E Bike

[123mossie]

Noticed a few mentions of exercise in recent posts, I’ve recently bought an e bike, what an amazing invention. I can work as hard as I like, or not, go on battery if I need a break and it’s great for quad strengthening and cardio, all at your own pace. I got it mainly as I have a painful arthritic hip & weight bearing is agony at times. However as soon as I sit in the saddle I’m comfortable, able to forget about oa and pmr & pretend I’m normal!

[PiersC]

Brilliant, what an excellent idea! And the price is getting better all the time as they produce more.....

[Toby-Charlie]

That's great. Can I ask what make/model did you get. Looking for comfort as well.

[123mossie in reply to Toby-Charlie]

I’ve got a Raleigh Motus, not cheap but excellent value. There’s a wide variety out there to choose from. Hubby has an earlier model. Strangely I’ve never had any muscle aches after using it, I think mainly because you can use the battery as soon as you start to tire. Even though I’m tapering the pred I’ve had no problem (fingers crossed, famous last words!)

[MrsChips in reply to 123mossie]

I too have a Raleigh Motus. I absolutely love it. Best thing I’ve bought. I live in Devon and some of our hills are pretty steep. In the past I would have had to get off and push but now I just pop on a bit more battery power and race my husband to the top. He’s very certain that he only ever wants his non electric, drop handlebar bike. Yes, he’s very much a lycra wearing cyclist! We’re heading to cycle the Kennet and Avon canal next week. Yeah, it’s flat! Won’t need to use the battery very much.

[123mossie in reply to MrsChips]

Yes ditto, hilly north wales here. The bike has opened up routes I couldn’t have even contemplated, a lovely way to see the countryside.

[Rokerman in reply to Toby-Charlie]

ARRC in Cambridge UK do, I believe, make a retro-fit motor for existing bikes. Haven’t followed this up yet but am considering it!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

We did get one but I was ill shortly after we got it and by the time I was well enough to use it I was worried about balance and there was also a fault of some sort. Wish I had persevered though - and yes, they are so much better now, that was 12 years ago.

[Hildalew in reply to PMRpro]

I looked at folding electric tricycles a little while back. Didn't dive in and get one then, but found myself thinking about it again a few days ago. Jorvik tricycles come highly recommended by a good friend who has a lot of experience of teaching people about safe riding on the street.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hildalew]

No room to keep anything that wide - a bike just goes in the garage or on the racks.

We do have the lazy version - OH got a folding mobility scooter last year which he hasn't used yet!

[S4ndy]

I've a Raleigh Stow-Eway, an electric folder. Brilliant and it's slowly getting me my freedom back

I recommend Tim at Smile Bikes in Norwich. He's a disabled cyclist himself so understands the challenges and was a great help to us.

Also Sustrans do lots of cycle maps and books with traffic free rides which are great when you need to get back into cycling.

Now if only we had the good weather

[Dolores2]

Hi, Mossie. Glad to read your experiences of an e-bike. People say I'm cheating but, as you say, you can push yourself as much or as little as you like. The only think is that it upsets my already painful coccyx. I need total replacements of both knees so can't do push bikes any more. As you say, the e-bike opens up a whole new world; I'm getting an indoor exercise bike for winter / bad weather!

[123mossie in reply to Dolores2]

Oh yes I agree, I've had to order a padded saddle cover to go over the already padded seat. I refuse to wear the cycle shorts with the cushioned bum though, too vain!

[snoopy29]

hi I am a cyclist and have a road bike currently sitting in a turbo trainer since last year, the problem i have with it is i cant get my leg over the bike so i feel too nervous to take the bike outside, i need to sort my weight out so will go and buy a stool so that i can actually get on the bike

[Dolores2 in reply to snoopy29]

Hi, Snoopy. Why didn't you buy a ladies' bike? My hubby always did that so that my girlfriends could use it if necessary 😁. I'm interested in the padded cover - must nip down to Halfords to see if they have them.

[123mossie in reply to Dolores2]

Just a tip, I tried a halfords seat pad but it was too small to stretch over the cycle seat. I got a good one on Amazon but they do recommend you measure the saddle first .

[Dolores2 in reply to 123mossie]

Thanks for that, Mossie!

[Dolores2 in reply to 123mossie]

Just searched comfortable bike saddles on Amazon, but don't know which one to choose. Can you advise please, Mossie.

[123mossie in reply to Dolores2]

It was the Ancocs Bycicle seat cushion cover, silica gel & foam. I find it very good.

[Dolores2 in reply to 123mossie]

Thank you so much, Mossie

[snoopy29 in reply to Dolores2]

Hi I was a keen cyclist before pmr and didn't use the bike over the winter , pmr struck in mar just when I would be hitting the road again but may look into getting a cheap ladies bike to get confidence levels back up

[Dolores2 in reply to snoopy29]

What is pmr?

[snoopy29 in reply to Dolores2]

Polymyalgia rheumatica it's an auto immune disease that affects shoulders hips knees very painful to move but being the correct weight and gentle exercise helps

[Dolores2 in reply to snoopy29]

Thank you, Snoopy!

[fitfatty]

I have a Wisper 750. It has 24" wheels which is perfect for my height of 4'11". There is also a version with 26" wheels. I find it quite heavy at approx 22kg with the battery installed but it is fine to ride using at least battery assist level 1 or 2. I rarely go beyond level 2 so I get a very good mileage per charge of about 60 miles before the battery level drops to 2 bars.