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Is E-bike pointless in UK?

by multifrag
Wed, Oct 21, 2015 14:06
9

I daily commute 40 myles on my bike and sometimes I feel very unsafe while climbing a hill at 10mph... Normally I try to keep 20-25mph pace but the hills just killing me. I thought about building an ebike which would help me to stay at more reasonable speeds, but after reading the regulations I'm faster than an ebike. What is the point of an Ebike with max 15.5mph when I can do double the speed with out the requirement of mot/insurance..? 

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Daveyraveygravey | 9 years ago
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I didn't realise E-bikes were speed limited.  I was unable to keep up with one recently, so I don't think they are pointless, and I was over 15 mph at the time.  Do they need MOT and insurance too?  They probably aren't designed for EXACTLY what you are looking for.

Is it the slow speed of climbing that is making you feel unsafe?  If you're normally tanking along at 20-25 mph then you're clearly a fit and able cyclist.  Can you try different routes to avoid the hill(s)?

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multifrag replied to Daveyraveygravey | 9 years ago
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Daveyraveygravey wrote:

I didn't realise E-bikes were speed limited.  I was unable to keep up with one recently, so I don't think they are pointless, and I was over 15 mph at the time.  Do they need MOT and insurance too?  They probably aren't designed for EXACTLY what you are looking for.

Is it the slow speed of climbing that is making you feel unsafe?  If you're normally tanking along at 20-25 mph then you're clearly a fit and able cyclist.  Can you try different routes to avoid the hill(s)?

They are limited to 250W power and 15.5mph speed. You can get 1000w one which theoretically can go more than 45mph. The law says that they need MOT and insurance, but they looking into this more closely there are no category for this type of vehicle. So it is a grey area. I'm fit, but there is little I can do about the speed difference on the hills. I go 10mph they can go 50mph. I'm kind off a hazzard and I understand that I have the right to cycle on that road at 10mph, but If get ''kissed'' from behind with 2tone vehicle at 50mph I really won't care who is right or wrong...There are no roads to take. Either I take the motorway or the countryside road. Motorway is 70mph and bikes are not allowed as I understand and country roads 30-60mph.

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Daveyraveygravey replied to multifrag | 9 years ago
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multifrag wrote:

Daveyraveygravey wrote:

I didn't realise E-bikes were speed limited.  I was unable to keep up with one recently, so I don't think they are pointless, and I was over 15 mph at the time.  Do they need MOT and insurance too?  They probably aren't designed for EXACTLY what you are looking for.

Is it the slow speed of climbing that is making you feel unsafe?  If you're normally tanking along at 20-25 mph then you're clearly a fit and able cyclist.  Can you try different routes to avoid the hill(s)?

They are limited to 250W power and 15.5mph speed. You can get 1000w one which theoretically can go more than 45mph. The law says that they need MOT and insurance, but they looking into this more closely there are no category for this type of vehicle. So it is a grey area. I'm fit, but there is little I can do about the speed difference on the hills. I go 10mph they can go 50mph. I'm kind off a hazzard and I understand that I have the right to cycle on that road at 10mph, but If get ''kissed'' from behind with 2tone vehicle at 50mph I really won't care who is right or wrong...There are no roads to take. Either I take the motorway or the countryside road. Motorway is 70mph and bikes are not allowed as I understand and country roads 30-60mph.

 

I can't see what the speed difference when you're climbing has to do with it.  Maybe if it was a 20% gradient and you were out the seat and right on your limit at 3 mph,  so you are wobbling more and less able to hold a straight line.

The thing you are afraid of - being rammed from behind by an inattentive driver - can happen regardless of your speed, or their speed.  It is their carelessness that is the problem (and maybe yours if you swerve accidentally  into their path).  Don't think of yourself as a hazard, you have as much right to be there as they have.  Is there really no other route?  If it's a 20 mile one way trip it must be possible to go some other way.

Get some high viz clothing and a strobing rear light, if you haven't already.  

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CXR94Di2 | 9 years ago
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You want one of these!
https://www.eta.co.uk/2013/01/30/50mph-electric-bicycle-for-commuting/

Or choose a quieter route

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Shades replied to CXR94Di2 | 9 years ago
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CXR94Di2 wrote:

You want one of these! https://www.eta.co.uk/2013/01/30/50mph-electric-bicycle-for-commuting/ Or choose a quieter route

That thing rocks!...most 'bad boy' e bike I've seen.

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multifrag replied to CXR94Di2 | 9 years ago
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CXR94Di2 wrote:

You want one of these! https://www.eta.co.uk/2013/01/30/50mph-electric-bicycle-for-commuting/ Or choose a quieter route

Damn, that is a beauty but for 10k I would buy a motorcycle 4 That is the quietest road I can take oppose to motorway as I travel from one city to another.

Does Eta count as road insurance? As if I would get something with similar power or built it myself I would need, MOT/insurance

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Shades | 9 years ago
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My shortest commute route involves a busy B road which involves a long hill; I just won't do it in morning traffic and take a longer route (15 miles; once or twice a week). A bloke at work used to do it on an e bike and he said it just took the sting out of the hill and mean't he had less cars stacked behind him. I've got this feeling e bikes are going to be a growth area in the future. For a long commute with some big hills, why not a e road bike (one of those illegal pro ones that apparently exist). If it takes the heat out of the hills, makes you feel safer and means you can cycle every day; then why not.

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Chuck | 9 years ago
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Er, do you think everybody can do double the speed like you can, or wants to push themselves for 40 miles?

 

Not everybody interested in riding bikes fits the profile of a Road.cc member.

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multifrag replied to Chuck | 9 years ago
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Chuck wrote:

Er, do you think everybody can do double the speed like you can, or wants to push themselves for 40 miles?

 

Not everybody interested in riding bikes fits the profile of a Road.cc member.

That's the thing. I'm a little bit tired of pushing myself to keep up with cars. If they could allow an Ebike which can go max 30mph it would change the whole on ebikes. 

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