IT has always been possible, given enough gears and athletic endeavour, to bike around Lyme. But unless cycling is your thing, it’s not an attractive prospect.
Enter the e-bike – a bike with an electric motor to assist. When you pedal, the motor pushes too. You still have to push the pedals, which means you still get health benefits – but the hills become less daunting.
You can select how much extra push the motor gives you – depending on how athletic you’re feeling, and impacting on the battery will last.
For us, the e-bike opens up the possibility of cycling down and back to the shops, or cycling down to the beach and back, rather than doing these journeys by car.
E-bikes are in demand with prices starting at £1,200 for a new bike. We converted a 23-year-old mountain bike by the addition of a 250W motor, and a 250Wh battery. This is not only about half that price, but is good re-use of an otherwise great bike.
An average adult produces 250kw whist pedalling – so on full power, this is like having a buddy pedalling too.
For general cycling, 250Wh is plenty of battery for a range of 20 miles or more, depending on how hard you’re cycling.
However, climbing Lyme’s hills laden with shopping demands a lot from the battery – so I’m finding that a 250Wh charge is good for two assisted ascents. For a relaxed ascent up Lyme’s hills, consider a slightly more powerful system.
If you are not interested in converting a bike, e-bikes are available from most bike shops, including Soanes Cycles in Colyton, and Axcess Bikes in Axminster, who specialise in e-bikes.
By law, e-bikes don’t give the rider a push above 15mph. Above 15mph, you’re doing all the pedalling yourself. Riders have to be at least 14 years old – so not useful for young families.
An e-bike makes cycling around Lyme fun. It’s a great way to cut CO2, pollution, congestion and to get fit.
Cycling with an electric motor seem like cheating – but e-bikes are better exercise than being daunted by the hills and taking the car instead. And although not cheap less expensive than a small car.
Rob Smith
Turn Lyme Green
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