Twist And Go Watt Bike supplement preview

Issue 2

Produced in conjunction with Twist & Go magazine

LIVE YOUR LIFE

BIKE REVIEWS

ADVENTUROUSLY

PRODUCT REVIEWS

THE BEAUFORT MONTE DONNE

A look at the latest gear

Suits you sir

GTECH EBIKE SPORT Discrete and easy to maintain e-bike

WATTS NEW? ECO VOLTZ COMMUTE Alloy framed urban e-bike with advanced folding mechanism

WIENCH

KUDOS TORNADO The ‘Bad Boy’ of the Kudos range

JUICY CLASSIC CLICK

The latest Dutch-style pedelec

A GT EBIKeEe-tSo-ePnOteRr T

in our fr competitions

(Entry conditionion tit apply – compe 16 20 6) closes July 22,

GOCYCLE G3 McLaren inspired design

All the latest gossip

www.twistngo.com 3

Kalkhoff’s latest Impulse Evo makes for smart urban transport.

Pete Henshaw takes a look at some of the latest electric bikes new for this year.

2016

has been a good year for new electric bikes so far.

There haven’t been any startling new leaps in technology, but the latest bikes are pushing the pedelec market wider, encompassing a custom bike, lightweight folder and drop handlebar racer. There are bigger batteries, lower weights and an amazing retro bike.

The new Emu looks promising. All the ‘big ticket’ features you’d expect on a bike aimed at urban commuters are present and correct: two-year warranty, seven-speed Shimano Nexus hub gear, 374Wh battery and full LCD display. The quality looks good too, with a nice choice of colours and the battery smoothly integrated into the frame – it looks as if it was designed as a pedelec from the start. Price: £1499.

Emu looks like being a strong contender in the commuter market.

4 www.twistngo.com

Batribike’s V’lec comes in at £999, a tiny folding machine that claims to weigh 10.6kg.

If that’s true then it’s the lightest electric bike on the market – electric folders can weigh 20kg or more, but the V’lec promises to be far easier to lift, though the low weight has been achieved through a fairly basic spec. The 192Wh battery is small (Batribike claim 15-18 miles) and matches the 160W motor.

The Vintage Electric isn’t a commuter.

Styled along the lines of a 1920s American board track, it’s built to order (in California says the UK importer) and looks stunning.

Available from London dealer, Fully Charged, our favourite version is the E-Tracker (£4950).

Kalkhoff is the BMW of pedelecs, and this year has Impulse Evo, the latest update on its own drive system, with more torque and smart navigation. It’s 20% quieter than the drive it replaces, says Kalkhoff, and offers 80Nm of torque, while the big 612Wh battery is claimed to do ‘up to’ 127 miles. Yes that’s optimistic, but that’s a big battery. The flagship bikes also have toothed belt drive, but prices for them start at £2595.

EBCO has launched the sporty USR-75, a stripped down roadster with a good basic spec: Bosch drive, Shimano Deore nine-speed cluster and hydraulic disc brakes – but no lights, mudguards or rack. With a 400Wh battery, the USR looks like fun for focused commuting, and costs £1999. EBCO importer EBC is also importing the Corretec range

The Vintage Electric is pricey, but isn’t it a lovely thing?

(German-made road and mountain bikes) starting at £1999. One interesting addition is the Corretec LifeBike, designed for folk with mobility issues who wouldn’t normally cycle: easy step-through frame, hub gears and Shimano hydraulic disc brakes, and it can take riders of up to 150kg.

Electric mountain bikes are a big growth market, and sporty pedelecs for the road are also appearing. Giant’s latest is the Road E+ (£2795), promising 80Nm (these little 250W motors can produce as much torque as a large motorcycle). The drive system is Yamaha SyncDrive, with a 500Wh battery and LCD dash, aluminium frame, 22-speed Shimano gearing and hydraulic disc brakes.

Lastly, let’s not forget Bultaco’s Brinco, tested off-road in our last issue, but arriving in the UK as we go to press in road-legal 28mph form. Strictly speaking, not a pedelec, and it needs to be registered as a moped.

Either way, it looks like a lot of fun...

All you need to know about pedelecs Watt Bike is a subsidiary of Twist & Go magazine

THE WATT BIKE EDITORIAL TEAM Mau Spencer As editor of Twist & Go magazine, it falls to Mau to try and keep this lot under control.

–

-

-

Paul Fincham Has ridden cycles since 2005, first mountain biking, then commuting.

Charlotte Turnbull Avid road cyclist who commutes to work most days of the week.

Jonathan Schofield An avid cyclist for many years, he commutes to work in all weathers.

Mikko Nieminen Another newcomer just realising how fun and practical pedelecs can be.

Ryan Goodyear Keen off-road mountain biker, clocking up 50 miles a week in local woodlands.

Pete Henshaw Pete is a fanatic where e-bikes are concerned and he’s an experienced pedelec journalist.

-

.

ryy

ryy

WATT BIKE ADVERTISING TEAM

For more information about the e-bike policies from Lexham Insurance, call 01379 646561, email enquiries@lexhaminsurance.co.uk or visit www.lexhaminsurance.co.uk/products/electric-cycle-insurance

Lee Buxton (01507 529453) is our advertising team leader who’s now becoming hooked on pedelecs.

