Cycling UK Forum

TheWho

TheWho wrote: ↑17 Mar 2024, 9:46am I also came across the Rockmachine Storm e70-29 at Halfords. Would this be a better alternative? It has larger wheels and 90Nm torque.

https://www.halfords.com/bikes/electric ... 53614.html

Any thoughts?

TheWho

rareposter wrote: ↑17 Mar 2024, 8:37am
70Nm for a regular MTB and a 65kg rider will be no problem.

Thanks!

TheWho

I also came across the Rockmachine Storm e70-29 at Halfords. Would this be a better alternative? It has larger wheels and 90Nm torque.

https://www.halfords.com/bikes/electric ... 53614.html

TheWho

Nearholmer wrote: ↑16 Mar 2024, 11:36pm Review of it here https://ebiketips.road.cc/content/revie ... l%20winner.

Although it’s worth checking that components haven’t been downgraded since then, because that has happened to a fair few bikes since the pandemic to maintain price under cost pressures.

Ah, thanks for this. Yes, it seems to have been downgraded to a 70Nm motor, but that's the only change i can see on the written spec. Will limit the support i get and the graidient i can approach? I'm probably around 65kg.

TheWho

Thanks for the helpful replies. I think you're right about the fat tires. I thought they'd be better for mud, but there seems to be a lot of disagreement on that and they are probably not that important.

@Nearholmer I was a bit worried about the weight too, hence asking for some of this advice. Some are 30kg+

Would this be a good (but more expensive) option:
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/27-5-elec ... R-p-168875

TheWho

Okay, so I'm realising that two decades is a lot in the biking world and eBay is showing my that I can't even get a secondhand e-mtb with fat tires for £2,000. I didn't even know you could spend over £10,000 on a bike! I was very naive.

Looks like I'm not getting out on to any tracks for a long while.

TheWho

Nearholmer wrote: ↑16 Mar 2024, 5:51pm What I can tell by a quick google is that some of them don’t seem to be UK street legal, except possibly if licensed, taxed etc as mopeds (but, I’m not sure they comply with moped law), so you could only legally use them on private land.

Thanks for the heads up I'll have to check them all.

TheWho

I've added links to the other post. Also realised the Beacon isn't fat tires. As you said @Nearholmer it may not be possible at this price range

TheWho wrote: ↑16 Mar 2024, 5:31pm
GOGOBEST GF600 & GF700
Engwe M20
Cyrusher XF650 Hardtail
Black Widow E-Bike
Basis Beacon Hardtail
Himiway Cruiser

TheWho

Nearholmer wrote: ↑16 Mar 2024, 2:29pm My instinct is that £1000 isn’t enough for a good quality electric bike with the capability you might need, so if you do decide to pursue electric, it might have to be secondhand, and buying a secondhand electric is a trickier business than buying a secondhand “manual”.

Having a bit more of a look there seem to be a few bikes in the price range, but I'm struggling to work out what the key differences are:
GOGOBEST GF600 & GF700
Engwe M20
Cyrusher XF650 Hardtail
Black Widow E-Bike
Basis Beacon Hardtail
Himiway Cruiser

None of them are the old brands I'm used to! Any

TheWho

Nearholmer wrote: ↑16 Mar 2024, 2:29pm Without wishing to pry, it might be useful to know what the recovery path from your health condition is likely to be, because I’m wondering whether, if you took the build-up in really easy stages, you could get away without needing electric assist.

Staying “manual” has advantages in terms of the price you might need to pay, and the weight of the bike.

TBH, I sometimes see people on EAPCs and think to myself that all the electric assistance is doing is providing the extra oomph needed to lug the weight of the battery, motor, and the oversized frame and wheels around, and that if they simply rode a lighter bike they wouldn’t need it. But, I’m probably being unfair, because I know that for some it makes all the difference on the uphill sections.

Off-road riding sometimes involves carrying, or at least lifting, the bike once you stray away from the easiest paths, which may also be a factor in the weight arena.

My instinct is that £1000 isn’t enough for a good quality electric bike with the capability you might need, so if you do decide to pursue electric, it might have to be secondhand, and buying a secondhand electric is a trickier business than buying a secondhand “manual”.

PS: is it pretty flat, or very hilly where you live?

Lots of good questions. It is basically hilly all around where I live, so again, that's another reason why I was thinking ebike.

In terms of recovery, it's likely to be very slow, months as a best case scenario, but likely a year or two. Full recovery isn't guaranteed. Again, I may just need an ebike long-term.

I could go for a shorter range if that helps as I don't need to go longer distances, I'd just like to. Better to be able to get out a short distance than none at all.

Price wise I could push up to £1,500 if needed but I'd rather keep it low if possible.

On the electric assistance, I had read that some ebikes have a shorter range and then an electric assistance range that's longer. I'd got the impression from that that some ebikes can do the 'range' without any real pedaling. I also watched a video with a man reviewing a bike that hard 7 power settings from low to very high support. I was imaging I'd start at 90-100% support and then lower it down as and when I could. Am I completely wrong with the way it works?

TheWho

Jupestar wrote: ↑16 Mar 2024, 1:47pm Are you willing to buy secondhand?

Definitely.

TheWho

rareposter wrote: ↑16 Mar 2024, 11:44am What's your budget?

Probably about £1,000 but ideally less!

TheWho

I'm thinking about getting back on the bike after a couple of decades. I used to really enjoy countryside rides. Realistically, I'm quite a bit older now and bikes have changed a lot.

I'd be looking for a bike for: mainly off road routes through countryside, some bog/hill riding, some gravel, some mud, moorland, fields, woodland. I don't want to do fast or downhills. I'd like the option to go out in snow in winter in the future if I really get into it. I'm recovering from a health condition so I'd very much like an e-bike to take some of the strain as I build up my fitness.

What kind of bikes should I be looking at and what factors should I be considering?

My naive research lead me to think a fat electric mountain bike might be just the thing, but they seem very heavy?

Are there any brands that I should be looking for/avoiding? To save money can I go second hand or should I always get a warranty for the battery?

Thanks for your help.

Edit: budget not much more than £1,000. Also, I think most places I'd be bukding up to going to would be 12-17 miles, so 40 miles range would seem like a sensible minimum.

TheWho

Thanks very much, that's all really helpful! Quite a lot of routes near me on roads, but more than I'd realised through field's, etc. Two questions:

First, are the cycle paths through field's often blocked? E.g. gate closed or there's a stile.

Second, quite a few routes near me go onto public access land or dead end at the top of a hill or something. What are the rules for bikes on public access land? Could I cycle from the end of one route across the hill on public access land and then meet up with the dead end of another route?

TheWho

I'm thinking of getting a bike and getting out riding again after 20 years. I live in a rural area where the hedges and walls are high, roads wind and several people have been killed or permanently disabled by something coming round a tight corner or not seeing them.

Before I get a new bike I'd like to see if I can cycle around using non-road routes - paths, bridleways, cycle paths (not seen any round here), off road routes, etc. or if that's not possible.

What site or app can I go to to find out UK routes that avoid roads?

Thanks very much!

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