timidtom

[. So do ebikes take the fun out of cycling what do you think ? With Angina+Asthma+Back pain I'm afraid that cycling had been taken out of cycling! Ebikes put it back again. I've been off road (in the wrong sense) for a little while, having cataracts replaced with clear lenses - brilliant result, the world looks newly polished! I'll be back on track with Lucy very soon, I hope!

'Buyer pays return postage' - to China!

Like it? They'll love it! Bet they don't let you have it back!

Looks majestic! No, that's a Daimler. Graceful? No, that's a Jaguar ... Quietly impressive? Right, that's a Roller! The personification of good taste!

A delight to read! Like I always say, 99.9999% of the humans on this planet are 100% solid gold! Prosper and thrive!

When I'm working in West Africa I often spend a few minutes meditating in the War Graves cemetery at Fajara. There are the graves of the British crew of a flying boat which crashed into the sea off the coast of Senegal, the grave of a French colonel of the Foreign legion, and dozens of graves of young Gambians who died fighting for what they called 'the Mother Country'. All are equally worthy of respect, all move me to tears. I feel it strange that the descendants of most of those buried there would be regarded as 'aliens' if they now attempted to visit the country they fought to defend.

Let's not worry too much. Enjoy Theme Park Britain while the sun shines and until that nice Mrs May presses the big red button the moment some computer sounds a false alarm and all our worries will be as dust ...

We've had experience of 5 eBikes: 1) A PowerByke, built like a tank, weighed almost as much as one, would climb the wall of a house. Sold it for 50% of initial cost after 2 years. It's weight weighed against it but it was good for 20 mile trips. 2 & 3) We bought matching JuicyBike Classics about 6 years ago. Stately, elegant bikes, very nicely put together. Reliable, comfortable. Certainly good for 25 mile trips. We've bought each a new battery and mine will probably need another later this year. J's bike will shortly be up for sale because she has balance problems which led to the purchase of 4) An eTrike, also from JB but not one of their manufacture. Also proved reliable after 2 years. 5) A Woosh Gallego. We're both long retired and used to be bikers. There are brand new scooters and motor-bikes available for the price of a Juicy Classic. Some of these, generally of Chinese manufacture, appear to be quite well put together and economical. Reports about their durability are of mixed content - our sub-£1k ebikes are still in good running order but I haven't noticed many 6 year old sub £1k motor bikes still on the road. How else might you spend your £1k? A beautifully made Canadian canoe? A lifetime of happy boating lies ahead (and you could add a small electric outboard and battery for about £250! Most of the cars I've owned have been £1k bangers - and very serviceable many of them have been, for instance the 1990 Skoda estate which took us camping all over the UK and Europe ..

Has the eBike really arrived? Has anyone spotted one on screen? I'm excepting consumer TV programmes: has one featured as a mode of transport, been stolen, been an object of desire, taken the place of a car, or simply passed by in the background, in a film or TV series?

I'm 80+ but I ain't no lady! Perhaps the beard is a clue?

If you can get to Buxton Juicy Bikes have a range of reliable ebikes and will offer you the chance to ride round the town! They have a great after-sales service too. Whatever you decide on do try to ride a variety of bikes before you buy one. Let us know how you go on! Best wishes, Tom

Thanks, Trex, I'll do that. Tom

[ I live in hope that I will succumb to the charms of what is, to be honest, a very pretty little bike. Fingers crossed. Me: 80 years, 12 stones, mildly unfit, about 600 miles per year. Short up-date. The pinger on the bell has fallen off and the rear wheel no longer locks into position when the bike is unfolded.