We visited Haibike last month to preview and test the new line up of Yamaha powered Haibike sDuro 2015 electric bikes. We are excited to unveil today the eBike range which are now available to pre-order for UK residents from e-bikeshop.co.uk today. Join us for this first look! What is the Haibike sDuro range? Haibike sDuro eBikes were announced as a new range for 2015. They will run alongside the 2015 xDuro eBikes to offer a range focussed on younger riders. We call these riders the next 'eGeneration', targeted at the 20-30 age range the new Haibike sDuro electric bikes will be offered with the Yamaha system. The new sDuro range consists of lower price points, the sDuro Haibikes will range from £1850 up to £3700 where the Haibike xDuro range will take over with higher specification and the Bosch motor system. Teaser Video - We offer a sDuro eBike for every style of riding, from light trail use, to more aggressive all mountain and even your hybrid / trekking / commuting eBikes. The 7 sDuro 2015 bikes are as follows - Haibike sDuro AllMtn RX 2015 Brief Overview: The Haibike sDuro AllMtn RX is built around a 150mm chassis to offer a decent all mountain rig capable of harsher terrain but adjustable enough to use as a trail bike. This model is the first electric bike in the world to feature the new EI (Electronic Suspension)! Clever stuff eh? Price: £3700 Wheel Size: 27.5″ (650B) Sizes: 40, 44, 48 & 52cm Frames Haibike sDuro AllMtn RX 2015 Full Specification Haibike sDuro AllMtn RC 2015 Brief Overview: The new Haibike sDuro AllMtn RC is built on the same chassis as the AllMtn RX above. This is the younger brother with slightly lower specification and loses the EI (Electronic Suspension) system. It also offers a 2 x 10 gear 20 speed set up. Price: £3200 Wheel Size: 27.5″ (650B) Sizes: 40, 44, 48 & 52cm Frames Haibike sDuro AllMtn RC 2015 Full Specification Haibike sDuro FullNine RC 2015 Brief Overview: The new sDuro FullNine is one of the first full suspension 29" wheel eBikes to be available. Built on a shorter 100mm chassis it becomes the lighter electric bike for the every day trail / cross country rider. This is finished with a 1 x 10 gear 10 speed set up. Price: £2700 Wheel Size: 29″ Sizes: 40, 45, 50 & 55cm Frames Haibike sDuro FullNine RC 2015 Full Specification Haibike sDuro HardNine RC 2015 Brief Overview: The HardNine 2015 model is based on its full suspension bigger brother. Offering the equivalent in a hardtail variant. The HardNine features a 2 x 10 speed 20 gear set up over the 10 speed above. Price: £2300 Wheel Size: 29″ Sizes: 40, 45, 50 & 55cm Frames Haibike sDuro HardNine RC 2015 Full Specification Haibike sDuro HardSeven SL 2015 Brief Overview: The new Haibike sDuro HardSeven is a 27.5" (650B) hardtail electric bike. Its the entry level eBike within the 2015 sDuro range. A German chassis and Yamaha motor for a more affordable price! This model features a 1 x 10 speed gear set up. Price: £1850 Wheel Size: 27.5″ (650B) Sizes: 35, 40, 45, 50 & 55cm Frames Haibike sDuro HardSeven SL 2015 Full Specification Haibike sDuro Trekking RC Gents 2015 Brief Overview: Within the sDuro range we will be offering a Trekking eBike for 2015. The Trekking RC is fully equipped with all the essential for commuting, road, trekking & hybrid use. This is one of the first trekking electric bikes in the world to feature a 2 x 10 speed gear set up for an excellent range of gears. Price: £2400 Wheel Size: 28" (700c) Sizes: 48, 52 & 56cm Frames Haibike sDuro Trekking RC Gents 2015 Full Specification Haibike sDuro Trekking RC Low 2015 Brief Overview: We are offering the same sDuro Trekking RC as above but in a low frame style. This frame is ideal for gents and ladies alike for easy mounting of the bike. It features the same components as above but with a lower drop to the cross bar. Also available in a smaller frame size for shorter riders. Price: £2400 Wheel Size: 28" (700c) Sizes: 44, 48, & 52cm Frames Haibike sDuro Trekking RC Low 2015 Full Specification What do we think? We believe the new sDuro range fills a gap, not just within the 2015 Haibike range but in the whole eBike market. Now you can have a German built electric bike with the Yamaha crank drive system for a lower price point than previously available. The sDuro range is certainly focused on the younger generation of 'eCyclists', this range should fit in well. It also features many advancements in the electric bike world including the application of the EI (Electric Suspension) that should get some excitement. We also say hello to the 2 x 10 speed gearing that is available with the integration of the Yamaha motor system. These new models are available to pre-order today from the UK's largest Haibike electric bike dealer. To secure yours, just order through the website. We will allocate a £199 deposit and secure your model, its that easy! Click for the full range - Haibike sDuro 2015 Yamaha eBike Range Why not read some of our related articles below?.. Enjoy!
E-bikeshop is proud to announce that we are now open. Our new site is part of the expansion from our two other bike shops and we have been working day & night since the start of the year to get the new sales and distribution centre open in time for the 2014 season. Full range of eMTB Moustache, Lapierre & Haibike Bosch powered eBikes Although a few weeks behind, we are now very excited to unveil our new centre in Farnham on the Surrey & Hampshire borders. This is a good central location for us with people visiting from all over the UK. Every aspect of the centre has been well thought out, from the location, parking, layout, design and the environment. Even our complete internal surround sound system provided by.. Guess who?.. Yep - BOSCH! We are located in the heart of the Surrey hills, making a weekend ride easily accessible. Farnham is centrally located in the UK with London & the major surrounding cities close by. Farnham train station is also on the mainline from Waterloo meaning you can easily reach us by train on the National Rail Network. For driving we are located just south of the M25 and minutes from junction 4 off the M3 with easy access from the A3 via the A31 as well. We have ample (free) parking on site for cars, motor homes & of course e-cyclists alike. Energy efficient electrical fittings through out We have created all of our spaces to be well insulated, reducing the energy needed to heat & cool them. Most of our electronic equipment is energy saving and timed to be only on when needed. Our packaging is recycled. The lighting throughout is LED or naturally lit where possible so it has minimal energy consumption. Electric bikes are a good step forward for both health and caring for the environment and we felt this should also be incorporated into our eBike store. Wide range of Trekking / Hybrid Haibike eBikes powered by Bosch & Panasonic E-bikeshop is set to be the UK's largest crank drive electric bike specialists. The new site offers a large showroom and all the facilities to accommodate both customer collections and home delivery via direct dispatch from our warehouse. We specialize in crank drive electric bikes from Europe and stock the whole range of Haibike, Moustache, Lapierre & Raleigh electric bikes. Full range of eMTB Haibike, Full Suspension & Hardtail eBikes Director Martin Brown says - “We are very excited to have our new premises up and running after months and months of hard work. We have already been taking appointments and everyone who has visited us so far has been very impressed at the large showroom and good selection of parts and accessories available, in fact the main word we have been hearing down here is 'Wow!' Wide Range of Parts & Accessories, Components & Spares.. All here under one roof This expansion was essential to keep up with the demand of our ever widening customer base. We now sell all over the UK and also ship not just to mainland Europe, but the whole world. Our excellent customer service must be working and word has now quickly spread as we have more eBikes going out of the door than ever. Wide range of Trekking / Hybrid / Touring Raleigh, Moustache & Haibike eBikes The demand is definitely growing at a huge rate and our customer age range has now also widened to include people in their 20's with the main attraction for them being the new eMTB's. These eBikes have a spec that's second to none, often when we are at shows people have to take a second look at the bikes before they realize that they are actually electric bikes. The design and specification on these European models is tip top, using the latest in mountain bike components combined with the Bosch electric system. Range of Moustache Trekking / Touring eBIkes Made in France Our new site means that we can display a large selection of eBikes, from mountain, road, hybrid & trekking bikes. We have a fresh new range of parts and accessories to match, along with all the essential spares & components should they ever be required. We also have new workshop, dispatch & packing bays. New Picking & Packing Bays for Online eBike and Spares Sales This ensures we can get website orders out quickly, often arriving at the customer’s door fully set up ready to ride within 24 hours. With the extra space we can now hold more stock than ever with a good selection of European bikes ready to hand as the orders flow in - we found this an essential part of our service. Lots more space to hold European stock here in the UK in our new warehouse Our new workshop also allows us to quickly service and maintain our existing customers’ bikes and as a Bosch UK service centre we have all the Bosch diagnostics systems ready to hand. We can also make sure that all our eBikes have their suspension systems dialed in for optimal performance for you, the rider. Making sure every aspect of the eBike is set up to your specification is extremely important to how the bike handles over mixed terrain. We have all the facilities in place along with our ATG & Bosch trained technicians. New Workshop Bays Designed Specifically for Bosch eBikes Along with the new site we have tweaked our website to make it faster, easier to navigate and it now holds more content than ever. The same can be said for our information blog pages which have been optimized with a total overhaul of the front end in the last week, again the content should be easier to see & read and more interactive, with videos, pictures and articles. Brand New Head Offices Featuring the Latest Tech We are hosting a number of events throughout 2014. All these dates will go live on our blog pages as they become confirmed, so do keep checking back. Alongside this there's lots more going on, including action packed riding videos on our YouTube Channel. Also lots more tech articles, reviews, news & talk on our blog. New on the cards for this year, we will be hosting some organised 'e-bikeshop owners club rides'... So this season is a pretty manic time for us indeed! For news on all of this please make sure to like our new Facebook fan page. Sneak peak of the Haibike Promotional Video Coming Soon by e-bikeshop.co.uk The first event we can announce is our 2014 Haibike Demo Day on Saturday 10th May. If you are in the market to buy a new electric bike, but you would like to get a feel for the bike both on & off road across the Surrey hills, then please register now. Full details can be found here - 2014 Haibike Off Road Demo Day in Surrey. The day will consist of an introduction to electric bikes, a ride led by a qualified instructor, then a de brief & coffee on the return. This will get booked up fast with limited spaces available so please register your interest now – it’s set to be a great day!” Haibike Off Road Demo Day 2014 - Presented by e-bikeshop.co.uk We are now 99% there with our new site, we still have some areas to finish off, including the lobby & waiting area, as well as a new walk in shower room for staff & customers that take part in some of our events. But the main thing is that we are open for business. Oh and last but not least, the coffee machine has arrived! So we have a wide range of luxury coffees, teas and chocolate drinks available. Maybe even a biscuit or two (if the staff haven't got to them first). e-bikeshop now has the largest selection of Raleigh, Lapierre, Moustache & Haibike electric bikes in the UK. You can get in touch with e-bikeshop on our contact page here. Due to demand, viewing is by appointment only, all website orders will be dispatched next working day.
