along those lines. No spanner required!
It was a necessarily fleeting visit for me but Lee, a young man hugely appreciative of what ebikes are about, found time to permit me test rides on several bikes and also persuaded my other half to have a go on one too.
I had heard or read previously that James intended to open a branch in London and I believe a new outlet is almost ready to open for business on Portobello Road. I shall certainly visit those premises, not least because I am on record as saying I'm a big fan of Dutch bikes and Justebikes deal in top quality machines.
At Leiston, I had the opportunity to ride the full-sus Haibike and I agree with others who have commented positively on that machine. It really is a class apart from other bikes of that sporting ilk and the motor/gearing combination seems just about as perfect as most riders would want or need. Of course, Haibike is German and not Dutch but it's not for that reason that I say it wasn't my favourite ride. A couple of Sparta models and the exceptionally finished, beautifully engineered Koga model I tried were my favourites.
What did I learn from riding the various machines? Most particularly, I learned that hub-driven ebikes can be as smooth and pedal-responsive as my Panasonic crank-drive. I also discovered that twin-strut suspension with 50mm + travel is not required to provide a smooth ride over irregular surfaces. Both the Sparta and the Koga models were superb in that regard. Perhaps less surprising but nevertheless welcome was the silent travel all of the bikes I rode provided. For a variety of reasons, we read a lot in these pages of the the bikes at the budget and bargain basement end of the market but the machines in which Justebikes deal are certainly not in that category.
So, for those readers who can reach either Leiston or the new Portobello Rd outlet when it opens and most pertinently, whose budget might stretch to the big numbers involved at this end of the market, I can heartily recommend the warm welcome and (I think) genuine interest in the customer's needs as exhibited on my visit.
For comparison, my partner and I arrived at Leiston, me riding my Gazelle and she, a Cytronex Quick4, both good machines in their own way. Both bikes were easily beaten by models from Haibike, Sparta and Koga. I don't refer to speed or power; I mean all-round ride quality, gear range, torque curves peaking in the right places and providing a lovely, serene ride with easy hill-climbing.
My biggest problem, on reflection, is reconciling how unaware I was as to to which rides were powered by 24/26V and those with 36V. Methinks this recent preoccupation with 36V system advertising is more to do with hype than actual substance. I'm sure our electrician friends have the explanation but I found the reality somewhat different from the theory and bear in mind that Storck are still utilising 24/26V systems and many readers here voted that brand as ebike of the year last time round. What do I know?
Many thanks to Lee and James. I wish you every success with the new venture and fully intend to pop over to the new London branch soon.
Cheque to the usual address thank you James,
Indalo
ps The "sorcery" allusion refers to the adjustments these guys can produce to stock motors using nothing more than a laptop and a couple of leads. More Newton metres required sir?......just hold Control + for a couple of seconds.......or something along those lines. No spanner required!
