Tuesday, 20 August 2013
Saturday, 17 August 2013
I was getting sick of my daily commute on public transport - Electric Bike Store
by Miss Bradshaw
(South London)
I initially decided to buy an electric bike because I was getting sick of my daily commute on public transport. I’d been doing the same journey for 5 years and I felt it was time for a change. Another reason for buying the bike was because I live up the top of a steep hill and although I wanted to cycle to work I didn’t fancy struggling to get up it on a normal bike, especially if I have a bag with me. The Burlington gets me up it without even breaking a sweat, I couldn’t be happier with my decision to buy this fantastic bike.
The first time I came across an electric bike was at an Eco festival in central London and I was very interested so I started to do some research online. I looked at various websites and researched them quite a lot, at first I found all the information quite confusing but then I came across the Electric Bike Store and decided to give them a call.
They were extremely helpful and answered all my questions so I decided to book a test ride. At this point I was still unsure of what bike I wanted but when I arrived at the shop I fell in love with the Volt Burlington.
It’s a lovely classic look with a leather seat and handlebar grips and is very comfortable. Another thing I really liked was the fact that it didn’t look like what I thought an electric bike would look like - in fact most people who see it don’t even realise it’s electric.
I was very happy with the service I received and I’m very happy with my electric bike. I would recommend the Electric Bike Store to anyone who wants an electric bike.
Best Electric Bike Websites Awards
Most of the most relevant, high-quality electric bikes websites and webpages are linked to from within the guides, but here’s still a list of websites who really stand out as great electric bike resources.
Electric Bike Report
What We Like: Electric Bike Report is an blog run by American, Pete Prebus. Regular posts with reviews, guides and videos too. 
Electric Bicycle World Tour Blog
What We Like: The story and account of Guim Valls Teruel who is cycling around the world, spanning five continents on an electric bike, to help promote their benefits. His blog shows his latest updates, as well as a map so you can track his progress around the world. 
Pedelecs Forum
What We Like: In the UK, there’s no bigger, friendlier and knowledgable community than the Pedelecs Forum. Its particularly good for getting brief technical advice quickly, and support if you’re trying to try electric bike conversion. An excellent, active forum that's free to join. 
Electric Bike Magazine
What We Like: Electric Bike Mag are the “go to” place for thorough reviews by professional cycling journalists. The Electric Bike Magazine, also available in print, is an offshoot of Velovision, an established UK cycling magazine. 
LEVA Assocation
What We Like: The Light Electric Vehicle Associate are very good at educating their members, and outside visitors about the LEV market, and how they can best position themselves in it. There's a great range of powerpoints and notes from industry experts worth looking at. 
A to B Magazine
What We Like: Being another magazine publisher, they’re in the business making great, editorial content. We especially like their buyers guide, consisting of just lots of concise bike reviews for you to get a brief overview of what electric bikes are out there. 
Extra Energy
What We Like: Extra Energy is a German non-profitorganization that tests dozens of electric bikes out for their publications. In terms of technical detail, nothing else comes close. 
Electric Bikee Blog
What We Like: Their often daily news coverage of the electric bike industry, reviews and other helpful articles. 
ElectricBike.com
Return from Best Electric Bike Websites Awards to Electric Bikes Experts and read the full story...
We’re constantly trying to make this resource better - if you’ve got some better suggestions of websites we could include here, use the form below. But to keep this list short, neat, exclusive and easy for the reader - we’re limiting it to only a few entries. That’s why, if you’re going to suggest something, you need to tell us what you reckon your suggestion should replace.
Ease of use and a thrill to ride, especially when you have a heart probem
by Ken
(Bury St Edmunds Suffolk UK)
I have been a cyclist all my life and have several good road bikes. However on 8th August last year as I cyclist swiftly homeward a sudden slight pain in my chest meant I covered the last 2 miles carefully.
To cut the story short next day my doctor got me started on a treatment plan and told me I could no longer cycle. This was the worst moment of my life. Browsing the internet after seeing someone on an electric bike I finished up buying a Cyclematic Powerplus E bike and my cycling life started again.
