Giant Review Update
So, I have had the Giant for ten weeks now and covered just short of 1200 miles for both commuting and leisure/shopping rides.
The commute to work is getting easier, my fitness levels have improved far more than I ever envisaged and my median time for getting to and from work is around 1 hour 50 mins for the 28.67 miles, best time 1 hour 39 mins.
On a good run with no wind I can do the commute without taking even a third of the battery life away, a nasty headwind however, I'm lucky to get home on one battery.
I have now lost a total of 9Kg of weight in the 10 weeks! 96kg down to 87kg.
The bike has had its first (complimentary) service done at Fulford Cycles a week or so ago. Two reasons I took the bike in before the recommended 3 month period, firstly because the bikes brake and gear cabling was a bit slack so Chris tightened everything up and also because I had a nasty fall from the Giant turning a corner near to a construction site on my way to work.
Admittedly I was riding rather fast, and put the bike into the tarmac sliding on a nasty spill of diesel/oil on the road. I crashed to the road and when I cursed my way up off the tarmac with bleeding knees, elbows and face, a broken little finger, an extremely painful shoulder and a massive bruise on my right thigh where the handlebar dug its way into my body, I found the Giant had only grazed its SPD pedal and one handle grip but the handlebar itself was loose, Chris soon put this right with the torque wrench and after 4 days off cycling to recover, I was back to full fitness again.
I have had one puncture so far over the course of the 1177 miles I have covered on the Giant, (fortunately on a ride around the North York Moors and not on my commute!), specifically, hurtling down a hill into Brandsdale I shot over a cattle grid and heard the painful hiss from the back tyre, I soon got this fixed as I always carry tools, tyre levers and spare inner-tube. To be honest, I think I had far too much air pressure in the rear tyre as the inner-tube looked torn and I couldn't find anything foreign or sharp that had penetrated the Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyre.
So, the cost of ownership for the Giant has only risen by around £60 since the initial outlay for the bike 10 weeks ago, this was for SPD Pedals and shoes and a nice comfy seat and of course the obvious depreciation of the bike, the cost of charging the batteries and their mounting cycle tally. I've taken to throwing 50p into a pot each time I charge, to cover the cost of replacements when the time comes, far cheaper than the £10 or so a day it was costing in diesel to work and back.
The Shimano SPD pedals are worth their weight in gold, I wouldn't be without them and couldn't go back to flat pedals, the difference is amazing in terms of pure power, enjoyment in riding the bike and confidence at speed.
Overall I continue to be enthusiastic about the Giant Twist Freedom, It has benefited me physically, mentally and has been the catalyst in me into taking up 'proper' cycling as a hobby, three weeks ago buying a second hand Audax/Touring bike that I am enjoying so much for trips out on an evening and Sundays. I intend to get into some of the long distance Audax events later this year. Recently, to check out my fitness, I rode a Time Trial 10 mile course on the Touring bike and completed the 10 miles in 30 mins 17 secs, this has boosted my confidence and spurred me on to develop my fitness further.
If anyone still has any doubts about getting a Pedelec, I hope my experiences so far of the Giant might go a little way to inspire confidence in taking the plunge, it might change your life, it has mine.