This is a first look and review after riding the new Yamaha eBike system on a 2015 Haibike sDURO HardNine prototype electric bike across off road terrain in Germany. What did we think at first look? Looking at the specs of the new Yamaha crank drive system we were very excited to ride it. It offers both more torque and assistance than any of its eBike drive competitors. On first look we loved the motor integration as it all seems to flow with the rest of the bike frame. Maybe thats just the angle it is mounted at, or the fact that the battery plugs straight in right above the motor. The bashplate was a really nice addition, it keeps it well protected and is in keeping with the overall look of the electric bike. One thing we did notice was that the bracket mount for the Yamaha LCD display did seem a little 'flimsy' and you could flex it pretty easily with your hands. We brought this up with the Haibike product manager and were ensured that this was a prototype bracket and that the final product will come with a more sturdy version from Yamaha (we have this pictured in our exclusive gallery on this blog post here). The battery capacity is on par with its competitors and offers enough range for serious riders. The Yamaha battery charger did seem a little on the large side. We did ask why and it was to do with keeping it cool and also more water resistant, maybe this is something that could be developed further? The LCD display is simple, clean and easy to navigate, it does the job and the settings are adjusted by holding a series of buttons in sequence. Now to the Riding! We had the chance to ride the new Yamaha eBike system across the fantastic singletrack in Schweinfurt. This course is also used as the testing ground by SRAM for their new components, so the terrain was brilliant! Line up of Haibike new xDURO Bosch & sDURO Yamaha Prototypes in Schweinfurt Immediately on setting off we felt the power delivery of the new Yamaha system to be smooth and literally applied the torque within the first crank rotation. This is due to the 'Zero Cadence' design from Yamaha. You didn't have to get a few pedals in before the bike assisted. It was there right from the off, the extra torque and assistance this system offers was immediately noticeable. Although we had reservations about the display bracket being a little 'flimsy', we rode this bike for around 3.5 hours and not once did we notice it wobbling about at all - maybe we were just having too much fun to notice! The bike rolled well with the power turned off, with no resistance felt through the drive, but we didn't turn it off much as this took the fun away from it all! About 20 mins into the ride, someone reminded us about the second ring at the front! Something we had completely forgot about due to not really using one on our 1 x 10 regular bikes or 1 x 11 Bosch eBike. Although we could have done the ride without it, once we remembered it was there, we did use it to make light work out of some of the climbs and it did come in handy. It's a nice addition from Yamaha and will certainly help if using the bike off power. Quick pit stop before back out again on the single track. To sum up the assistance modes - 'Eco' is good for conserving energy and the power delivery is enough for most to gently take the pressure off. The 'Standard' mode is easily enough for most, we feel this mode could be used for serious off roading and tough climbs. However the 'High' mode is just flat out fun! In fact on one very steep climb we came across; we stuck it in 'High' and blasted up just to see what the system was capable of. The bike went up with absolutely no problem, we were almost expecting it to give up, but it just carried on going to the point that we got to the top and looked back and thought, how did that just happen? During the ride of very mixed terrain the system did not skip a beat at all. We had plenty of descents and climbs. When we set out the capacity showed 52% on the head unit. After 3.5 hours of quite hilly terrain we arrived back with 21% still showing. So we only used about 20% of its usage. This was mainly in 'High' & 'Standard' assistance although we did try also try the 'Eco' setting too. To sum the new Yamaha eBike system up? Fantastic system and very pleased we were one of the first to test & review it! Really pleasurable to ride and although pushing the system hard it just kept performing. The reliability of the system will show in time, however we must remember that although new to us in Europe the system and Yamaha have been doing this a long time so any niggles should have already been refined out of it. One thing we did forget to test was the 'Walk Assist' function. We spent little time off the new prototype electric bikes so never had a chance to use it. We are sure it works just great as does the rest of the Yamaha system. Pros - Very powerful system, good battery range, gives support right from the off. Well know brand. Good integration from Haibike. Battery can be inserted from the side allowing better integration into smaller frames. In the event of a problem, no diagnostics tools are required. The LCD displays it all. The system comes in at a lower price than its competitors so will allow more affordable builds. Cons - The Yamaha head unit bracket could do with more support, although this was not a problem at all during our ride. Also we feel the charger could be a bit smaller, but other than that it's great. It's new to the UK market so will take time to evolve. One word to sum it up? - FUN FUN FUN!! Oops is that 3 words?.. You get the gist. Read the previous article here - First Look: Yamaha eBike System Overview 2015 Whats next? - Keep an eye out a video will be posted shortly, so watch this space!
