Hi

 

My trip to work is about 7.5 miles each way but i do shower when i get there.

 

The bike will always do a round trip without issue and there is still power left in the battery (14Ah) but i charge it after each round trip anyway.

 

For your route where there is a lot of hill climbing, i am sure a Wisper would be great. Its on flat roads where they run out of puff, as i am sure most e-bikes do that i have my issues.

 

I see you are up in Aberdeen ... so am i ... get in touch and perhaps i can let you have a run on my bike.

 

Cheers

 

Gordon

 

Gordon, My run is from Kingswells to Bridge of Don so its hills all the way, I work in portlethen at the mo so cycling from kwells not really an option for me, but from Monday we're in bridge of don.

 

Do you find the weight of the wisper an issue? The cytronex is tempting because its so much lighter.

I dont have a weight comparison but no i dont find it an issue.

I do Aberdeen close to ARI Hospital (Home) to Westhill (Work).

Its very open on the cycle path so you get quite a lot of wind , especialy kingswells to westhill.

 

A Wisper would eat the hill from Haudegen to BOD no problem.

It wouldnt be too fast but compared to a normal bike you wouldnt break sweat. Its ideal for that type of run.

You've got a great commute there. I was hoping for a move to westhill with work but no such luck, i wouldn't even need a motor for that. when you say slow on the hill, how slow are we talking? I'm hoping for a 45 minute commute max each way!

http://i44.tinypic.com/bik9y.jpg

 

I've just input my route into the google profile tool to show how hilly it is, basically I won't be on the flat at all! This is the journey to work so you can see my homeward journey is mostly uphill, but I'm allowed to sweat a little on my way home!

 

Maybe the wisper will be better for this amount off hill work?

 

Hi Enceladus,

Wisper are a very good reliable bikes and have an impressive range to, Have you thought about a crank drive system on the bike instead of a hub motor?

There are many different variations of electric bikes available to buy, such as different watt hub motors and 2 fairly similar crank drive systems the Yamaha and the Panasonic & different battery options.

Some people prefer hub to crank and vice versa. The crank drive systems are very good for their hill climbing ability; I have personally ridden one of our Gepida bikes up a 200m stretch of road going up a hill of 33% I am not a poetically fit person and had tried to ride a normal bike up only managing 10 meters or so before I thought this was a waste of time and decided to push the bike up the hill. Riding the Gepida was the first time I knew I could reach the top.

I would recommend trying as many different bikes you can to see which one will fit the bill best.

Thanks Aiden,

 

Are there any Gepida stockists in or near Aberdeen? I'm struggling to find anyone stocking the big brands! There was a cycle shop in Ellon with Wisper apparently, but the number is 'not recognised' when I call it which sounds bad.

 

Edinburgh bicycle cooperative has a shop in Aberdeen but the only electric bike they stock is the gocycle and this is not at all what I am after!

We to are currently looking for a retailer in Scotland to resell our bikes! I am sure there are some out there but just trying to find the right ones.

It may be worth spending a weekend at the tour de Presteigne in Wales were you will be able to test ride lots of different bikes. The show / event is on the 8th & 9th May

Just done a profile for my current commute (on a Wisper 905SE Sport)

 

http://www.consortium.plus.com/images/profile.png

 

(The bit around 2 to 5 miles should be flat as its on the beach)

 

The Wisper copes very well with these hills which while shorter, look of a similar gradient to yours. I usually plough up the hills at between 9 and 11 mph, no throttle (pedelec sensor only), in first or 2nd putting in about as much effort as I would on the flat...

Edited April 7, 201016 yr by z0mb13e

When I go my first E bike is was for help on the hills and then I realised just how nice it is on the flat to be able to get along at a good rate. What I`m trying to say is you will probably find that you use some amount of assistance everywhere so maybe keep that in mind when making your choice.

When I go my first E bike is was for help on the hills and then I realised just how nice it is on the flat to be able to get along at a good rate. What I`m trying to say is you will probably find that you use some amount of assistance everywhere so maybe keep that in mind when making your choice.

 

 

That's definitely true for most e-bikes, but if you are reasonably fit it is not so applicable to the Cytronex. The Synapse is a fantastic bike in it's own right. Get a standard wheel at the same time and you can swap it out ina matter of seconds, remove the battery, and you have a 10kg Cannondale flatbar roadbike which is the puppy's parts. I also love my Ezee I hasten to add, but they are worlds apart.

The 250 cycles quoted for the battery is very conservative IMHO

mine are still going strong after several 000 miles

ps get the faster wheel though

so a cytronex with the 195rpm wheel would come highly recommended then? I'm not too unfit, I'm 34 and do a wee bit o jogging. I would really like to get a cytronex as the fact it really looks like a normal bike appeals. Budget-wise maybe should go with the urban 500 - whats the downside of this compared to the synapse?

