Extreamly pleased with service provided by espoke & team. I had tough time , finding a serivce centers for my eBike. Since it’s an electric, many people turned down mentioning that – they can’t take risk and not equipped with servicing an eBike . Including Halfords , Basingstoke.
But when I approached eSpoke guys, they took it positively and ready to repair and service with ‘a disclaimer’ – In case of electric malfunction , they can’t do anything . I was sure that nothing is wrong in any of electric part .
They did great job of servicing , I know people who love their job, they excel in their work & service ( I personally believe in this ), one among them are eSpoke guys.
I have to appreciate , prompt & a reminder communication from their side when my service due date is nearing , helps us to plan the day well in advance.
Two months in and I can happily say my Raleigh Stride-2 from e-spokes is both the the most fun and the most useful bike I have ever owned. This has been an absolute hit with my daughter who loves to ride on “Daddy’s car-go bike”, it’s a hit with all her friends too who like to join her for rides. For accessories I highly recommend the canopy cover for sheltering any passengers from sun and rain, ours almost never comes off the bike now.
The different turning circle to a regular bike does take a couple of rides to get fully used to, and some routes I normally take needed a little adjustment, but does not take very long at all. The carry capacity is unreal, I’ve done full garden centre shops compost shops (~150lt) and massive weekly shops, just drop the bags in the “bucket” and then getting home (uphill) is a breeze as I can just up the power to compensate for the extra weight I’m taking home. I’m pretty certain I’ve comfortably loaded the bike with as much as some do in a small hatchback. This bike is a solid car replacement for shopping, trips round town, children taxi, and picnics in the countryside and I heartily recommend giving it a go.
Trust me, you’ll have trouble not smiling while riding, this really is a fun and useful bike.
I wanted a step-through which looked good, was comfortable to ride, and with good range, and the Scout is great on all counts. I have used it for a couple of months and really enjoyed it. I had a couple of small issues but epokes have helped to resolve those and I am very pleased with both the bike and the service I have received.
I took my wife’s ebike to Espokes with a recurring problem that another electric bike repair shop had not been able to resolve. I was very impressed with the professionalism and level of customer service at Espokes as they quickly diagnosed and sorted out the problem. I will certainly use them in future for my ebike maintenance.
The first bike have bought for many years impressed with my Ebike and the knowledge and service received from this family-run business
I love my bike, I am so glad that I went ahead and bought it from Espokes who gave me good advice whilst purchasing and good follow-up service. I am aware that a more expensive bike might be easier to start off on a hill but other than that I think it is excellent
Love this bike. I’m in my fifties but was unable previously to keep up with my husband when out for bike rides. This is the ideal solution. It’s comfortable and has power when needed. Highly recommend.
I’ve had my Access Shetland now for about 3 months, and absolutely love it. Takes all the pain out of hills and puts joy into them! Seems a really sturdy bike, and easy to control too as much lighter than other ebikes. Is quite powerful and speedy when required. Only reason I didn’t give five stars is I find it quite tricky to fold and then lift into the car, but that’ll probably get easier with practice.
We love espokes. We’ve bought one bike and had another serviced. It’s a really friendly place and they are comfortable talking to people who know nothing about cycling. The bike we bought is lovely, too. Highly recommended
I’ve been using Espokes for about the last four years after meeting them at a show in Somerset. Based on their advice, I originally bought 4 electric bikes for a sustainable transport project in Bournemouth. Unfortunately, one of the bikes was stolen and we had to buy a replacement, so that made five bikes. Espokes collect the bikes from us each year, services them and returns them to us as part of their service. They’re all still going strong.
I recently decided to upgrade my own ebike as my previous model was over 5 years old and had covered over 4,000 miles, although not purchased from them they serviced that for me each year too. I spoke to Laura and the team about my requirements and settled on a Kalkhoff Image 5B with hub gears. It was a bit more than I had wanted to spend but I’m glad I took their advice. It’s a great bike. I’ve had it for a few months now and I’ve already covered around 500 miles on it and everything works really well. Great bike, great service, and excellent advice, what more could you want. It’s 5 stars from me.
Excellent service from Espokes…I bought this bike recently and I am delighted with it. The Italian styling is original and slick, as one would expect from their designers. It is lovely to ride and well-constructed. We received very good advice from Espokes and their follow-up service is first-rate. I would certainly recommend them.
