Hi everyone my name is Edgar Gonzalez and l will like to share my experience with the e-bikes. l have been riding bicycles since l was very young, l do remember very well my first tricycle and l probably was around 5/6 years old. Ever since l been riding bikes, after that a few years later l have a slightly bigger bike with stabilisers, which they didn't last long on my bike as l did learn to keep my balance within few hours. I have always ride them, the sense of freedom l feel when riding then is amazing, l can go every where l want. I grow up and they have always been my mains of transportation, even now at my 54 years old, that been said l have been riding bikes for at least 45 years, just a little bit experience about them. I have been through some of them, some good some other not so good. As previously mentioned at my age, riding 12 miles at least 5 days a week, 6 miles each way to work regardless weather and time of the year. In winter l just wrap myself up on thermals and water proofs. Plenty lights, it is so than l have been call in some occasions Christmas tree by some drivers haha. But as long drives can see me for far away it doesn't bother me, as l have been knocked down and miss some day at work cause ankle soft tissue injury. Any way going back to the fact than l'm getting old and apart cycling to work which takes me 30 min about, l still go to do some workout with weights for another 40 minutes. So l fund about the electric bikes, start doing my research and every where all l could find was GREAT, how helpful they are for people with joint problems, mainly knees. I fund a local dealer or stoke of the one l finally decided to buy, not a cheap one £1800, and after all the wonders l find out it suppose it does l thought, why not? Considering how much l would pain in public transport per month, a bit extra in maintenance and services, plus the benefits of health, it was in theory better or at least worth it. So got full of joy my e-bike one afternoon, day after went for a 20 miles ride, great feeling and help from the bike, l loved it as l could decide how much effort l was putting on the peddling, as promised it was keeping me at at least 12 miles per hour. But as l said just 20 mile, after that the bike started to feel bubbling, l did slow down and knowing about bike l thought “spokes?” Yeap l was right, the most of them loss, not a very good impression for a first ride l should say. Manage to get back home and take the bike to the stoke a week later, meaning l have to use my old hybrid for a week in which l got knocked down and then use public transport. So much of saving ££. Got the e-bike back, I did use it for a few weeks and l have to take it back as was due for service and apart l was having problems with the gears. This time the bike been for about 3 week, cassette, rear derailleur, cables and shifters got changed. So I did collect the bike still it did take a couple more returns to the chop until the bike was fully functional again. My hybrid was getting check and fixed after my accident therefore more public transport ££££. Second service came, similar problem, cassette, cables. I do understand than the amount of miles per week is quite a bit and chain need to be chance. But here is where l do differ in opinion, as l have mentioned l have always go to work in a bike, l did have a mountain bike for 10 years with a good chain cleaning and maintenance l did NEVER did chance cassette etc,etc etc. My now days hybrid, half of the price, which I have been using for longer time than my ex e-bike as l have it for 8 months before l got the electric one, still working with not a problem or parts changed, nearly two years with it. Still running same road that the e-bike with out a problem. In the 10 months l have been using the e-bike l went through, 2 cassettes, 4 chains, the rack than holds the battery did brake, causing to the rack to slide back and pull the and tear the cables on my way to work, having to tie the battery rack with a lace to the saddle post in order to get to work with out battery and slowly, to avoid the rack to fall again, so no 20 minutes as l use to do in that back, instead 50, causing me delay to get to work, and as operating theatres worker in a hospital is not good at all. The last thing which was the last nail on the coffin, l found l crack on the back rim when l was cleaning the chain. In the 10 month than that bike did belong to me l probably did use it for 7/8 or less months, as each time than it been on repair it did take between 2/3 week and that was at least ¾ times back to the shop. I did sale it for less than a half of the price. So it was a extremely expensive bad experience, that l hope no one will incur. If you like me r a heavy commuter if l could say, just get a normal bike as you will be very disappointed. If your intentions are to do just summer rides one day on the weekend, go for it, but all you will need is a cheap e-bike as it will give you the same results than a expensive one. What it is more disappointing is the fact than l got in touch with the bike factory inquiring how could l access their testimonials web site, as l believe everyone deserve the truth, not just the GREAT comments there and l never got an answer from them in 4 weeks. So l hope my experience will be of some help on your decision taking on buying a e-bike. Thanks for your kind attention to my humble review
