JohnofCambridge

Hi PennyFarthing, Think Pristine, with a press in front of the 'tine'. There is a Welsh equivalent,(Presteigne is on the border) which is written - LLANANDRAS. Don't ask me how to pronouce that though! John

Good to meet you Aldby and d8veh (even if I did mistake your username for a radio ham call sign!) Aldby - there will be more competition for you in the parade next year. Not only have I been committed to perform ( no competition for you) but a couple of locals who competed last year are set to re - enter next. The parade was a bit down in numbers this year but the quality was high. I liked the recyclables - but that is another story!! John

The TdP 2011 was another great event. I have been to the last four and still got a lot out of this one. The 50 milers on the Saturday were really challenged with the rain when the time came to leave. Such was the downpour that everyone present retired to the local cafe for half an hour before starting. It says something that electric bikes can still perform when exposed to such elements! There were two options on the Saturday night - the music which everyone has raved about and the comedienne, who clearly has some talent but not for a very long show! Good on Kudos for bringing so many bikes to try - I managed to get on three. The Storck is a great looking bike and seemed to be under constant trial. There also seemed to be a lot of interest in the folders present. The orienteering seemd to attract a fair few entrants after rumours there might be only be a couple. The parade was great. I met Aldby (in disguise as a surgeon) who was described as somewhat clinical in his riding mastery according to the humorous comments of Ian Marchant who gave a sort of musical commentary (complete with 'Singing in the rain' when the shower came down at the end of the race. It was a really enjoyable event. Life is what you make it and if you have a positive attitude to what you might learn and are interested in meeting like minded friendly people, swopping info on bikes, batteries and the best of the rest, you will get a lot out of it. Thanks to the organisers. Bring on TdP 2012

Hi guys, The Electric Transport shop have one and they kindly leant it to me over a weekend in exchange for a report, which you will soon be able to find via their website - once i have written it. Brief first impressions Likes 1) Wonderful battery arrangement - very easy to remove and completely disguisable with panniers 2) The gears make it very easy to ride 3) Easily folds - got it into the back of a Renault 5 4) Whisks along at a good pace - just one speed though when the pedal assist comes in 5) Pedal assist comes in at the right sort of time to clear you from roundabouts and junctions Dislikes 1) There is no way of shutting power off at the handlebars, you have to turn round and switch it off at the battery 2) Size - it is at the limit for six footers Preferences 1) A range of power options - low - medium - high as well as off 2) A disk bake but that puts up a very reasonable cost I will offer more once i have written up the report. My overall conclusion is that I will want one when the power is more controllable and if I can get a bigger seat tube and higher handlebars extension (perhaps an arrangement like the 905). This bike is likely to be a winner for Wisper John

Can I add to the statistics. I had not seen this thread until a few minutes ago. I have just come back from the swimming pool to which I cycled on a 30 year old push bike - it is five miles away / ten miles return and I completed 30 lengths there - felt i could have done more but did not want to push it. Now that I am back at home I don't feel too bad at all. Mind you I paced myself slowly. This is the second time I have done this by manual bike. I have swum once a week for the last nine years travelling there by car. Ocasionally done a Wisper journey there but don't like leaving the bike there. I would never have contemplated this had I not been commuting with the Wisper for the last 18 months. That has certainly built the fitness up enough. It just seems to be so strange that the reality for a number of us is:- Buy an electric bike - lose pounds, lose inches, get fitter, save money. It will be interesting to see whether this ever creeps into an ebike sales campaign! John

I am wondering whether I should change my mobile which I often carry in my anorak pocket to one which has a built in camera. The pixel power of these seems to be going up so i am wondering whether the quality is as well. Having such a device would seem just the job for hit and runs if one can be quick enough to react Saw today another rider with one of those mobile cameras strapped onto the top of his helmet - now there's a thought!! John.

See you there David. The admission that you have no bikes is a good message for promotion - so popular we have none left until the next container arrives John PS I won't be participating in any of the races this year - I will leave that to the Lycra mob!!

On a slightly, but only slightly, more serious note does anyone suffer from the feeling that they have to blow a slightly snivelling nose after about three miles in the morning. (Does not seem to happen in the evening). It occurs even when I have no other cold systems. There are not many stops on my commute, but I always seem to have to have one for a hankerchief break!!!! Would some cyclists even think they have swine flu when they may just have "Cyclists nose"?

My 12 mile round trip is slightly longer than the direct car route but infinitely more pleasant through cycletracks and safer routes. If you have hills or safety blackspots to avoid, you might consider going round them hills if you can and consider a longer journey.

Looks like a natural for a James Bond chase stunt with the only technology being the bike!!!!

The bike is well worth contemplating as a car replacement. Bear in mind that if it develops a fault, you may lose it for a few days, so see if Cyclepoint can offer you a courtesy bike. Also take into account any children who may go off to uni or aged relatives who may need a carer / transporter. These tend to still place car requirements upon one!!!!! John

All sounds quite horrendous and costly. Does this mean the end of small innovators not being able to produce their first production batch, without bankrupting themselves in the process. What about kits? Can someone assure me the world has not gone mad with this regulation John

And so it is likely to continue, Vikki, although as the thousands clock up you will probably experience the odd fault - as you would with a normal bike Still very pleased with mine but I have forgotten how far i have now gone - probably three thousand ish. Definately a best buy when i got it and David of Wisper has much improved it since. Pays to have a British designer who reads about their customer experiences and then improves the bike further. John

According to today's Telegraph, Waitrose in Poole has a number of delivery electric bikes (panasonic units)towing behind delivery boxes. You may think you have heard something similar before. In the last two years Waitrose has offered in selective stores the possibility of borrowing a trailer that can be attached to the seat stem. You collect your food in the trailer without the bike - pay for it hook trailer to bike and you are away - the only problem is that you have to bring the trailer back in three days. There was nothing electric about that arrangement. This is different. This is Waitrose staff filling up a trailer (axle attached and insulated) and delivering to you (If you are in Poole). Apparently there are a number of staff who are very keen to volunteer as delivery staff on the bikes - mostly teenagers who have not got their license. Is this a way to get the young into electric biking? Waitrose comments that it is cheaper and greener than putting a real van onto a congested road It does seem to be an electric bike news day today!

That leaves off road or the race track. Hmmmmmn - formula segway - hasn't much of a ring about it!