Steve Hall

I like the middle big cogg and the smallest back, even on the hills, it seems to give me more power on asssit No 5 I can really move upthe hills. Due to my weight and the lack of excersise over the years, I get tired quick and then find myself moving up the rear coggs. Would I be better at that point, instead of moving up the rear coggs to drop down a centre cogg?

I wonder what happened to my new found friend Artstu, he hasn't posted today. He was guiding me along with choosing some excellent gears. I am still struggling getting used to these things, 21 gears and I have only used three or four, today I moved two far down the change and the chain came off; although it was very easy to put back on, I just can't get the hang of them.

Thank you Flecc, I also looked at one of those KTM's, that is one quality looking bike. If only I could stick to an hobby for more than 1 month.

Why do you think I am so fat, there's only so many egg and chips one can eat. Really though, this bike exercise is doing me some real good. A girl in the office said, 'It looks like you have lost some weight'... Hey...so what's going on here then, she never noticed me bofore...I wonder if I am in there...Ha Ha Ha... finally after 25 years, the wife has competition.

Since I am now to ring the insurance company to check for cover on exploding batteries. I wonder if my insurance will also cover me for the explosions the wife makes with this bowl problem of hers. .. Anyone know any good bike insurance places?

Replies to all who posted with regards to our batteries, thank you, I am going to buy a wall socket timer. I now know it takes about 4.5 hours to charge the battery, so each time I plug to charge I will set the timer to switch off at the wall socket after five hours. To be on the safe side, I will also tell the local fire brigade and warn the wife.

What about the bottle battery? It says in my maunual to leave it on charge whenever you are not on the bike. Will this harm the battery? If its a problem why don't they just make a charger that cuts out when the green light comes on??

I am pleased you mentioned that, have you seen those bullet like compressed air capsules they sell on the net? Do they work?

You can have some of my fat if you want it... a fat transplant, I wonder if thats possible...emm

I think you get a lot of pleasure from this forum though, so that makes up for what you miss out on.

I was joking, you would need to look back over my posts about snobbery to get the joke. Anyhow, I actually admire you adapting so well without a car, buses or taxi. Do you use the Kalkhoff to do all the towing? How is it on the hills?

You could order your food from Tesco Direct, there's a snob who lives across the road from me who does that. Maybe she's not a snob, I think I saw a Tesco bike getting delivered one day.

I work in prosection in the ticket issue section and thanks to you lot on here taking up all my time today, I have only issued 3 into Court. Also, thanks to you Flecc, Artsu and all the others, I now know more about electric bikes and trailers than anyone else in this building. It's home time for me now, another day complete.

I will second that, I had no idea the reasons behind why people on here buy the high end products, I now know why. Snobs the lot of ya, ha ha

I thought people bought electric bikes because they struggle getting up the hills and want to get fitter. I didn't even realise until the last few days that people actually buy these bikes for other reasons. I thought this site was for wealthy unfit snobs who bought expensive toys to help them along. That's why I bought the bike and set out to inform people they can get fit on budget and don't need to spend a fortune. I still haven't grasped it though, I can't understand, if you lot on here are actually fit enough to cycle, then why don't you just buy a top end road cycle?

You mean I have to keep dieting for the rest of my life, the doctor never said that, he said when I get to 14 stone he will be happy. Damn, wait until I next see him.

I have a Smart fortwo. No doubt you all know that Smart actually make an e bike, or have someone in Germany making them for them. I have had a little ride, they are alright but I felt its paying more for the design than the actual product. It's quality built, they have done their research, probably sat reading what Flecc had to say for months before deciding to market one and then they went and got it wrong. Perhaps you should have given them some marketing tips Flecc. Basically Smart have a low end Fortwo and a High end Fortwo car known as the Brabus. They have done the same with the bike, they have launched the low end e bike with a 200 watt motor and fairly average spec so they can later launch the high end Brabus. They haven't done their market research that well though, pricing the bike at £2500 is in the same price bracket up there with the top end electrics, and it's not difficult to work out that if you are into electric bikes, you will not buy a Smart when the high end boys have a proven track record. I am not sure they have sold any, I haven't seen one that someone actually bought on the road or you tube.