Zoe Thurling (01507 529412) looks after the everyday advertising aspects of T&G and Watt Bike.

www.twistngo.com 5

Bicyclemania!

Finch and Ryan take on bicycle riders in a charity ride through the Lincolnshire Wolds.

W

as that my alarm going off at 6.15am on a Sunday morning?

The boys and my wife were still in bed and I was trying to get ready without waking them up. I wasn’t going on holiday, so why would I do this to myself?

Well, it started when I opened an email from editor Mau asking if anyone was interested in a biking challenge. The idea: take some off-road electric bikes and see what sort of distance we could do on them.

Two route options were available and the 40 mile one was chosen as a good test. For some reason I answered ‘yes’ and that’s why I was leaving my driveway with two Haibikes in the van and was en route to pick up Ryan.

We got to Bicyclemania at 8am; the start point was Great Limber – a small village nestled in the Lincolnshire Wolds. Signingup, we weren’t sure how we’d be welcomed – two blokes attending an off-road bicycle event with electric bikes. ‘Cheaters’ was one thought that came to mind. The website said electric bikes welcome, but would the other riders be so welcoming?

The answer to that question was yes. As soon as we pulled the Haibikes out of the van, people started coming over to have a look. Among the comments and questions

6 www.twistngo.com

were: “I’ve heard about these”, “How much does it weigh?”, “I like that” and “Do you think you’re going to get all the way round?”

The last question was the one that I was most concerned about – would we get all the way round? There was only one way to find out: start the challenge!

Many riders had already set off and we tentatively rode between the starting flags wondering when we were going to lose the first bar of our battery life. I had the full suspension Haibike XDuro RC and Ryan was riding the Haibike SDuro Hard Tail 27.5in.

Mine had a Bosch motor running 27.5 x 2.35in with the display indicating five bars of battery life. Ryan’s was carrying a Yamaha motor and running on 27.5 x 2.25in tyres; his display had 10 bars and a percentage indicator informing him of battery life.

Later I would become quite envious of that percentage information.

Riding the first part of the course we started to get into it; getting used to the position, how the power came in and what setting on the assist ratio to use. Mine had eco, tour, sport and turbo modes. From the off I decided to leave it in eco, see what I had left at the half way mark and then think about getting home.

All you need to know about pedelecs

At the first climb I thought ‘let’s put it in the touring mode’ a little more assist up hill.

We caught up with the first bunch of riders and passed them with ease. I found myself apologising to them, trying to explain: “I’m on a pedal assisted bike,” but underneath I had the biggest smile on my face.

The views were great, it was sunny and we were making great progress. We kept up a good pace on the flats, catching people and overtaking them on the hills and finding the downhill handling and braking fantastic. This was going to be a good day out.

FLATTENED ENTHUSIASM

Famous last words. Ryan shouted: “I’ve got a flat tyre.” If I had ever been in the Scouts, I might have been more familiar with the concept of ‘be prepared’ – but I wasn’t.

However, the night before I was rummaging around in my biking bits and found a pump.

I thought ‘that could come in handy’. And I also thought that if I was taking that I ought to take some patches and tyre levers too.

As we set to changing the tyre, riders we’d already overtaken began passing us, with almost everybody asking if we were okay, or did we need anything – great camaraderie.

We got everything sorted and headed on.

We hadn’t reached the halfway point yet and the battery had dropped by one bar; the goal was to get to the halfway marker using two bars, then play with what was left.

The course used back roads to join good off-road sections together and this is where it started to dawn on me. Ryan definitely had the speed on the tarmac; he’d gently pull away from me, getting up to top speed

much quicker. Then I remembered, I had much wider tyres and much more rolling resistance (in turn, taking more power out of my battery). Doubt started to creep in; was I going to make it all the way?

Before we got to the feed station, there was a short, steep, climb. I set the assist mode to ‘sport’ and stuck it in a low gear to give myself a chance of getting up it. The bike dragged me up though – I just had to find the right balance between leaning far enough forward to keep the front end down, and keeping enough weight over the rear wheel to give me traction. At that point I could see exactly where this sort of bike comes into its own. I already liked it – but now I really liked it.

As we got to the feed station, I looked down: three bars of battery left. I tried to start working it out; does that mean I’ve got 41% battery or 60% battery life? I wanted to know if I was above 50%. Ryan said he had 54% battery life, so how much had my wider tyres taken out of the battery?

The second half of the ride was like the first. Not far after the feed station and the battery dropped to two bars. Now ‘eco’ mode was left on permanently. It became a waiting game; would I make it to the finishing line with any battery life left? Or would I be the

only energy source left powering this bike?

Not quite three-quarters of the way round the course, I had one bar left. As we came through a forest area, that single battery bar started to flash. Downhill I’d started turning it off. I was pedalling harder until, two miles from the finish, the battery finally died. Now I was pedalling a heavy bike, but remarkably it wasn’t that bad. I could feel all the rolling resistance from the tyres and wished I’d got the bigger frame to get a better pedal stroke in; but I still managed to get it back and with a smile on my face.

