Cycle racks on back of motorhome

Hi Tony

we have 2 small dogs, so we bought 2 baskets for the fronts, with  harnesses on and clips onto the baskets, they both sit there great and our Maltese absolutely loves it. She looks like e.t., then I thought of getting her goggles so she would look like biggles! We thought these would be better due to the extra space required, but obviously depends on the size of the dog?

good luck

Baz

Bill

When you say e-bike's with a throttle are illegal in Europe do you mean illegal to sell or to ride?

David

David, from Cycling Weekly...June 24th, 2016

"The throttle ‘dilemma’

Harmonisation with EU law has had an important effect on electric bikes with ‘twist and go’ throttles that can take the bike to full speed without any pedalling at all.

From January 1 2016, the only throttles legal within the UK’s EAPC legislation are those that assist the rider without pedalling up to a maximum speed of 6 km/h (3.7 mph) – ie starting assistance only.

If the rider is rolling – but not pedalling – faster than 6km/h, the throttle cuts off. If the cyclist pedals at the same time then the throttle can still assist up to the general limit of 15.5mph.

If you bought an ebike with a full-speed throttle before January 1 2016, don’t panic: those sold prior to this date are still considered as EAPC and do not require a registration or taxed. Practically, you could still buy one a ‘twist and go’ and not be fined, but it would have to have been produced or imported before January 1.

Different interpretations

There are now fewer ‘grey areas’ than there were when UK and EU laws were different, but we still found some differences of opinion among some people in the industry.

James Fitzgerald, founder of electric bike retailer Just eBike says that “according to EU and UK law there is a 10 per cent margin on the maximum speed allowed for the motors to assist the pedals. But nobody knows about that.” That means that the motor could assist the cyclist up to a 17.5mph speed, and not 15.5 mph.

On the other hand, the brothers Lyle and James Metcalfe – founders of London-based UK ebike brand Volt, said they “had never heard of” this margin for error.

Peter Eland, technical manager of the Bicycle Association, which represents cycle suppliers, manufacturers and associated companies, told us: “The 10 per cent margin was clear in the EU legislation, but it’s questionable in the UK. Some motors cut off at the maximum speed allowed, some before that, but the majority do exceed the tolerance a little.”

Hi David,

We bought our Swiss Flyer bikes from Nationwide e- bikes, who have a showroom in Taunton, where I live.   It was there boss who literally told us that throttle operated bikes, which didnt qualify as a moped, were illegal.   But, thankfully, BB has, as usual, come up with a full and technical explanation.   I am not sure that it would affect you and me, cant see us racing down the prom on Beni' on one of them.    Mind you, having said that, the cops down there have become much stricter of late on biking on the prom.

 BillC

I am grateful that they don't seem to be illegal. We tend not to use them in that mode anyway as there is plenty of power using one of the three pedal assist settings. We rarely go to Spain preferring Germany/Austria/Italy so unlikely to be within the clutches of the Spanish police thankfully. 

David

Yes, Bill, last autumn we saw quite few folk being pulled up on the prom, from the Voramar to Le Torre. still, miles of allowable cycling either side of these pedestrian limits.

I guess this wouldd also be the opportunity for Señor Plod to check the validity of the bike, too...

BTW, have you tried going up the mountain on the CV-147 behind the town and past the station, signposted Desert De Les Palmes, a truly fabulous (uphill) ride yielding wonderful views over Beni, Grau and Castellon...

Re: the techie stuff, I just did a quick Google and the quoted bit was the first page it brought back....

PS, I got my Gepida/Bosch at Nationwide....

PPS. I came back from supermarket the other day and as I pulled into the drive I looked at the mileage.......6666 miles.....spookily, I had watched The Omen the previous week......

That looks a good workout for an E-Bike battery!

Yes, it is.....and for me, too!......and I'd only been to Sainsburys 

been really impressed with the battery, a 400wh one, that's 11.11 AH at 36v. I'd say it's probably lost around 5% or range over the (almost) 4 yrs I've had it...which I reckon is pretty good.

some of the Kalkhoffs are 17ah, 612wh, so +50% range....

Sainsbury's up there? I'd have thought it might be Mercadona or AlCampo. 

BB that's good to hear our new batteries (new bikes) are 603wh, 36v, 16.75AH so hope to get a good few years use out of them, as you know we don't do as many miles as you guys