hillside

Thanks for your opinion, Beanie101. I tested in all four bikes climbing from Ilanz to Ruschein (13% grades). Front wheel drives are not as good as rear wheel drives. Tested two of those: The Wattworld top model is ok on pavement but on steep gravel paths it feels uncertain especially when wet. The interesting Smike (quickly turned into an ebike with sidecar) is quite heavy and had problems maintaining motor support. Rearwheelers: The UM36 offers not very good gearing and its parts (brakes and more) are not of the quality a Flyer offers. Flyer is clearly the best among test bikes. Climbed with ease also from Ilanz to Flond on the old loose surface road. - A Flyer S as I'd like it takes currently 6 week to delivery. Checked the used offerings; mostly F types. May order a new Flyer S for next May. Greetings from (the) hillside

Hello Jonathan, among other options I am evaluating a UM36x here in Graubuenden/Switzerland. Steep terrain, I use the bike between two villages as it shortens a car drive to about 60% and I do it in 1/2 hr with ease. Recently Swiss TV, a consumer magazine and 'Velojournal' reported on a test done by engineers at a university lab in Biel/Bienne. Sez one of the journals: UM44 deserves better bike components. It sounded like: We like it, but you get what you pay for. The leading contenders cost easily 1000 francs more. But all I do is a return trip, shy of 15 km, not 10 Miles. a total of less than 300 m level difference (going/returning) and a trial run allowed me to do that on one charge. I'd be interested to hear of further experiences you made with the UM36. Thanks and greetings from the hillside -- RM

Hello Haku, I sign as 'hillside' 'cuz that's where I live: 450 m above the valley floor (13% incline) - the Swiss Alps. I tried a UM36x and it did get me up that initial climb (albeit with a rest - I'm 65, no biker's training). It was much easier to do what the eBike is mainly meant for: to go from Ruschein to Falera, 7.2 km, going 170 m, returning 120 m level diff. GPS-Tracks.com - Onlinekarten It's hard to guess what it means for the battery. While riding the control on the handle bar goes quickly down a couple settings or three, but when stopping all lights are on again. I did make the return trip on one charge. There's tho' one thing with UrbanMover bikes: in a recent test they were fingered for using cheapish components (brakes, gearing etc). No further detail given, just that warning: You get what you pay for. Popular and pricey: biketch.ch Flyer; over 1000 francs more expensive. Any advice welcome! -- RM

Some UM36x questions New here, hello! And I live in the Swiss Alps (near skiing mecca of Laax, Graubuenden). To shorten a trip I'll do with some regularity I could use a hiking/biking trail to a neighbouring village (by car almost twice the distance as you have to first go down to valley floor, then climb again,. about 26 km). Recently Swiss TV, a consumer magazine and 'Velojournal' reported on a test by a univeristy lab looking at a variety of bikes. The Swiss-built Flyer (biketech.ch) did very well and is also very popular here. And quite pricey. A UM44 didn't do too badly (battery didn't last the whole road test; only one level of powered support). But it was given not so good marks for the components used (without specifying they meant wheels/spokes, brakes, gearing &c). My yearly use would hardly go beyond 500 km or a good 300 M. A one way trip is 7.2 km with a level diff. of 270 m going and 130 m returning. A Biketech Flyer costs CHF 3500 and up, an UrbanMover UM36x costs CHF2290 (approx. BPs 1130) - yep the guys in the middle pick your pockets! Batteries here seem very pricey too (CHF 900 ~ BPS 440). Any advice? - Thanks from the hillside -- RM