It is truly a wonderful feeling to still be able to pedal and cover the ground at up to 17-20 miles an hour with the minimum of effort. Not strictly allowable according to the dctor but I am determined to keep going.
I bought the Cyclematic Power Plus on 25 August 2011 and received it within 2 days. Easy to put together and easy to ride. So far I have covered 700 miles with a regular 8.5 miles weekly 5 day commute plus some rides out at weekends. It has worked well with never a problem even in very wet and windy weather.
Only one puncture so far but this was in the back wheel and there my problem happened. I could not figure out how to take out the back wheel as I did not want to damage anything.
Sports HQ, the supplier, said just unplug the electric cable which feeds into the back axel and the wheel would come out. NOT so simple! You can certainly remove the black plug cover but are then faced with wires feeding into the hollowed out axel. Sports HQ said you can disconnect the cable at a point where it is fastened to the chain stay.
However, I could see that even then something would need to be done to disconnect the rear drum brake and it is not clear how to do this. I was able to mend the puncture as there is plenty of room to take the tyre off the wheel and extract the tube. I could also find the thorn which had punctured the tyre and seal the hole.
My question now is does anyone know how to safely take off the wheel as I would like to change the tyre to one with a Kevlar puncture repellent strip. Believe me it would be no fun trying to mend a puncture at the side of the road on a dark and wet night. I much prefer to just put a new tube in and mend the puncture later.
Comments and help please.
I was recommended by a Doctor to consider buying an electric bike - Electric Bike Store
by Mrs Elsby
(Cornwall)
I have had a recent operation on my foot and I was recommended by a Doctor to consider buying an electric bike to rehabilitate it. The Volt Pulse does the job perfectly allowing me to use the assist on the long big hills in Cornwall to rest my foot but also giving me a good work out when I choose to.
I spoke to a lot of bike shops and some were positively disinterested bordering on rude I eventually got in touch with the Electric Bike Store because I saw one of their bikes online and really liked the look of it and they we’re a joy to deal with. I picked up my Volt Pulse on Saturday morning and I couldn’t be happier with the product.
It is without doubt the best looking electric bike I have ever seen and the most lightweight. The bike is well built and solid, looks more expensive than it is and rides like a normal bike. The pedal assist is just wonderful feeling like someone is giving you a hand up the hills.
I needed a bike that would go on cycle trails and this does give a seamless ride from road to trail. I intend to go out with my husband and 2 grown up kids that all ride serious racing road bikes and also cyclocross, they ride for 20-40 miles and this will allow me to do that without any problem.
They have all had a go on the Volt Pulse and are so jealous, my son and husband are thinking of getting one to commute to work instead of arriving sweating and exhausted on their road bikes!!
Excellent service, from my first enquiring phone call to collection of the bike you have been an absolute pleasure to do business with. Very friendly and professional throughout the whole service. I could not be more happy with both your company and product.
Used Electric Bike | 5 Reasons Why You Should Be Cautious Buying Second Hand
If you want to save a penny or three and buy a used electric bike, there are a few important issues you must be aware of. Simply to keep your wallet safe and save you from any unnecessary expense in the future, take care to read this article fully and pick up the key points.
There are several problems with buying used goods:
• You don’t know its history
• You don’t necessarily know the seller
• You don’t know why they’re selling it
• You don’t necessarily have the support, warrantees and services you get buying new
• You don’t know how much to pay
Now these issues may be pretty harmless if someone’s put an old book or DVD on Amazon and someone else buys it, but with a second hand electric bike the issues become much more serious with more complicated and expensive consequences, possibly.
Suppose a seller is getting rid of their electric bike because the motor doesn’t work well, its warrantee is expired and they’ve no other solution but to sell it - you just don’t know.
So here’s a simple checklist to get help you when you’re buying a used electric bike.
If you’re buying online or over the phone, try and do it via eBay or something similar. eBay for example has numerous buyer protection policies in place to keep your purchases safe. You can use payment services like PayPal, look at seller feedback and make a much better judgment of the seller overall.