I didn't have you in the Snob category Flecc, before I purchased my bike I browsed many threads on here and I actually think your input should receive a commendation. You appear to have helped hundreds with answers to their questions, are very knowledgably and I for one feel I can trust what you have to say. Again you have clearly pointed out why the mistrust in lower market products exists and I can understand this. Although, batteries and other parts are readily available on most internet shopping sites. Just in case the supplier suddenly disappeared, I checked before my purchase if I could buy batteries etc from other places, that is something that anyone buying the lower end products should do. If they are to buy low end products, people need to factor in that they may have no warranty as such and might need to buy more parts. That's why I said in an earlier post, I could buy parts for the next 5 years and I doubt I would spend £2500 that I would spend on a high end bike. I also doubt I will be riding at the end of the summer, I do get fed up with hobbies fairly quickly and my aim is to get fit again, so if I spent £2500 it would be just a waste of money. If I am still interested by the end of the summer, who knows I may find myself upgrading, I doubt it will be to another electric bike. If I am fit enough it will be a normal pedal bike, what the point in having assistance if I don't need it. I will not however, knock anyone for wanting to get fit and buying whatever bike they can afford to do it.

Snobbery is not a swear word and no offence is intended, it simply means that people believe that their product is better than everyone else's and they have the best. If you are to have a forum about e bikes, then it should be an unbiased view about all e bikes. There is nothing wrong with you or anyone else stating that you can buy high end products and you happen to have one and it works well. That's fine. But I have read on here people knocking the lower end of the market like it is just total rubbish; simply because they own a high end bike, to me that is clear brand name snobbery. I also like German products, I have a German car and boiler and many other German products that are all excellent. I would not say that my next door neighbours Citreon car is worse than mine though, it gets her to work every day and it hasn't yet let her down in the past 8 years.

Sorry to all for the mix up, I have re read the posts and I am now back on track. The gears... Could I purchase a 26" wheel with the gears attached, so I can dump my wheel. I have a front wheel motor. Or is the only option to buy the better bikes with these high end gears already fitted?

Excellent post, I must add like I have said in the past, some people have short hobbies, they join a Gym and go for a few weeks and end up with a monthly subscription left to pay. For those type of people buying the cheaper end and upgrading later if they are not fed up and have left their bike in the shed for a year, is the best option. Sales men on here should understand this and try encourage a better approach.

Sorry, I am at work, so I wasn't on the ball, got it now. Going for lunch now, I shall return later to chat more about those excellent looking gears.

Not sure, Artsu could answer this for he owns a Woosh

I think I follow this, do you not have the three, five, six coggs on the bike? or is it the motor that changes the gears like on a car etc. Or is this shown in the picture not the motor and just the gear section of the bike? Sorry, if I sound a little thick, but I am not sure I have got this concept.

The Woosh looks like a superb bike, I can't understand why you are considering the extra expense of the Rose. Like I said though, if it's that the bike you want then go for it. On this Pedelec site you've got to be careful and try not to fall for all this brand name snobbery. Ask yourself what you want the bike to do, from what I guess, a commute to work every day is not something you will use the bike for. If its leisurely trips down the canal towpath at a steady MPH to improve your fitness, you don't need the Rose for that. I also like German brands, Since passing my test, setting aside the first starter cars, I drove Mercedes E class vehicles, however, when my family grew up and left home, I didn't need a family car, so I bought 2 Mercedes Smart cars, one for the wife and one for me. Why, because that's all I need and can't see the point in driving to work and back carrying three additional empty seats. If the Germans did a budget bike, I would buy one, they, to the best of my knowledge don't do a budget bike. I do agree with people on here that Germans make really good products and I can also understand why people on here rave about them. However, they are not for everyone, unless you get a very honest person, they will try make you buy an expensive bike when I don't think you really need to. For what you do, to keep fit and enjoy life, you have the best bike for the situation.