Suggest an eBike for Siân

[Mullet Man]

I had Fiamma door mounted racks on 2 different PVC's for years without issue. I changed to towball mounted when my back started giving me gyp lifting the bikes up. In 2017 in Portugal a french guy came over to my van to ask for the details of my Atera Strada tilting rack.He showed me his new Fiat PVC, with only one lightweight road bike on the rear door rack.The door had peeled on one side and was basically a scrapper. If you are unlucky to hit a pothole or a sleeping policeman at a fair clip,the downward forces on the door and hinges are immense.Or you might be lucky as I was.

 

[Mullet Man]

The bikes will probably weigh about 45 kg but I don’t know how much the scooter weighs but at the moment it’s pulled right out so he can get to the doors so when it’s pushed back in it might be okay. Looks like a Maxi chassis as it’s got 16 inch wheels.

Ah ok,if it's pushed back in that would mitigate things somewhat but still think your pushing it with a scoot on as well.Have seen the same, a few times.

 

[Helen Ariel]

I’ll second what DangerMousy has said and recommend the Specialized Vado SL Step Through frame. Sub 18kg including the battery.
Very reliable and great support if things do go wrong.
As I said on another thread do not buy anything other than a reputable mainstream bike brand. It’ll end in tears.
Happy to give more detailed info if needed.

Paul

 

[Ridgeway]

I would certainly look at Ribble and also Orbea (Gain if drop bar, maybe Vibe if flat bar preferred)

Canyon also do an “ON” version ie electric of their Grail gravel bike, worth a look.

 

[Lenny HB]

If you're willing to spend the £££s then a Specialized Vado SL is the way to go. I have the low step, hubby the normal one..both very happy with them. The batteries and motors are smaller than our old bikes, but the lightness of the bikes means you don't notice (even on steep hills).

New model due in April with 50nm motor.

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[DangerMousy]

New model due in April with 50nm motor.

Is that an SL or the full fat Vado? The Vado is much more powerful, but also much, much heavier than the SL version.

 

[Nanniemate]

The bike is so light really use the assist

Islabikes - Premium lightweight bikes for children and adults

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www.islabikes.co.uk

 

[Helen Ariel]

The bike is so light really use the assist

Islabikes - Premium lightweight bikes for children and adults

The UK's premier range of British designed high quality balance, first pedal, multi-purpose, road, cyclocross, gravel, mountain bikes and award-winning e-bikes for adults and kids of all ages, including a specialist range designed for cyclists living with dwarfism. Built to last and tested to...

www.islabikes.co.uk

Unfortunately they stopped making bikes a few months back.

 

[Lenny HB]

Is that an SL or the full fat Vado? The Vado is much more powerful, but also much, much heavier than the SL version.

The SL version the fat one you can get now with 50/70 or 90nm but weigh in at 29kg.

 

[Nanniemate]

Unfortunately they stopped making bikes a few months back.

Looks like ribble then as the bike is very similar

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[DangerMousy]

The SL version the fat one you can get now with 50/70 or 90nm but weigh in at 29kg.

Interesting - sounds like they're finally rolling out the 1.2 motor that's already available on the Levo SL
Not that I need an upgrade......just looking (for now )

 

[Helen Ariel]

I have the new SL1.2 motor in my bike and it’s great. Quieter, more powerful and slightly more efficient.
Whether you need it in a hybrid style bike is another thing. Some cracking deals on the SL1.1 currently!

 

[Helen Ariel]

With regards to Ribble, I’d be checking if you can get spares when needed; not a case of if needed as you will need them.
When we’ve tried to source them and contacted Ribble direct on behalf of customers they couldn’t tell us what parts they’d used!
I strongly recommend buying from bricks & mortar. As I said previously “buy cheap, buy twice”. You’ll appreciate having a relationship with your local bike shop when you need help.

 

[Jim]

In Cambrils we bought Siân a Trek District+ 1 and she’s loving it. She stays in Eco and keeps up with me no problem at all. I’ve only beaten her once on a quick jump up a short steep hill. But she just stays with me easily and importantly she enjoys the ride.

Problem two. We went over the weight on our door hanging bike carrier but only by 3.5 kg. Which is 10% over. We’ve done 170 miles down to ‎La Vila Joiosa with no problem. But I want to get a tow bar mounted carrier in Spain just in case and deffo before we head home on British pot holes. Any suggestions?

 

[scotjimland]

But I want to get a tow bar mounted carrier in Spain just in case and deffo before we head home on British pot holes. Any suggestions?

