My PowaByke
Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 10:00 pm
I bought an electric assist bike nearly 2 years ago on eBay. It's been reliable, although I only use it about once a week on average. I recently changed jobs partly to get a few more spare hours, so I'm hoping to get out on it more often. Buying it on eBay meant I paid £300 instead of £600 for a new one, and mine was obviously unused despite being 2 years old. Fortunately, the battery seems to have been well looked after (the owner said he charged it periodically). I drove 100 miles in my hybrid Prius to fetch it.
I'm 51 now, and used to cycle a lot until my late 30s, when changing work patterns left me no time for physical activity. As a result, I've nearly doubled in weight since. I'm keen to get active again, but found my larger frame didn't go comfortably on my old racing style bike with it's wafer thin saddle (especially with 25 st pressing down on it). My extra padding also meant I could only just touch the ground with the saddle at its lowest, and putting a padded saddle on made matters worse. Plus, where I now live is very hilly, and a combination of being basically unfit and having to haul the extra load meant I could barely manage a mile before being knackered and very sore! Years ago, I would have thought nothing of cycling to work and back (sometimes home and back at lunch time - 5 miles each way, plus a mile each way to the swimming pool before work), then doing 20-30 miles on it in the evening.
The PowaByke (it's a 5-speed 'shopper' - see www.powabyke.com - the current model has an extra gear ratio, but is otherwise identical).
I pedal most of the time, but get a bit of help on the hills, against headwinds, etc. On the hills around here, with my bulk on it, there's no way the bike will get up just on electric power, and neither would I with leg power - working together, we just about make it! Basically, it's the difference between not cycling at all and getting some fresh air and exercise. I'm delighted with it, just wish I'd got it earlier.
I've added Catseye LED lights, an electric horn, handle bar mirror and helmet mirror, a Cateye trip computer and a GIVI large locking box on the rear rack. It certainly looks odd (wouldn't have been seen dead on such a thing a few years ago!) and it gives the local kids a laugh, but it's invaluable to me and saves some car journeys to local shops and bottle banks too. I charge the battery overnight using a timer to get off peak electricity. It usually costs about half to one penny per charge, based on a plug in meter I bought from Maplin.
Just 5 minutes' pedalling from my home gets me into pleasant Hertfordshire countryside, single track lanes, where I see few buildings, even fewer cars (but a few horses, rabbits and the occasional deer and, oh yes: aircraft!). A rocker switch on the left handle bar switches between assist mode (only helps while pedals turning) and power mode assists at any time. Twisting the right handle bar grip sends variable power to the front hub motor. A key in the battery turned one way switches on the system, pressed in and turned the other allows the battery to be removed for charging - the middle position is off, and allows the key to be removed. Three LEDs on the throttle body indicate charge level, but the very basic instructions are of limited help in understanding them, or much else about the bike.
I would have liked built-in front and rear LED lights that automatically come on when the system is on. I can't believe the drain would be significant.
Still, I'm very pleased with it, and get on it whenever I can.
Regards
PeteB, Luton UK
I'm 51 now, and used to cycle a lot until my late 30s, when changing work patterns left me no time for physical activity. As a result, I've nearly doubled in weight since. I'm keen to get active again, but found my larger frame didn't go comfortably on my old racing style bike with it's wafer thin saddle (especially with 25 st pressing down on it). My extra padding also meant I could only just touch the ground with the saddle at its lowest, and putting a padded saddle on made matters worse. Plus, where I now live is very hilly, and a combination of being basically unfit and having to haul the extra load meant I could barely manage a mile before being knackered and very sore! Years ago, I would have thought nothing of cycling to work and back (sometimes home and back at lunch time - 5 miles each way, plus a mile each way to the swimming pool before work), then doing 20-30 miles on it in the evening.
The PowaByke (it's a 5-speed 'shopper' - see www.powabyke.com - the current model has an extra gear ratio, but is otherwise identical).
I pedal most of the time, but get a bit of help on the hills, against headwinds, etc. On the hills around here, with my bulk on it, there's no way the bike will get up just on electric power, and neither would I with leg power - working together, we just about make it! Basically, it's the difference between not cycling at all and getting some fresh air and exercise. I'm delighted with it, just wish I'd got it earlier.
I've added Catseye LED lights, an electric horn, handle bar mirror and helmet mirror, a Cateye trip computer and a GIVI large locking box on the rear rack. It certainly looks odd (wouldn't have been seen dead on such a thing a few years ago!) and it gives the local kids a laugh, but it's invaluable to me and saves some car journeys to local shops and bottle banks too. I charge the battery overnight using a timer to get off peak electricity. It usually costs about half to one penny per charge, based on a plug in meter I bought from Maplin.
Just 5 minutes' pedalling from my home gets me into pleasant Hertfordshire countryside, single track lanes, where I see few buildings, even fewer cars (but a few horses, rabbits and the occasional deer and, oh yes: aircraft!). A rocker switch on the left handle bar switches between assist mode (only helps while pedals turning) and power mode assists at any time. Twisting the right handle bar grip sends variable power to the front hub motor. A key in the battery turned one way switches on the system, pressed in and turned the other allows the battery to be removed for charging - the middle position is off, and allows the key to be removed. Three LEDs on the throttle body indicate charge level, but the very basic instructions are of limited help in understanding them, or much else about the bike.
I would have liked built-in front and rear LED lights that automatically come on when the system is on. I can't believe the drain would be significant.
Still, I'm very pleased with it, and get on it whenever I can.
Regards
PeteB, Luton UK