NEC show review

[Spinalot]

Hi there all.
I went to the show at the NEC at the weekend with a friend. I posted a review on my blog at The Blog Please stop by at take a peek. I review some bikes including the Storck and give my take on ebikes.

Enjoy

 

[funkylyn]

Hi there all.
I went to the show at the NEC at the weekend with a friend. I posted a review on my blog at Close to the sun | My journey to becoming a writer Please stop by at take a peek. I review the some bikes including the Storck and give my take on ebikes.

Enjoy

Really enjoyed your report on your visit to the NEC....sounds like you had a ball and have a better idea now of what you are looking for......dont forget to try the Tonaros if you get a chance .......

I also absolutely LOVED your ''when we were young '' entry......how VERY true......great stuff...thankyou

Lynda

 

[eddieo]

nice effort..lacking in content, and the white on black print very difficult to read...

I feel like that aussie judge on strictly!lol

 

[Spinalot]

nice effort..lacking in content,

Its not meant to be an in depth review, just a newbie (to ebikes) look at the show. If people are interested enough to want more I have links there to this site and others which will give them a much better insight than I could ever hope to.
Your view on white text on black is subjective. I find it perfectly easy to read and I am half blind (well short sighted anyway)
Thanks for the comments though

 

[Deleted member 4366]

If you have lower back problems, you need a proper full suspension bike. That means one with air forks and air rear shock, not the cheaper ones with coil springs. The reason is that you get a lot of shocks through the saddle, which aggrevate any lower back problems. There's all sorts of sprung saddle arrangements, but there's nothing to beat a rear air shock with 4 inches of travel. I suffer from lower back problems and I tried many combinations of handlebars, stems and sprung seats first without success. Now I'm happy with my air suspension and stem riser to lift the handlebars into a higher position.

Unfortunately there's only to electric bikes that I've seen with decent suspension: The Haibike XD and the one that was on the EBCO stand at the show. I'm not sure if the EBCO one has air forks, you'd need to check. Both these bikes are expensive, so, if you can't afford them, you can fit a kit to a normal bike, which you can buy from Ebay or Facebook adverts for not too much - about £500 should get a nice one, plus about £400-£800 for a kit depending on which one you want.

 

[Spinalot]

Thanks D8veh, I agree, I was hoping a really nice seat would do it though. I do not intend on really long rides so it may well be ok.
I am not so keen on a self build as I do not trust that I could do it well enough I have no expertise in electrics and reading the self build posts on this site frankly fills me with dread to attempt it myself. Its like your talking another language to me.
From all the research I have done it seems to me that I really do need a crank system rather than a hub. I have some very big hills whichever direction I travel.

*edit* I found this. You had any experience with this type of thing? http://www.evanscycles.com/products/post-moderne/cushy-sl-suspension-seat-post-ec006574

 

[Spinalot]

D8veh,
What do you think of this bike? Bighit - Our Products
I personally hate the colour and the fact it has such an ugly "kiddy bike" design but its pretty cheap for a crank system with front and rear suspension

 

[Deleted member 4366]

D8veh,
What do you think of this bike? Bighit - Our Products
I personally hate the colour and the fact it has such an ugly "kiddy bike" design but its pretty cheap for a crank system with front and rear suspension

I've not ridden one, but I think it could be very suitable for you.You should try one if you can.

With lower back problems, it's not the length of the ride. One pot-hole, rain gulley, stone, or anything like thact can give a jolt that'll have you stiff for days. - and you often don't see them coming.

 

[tappy]

Good morning Jeff and fellow e-bike enthusiasts.

Thank you for your kind comments on your blog, it was a pleasure speaking with you and Chris and glad you enjoyed your experience. Trevor (my son) is very happy that you have promoted him to MD .

A couple of points to add to this thread.

We do supply the Raddar Kit of Motor, Battery, and controller that could be retro fitted to a suitable donor bike. SRP is £1,500. The motor / rear wheel (700C / 29er) is a standard Shimano axle length with Shimano Cassette, the battery rail fits to the down tube bottle mounts and controller fits the handle bar next to the right hand gear / brake levers. I must point out here that the donor frame must be strong enough around the seat stays / chain stays / rear drop out, to handle those torques. We can offer advice here when required.

Back Problems - v - Full Suspension.

You could start a full thread on this point. What I can say (from experience) is that no two back problems are the same, simply due to the complex nature of how your back and spine is made. Different rear suspension systems also offer different Kinematics, single pivot, multilink etc. Then what type of rear shock / spring combo you use.

The best advice I can offer is to spend time getting you riding position comfortable for reach and height, simply altering this a fraction of a degree or mm can make a huge difference and again, no two riders backs are the same. Spend time getting this right. Then, and I cannot stess this point clearly enough, is to go to a really good Pilates / Yoga session and discuss your back issues with the Teacher to help stretch and strengthen you back, core and joints. It will not happen or improve from the first class. Stick with it, and I can promise you, you will feel the benefit, ride further and longer.

