Great interest in talk on e-bikes at Probus 25th AGM
The Kowie Probus Club held their 25th annual general meeting and a talk at the R72 Saloon on Tuesday April 12.
As part of a previous decision to make Probus meetings more enjoyable, Cycle Asylum owner Ian Storer was invited as the guest speaker for the day.
The 25th AGM had the election of office bearers on the agenda, which was convened by past president and Manco member Doug Sutherland.
The election saw Cyril Gebhardt retain his position as president of the club after he was nominated unopposed.
Paul Probert was elected as the club’s secretary, replacing Eddie Wepenaar who was added to the Manco committee.
Lawrence May was also added as an ordinary member to Manco, with Russell Warren retaining his position as treasurer.
Storer had three variations of paddle-assisted e-bikes on display.
These included a typical commuter, the Baroudeur Rhino Fat-tyred bike and a Silverback Stratus.
The mountain bike enthusiast noted that commuter bicycles were the most popular e-bike.
“The Baroudeur Rhino fat-tyred bike is favoured greatly by the fishermen in the area,” he said. Discussing the history of e-bikes, he said electric bikes were first invented in France and the US in about 1895.
“Using a hand throttle and powered by lead acid batteries, they were very heavy, cumbersome and limited in distance,” he said.
But, as Storer pointed out, “a bicycle without pedals becomes a motorbike”.
Storer said the most important innovation was the creation of the pedal electric cycle, also called pedelecs.
“The 1989 innovation of the pedelec bicycles are now registered as an evolution,” Storer said.
“All modern e-bikes are based on this concept, whether it is a hub drive or mid-mount drive.
“There are hundreds of e-bike designs from the simplest commuter to comfort bikes to sporting bikes,” he said.
“E-bikes are for those that need some exercise, cheaper transport for shopping, fishing socialising.”
There were plenty of questions from the floor that showed great interest and enthusiasm from Probus members
Questions from the audience included queries about the battery management of e-bikes, warranty on the bikes and conversion kits, which Storer said he did not recommend.