I review a surprisingly good and enjoyable electrically assisted bicycle with a ride along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal from Bingley to Saltaire

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41 Comments

  1. Good to see you out and about on a bike, though I prefer the ‘acoustic’ or ‘analog’ type – they’re a lot lighter to carry up stairs! Remember not to overclock your battery.

  2. Out on my electric mountain bike yesterday for about 30 miles, great fun and great exercise – especially if you keep it in low assistance mode for all but the steepest of hills. One word of advice though if you’re not aware as someone new to electric bikes is don’t be tempted to keep it in too higher gear, you need to keep a pedal cadence appropriate to your speed. Many people keep them in too higher gear (because you easily can as they don’t labour, unlike an ICE motorbike) and a lot have lessened the life of the motor by doing so with them failing prematurely. Keep enjoying your ‘leccy’ bike alongside your motorbikes Dave, as do I👍

  3. X copper not obeying the dismount rules. Reminds me of my father-in-law who would have e been about your age at the time.

    Went into the local park which at the time you could not ride your bike through.

    My father in law was a stickler for the law except when he felt it did not apply to him.

    So set of through the park only to be waved down by the youngest copper he had ever seen. Looked about 10. Think he had just qualified and was looking for some bad buggers to nick?

    My father was humiliated by being told by a child in a police uniform that at his age he should have more sense. Still laugh at that to this day.

  4. Good Morning Dave, I've watched many a program featuring Canal Boaters, including Timothy and Prunella West…The joy of traveling on the water watching the countryside slip slowly by…It all looks so idealic. Now, I'm seeing those same scenes from the point of view of a peddle biker. It looks a great way to get out for a bit of excise without going into full Lyra Lout Mode…
    l suspect there is more reason for electric assist bicycles than electric motorcycles…An electric powered motorcycle completely misses the point of Motorcycle ownership…Everyone who has ever owned a Motorcycle knows the joy l refer… Greetings from España ..

  5. With the current petrol prices, I can see more people using electric bikes for commuting if they don’t have commutes of more than ten miles or so, especially in the summer months when dry. In the winter when it’s cold and peeing down and dark in the morning maybe less so.
    I have a Himo ZB20 max, which is a folding bike with 4” tyres which was similarly priced to the bike you’re riding here. I use it for leisure riding in the summer months usually in the lowest assistance mode. It has a similar range to the bike you’re using. The folding nature means I can put it in the boot of the car to go further afield to start my rides and haven’t had any problems with it so far, the adjustable front suspension and large 4” tyres make the ride more comfortable and I’ve changed the seat to a Brookes leather sprung saddle I had on my previous non electric bike for which my bum was very grateful.

  6. I bought an electric bike a few years back, as a larger ggentleman, I purchased a cargo version as a preparation / trial to see if I would get on with going back to motorycling, I use it locally and its a delight to go places that motorcycles would not be allowed- into the woods, along the river bank etc. I go up the hill through Canterbury University ion level 4 in second gear, this way I can pedal up the hill (most cyclists have to push their steeds up this hill as it is very steep. I heartily recommend an electric bike, I can easily do 25 miles without dropping more than a bar of power, and it gets me places the motorbike cant. strangely enough, it allows me freedom, i struggle to walk more than a couple of miles at a stretch before my back warns me its had enough, yet 26 miles of constant effort on the bike just leaves a sore bum. It was good enough to prove to me that i would be fine on a motorbike once again and it has improved my fitness levels quite a bit, I tend to ride out on a higher setting, then drop it down for the ride home, consider that my cargo bike has tyres that would not look out of place on a moped, and the bike weighs in at 70kg, this is a heavy bike to ride unassisted, plus I have a small bike trailer I sometimes tow behind (when I go shopping)

  7. You have got me thinking about an E-bike. I have a great mountain bike but sadly my health is failing me. I have a progressive neurological disorder that leaves me with little to no energy. A wheel mounted motorised mountain bike may allow me to get back up on the beautiful Ridgeways again. It would be worth spending the money but what concerns me is the durability of these E-bikes. Need to research some long term reviews I think. More vids like this will be appreciated!!

  8. Morning Dave. I got rid of my push bike around 2005. Keeping my petrol machine me thinks, sorry but the future looks sad, very sad indeed. Laters sir 👍…

  9. When British Waterways had responsibility for canal towpaths it was illegal to ride a cycle along them, and the took extreme measures to deter it. Opposite Apperley Bridge Marina they had a hinged and locked steel bar across the towpath, at an height of about 30" (again, pre EU units) which left just enough room between the support post and canal for pedestrian traffic; even had to lift the nipper's pushchair over the bar as there was no way around or under it!

