Hello from Holland

[damana]

Hello everyone, new member from the Netherlands, I recently took the plunge and bought a Cube Acid Hybrid One 400 eBike and am very happy with the decision.

My main concern was that it needed to be a bike first, so even without electrical power it should be fine riding it as a normal bike and it does.

I really like the looks and handling of the bike and the pedal assist has really helped me to cycle some longer distances even though my fitness isn't at it's best at the moment.

The bike has 4 assist modes and I use the 2 lowest settings, eco and tour mode, the most they give the best balance between a good workout and being able to handle steep hills without breaking down because lack of fitness.

I've noticed that I've been cycling a lot more and covering more distance compared to my old conventional mountainbike and it's slowly helping me get fit again.

Oh by the way the reason why I'm so unfit at the moment is because I have a desk job (IT) and gave up my Gym membership because work got so busy I didn't have time for it anymore.

 

[Bruce Arnold]

Welcome to the forum!

I mostly use the lower 2 pedal assist modes on my Juiced Bikes CrossCurrent S also. Occasionally a higher level for a hill or to beat a stoplight. I want to get in better shape (also at a desk job for many years) and so this has helped improve my conditioning a lot over the 5 months I've been riding it.

Like you, I definitely ride more often and longer distances than on a regular bike, at least in recent years. No point in comparing to when I was 40 years younger and in better shape!

How about putting up a picture of your bike, maybe with some local scenery, when you have a chance?

 

[Gator]

Hello and Welcome

Lots of good people here trying to stay active and healthy. Tell us about biking in Holland. I would love to see some pics of some of those awesome bike lanes. Do you have any social rivalry between regular bike riders and ebike riders?

 

[damana]

Welcome to the forum!

I mostly use the lower 2 pedal assist modes on my Juiced Bikes CrossCurrent S also. Occasionally a higher level for a hill or to beat a stoplight. I want to get in better shape (also at a desk job for many years) and so this has helped improve my conditioning a lot over the 5 months I've been riding it.

Like you, I definitely ride more often and longer distances than on a regular bike, at least in recent years. No point in comparing to when I was 40 years younger and in better shape!

How about putting up a picture of your bike, maybe with some local scenery, when you have a chance?

Thanks, it's great to hear others taking a similar approach, using an eBike to get more fit, besides that it's just a lot of fun especially when you're cycling in the woods and encounter a long stretch of loose sand, normally you get stuck after a few metres, now you just put the pedal assist on the highest level and push through.

Sure, I was thinking about taking a picture of the bike and use it as an avatar, I was planning to go out this weekend so I'll take the camera with me and post some pictures when I get a chance to.

 

[damana]

Hello and Welcome

Lots of good people here trying to stay active and healthy. Tell us about biking in Holland. I would love to see some pics of some of those awesome bike lanes. Do you have any social rivalry between regular bike riders and ebike riders?

Thank you, yes definitely cycling is something we grow up with in Holland, it's so common that children at an early age go to school on a bike and adults use it to go to work, some companies even offer shower facilities so they can start work fresh after their commute.

Our road infrastructure has been made with cyclists in mind, so it's very safe having dedicated bike lanes seperated from normal roadways, accidents of course still happen, but I think it's a lot safer compared to other countries.

Occasionally I do sense some rivalry from other cyclists, just the other day a cyclist was checking my bike out after I passed him by he then purposely passed me by on high speed to show case his superiority or to see if I would catch up to him I don't know and I don't really care actually, I was just cruising enjoying the scenery and resumed my normal pace.

I think this was just an oddity though, normally cyclists just stare at the bike with interest or a surprised look and that's it.

I'm going out this weekend so will see if I can take some pictures and post them.

 

[Deleted member 18083]

Welkom!
... David

 

[damana]

Damana ...

Welkom! My sister-in-law was born in Amsterdam and she and my brother (71 & 75 years old) keep Dutch fietsen in self-storage near Schiphol Airport. Each Australian winter they escape the miserable weather in Melbourne and, the next day, pick up their kit for yet another European vacation; they are there now.

When they head to mountainous parts of Europe, Elise now rents an ebike and is thinking of purchasing an ex-hire ebike to go into the self-storage. Apparently a strong wind from the wrong direction more than justifies an ebike in the Netherlands.

... David

Dankjewel David

That's a nice option to have, but how are the Australian winters isn't it sunny weather all year round? I have no idea I've never been in Australia.

You're absolutely right The Netherlands is a quite flat country and if it gets windy and or rainy it could be tough to get to your destination, however most of the people have the fitness to get through it and I must say I see a lot more people on eBikes making their commute which the government is stimulating including using public transport to lessen the amount of traffic jams.

 

[Deleted member 18083]

How are the Australian winters...

Damana ...

Temperatures for the end of this week...
Melbourne : 3 ºC min.; 9 ºC max.
Brisbane : 13 ºC min.; 23 ºC max.

We live in Ipswich, 50 km inland from Brisbane, so early mornings are typically two degrees cooler.

This morning I took my ebike up the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail. It was without wind and the cold air had slipped into the valley overnight; the fields were wreathed in mist and the temperature refused to alter from 11 ºC for the two hours that I was out (warmed up later). There were other people about including a group of young mums walking with their bundled-up babies, plus the usual not-so-wild wildlife - magpies in dozens, a pelican on the river and three eastern grey kangaroos bouncing along beside the track at my own speed. Another winter's day at 27º S.

You can see photos of my ride (in winter but without mist or kangaroos) on the EBR Forum: Pics of where you ride. Just remember to share photos of your rides on that thread!

... David