Electric bicycles (yes, that old chestnut) ;-)

Yes, I've heard that replacement batteries can be between £200 - £500. Thanks for your feedback.

You can buy DIY electric bicycle conversions to fit a standard bicycle.

IOW, nothing. FOAD, moron.

Do you mean an electric version of the little front wheel drive 2 stroke petrol engine units commonly in use by dutch cyclists back in the 60s?

For that sort of investment, I'd expect it to have a very effective KERS function to recharge the expensive LiIon battery pack on downhill stretches and when slowing down on approach to stopping points.

I'm not quite sure of exactly which type you mean, but I do remember seeing a few bicycles with a tiny 2 stroke engine above the *rear wheel* and I think a roller on top(or the side) of the tyre then turned the wheel. Is that the sort type you mean?

The DIY ones I meant were small electric motors fitted to either the front or rear hub. Different companies do one or the other (or both). I think you have to buy and fit the wheel with the hub motor integral in place of your own wheel.

You can get regenerative E bike types, but they tend to be much more expensive.

Two-smoke-wise, there were various types of "clip-on". Complete replacement rear wheels, units that sat above the rear wheel driving by chain or by friction, units that sat on the bottom bracket driving the chain.

Wouldn't surprise me to see that replicated in the electric market.

The front-wheel friction drivers were probably VeloSolexes - purpose- built, albeit looking very like a converted bicycle.

The DIY ones *I meant* were small electric motors fitted to either the front or rear hub. Different companies do one or the other (or both). I think you have to buy and fit the wheel with the hub motor integral in place of your own wheel.

When I investigated getting an electrically assisted bike about 14 years ago following an ankle injury on my clutch foot these were available

G.Harman

I think that most common kits use a 36v battery these days.

Only if you don't build your own or buy one that can be modded to be self-propelled.

Roller drive kits like those exist, but they're probably all just as crap as the Sinclair Zeta was. (Well, probably not _quite_ as crap.)

Interesting, cheers.

Shaddup, assclown.

Totally ineffective and a waste of money/time on bikes.

But I think that most cyclists are probably not so well off - and hence could not afford such a thing

Fascinating - cheers