Full Road Test. The Ecolux Electric Bisikun

If you want to be noticed, forget driving a Lamborghini around town. They’re too expensive, too noisy, too polluting and you can’t park anywhere. What you need, as my little friend at the Buffalo Bar called it, is an “Electric bisikun!” Yes, a fortnight with the Ecolux Hurricane Mountain Bike was enough for me to become totally enthralled with this form of transport.

I must admit that I did not get the Ecolux because I wanted something which was quiet, non-polluting and easy to park. I had been dared to compete in the Jesters Charity Bike Ride as part of the Care For Kids campaign. Since I last rode a bicycle in earnest about 48 years ago I stupidly agreed that it was to be the full monty - 50 kays or nothing.

At that point, I decided it was time for the Age, Experience and Animal Cunning routine, which beats Youth and Enthusiasm every time. Flipping through the business card book, I stopped at the name Paul Markham. Paul makes electric bicycles! Sorry, bisikuns. After promising to only fall off gracefully, Paul arranged for a shiny silver Ecolux Hurricane to be sent to Pattaya.

It would be nice to say that the next day the courier truck arrived and everything was fine. This would not be quite telling the truth. It arrived close to sundown, after my bilingual secretary had gone home. This is important. The driver, a Mr. Git (notice how aptly named) rings up asking for directions. Mr. Git speaks no English. Dr. Iain poots Thai mai geng as readers of this paper will know. Fortunately the massage parlour next door was open and after a lot of “Sakrews” (Hang on’s for the non-Thai readers) I managed to find a young massage maiden who understood me and who could direct the Git to my office.

The Ecolux Hurricane is not a bad looking bit of gear, and close inspection showed it to be well constructed, good welding and well painted. I hastily plugged the charger into the wall and looked forward to the morrow.

The next morning it was fully charged - and so was I. I turned on the ignition switch and gave the twist-grip throttle a quick flick. Hurricane took off like one and speared my elbow into the door frame as I hastily applied the brake. On later reading of the instruction manual it says clearly, “Never turn the throttle when not sitting astride the bicycle as accident or injury can occur if the bike moves forward suddenly.” (Thanks a bundle, Paul, but just a trifle tardy, old Mate!)

Wheeling bisikun outside, now with a band-aid on the elbow, I performed a quick leg-over, pressed the pedal and turned the throttle. With an almost inaudible hum we were away. I had pedalled half a turn only and here I was sailing down Pattaya Second Road at a brisk 25 kph.

It was then that I noticed that people were noticing me. People in baht busses were waving. I waved back. The baht bus stopped. I didn’t and only by dint of a massive avoidance stopped myself from joining the waving throng in the rear. There is nothing at all in the owners manual, Paul, to say never wave to others while electro-cycling. Good thing we weren’t in America, I’d have slapped a million dollar law suit on him by now.

That first trip was quite an experience. I decided I should get off Second Road and turned neatly into Soi Diana skilfully avoiding a family of visiting Taiwanese jaywalkers as I did so. Unfortunately the 8 year old son was not looking at all where he was going and I collected him, or rather, he collected me! So within 2 kays I had hurt my elbow, almost won a baht bus and scored an 8 year old Taiwanese. The owners manual says absolutely nothing about Taiwanese, Paul. Absolutely nothing and it’s not even in the index.

Over the next few days I began to remember how to ride the two wheeled devices and became more and more confident. I would sail noiselessly past a pedaller grunting in the hot sun, while saying gleefully, “You need one of these!” However, I wouldn’t wave, I wasn’t that clever yet.

After a couple of days I also noted that my derriere felt that I had changed my sexual preferences. The seat was killing me. With great skill and daring, Mick Crawford from Coastal Constructions converted an office chair to suit. Wonderful, other than the fact it was now impossible to pedal. It then dawned upon me why bicycle seats were that strange shape.

After a week with electric bisikun it had become part of me. I enjoyed going on errands around town. I started making excuses as to why I would just have to run over to the photo-shop, the newsagent, the other office, etc. I could electro-cycle for kilometres and not even raise a sweat. But you were out cycling in the breeze and loving it.

During that week a friend popped in and was thoroughly taken with the bisikun. Another phone call, and another Mr. Git, and Jan Olav joined me on the bike ride. The pair of us being aptly named as The Electric Bike Orchestra (and apologies to ELO).

My first modification to the Ecolux Hurricane was a padded, sprung seat. It doesn’t look as racy as the original, but at least you don’t feel sodomized when you get off. However, the big test was to be the 50 kay charity bike ride. Practice for the event was a trouble free trip from the VIA rentacar office, opposite the Royal Garden Plaza, all the way to North Road and return. (For ‘trouble free’ read - I didn’t hit anything.)

On the appointed day, Jan Olav and I were there at the start and almost immediately we knew we were onto a good thing. On the first hill, while the ‘normal’ bikes were slowing, the Hurricane kept up the same speed if I just pedalled as well. It was worthwhile just watching the incredulous looks on the faces of the ‘real’ pedallers!

Battery consumption was always a nagging factor in the back of my mind, as I certainly did not wish to pedal unassisted for any great distance, masochism not being in my nature. Paul Markham insisted that Hurricane would do at least 60 kays on one charge-up. That was being pessimistic, as both Jan Olav and myself only used 1/3rd of the battery during the 50 km. We also averaged just under 25 kph for the round trip including several water stops.

After the great bike ride I could honestly say that I (and Jan Olav) have returned most impressed with this form of transport. It is quiet, it is ecologically sound, it is convenient and easy to park. It costs next to nothing to run and at 21,900 baht is inexpensive to purchase. It is super handy, and still gives you some exercise and a much better way to do it than sitting in your bathroom on an exercise bike, boringly pedalling your way to nowhere.

The test bike came from Ecolux International, Bangkok, telephone 02-924 9183-6, or email [email protected]

Autotrivia Quiz Last week I recalled that the New York Museum of modern art has kept a Farina bodied Italian car as an example of what they called “sculpture in movement.” It was a coupe with a 50 bhp engine, so it was certainly no fireball in acceleration, but it would do over 160 kph in standard tune. They built 485 of these cars and there was a photograph to look at as well, and I asked what was this car? It was a Cisitalia 202 that could attain its top speed with only a Fiat 1100 engine. Those with highly tuned race modifications would do almost 180 kph. So to this week. After the first world war the Brooklands authorities dropped their 24 hour race in favour of a “Double Twelve”. The question this week is simply, why? For the Automania FREE beer this week, be the first correct answer to fax 427 596 or email [email protected]

US GP this weekend With there now being a close fight between Coulthard, Barichello and Ralf Schumacher to grab the runner-up prize in the world championship, there could be some fireworks at the US Grand Prix, to be held on the Indianapolis course. At the time of going to press, this event was still on, but many sporting fixtures were doubtful following the World Trade Center disaster. Juan Pablo Montoya Even if it is still run, the telecast will be a most unsociable time here: 2 a.m. by my reckoning, which means that the fun police will have shut the pubs and bars, so you’ll all have to watch it at home, as I will. Juan Pablo Montoya won the Indy 500 when he ran at this circuit last year but this will be his first time in the F1 vehicles. The circuit will suit the BMW Williams straight-line speed and Montoya is certainly focussed. Put your money on him.