echowind

Went to the Spezi 2009 special bike show in Germany. Tried out quite a few electric bicycles for a few hours. Good experience, saved me a wad of money since I wasn't really impressed by most of them. Decided to wait a few years untill the technology improves and my body does the opposite. Bikes that stood out head and shoulders above the rest were the Swiss flyer and some bionx powered bike, the bionx just shaded it on build quality and ride. The heinzmanns were dull and noisey and the pro connects disapointing. Perhaps they were bad examples. A shaft driven german bike rode better than I thought. This was my first experience of riding electric bicycles.

I concur Flec. Style over substance drives bicycle design for the public.

The member with the big apple fetish is me. I agree flec the marathon plus does have a little better puncture protection. But I doubt its that much better. however I do feel that big apples are the best commuting tyre currently available. They roll faster than just about any other tyre and ride quality is vastly improved due to their inbuilt suspension, this is possible because of the wide air cushion and their ability to roll well at low pressures/ a godsend on a bike like the pro connect with no suspension. Having commuted and toured 1000's of miles on big apples for the last 2 years I have yet to endure a single puncture. only fly in the ointment being these tyres are not yet available in 700cc.

I guess the answer who knows unless it's dismantled.

just rang them, they said its a typing error, the motor is brushed

I thought it was a brushless motor, there was a discussion about the drag/cogging, i think i will give them a call.

According to the new brochure {electric transport shop.com} the Synergie Mistral has a brushless motor. Is this correct?

It's a great bike Echowind, but I wouldn't buy it just for the last 10 miles. Apart from anything else, you would have to carry the weight of battery + motor for the previous 90! You could just plan to ride 10 miles less....... Fitness isn't just about miles chris, its about time in the saddle weather conditions and effort. All electric bikes are capable of 10 miles plus, but most of them would be a nightmare to ride any serious distance. I don't spare myself or the horses when I go out, its the just the way I'm made.

I read about this bike with some interest. At a push I can ride a conventional bike 100 miles in a day. So what the hell do I want an electric bike for. Well I have this terrible chronic condition, that no matter how fit I become, it always seems to get me. I call this condition "The 10 miles from hell to home syndrome". An electric bike that looks and rides like an ordinary one could be the answer I have been looking for. The jury is out on the reliability and after sales service, I hope it's as good as it seems to be by the opinions stated, so i can purchase one relatively worry free.

The premium edition nexus 8 used to have a thin red line around the hub. the earlier edition was dropped because it was heaver, less well sealed and didn't have roller/needle type bearings.

Yes more dealers required and quickly. I don't see it as negative at all, just an observation of the current state of affairs. Nothing that saves me money is negative. I like to hear the views of others even when they don't agree with mine. Outside the sun is out, the sky is blue and the wind is sleeping. Ideal cycling weather. too bad I'm stuck in the house recovering from nasal surgery. An electric bike right now would be just the thing for me, my stitches wouldn't bust open while climbing and grunting up that steep hill out of town.

When a business fails to produce/provide there is something seriously wrong. On that basis I have decided not to purchase a kalhoff pro connect until there is a choice of dealers. The whole show is quite frankly an embarrassment. This forum is highly informative in this matter and has saved me a great deal of time , money and teeth gnashing. I hope when they finally do arrive that the zen like patience of the customers is rewarded. The quest for a reasonable electric bike combined with a dealer worth their salt goes on.

Regarding the biologic seat post pump, I have one on one of my Dahons'. The pump works very well, the only downside is that a design fault allows it to slip down when you hit bumps, I bodged mine with a few bits of blue tack to keep it in place.

Thanks for the advice everyone:) much to contemplate

With all the fencing with blunt spoons going on within the electric bicycle industry at the moment, I am more confused than ever about which bike to chose. I haven't yet noticed anyone breaking out pitch forks and storming the castle over Powercycle's range of bikes. Perhaps I should take a closer look at The Salisbury. I know they aren't the ne plus ultra of bikes, but are they reliable combined with a decent after sales service?

my choice would be schwalbe big apples, unsurpassed for comfort/handling/rolling resistance, and pretty puncture proof too.

My hub geared bikes are used for commuting to work in all weathers. I hammer down really hard on the peddles, up to 30mph on the flat. I found the nexus 7, which seems to be constructed out of eggshells to be an imperfect solution. So far the much improved 8 speed version has resisted for 3 years my attempts to grind it into fish paste.

The nexus 7 speed has always been problematic, only the nexus 8 speed premium and Alfine are worth considering. Since Cannondale use these 8 speed hubs on some of their commuting bikes, long term reliability should be ok.

I agree, forums shouldn't be obnoxious places. However it would also strangle free speech if everyone held the same view. human nature can have a tendency to label someone who doesn't hold the same opinion as our own as the bad guy.

The premium nexus hub gear has a red line around the hub. Until quite recently some naughty bicycle manufacturers have been using the old version. Halfords to their credit used the premium version on their carrera. For the last two years just after Christmas they have reduced the price of the carrera subway8 from over £400 to a bargain £279 and that includes the shimano roller brakes.

Regarding big apple tyres. I have rode over two years on mine without a single puncture. I ride aggressively and really pound the peddles. If these tyres had been found wanting in any way, it probably would have occurred by now. Part of their secret regarding comfort and performance is that big apples still roll well at a relatively low psi of only 35.

The event looks like great fun, I wouldn't wear a helmet either, it will be interesting to see who wins.

In my experience the best all round commuting tyre by far is the 2 inch/50 Schwalbe big apple. It improves the ride and handling on any bike it is fitted to, and it rolls faster than most narrower tyres. Unfortunately I don't think they yet do it in 700cc.

I would add Big apple tyres if the bike had 26 or 20" wheels. its the biggest single difference you can do to improve the ride, handling and stability of a commuting type bicycle. Pity these tyres don't come in 700c.

I have the nexus inter 8 premium, there are no neutral gears, if that happens the hub is way out of adjustment and much unpleasant crunching of the gears will follow. Direct drive..least friction is gear 5.