I've yet to ride an ebike. I'm considering replacing my manual bike, and I'd like a little advice. I'm 60 years old and my local area here in the UK is moderately hilly so I'd need an ebike that would cope with that terrain. I intend to continue taking my bike on trains, which on UK long-distance trains means being able to hang the bike by a wheel on a hook in a tiny vestibule by the doors. This is quite a job with my current heavy manual bike (19kg) and would be even harder with an ebike. What is the experience of ebike riders doing this? As I get older, it will become more difficult. But am I making a fuss over nothing?

Ideally, you will wheel the bike over to the hook and pop a wheely, and the front wheel will be at perfect height with no lifting.

From a geometry perspective, it depends on the height of the hook versus the area on your front wheel where it hooks, and that can also depend on a variety of factors; My 20" wheel folding bike has a similar overall length as a road race bike, but a longer wheelbase due to the smaller wheels. You may not know until you try.

There are folding bikes, and now folding electric bikes; The (non commuter) trains here (USA) explicitely say that folding bikes are allowed on the luggage shelves inside the passenger car, which is a plus, because while some trains have luggage cars with hooks and the porter loads the bike, other trains don't and the bike goes into the lower luggage compartment loose, and can get banged up. However for daily commutes, you would either want a "frequent folder" that folds fast and easy, or not need to fold it.

Removing the battery into a backpack can also lighten the lifting weight considerably.

There's a member here called Jipe that has quite a few folders including electric and may have recommendations for you.

Also perhaps a possibility: If there is a hook or loop above the bike-hanging hook, where you could attach a small block and tackle with two hooks (like the 4:1 vang on a Laser sailboat), with an easy lift, pull your bike up onto the hook, and later off of it.

If the hook was 10cm too high, if you had a 10cm lightweight block, you lift only the rear wheel and place it on the block, then wheely the bike front wheel up onto the hook, remove block.

Thanks for that informative and helpful reply. I've found that on trains with hooks for bikes, often the folding doors surrounding the bike storage area have not been fully opened - they have two locks, one for each half. When they are fully opened, it's quite simple to "wheel the bike over to the hook and pop a wheely". When they are not, it's quite a job. I think I'm perhaps making too much of this. I'd prefer not to have a folding e-bike because no doubt they have the least power capabilities which I assume start at folding bikes, then rear hub motor bikes, then mid-drive bikes being the most powerful on hills. As I live in a fairly hilly region, I must take that into consideration before I spend my savings on this.

Folding e-bikes have advanced tremendously. You should seek out Jipe on the forum, he has, among other things, a Bike Friday (USA) e-folder with Bosch mid-drive, BF wanted an E supplier that they knew would be around, as their last supplier went belly-up. The BF mid-drive electric is among the lightest e-folder, I think 33 lbs(?). And he ordered it to be sent to Europe. BF makes each frame to custom size for the user, so that's a good value, plus choice of powder-coat color. That particular bike is premium priced, as well as their manual folders with wide gravel tires. Which means, their original folding touring bike, the New World Tourist (NWT) is selling dirt cheap by comparison due to less demand. A year ago, Dahon USA was moving so sold off stock cheap, a USD$2600 folder, their Unio E20, for $1000, one person on here got one. Only downside is the mid-drive is Dahon's, and the battery is inside the long seatpost, and Dahon is notorious for terrible customer service and parts support after the sale. Bike Friday is infinitely better, and now the e-system is Bosch. Converse with Jipe, he's got several premium e-folders, as well as a stable of manual folders.

Use the search or message function to find member Jipe on here.

Check Dahon; they have a 26 pound e-folder for $1200 or so.

I'm with Duragrouch on considering a folding eBike. In addition to having the folding option, they are also much shorter in length due to the smaller wheels, so if you bring it on the train open, it will be easier to maneuver there. Not only that, but they folding handle post and long telescoping seat post, so they can quickly be made short in height even without folding the frame. (again for easier maneuverability in tight spaces)

If they're in budget, a Brompton (made in England) are available electric. The battery is in the front bag and detaches quickly with a well-designed luggage block. They're about 26 lbs and they fold with the chain in the middle, so it won't grease up your pants. You'd carry the bike in one hand and the battery bag in the other. I think you'd be looking at about 3,000 GBP, cheaper used.

Terns are also good, but be careful if you buy a used one. Earlier ones had frame latch issues. Dahons can be a good value. Some Terns are available in belt drive, which is cleaner all-around, but especially during folded transit.

If you're concerned about hill-climbing torque, mid drive will have a lot more of it for the motor power rating, because they use the bike's gearing. It's important for you there in the UK, as you have the 250 W power limit, which is a relatively weak hub motor. (though they still give more assistance than you might imagine.

The downside of a mid drive for you is that if you need wheelie the bike to get it on the rack, you have to lift more of that motor weight than you would a rear hub motor. In general, plan on an eBike being 20-30 lbs heavier than a muggle bike of the same style.

Failing that, if you really want to stick with a solid frame eBike, you'll need to look at lightweight ones, which either means more expensive or weaker power.

Here is a folding eBike I have that might suit your needs: it is a Tern Vektron S10. It weighs a bit more than your bike at 22 kg, but maybe you wouldn't need to lift all of that, depending on your train design.

Thanks for your help and information there. That will assist me in deciding. I'm considering a standard e-bike with a mid drive because of the many hills around here. I'll be on a national UK train next week with my (heavy - 19kg) manual bike, and I'm going to test how practical it is to attach it to the storage hook without lifting it. The little cubicle for bikes is anything but convenient. Cyclists hate them.

Here's a technique that may help you with the lifting bit: apply the rear brake then just walk the bike back into the wheelie position. There doesn't need to be any jerking involved and the lifting is easy, because you're just swiveling the bike around the rear axle. Once you get it on the rear wheel you can walk it around like that with a finger over the rear brake lever for additional control.

Interesting. I'll try that at home first. Thanks!

You'll find that turning the bike sharply takes very little room when it's standing up on its rear wheel. That'll be handy inside the train carriage, especially to maneuver it into that little hook closet area.