Bike to Work scheme - the Megathread - Read post #1 before posting

If the bike to work allowed kids bikes that would make sense. I wouldn't expect that from the crowd that think €250 covers an ebike.

I understand that boards.ie as an entity don't want discussions about potential tax fraud happening on their platform, which is the reason why the above conversation gets shut down semi regularly, but how many people, would anyone here care to estimate, actually use the bike for its intended purpose, i.e.

The percentage may be higher in urban areas, where bicycle commutes are relatively an easier option, but (anecdotally I know), I don't know a single person who has availed of the scheme, and who uses the bike primarily for commuting.

I've always leaned towards mountain bikes when cycling, I know road bikes/hybrids are faster & take less energy, but I'm more at home being on a bike which is more forgiving and can hop a kerb/survive a pothole than something that needs optimum road conditions to reach its potential.

I'd argue that knobbly tyres are more suited to the route I'd take to work. Fairview is essentially off road at the moment. Plus my wife will be using it as well and she is a lot less experienced on push bikes than me. Noise wouldnt put me off, I'm a motorcyclist so I wear ear plugs anyway.

If I was younger and fitter I'd probably forgo getting an electric bike and just buy a regular one, but I'm not particularly fit and the moment and I think its a good fit for me.

I like the way they suggest carrying it onto the bus - it's 32kg!

I'd agree it's overkill for riding around Dublin, and also not technically road legal (though none of the Fiido bikes are and you see kids on them everywhere).

Tried that trip on road bike, got a puncture hoping a kerb on first trip, not too fast mind you (totally my fault). This was before the madness that is Fairview now, using the Fiido or similar will give me and the wife a bigger margin for error. More tyre surface on the road does provide more grip, especially on gravel or turning corners. Granted if the road surface is perfect, skinny tyres are the way to go. Your 10/15 years experience cannot be underestimated, your obviously a veteran cyclist and better suited to the type of bike you use. Novice cyclists (like the wife) are not really suited to using road bikes without experience under their belt.

Look I’ll agree to disagree, but I’m not talking about skinny tyres, 40mm wide tyres are near the equivalent of a mtb tyre. My ma commutes to the IFSC down through Fairview on a regular EBike and she’s only been back on a bike for a year or two for the first time in about 40 years. You’ll get almost zero extra grip with those fat tyres that you wouldn’t already have, plus the bike will be about 15kg lighter.

It’s like saying you need a set of knobbly tyres on a Ford Ranger pickup truck to drive into town.

Arguably you've less grip as the knobbles (knobblies, knobs, lumps?) will mean less tyre surface in contact with the road surface. I'd argue unless you're talking about negotiating mud, they don't add anything. Aquaplaning is a non issue as well unless you're planning on topping 100km/h (https://sheldonbrown.com/tyres.html) which I doubt even the most souped up Fiido is up to!

It's cheap for a reason. 5-6 hours charge for 40km..ish range. All of the components are pretty basic and I'd say it will rust at the thoughts of moisture. I've no idea on motors but suntour being suntour I wouldn't say it's great. Also 18kg is pretty hefty.

In saying all of that I'm sure it's perfectly fine as a commuter/run around.

Halfords are still using ye olde imperial system - it's 40 miles, so 60km. I'd have said 18kg is light enough for an eBike, a lot of them are well north of 20kg.

Ah true, I notice the reviews on that particular bike aren't great with one questioning the range.

I guess by the time you add in a decent size battery and motor the weight adds up.

OP I think Orbea have some nice looking hybrid ebikes

the weight is an issue if you have to lift it up kerbs, or in and out of the house, onto a train etc and you have a bad back or other mobility problems.