Newbie to electric biking

[allanct]

Hi.
I am a 73 year old now struggling a bit to regularly use my bike due to some age related issues so a bit of assistance from an electric source would be very welcome. Have tried a number of bikes at a recent event in Bristol and have decided that a DIY conversion of my existing Specialised Rockhopper mountain bike might be the way forward. I particularly like the look of the Oxydrive kit and would welcome any feedback on that or any other kits out out there that I should consider.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

I fitted an Oxydrive kit to my Rockhopper and wrote a review of it. Since then, Oxydrive have improved the quality of the motor, but it's now a bit slower at 32 km'h instead of 40km/h. Geoff9 has one of the new kits on his Trike. He recently did a 100km ride that involved some very nasty climbs.He had to use two batteries of course.
http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/electric-bicycles/12872-oxydrive-kit.html

 

[allanct]

Thanks

I fitted an Oxydrive kit to my Rockhopper and wrote a review of it. Since then, Oxydrive have improved the quality of the motor, but it's now a bit slower at 32 km'h instead of 40km/h. Geoff9 has one of the new kits on his Trike. He recently did a 100km ride that involved some very nasty climbs.He had to use two batteries of course.
http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/electric-bicycles/12872-oxydrive-kit.html

Many thanks for your reply and have now read your review which is most useful.

 

[D C]

Hi.
I am a 73 year old now struggling a bit to regularly use my bike due to some age related issues so a bit of assistance from an electric source would be very welcome. Have tried a number of bikes at a recent event in Bristol and have decided that a DIY conversion of my existing Specialised Rockhopper mountain bike might be the way forward. I particularly like the look of the Oxydrive kit and would welcome any feedback on that or any other kits out out there that I should consider.

I had a similar problem this year, 66 and a dodgy knee and whilst there are others on here better qualified to advise on the merits of different kits I would encourage you to carry on and get some electric help.
I can hardly believe how I can now continue my cycling without pain or discomfort and yet still get as much exercise as I want from pedaling at a rate that's not hastening the deterioration of my knee joints and is apparently doing them some good.
I have some modest posts on here relating to my experience, easy to find as I haven't posted much as yet.
I wish you well with your project and I'm sure it will be a success.
Dave.

 

[allanct]

Hi Dave

Thanks for that; done a bit more research into kits and now am interested in the XiPi version who are based in Banbury so hope to call in soon and try their stuff out.

 

[johnc461165]

HI Welcome John

 

[D C]

I'm really pleased with the result of fitting my kit, the one thing that I wasn't prepared for though was the dramatic way it changed the feel of my own bike.
Perhaps it was because I had to fit the battery on a pannier rack (due to my suspension fittings) the result was a bike which didn't remotely ride the same as before.
I have no problem now, after the first 50 miles or so I got used to it again and several hundred miles on it now feels part of me again.
What I'm saying really is that if your bike feels horrible on your first ride after conversion you will get used to it with the new feel though it may take a few miles.
The Xipi looks like a great kit (though more than double the price of my cyclotricity) and I'm sure you will be happy with the finished result.
Dave.