Breaking News: We @e-bikshop visited Haibike in Schweinfurt to be one of the first to be introduced to and test the new Yamaha eBike system. This will be coming to the UK in the new 2015 sDURO electric bike line up. This new Yamaha system results from Haibike uniting with Yamaha to bring a whole new product range to the market. More can be read about this here - Haibike unite with Yamaha to bring new eBike system to European market. Scroll to the bottom of the page to view the exclusive prototype images e-bikeshop took whilst in Germany. Yamaha new to the Electric Bike scene? Yamaha have been in the eBike game for a long time, over 10 years in fact! They were one of the first manufacturers to introduce a crank drive electric bike system. But they never really left Japan. Yamaha actually has 53% of Japan's market share and had to date has produced over 2.7 million systems. So they really know what they are doing! Basically what we are getting at is although they seem fairly new to us, in Europe, they have been tried and tested and developed over many years to bring a whole new system to market. Yamaha eBike Series Overview Although already established in the market in Japan, the Yamaha eBike system has now united with the Winora Group (who own Haibike). Haibike have developed the new system alongside Yamaha to make several changes in terms of battery mounting and integration. Winora will also act as the service partners for Europe & will offer full service support, warranty and backup spares. The freshly developed system will be found in the new Haibike sDURO line up of eBikes for the 2015 season. Let's talk a little more in detail about the new Yamaha system and some of its features. We will break it down into the individual components. Yamaha Drive Unit The new Yamaha eBike motor is small and compact for a crank drive unit. It weighs in at just 3.5kg making it one of the lightest motors available on the market today. Yamaha have made the motor very unit slim and allowed the use of both single and double rings. This is handy for anyone looking for that extra gear on the climbs! The drive unit is a 250w motor, so it complies with European law. It offers support up to 25 km/h (15.5mph), obviously the rider can travel faster but with no further support from the motor beyond this speed. The new Yamaha drive unit offer an impressive 70Nm of torque which is claimed to actually peak at 80Nm! This is one of the most powerful units on the market and certainly packs a punch straight from the off. Also power is delivered in less stages than other systems to the crankshaft meaning there is no 'extra' gearing within the motor, so it can pull all this torque instantly. This also helps keep the actual overall size of the motor to a minimum. Yamaha market this as a '0 Cadence' system, meaning you do not have to get the motor up to speed with a few pedals, the power is there, instantly, every time. Yamaha Battery and Charger The charger is water resistant and operates at a frequency of 50/60Hz and allows an input voltage of 220-240v. It outputs at approximately 42 volts at a current of 3.6 amps. Although the prototype charger we handled had a European plug head, we are told by the product manager that by the time of release it will be available with a UK plug for the British market. The new Battery Pack from Yamaha has been totally redesigned. Haibike have been working with Yamaha for the past 2 years to develop the shape and integration of the battery. You can view how the battery is integrated in our exclusive gallery below. Interestingly Haibike have developed the Yamaha battery so that can be inserted from the side. This is a big improvement allowing the battery to be more integrated into smaller frames and does not have to allow a couple of inches of space above the battery to clip it in. The battery is available in one variant - 400Wh (11A). Interestingly when we probed the product manager about the true capacity of the battery pack, he said that most of the batteries were actually coming out at approx 420Wh, but they list them as 400Wh to be on the safe side! We learned that the battery had been tested for range on the 'Official Extra Energy Testing Route' in Germany. This route is made up of hills, mixed terrain and stopping and starting. The range figures are then published based on these findings, so they can be fairly accurate and not over exaggerated. So as you can see the estimated range is 130 Km (80 miles) in 'Eco', 85 Km (53 miles) in 'Standard' & 70 Km (44 miles) in 'High'. This range is really good and just shows how efficient the new system is. This Yamaha battery pack weighs in at just 2.9Kg, so like the motor it is one of the lightest units on the market. As expected the battery pack has 4 LEDs built into the pack to tell you the capacity. Another new feature of this battery is that it features a bump stop on the bottom mount, a small rubber suspension system that keeps the battery in place over even the roughest of terrain. The Yamaha battery carries a 2 year warranty and takes approx 3.5 hours to charge from flat. It can be charged both on and off the electric bike. Yamaha LCD Control Unit and Buttons Haibike have opted for the latest generation of the Yamaha head unit. It has a large removable LCD display screen that relates back all the necessary data & statistics. This new LCD display is backlit and ensures all the relevant data is relayed back to the rider in an easy to read and clear environment. It's very simple to use and the screen itself has no buttons on it at all. The rider controls this from the left hand control buttons. The buttons allow the assistance level to be selected with the up and down arrows. The assistance levels range from 'Off' (non assisted riding), 'Eco' (100% support), 'Standard' (190% support) & 'High' (280% support). The controls allow the use of a 'Walk Assist' mode, a power button to turn the system on and off, the 'S' button which scrolls through the LCD data & also a light activation button for trekking models equipped with lights. The Yamaha user displays the important data whilst out riding including - a power meter, range left, time, cadence, assistance mode, speed, temperature & battery capacity in a 10 scale bar and also percentage. In all the display is very easy to navigate and operate using the control buttons. It certainly makes things easier than taking your hands off the bars to navigate through the settings. The display mounts above the stem in the center of the cockpit so it is out the way of the rest of the controls and easy to see whilst riding. When removed from the bike it acts as a pocket watch. Exclusive Prototype Images We Took in Germany Check out the: First ride review on the Yamaha eBike system
E-bikeshop are very excited to announce the collaboration that will unite Haibike and Yamaha eBike systems. This was following our visit to Schweinfurt (Germany) this weekend that saw a brand new product range launched by Haibike - the sDURO. Haibike announces a brand new product range that will feature a newly developed Yamaha eBike system that will take the European market by storm. When, where, who? Haibike invited us over to take part in a fantastic weekend, with some big news expecting to be announced. We knew Haibike had a big secret that they were eager to tell us, so we joined them at the Mercure hotel in Schweinfurt on Saturday 19th July to see what all the fuss was about.With many new lines and features to talk about there was lots to take in and get excited about. Susanne Puello (Winora Group CEO) introduced us by telling the Haibike story from when it all began and where they are all now, Susanne went on to say - When we produced our first eMTB, all the other bicycle suppliers laughed at us and said that we were crazy! Now today all of these manufacturers are following in our foot steps trying to grab some of our market share. We will stay ahead of the game! But the main thing on the agenda was kept top secret right up until the point of being announced. Whats the big news? Felix Puello (Haibike Brand Manager) invited Minoru Morimoto (Yamaha's Executive Director) onto the stage to tell us about the new Yamaha electric bike system, Mr Morimoto went on to say - We are very proud to see our newly developed eBike system in Europe on Haibike sDuro's. We have actually already been developing Yamaha eBike systems since 1993. We were one of the first crank drive suppliers and own 53% of the market share in Japan. We produce over 300,000 eBike systems a year and to date have 2.7 million Yamaha electric bikes out on the road worldwide. Mr Morimoto even jokes when showing us the stats in comparison to other eBike system suppliers (Bosch), the Yamaha system is so advanced and ahead of our competitors, the system offers many benefits including 70Nm of torque which peaks at 80Nm, Mr Morimoto points at the board and says - 60Nm of torque, (smiles), who even is this other supplier? Mr Morimoto (Yamaha) at Haibike product launch 2015 This is followed by Felix Puello (Haibike Brand Manager) telling us how excited Haibike are to be working with Yamaha in this new venture into the sDURO line up, Mr Puello goes on to say - The sDURO is for the next 'eGeneration' of electric cyclists, it is aimed at the younger riders - the styling, price and function is all based around this. We are very excited to be presenting the new sDURO range which features the latest Yamaha eBIke technology. We have been working with Yamaha to develop this new system for the past 2 years & now it is finally here! Everything from motor integration to battery design has been re-developed between us and Yamaha to bring a whole new contender to the market. We will explain more about the new sDURO range in details in another article, expect to see this up shortly. We will also do a complete review and write up of the new Yamaha eBike system as we had the chance to ride one a prototype for approx 3.5hours through the local singletrack in Schweinfurt. What do we think? In all we think this is a bold move for Haibike, they are certainly dominating the market and with this new system on board the competition bar is set at a high level for other eBike system providers. We think that it will be healthy competition and should help progress the eBike market at an even faster rate. We will do a full write up on the comparison between Yamaha and Bosch to discuss, in detail, the pro's and con's of each system. Say hello to the next 'eGeneration'! Check out the: First ride review on the Yamaha eBike system Check out the: First Look: Yamaha eBike System Overview 2015
