mrgoldthorpe

I bought it brand new from 50 Cycles on 11 June 2009. It cost £2190, but that included a spare 26V 10Ah Panasonic battery. (I always carried both, alternated them and fully discharged.) It's been a leisure rather than a commuter bike, used mainly between April and October. It's done a lot of hill work in the southern Peak District to the east of where I live. I estimate I've done about 13,000 miles on it. Apart from the odd cable and brake block, I've had a new chain and on the 3rd set of tyres. I early-retired the 2nd set last month when I bought a pair of puncture resistant Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tour. The original batteries are of course rather tired, which was limiting my range somewhat. I was even contemplating a new bike for this year, but bought a new 20.8Ah battery from 'Vinteky' on Amazon. What a difference! Last week I did a ride of about 35 miles in the southern Peak District and used about half the battery capacity. (I tend to use as little as I possible early in the ride and save the motor power for later when I'm tired.) The bike has given me enormous pleasure and continues to do so. It was well built and it shows. Hopefully I can get several more years out of it. Suh -

Forgot to add...the batteries are still the original Panasonic, each 260 Wh original capacity.

I've had my Kalkhoff Pro Connect for nearly 10 years: bought from 50-Cycles in Loughborough about August 2009. I also bought a spare battery at the same time. The bike is a leisure rather than commuting bike, and I tend to use it only between April and October. I estimate that I use it about 60 days a year, doing at least 30 miles on each of those days. My "bread and butter" rides are in the Derbyshire Peak District; hills included, not just the flatter ex-railway trails. I always aim to fully discharge the "working" battery by the end of the ride. (I nearly always carry the other battery as a just-in-case back-up.) I fully recharge the discharged battery on my return home and also recharge the other if I've had to use it. On the next ride I use the latter battery and repeat the process, thus cycling their use. Generally, I try to use the lowest assist as much as possible, particularly in the first half of the ride. I use the two higher assist modes for steeper hills and when I'm kn******d. To get to the point: the batteries still provide me with plenty of charge after 10 years. I (hopefully) attach a recent, slightly shorter than usual route that I did using a bit less than one full battery charge; deliberately running the battery down on higher assist on the return up the Manifold Trail. p.s. The bike is showing its age now. I don't bother locking it up when I pop into a cafe, shop or pub; just make sure I have any valuables, including the car keys and battery key! MRG_Cycle_Route_22April.pdf

SK11 8** 2009 Kalkhoff Pro Connect

First of all, many thanks to the contributors to this site that helped me to decide to invest in an e-bike in June this year. It wasn't bought for commuting. The bike is an indulgence and a way of getting into the Peak District from home in Macclesfield without using the car. In the past, I would never have considered doing the distances on a bike I have done over the last few months. So it really has been an enjoyable new experience (for a 53 year-old). Here's an example of a good day's ride (my favourite so far) on the Pro Connect: bikehike.co.uk - Course Creator 4514 ft of ascent! This trip uses about a battery and a quarter: since I try to ride under human power much of the time; keeping the motor for the steeper bits over Axe Edge and Morridge between Cheshire and Staffordshire and when I'm getting a bit tired towards the end of the ride. I feel rather superior hammering down the High Peak/Tissington Trail under pure leg-power, passing cyclists who have mostly driven there. Unfortunately no one on a bike has challenged me, sayng "that's cheating", when I've already spent a couple of hours or so on the saddle from home. I feel cheated I haven't changed anything apart from putting on pannier bags. The gearing is of course a bit of a pain on the level or downhill, but is OK for the kind of hills I tackle. Though I rarely use first gear. I can't really provide a proper review because this is the first e-bike I've owned. However, if you are a-lurking this site and wondering whether or what to buy, like I did, then I say to you do it soon in time to enjoy spring and summer 2010 on your new e-bike. You won't regret getting a Pro Connect. I haven't

Adam, Have you still got the bike or sold it?