Cheers,
Ian.

 

[eddieo]

Jeff. Maybe consider "swarbe Big Apple tyres" as well regarded for their suspension like qualities. I dont think that many seat suspension posts work that well......

Ian, re the Stork. why is it a 25 volt system when most are 36v these days, including Bosch and Panasonic with their new range?

 

[tappy]

Jeff. Maybe consider "swarbe Big Apple tyres" as well regarded for their suspension like qualities. I dont think that many seat suspension posts work that well......

Ian, re the Stork. why is it a 25 volt system when most are 36v these days, including Bosch and Panasonic with their new range?

It's called marketing (Hype). Seriously, 36 volt always sound better than 25 volt. However, everyone including journalist around the world have noted that the Storck Raddar system delivers the same characteristics as a 36 volt system (even some 48 volt) without compromising weight and distance. I have yet to find another system that delivers a smoother torque and noiseless system as the Storck Raddar, and I have ridden just about all of them. The market is moving on though and we are aware of this cough , hint.....

 

[Spinalot]

Thank you for your kind comments on your blog, it was a pleasure speaking with you and Chris and glad you enjoyed your experience. Trevor (my son) is very happy that you have promoted him to MD .

Ha ha, I will correct that in a few mins Ian

Its a rare thing thses days to find people that are passionate about thier products and services but remain respectfull and not pushy. You and your staff proved that to be the case at the show. It was so refreshing!

I only wish I could buy one of your bikes!

 

[Deleted member 4366]

*edit* I found this. You had any experience with this type of thing? Post Moderne Cushy SL Suspension Seat Post | Evans Cycles

Better than nothing,but not by much.

Now that you've mentioned hills, I think the Bighit might be the bike for you, See if you can try one somewhere. Wish I could find one near me to try so that I can see if they're everything they're cracket up to be - just out of curiosity. I know they won't be anywhere near as good as my Giant NRS BPM, which is effortless and an absolute joy to ride. I can ride it all day and love every minute of it even with my bad back. (now with 20aH Ping battery for even longer rides)

 

[Spinalot]

I know they won't be anywhere near as good as my Giant NRS BPM, which is effortless and an absolute joy to ride. I can ride it all day and love every minute of it even with my bad back. (now with 20aH Ping battery for even longer rides)

Fancy a trip to Deepcar to show Chris and I your bike and educate us ?

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Fancy a trip to Deepcar to show Chris and I your bike and educate us ?

Unfortunately Deepcar and back is a little further than the range of my 20aH battery. I could carry a couple of spare 10aH batteries in a rucksack but I don't think I can complete the journey in a day as I only travel at an average of about 14mph.
However, there's a general invite: Anybody that wants to come to Telford (centre of England) can try any of my bikes, and I'll willingly share all my knowledge and maybe even provide tea and biscuits. Just let me know when you want to come.

That reminds me: there was a thread a while ago, where members offered their bikes for testing. I'm sure Flecc will be able to find it so that we can resurrect it and add to it. I'm on a slow connection in Germany at the moment, so I haven't got time to find it.

BTW, all that talk about the Germans having brand new 3000 euro new state of the art bikes is rubbish. The only ones I've seen here so far are beaten-up old Panasonic drive ones, a couple of Heinzmann ones, which looked a bit newer and a couple of Bafang hub-motor derivatives. Here in Munich, there's gazillions of bikes, but virtually no electric ones. The electric ones I saw today were in the Alps, where, obviously, it's a bit more hilly. Surprisingly, there were loads of unassisted bikes there too! I poked my nose into a bike shop there and inside was a single Raleigh Dover amongst the rest all unassisted bikes.

 

[flecc]

That reminds me: there was a thread a while ago, where members offered their bikes for testing. I'm sure Flecc will be able to find it so that we can resurrect it and add to it.

BTW, all that talk about the Germans having brand new 3000 euro new state of the art bikes is rubbish.

This one has got me stumped. I've searched under many terms but haven't found that thread, though I too remember it, but not what it's title was.

I suspected as much about the German market. Their internal sales totals are under those of the Netherlands in a country with almost five times the population, so the new e-bikes will be spread thin and far.

 

[Spinalot]

However, there's a general invite: Anybody that wants to come to Telford (centre of England) can try any of my bikes, and I'll willingly share all my knowledge and maybe even provide tea and biscuits. Just let me know when you want to come.

That reminds me: there was a thread a while ago, where members offered their bikes for testing. I'm sure Flecc will be able to find it so that we can resurrect it and add to it. I'm on a slow connection in Germany at the moment, so I haven't got time to find it.

Hmmm, thats a good idea! What bikes do you have we could test? The show was great but no hill and as soon as you got up to speed you had to make the hairpin turn! So it only gave your a tantalising flavour. It was like only eating only one nacho from a friends nacho pot full of warm cheese!

 

[Spinalot]

just looked it up and your only 62 miles from my house so only one and a bit hours drive probs