Halfords Electric Bike Test

I became a member of the noble classes for a day, while testing a Carrera Vengeance Electric Mountain Bike. Halfords' website asked for my title, and "Lord" was one of the options in a drop-down menu.

I couldn't resist it. I rather regret not choosing "Right Reverend" or "Lieutenant Commander" when signing up for a Coop card a few years ago. This was my chance to set things right.

Halfords are offering free 6-hour electric bike tests. Harrogate is one of the participating stores, and I booked to borrow an electric mountain bike from them.

Halfords Electric Bike Test: Picking Up the Bike

The staff at Halfords on Knaresborough Road in Harrogate were very helpful. It could have been because of my aristocratic status, but more likely they didn't notice that they were dealing with a Lord; they are always very good, even when I'm plain "Mister".

It took about 15 minutes to sort out the paperwork and pay a £101 deposit.

My first interaction with the Carrera Vengeance was lugging it down Halfords' stairs. It was a good deal heavier than my own mountain bike.

I set off on the route I'd picked, which was the Goldsborough and Flaxby ride from Bike Rides in Harrogate and Nidderdale. The route starts at Waterside, Knaresborough.

Halfords Electric Bike Test: the Electric Assist Settings

There's a small control panel on the handlebars that lets you select an assist setting from four options:

• eco
• tour
• sport
• turbo

The panel itself is difficult to read in dappled light, or when your eyes are watering, or if your eyesight just isn't very good.

Halfords Electric Bike Test: My Impressions of Riding the Carrera Vengeance

I had never ridden an electric bike before; this was a first. I'll give my impressions of the Carrera Vengeance on different gradients.

On the Flat

The electric assist goes up to 15.5mph, the legal limit in the UK. It's quite easy to go along at 15.5mph for long periods on the flat.

For commuting, this would be attractive, as you don't need to put in too much energy, and the commute time to work would be the same each day.

You do have to keep pedalling, otherwise the electric assist cuts out, and you get a sensation of braking, or at least resistance. I don't know whether there's actually more resistance than on a non-e-bike - it could just be the contrast from e-assist to no e-assist - but it feels that way. It's a bit like a Dutch bike, where you back-pedal to brake.

Above 15.5mph, there's no assist, and you have to pedal hard to reach 17 or 18mph on the flat. It would be a smoother experience if the electric assist reduced gradually above 15.5mph, but that's not currently legal.

Uphill

I was a bit surprised how little the electric assist helped on steep hills. I had to change down to a lower gear and work quite hard to stay at 6 or 7mph.

It's on a gradual drag uphill, or into a headwind, that the Vengeance comes into its own. You can do 15.5mph quite easily.

Even on a medium climb like Stockwell Lane, with the turbo setting activated I could do 12-14mph, which is double what I'd manage on my own.

Downhill

For me, going downhill is one of the weaknesses of an e-bike. Freewheeling just isn't quite the same as on a normal bike; you get the feeling of resistance I mentioned earlier.

I hadn't realised how much I like freewheeling on a non-e-bike.

Halfords Electric Bike Test: Overall Impression

I enjoyed my ride on the Carrera Vengeance electric mountain bike.

It's a solid bike. The electric assist helps most on not-so-steep hills and into a headwind.

It would give me the confidence to set out on a longer ride without worrying too much about my fitness or stamina.

E-bikes are also useful for commuting, because they give you a reliably consistent commute time, and you don't have to get too out-of-breath. In traffic, a bit of extra power can make you feel less vulnerable and get you away from dangerous drivers.

I wasn't economical with the battery, because I wanted to test out the different settings. After a couple of hours, I still had about half the charge left.

I returned the bike, and with it my noble status. I went back to being a commoner and to travelling on a 100% pedal-powered velocipede.

Do you have an electric bike? Do you like it, and what do you use it for?