Electric Bikes

Exciting adventures IRL.
Post Reply
User avatar
Rusty
Posts: 815
Joined: Fri Aug 10, 2018 3:21 pm
Location: Plymouth, Devon

Electric Bikes

Post by Rusty » Fri Aug 17, 2018 9:55 am

So, has anyone had experience of using one of these electric bike things?

I cycle to work 2 or 3 times a week and annoyingly, I live pretty much at sea level and work is about 500ft higher.

No matter what route I take I come across a stupidly high gradient hill at some point. One route even means I have to get off and push it. I think that one is about 12-14% if that means anything.

Would an electric bike work if I only really want the help when I get to the high gradients? The rest of the time I enjoy pedalling.

As a side note it takes me 30 minutes to cycle to work but only 15 minutes home. It's all down hill and is awesome :)
-- To be completed at some point --

User avatar
Mantis
Landlord
Posts: 3474
Joined: Wed Aug 08, 2018 5:39 pm
Location: The Grid

Re: Electric Bikes

Post by Mantis » Fri Aug 17, 2018 10:01 am

Are electric bikes legal in the UK? In a semi-related point, I had the chance to try out a Segway electric scooter last week and I absolutely loved it, but when I looked up the legality of using it over here it turns out that they're only technically allowed on private land. Being powered means they aren't allowed on the pavement, but they're also too weak to be considered road safe, so they aren't allowed on the roads either! It's kind of ridiculous, sure it can reach up to 30km/ph, but it's a scooter, come anywhere near hitting someone with it and you can quite easily just hop off or dodge them.

Wouldn't the same kind of law apply to an electric bike? I know it pretty much covers every kind of product that Segway make, which is a huge pain because I'd really love one of those scooters for my commute.

User avatar
Sly Boots
Bar Staff
Posts: 6277
Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2018 8:34 am
Location: Hampshire
Contact:

Re: Electric Bikes

Post by Sly Boots » Fri Aug 17, 2018 10:02 am

I'm sure I've seen people riding electric bikes loads of times.

User avatar
Rusty
Posts: 815
Joined: Fri Aug 10, 2018 3:21 pm
Location: Plymouth, Devon

Re: Electric Bikes

Post by Rusty » Fri Aug 17, 2018 10:10 am

Yeah, they're all legit. I think they have a max speed where they stop helping and it's all pedal power.
-- To be completed at some point --

User avatar
Raid
Local
Posts: 4820
Joined: Fri Aug 10, 2018 9:07 am
Location: Keep of the Lead Lord

Re: Electric Bikes

Post by Raid » Fri Aug 17, 2018 10:12 am

I'm sure electric bikes, that is bicycles with power assist, are legal up to a point (there are speed restrictions I think). Self-balancing vehicles, ie: Segways and those stupid hoverboard things, aren't. Electric skateboards and similar also can't be ridden in public in the UK.

User avatar
Stormbringer
Rad Dad
Posts: 1418
Joined: Fri Aug 10, 2018 9:57 am
Location: Hyperborea
Contact:

Re: Electric Bikes

Post by Stormbringer » Fri Aug 17, 2018 10:15 am

Yes they're legal, but they're expensive. There's a speed-limit law for them, though, like Raid said. You can get faster models, but they're illegal in this country.

A daft colleague of mine had one of the illegal ones (I think he bought it abroad). He then crashed into a concrete bollard at high speed and literally broke every major bone in his body except for his spinal column and his skull (he was wearing a helmet, otherwise, he'd probably be dead). He has now given up cycling.
Between tedium and fright
Such is the song of the nether world
The hissing of rats
And the jarring chants of angels

Post Reply