Request - does anyone have a Gazelle Balance bike I could test ride briefly? Near Cambridge?

[mm1]

Hi all,
I've narrowed my search for a very low step through, small wheeled bike down to the Gazelle Balance.
I'm 5’2”, mid sixties, with arthritic hips so you get the idea!

Unfortunately Gazelle have stopped making these bikes and don’t sell in UK anymore anyway, so it's difficult to find one to have a ride on to see if it is the right bike for me, in case one comes up for sale in UK.

so... if there is anyone near-ish Cambridge who has one and would let me try it I'd be very grateful!

and if anyone knows of similar bikes that might be suitable, that would be really helpful too.

 

[warmrain]

Gazelle are still selling in the UK and if you type "gazelle bikes cambridge" into Google you will see 3 dealers come up near you.
I believe their models 'Ami', 'Paris', 'Orange' and 'Grenoble' all come with an option of step thru in XS (extra-small) size - 44cm frame - 'suitable for person height of 1.55-1.65m' so should suit you. The first is a Shimano crank drive and the latter three Bosch. I have a very helpful Gazelle dealer near me in Lincolnshire who has lots of Gazelles to try, but that might be too far away for you(?).

 

[cyclebuddy]

The Gazelle you seek is still listed as available in the UK on Gazelles website, in both their main menu, and on a specific bike product page. It's called:
GAZELLE Balance C7 HFP

Here's a shop selling it: It's out of stock, but that's likely to be that almost ALL e-bikes are out of stock at the moment due to high demand, and also because the bike is sold with a choice of 4 battery capacities which affect range and price of the bike. So I'd guess when you decide which battery you want to pay for, the shop will get your order sent in from the factory/warehouse. I'm sure if this London store can get one, a more local Gazelle dealer can too.

GAZELLE Balance C7 HFP :: £2099.00 :: Dutch Bikes :: ELECTRIC :: Compton Cycles, London Brompton folding bikes specialist

 

[mm1]

Gazelle are still selling in the UK and if you type "gazelle bikes cambridge" into Google you will see 3 dealers come up near you.
I believe their models 'Ami', 'Paris', 'Orange' and 'Grenoble' all come with an option of step thru in XS (extra-small) size - 44cm frame - 'suitable for person height of 1.55-1.65m' so should suit you. The first is a Shimano crank drive and the latter three Bosch. I have a very helpful Gazelle dealer near me in Lincolnshire who has lots of Gazelles to try, but that might be too far away for you(?).

Thanks Warmrain, that's really helpful, and Lincolnshire is fine - could you tell me the name of your Gazelle dealer?
I'm pleased they are still selling in UK - one bike shop I visited said they had stopped, and that the Balance was no longer in production. Fingers crossed... I'll follow up on Monday.

 

[mm1]

The Gazelle you seek is still listed as available in the UK on Gazelles website, in both their main menu, and on a specific bike product page. It's called:
GAZELLE Balance C7 HFP

Here's a shop selling it: It's out of stock, but that's likely to be that almost ALL e-bikes are out of stock at the moment due to high demand, and also because the bike is sold with a choice of 4 battery capacities which affect range and price of the bike. So I'd guess when you decide which battery you want to pay for, the shop will get your order sent in from the factory/warehouse. I'm sure if this London store can get one, a more local Gazelle dealer can too.

GAZELLE Balance C7 HFP :: £2099.00 :: Dutch Bikes :: ELECTRIC :: Compton Cycles, London Brompton folding bikes specialist

Thanks cyclebuddy, I've been googling it for days and not coming up with anything - so that's really promising.

 

[warmrain]

Hello mm1, the shop I'm thinking of is in Navenby village just south of Lincoln and is called PedalElectricCycles. Need to phone first [01522-255760] to fix an appt because of Covid, and also best to enquire whether he has the specific model(s) you are hoping to try available in the shop. He has a few more in a warehouse which he could bring round to the shop but stock may have diminished somewhat because I have just bought one off him . Navenby has a nice sharp hill just yards from the shop and some quiet backroads behind -- so good location to test out the bikes.