  10. Yes! they are the way forward for older riders ,even older m/cycle riders. I would even got as far as to say they can be more rewarding /fun than riding a m/cycle in these days of traffic, aggressive drivers and potholes. Just remember; you do get what you pay for. Pedal assist are the best option with crank mounted bosh motor, in my personal view of course? Enjoy!!!

  11. What a lovely route I used to fish the canal at the bottom of the five rise as young men , i was impressed by how well it is looked after today better than i remember.

  12. By foot , then by horse , then by bicycle ,then by motorcycle , then by Electric bicycle , then by Electric motorcycle ,they even have an Electric horse (true ).
    He who controls the switch , controls mankind .😮

  13. Being a cyclist myself, and still active ( not so much now!) I have mixed emotions about what we call Pedelecs or EPACs, I had a serious RTC, 20 years back clattered
    by a speeding motorist,
    I did get one, to regain my fitness, but eventually chopped it in as I got fitter, I was riding it above the cut off speed , officially 15.5 mph .
    Now you being ex-woodentop, what are your feelings about people's reaction to cyclist being on the road, there is a lot of hate out there against cyclists in general, being on the road, where they belong.
    With your goodself being a lifelong motor cyclist, a man of authority, do you get the féling cycling on roads is becoming unsafe?
    Something for the Bingley baton perhaps?
    I am a recent convert to motorbikes, partly to maintain my wanderlust for exploring places on 2 wheels somet9 I increasingly will have problems with cicycles as I call them,as I have a shed full not all of them standard 2 wheels, got tricycles as well,which are weird things but a complete hoot to ride.
    See you down the road then Dave!

    ,

  14. Sorry no Chinese for me I’ve bought an estrali 20x yes more expensive but at least it’s designed and assembled in the uk they also do a carbon framed one, another bike Is the Danish Hygge it gets great reviews as well

  15. Didn't see a bell which I understand is a legal requirement on a new bike.Correct me if I am wrong, Great route if you can include it in a commute as it keeps you away from the traffic. Feel free to do a few more ebike rides for me.👍

  16. Living in Crossflatts I'm literally 10 minutes walk from the 5 rise locks. We're really blessed with lovely walks and countryside round here. Wouldn't want to live anywhere else.

  17. Nice video. I do Saltaire to Skipton or Leeds at least twice a week. It's a good surface that whole stretch now.
    I meet a lot of folk on e-bikes, most would never have used a normal bike so l think they are a great thing. I'll get one but not for a few years yet.😁👍

  18. I was an 8 to 10k miles/year cyclist for years and when we reached our mid 70s 10 years ago I converted a couple of bikes to electric assist with front wheel drive. I usually got up to 100km/charge but I didn't use electrical assistance except when necessary. Not over keen on canal tow paths – that water seems to be almost magnetic 🙂

    Yorkshire is a great place to cycle. We bought our tandem from Ilkley after a test ride to Burnsall and back. It's nearly as good as our native Derbyshire Peak District but bigger and York is a lot nicer than Derby.

    The main thing I know about Saltaire is that Alfred Scott manufactured his water-cooled 2 stroke twins there. I rode a 1932 version as my regular transport for some time. I've done many motorcycle miles as well both solo and sidecar, that's why I'm here.

  19. Really good part o' the country. Never fancied an e- bike, preferring to put in the graft myseff. But my little Honda scooter is quite enough to scare me witless when I need an adrenalin rush . . .

  20. You speaking of the Damart thermal underwear factory in Bingley prompted me a revisit. l used Damart under garments a good deal in the mid/late seventies…Long before the dedicated motorcycle gear that is available now there was Damart….Getting ready for the forty mile ride to London on my Beemer, firstly a layer of Damart long-johns and a vest…jumper and jeans, then the outer weatherproof layer….including Derry Boots. The BMWs R100RS faring keeping the worst the weather could throw at me…..Although not ''toasty'' death from exposure was avoided…back then staying warm on a motorcycle was a real problem, Although the Bike had heated grips there were no heated suits etc! Thank heavens for Damart…

  21. I'm glad to hear Damart are still in production. Their under garments kept me warm through the early eighties winter months when I was a motorcycle courier in London!

  22. Not many official cycle paths are in this area (according to Google maps cycling overlay) other than the towpath, but look how nice it is.

    I very much enjoyed this one. Are there many routs that are cycle friendly but closed to motorbikes around Bingley?

    That noise sounds like the crank arm hitting the kick stand .

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