Thule Towball cycle racks explained: We get asked many questions about which Thule towball (tow bar) mounted car bike rack is best. We decided to do a brief review of the Thule range and explain what sets each car rack apart. Although this article is more focused on electric bikes it can be used to explain some of the key features of each Thule bike carrier. To set the record straight, who are Thule? Thule was founded in 1942 in Malmo, Sweden. It set out with a passion to 'make life easier' for outdoor enthusiasts to transport equipment in style, safely and easily. Thule don't just make bike racks, they actually produce for many different sports and applications, for skiers, fishermen, family luggage (roof boxes), surf boards and bikes alike. Plus much much more with an ever expanding product portfolio.Thule quickly established itself as the leading brand in the cycle industry for their car cycle transport options. They offer lots of applications from rear mounted racks to roof racks. Today we will be focussing on their range of tow bar (eBike) cycle carriers. Why choose a Thule eBike carrier? Thule are the market leaders in cycle transport, due to the 'ease ability' of their racks. They are well made, very well thought out & easy to use, with every aspect of the rack thoroughly thought out to make it a simple as possible. Often car racks have been fiddly to fit and can be a pain to use. This will only put you off using the rack and taking your eBikes further afield, so its worth spending a little on a decent rack you will actually not resent using. What's the difference between the racks? Thule offers 8 towbar mounted bike carriers in the range. We are going to focus on the top 4 latest racks, which also happen to be the best sellers. We will eliminate the Thule 'Hang On' & 'Xpress' as these look like traditional clip on racks that hang the bike from the frame (nothing for the wheels to rest on), but are towbar mounted to the car. We feel that if you have a towball fitted you might as well make use of a 'base rack' where the wheels are supported securely on a base and the weight is spread. This also means that minimal lifting is required as the bottom of the rack sits close to the ground so you don't have to lift eBikes (often heavier) too high off the ground. We will also eliminate the Thule 'RideOn' & EuroRide' as both these racks are very basic and have been improved on, although still available these racks have been developed and now have newer models taking their place. So that brings us down to the top 4 racks available today, the Thule 'EasyFold 931', the 'EuroClassic G6', the 'EuroWay G2' & last but not least the 'EuroPower 916'. What are the new features? All of the above racks have the latest features including new improved detachable frame grippers that offer limiter knobs so that not too much torque is applied when tightening to your precious new electric bike. These rack offers a large base so even slightly longer bikes wheels do not overhang the base too much. All of the featured racks also have a smart foot pedal release so that the rack can be tilted forward (with the bikes attached) for easy access to the boot, even with very wide doors the boot can be accessed without having to take the bikes and the rack off. The Thule car racks also feature a lockable tow bar mechanism so the rack itself requires a key to remove from the car and also the frame holders have a key lock for added security to the electric bikes themselves. All Thule racks come complete with easy click number plate mount, so you don't need to use tape or tap holes and screw the number plate on. They all feature built in lights with steady light, brake, reverse and fog light. Lets have a brief overview on each of these models.. Thule EasyFold 931 Towbar Rack This carrier is by far our most favourite rack of all. The Thule 'EasyFold' pretty much does what it says on the tin! Its unique design folds away easily to allow the rack to be transported with ease. In fact it fold so small that you can position it behind the drivers seat if the boot is full. We also offer a carry storage bag for this rack. Its the latest rack in the Thule range and set to be the most popular in the range due to its versatility. The 'EasyFold 931' weighs in at only 17.1 Kg's and is capable of carrying 60 Kg's. This means that it is perfect to carry 2 of our eBikes. The low weight of this rack coupled with small folded design means that it is easy to manoeuvre around gents and ladies alike. Here's a video of the EasyFold 931 rack in action to demonstrate its capabilities - The Thule EasyFold 931 is only available as a 2 bike rack. It offers a 13 pin power plug. It does not fit cars with spare tyres. You can view the full specification of this rack here - Thule EasyFold 931 Specification Thule EuroClassic G6 Towbar Rack The Thule EuroClassic G6 is the follow on from the G2 featured below. It has an improved sleeker design and ease of use and folds flat for easy storage. This rack is available in both 2 or 3 bike options as standard. We tend to stock it is the 2 bike version as the load capacity of this rack is 51 Kg's so will take two of our eBikes comfortably. This rack weighs in at 17 kg's. This rack is popular with both car and motor home users alike. It is the latest top of the range full size towball carrier rack on the market with great flexibility and loading capabilities. The Thule EuroClassic G6 is available as 2 or 3 bike options. Interestingly if you buy a 2 bike rack and wish to fit a 3rd at a later date, we can offer an extra bike adaptor that will fit. Here's a video of the EuroClassic G6 rack in action to demonstrate its capabilities - This rack features a 13 pin power plug and is compatible cars with a spare wheel with the purchase of a special adaptor. Thule EuroWay G2 Towbar Rack The Thule 'EuroWay G2' is the mid range towball bike carrier for everyday use. It is compact and lightweight. It folds flat for easy storage and is available in 2 or 3 bike options. It weights just 13.3 Kg's which makes it one of the lightest racks we offer. The G2 is the model beneath the G6, it is capable of holding 46 Kg's, so just about enough for 2 eBikes or 3 normal bikes. Unlike the G6, you can't add on another bike extender mount onto the 2 bike rack. So its best to weigh up how many cycles you may wish to transport ahead of buying one. We stock it as standard in the 3 bike version. But it is available to order in a 2 bike version as well. Here's a video of the EuroWay G2 rack in action to demonstrate its capabilities - This rack features a 7 pin power plug and can fit onto cars with a spare wheel with the purchase of an adaptor. Thule EuroPower 916 Towbar Rack The 'EuroPower' Thule bike rack is designed specifically for eBikes or heavier bikes with a long wheel base. The rack features a sturdy profile to cater for the extra weight and has been extended width wise by 25cm catering for longer bikes. The EuroPower is only available as a 2 bike rack and cannot be extended at a later date. It has a load capacity of 30 Kg's per bike or obviously 60 Kg's overall. Surprisingly as an electric bike specialist, we don't actually stock this model. We can of course order it on a next day basis for you. Why you may ask?.. We feel that the newer racks already have a long enough base to accommodate longer eBikes, a lot of bikes nowadays are 29" wheels so the new Thule racks absorb this into their design anyway. Also this rack has the same load capacity as say the 'EasyFold' and its only 9 Kg's off the 'EuroWay G6' load capacity of 51 Kg's. Its ideal for some heavier eBikes on the market, but most of our (own) eBikes are around 22 Kg's so in fact most of the racks we offer are capable of carrying 2 with no problem. The overall weight of this heavy duty rack is almost 19 Kg's so it does come up a bit heavier than the other racks available. Here's a video of the EuroPower 916 rack in action to demonstrate its capabilities - This rack features a 7-pin plug and can operate on cars with a spare wheel with the purchase of a special adaptor. To sum up the range The 'EuroClassic G6' is one of our most popular racks due to its sleek design and the capability of adding a 3rd bike on at a later date. However those looking for the ultimate rack with good load capacity and handy fold down mechanism for storage should look no further than the 'EasyFold'. Weigh up if you want to carry 2 or 3 bikes. If its just 2 then any of the range will cater. If 3 bikes then the 'EasyFold' and 'EuroPower' are out of the question. Remember 'EuroClassic G6' can be purchased in 2 or 3 bike racks or be adopted at a later date with the use of the '3rd Bike Extender Mount'. If you have a particularly heavy eBike (more than say 25 Kg's) we would suggest that the 'EuroPower' is the one. It also works well for Impulse and Panasonic equipped eBikes that have the battery between the seat tube and frame, causing a slightly longer bike. Most Bosch powered eBikes do not need the extra length as they don't come up any longer than a regular bike. For those not worried about fold-ability and sleekness, but want an everyday sturdy rack available in 2 or 3 bike options then choose the 'EuroWay G2', Simple. What else do you need to know? After reading this article you should have a fairly good idea