I had been looking for an electric bike for some time, gathering information and recommendations, and decided to visit Espokes to see their selection. At a time when it was difficult for retailers to obtain stock Espokes had a number of options for me to look at. I liked the look of the Gepida Alboin Curve and it boasted the Bosch mid-drive motor that had been recommended to me by a knowledgeable friend. I was invited to try it out, which I did, riding up and down the cul-de-sac in which the Espokes establishment is situated. I was sold – and bought the bike before it was snapped up by another customer.
I love this bike. I’ve had it nearly two months and so far no problems. It is easy to switch between power assist and ordinary riding so you can have a proper bike ride at your personal level of puffed out. It coped well with Welsh hills. It also looks magnificently stylish.
This is the second Gepida bike I have bought from espokes, I was a little hesitant to buy a bike with hub gears but after 300 miles I could not be more pleased, especially with the range, I am 10st and using a mix of Eco and Sport I found it showing a range of up to 100 miles, could not be more pleased with the Bike and the staff at espokes.
I’ve had this bike for about six weeks now and absolutely love it. I am a 72-year-old lady and would recommend it to anyone who struggles a bit with a pushbike. I am only a casual cyclist, but I’m sure it would be a workhorse for commuting.
A teething problem with the battery was dealt with quickly and efficiently by Espokes (recommended) – a replacement battery – and soon back on the road. Heavier than a normal bike took a bit of getting used to, along with the very efficient brakes, but it handles well, the gears are smooth and the power is just right for getting up hills. The build is reassuringly sturdy and solid. I am thoroughly enjoying it.
Two small niggles – probably just me – I found the configuration of the down-change lever a bit odd at first and the brakes can be a bit noisy at times. Also the lack of any kind of suspension in the seat, but is something that you’d probably get with a more expensive bike.
I find the Camargue easy to ride and light to handle. The battery power is instant and so no wobbles when finding a hill too steep. The throttle is an asset when pulling out into traffic.
The battery is easy to off load to charge indoors.
The gears and battery switch on the handle bars give easy access to make changes without removing hands from the bars.
Purchased for my commute to work. Bike feels strong and sturdy and quite powerful too, so makes my 5 mile journey fairly effortless.
Only downside is that it’s quite heavy and bulky when folded but for the price I would recommend.
Great friendly and knowledgeable service from Laura at eSpokes.
I am enjoying my bike,its very easy to ride. A couple of teething problems were sorted out by the efficient and pleasant staff.
I received excellent, friendly service from Espokes.co.uk in Basingstoke
Overall I am thrilled with the bike.
The first free service after 6 weeks also carried out efficiently by the staff.
Early signs of arthritis in the knee lead me to purchase an e-bike, cycling is once more a pleasure.
Can recommend both the RooDog Striker and the team at Espokes in Basingstoke, excellent in all respects.
Thank you so much for repairing the puncture on my electric bike so promptly, fitting it in between your busy servicing. I am also grateful for the advice on bike accessories and am pleased with my new pannier and horn/light.
I would not hesitate to recommend espokes , your social distancing, and other preventative measures at this time of COVID are excellent, as a 77-year old I really appreciate the sensible measures.
Brilliant bike, I’m really happy with it. It seems really well made & I thoroughly enjoy riding it. Thanks also for your help with choosing the bike & the great service you provide.
I will happily recommend Espokes.
Have thoroughly enjoyed using my ebike since I bought it. it’s versatility when going up the hills locally means that for the first time in years I don’t have to get off and push!! Although a lot more money I have definitely got what I paid for..
Thank you so much for the great service and advice given when purchasing this bike – I absolutely love it and riding has become a pleasure now and I look forward to getting out and about every weekend.
I did have a problem with loose spokes on the rear wheel, which E-Bikes fixed very quickly – great service.
Bought my E Bike just as we came out of lock down The staff were extremely knowledgeable, friendly and helpful at both the time of purchase, when I was able to test ride a couple of bikes, and when I took the bike in for it’s first service. Would thoroughly recommend to anyone thinking of making a purchase.
Excellent, well made bike. It is on the heavy side but that does not spoil the bike, it looks modern and sporty and works very well. I went for the 14Ah battery, which seems to last longer than advertised, with economical use, and does not take long to charge back up. Great hybrid for use on road and gravel/tracks. 5th power level on the steep hills around me is a game changer. Awesome!
