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In an era dominated by faceless e-commerce giants and drop-shipping companies that vanish as quickly as they appear, there is a reassuring solidity in history. When you buy a vehicle – and let’s be clear, an electric bike is a vehicle – you aren’t just buying metal and rubber. You are buying the support, the knowledge, and the heritage of the people who built it.
At AS Bikes, our story is quite different from the typical tech startup. We didn’t begin in a Silicon Valley garage or a London boardroom. We began on the water.
This is the story of how a practical problem on the British waterways led to the creation of one of the UK’s most trusted folding electric bike specialists, and how the leisure industry has evolved alongside us over the last two decades.
Cast your mind back to 2001. The iPhone didn’t exist. Facebook didn’t exist. And electric bikes were, frankly, heavy, clunky oddities that looked more like washing machines with wheels than bicycles.
At the time, we were avid canal boaters. The canal network is one of Britain’s greatest hidden treasures, a slow-lane artery connecting the industrial heritage of Birmingham to the rural beauty of the Shires. However, living or holidaying on a narrowboat comes with a specific set of logistical headaches.
The Problem: Once you moor up in the middle of the countryside, how do you get fresh milk? How do you visit the local pub if it’s three miles away? Walking is slow, and taxis are often impossible to book in remote locations.
We tried standard bicycles, but on a 6ft 10in wide boat, they were a nightmare. They cluttered the roof, got caught on low bridges, or blocked the gangways. We looked for folding bikes, but the options available in the early 2000s were flimsy and uncomfortable.
The Solution: We realised we needed a bike that was robust enough to handle a gravel towpath but compact enough to fit into the bilge (the storage space under the floorboards) or the cratch of a narrowboat. When we couldn’t find one that met our standards, we decided to source and specify our own.
The “Bilge Test” became our benchmark. If it couldn’t fold down small enough to disappear when not in use, it wasn’t good enough. This philosophy of “compact storage without compromise” is still the DNA of every MK3 Electrobike we sell today.
It is fascinating to look back at how the technology behind electric bikes in the UK has shifted. In the early days, e-bikes were powered by Lead-Acid batteries – the same heavy, toxic technology used in car batteries.
At AS Bikes, we transitioned to Lithium technology as soon as it became viable. Today, our bikes are significantly lighter, offering ranges of 30-40 miles on a single charge. We use high-grade cells with sophisticated Battery Management Systems (BMS) that protect against overcharging and overheating.
For our customers, particularly those in motorhomes and caravans, this weight saving is critical. Every kilogram counts towards your vehicle’s payload. The evolution from heavy steel frames and lead batteries to lightweight aluminium and lithium has transformed the e-bike from a “burden” into a genuine “accessory.”
As our reputation grew on the towpaths, we noticed a new type of customer appearing at our workshop. They weren’t arriving on boats; they were arriving in motorhomes.
It makes perfect sense. The constraints of a motorhome are almost identical to those of a canal boat:
We realised that the folding electric bike was the “missing link” for the caravan and motorhome community. We began exhibiting at the major leisure shows – the NEC Motorhome & Caravan Show, the warnings at Peterborough and Lincoln.
We listened to what motorhomers wanted. They didn’t want tiny, wobbly wheels; they wanted stability. This feedback led directly to the development of the Electrobike Plus with its 26-inch wheels—a full-sized bike that still folds. It was a direct response to customer demand for a “proper” bike that could still fit in a garage locker.
The UK market is currently flooded with cheap e-bikes. You can buy them on Amazon, eBay, or from pop-up websites. They often look flashy and come with a tantalisingly low price tag.
But here is the truth the industry doesn’t tell you: E-bikes need support.
Unlike a standard bicycle, which any local shop can fix, an e-bike has complex electronics. If your controller fails or your battery stops charging on a “grey import” bike, you are often left with a heavy piece of scrap metal. The seller has no phone number, no spare parts, and no workshop.
The AS Bikes Promise We are based at Lakeview Farm in Coventry. We are real people.
This level of after-sales care is rare. It is why we have customers who are on their second or third AS Bike, not because the old one broke, but because they wanted to upgrade to the latest tech and pass the old one down to a family member.
One of the most rewarding aspects of our 20-year journey has been watching who rides our bikes. The stereotype of a cyclist used to be a young, fit male in Lycra. Today, the demographic has shifted beautifully.
We specialise in helping the “Silver Cyclist” – the over-50s who want to stay active. We have championed the electric tricycle for those who have lost their balance but not their spirit of adventure.
Seeing a couple in their 70s rediscover the joy of cycling after 20 years off the saddle is the best part of our job. We have seen our bikes used for rehabilitation after hip replacements, for managing diabetes through gentle exercise, and for combatting social isolation. We aren’t just selling bikes; we are selling a second wind.
So, what does the next 20 years hold? The industry is moving towards even smarter integration. We are seeing lighter motors, more efficient batteries, and better integration with digital tech.
However, some things at AS Bikes will never change.
From the muddy towpaths of the Grand Union Canal to the sun-baked campsites of the South of France, AS Bikes has travelled a long way. We are proud of our heritage, but we are even more excited about your next journey.
If you are looking for a folding electric bike in the UK that comes with a history of reliability and a future of support, you have come to the right place.