I haven't ridden the Claud Butler, and I have nothing against it, but the Synapse is an awesome bike. When I first got mine, I bought a Ridgeback for the Wife. All was fine until I let her have a go on mine. I would not have heard the end of it if I hadn't go e back to Mark and done p/ex deal ( he was very good about it).

From what you have said about your age and fitness levels, I would urge you to try one. They really are in a class of their own for the right rider. The Tiagra groupset is superb. I'm not knocking the alternatives, it's just that you sound the sort of rider that would appreciate one of these fully.

I haven't ridden the Claud Butler, and I have nothing against it, but the Synapse is an awesome bike. When I first got mine, I bought a Ridgeback for the Wife. All was fine until I let her have a go on mine. I would not have heard the end of it if I hadn't go e back to Mark and done p/ex deal ( he was very good about it).

From what you have said about your age and fitness levels, I would urge you to try one. They really are in a class of their own for the right rider. The Tiagra groupset is superb. I'm not knocking the alternatives, it's just that you sound the sort of rider that would appreciate one of these fully.

 

How about on a commute against the wind and in the sort of conditions that you get up in the north of Scotland?

OK, I know I`m probably getting near the end of my unpowered cycling life but I do also have a superb evans MTB that I`ve fitted with a Alien conversion and when the weather is not in my favour I turn on the power and the smile comes back on my face and remember something like the alien battery has at least 30 miles of superb power in it as I punch it along over 20mph easily. When the weather and wind is in my favour i just turn off the power and there is negligable drag.

Not trying to sway you but there is a big difference in cost but the main thing is that you get a powerful motor and battery that is as good as anything when you need it and almost as good as a decent MTB when you don`t.

The original post was

 

"My situation is that I'm looking to use my commute to my company's new (and closer to my home) office to improve my fitness. The journey is roughly 8.5 miles each way but does involve some long hill climbs. Also I have to arrive at work not in need of a shower, hence, I'm looking at the electric option so that I get a cycle but I'm not absolutely shattered when I get to the office.

 

Ideally I would like a bike that in appearance and experience rides like a road bike and is not completely ugly! I intend to be peddling most of the way in combination with the motor."

 

I still think that the Cytronex system is the closest alignment to the stated requirements. I also think that age is an important factor here. I accept that the Cytronex system is not a panacea, but it is a good solution for 30/40 somethings looking to get an e-bike. I take issue with the implication that the system somehow can't 'cut-it' with other systems. If you match the system to the intended user, quite simply, it can.

 

I can get up a 25% hill on a 175rpm Cytronex, even with it's 'measly' 180w. I have a dual batteried, derestricted 350w Bafang-equipped Ezee that I can't. The weight of the bike together with the lack of sufficient gearing doesn't so much defeat me, it makes it easier to walk it.

 

You have to factor in the willingness/ability of the rider and the overall weight of the bike. Strong headwinds are equally easily overcome. As for flat -out speed, see e-tim's 50+mph club.

 

I appreciate that this forum is intended to cater for a wide range of ages/views, but with requirements expressed so clearly, dogma-induced advice is surely impolitic?

 

Last I checked, Evans were a retailer, not manufacturer of bikes, so a comment like 'I do also have a superb evans MTB' is a bit short on substance?

 

Out of interest what is the total weight of an Alien conversion kit?

Trek!

 

The other thread on the Trek Valencia has brought that bike to my attention - I had no idea trek did e-bikes. Anyway, as luck would have it there is a trek dealer in Aberdeen so this could be my opportunity to try out a bike. Does anyone know the range of these trek bikes, the website says on level 3 power assist, a 20 mile range is realsitic but I'm really not sure how this would relate to my commute. I noted flecc was unsure of the battery pack trek are using as opposed to the bionx one.

You've got a great commute there. I was hoping for a move to westhill with work but no such luck, i wouldn't even need a motor for that. when you say slow on the hill, how slow are we talking? I'm hoping for a 45 minute commute max each way!

 

Similar trip 8.3 miles each way - hills most the way - one charge - 33 - 45 mins journey- no problem. Long steep hill on return journey about 10mph sitting down. Never had to take the bike back to Winchester. Cracking support from Cytronex.

It is a bionx battery as it is on the bionx website. Range would be difficult to workout for your journey as I suspect you might just get a return journey initially but it would be tight and probably better to budget for a spare charger and charge both ways - better for the battery that way. I Still think you should test ride a wisper as it may also be suitable or or course more suitable if you don't want the hassle of charging each way. Choices, choices eh!

