Gadget Review
Gocycle electric bicycle
Rating 
Pedal or motor? No need to decide with this spiffy electric bicycle from Gocyle, as it works like a normal bicycle but also kicks into gear travelling up to 15mph!
The Gocycle, distributed in Ireland by GreenAer, has power behind its innocent-looking handlebars because it was designed by ex-McLaren designer Richard Thorpe.
Aside from recently winning the Gold Award for outstanding design and innovation at the 2009 Eurobike show, the Gocyle also has the attractive elements of being quite portable, weighing in at only 16kg, and if you take a look at the design you'll probably feel the urge to move to a more avant-garde looking European city and pretend you're in a coffee advertisement.
The perfect gift perhaps for the eco-conscious guy or gal who has everything? The Gocycle is available to order now from GreenAer and costs €1,399.50 (including VAT).
By Marie Boran
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A warning: I bought an electric bike in late 2007 as an alterative to a scooter; I amd a cyclist all my life but aimed to make the longer journeys (15-20 miles return) I have to do once a week or so on it. The bike it looked good and rode well but the battery was never right and I got stuck more than once cycling a very heavy bike home. Even when the agent (NOT Green Aer!) "fixed" the battery, it was never right. Had realised belatedly that elecctic bikes are suitable mainly for commuting; you cycle to work on a charge, plug your bike in and then cycle home again. Because I don't commute, I decided to sell the bike, since by this time the warranty had run out. I had no luck getting rid of it, so upgraded it to a model which goes for 50kmw per charge, hoping to sell that. No luck there either so decided to cyle it the odd time (hoping it would get stolen, actually). This bike has given me nothing but trouble. I have no idea whether it goes for 50km per charge because the faulty brakes make it impossible to ride; this has been replaced but the new lot are almost glued to the wheels and make riding very tricky. My knees are screaming at me even as we speak. I have asked the main dealer could I have my money back (I have now sunk Eu1,600 into two useless electric bikes). He went deaf. I then went into a bike shop which sells this brand of electric bike and asked could I trade it in for a decent road bike. He told me that they were not selling electric bikes any more because of the trouble they caused. He had tried an electric bike himself for commuting but becasue it was so unreliable, bought a Honda 125 instead. This probably won't get printed, since I am clearly not a fan of electric bikes, but in case it does, here is my advice. If you are capable at all of cycling a bike, invest in a good engine-less road bike. For about Eu500, you will get a brilliant bike that won't let you down. If you still want to buy an electric bike, ensure that you can bring it back and get your money back if you don't like it. Learn from my mistakes!
Posted on 12 December 2009 by Lindie Naughton