Issue Six - Spring 2013 - Electric Bike Magazine

+LETTERS
From Simon Lord
I was diagnosed with Multiple
Sclerosis (MS) in 1986, and the
increasing effects of the condition
dramatically reduced my ability to
carry on my sporting activities –
until I discovered e-bikes! I first
bought an Urban Mover Glider and
then a Wisper Sport. These bikes
made such a difference to my life
that in April 2012 I took my e-bikes
to the MS conference in Manchester,
and introduced fellow suffers to the
benefits of the bikes: independence,
well being and increased health.
I then completed two charity
rides, the Over Edge Charity Cycle
of 29 miles in the Pennines, and the
Greater Manchester City Cycle, two
13 mile laps through the city.
A new challenge was needed and
I found out that the MS Society of
America hold their annual cycle ride
around Manhattan Island, New York
on a 30 mile route on closed roads.
With entry through the British MS
Society and minimum sponsorship
required, I decided that this ride
could be possible.
Thanks to support from friends
and family, later that year my wife
Kim and I arrived in New York and
after some logistical challenges
finally I joined 5,000 other cyclists
for an incredible ride around the
whole perimeter of Manhattan on
such a beautiful day.
I was riding my Wisper Sport with
14 Ah battery. At around 14 miles
my legs were becoming tired but
with some energy drink and food I
managed to reach the rest area at
20 miles. After 15 minutes of rest I
continued and met up with Kim who
was filming the event. After a short
chat I continued the remaining nine
and a half miles back to the finish
at Pier 94. Kim was there to film
me crossing the finishing line in a
time of two and half hours. The only
problem I had was a very painful
neck and shoulder.
I felt that I could have ridden
an even greater distance but it was
still a fantastic opportunity to take
part in such a worthwhile cause and
to prove that with determination
challenges like this can happen. I’m
now intending to do more rides back
in the UK and to get more involved
with organisations promoting
cycling for people with disabilities.
I would urge anyone with MS or
similar conditions to try an e-bike –
it’ll change your life!
If you’d like to support Simon in
his fundraising please contact us
and we’ll pass on your details to
him.
From Adam Drever, Isle of Skye
I’m looking to buy an electric bike
and live in a remote rural area.
Miles per charge is therefore a most
important consideration. I have
sleuthed about six or so models
which claim 65 miles/charge. I say
‘claim’ as these are figures coming
from dealers and/or manufacturers.
But I am looking for independent
assessments and I am struggling!
Can you advise?
And two other questions if I may:
One of the bikes on my shortlist
comes only in a cross-bar style frame.
Step-through would be my preference
for ease of getting off and on,
especially if I need to get off fast.
But are cross bar frames more stable
in your view? I have heard they are
and am in a pretty windy location!
I see from past reviews that you’re
especially keen on Magura hydraulic
rim brakes. Would you recommend
avoiding V-brakes?
Range isn’t just a figure you can
quote and expect to be accurate.
Into a Skye headwind and up a
hill, it will be maybe a quarter of
the range or even less than you’d
get on the flat with no wind. And
rider input also varies at least as
much, as does rider weight. So it’s
impossible to say for sure how far
you’ll go on one charge without all
of the specifics, and even then it
would be a guess.
Battery capacity is the best
ballpark guide. Bigger (more
Watt-hours) means longer range;
simple as that. Or, just get the bike
you most enjoy riding and if you
find range is too short, buy a spare
battery and carry it with you.
Cross-bar frames are structurally
more rigid, but modern aluminium
low-step frames are good too
nowadays: manufacturers often
hydroform the tubes to provide
strength and rigidity in the right
places. I wouldn’t worry too much
either way performance-wise. It
might be more of an issue when
riding hard unassisted uphill
(when you might feel the frame
flex) but that’s less of an issue
with electric bikes. If ease of on/
off matters, then go for a stepthrough
bike.
Magura brakes have a lovely feel
to their action and can be lower in
maintenance long term compared to
cable brakes, especially perhaps in
sea air. But V-brakes are absolutely
fine too, and every bike shop will
be familiar with them. This is not
necessarily the case with Maguras!
From Adil Zayani, by email
I notice some bikes sport 26"
wheels, while others use 28". What’s
the significance of wheel size?
It’s no big deal. 28" (also called
700c) is traditional road bike
size, while 26" is the traditional
mountain bike size. But you can
get MTB tyres for 700c, and road
tyres for 26", so either size can be
used fine both on or off road.
26" wheels are marginally
stronger in theory, but the quality
of wheelbuilding is probably a
more decisive factor than size.
If you’re very tall, 28" wheels
might look in better proportion;
similarly 26" wheels usually look
better on small frame sizes. Using
26" wheels also makes the bike a
touch shorter overall too, which
might be handy if you’re carrying
it across the back of a small car.
Thank you for your letters!
If you have a query or a comment,
please do send it along. You can
e-mail to peter@electricbikemag.
co.uk, send messages by post to
the editorial address (see page 2)
or by fax to 01904 692800. If you
can include a picture, please do!
40 Electric Bike Issue 6