Commuter cycling, in London at least, can be a hectic, adrenaline-fuelled affair if you let it – full of split-second decisions to brake or accelerate. But not everyone wants cycling to be this way. For every cyclist who loves this (worn) seat-of-your-pants chaos, there are plenty of potential pedallers put off by the effort required, let alone the sweatiness.
Mando’s Footloose IM electric bike isn’t courting hardcore lycra-clad commuters (let alone the “pleasure” cyclists I see taking on the hills near me every weekend). It’s very much a bike for people who would rather not tackle the five-mile tube journey, but aren’t sure if cycling is a workable alternative. Could an electric bike like this be the answer?
Assembly took no time at all – a matter of simply bolting on pedals, twisting handlebars round and attaching the nifty little fold-up stand. I got into the saddle, unsure of what to expect. A tentative pedalling motion prompted disproportionate acceleration – accompanied by a panicked giggle – and I was away. Impressed by its smooth power, I was eager to get it out on the open road.
Tech talk
A little bit about how the bike works. With no chain connecting the pedals to the back wheel, this is an e-bike rather than a pedelec. This means the pedals drive an alternator, not the back wheel, and the alternator charges the battery, which powers the back wheel. Pedalling also communicates to the bike that you want to accelerate (or stay at the same speed), although there is a handlebar-mounted throttle too.
On our first journey together, this was all a bit confusing. I found myself pedalling harder as we went uphill, while the bike happily went about its business of nudging towards its 25km/h (15mph) speed limit. The other hard-wired habit I couldn’t immediately snap out of – stopping pedalling on the downhills – had the welcome effect of cheating the bike’s speed-limiting and pushing it well into the 30s.
My 10-mile commute takes in main roads and side streets, park paths and alleyways and more than its fair share of hills. Tackling the main roads fresh out of the box feels a little odd – you wouldn’t want to go much slower than 25km/h in London’s surprisingly fast-moving commuter traffic – but becomes easier as you relax into your new role. You’re not racing home to burn off that canteen pudding; you’re just enjoying not being on the tube (and you’ll skip pudding tomorrow).
Once over Blackfriars Bridge and on to the side streets it becomes more enjoyable still. The bike still zips away at the lights from the most ardent yellow-jerseyed riders as they snap cleats into position and the pace – limited, it feels, by EU rules rather than the power of the motor – feels more suited to these quieter byways.
You can tell a lot about a bike’s intent by the width of its tyres – the thinner they are, the faster (and more uncomfortable) the ride. The Footloose’s tyres are pretty wide – think Boris bike – and bump with a soft spring up the kerb as I take my park shortcut in Camberwell. From here on in it’s easy to get to my house – turn up the steepest hill at any given point and you’ll be there not very soon. At the end of the week, with 100 miles stripped from your legs, this can be soul-destroying, but the Footloose makes light work of it.
Checking the digital display, I see that I’ve done my bit too, throwing 140 kcals into the energy kitty – and yet there’s no need for the shower tonight. I’m also amazed to see the journey only took five minutes longer than normal. It could be that I’m not as fast as I thought.
Short journeys over the weekend play to the Footloose’s strengths. A quick trip to the local farmers’ market – something I would never do on my regular bike as there’s nowhere to lock it up – is made immeasurably breezier by simply popping the stand down and sliding off the digital display, which locks the pedals and immobilises the bike.
I also pay a quick visit to friends who, despite living only two or three miles away, are rendered distant by south London transport links and hills. And it’s a simple and relaxing affair. Suddenly, I feel like the Footloose and I are becoming much better friends. I’ll miss it when it’s gone.
For more information on the Mando Footloose, go to www.mandofootloose.com. The bike is currently available at Fully Charged and Just EBikes.
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