Equipping a bike with a small electric motor for the Tour de France is called ‘mechanical doping’ and is banned.
One Auckland cycle outlet advertises beachy cruisers, cheeky step-throughs, mighty mountain bikes, sporty street bikes, and cool commuters.
You need no licence and no special skills for an e bike.
We hear two main criticisms of e bikes - they are too expensive and therefore elitist, and they can go too fast for shared cycleways and are therefore dangerous.
Let’s address the price question. E bikes can cost up to $8000 or more, depending on your pocket and how you want to use them. A perfectly good leisure bike will cost between $2500 and $4500.
Some commuters are buying quite expensive models because they get them to work fresh and not sweaty, and are good for fitness too.
Most new e bikes have a six-year guarantee. If you spend say $3600 - that’s just $600 a year while the bike is still under guarantee - that’s $12 a week - two or three coffees or three or four bus rides.
As far as speed is concerned, we’ve all seen ordinary bikes hurtling down the street at 40 or even 50kph.
E bikes have a maximum power allowance in New Zealand of 300 watts. In America you can buy 500 watt or even 1000 watt bikes, but they are regarded in New Zealand as motor vehicles.
All European sourced bikes are pedal-assist electric only, whereas American bikes can be throttle-assisted too. The throttle-assist works independently of the pedals, and would probably suit me on hills. They are completely independent of your bike’s ability to assist your pedalling. Most have a twist throttle. Many people favour a combination of pedal-assist and a touch of throttle now and then, I was told at one bike shop.
E bikes are weather resistant, and replacement batteries are available. Batteries can take about 800 charges, and a bike can travel about 60 - 70km on a charge. You can remove the battery to charge at your leisure.
I was told that people need to try several models out, to see what suits them best. All outlets allow free trials. If you think you want a more powerful model just remember that they will be heavier bikes which may not suit smaller or lighter people.
Why get an e bike? Petrol prices keep going up, cars are constantly stuck in traffic, they are good exercise, they are cheap to run, quiet and those who own them say they make cycling fun.
It is worth getting the right accessories including a strong padlock. Too many bikes are being stolen, so you are advised to record ID numbers, take photos and supply the police with copies.
My favourite at the moment - a Magnum Metro-Plus for $2799 with 28in wheels and both pedal-assist and throttle-assist too.
I predict a bright future for e bikes. I’m going to investigate one for myself. But don’t hold your breath - I’m nearly 80. (JOHN ELLIOTT)