I originally purchased the ghost 2 as I have a heart condition which prevents me from overexerting myself. The ghost 2 has given me the confidence to go out cycling again with my wife in the comfort that sizeable hills have been reduced to riding on the flat on a standard bike. I chose the ghost 2 originally as it did not look like a standard e-bike, had smooth power delivery, great brakes and decent battery range. It has lived up to my expectations in the real world!
Love this bike, gorgeous colour, fantastic ride, such amazing fun. Thank you Laura at espokes for your help and understanding
I was very pleased with my first ‘annual’ service and how efficiently it was handled by eSpokes. Also appreciated chatting about various matters with knowledgeable people, as well as checking out the latest models!
The customer service we received was above and beyond my expectations. Extremely helpful, friendly and informative. I would recommend Espokes and would most definitely use this service again.
Thank you all for getting Alan’s bike road worthy and safe 🙂
I found Espokes very friendly, their product knowledge is excellent, after test riding many of their bikes I found the perfect bike for me. After-sales is first class and nothing is to much trouble. I am a very happy customer. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ For this company
I made several visits to Espokes and Laura was patient and very helpful despite my indecision as to which folding bike best fitted my needs and represented value for money. I chose the Raleigh Stow-E-Way as it rode very well and was extremely good value. I have now covered many enjoyable miles on my new bike, had a free 6-week service, and it is invaluable when away with my caravan.
A great bike backed up by very helpful staff. I’m a 75+ year old OAP and until I purchased the Striker just over a year ago, flat terrain (and no headwind) were the only conditions for me to consider cycling. Over the years, I’ve always enjoyed riding off road as well and this tough, lightweight frame, multi-use tyres and with the epower backup have enabled me to enjoy what I used to do. It’s a great bike for distance on road riding and real fun when you venture off road. Hills and muddy tracks are most enjoyable to ride – this is a fun, versatile and cost effective bike to ride!
A real 5* bike and 5* service! It’s a great bike – easy to operate and ride and it has made riding so enjoyable. Thanks to Laura and co for fast, efficient delivery and clear instructions.
After thinking about buying an ebike for some time I visited and made a purchase on a Monday, I received my new Striker Wednesday, built, checked and charged ready to go. took my first ride from the shop to home (4 miles) an easy 17 minutes of riding pleasure. excellent customer service and very friendly and knowledgeable staff. Highly Recommend! Thank you Laura & the Team.
We have been very impressed with your service and help. I use my lovely RooDog Chic more often than the car now and it’s nice to know I’m doing my bit for the environment!
A Fab bike stands out from the crowd great ride too and Laura and family are lovely and knowledgeable.
I can’t thank the team at
Laura thank you for your time and helping me decide which bike was for me xx
Excellent bag – very professional and polite service – thank you
Delighted with the bike. Although somewhat more expensive than other bikes I had tried, the performance of this bike is so much better. The weight being a consideration, as it goes in a motorhome, the performance aspects certainly outweigh any concerns. It is a pleasure to ride and the range is very good.
The Healthy Back Bag Expedition is an excellent item, well made and practical. I carry a fair amount of stuff with me (first aid kit, insulin, needles, test meter and glucose test strips, hypo packs etc.) It’s a lot better than a man bag or small rucksack and should last year’s.
Excellent product and service, thank you.
After having a chat at the E-spokes stand at a Newbury show, and a short ride around the show-ground, I just had to have one.
Liking the look and specification of the Striker, I followed it up with a test ride, and purchase, at E-spokes. The staff were very helpful and bike has faultlessly lived up to all expectations.
I have Parkinson’s and the bike enables me to get some exercise while having the reassurance the battery will help me home if need be.
I bought the Raleigh Motus Grand Tour a few months ago in anticipation of retiring and hoping to get out and about in the beautiful Hampshire countryside. But, as I live in a hilly part of the County, I wanted some assistance when needed. This bike has been a great buy. Well-made, well-equipped, comfortable, and easy to use. Best of all, it has tamed those daunting hills with very smooth gear changes and four levels of assistance. Not the cheapest electric bike on the market but, as with many things, I suspect you get what you pay for. At least I won’t have to spend a fortune on Lycra as I just grab my helmet and go.
