It was only a matter of time, and with off-road e-bikes gaining popularity all the time, an E-bike specific drivetrain was inevitable, and SRAM have recently presented a 1 X 8 with 11-42 offering in the form of SRAM EX1 that looks pretty handy.
We haven't seen it in the flesh yet, or a price list, but on paper it certainly looks to have good potential.
Click on the pictures below to read a great review providing all the low down by E-Mountain bike .com

Click the below image to link to E-Mountain bikes.com's review.

A wonderful piece of Dutch 'people moving equipment', the Azor Frieland from Flying Dutchman. Sure, it is a weighty beast compared to most bikes, but then it can do things other bikes simply can not!
The guys at Azor know how to make bikes that are more than up to the job and will last a lifetime.
The one pictured above that Brighton E-bikes recently added a 250 watt mid-drive motor and battery kit to, commonly has a six year old child on the back and can carry up to thirty kg on the front. No wonder a little electric assistance doesn't go amiss for certain hills. 
Below is a short subtitled video for those who want to see how they go about achieving such great quality and long lasting bikes. Very good ethos indeed.
Props to Flying Dutchman in Camden London, and Azor bikes, although I guess it shouldn't be any surprise, inspired by such a great cycling nation.
Click the Flying Dutchman logo below for more information.

Before.

After.

Tipping the scales at under 18kg, this recent conversion of a Giant Rapid 3 was joy to work on.
​#MoreSmileperMile

It is possible that higher powered electric bikes may be allowed on UK roads in the future, but under current law, any kind of electrically powered e-bike exceeding 250 watts in power is considered a moped and requires registration and insurance, amongst other legislations.
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Do not be fooled by cute sales spiel, there are 'no grey areas' regarding on or off-road use. Unless on private land, a motor with a power rating above 250 watts cannot be used in the UK, full stop.

'Bike Biz' recently addressed this matter in their article by Carlton Reid. The complete article can be viewed by clicking the Bike Biz logo below.

Keep it legal, keep it safe and keep smiling.
Brighton E-bikes. More Smile per Mile :)
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The recently announced collaboration between Bafang and Browse and Hi-Tech Energy sees the creation of 'energy tubes', and makes Bafang a one stop shop for innovative e-bike solutions.

Click below on the 'Bike Europe' logo to read more.
​#moresmilepermile

 The new 42 tooth Lekkie® Bling Ring for Bafang BBSHD motors.
​80 GBP. Due in store Monday 14th March 2016.

A far cry from a UK road legal EAPC, Danny Macaskill shows what manufacturers in other fields are achieving with new electric vehicle technology.
Duck to water springs to mind.

Plenty More Smile per Mile :)

A cracking bit of ingenuity from the young chap!

A recent refurb. and mid-drive conversion to a ladies Radford Prelude. 
Transforming a really rather nice old steel ladies town/touring bike that was previously sat in a shed for over a decade into an e-bike that is used everyday instead of a car, is something to behold.
More Smile per Mile.

A recent refurb. and mid-drive electric conversion to a rather run of the mill old Raleigh Max (Ogre 21), from the 1990s. 
New swept back handlerbars and adjustable stem relaxes the riding position, taking the weight off the arms and and making full use of the comfortable saddle.
A ride most preferred by the older gentleman, who will now still fly up the longest hills at over 15mph.
With commonly 40-50 miles between charges, customers who have received these conversions say that they now use their bike far more and feel confident going farther afield than ever before.
Goes to show how an old bike has the potential to transform in to a reliable e-bike with thousands of miles of smiles ahead.
Quality bespoke electric bikes available at Brighton E-bikes, purveyors of fine electrically assisted wonderment.

Conversion includes Bafang BBS01 36V 250W mid-drive with Samsung 36V 10.4AH Brighton ebikes battery and polished off with a Lekkie® Bling Ring.
Whichever way you look at it, it's got 'More Smile per Mile' written all over it.
A great way to start the new year!

Brighton and Hove has become the first non-London council to sign up to CTC’s Space for Cycling campaign. There are also plans for a cycle hire scheme with 430 bikes to be made available from 50 bike hubs.
The council also wants bike hire scheme up and running by May 2017, electric bike hire scheme should follow.

CTC reports that the Green Group’s motion to back 'Space for Cycling' in Brighton and Hove received 62 per cent support from councillors, with the Conservatives abstaining.

The campaign aims to create the conditions where anyone can cycle anywhere. The six main themes being:

• Protected space on main roads
• Removing through motor traffic in residential areas
• Lower speed limits
• Cycle-friendly town centres
• Safe routes to school
• Routes through green spaces

CTC campaigner Sam Jones said:
“Brighton has clearly shown that it recognises the need for cycling and the enormous benefits it brings, just at the time the national government is poised to drastically damage Prime Minister David Cameron’s vision of a ‘Cycling Revolution’.
“We have asked people to call on their local councillors to support Space for Cycling. As the voting in Brighton shows, it would appear the Conservatives are oblivious to their leader’s dream for cycling – from his friend the Chancellor down to the party’s representatives at a local level.”
Roger Geffen, Policy Director at CTC, added: “The council’s vote is great news for Brighton. On a national scale, however, the Chancellor’s spending review looks to spell bad news for bikes and buses. All our sources indicate local authorities face a further squeeze, with major roads benefiting while the streets we live and work on suffer.”
Bricycles, the Brighton and Hove Cycling Campaign, has been promoting Space for Cycling since the start of CTC’s campaign. The group’s campaigns officer, Becky Reynolds, said: “We now hope to see a continued and renewed focus at local level on the remaining barriers to cycling, particularly dealing with busy roads and dangerous junctions.”
The BBC reports that the council has also backed the idea of a bike hire scheme. A provisional three-year contract will be put out to tender with the aim of having 430 bikes on offer from at least 50 docking stations. The council wants the scheme to be up and running by May 2017.

It would be great to see one with a mid drive motor, but overall this is one of the best, simple and realistic home builds I have seen.
​Okay, so it may look slightly odd to the common eye, used to seeing big square cars everywhere nowadays, but as it becomes more the norm then there will be some seriously pimped rides around in the future for sure. Looking forward to it!

Popped down to the beach yesterday for a stroll, too nice not to!
"Don't stand too near the shore" I said, then grabbed quicker than a teenage gypsy at a wedding!
Watch the inevitable unfold before your eyes on you tube below.
Just in the nick of time!

Organised in Partnership with The Purple Heart Network, an electric bike expedition set off from Glasgow yesterday for a 20,000km self-sufficient journey to South Africa to help raise awareness of the impact of global climate change.
Presumably waved off by Del and Rodney Trotter, they departed from Nelson Mandela Place with their custom-built solar trailers in tow heading for Cape Town.
Chair of the Charity, Johanna Speirs, said: “We want environmentally sensitive, sustainable technologies to be affordable, accessible and practical for everyone in Scotland and beyond so that everyone can play a meaningful part in tackling climate change.”
Travelling through 13 countries, they are expecting to complete the journey in about a year.
Good luck guys, we'll be rooting for you.

A Dawes Kalahari is fitted with it's own personal tail-wind in the form of a Bafang® 250W mid-drive motor and a Samsung® 10.4AH battery. Never tried it? Get in touch about converting your bike of choice.
​More Smile per Mile.