Page 1 of 3
Bike recommendation or considerations
Posted: 16 Mar 2024, 11:35am
by 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.
Re: Bike recommendation or considerations
Posted: 16 Mar 2024, 11:44am
by rareposter
What's your budget?
Re: Bike recommendation or considerations
Posted: 16 Mar 2024, 1:00pm
by Dupont
TheWho wrote: ↑16 Mar 2024, 11:35am
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.
I was in exactly the same boat as this about last October. I purchased an ebike as this is the only way my wife can get out on her bike these days I am afraid. Generally I am delighted with it as it serves its purpose well.
However, I longed for a steel framed touring bike again, but didn't fancy the hefty price tag they come with. I bided my time and eventually a suitable Raleigh Royal 2012 model became available for £60. I snapped it up and am in the process of replacing the stock parts. I am absolutely delighted as it rides and handles like a dream.
Re: Bike recommendation or considerations
Posted: 16 Mar 2024, 1:12pm
by TheWho
rareposter wrote: ↑16 Mar 2024, 11:44am
What's your budget?
Probably about £1,000 but ideally less!
Re: Bike recommendation or considerations
Posted: 16 Mar 2024, 1:26pm
by Jdsk
TheWho wrote: ↑16 Mar 2024, 1:12pm
rareposter wrote: ↑16 Mar 2024, 11:44am
What's your budget?
Probably about £1,000 but ideally less!
One of the many things that I’ve learnt from this forum is that at that price you
shouldn’t buy a new bike with suspension.
Jonathan
Re: Bike recommendation or considerations
Posted: 16 Mar 2024, 1:32pm
by rareposter
Jdsk wrote: ↑16 Mar 2024, 1:26pm
TheWho wrote: ↑16 Mar 2024, 1:12pm
rareposter wrote: ↑16 Mar 2024, 11:44am
What's your budget?
Probably about £1,000 but ideally less!
One of the many things that I’ve learnt from this forum is that at that price you
shouldn’t buy a new bike with suspension.
Jonathan
And I think you'll struggle to get an e-bike (especially anything half decent) for that amount as well.
Re: Bike recommendation or considerations
Posted: 16 Mar 2024, 1:47pm
by Jupestar
Are you willing to buy secondhand?
Re: Bike recommendation or considerations
Posted: 16 Mar 2024, 2:03pm
by roubaixtuesday
Sounds to me like a hardtail MTB probably fits the bill.
Generally Decathlon have a good reputation at the cheap end of the market, and to my surprise, they do e mountain bikes below £1000.
eg
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/27-5-hard ... R-p-311489
I've no personal experience of it.
Re: Bike recommendation or considerations
Posted: 16 Mar 2024, 2:09pm
by Dupont
TheWho wrote: ↑16 Mar 2024, 1:12pm
rareposter wrote: ↑16 Mar 2024, 11:44am
What's your budget?
Probably about £1,000 but ideally less!
Decathlon Riverside 520. Aluminium frame, but looks bombproof and the reviews are rock solid. £699.
Re: Bike recommendation or considerations
Posted: 16 Mar 2024, 2:17pm
by Nearholmer
^^^
Looks good VFM, but it has no electric assist.
Re: Bike recommendation or considerations
Posted: 16 Mar 2024, 2:29pm
by Nearholmer
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?
Re: Bike recommendation or considerations
Posted: 16 Mar 2024, 2:37pm
by TheWho
Jupestar wrote: ↑16 Mar 2024, 1:47pm
Are you willing to buy secondhand?
Definitely.
Re: Bike recommendation or considerations
Posted: 16 Mar 2024, 3:01pm
by 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?
Re: Bike recommendation or considerations
Posted: 16 Mar 2024, 3:26pm
by Jdsk
TheWho wrote: ↑16 Mar 2024, 3:01pm
...
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?
Cycling UK: "Electric bikes and e-cycles advice":
https://www.cyclinguk.org/cycling-advic ... ng/e-bikes
Jonathan
Re: Bike recommendation or considerations
Posted: 16 Mar 2024, 5:31pm
by 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