 

[mm1]

Hello mm1, the shop I'm thinking of is in Navenby village just south of Lincoln and is called PedalElectricCycles. Need to phone first [01522-255760] to fix an appt because of Covid, and also best to enquire whether he has the specific model(s) you are hoping to try available in the shop. He has a few more in a warehouse which he could bring round to the shop but stock may have diminished somewhat because I have just bought one off him . Navenby has a nice sharp hill just yards from the shop and some quiet backroads behind -- so good location to test out the bikes.

Many thanks - eek, sharp hills!

 

[warmrain]

Many thanks - eek, sharp hills!

You are welcome. Let us know how you get on.

 

[nigelbb]

My wife is 5'1' & loves her Woosh Petite but unfortunately they don't make it any more. We just bought her a Wisper 705 Torque with 24" wheels. I just bought a used Wisper 705 Torque & the torque sensor is a revelation after a couple of years of e-bikes with a cadence sensor.

Wisper 705 24" Step-Through E-Bike - Wisper Bikes

Finest The 705 is the industry-leading step-through ebike from Wisper, the UK's #1 ebike brand. Free Next Day Delivery & Cyclescheme available. Buy Now!

wisperbikes.com

 

[mm1]

My wife is 5'1' & loves her Woosh Petite but unfortunately they don't make it any more. We just bought her a Wisper 705 Torque with 24" wheels. I just bought a used Wisper 705 Torque & the torque sensor is a revelation after a couple of years of e-bikes with a cadence sensor.

Wisper 705 24" Step-Through E-Bike - Wisper Bikes

Finest The 705 is the industry-leading step-through ebike from Wisper, the UK's #1 ebike brand. Free Next Day Delivery & Cyclescheme available. Buy Now!

wisperbikes.com

Thanks Nigel, how is your wife getting on with her Wisper?

 

[warmrain]

Hi mm1, I notice that CambridgeCycleCo.co.uk has stock of 1x Gazelle Orange C7+ Low Step-thru with XS frame size of 46cm at £2199. Need to get in quick if interested as they seem to be out of stock in everything else.

 

[mm1]

Hi mm1, I notice that CambridgeCycleCo.co.uk has stock of 1x Gazelle Orange C7+ Low Step-thru with XS frame size of 46cm at £2199. Need to get in quick if interested as they seem to be out of stock in everything else.

Thanks, I’ve sent them an email...

 

[nigelbb]

Thanks Nigel, how is your wife getting on with her Wisper?

She is waiting to ride it. We are in France for the next few weeks. We had the bike delivered to her parents. I will report back when we are back when we are back in the UK & out of self-isolation on 16th July. I have been really impressed with my Wisper 705 Torque. It's the best e-bike I have ridden. I really like the torque sensor so the motor kicks in as soon as you push on the pedal rather than half a rotation of a cadence sensor.

 

[MichaelM]

Hi all,
I've narrowed my search for a very low step through, small wheeled bike down to the Gazelle Balance.
I'm 5’2”, mid sixties, with arthritic hips so you get the idea!

Unfortunately Gazelle have stopped making these bikes and don’t sell in UK anymore anyway, so it's difficult to find one to have a ride on to see if it is the right bike for me, in case one comes up for sale in UK.

so... if there is anyone near-ish Cambridge who has one and would let me try it I'd be very grateful!

and if anyone knows of similar bikes that might be suitable, that would be really helpful too.

Try Rutland Cycling, Grand Arcade Cambridge. They supplied my daughter with a Gazelle recently (not the one you are after).

 

[mm1]

Thanks for your replies and interest all

She is waiting to ride it. We are in France for the next few weeks. We had the bike delivered to her parents. I will report back when we are back when we are back in the UK & out of self-isolation on 16th July. I have been really impressed with my Wisper 705 Torque. It's the best e-bike I have ridden. I really like the torque sensor so the motor kicks in as soon as you push on the pedal rather than half a rotation of a cadence sensor.

Hi Nigel Well, I found a Wisper 24” in a bike shop in Cambridge this morning, and the step through is just about right, so I might go ahead with this one, after looking at some bikes over the next few days. It's a lovely bike... hope your wife gets on well with it.

Then on WarmRain's advice I visited Cambridgecyclecompany and saw a Gazelle Orange, but it was just a bit too big. No new Gazelle Balance or Amie bikes are due for delivery until November,
And have an appointment with the shop in Naveby on Thursday...

Think I'll go and lie down now!