New bike riding option is electric says Sheffield enthusiast

As many Sheffielders are now realising, judging by the speed middle-aged local cyclists in office clothes are travelling up Chesterfield Road, City Road or Ecclesall Road South with smiles on their faces.

Over the last seven years, Richard had been researching the new machines that will finally flatten the city of hills for Sheffielders who want to get around by bike – and he is sharing some of his tips.

He is nothing more than an ‘enthusiastic amateur’ he insists, with advice gained from ‘hearing other people’s experience, and generally reading around the subject’.

He says: “I have no links with brands, and receive no financial rewards, but hopefully have the intrinsic reward of helping more people to become e-mobile.”

Advantages

Richard says: “They achieve good average speeds as you are not slowed down by hills. On e-bikes, urban journeys can be quicker door to door than other transport options. E-bike assistance gives you more confidence on the road, having the power and presence to be more part of the traffic flow. E-bike power flattens hills and shrinks distances, giving you wider route choices. You can choose to avoid busy polluted main routes and streets whenever you wish, regardless of distance and terrain.”

Health

Richard says: “Statistically e-biking helps you live longer and with better health due to the gentle cardiac exercise. Research says you breathe in less pollution cycling in traffic than when sitting in a vehicle.”

Uses

Richard says: “You can carry lots of stuff – and we are starting to see UK parents get the continental habit of cycling to school with their children. They both gain the health benefits, and are one less polluting car queuing up to park near the school. They will either cycle with them, or increasingly use a purpose built cargo bike. This they also use as general urban transport for a big shop or stuff that would previously have needed a car boot.”

Equality

Richard says: “E-bikes can help many people have the legs, lungs and confidence to get around their neighbourhood under their own steam, be they previous bike users or not. They lend a bit of assistance to help deal with the challenges arising with age or injury, thus enabling people to cycle tour or keep up with fellow riders on the Derbyshire day ride. For some people, having assistance might simply mean the difference between being able to use a bike or not.”

Fun

Richard says: “Often those who would not or cannot normally cycle any significant distance on an unassisted bike now choose e-bikes for recreational rides up to 50 miles or more. They love the feeling of easily getting out and exploring their local roads, cycle trails and bridleways, and maybe even keeping up with their children and grandchildren! And you don’t need to look like a ‘cyclist’: with electric assistance, you can choose to wear everyday clothing.”

Cost

Richard says: “After the initial outlay, the mile for mile cost of e-biking is favourable compared to other means of getting about. E-bikes can carry you and any amount of shopping or stuff up to fifty miles or more, door to door, for just a few pence. Riding from Lands End to John O Groats will use just £1.50’s worth of mains electricity! And did you know that only 50% of car pollution comes out of the exhaust pipe, the other 50% is in fact the particles from the brakes, clutch, tyres and the road surface itself, which is then wafted back up for you to inhale as the next vehicle passes. Electric cars will only rid us of the exhaust pollution, the rest stays the same. In contrast, e-bikes produce only a fraction of these pollutants, and use only a fraction of the earth’s resources for their relatively tiny batteries.”

Richard concludes that new e-bike users will find themselves using their new machine for many currently costly journeys, saving fuel and running costs, parking charges or bus, tram and train fares.

“Like us, you may find yourself unexpectedly selling a family car!”

See sheffieldcycleroutes.org/e-bikes