JoeF

Cytronex kit for sale, purchased 2018 has done an est. 4500 miles. 700c wheel, disc brake black rim/spokes. Includes wired-in Cyo IQ Premium front light. Wiring sizes for a small Pinnacle Arkrose. NOTE: there is a battery problem (contacts have probably suffered ‘arcing’). Cytronex think it is repairable but worst case is a new battery needed. Buyer to collect (Bolton, Lancs).

Anybody any experience of getting a Cytronex repaired? Mine keeps dropping into fault mode. I have been in touch with Cytronex and it seems that the battery contacts may have suffered ‘arcing’. They are extremely pushy about returning the battery for diagnostic but refuse to give me any idea of the likely repair cost, merely stating that ‘repairs are usually cost effective’, whatever that means! I am loathe to return it to then be told it’s £00s to repair and then go through the faff and cost of getting the faulty battery back should it be too expensive to fix. Cytronex don’t like speaking to customers and all communication has to be by email which is a bit irritating. Might consider a Swytch kit rather than repair.

I have been pondering over an electric bike. My 13 mile each way commute is getting a bit much for my ageing knees and body, especially the ride home which is uphill (Manchester to the edge of the Pennines in Bolton) and usually with a headwind (or thats what it feels like). As usual in this modern age the choice is bewildering: from the Rolls Royce (or rather the Mercedes) option of very nice looking German Kalkhoff bikes with motors in bottom bracket, hub gears, belt drives, more computing power than Apollo 11 etc etc. I am sure they are great but £3,000 is a lot of cash and as I do around 4000 miles a year, how easy (and costly) are they to maintain when parts wear out. At the other end of the spectrum there are bikes for less than £1,000, presumably Chinese, with hub motors, cheap derailleurs and small capacity batteries. But these might do, upgrades to components wouldn't be too costly. Given that my commute in is downhill and I usually average 15-16 mph, I need something that rides nicely without the electric assist (that cuts out at 15 mph). I am a fan of disc brakes, need mudguards and a rack. Integrated lights would be nice to have. I keen to hear any suggestions or other members' experiences of the dark side.