of which rack to choose. You can view the full range on our website, which most are in stock ready to go out the door. Remember Thule products come with a fantastic 5year warranty and are built to last. They are certainly our favourite car rack brand, that's why we sell them! As an official Thule stockist we will deal with any warranty query in store, making sure you have a trouble free car rack for all those purchased from us. We like Thule because they also offer a large range of accessories and fittings for their racks. Be it from wheel adaptors to load ramps, they have thought out every possibility to make sure you are covered for your needs. We try to hold as much stock as possible, however if there is something you cannot see on our website, then please get in touch as we can have it here ready very quickly. The same goes for any spares as Thule give us access to a wide range of spares from keys to clamps to ensure it lasts a lifetime. For any other queries please get in touch, we can offer advice on vehicle specific fitment. You can view our Thule products here - Official Thule Partner Stockist in Surrey UK Other Thule products include Thule 13-7 pin rear light harness adapter Thule 7 - 13 Pin Rear Light Harness Adapter Thule XXL Fatbike Wheel Straps Thule Pack'n Pedal Tour Pannier Rack Thule 9152 VeloCompact Tow Ball Carrier Loading Ramp Thule Velo Compact 924021 Towball Mount 2 Bike Rack Thule VeloSpace 938 Towball Mount 2 Bike Rack Thule 9172 VeloSpace Tow Ball Carrier Loading Ramp
E-bikeshop have been very excited to get our hands on the brand new Lapierre Overvolt 2014 electric bike! We had the first batch arrive yesterday and have been eager to get these eBikes built up for a closer review. So on first impression when un-packing the Lapierre Overvolt is you can tell Nico Voulliez has added his special touch to the eBikes. From the balanced geometry to the smooth cut lines, the hydro formed frame and the suspension pivots. The eBike immediately comes across as well built and is fitted with components that are competitive considering the sub £4k price point! Lapierre Overvolt 2014 Frame Design & Smooth Lines The Overvolt frame features a FSA Internal tapered headset for a super stiff and responsive front end. The alloy hydro formed frame is both light weight yet durable and the unique 'Gull' style rear swing arm has some great design features. It is shaped in a way that all energy pushed up through the back wheel can be sucked up perfectly by the rear shock. This swing arm design also means that their is no chance that the chain can hit the chain stay at all, no matter what gear you are in. The design eliminates chain suck / chain slap ensuring a smooth and quiet ride. Unique swing arm design & smooth lines The gearing on this model is provided by Shimanos 10 speed drive train, the 1 x 10 system ensure you have a wide range of gears available for both climbing and descents. Lapierre have opted for a Shimano XT shadow rear mech that also has the new built in clutch to ensure the chain is always under tension, it is quiet in operation and the gears are precise. These are controlled by the Shimano SLX rapid fire shifters so changing gear is a breeze on the Overvolt electric bike. To slow this incredible machine down are the Formula hydraulic disc brakes. Formula The One Brake Levers & Handlebar Controls Formula have been creating excellent stoppers for many years now and Lapierre has not held back on ensuring this eBike can come to a stop as fast as it accelerates! The Formula brakes are minimal fuss and highly rated across the MTB community. Lapierre has mounted these on larger rotors and routed all the cables internally within the frame to keep those super sleek looks and minimize the risk of any snags. The Overvolt fitted with Formula The One Brakes Lapierre have used the new Bosch Performance eBike drive system on the 2014 Overvolt. This system has been beautifully integrated into the frame on this eBike design. Its well protected and sits as snug as a feather in keeping with the look. You can read more in depth about the Bosch eBike Performance system on our other blog posts. Bosch eBike Motor mounted in the Overvolt The Overvolt uses the Bosch Intuvia display to show the rider, with ease, all those essential pieces of data. Acting not only as the eBike drive system controls but also as a cycle computer to measure all the important values, it includes trip time, average speed, trip distance, range, maximum speed etc. This is all integrated neatly on the handlebars to ensure a clean clutter free cockpit. It can also be controlled by the user buttons on the left so no need to remove your hand away from the brakes to scroll through the functions. Bosch Performance Intuvia Display Lapierre has finished the Overvolt with RockShox Revelation 140mm travel forks with air adjust-ability and lockout mechanism so no energy is lost during those climbs. The Overvolt Electric Bike is well kitted out with Easton stem and seat post. A Selle Italia MTB saddle and FUNN Riser Trail Bars. In fact there's little you would need to change.. Just get on and ride! The wheel set is built on through axles front and rear for super stiffness and reliability. The rims are Mavic 321 alloy double wall rims so you can be sure to put the wheels through their paces without them buckling at the first hurdle. The Overvolt utilizes the new 27.5" (650B) wheel set to optimize all the benefits of a 26" rims and a 29" rim to combine them together to make the true performing wheel size. Michelin 27.5" Wild Grip R Dual Compound Tyres To keep these wheels firmly planted to the ground, Lapierre have wrapped them in Michelins rubber in the form of the super grippy Wild Grip R's. These tyres are very good at handling even the stickiest of situations and seem to last ages due to their durable compound. Whats the Verdict? The Overvolt utilizes all the previous technology advanced by Lapierre in their normal bikes and combined this with the latest Bosch eBike Performance drive system. This in turn brings a whole new contender to the electric bike market. The Lapierre Overvolt is well specc'd for a sub £4K eBike and no expense has been spared in getting it right! This new generation of cycling could be the kick up the ar*e that the mountain bike world needs. The only draw back of this Bosch eBike is the 15mph speed cut off, but of course when its fitted with one of our exclusive speed tuning kits, this is overcome, totally unleashing the full potential in the bike. Now riders can ride longer, faster & harder across even the toughest of terrain / hills. Click here to view the full specification - Lapierre Overvolt 2014
So many people have been asking about the 2015 line up of Haibike electric bikes, so I have pride in giving you a glimmer of whats to come to the UK shores soon. Here are 4 of the new models set to arrive shortly.In the 2015 line up follows a brand new new full suspension Haibike Fullseven RC 27.5" eMTB, a Haibike Hardnine 29" wheel hardtail which is also offered in a (hardseven) 27.5" wheel version. We will also be offering the new Haibike Trekking RX 700c electric bike. A brief overview of the bikes are as follows - Haibike Hardseven RC 27.5" 2015 Brief Overview: The Haibike Hardseven RC 2015 eBike is a 100m travel XC hard tail electric mountain bike. It is offered with a RockShox XC32 fork, Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, Shimano 10 speed drive train and the latest Bosch Performance eBike motor. This is a 27.2" wheel for all round trail riding. Price: £2700Wheel Size: 27.5" (650B)Sizes: 40, 45, 50 & 55cm Frames Haibike Hardseven RC 2015 Full Specification Haibike Hardnine RC 29" 2015 Brief Overview: The Haibike Hardnine RC 2015 model is built onto the same chassis / components as the Hardseven above. This model features a 29" wheel for faster rolling and easier ride on the road also. Again with the new Bosch Performance drive motor system. Price: £2700Wheel Size: 29" (29'er)Sizes: 40, 45, 50 & 55cm Frames Haibike Hardnine RC 2015 Full Specification Haibike Fullseven RC 27.5" 2015 Brief Overview: The Haibike Fullseven 2015 electric bike is equipped with a 120mm travel RockShox Recon gold front fork coupled with a Fox CTD rear shock. Its built for the everyday trail rider with 10 Speed SLX gearing and Shimano brakes. This full suspension model features 650B wheel and the latest Bosch motor. This bike is available in 2 colour variants - Black/White/Cyan & Turquoise/Yellow/Black Price: £3400Wheel Size: 27.5" (650B)Sizes: 40, 45, 50 & 55cm Frames Haibike Fullseven RC 2015 Full Specification Haibike Trekking RX 700c 2015 Brief Overview: The Haibike Trekking RX 2015 model is fully equipped for Road / Trekking / Hybrid styles of riding. It is fully equipped with all the essentials which come in handy. This model features the Sram Dual Drive for plenty of gearing, hydraulic Disc Brakes, super adjustable front forks and the latest Bosch Performance drive unit. This model is available in 2 variants - Gents and Ladies. Price: £2800Wheel Size: 700c (28")Sizes: 48, 52, 56cm (Gents) & 44, 48, 52cm (Ladies) Haibike Trekking RX 2015 Full Specification What we think?... Although all of the images above are artists impressions, they are super sleek looking with all new graphic designs. The geometry has been tweaked on each of the models for optimum riding and they now all feature the latest Bosch Performance system and the very latest up-to-date components. We have to say that we are very excited about the new models. They are very competitively priced and feature good quality components. All with that premium German build quality as expected! You can expect to see the full specification and features live on our website shortly. Along with reviews, guides and videos. These bikes will be available exclusively for pre order and we will be the first to receive these 2015 models into stock. All Haibike Electric Bikes can be viewed by clicking here.
