Which e bike for 70 year old

Love cycling usually 3 times a week average about 30 mile trip.I think its time for e bike have 1 knee replacement awaiting next knee also slight heart operation when hospitals open up.I am 70 fairly fit but i live on a steep hill and in hilly area need help going up and in wind ,mainly road riding odd gravel ride when on holiday have Giant Anyroad bike now any ideas budget £2000

Love cycling usually 3 times a week average about 30 mile trip.I think its time for e bike have 1 knee replacement awaiting next knee also slight heart operation when hospitals open up.I am 70 fairly fit but i live on a steep hill and in hilly area need help going up and in wind ,mainly road riding odd gravel ride when on holiday have Giant Anyroad bike now any ideas budget £2000

Welcome.

 

If you are after a similar gravel type bike I’d be tempted by the Boardman HYB 8.9E

 

https://www.boardmanbikes.com/gb_en/products/2325-hyb-8.9e.html

 

If you join cycling UK you get 10% off at Halfords that should just about hit your budget.

We are nearing 70 and just bought Tern P7i. I can't say I am at all confident yet , but I haven't ridden any sort of bike for over 30 years. It certainly cruises up the hills though with surprisingly little effort.

That looks fine anyone know of mid motor bike similer

That looks fine anyone know of mid motor bike similer

These are both mid motored bikes although couldn’t be more different. What style bike are you looking for?

Have one with a gearshift ! Grael roads are best with MTB tires, but I guess you know that. I would also humbly suggest that you look for a bike similar to the one you have already. So seat position and handling is what you are used to...Just with an electric motor. Or check the possibility to refit that with a e-motor, there are lots of members here which can help you with tips for that.

I'm 70 and about the start of lockdown I bought a Cube Cross allroad, it's a mid drive with a 625w battery good for 50 hilly miles, it has very low gears and it has lowered the stress on my left knee which is weak. I have used it as much off road as on and it excels at both and the Bosch Gen 4 gives a better cycling experience on hills where I can spin up slowly with less effort on the knees than my hub motored bike.

Thanks looks just what i want will start looking tommorow

Thanks looks just what i want will start looking tommorow

Just a note that bosh are very expensive for parts and not easily fixable beyond warranty

Easily fixable by any Bosch bike dealer, with parts available for probably 10 years or more. Yes, 'at a cost', but hey BMW and Mercedes cars are the same way..

Yes, 'at a cost', but hey BMW and Mercedes cars are the same way..

Not a good analogy. There are a ton of independent Beemer and Merc specialist mechanics who (in my experience) know the cars far better than most Main Agents, have access to both original and third party (cheaper) parts, and don't charge anything like main agent prices.

 

As a Bosch-equipped e-bike owner, you're forced to turn to a Bosch cycle shop who have no one but Bosch themselves to turn to for parts, and aren't even trusted to do repairs beyond simple modular replacement.

 

Until Bosch make component-level parts easily available and/or the market expands to warrant third party mechanics (like PLB) and manufacturers making substitute (lower cost) parts, your nuts are firmly in Bosch's grasp at whatever they want to charge. Maybe the "right to repair" law will change that.

Easily fixable by any Bosch bike dealer, with parts available for probably 10 years or more. Yes, 'at a cost', but hey BMW and Mercedes cars are the same way..

 

Dealers can't or aren't allowed to carry out repairs that's why they are box sellers any fault and the part has t go back to Bosch first.

All the above is true but I'm gambling on the situation in two years being a bit easier for repairs.

There has been a huge expansion in e bike sales since covid 19 which I'm hoping will lead to more guys like PLB springing up.

All the above is true but I'm gambling on the situation in two years being a bit easier for repairs.

There has been a huge expansion in e bike sales since covid 19 which I'm hoping will lead to more guys like PLB springing up.

I would suggest to check with the dealer who sold the bike if he would do the service and has all the parts. Like a "Bosch authorized Service Center". Then one is in the green zone... although still a gamble because he might rip one off each time "blaming" Bosch for the high prices. But then again, also Bosch does not manufacture in Germany anymore- I had the pleasure of an ever malfunctioning drill (2x replaced during warranty and now I am stuck with it) GSB 18-2-LI PLUS. 4Ah cordless drill.

Found that out eventually:

Drill motor– made in Malaysia

Battery – made in Malaysia

Battery charger, AL1820CV – made in CHINA

 

Actually all the above perished now... not users fault, I am very meticulous about charging times, I even plug it on a timed switch so overcharging can not occur ( I don't trust the "cant overcharge, automatic intelligent shut of bla bla) - Which is BTW a good tip if you charge your expensive e-bike batteries. use one of those timer plugs to always get the times correct.