In the end, it was worth getting up at 6.15am. I really enjoyed my adventure with the Haibike XDuro RC. Ryan got back with 6% battery life on his and had great fun riding around the finishing area trying to run the battery out. I’d like to think with a narrower tyre I would have got closer to the finish.

Maybe next year I’ll try it again.

Words: Finch Images: Finch, Ryan, Richard Addison Photography

www.twistngo.com 7

All you need to know about pedelecs Cyclotricity Stealth is £799 in 250W form.

Powacycle Windsor costs £780 – steel-framed Milan is cheaper.

BUYER’S GUIDE:

SUB-£1000 E-BIKES Can you buy a decent electric bike for less than £1000?

A

brand-new pedelec needn’t cost you a fortune. Sure, a European-made bike with a Bosch or Panasonic drive system will cost at least £1500 (and you can spend a great deal more), but you can still buy something decent for less than £1000.

But beware, there are some cheap and not very nice bikes out there, and in pedelecs as everything else, you get what you pay for. A few minutes on the interweb revealed an electric folding bike reduced from £449 to £184! I’d steer well clear of anything that cheap, or with such a radical discount.

As ever with electrics, it’s best to look for an established name that has been around a few years (all the ones mentioned on this page have). And as ever, the warranty, and in particular the battery warranty, is your holy grail. Replacement batteries cost £250 upwards, and you don’t want to find yourself buying a new one after just six months. In this sub-£1000 price bracket, nearly all warranties are limited to 12 months, though Freego and the new Emu offer two years.

At this price, you won’t get good quality components – expect basic Shimano 6-7-speed derailleur gears for the most part, and unbranded V-brakes. Don’t expect luxuries like hydraulic disc brakes, a speedo or hub gears, but the more practical bikes should have mudguards, rack and basic LED

8 www.twistngo.com

lights as part of the package. As for the battery, lithium-ion is almost universal now, and 360Wh should give you a decent range.

So what’s available? Here are just a few examples from brands that we know have been around a few years: Powacycle offers its entrylevel Milan step-through from £599, which makes it the cheapest of our selection (though there’s only a six-month warranty on the 288Wh battery). Woosh used to sell the dead cheap Angell (complete with lead-acid battery at £299) but now its entry-level bike is the Petite, with smaller 24in wheels, at £675.

We’ve mentioned Cyclotricity in T&G before, and tested their 1000W Stealth a few issues ago. At 31mph, that one is too fast to be classed as a pedelec, but they also do a range of road-legal 250W bikes, such as the mountain bike style Revolver from £649, and the step-through Sahara from £699. They’re now assembled in Britain as well, hooray! If mountain bikes are your thing but you can’t quite stretch to £2000+ for a KTM or Haibike, Kudos does the Cobra at £895, with 21 gears and mechanical disc brakes.

Juicy have been around for several years, and used to sell electric scooters as well, though they’re now clear of the lowest price bracket, with the Classic Lite at £899. As for folding bikes, Woosh offers the Gellego at £669, while Batribike’s V’Lec is just the latest to go on sale.

Freego offers a twoyear warranty, good for a sub-£1000 bike.

So there it is. You shouldn’t need to spend a fortune to buy a decent electric bike. If you can afford to spend more on an EU-made bike, it’s money well spent, but the bikes here should still offer reliable rides.

Words: Pete Henshaw Images: A to B

[Pics shown are for illustration purposes only. Watt Bike would not normally recommend riding without a helmet or minimal body protection]

CYCLE TO WORK SCHEME All bikes (pedal cycles as well as pedelecs) priced at less than £1000 are eligible for the Cycle to Work Scheme, which allows you to buy the bike tax-free. It’s backed by the Government, to encourage more of us to take to two wheels.

As long as your employer and the bike supplier are registered with the scheme, your boss buys the bike and reclaims the VAT. The price is deducted from your salary over time (usually 18 months), and you don’t pay any tax on those payments. As long as the boss is signed-up, it looks like a good way of purchasing a bike on free credit, without a penny of tax to pay.

For more information visit www.cyclescheme.co.uk

www.twistngo.com 9

The latest products reviewed

Waterproof reflective gloves RRP: £34.99 Reviewer: Jonathan

Turbospoke RRP: £20 Reviewer: Jonathan Sunny summer days and lazing about in the quiet countryside are about to get blasted into oblivion with this fun redesigned blast from the past. If you remember sticking playing cards in your bike’s spokes then this ‘fun toy’ makes your e-bike sound and look more like a motorbike than the ace of spades ever did. Easy to fit and not expensive, this fun addition is truly for the kid in you. Hours of loud fun with three different cards that make differing tones through the plastic mock exhaust megaphone.

Happy days.

Info: www.turbospoke.com

Comfortable and padded in the palm, these Proviz gloves will give you all the protection a commuter is going to need on the quite regularly cold and wet UK commute to work.

The fluorescent yellow material along with the reflective trim helps to keep you very visible – a must on busy roads – while the fleece lining helps to keep you warm yet allow heat and moisture to escape.

The gloves differ from standard fleece-lined gloves in that the fleece is not touching the skin. It is instead the middle layer, which helps to prevent sweating. The palm and underside of the fingers of the glove are covered in small black rubber dots that help massively with grip, another great safety feature.

