Cycling UK Forum

Maybe worth posting on camping & caravan forums?

Thanks again for the replies and comments guys! Yes, caravanning forums could be useful, I have heard that they're useful for exploring beyond the campsite. Also heard they're popular with banned drivers...

With regards to sampling - I am intentionally surveying existing cyclists as I want to investigate if the bikes could further increase cycling for these groups and what circumstances they would buy them. I am also surveying non-cyclists and electric bike owners.

Getting the sample of e-bike users is the hardest so any advice on contacting this group is welcome. I'm also struggling for women in my samples, but then again its only been 48 hours!

See if http://www.atob.org.uk/ will link to your survey (if you've not done it already).

My commute consists of getting out of bed and walking 3 metres to my office, so I answered "Walk" to Q6. Don't usually encounter a lot of traffic.

Like Vorpal, my only reason for buying one would be if I was so crocked I couldn't get out of the village any other way: we're surrounded by 6% hills.

Question: the battery lasts for up to 80 km (or was it miles?) Could one handle e.g. the Tourmalet?

I retired recently and have an arthritic hip. I wanted a bike for three reasons:-
1. To help maintain and improve fitness.
2. To build muscles in my legs to support my joints and to keep them moving.
3. To use instead of the car for local journeys.

I had thought a simple bike around £300-£400 would have done me but was introduced to the idea of an electric bike. Contrary to what you first think, e-bikes are not cheating, all they do is take the pain out of cycling and leave you with the pleasure. It was clear because of my hip issue I needed a low step or ladies bike ( I am a man!) and I found I also needed something upright and without round grips which on the trial bikes caused pain. I eventually chose the new Raleigh Motus after reading the reviews and studying the specification. Everything on this bike has been well though out and I liked the idea of a name I could trust. The Bosch motor provides a natural amount of assistance and you have to pedal. I tied one of those bikes with a throttle style twist grip and you might as well have a moped. It also looks good!

I would recommend an e-bike to anyone commuting and anyone who wants exercise but who does not want to do serious mileage although the Motus will take me a very long way. They make cycling a real pleasure and if you haven't cycled for a while, they take away that initial wobble getting going.

There's the "pedelec' forum which is all electric bike users and dealers.
Have posted your link over there.
Good luck with the research Alex.

Interesting. I'm aware that the OP is deliberately aiming at non-users by posting here.

I'd absolutely consider one if health issues made it the best way to continue riding. However, that apart, from the perspective of most here, I think electric bikes look heavy and slow. Keen riders tend to go for light bikes, all other things being equal, are riding partly for exercise, and can often maintain average speeds near or beyond the top end of an electric bike's capabilities.

That means getting little useful help on harder bits (because, going uphill, all that extra weight has to be carried and you can probably already go as fast as the bike can manage), and none at all, while carrying the extra weight, on easy bits (where you are already exceeding 15mph). I'm not fast, by the way, by comparison with many here.

So one ends up asking why I would make my bike heavier and slower to avoid the exercise that I enjoy...