I feel a bit unfaithful...
Every mile I’ve ever ridden, every flat cruise, hair-raising downhill or gear-grinding climb, has been driven by my own leg power. But today - maybe - new romance beckons. Tim Gregory of Smilebikes at Langley, near Loddon, has offered a trial on E-bikes for myself and my wife Claire, also a rider but not quite as afflicted with the road bug as I am.
Tim is an E-bike enthusiast - and for good reason. The simple controls and trip counter. (Image: Photo: Tim Warner) Like me - actually his bike CV is way more distinguished - he loved all forms of traditional riding, but some years ago lung disease cruelly cut short his beloved hobby.
He struggled on, bravely tackling most of the major Tour de France mountains, before ill-health finally called a halt. Tim felt defeated but then fate took a hand. Someone rode past him on an electric mountain bike and the rest, as the saying goes, is history.
Now he’s an evangelist, passionately advocating what he terms “a whole new mode of transport.” Pedal and power unit. (Image: Photo: Tim Warner) Claire and I are trying out Raleighs, each powered by a small Bosch motor.
They look fairly traditional but are heavier than we are used to. That’s mainly down to the battery which will offer us up to 100 miles of assistance per charge, but once on the road the extra weight and wider-than-we-are-used-to tyres, are really of no consequence. Tim has taken care and time to explain how everything works and now it’s tim.