 

Ps I think the Cytronex is a cracking bike but the tongxin motor cannot compete against the bionx for reliability. There are less moving parts and there is no getting away from the fact that the tongxin's freewheel is quite fragile. I agree you get fantastic support from Winchester but the guarantee while gold plated, is for a only for a year.

Edited April 7, 201016 yr by HarryB

It still wouldn't put me off though. A reasonable cyclist on a Cytronex could probably do the journey with a couple of miles assist to spare easy. I did on Sunday and Monday. A regular journey like that for a "youngster" would soon take the strain off the battery. I'm 55 and lacking horse/leg power.

I can't argue about the great Bionx or the Wisper and it's range but if I were making the choice and buying a complete bike I'd still go Cytronex.

 

That said, if I was going to use the bike 5 days a week (with no backup) in all weathers and riding fully kitted up with baggage and all the bells and whistles I'd be looking for something with greatest reliabilty and a bigger battery.

Edited April 7, 201016 yr by Barnowl

I take issue with the implication that the system somehow can't 'cut-it' with other systems. If you match the system to the intended user, quite simply, it can.

Well, if you take into consideration my age then in a way I`m probably in a better position to judge just how much help something like an alien kit gives me(your younger legs might disguise that)

I can get up a 25% hill on a 175rpm Cytronex, even with it's 'measly' 180w. I have a dual batteried, derestricted 350w Bafang-equipped Ezee that I can't.

Perhaps that`s not saying much for the Ezee?

 

 

I appreciate that this forum is intended to cater for a wide range of ages/views, but with requirements expressed so clearly, dogma-induced advice is surely impolitic?

And your advice is the best, aye! unusual choice of words! your not a politician are you?

 

Last I checked, Evans were a retailer, not manufacturer of bikes, so a comment like 'I do also have a superb evans MTB' is a bit short on substance?

My Evans is more than 20 years old and as far as I remember they were making frames back then and for sure i chose all the kit to go on it.

Out of interest what is the total weight of an Alien conversion kit?

 

Not sure what the weight is (I`ll take it down to our local greengrocers and stick it on the scales:D

 

Please don`t run away with the idea that younger people like yourself have all the answers. I was riding fixed wheel bikes for up to 100miles a day all over the country in my late teens probably when you were just a twinkle in your dads eyes;)

 

It might be correct that I`m not in any position to give advice because at the age of 30-40 I would be riding unassisted anyway.

 

Anyway! chill out man these are only suggestions and the guy will make his own decision in the end but if he reads all the advice he will take that with him when he tries out a few bikes and hopefully make the right choice for himself.

I can however understand why when someone finds something that fits the bill for them they can get carried away with enthusiasm wanting everyone else to join the club.

 

Take Care

i do like how my e-bike mates up there in the old country still have a bit of passion left in their collective souls for a spirited e-bike debate:D

I really appreciate all the advice given and I can see how passionate you guys are about the subject matter! I'm thinking about everything thats been said, and hopefully I'll make the best decision for my needs. I realise my personal fitness is a big part of it and none of you can know how fit I am, hell I don't even really know what I'll be like cycling to work every day!

 

I see the Wisper as the option for those days when I maybe don't have the energy and this bike could carry me more. It seems the cytronex and trek bikes would demand a lot more of my energy, but they would still be more than capable of transporting me with not too much effort both ways as although hilly the slopes don't go much more than 5% max. Now its really down to me to decide arrggh.

 

On a budget basis it would have to be the Wisper as it comes with all the trimmings I need (mudguards) which I'd have to pay extra for on the cytronex.

 

On the dealer/customer service front it'b be the trek as it seems the only bike I can buy in Aberdeen.

 

For power/capacity it would be the wisper again.

 

For elegance, ride/looks like a normal bike, lightness it would have to be the cytronex.

hey. if you want a good looking "normal" bike check out the pic of my blue bionx cannondale! (boast i know but i'm a proud owner)

 

I see the Wisper as the option for those days when I maybe don't have the energy and this bike could carry me more. It seems the cytronex and trek bikes would demand a lot more of my energy, but they would still be more than capable of transporting me with not too much effort both ways as although hilly the slopes don't go much more than 5% max. Now its really down to me to decide arrggh.

 

A lot of us have faced similar problems and solved them by buying both! At one time I had three e-bikes, and Aldby in this forum has had so many that none of us have been able to keep count.

.

an excellent point: choose everything good on the menu. seriously- that's why on my trip to the UK i want to try out a crank-motor system. have something different in reserve

Hey, oldtimer, I can't be bothered to cut and paste (it is so much more difficult on a smartphone), but I enjoyed your response to my post:-)

No, I'm not a politician, just mischievious ...

:D :D

Hey, oldtimer, I can't be bothered to cut and paste (it is so much more difficult on a smartphone), but I enjoyed your response to my post:-)

No, I'm not a politician, just mischievious ...