Avoid using online classifieds directories. Those sites are best for trading commodities and exchanging cash-on-collection which isn’t suitable for something like an electric bike. You need the support structure there
If you can pick up a used electric bike at your local bike shop, by all means go for it. Since they’re local, you can always go around and quiz them about any problems you may encounter. That’s their job afterall!
On eBay for example, you have the opportunity to ask the seller a question. If they haven’t posted information about the bikes past (don’t despair – most eBay sellers fail to include the basics) then don’t hesitate to ask.
Also find out why they’re selling it. Some people will simply be upgrading to another model, or selling because they don’t use their electric bicycle enough, or even because they don’t like it. Don’t be afraid to ask!
This one’s quite tricky with used items. That’s why the eBay online auction format has and always will do so well since the price the item is sold for always reflects demand from the whole world. That said, there are a couple of buyers tricks to get cheaper goods based on the simply laws of supply and demand.
You want to find auctions ending outside of peak times; evenings, weekends and bank holidays. If someone has put up a listing that ends first thing in the morning mid-week for example, you stand a better chance of getting a good price than if it’s on a Saturday evening.
Similarly, if you search for slightly more obscure phrases and look at more items in a category (perhaps investigating poor descriptions more that other buyers might ignore – again, don’t be afraid to contact the seller) and look at every item listed. You never know; it could save you hundreds of pounds.
If you’re not dealing in a safe and secure online auction, get them to name a price. Keep in mind an approximate figure for what a new model would cost and try and gauge whether or not it’s a good price from that. Be prepared to negotiate a little...
Negotiation 101: It’s about creating a WIN-WIN situation!
Both parties negotiating are trying to get the best for themselves. Don’t confront each other over demands; instead work with each other to come up with a proposal both sides are happy with.
Consider the ‘other guys’ point of view. What does he or she want? A good price? A no-hassles buyer? A peaceful agreement?
Also consider what concession he may be likely to make; could you get a bicycle helmet thrown in with the deal?
It’s all about the WIN-WIN!
And about payments – don’t use Western Union, bank transfer or any untraceable and irreversible online or offline payment systems. Don’t use cheques if you’re collecting in person; it doesn’t present yourself (the buyer) as trustworthy. What’s to stop you going and cancelling it bike in hand? Only use cash if you’re collecting it in person – and try and get a receipt of some kind. Cash isn’t traceable.
With that all in mind…
… you should be safe browsing and buying a used electric bike!
Return from Used Electric Bike to Electric Bikes Experts and read the full story
Choosing a Bicycle | Choosing the Right Bike FREE Downloadable Mini Guide
Choosing a bicycle can be a daunting task; the amount of choice, different options and technical jargon can easily complicate the whole process. This mini guide will help you in choosing the right bike for you.
First off, is deciding what kind of bicycle you need – and to do that, you need to outline its purpose. Download this choosing guide and follow its instructions to help you in choosing an electric bike
--> You’ll need free Adobe Reader or another PDF reader to view this. Click the image to download the Choosing a Bicycle guide.
Once you’ve found what bike is best for you, or if you’ve already got an idea of what kind of bike you want, take a look at these articles on individual types of bikes.
If you haven’t already come across electric bikes, they are definitely worth considering. If the concept is totally new to you, take a look at this article on electric bikes which introduces the main concepts and their advantages.
Did you know an electric bike is more likely to help you exercise more effectively than a normal bike? The motor means people are more likely to use them (well you would if you could cruise through traffic at up to 15mph) since they require less effort to go further, faster.
You can make the most of the Government’s tax-free bike initiatives with an electric bike too; see how the Cycle to Work scheme works. There are lots of other savings you can make with an electric bicycle over other forms of transport. You don’t pay for road tax, petrol, parking or anything like that – you can save a lot of money!
Electric bikes tend to cost a bit more to buy, but there are various ways you can get cheap electric bikes – in fact I’ve come up with six ways here. Electric bikes are by far the best commuter bikes too; you can even get folding electric bicycles which can be packed into a rucksack in your office!
Return from Choosing a Bicycle to Electric Bikes Experts and read the full story
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