The Striker has been my constant companion this year. Together we have ventured forth most days. I live on the Isle of Wight. Lots of steep hills. The Striker has simply eaten them up. I reckon I can get, with pedalling myself, about 40 miles to the charge. My aim is to ride round the IOW next year.
I have arthritis and thought my cycling days were over. Not a bit. The Striker has enabled me to get some exercise and to get fitter while having fun.
And the Customer Service from Espokes has been fabulous. Nothing has been too much trouble – from the initial test ride, to the collection of the bikes (my husband got one too), the first service and regular contact. I have dealt with many companies selling electric bikes – Espokes are the best by far.
Hadn’t ridden a bike in years, so was nervous when my husband said we should get electric bikes for use when away in our motorhome. Not only was the service received excellent, with lesson offers to help me regain my confidence before purchase!! The bike itself was compact, easy to fold and a great easy ride. Because of the bikes sturdiness, I felt completely safe and in control, the battery life is excellent and it came with a free service.
I bought the Raleigh Motus Grand Tour a few months ago from
The LCD control unit is very easy to use – just click up/down to select the level of power assist from the motor.
The bike is great. Since I brought it has got me to work most days. Cannot wait for a summer cycle.
Brilliant Bike. Bought on spur of the moment to use with our camper van. Took it to France for 3 weeks and used it on both flat and
I love this bike, so easy to ride and I particularly like the ‘sit up and beg’ position. I find it so versatile – you can use less power and get a good work out if you so wish. I bought the 575w battery and so far 10-16 mile rides don’t even really register! It is early days but it has turned cycling into a much more pleasurable experience since we live in a very hilly area. My only slight criticism is I find the saddle a bit uncomfortable. Sitting more upright your weight is distributed on your backside so I felt I needed something softer. If you go on the Continent almost all the bikes use the Selle Royal Drifter (sprung). My son bought me one for my birthday which I will get eSpokes to put on at the service! Espokes have been very helpful and a pleasure to deal with.
A really comfortable bicycle that is fun and easy to ride.
Everyone at Espokes has been really helpful and knowledgeable. Nothing has been too small for them to help with.
I have the 575Wh battery and have never been worried about the battery running out, even when I have used quite a lot of assist on the hills.
I had spent a long time researching electric bike’s, their battery range, comfort, ease of use and safety. I had some experience of these type of bikes having hired one on several occasions on holiday and really enjoyed them. I knew you get what you paid for, especially in this field and therefore decided not to be tempted by what looked like bargain bikes. I hadn’t been on a bike for 20 years and at my fair age needed something I felt safe using, hence why I went for a step-through and so pleased I did. It has a comfortable ride and very responsive in its take-up, the braking system is equally secure. having ridden cheaper e-bikes I can confirm that there is a marked difference with comfort, safety(braking)and ease of use. I am extremely delighted with the
Just the job. Battery lasts for ages and charges up quickly. Bike easy to handle and sturdy. Bikes come with us when touring with our caravan, and have been to Cornwall and Scotland and many places in between. As a retiree a brilliant way of keeping fit and getting out and seeing the countryside.
Enjoying using this bike very much
Sturdy and comfortable. My electric bike has made it a pleasure to ride and given me the confidence to get out there and go further afield. Love my bike.
I had been looking for an e-bike for my wife aged 73 but couldn’t find one with low enough step through till now. I took it out on a trail run in a group ride out mostly on eco setting 1 using the 2 and 3 for hills only. We covered 22miles and power still showed 3 dots so about half power used. We were riding above the 14.5 max some of the time so I was able to keep up un unassisted.Vunassisted.Very impressed only comment is power delivery at lower speeds could come in more smoothly with extra sensors on the crank.
This bike was selected for its very low step through. It compared very well with the other bikes I tried at ESpokes but this has proved to be ideal for my needs. It goes with us in our motorhome and provides a great option for transport when on site.
Not having ridden a bike for a few years, I found this really user-friendly with a comfy seat and also good fun to use. I ordered a basket as an extra accessory for the front also which has been really useful
Comfortable sturdy bike that is used for work commutes
Easy to use, electric lasts for a good few miles and re-charges in good time.
Following delivery of our new bikes Sunday morning in the pouring rain, we managed to get a short 6-mile ride on Monday, and Derek rode for 15 miles today (I was at work!).