 

On the other hand I also bought a drill at B&Q - no brand, clearly marked "Made in China" and it works great since ever.

Just a note that bosh are very expensive for parts and not easily fixable beyond warranty

[/Qright thanks set me thinking again i am on holiday at moment will have good look round in doncaster when home heard Byocycles ibex could be bike i want but not many around in doncaster

Just a note that bosh are very expensive for parts and not easily fixable beyond warranty

right thanks set me thinking again i have tried Byocycle ibex i like look of will have a look in doncaster when get home on holiday at moment

Well now, I'm one of you; in the sense that I am plus 70, with a heart condition (recent stent) and live in a hill bound location; eg have an 18% round the corner.

 

Having also put on a bit of weight, I have made a gradual transition from a sprint (CAAD 9), to CX (CAADX), to a 36v pedal assist rear hub 27.5. Whilst the 25k weight e-bike is manageable on road and trail, with a tweeked 40kph powered top speed and 100k flat road range; it does have very limited capability for mountain / single track.

 

With the latter in mind as an additional aim, I am now converting a late 90s, 26 inch full suspension mtb. Given the majority view is that mid mount is better for this specific kind of riding, I have opted for the reasonable cost of a Bafang BBS02B. A work in progress; with the hope that the 750w will handle a mountain, a big hill and cruise easily on the flat.

 

I ride with many like us, and others have, as road/trail riders, mostly gone for rear hubs of varying degrees of power and size (mostly 27.5 and 29 depending upon their height); their having a second dedicated mtb if needed, for that purpose.

 

I still ride my road bike sometimes, if I don't have to face big hills, or if I am not with the group; however e-bikes do mean that you are easily persuaded, to take the easy option.

Another issue is that rear wheels with hub motors are a pain to remove, whereas a mid mount gives you more flexibility, in terms of ease of transport; punctures notwithstanding.

I am definatley looking for e bike when home where i live actually has a hand rail to hold on to it is steep and soon will be 2 new knees plus 2 heart ops hill are a problem plus old miners lungs here on southcoast they have never seen a hill can ride bike all day .It will be mid or rear wife says buy new now its about time i put spanners away ..

Dealers can't or aren't allowed to carry out repairs that's why they are box sellers any fault and the part has t go back to Bosch first.

 

Depends on your definition of repair. My dealer definitely is the guy who plugs the motor into the diagnostic system, and fits a new one, sent from Bosch, if necessary. Taking the cogs out, definitely not. Oh, and when he plugs it in, I suspect a big red flag comes up if it was stolen.?

 

I'm surprised someone can get ersatz BMW parts from 3rd parties though, most of my drive train, motor, suspension, electronics, etc seems to require bits from BMW, occasionally from Germany (and the newer models seem to need a supercomputer to diagnose). Brakes pads, discs, wheels, tyres etc, less of an issue. 'fix' in most cases seems to be replace the unit.

I am in my 70’s with cardio problems. I recently purchased Volt Axis shimano steps mid drive. Hills now no problem never mind how steep. Also a folder which fits in car boot for further excursions. British company parts and local dealer, sorted.

My old man has just ordered himself a Haibike trekking 5 so he can come out for some rides with me (not sure if I’ll be able to get away with my normal bike or if I’ll need get my conversion mtb out, will see how fast he is!) It’s arriving Wednesday, so I’ll post a review when I can get a go. My only experience so far though is my hub motor conversion and a quick ride round the works car park on a Haibike xduro

The dealer isn't a repairer because he doesn't have the nouse to do so, he is simply a box seller who swaps parts out, all the software stuff is done by a computer that some punches some buttons on.

When I was younger the idea of 70 year olds on bikes was weird. Now I am one amongst a group of at least 50 ( we are all ex-servicemen), of at least that age, the taunts we receive as MAMILs are easily rejected, because we are in fact past middle age !

When I was younger the idea of 70 year olds on bikes was weird. Now I am one amongst a group of at least 50 ( we are all ex-servicemen), of at least that age, the taunts we receive as MAMILs are easily rejected, because we are in fact past middle age !

Not so weird, considering that average Age in the UK is 42 years and climbing we will see a lot more . Also the population became healthier and hopefully can enjoy a lot more quality years. I myself dont feel any day older than 20 years ago. Except the hair, but thanks to Vin Diesel and Bruce Willis I now look "cool" and macho (if there wouldnt be the monopack instead of the sixpack ABS