Info: www.moorelarge.co.uk

Reviewer: Jonathan

Reviewer: Mau Oxford Products’ Lightning cycle helmet has been especially sized to accommodate those with a larger head and so it comes in only one size – which is XL (60-65cm). The lightweight ‘full-in mould shell’ conforms to CE EN1078 standard and is lined with an insect-repellent mesh to keep those nasty bugs away. The adjustable dial fit retention system helps provide a secure and safe way of making sure it stays in position on your head.

And at this price, it’s not going to break the piggy bank.

Info: www.oxfordproducts.com/ bicycle/

10 www.twistngo.com

Reviewer: Lee I found this Alpina helmet very light.

The internal padding and twistadjustable strap allows you to make the it fit nice and snug, so it doesn’t move around when you move your head, something I have experienced with other helmets.

There’s plenty of ventilation all over the helmet, which in the recent warmer weather is an advantage, but in colder weather can get chilly. The chin strap is very easy to use with a simple push key and locking action, which again is easily adjustable for a perfect fit.

Info: www.moorelarge.co.uk

Lake MX80 trail shoes RRP: £79.99

Lightning helmet RRP: £29.99

Panoma helmet RRP: £39.99

It’s fair to say that these shoes are about the most comfortable out of the box bike shoes I’ve worn, with a Vibram rubber sole and semi flexible nylon midsole I could happily be in these all day in flat pedal set-up. I’ll have to let you know if this changes when we throw a set of SPD clips on them. Fastening is laces with a chunky Velcro strap. They’re not wet weather shoes as such, due to being fitted with a toe section made of TektileTM mesh. This means they are very breathable but not water resistant. What this does mean is that on the hotter days when you would normally remove your trail boots and have damp socks this ain’t gonna happen in these shoes, a huge plus in my book.

Info: www.moorelarge.co.uk

Nightrider waterproof trousers RRP: £42.99 Reviewer: Jonathan The idea of overtrousers always used to fill my head with awful images of plastic sweaty things made from heavy duty bin bags, but I’m pleased to say that these lightweight trousers from Proviz banished that thought.

Clad in these, you get to your destination dry on those rainy days. There are lots of reflective elements (and logos) to help increase visibility at night, and the trousers are available in yellow as well as black. The trousers have been cut specifically for cyclists to give extra room where required, and the seams have been seam-sealed to ensure no drips get through.

Info: www.moorelarge.co.uk

www.twistngo.com 11

Beaufort Monte Donne Jonathan Schofield adopts formal attire to match the impeccably smart finish of this 250W pedelec. Suits you sir...

T

he Beaufort Monte is very similar to many of the Dutch-style step-through framed e-bikes on the market, but it stands out like a well suited gentleman at a punk rock concert for one reason – quality.

If it’s not the well-finished welding on the frame or the smooth paint, then it’s the attention to detail in the Velo® hand grips and comfort saddle. The swooping frame and clever adjustable handlebars are complemented by the blade-style front forks which give the Monte an air of elegance and sophistication.

It wouldn’t look out of place parked next to a Maybach or Range Rover in London or at the front door of a stately home. Its saddle is a wonderful place to be, sat aloft on this tall-wheeled bike. It’s not a small

12 www.twistngo.com

city nipper or a lightweight fold-up but a large well-balanced pedelec with fantastic features.

The mid-mounted 250W motor is nearly silent and with the addition of the Max Drive system attached to a 36v 13Ah battery you’re never short of help if you request it (assistance levels range from 1, a helpful nudge, up to 5 which whips you along at 15.5mph). Gearing is via Shimano’s twist grip to the Nexus seven-speed internal hub gearing which never missed a beat, or felt clunky or stiff.

The chain is encased, making for a clean and mess-free drive train.

A colour-coded rear rack with pre-attached triple bungee strap (under which the battery is stored) is capable of carrying 25kg and an easyto-understand digital interface tells you all you need to know (no fancy

sat nav or heart rate gimmicks, just speed, distance and battery power).

An automatic sensor registers the outside light and adjusts the displays brightness accordingly. The brakes are no-nonsense; the front brake is easy to adjust and service with welldesigned Tektro levers incorporating a grip panel for comfort and safety in wet conditions, and there’s an internal drum-style rear brake.

The LED rear light and brake light are built into the main battery and a Spanninga Luceo front light makes sure you’re not only seen, but can see well at night. The tyres have reflective material on the sidewalls too.

I put the brochure-stated 4085 mile range (depending on use conditions) to the test. Now, it’s not a huge morning commute to Morton

All you need to know about pedelecs SPEC: BATTERY

36v 13Ah 468 Wh Smart BMS GEARS

Shimano Nexus 7-speed and Shimano grip shift WEIGHT

26.5kg

COLOURS

Cream – black – grey – pale blue CONTACT

henry@mooof.eu

PRICE £1599 Towers, but with a little detour and a return journey home for lunch each day I tried to run the battery flat. After the fourth day I wavered and put the battery on charge; it was showing only a little power left. The official figures don’t seem too far off.