The bikes are amazing, easy and such fun.
Thanks for all your help and see you at service time.
I am very happy with my e bike! Just outside my accommodation is a semi-steep hill about 400 yards in length. I love cycling up that hill. I go up in fourth gear with no trouble, and it feels like gentle exercise. People looking at me must think I am super-fit to go up the hill so easily, especially as I am very much a heavyweight. I am feeling fitter than before I had the bike, and I intend, by God’s grace, to get fitter and fitter as the year ahead passes. The fresh air is exhilarating. I find walking a bit boring, especially when I am not walking for a specific purpose. However cycling, even just for its own sake, is great!!!
I really would recommend electric bikes to everyone.
And E Spokes are the ultimate in good and friendly family service and great value for money. They put other dealers I’ve dealt with to shame, they really do, especially regarding their excellent after-sales service. They are very much deserving of their good reputation.
Try an e bike yourself. You won’t be disappointed!
We have now had our bikes for a week and have been enjoying them in the sunshine. Just wanted to thank you all for your attention and assistance over the last few weeks. The whole selection, buying and preparation process has been outstanding. Your customer service is second to none. The bikes are excellent and we will enjoy using them for many years to come. Look forward to seeing you for our 6-week service, in due course. Many thanks. We were pleasantly surprised by the product developed and the dedicated customer care staff.
After thinking about buying an ebike for some time I visited and made a purchase on a Monday, I received my new Striker Wednesday, built, checked and charged ready to go. took my first ride from the shop to home (4 miles) an easy 17 minutes of riding pleasure. excellent customer service and very friendly and knowledgeable staff. Highly Recommend! Thank you, Laura, & the Team.
It’s a 15-minute car journey from home to work, by bike (currently) it’s a 30-minute journey! However despite the longer journey by bike I really have a sense of achievement and the journey has had a positive impact on my health and wellbeing. There is no way that I would be able to cycle to and from work on the same day using a regular push bike! The bike isn’t always used for my work commute, I regularly borrow the electric bike at weekends to use with my family, as it allows me to travel further, keep up with my two boys aged 12 and 9 years and stay active as a family! Charlotte
I have enjoyed using the e-bikes very much. My commute to work now only takes me 6 minutes whereas if I were to drive it would be 20 mins or 15 minutes to walk. The exercise and fresh air are wonderful, but the extra few minutes I gain every day are just priceless. Micah
My time on the bike was amazing, not only did it get me home from work a lot quicker but it was a lot of fun too!! I will definitely be asking to borrow one again. Hannah
I absolutely love, love, love my new Hunter 2 bike. I cycle already but wanted an ebike to use on longer trips rather than take the car (shopping, the gym, trips further afield, etc). I’ve only had it a week and I’ve used it every day while the car stayed at home. I’ve even been going on extra bike rides at lunchtime and after work as its so much fun. So far I’ve been able to cycle up every hill I’ve tried and I can still breathe and talk by the time I get to the top. I tried many bikes at eSpokes and definitely made the right choice.
It has been a challenge to find locks that fit him (back wheel and frame to post AND front wheel to frame) and meet the insurers very exacting requirements but after trying loads I finally found two that would work (a D-lock and a chain)
My only suggestion for an improvement would be an option to upgrade to disk brakes. The rubber block brakes don’t seem enough when speeding downhill in dry, never mind wet weather.
Other than that my bike is perfect in every way. I couldn’t be happier.
We collected our new Roodog Striker ebikes from Espokes yesterday. The first test was to learn to use our Sat Nav for our journey to Basingstoke! We were met with the wonderful family team who had our new bikes ready and waiting for us – all charged up and ready to go. The Customer Care we have received from Espokes is the best we have ever experienced in regard to choosing and purchasing an e-bike. Good communication throughout the process, listening to what we needed and answering our queries promptly and efficiently. Then off to the New Forest where, having had some lunch, we tried an offroad trail for those new to offroading (family friendly). Bikes felt sturdy, responsive and easy to manoeuvre through the various gates etc. I could have just kept cycling along the trails. Have not had such fun for such a long time. We came home smiling – tired but very happy. I was out again this morning – down and round the harbour trying the off-road trail through the bird reserve. Brilliant.Thoroughly recommended.
Wisper Torque bikes are excellent. Beware though you will ride a lot further than you usually do and be out for twice the amount of time. Not a bad thing.