We just received this review in from one of our eBike customers. This chap explains his journey into the electric bike world and how he concluded on the Moustache Samedi Gold Full Suspension Electric Bike. Full range of eMTB Moustache, Haibike & Lapierre eBikes It started, as these things so often do, without a plan. And that was my first mistake. If I had thought about it long enough I might not have been so eager to call in to see Martin at E-Bikeshop last Wednesday afternoon, or accept the offer of a coffee from his master mechanic, Jeremy. It was Jeremy who first suggested I take a close look at the new Moustache range. He proceeded with - Check out the Samedi 29/7, it’s the best-looking bike in the shop – but pictures don’t do it justice. Now, I do know my Haibikes from my Hai Karate but still, the Moustache range had passed me by up until this point. And if following the crowd is the way you roll too, they may not have pinged up on your radar either. I asked Martin why the biggest supplier of Haibikes in the UK had chosen to offer the Moustache range as an alternative. “The Haibikes are well-engineered machines,” he offered, “but cycling is not just about specs and dimensions and the Moustache bikes have a fascinating aesthetic which some people, me included, just ‘get’.” So, side-by-side, I pored over the Haibikes and the Moustache range and, to my surprise, the French brand looked fresher, cleaner, more cohesive, cooler. If you’re more MAC than PC, old Rolls than gold Rolls, or Jack Wills than Fat-Face you might feel the same. Although it is hard to explain why. What I can say is this: You have to see the bike in the flesh to appreciate it – even now when I look at pictures on the website they don’t appeal in the same way as some of the Haibikes. Moving on to the nitty-gritty, Martin asks questions. And more questions. He said - It’s my job to make sure you get the right bike,” he explained, I’ll tell you what type of bike will suit you best – it’s then up to you to decide on what look you like the most. I’ve a feeling he’s done this a few times before. Anyway, it turned out a hard-tail Samedi 29/7 Silver would be just the ticket. Or a RC29 Haibike. Both, reassuringly, at the lower end of the price range. “Yes, that’s all I need, it would be mad to go to a full-suspension model, its capabilities would be far beyond mine,” I agreed. Oh how we laughed at the spec-bling fan-boys who over-spend on unnecessary kit, dazzled by the latest, fastest, lightest components. Which does make it rather difficult for me to explain how I ended up with the top-spec, full-bling, Samedi 29/7 Full-Suspension Gold. I blame Jeremy and that bloody coffee. Oh, and my lack of a plan. Now, if you’re buy-curious like me, then you’d do well to leave your wallet behind when you visit Martin – one quick demo ride and you may be punching your pin into the little machine he keeps right beside him on his desk. Just like I did. Doh! So, how to describe the sensation of riding an electrically-assisted cycle? Well, imagine you were driving a gingerbread train on biscuit wheels. Actually, that’s not much help, is it? But in a way I’m right. You see there is a definite feeling of euphoria as your forward motion exceeds your inputs – there is a visceral disconnect between what you do achieve and what you expect to achieve. This can be quite heady. It’s a little addictive. And great fun. The Bosch power gives you four levels of assistance – with the top-rated ‘Turbo’ delivering a 275% boost – almost enough to give you a Jeremy Clarkson face-wobble. I asked my wife what she thought as she powered by me up our drive. “A-maz-ing!” was all I heard, as I watched her head towards the gravel. “Might have been a good time to mention the hydraulic disc brakes,” mentions my son to me, eyebrows raised, arms spread wide, palms up. Nodding, I winced at the thought of his mum pulling on the front like an old block-and-cable. No drama though. All safe and sound. All under control. And she was riding a large frame bike, when she’d be better suited to a small - That was one I dodged, then. Seriously though, I can see an unexpected benefit of these bikes is their ability to level-the-field in terms of enabling a group of disparate abilities (and fitness) to all have fun together. For us, that’s a big deal because in the past mum has always been a bit of a laggard – not through lack of trying - and to now have our wheels turning closer together for more of the time adds chocolate sauce to the ice-cream experience. “Keeping up with you two is soo easy now,” she said while idly cycling past us up ‘two-top’ hill. While polishing her nails. (I made the ‘polishing her nails’ bit up, to be honest). You get the idea though. One last thing. You might be wondering how this high-spec full suspension mountain bike performs on gnarly trails, or technical descents - Who knows? Certainly not me. I’ve hardly had a turn riding it since I got it home – I’ll prise it from the fingers of the family soon though, and I’ll let you know. Thanks to David Jenkins for this letter. To view the full specification of the bike in review click here - Moustache Samedi Gold Full Suspension Electric Bike
I’ve been riding mountain bikes for many years and had never considered adding an electric bike to my stable of rides. I thought I had no need for 1 as the old body was still working okay. So when Martin at e-bikeshop offered me a test ride on the Haibike NDURO PRO “e-MTB” I was very curious and welcomed the chance to try one out on the local trails near to e-bikeshops new premises in Farnham, surrey. Thankfully I picked a sunny and dry day. However the trials were very wet and muddy after week’s of rain so this was going to be an interesting first ride for me on the electric bike. The Haibike NDURO PRO was so easy to ride and the power assistance from the Bosch motor comes in quickly and smoothly to assist you as soon as you flick the power button on to Eco mode. I was soon easily cruising along at 15mph in eco mode. It was easy to change assistance levels whilst riding using your left hand on the control buttons. Come to a steep climb on or off-road and up the assistance mode all the way to Turbo and off you go. I had to remember to keep pedalling to keep the assistance going so no pausing for a quick breather. You can pedal as hard as you like on the eBike, just the same as on a normal bike, so you are still getting as much of a workout as you want. Climb in a lower assistance mode and the heart rate will still rise up nicely. The electric bike is really exciting and so much fun. Point it downhill and it’s off like a shot, but no need to panic about walkers or horses because as soon as you stop pedalling and brake then you can stop on a sixpence with the very powerful SRAM XO brakes. The best thing for me about the eBike is the ability to cut through even the deepest muddiest trail without stopping or really slowing to the usual pace of grinding through the mud. It’s a lot easier on the knee’s as you up the assistance mode and cut straight through the mud. I was having so much fun on this ride that I just aimed for the middle of each mud section rather than the normal route of trying to skirt round one side or another in a vain attempt to avoid the mud and keep going. The gears on this eMTB are excellent with positive shift’s coming from the SRAM X1 lever. With 11 gears on the rear you never run out of gears either at the top or bottom of the range. You have enough gears to climb the steepest gradient and then gears high enough to help you fly along at speed. Climbing on the eMTB is so much fun! Even when full of mud and splattered by endless puddles the gears were really positive and precise through the whole range. The suspension is amazing and soaks up all the bumps for a smooth, controlled and positive riding experience. The short stem and wide bars add up to spot on assured handling. Add in the dropper seat post for those tricky drop-off’s and descents and this electric bike is the whole complete package. Don’t forget the whole time I was having so much fun I was still getting a good workout. Ride everywhere in ECO mode and you can feel you are working. Another great thing about the bike is it’s off-road climbing ability. Just aim it uphill and flick the assistance into Turbo mode and off you go. Your own skill level will dictate what you can climb but you will be able to climb gradient’s you never thought possible before on a normal bike. You still need to balance and keep your weight over the front as you climb but it’s amazing. The Haibike handles really well in all modes of assistance and it is also a good ride with no assistance helping you, which is often the case when you are flying along the flat or going downhill. These times of no assistance will also increase the length and time of your ride that you will then have available in power assistance modes. The local bull calves also thought the new Mavic tyres were very tasty!! I was out for 3 hours and still had some battery power left at the end. I was covered in mud and so was the bike but I’d had the most fun on a muddy bike ride ever. If you’ve never considered an electric bike then think again. If you’re in to riding for fitness and fun and want to ride all year round, then this would make a great winter bike. I guarantee you will go out and ride a lot more as it’s so much fun. If you’re not sure then buy one for your partner or best buddy and go out riding with them. You’ll work so hard trying to keep up with them that you’ll be so fit, you will be in the Tour de France next year! Electric mountain biking equals fun, fun, fun. It will put a massive smile on you’re face. I think that’s reason enough to join the club and buy one. Don’t you? To view the full specification of the bike being ridden, please click here - Haibike NDURO PRO 2014 eBike
