Over the last 12 months, the Move Electric team have driven and ridden a huge range of electric vehicles. This week we're reflecting on the star machines we've tried: these aren't necessarily the best, but memorable ones that left a big impression on us.
Today, our e-bike correspondent Rebecca Bland makes her selection.
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It’s difficult to name one electric bike that’s left the biggest impression after a very e-filled year. But after a quick scan of all the reviews and features I’ve done in 2022, it had to be the Specialized Turbo Como 4.0.
Granted, it’s not the typical type of bike that I would be found drooling over, and it’s taken a fair while for me to come around to the idea that step-through bikes look good anywhere other than Amsterdam, but for some reason, I fell in love with this bike.
Since borrowing it from the Specialized Concept Store in Harrogate in October, the bikes I’ve tested since have all had to be mentally compared to the performance of this one. It’s not the recency effect taking place here though, it genuinely just took me by surprise at how much fun it was to ride.
There’s a particular road nearby through a place called Bingley, which essentially goes from the high street up to the top of a moor. It reaches about 15% in steepness, which isn’t too bad except the road is about 2 miles long and averages about 10%. I’ve done it on an electric road bike and this bike – and the Turbo Como just blew me away.
Whacking it in turbo mode and gliding up this monster of a hill was what sold me on it. It’s an urban, sit-up-and-beg bike, and I’m more confident up this than I would be on my road bike, and I was enjoying myself more.
It’s not to say it takes away the effort of riding or what makes cycling, cycling. The motion of pedalling is still there, and the feel of putting out your own power or moving (mostly) under your own steam is there - you’ve just got this boost of confidence and a bit of speed to help to keep the enjoyment of riding there.
Anyone who rides knows the feeling of a headwind or when your legs feel like lead, and you start to lose your mental state. You begin questioning why you’re out here, crawling through the countryside when you could be at home with your feet up. So you eat a bar or gel and pray it brings back the motivation and replenishes your legs. With this bike, you don’t feel like that.
At the end of every ride, I almost dreaded seeing my house. I didn’t want to get off – and I think that’s what makes this electric bike special.
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