Had the pleasure to meet these awesome people when my roodog became sick .repaired in a week now goes like new. highly recommended, nothing was to much trouble. Great shop with awesome folk.
Many thanks
My wife has not ridden a bike for many years, but after purchasing one of your bikes, we went to France and really enjoyed it, so many thanks and an excellent easy to ride bicycle
We considered buying e bikes for the past 18 months or so looking at many options. Earlier in the year we visited the Motorhome show and once again found ourselves looking at e bikes. We visited the e-spokes stand who made us very welcome, assessed our requirements and we soon found ourselves trying the bikes. We both really liked the Wisper and knew they were the bikes for us and placed an order there and then. What a truly fantastic company to deal with. The bikes were personally delivered to our home on an arranged day and time and after some tuition, we were away!! We both love riding our bikes and look forward to using them for many years to come.
We bought two bikes at the bath and west motor caravan show. They demonstrated the bikes and let us try them out. Nothing was too much trouble for them. We are pleased to say that the bikes are great fun and we are really enjoying them especially around our area in North Devon where we have got a lot of steep hills. We would recommend this company and our two bikes the wave and the Nevo to anyone.
We bought 2 RooDog Bliss folding bikes from Espokes and take them camping on the back of our campervan. Our last trip was to Cheddar where we cycled the Strawberry Line cycle trail. At its highest point, it goes through an old railway tunnel which is BLACK. It was at this point that I realised that the front light wasn’t working! My wife took to the front and we sailed on without mishap. A phone call to Espokes upon our return and RooDog posted a replacement light out directly to us. The PO lost this one and a week later another was posted out that turned up the next day. I fitted it in 2 minutes and now we are sorted. We love our bikes and are most happy with the service we have received from Espokes and indeed from RooDog themselves. Until you need to test a warranty issue you never know how well the parties are going to perform. Well, no problem here…both passed with flying colours! Thankyou
What a great company to deal with! Initial demo and sale very, very good, after sales excellent. Love my new Wisper!
The Bike is excellent and the service from the company extremely helpful.
I am thrilled with my Roo Dog Polka dot ebike and am having great fun with it. It makes cycling so much more pleasurable when not having to worry about climbing hills. My husband and I had a lovely ride down in the New Forest last weekend. We hope to have many more such outings in the future. Thank you for your excellent service and especially for letting me try several bikes before making the right choice for me.
I now have a bike I can ride in great comfort.
Espokes took A lot of time to make sure the bike fitted me. Not just size ( I am short leg for my height ) but comfort and style.No such thing as sales pressure Just fun people making sure I have the right bike ( tested different sizes shapes and combinations of saddle/power) so now I can go and have fun.
Many thanks to one and all at Espokes a good group of people to know. Thank You .
We recently purchased 2 RooDog electric bikes from Espokes – the Striker model and the Chic model – at the Newbury Motorhome and Caravan show. We had been contemplating buying ebikes for a few months and the decision to finally do so was based on various reasons:
1 – they are “funky” pretty bikes, not boring and dull to look at!
2 – we had a trip to France booked where we could hire electric bikes for 90 euros per person per week (WOW!) and still be empty handed
3 – the reasonable cost, lovely service from Laura and the team, the free delivery of the bikes, the inclusion of a free 1st service and the ease of the transaction.
Since we got them, we have been out and about so much more than normal, enjoying our local countryside, enjoying different pubs and areas, and just having a different perspective from being in the car!
Thank you for opening our horizons!!! By the way, the bikes were brilliant in France, they have fantastic tarmacked cycle paths for hundreds of miles and cyclists of every type are so much better catered for! It was great!
We …especially myself are loving the bike, so much more fun than a scooter, I was even allowed to take it in a store. I do use a doggy hitch on it……like a child carrier as the dogs can’t go that far….it reduces the distance but it good for when I think the pups have done enough.
My new Axcess Hunter bike has changed my life! I like to do a lot of cycling. I am surrounded by hills which makes it somewhat hard work. But the Axcess Hunter makes the hills so easy to get up. I can go anywhere, either using the assistance to its full power or not, thereby keeping fit at the same time. The system is so easy to use. I feel completely safe and in control. The bike enables me to sit up and look around rather than looking down at the tarmac struggling up the numerous hills. Wonderful. Liberating.