I removed the Fiamma door mounted rack, and now use the Thule Velo Compact tow ball mounted rack and cant fault it ..

carries two pedal or e-biles

Thule VeloCompact 2 bike tilting carrier (13 pin lights) no. 924

A new version of the popular VeloCompact, now supplied with 13 pin lights (we include a free lighting adapter if you have 7 pin lights).Compact, lightweight, well designed, well made and very easy to use.It weighs only 14.2kg making it easy to handle and is small enough to fit in most car boots.

www.roofbox.co.uk

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[Kannon Fodda]

Thule tow bar racks probably won't allow the rear barn doors to open more than a few inches, certainly not fully. People have more success with the Altera racks that slide out.

 

[scotjimland]

Thule tow bar racks probably won't allow the rear barn doors to open more than a few inches, certainly not fully.

correct.. but we don't need them open until we are on site .. and only then to access the toilet cassette to empty it .. the back of our van is a toilet, wash and shower room..

but nice open in summer having a poo al fresco

do you have a link to the Altera sliding rack ?

 

[cyberyacht]

correct.. but we don't need them open until we are on site .. and only then to access the toilet cassette to empty it .. the back of our van is a toilet, wash and shower room..

but nice open in summer having a poo al fresco

This bloke Alf Resco has some dubious habits.

 

[Jim]

My beer fridge is just behind the backdoor. So will need a rack that slides to allow the doors to open.

 

[Dutch 68]

In Cambrils we bought Siân a Trek District+ 1 and she’s loving it. She stays in Eco and keeps up with me no problem at all. I’ve only beaten her once on a quick jump up a short steep hill. But she just stays with me easily and importantly she enjoys the ride.

Problem two. We went over the weight on our door hanging bike carrier but only by 3.5 kg. Which is 10% over. We’ve done 170 miles down to ‎La Vila Joiosa with no problem. But I want to get a tow bar mounted carrier in Spain just in case and deffo before we head home on British pot holes. Any suggestions?

Thule is the best and widely available all over the world

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[Dutch 68]

Thule tow bar racks probably won't allow the rear barn doors to open more than a few inches, certainly not fully. People have more success with the Altera racks that slide out.

My Thule cantilevers away with the bikes attached

 

[Jim]

[Broken Link Removed]

My Thule cantilevers away with the bikes attached

Excellent ,what is the model number?

 

[dash300]

correct.. but we don't need them open until we are on site .. and only then to access the toilet cassette to empty it .. the back of our van is a toilet, wash and shower room..

but nice open in summer having a poo al fresco

do you have a link to the Altera sliding rack ?

We have this one https://www.atera.de/en/genio-pro-advanced.html
It folds neatly for storage and tilts with bikes on away from the rear van doors. It doesn't quite allow both doors to fully swing open on the Ducato PVC but allows easy access to the rear of the van when bikes are tilted stepping in and then opening both doors 3/4's open to access the rear of the van.

 

[Mikey RV]

Thule easy fold XC. Takes two e-bikes, folds down and when not in use packs up like a suitcase for easy storage. Yes it’s expensive but a great piece of kit and spares if you need them available.

 

[Chris]

In Cambrils we bought Siân a Trek District+ 1 and she’s loving it. She stays in Eco and keeps up with me no problem at all. I’ve only beaten her once on a quick jump up a short steep hill. But she just stays with me easily and importantly she enjoys the ride.

Can’t help with the bike Jim, but I do like Cambrils.

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[scotjimland]

We have this one https://www.atera.de/en/genio-pro-advanced.html
It folds neatly for storage and tilts with bikes on away from the rear van doors. It doesn't quite allow both doors to fully swing open on the Ducato PVC but allows easy access to the rear of the van when bikes are tilted stepping in and then opening both doors 3/4's open to access the rear of the van.

The Thule velo also tilts back with bikes on as you describe and folds for storage

 

[Mother Ship]

To enable fully opening back doors various companies now make swing away racks. Just an example https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12562796...pid=5339023013&customid=&toolid=10001&mkevt=1

 

[tomgrey]

You could try a bafang kit. The complete kit (without battery) has a shipping weight of 6.44kg. Bear in mind that includes stuff that you already have in the donor bike (cranks, etc), so lets call it 5.5KG. That leaves you able get a bike that weighs around 10kg. You should be able to get a good donor bike in UK for under £200 and bafang kit will be about £400, plus battery another £300. You only put the battery on the bike when you are riding so you do not need to think about the weight of the battery. This will allow you to build your wife a very nice electric bike with excellent range and depending which motor you select you get from 15mph to 30mph. An off the shelf e-bike will not have similar performance or range and will probably be around 22kg, so heavier.

 

[Dutch 68]

[Broken Link Removed]

Excellent ,what is the model number?

Here you go Jim, even better then mine, mine folds down, this one swings away so full opening if you have barn doors, Thule so top quality

 

[Mikeco]

The Fau Vert shop is about 3 miles away from where you are at the moment Jim and is at Carrefour at La Cala Finistrat shops. They sell Thule bike racks as I was looking at them last week.

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