Cycle commute london

weeble said:
IMO those 'electric' bikes are a gimmick as restricted to 12mph by law (possible 15, can't remember), make the bike heavier and are quite expensive for what they are.
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Not a gimmick at all - have a read of http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/ and http://endless-sphere.com/forums/. Legally in the UK they should be restricted to 17mph (the laws says 15mph +/- 10% which means 17mph in reality) and there are some good lightweight ones around - look at Cytronex for example.

http://www.cytronex.com/

Obviously cheaper ones are heavier.

Mine uses the same hub as a Cytronex and assists to 25mph, has a 25 mile range and weighs 17kg :-) I love it - if it's not raining in the morning I'm always on the bike instead of in the car and I can do my commute in 25mins - it takes 35-40mins in the car :-) I've done 2000 miles on it now and so saved nearly £700 in fuel costs already just from Last october. Btw the bike costs 5 pence to fully charge.

My next electric bike will be:-

http://www.justebikes.co.uk/products/haibike-eq-xduro-fs-rx-ebike/
 
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It's a 1.7 mile walk from my flat to the office in Monument - I'd highly recommend it. Or it's 6 minutes on the tube if I'm running late! An easy commute :)
 
Jonny69 said:
Yep, probably your best bet. Prices on eBay are overinflated to say the least.

The easiest way to do it is find an old 70's or 80's 5- or 10-speed racer. On these the gear cassette unscrews and is the same thread as a fixed-gear cog or a single-speed freewheel. Simply get your local bike shop to swap it over and re-space the wheel if you can't do it yourself :)

That age bike is most suitable because the rear drop-outs are usually long so you can set the chain tension. 6- and 12-speed bikes can be used but don't always have a screw-on cassette because some of them are splined.
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thanks! ill take a look always fancied one :o
 
weeble said:
Interesting....although not for me yet. Only seen the cheaper one's on my travels, who may go up N.London hills faster, but typically get overtaken on the flat/downhill. I only do 14 miles per day on a 10kg bike, but that will increase whenever we move house...perhaps then...anything to keep me off the tube!
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Yeah I do 18.4 miles a day and with my Arthritus it's nice to still be able to do that kind of mileage on a bike :-)
 
touch said:
Screw-on freewheels dont have the same thread that you need for a fixed gear. It will work with a singlespeed freewheel, but you need a different thread for a fixed gear + lockring.
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Yes they do, it's only freewheels with fewer than 16 teeth that have a different (smaller) thread. You should use a lockring, admittedly, but you don't need one if it's cranked up tight enough and you don't have legs like Chris Hoy :D
 
Jonny69 said:
You should use a lockring, admittedly, but you don't need one if it's cranked up tight enough and you don't have legs like Chris Hoy :D
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As you say, a track sprocket will physically fit on the thread of a screw-on freewheel but there is no way to fit a lockring on it. Regardless of how tight you think you have managed to get the sprocket on, i wouldnt ever recommend riding like that.

It's maybe not so bad if you have brakes and you dont use the fixed gear to stop yourself at all, but there is a reason they call that setup a "suicide hub".
 
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rickjames said:
Trying to find a free bike on Gumtree/Freecycle is proving a mare.

Planning on cycling from Mile End to Chigwell when I do get it sorted, Around 10 miles each way and the route looks pretty easy/flat.

Imagine I'll save at least a grand over the year, whenever I need to go into central/north its just a bus ride.
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The route is flat until you get to Wanstead, then there quite a hill, but then a nice downhill after, then another small hill at Woodford Bridge. Should take about 40 minutes.

O.P - I commute from Clapham to Camden twice a week, its about 9 miles and really flies by, on a good day I can do it in 35 mins, a bad day 50. It's so much cheaper, faster and healthier than using the tube. What you save on a travel card (£180 a month) can help toward that rent!
 
10 miles do fly by.

mainly because you have to always be alert.

you will surprise yourself how you get used to it. just remember when winter comes round good clothing will help a lot.

i have a flat cycle and as such went for single speed bike. more bang for your buck, easier to maintain and cheaper! the one thing i would suggest is if you plan on munching through the miles maybe clip-in pedals are worth looking at, they are by far the best thing i have invested in.
 
I cycle 13.5m each way (just moved house, used to be 11m) and you get used to it, honestly. Granted having shower facilities at work helps. Just make sure you have decent puncture resistant tyres (not knobbly ones) and carry tools just in case.
 
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