Big Al your Pal

Thanks George try you have given me a good start. As for lycra, maybe when I have about 10 stone of my rather robust frame ;-) I purchased a bike toolkit from Aldi this evening, Allen Keys, tyre levers, puncture repair kit, small saddle bag for keeping it in with a small LED rear light, all for £8.99, which seemed very reasonable.

Having bought a Woosh Rio FB, I've now got a bit of mission creep on the equipment front after my 1st few short rides. My hands are bloody freezing, what gloves would you recommend? What d-lock should I purchase to help retain my new bike and where has anyone mounted it, as there isnt much room ? What sort of trousers would you suggest might be suitable, got soaked to the skin in the mizzle today & I'm not suitable for lycra (not that there'd be any in my size)? The Crimbo list will be easier this year that is for sure, I can think of getting: Lights Some sort of toeclip system A coat with a long back Panniers Phone mount with water proofing

Well, I visited the Woosh shop today and had a short test ride of a couple of bikes, the Big Bear and the Rio Fatboy, as the Rio MTB was just too small for me. Liked both of them in the flesh, but I wasn't as keen on the suspension forks, so it's a 17 aHr Fat Boy for a Fat Man. Looking forward to getting a little fitter and having the power of the Fatboy to get up a few hills. Now to find a decent D- lock.

Loving the looks of the Swizzbee, retro cool and if it was around today I reckon it would have pretty strong sales with a monster battery and a good motor. The maintenance would need to be sorted, so respect for keeping this on the road.

Quite like the look of this Woosh Rio and it's back hub, as the big hub on the front wheel of the Big Bear is not very aesthetically pleasing (which probably suits me otherwise - but the look of that front hub is a deal breaker for me & I'm sure for others). I'd definitely need longer mudguards, a more comfortable seat and panniers would help too.

The £1000 max spend on an ebike is a bit of a problem for the 'cycle to work's scheme in the sense that you can't always get an almost perfect ebike. And you can't add a few quid to get a slightly better one, as far as I can see

Going to rehash a recurring theme. My work turns the cycle to work scheme on and off, with availability for about 6 weeks. I had a deposit for a shop soiled Pulse ZR2 and safety kit++ from Evans, while I waited to be registered with the work benefits provider. It didn't go well. The scheme came up again and and I just went for the maximum and after many weeks waiting I've got the go ahead, only the Pulse ZR2 is no long available & I'm not so keen on the Pulse ZL2 styling with the low bar I may well have dodged a bullet given the small battery, but I'm at a loss at what to get now and where to get it. I liked the rear hub, lights, hybrid style frame, the rack mounted battery and long mud guards as it seemed to be a less obvious and awkwardly styled ebike (with the panniers the hub almost disappears) I am a very heavy rider, but the ZR2 seemed to cope fine. So bearing this in mind, where would I sink my £1k, bearing in mind I know it will be a real compromise.

Hi I live not too far from a monument to WW1 cyclists. I haven't used my mountain bike in anger for some considerable amount of time and haventh been bike fit since my stduent days around about 1992, when Huddersfield's somewhat brutal hilliness didn't seem to phase me. These days I face hills wherever I go out of the house. So I haven't gone out with my bike. The only way I envisage building up any fitness is to get an eBike and work from there. I'm also extremely heavy, have a dodgy knee and have the opportunity (letter of collection burning a hole in my pocket) to get a bike for a max of £1k under the cycle to work scheme.