Following my great trip to Ludlow, yet another lovely sunny eBiking Wednesday came around and so once again the kitchen project could go hang. I set off from Church Stretton for Shrewsbury on the Moustache Samedi bike, again at 9:30. Instead of using the electric assist to shorten the time to one hour with an average speed of 16 mph, I went for best battery economy. I pedalled at about 60 rpm all the time. I used the gears to keep my pedal speed at about one double stroke per second. The pedal force I used was about the same as the force needed to raise my legs. So the pedal force was about a constant 6 Kg. This is an extremely low work rate. I think it represents about 250 calories per hour, it is about the same as a gentle level walking stroll at 2.5 mph. In this mode the electric assist is off nearly all the time. When rising ground strikes, I bang down the gears to keep the pedal rpm up to 60. As the speed drops to 7 mph in bottom gear, in goes the electric assist to maintain speed at 7 mph. The steeper the slope the more pedal assist gets fed in. As soon as the speed rises above 8 mph I back off the pedal assist level. The trick is to keep up the low constant personal work rate. I can keep that work rate up for 12 hours, just add Mars bars and the odd bacon roll. Going like this the trip took 1 hour 30 at an average speed of just under 11 mph. In Shrewsbury I loaded up with a Full English at my favourite pavement café in Butcher Row. I specially noted the freshly squeezed orange juice, the black puddings and the charming waitress. She was very interested in my Moustache. Guys, you do not need an R8 Spyder to get a favourable review! A good place to visit by cycle – Shrewsbury. I though ‘bugger it, it is such a nice day, why not visit the wife in Whitchurch for lunch?’ Well there was no reason. We get on very well, that is because we stopped trying to live in each others spaces. She is 40 miles away, perfect. So I carried on but was a little less economical than over the first 16.5 miles because I managed Shrewsbury with 90% of battery energy still in the battery. In other words I followed my own advice and got my battery economy measures in early. After 30 minutes for the Full English, I left for Whitchurch, 23.5 miles further on. I got there in a further 2 hours at an average speed of about 12 mph. I was in fine fettle apart from a trifle of sunburn. Lunch was excellent except that I could only manage bird sized portions on account of the Full English earlier. The Chablis was great, as it always is there and the 13 amp socket was just the trick. It took ninety minutes to fill the battery, so I guess that was about 45% used with 55% reserve after the 40 miles. The reason for the better range performance is all to do with the hills. This route involves only about a constant 40 feet of ascent per mile because North Shropshire is not hill country. It is not flat either, the hills are there but lower and more gentle. I am not so good at talking my own picture while riding the Samedi – yet. After lunch we took my third son’s dog for a 4-mile walk (a change is as good as a rest), then got an hours kip in. I woke up thinking ‘bugger it, why not go on to visit my oldest son and family in Chester another 24 miles on?’ My senior daughter in law texted that they would not be home until 18:10; there was risotto for dinner, did I want white or red? My eighteen-month-old grandson was reported hopping with excitement. With problems like this, who needs good luck? So I took my leave of the wife at 16:30. My wife and I will never get divorced, divorce is so common, everybody does it. This annoys our lovers no end! This time I was only going 24 miles on a full battery, so I used the high assist settings a lot and got there at 18:10. The sun shone all the way but a cool Northerly breeze got up and I would have been cursing that breeze were it not for what Bosch call ‘turbo’. The naming of the two higher electric assist levels are ridiculous. I have no problem with ‘eco’ and ‘tour’, however if you up the help level one more notch it is called ‘sport’ and the top level is called ‘turbo’. This is ‘boy racer’ thinking and most inappropriate. In my mind ‘sport’ equals ‘old fogies’ and ‘turbo’ equals ‘geriatric’. It is ‘assist off’ that equals ‘sport’, of course. This stuff induces ‘turbo-mode’ assertion. Note that you ‘sports’. Anyway, there you are. Personal fitness level a disgrace, smokes twenty a day and carrying about two stone overweight, the average speed was 11.5 mph, the day’s run was 63.5 miles, the total ascent was 2550 feet; the range would have been 70 miles without the recharge and still carrying a ten mile ‘tour’ reserve. The 64 year old subject did not die or even get tired from his 63-mile ride and 4-mile dog walk outing. I am against sun cream, it is highly toxic and definitely causes skin cancer, but a wide brimmed tie-on hat would have been desirable. Crash hats are for main-road ‘sports’; the routes that I take involve about the same risk as painting the kitchen ceiling. Now we do not generally wear a crash hat when painting the kitchen, do we? Bosch have got a tiny bit of their program wrong. Zero assist (assist off, but system on) motion is not averaged into the trip remaining range calculation. This leads the awesome 32-bit robot to draw some highly ridiculous conclusions. Bosch please take note here; the controls are great, why not get the range logic perfect? The programmers were scared of the divide by zero, infinite range issue on zero assist This is irrelevant. What we are interested in is trip miles since reset divided by total electrical energy input since reset times the remaining (available for power) electrical energy in the battery. In other words, ‘if you carry on with your recent personal performance pattern, terrain pattern and wind direction, this is how far you will go. The current assist level setting is changing all the time, it is irrelevant and should not bear upon the range calculation at all. Also I have to work out the battery state by manual estimation because the ‘fuel gauge’ works in huge 20% jumps due to the LCD display design limitations. The robot knows the battery status to the nearest erg. Why not tell me the battery state in numbers? i.e.: battery remaining charge state 230 (Wh) or 57 (%) etc. What I want would take me about 12 minutes on the cross compiler; one more information function in the info function stack. Battery state info display. There is no display provision for the Wh (or %) units text, so just put that units text into a manual addenda sheet. The battery state display could be advised by flashing the contents indicator when the battery state function is selected to view. Also if the robot knows how hard one is working (it knows very accurately, even in the ‘assist off’ position), then why not add in the trip biometric calories burned data too? That would take tiny changes to the LCD hardware, so possibly put that on the v2,01 ‘to-do’ list. In general I give Bosch and Moustache both a 10 out of 10 - could do better (and then get 12 out of 10, ha ha). Thanks to Ben Campbell for this fantastic write up - from the e-bikshop.co.uk team. To view the bike in review please click here - Moustache Samedi Silver Open
For the very first time Lapierre Overvolt eBikes will be hitting the UK shores in an exclusive deal with e-bikeshop. Lapierre has been at the forefront of the cycling industry for some time now. They have been creating beautiful machines for over 60 years, succeeding in each genre of cycling. The French manufacturer prides itself in quality and design and the heart of their production is still where it all started – Dijon, France. The step into the eBike market was an obvious one for Lapierre who have always been known to be ahead of the game; they could use all their design and innovation skills already achieved in the biking world and add this to the latest technology from Bosch, this has to be a winner!After a considerable time in development the all new Lapierre Overvolt was born. With the design input from their very own Nico Vouilloz (10 times MTB world champion) the Overvolt is equipped with the latest MTB components. When you combine this with the new Bosch Performance crank drive motors a new breed of eMTB’s is here. Your everyday mountain biker can now rider harder, faster and for longer on this powered trail machine.e-bikeshop is the largest independent crank drive specialist in the UK. They specialise in Bosch powered eBikes in many variants of road, hybrid and trekking bikes & in particular the new eMTB’s. With the recent expansion into their new sales & distribution centre, e-bikeshop is now fully equipped with the space to offer a large selection of bikes and brand new specialist Bosch eBike workshop bays to ensure their electric bikes are supported for the long term, not just at the point of sale.Martin Brown, Director of e-bikeshop.co.uk said – “We are very proud to announce that Lapierre eBikes will be coming to the UK for the very first time, this follows from an exclusive deal which has been months in the planning. We are already the largest dealer in the UK for the brands we stock so it’s nice to be able to add Lapierre to our ever expanding portfolio. I have actually been selling Lapierre non-electric bikes in my normal bike shops for years, so I really understand the brand and what it means. The quality is excellent and the design from Nico really shows when putting the bikes through their paces. I think the difference with Lapierre and Nico in particular is that he is an avid MTB’er and he actually ‘gets’ the eBike craze. Rather than ignoring it he has embraced it and has set to work creating some outstanding new bikes. We only sell quality, European, crank drive eBikes. So the Lapierre Overvolt range really does tick all the boxes for us, these are very exciting times indeed.”The new Overvolts are available to order from e-bikeshop.co.uk today, with the first models due to start landing in July.Expect to see updates, reviews, videos & more very shortly so watch this space.Lapierre Overvolt Full Specification & Pictures - Lapierre Overvolt 27.5 FS 2014
Part 1 of this story is here After the day of my Pilgrims Way trip, the next ride was The Ridgeway , across part of central England. The Ridgeway is an ancient road, the best know section of which starts at Overton Hill, in Wiltshire and ends at Streatley and Goring on the River Thames in Berkshire. This was to be a two day ride and I expected to cover about 90 miles in total. Catching the High Speed Train to London I cycled across London to Paddington Station, thinking how much nicer it would be riding along tractor ruts rather than trying to avoid cabbies and big red London buses attempting to squidge you into the kerb. The nice thing about the extra performance of the Haibike is that you can ride it a little like a motorcycle, well into the middle of the road with the traffic, until it speeds up to over 25 mph. Not that London traffic goes that fast for very long. The train to Pewsey took about an hour and a half and gave me a chance to top up the battery using one of the power sockets First Great Western now have next to some seats. The short ride up to the start of the Ridgeway was along a rutted bridleway which needed sport mode but the extra power of the motor took a lot of the pain out of a steep hill that would have otherwise had me pushing. I didn't need to be at the B&B until after 17:00 so I decided to ride along to Barbary Castle. Once on the Ridgeway the status is byway open to all traffic, whilst in Wiltshire. The going varies from a wide and heavily rutted and sometimes muddy surface to a semi made fine loosely packed stone surface. Up on the Ridgeway its easy to clip along at a good pace aided by the Haibike’s Bosch motor. On the easy parts eco was sufficient but in more difficult going tour or occasionally sport were selected. On the worst parts I set the Rock Shock Revelation forks to the full 150 mm travel. This really helped and for the most part the bike handled everything the Ridgway threw at it. Having 300mm suspension travel on my Yamaha WR450, I’m used to having a a bike with proper off