I’d err towards the lower, 40 mile, end of the range scale, but with such a clear digital display you’d have to be almost blind to not see when you need to plug the battery in.

Words: Jonathan Images: Mau

www.twistngo.com 13

Kudos Tornado

You know when those shoes that you’re really fond of wear out; you just want something nearly the same, but a bit fancier?

SPEC: FRAME

6061-T6 aluminium 46cm FORKS

SR Suntour SF12XCM-V3-26 GEAR SYSTEM

Shimano 24-speed TYRES

Kenda K1047 26in x 2.1in COMFORT

Vader 1134A-04 saddle BRAKING SYSTEM

Shimano M-375A mechanical disc BATTERY

Li-On 36V x 10.4Ah Samsung LiMn04 ELECTRIC DRIVE SYSTEM

Bafang BPM alloy 36v 250W rear ACCESSORIES

Thumb throttle

WEIGHT

22kg (inc. battery)

CONTACT

www.kudoscycles.com

PRICE £1095

I

f you’re like me and you’re keeping that beloved old mountain bike going when, deep down, you know its time has come and gone, the Kudos Tornado might be well worth taking out for a spin.

Some manufacturers build their bikes around the battery and motor, but what Kudos has done is taken a proven frame and gear set that works well as a hard-tail mid-range mountain bike and added an assist motor to the back wheel. The battery’s where you’d normally place your water bottle. Does this mean that the Kudos Tornado is a poor facsimile of an e-bike? I’m pleased to say that no, it absolutely isn’t.

Straight out of the box I felt comfortable on this bike; it’s not so futuristic as to make me worry about

14 www.twistngo.com

that degree in astrophysics I never bothered to get.

The cable-operated disc brakes and Shimano 24-speed gears (three up front and an 8-speed rear cassette) were exactly what I was used to. The only major difference to a normal hard-tail mid-range bike is the weight – about 8kg more than my regular steed.

This does affect the ride, in the sense that where I’d normally throw myself between trees and down hills I’m more aware that I’m lugging a little extra weight around. Drop-offs and muddy trails need to be attacked in slightly more reserved manner, but where the Kudos truly excels is hills.

Sometimes you look at the hill in front of you and think, have I got this, or am I going to run out of legs halfway up? With the assist on, you

All you need to know about pedelecs

never (while there’s charge in the battery) run out of legs.

The Shimano gears are as you’d expect – crisp and reliable. The LCD display is easy to read and with only three buttons to press, it’s not a daunting prospect changing the assist level (of which there are five, to push you up to the 15.5mph limit); after that it’s all your own work. You also have a thumb throttle that’s used for setting off and cuts out at roughly 5mph. I used this loads and found it great for junctions and setting off on uneven ground. The Kenda tyres are more than up to the task, but when I took it to a rather wetter section of a local trail I ride, they lacked that full off-road traction – nothing too drastic if you wanted to swap them and it took some serious rough ground to get the front suspension close to bottoming out.

This is a real option for the avid cyclist who likes life a bit on the muddy side. It’s a proven starting point and the addition of e-bike assist electronics in a simple but effective way gives you all that you need. If you’re attempting a full downhill track, you’ll have found the bike’s limit well before the bottom; but if you do a few green lanes and a spirited commute out of town, then the Tornado may just float your boat.

Words: Jonathan Images: Mau

www.twistngo.com 15

SPEC: BATTERY RANGE

30 miles (standard mode)

CHARGE TIME

3 hours

BATTERY TYPE

Lithium-ion VOLTAGE

36v

FRAME TYPE

Sports

FRAME SIZE

20in

FRAME CONSTRUCTION

Aluminium WEIGHT

16kg

BRAKES

Linear pull WHEELS

28in / 70cm, hybrid tyres WARRANTY

Frame: 2-year Battery/electronics: 2-year CONTACT

Gtech, 01905 344000

PRICE £995

Gtech eBike Sport

If discrete, simple and easy to maintain is what you want, Gtech’s got you covered.

I

magine the simplest and easiest to maintain electric bike you can, and then think how great it would be to avoid disdainful looks when you pull up alongside pure pedal-power cyclists. The Gtech eBike Sport can give you all of that, with its discrete rear wheel motor and battery disguised as a water bottle. You’ll struggle to find another e-bike that looks more like a normal city bicycle. Moreover, the carbon fibre belt in place of a chain and the complete lack of gears makes the Gtech eBike even easier to maintain than a normal bike.

The eBike is mainly designed for commuters who want that boost rapidly away from a junction, or up an incline, to make it an easier and safer ride when surrounded by busy traffic. The Lithium-ion battery charges in three hours and can last

16 www.twistngo.com

up to 30 miles, so it’s perfect for those short city journeys. It also has two modes: low power and high power. Low power gives the slightest of assists, but I found it hard work as the power isn’t as smooth as I’d have preferred. In high power, the motor gives constant and smooth power delivery up to 15mph. Unlike other e-bikes I’ve tested, where the motor is located in the crank, this has its motor on its rear hub – providing you with what feels almost like a pushing sensation.

I time commuting on the bike down a countryside trail, half of which is a mud track and half on the road, for eight miles each way.

The ride is comfortable, but the lack of gears made the eight miles in a straight line difficult as I was constantly running without power assist; although when it came to the

inclines and the road section, the assist was very helpful, especially at junctions and busy roundabouts.

The lack of gears and switches also made the ride simplistic. It was only apparent after reading the instructions carefully that changing from low power to high power requires the power switch on the battery to be depressed, which makes mid-ride power adjustments awkward. You know you’re in low power mode because the battery lights flash. When you’re in high they stay on constantly.

Overall I’m impressed with the bike’s simplicity – although that simplicity limits the bike’s capabilities and means it is only ever going to be a city bike, unless you’re willing to do more of the work when it is outside its recommended surroundings.

All you need to know about pedelecs

A carbon fibre belt and no gears, makes the bike easier to maintain.

✁

I was impressed with the accessories that came with the bike. Firstly, the helmet, although plain and without a rear light, is comfortable with plenty of ventilation; and secondly, the front and rear LED lights are the brightest I’ve seen for their size, both with three settings. I would highly recommend this bike to inner-city commuters who don’t want the hassle of over-the-top displays or gears and don’t want to have to worry about maintenance.

Words: Ryan Images: Mau

TERMS AND CONDITIONS This competition is open to UK residents only. No financial alternative to the prize will be offered. Only one entry per household please; every entry should be submitted either on the original Twist & Go magazine form (shown here), or via the Twist & Go website (www. twistngo.com).

No purchase necessary. The winner will be chosen from the correct entries received. The closing date of the competition is midday, Friday, July 22, 2016. The judges’ decision remains final and no correspondence will be entered into. The name of the winner will be available on demand from the publishers upon receipt of a SAE, and will be published in the first available issue of Twist & Go magazine. Employees (and members of their household) of Mortons Media Group and other companies associated with this competition are ineligible to enter.

Mortons Media Group will not be held responsible for illegible entries or entries lost in the post. Proof of posting will not be accepted as proof of delivery.

The prize will be awarded to the winner on a mutually agreed date, where proof of age and licence entitlement may be requested. Any travelling or other expenses incurred by the winner in collecting the prize are not included. By entering the competition the winner gives his or her consent to be photographed with their prize for use in future editions of Twist & Go and any future advertising/publicity that may take place. Entrants must provide their own transport to collect the prize if they are not riding it away.

The prize is awarded as-seen and in good faith.

Neither Twist & Go, Mortons Media Group nor any companies involved in the supply or preparation of this competition prize will accept any responsibility for any mechanical breakdowns (outside of normal warranty work), accidents or loss of life and limb arising after the prize winner has taken possession of the bike.

COMPETITION DISCLAIMERS On occasion Mortons Media Group Ltd may decide to contact you by post/phone/email/fax regarding information relating to current offers of products or services (including discounted subscription offers) which we believe may be of interest to our readers.

If you do not wish to receive such offers please tick this box ❑ On occasion Mortons Media Group Ltd may permit third parties that we deem to be reputable to contact you by post/phone/email/fax regarding information relating to current offers of products or services which we believe may be of interest to our readers. If you do not wish to receive such offers please tick this box ❑

WIN THIS BIKE

IN OUR FREE-TO-ENTER COMPETITION Just fill in your details below and send them to us at the address shown: (Entry form also available for download at www.twistngo.com) PLEASE NOTE: This competition is open only to UK-based readers who are 14* years or over.

Simply fill in the form below and return to us by first-class post before midday, Friday, July 22, 2016.

Post your entry to T&G/GTECH Competition, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6LZ. One entry per household please.

DECLARATION: By completing this form, I agree to supply proof of age, if requested, prior to the bike’s release. I also understand that any travelling or other expenses incurred are not included as part of the prize, which I agree to collect from a mutually agreed location at a specific time and date, should I be the lucky winner. I also consent to be photographed with the prize for use in future editions of Twist & Go or any future advertising/publicity that may take place. I understand that neither Twist & Go, Mortons Media Group, nor any other parties involved in the preparation of the bike will accept any responsibility for any accidents or loss of life and limb arising after it has been collected.

Name: ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Address: ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Postcode: .................................................................................... Age: .................................................. Male / Female (please circle) Email/telephone: .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. *Competition entrants aged under 18 must also supply the written consent of their parent or guardian – see below: I HEREBY CONSENT THAT .............................................................................................................................................. HAS MY PERMISSION TO ENTER THIS COMPETITION AND THAT I WILL TAKE ALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ACTIONS SHOULD THEY WIN THIS PRIZE. Signed....................................................................................................................................................................................................Parent/Guardian

www.twistngo.com 17

www.twistngo.com 19

SPEC: FRAME

Aluminium, AI6061 SUSPENSION

Front only – Top Gun aluminium, WA15009-A20-144 BRAKES

Tektro cable operated discs front and rear

MOTOR

8FUN, SWXH2, 36v 250W rear hub drive BATTERY

King-Ko, Li-Poly 36v 10Ah CLAIMED RANGE

25-40 miles depending on usage and conditions

GEARS

Shimano Tourney 7-speed WEIGHT

23kg

TYRES

20in Kenda K924 1.75 CONTACT

www.ecovoltz.co.uk

PRICE £1149

upwards

Eco Voltz Commute A small but well-formed e-bike that’s ready to take on longer distances.