road suspension. The Haibike didn't make me wish for my Yamaha’s greater travel and whilst I could still legally ride the WR on this part of the Ridgeway, that would change tomorrow.As I was riding at a goodly pace down a stony byway the rear end started to go wiggly. Curses! A puncture! Removing the rear wheel is as easy on the Haibike, with its crank motor, as it is with a conventional bike. On my previous electric hub bike, rear wheel removal is much more fiddly. The inner tube had been split by a small sharp flint pushing through the tyre. Bad luck, but then again I find MTB tyres too soft and I go for downhill tyres and heavy duty inner tubes full of that green “slime” puncture proof gunge. My WR has a mousse in the rear and similar things are available for bicycles. I do hate punctures.I rode up and through Barbury Castle thinking how the Saxons threw out the Romano British about 1500 years ago when this was an early fortress. I made a loop back the way I had come and rode through the ancient village of Avebury with its famous ring of standing stones. My B&B was in nearby Beckhampton. I’d covered a little under 40 miles and had two battery blocks left. That went on charge and after a wash and change of clothes it was a across to the Wagon and Horses for dinner. When cycle touring its tricky carrying everything but using a combination of a rucksack and also a special triangular bag I use on another bike, I found I could adapt it to fit around the Haibike’s frame and battery. That held the charger and part of the lock. With something as valuable as an electric bike you don’t leave it unsecured.After a comfy night and an early breakfast, I made my way to Avebury and spent some time walking around the stone ring. These were once buried by the medieval Christians who feared the Pagan significance of the stones. They have since been put back upright in modern times by people sensible enough not to be subjected to superstition. I marvelled at the timelessness of this but was also conscious of my need to keep to my own schedule and a train later that afternoon.The Ridgeway was up another long byway I’d whizzed down the previous day. Tour mode was enough except for a really steep part where I had to go to sport mode. As always the extra push was welcome. Unassisted pedalling is just so bad for morale. I met a group of motorcyclists from the Wiltshire group of my motorcycle club, the Trail Riders Fellowship. We exchanged pleasantries and chatted about the Haibike. Up to about 2004 it was possible to ride the whole of the Ridgway on a motorcycle. In fact there was a TV series called the Ridgeriders made from 1999 to 2001, presented by Nick Knowles, which followed down the Ridgeway some well know personalities like rock stars (Robert Plant) and actresses (Paula Hamilton) on vintage and classic motorcycles. It had a soundtrack and music by the Albion Band. The TRF were riding some of the other byways that criss cross the Ridgeway. Sadly for them (and my WR450) once you get to Oxfordshire, the Ridgway becomes (controversially) a Restricted Byway and is now closed to motor vehicles. The Ridgeriders are now history.But it was not closed to my Haibike and me!! Nevertheless, I think its important for all bike riders (motor/engined or not) to keep in mind the TRF Code of Conduct which in summary says, only ride where you are allowed, keep to below 25 mph, slow for walkers and if necessary stop for horses.I even had a clause added which says that we should “acknowledge other users with a wave or greeting”. On a bike as stealthy as the Haibike a friendly “good morning or “good afternoon” is all that is necessary. Even if some Ramblers blank you. I cracked on at a comfy pace of between 15 and 25 mph, but most importantly uphills could be maintained at nicely over 15 mph. The view was stunning and especially enjoyable from the saddle of a bike. Up on the Ridgeway you can see for miles about and there is a real sense of freedom. Riding down hill I was reassured by the powerful hold of the Magura MT2 brakes to keep progress in check.I stopped at Waylands Smithy for a banana and drink. This is an old burial mound and is one of the many locations on the Ridgeway that gives this ancient road a real feeling of timelessness.I occasionally came upon other cyclists. Again, no-one really noticed it was an electric bike. That was until you rode past them. There were one or two quickish riders, but I passed them (always saying “hi”) with a short burst in turbo mode. It was only if I stopped that they caught up and rode past; generally ignoring you!The suspension and frame geometry seems to be spot on and I’ve not noticed any idiosyncrasies in that area. Nothing fell off (I’d reengineered the broken pedelec sensor after my last ride) or broke and yet the terrain is quite demanding. The bike took it all in its stride.The mileage was now about 38 and I was down to the final battery block. Judicious use of eco and tour modes soon showed the computer telling me I had 2 miles of power left. Fortunately most of the ride off the Ridgeway to Streatley is downhill. I arrived in Streatley still with power available and pulled into a pub for a drink and sandwich. The total was 45 miles, mostly on unsurfaced green lanes. The bar staff let me charge the battery whilst I watched the River Thames flow past. After an hour the battery had three blocks which would get me to the station at Goring, across London and home. I arrived back home in Kent two hours later with well over 50 miles on the tripmeter. My legs ached but I’d enjoyed this Ridgeway ride much more than the last time when I was on an unpowered bike. So where to next? Thanks to Steve Neville - From the e-bikeshop team for this update.(Powered off-road Two Wheeler enthusiast) on his Haibike FS AMT 26
I completed my first proper ride on my new Haibike xDuro AMT PRO on Sunday: possibly one of the best days of the year so far for weather and dry trails. As a regular cyclist of many years, I ride a 30m round trip most days to work, and MTB in the Surrey hills with a group of up to 25 local riders every Sunday morning; all year round. Occasionally we venture further afield to Swinley Forest, Afan, Coed Llandegla and Coed Y Brenin. Recently I have turned to e-bikes since discovering I am nearing kidney transplant, in order to make up for the deficit in energy levels I am experiencing as a result. Having been let down by another supplier, I spoke to e-bikeshop.co.uk whom I’d been aware of and who had the added attraction of being local to me in their new custom built facility and showroom in Farnham. Check it out if you haven’t already done so – it’s impressive. As luck would have it they had a demo-day cancellation and before I knew it, less than 3hrs later I was on a test ride in the Surrey hills with a selection bikes to try! Group photo after the ride @ e-bikeshop in May 2014 The knowledge of the products by the whole team at e-bikeshop.co.uk was second to none and by the end of the ride I knew an e-MTB was for me. It quickly became apparent that the Haibike xDuro was the right model for me as I use my MTBs quite aggressively and I needed something which could cope with the hits, under the “All Mountain” category. It’s pure off-roader I was after, as I already have an e-hybrid which I use for daily road commuting. Given the increasingly national shortage of higher-end e-MTBs available, Martin at e-bikeshop.co.uk calmly helped me through the whole process smoothly and confidently and my customer experience was second to none. Even a minor initial technical glitch was resolved quickly and efficiently the same day. So back to the ride, I was justifiably nervous embarking on my first Sunday morning ride with e-power, would the bike be up to it? would I have enough battery power? how much respect would I lose with my ride-buddies, and the nagging feeling of “cheating”. Lovely shot taken along the way, Surrey Hills offers beautiful scenery! If you can keep your eyes of the eMTB! Despite the fact my fellow MTB-ers are of above average fitness levels, it quickly became clear that Eco setting was plenty to keep on the pace and near the front of the group. We covered the “3 peaks” ride – one of my favourite in good conditions as the views are spectacular: along the canal to Guildford, up Pewley Downs, St Martha’s and Newlands Corner on the North Downs. Across and down to Shere, back across Albury Heath, Blackheath and Chinthurst. On the climbs I used a touch of turbo to see how the bike climbed, and it was simply astonishing. My fellow riders were simply blown away – event the fittest of the group. I actually didn’t need turbo, tour setting would have been plenty but of course I had to see what she could do, and what Strava would make of it all. One of my biggest fears was losing the fun factor of my previous ride, an Orange Gyro. Although a very different type of bike altogether, I was delighted to find it just as much fun in an alternative kind of way. The ride across the Surrey Hills on the Haibike FS AMT PRO mapped on Strava Coming down the back of St Martha’s there are some wonderful pieces of single track with berms, jumps and drop-offs-a-plenty. With the additional weight and low centre of gravity, due to the crank drive motor and low mounted battery I found the Xduro to be incredibly well planted with the Schwalbe Hans Damf tyres providing seemingly endless grip - especially on the sidewalls. Although not as nimble as my previous bike, it was still more than possible to jump and get airborne and I found myself using most of the 150mm travel provided by the front and rear silky smooth Fox Kashima coated suspension. The Haibike Sprocket Equalizing System (SES) was perfectly balanced and provided increased confidence and predictability. The 27.5” wheels provide exactly the right balance of nimble turning but with the traction and bite of the bigger wheels. After 30 miles, 4 hours in the saddle, several sizeable climbs and a 10 minute “turbo” blast home after saying farewell to my ride buddies I was astonished to see I still had 2 bars of battery left! (I’d unnecessarily taken my charger in my Camelbak with me on the ride as I was unsure what to expect..) As it turns out by the end of the ride my fellow MTB-ers had nothing but respect for my new Haibike, and to say it raised a lot of interest in the group would be an understatement. It’s probably fair to say there will be a few more in the group as time progresses! My bike has been set up perfectly by the team at e-bikeshop.co.uk, with no adjustments required other than saddle position and height. After a good clean, polish and re-lube the Xduro was back to showroom condition once again and ready for action again. Next stop: a 5 day MTB adventure on the Isle of Man in June, and I can’t wait! With thanks to Matt Dibb for this lovely write up - From the e-bikeshop team. Expect an update on Matt's trip to the Isle of Mann soon. To view the full specification of the model featured, please click here - Habike FS AMT PRO Electric Bike