I

’ve put enough miles on the 20in wheel folding Eco Voltz Commute e-bike to confidently say that it lives up to the promise of easy mile-munching. But these were all sedate country miles.

Could it be threaded through city traffic in Lincoln, mixing it with cars on stop-start traffic-lighted urban roads? It was time to test the motor and brakes in the real world.

For any commuter with a limited amount of storage space at home or the office, a folding e-bike is a great option. Weighing-in at (I’m sounding

20 www.twistngo.com

like a boxing commentator) a net 23kg including the battery, this is not the kind of folding bike you want to be carrying up five flights of stairs, but that’s not why you would buy this. Its prowess is in its patented turnbuckle release folding frame and sturdy built-to-last design.

On the street, the bike handled the lumps and bumps well with its front Top Gun suspension forks. The folding handlebar stem doesn’t have that flimsy flexible feel that past folding bikes seemed to have, and even when tackling the cobbles and

potholes around the old uphill part of the city, it felt solid and planted. The brakes are Tektro Aries cable-operated discs (I’d set them up the day the bike arrived); they’ve felt great and have performed fantastically.

The motor (an 8FUN SWXH2, 36v, 250W) is housed within an all-in-one alloy rim and three spoke rear wheel and connects to the bike’s battery (King-Ko, Li-Poly 36v, 10ah) which is mounted behind the seat post downtube. Gearing on the Commute is Shimano, so you know you are

All you need to know about pedelecs

not going to have any problems. The lever is the Tourney SL-TX50-7R to an FT50D seven-speed rear derailleur.

The Kenda K924 20in by 1.75 tyres had good grip and although I’ve not ridden this bike in the rain, the tread pattern suggests that a wet road shouldn’t affect traction too much.

The bar grips were well-shaped and the seat comfy without being so wide that you feel you’re peddling down the street on a sofa. Another nice touch is the built-in front and rear lights that you turn on from the handlebars (brighter than I was expecting). I’d have liked to have done a night run to see how much mileage difference having the lights on would have made, but that wasn’t possible.

Happily there were no issues and the bike performed more like a well-trained guide dog like an overexcited puppy pulling at the lead.

Power was available in the fairly standard five assist levels and the small handlebar-mounted display (blue digits on a black background) was easy to see at a glance, although I admit to not thinking I was going to get any speeding tickets aboard the Eco Voltz. It was more Mo Farah than Linford Christie; a small, well-formed bike, ready to take on longer distances.

But do I like the Eco Voltz? I’m personally happier when the terrain is rougher and there’s mud involved,

but yes I do. What this bike is designed to do, it does well and it’s been constructed and put together to last. There’s little about this bike that I’d worry is going to break should I be using it as my daily ride, folding and unfolding it at both ends of the journey. The finish in a matt gun metal grey with accents of red (a design motif that runs across the Eco Voltz range) is well executed.

Words: Jonathan Images: Mau

www.twistngo.com 21

Subscr SAVE £££s

& get it first Subscription rates UK

SIX MONTHLY Direct debit

£9.99

ONE YEAR Credit card

£22

For overseas rates visit: www.classicmagazines.co.uk/tagdps

Why subscribe?

Save money by subscribing Never miss an issue of Twist & Go Get every issue straight to your door

If it’s anything to do with commuting on two wheels, then you’ll find all the information you need to know in Twist & Go magazine.

2

Mau Spencer, editor

1 2

EASY WAYS TO SUBSCRIBE

Online at: www.classicmagazines.co.uk/tagdps Call: 01507 529529 and quote TAGDPS

ibe

FROM ONLY

£9.99

SPEC: MOTOR

Proprietary motor gear drive 250W BATTERY

Lithium ion, 13.5Ah, 22v, Approximately 300 Wh

CHARGING

7-hour full recharge

HANDLEBAR DISPLAY

Integrated dashboard

TRANSMISSION

Cleandrive® Shimano Nexus 3-speed SHIFTING

Electronic Predictive Shifting™ BRAKES

Hydraulic discs TYRES

406-50, 20 x 1.75in

SUSPENSION

Front: single-sided, 6061 T6, fixed Rear: Lockshock™ 25mm (1in) travel

SADDLE

Velo D2 Comfort

FRAME SIZE/FIT

Universal Vgonomic™ RIDING MODES

‘City’, ‘Eco’, ‘On-Demand’, ‘Custom’.

ELECTRIC DRIVE SPEED

25kph (15.5mph)

RANGE

Up to 80km (50 miles), depending on pedal input FRAME COLOURS

White, electric blue, matt black PITSTOPWHEEL®

Patented Hexlock system DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS

4 running modes SMART DEVICE CONNECTIVITY

GocycleConnect® app via wireless Bluetooth® CONTACT

http://gocycle.com/

PRICE £3299

N

y

o it’s not a joke; I can’t find a good punchline.

All I see is a beautiful bike that’s been designed from the wheels up. Let’s start with those wheels; if you want to try doing 83.6mph on them, then you can – that’s the ‘world speed record for a human-powered vehicle’ and they did it on Pitstop wheels, which happen to be what’s used on the G3.

That’s the sort of quality you find on this e-bike.

The motor is situated in the front hub; an inconspicuous red ring on the single sided front fork is the only sign. Each pedal stroke is assisted in getting you up to speed quickly and

24 www.twistngo.com

keeping you there. It doesn’t assist as such, but rather it encourages you, or even dares you to pedal faster, seeing who wears out first. I’d have liked another gear as the cadence became unsustainable when up to top speed.

I wanted to help the G3, but just couldn’t keep spinning.

I did get caught out with a flat battery on my work commute and even without any assist it was an enjoyable bike to ride. The G3 is a ‘one-size fits all’ bike. The higher the seat, the further away from the handlebars you’re positioned. I’m 6ft 1in and didn’t have the seat all the way to the top – which is a pleasant change. The battery is integrated

into the bike’s frame, which means you have to be able to get the whole bike near to the mains, but as it only weighs 35.4lb (16.1kg) you can move it around quite easily. After all, this is a collapsible bike.

The handlebars display all the information you need: which gear you’re in, battery life remaining, speed and mode. This is controlled through two toggles (one on each handlebar grip). The gear change is electronic with a predictive shift and changes down when you’re slowing for junctions. The smaller tyres make the bike a little twitchy, as with any small-wheeled bike, but I was soon riding it with confidence.

All you need to know about pedelecs Battery level

Gear indicator

Speed indicator

All this design is finished off with an app; once you’re Bluetoothed to the G3, a world of fine tuning is opened up. You have three predetermined modes: ‘City’, ‘Eco’ and ‘On-demand’ plus ‘Custom’.

In Custom you can set how much effort you want to put in and how much assistance you’re given. This information is displayed on the app’s X-Y graph. I would have loved to say I tweaked the G3 to the max, but as it was so good out of the box I found myself just leaving it alone.

Words Finch Images: Mau

www.twistngo.com 25

SPEC: MOTOR

250W 36v, brushless DC motor BATTERY (MILES)

10Ah (30), 12Ah (40), 14Ah (50), 16Ah (60) GEARS

6-speed Shimano Derailleur WEIGHT

24.5kg (with standard 10Ah battery) CONTROLS

On/off as you ride, plus 3 levels of power assist and a start assist throttle BRAKES

Front and rear disc brakes WHEELS/TYRES

26in Kenda puncture resistant tyres and uncrushable polycarbonate mudguards OTHER FEATURES

Optional front suspension forks, quick adjust handlebar stem, disc brakes upgradeable to hydraulic, light alloy frame, free rack included, front/rear LED lights.

CONTACT

www.juicybike.co.uk

PRICE £985

Juicy Classic Click Having a blast on the latest Dutch-style pedelec.

I

can honestly say I fell in love with this Dutch-style stepthrough. I’m used to riding road bikes, so when I first rode it, I loved the sit-up riding position that lets you enjoy the view.

With a start assist twist throttle, it’s perfect for setting-off from junctions when you need it most – the pedal assist is smooth and follows your lead, so it feels like you’re riding an ordinary bike. The base model comes with a 10Ah battery that’s good for 30 miles but 40, 50 or even 60 mile batteries are available.

The bike I tested had the 14Ah (50) battery in it, which I found very powerful. It pulled away nicely from junctions and quickly got me up to 15mph. The Classic Click has six gears and five levels of assist with this

26 www.twistngo.com

battery but I hardly needed to change out of sixth gear, since the rear wheel hub and the power from the battery were enough to get me going, using the twist throttle to set-off.

It pulled nicely up hills and again I hardly needed to change gear as the motor did the work. Over the two week test period (including a 13-mile ride) I only had to charge the battery once.

You can get various accessories from Juicy, including a front wicker basket (which comes in two sizes) and some canvas double panniers (£65) which fix easily to the rear rack, providing ample space for all sorts of stuff.

They really are strong and roomy (40 litres capacity each) and come with a weatherproof cover. Made

All you need to know about pedelecs

from tan waterproofed canvas, they not only look fantastic, but lend a touch of rugged style too.

We went on a weekend family bike ride and it was great to be able to take a few snacks and things with us as well as having room for jackets just in case – the weather couldn’t decide what it wanted to do.

Sitting atop its comfy gel seat, the Classic Click is a real pleasure to ride. It’s nippy and the upright way you’re seated means you’re well placed to enjoy that feeling of speed. In fact, it’s an absolute blast as you whizz along on the chunky Kenda puncture-resistant tyres.

It certainly doesn’t hurt that this is one cool and retro looking machine either, although the

illusion that you’re riding a pure bicycle is dispelled by the motor, which whines a bit when you’re getting up to speed.

The front and rear disc brakes do a good job of pulling you up sharply when you yank on the levers and the digital display – showing you battery power remaining, level of assistance being used, current speed and distance travelled – was clear and easy to read.

Also worth mentioning is the tip-up saddle, which makes it easy to remove the battery if you want to recharge it indoors.

The only part of me that ached after each ride was my face due to the ear-to-ear grin.

Words: Charlotte Images: Mau

“It was nice to put my things in the panniers rather than wearing a rucksack.”

www.twistngo.com 27

www.twistngo.com 31