Electric Cyclery thanks new Optibike owner Barry in Cape Town, South Africa for his photos and enthusiastic feedback.

Barry, who also owns a Tidalforce M750X and the only Jackal electric bicycle in Africa, is a true connoisseur of electric transportation and he has ridden up and over many of the steepest peaks and passes in South Africa.

What a thrill to receive the bike fully assembled and carefully packed like this. For a long while I just sat and admired it. The photos do not do Optibike justice.

< This photo is of Cape Town's Table Mountain from the other side of which I had just cycled from and being my first "flat" ride in no wind there is only one word for it FAST. I found it very easy to average 44 kph for more than an hour.

A frequent comment from our knowledgeable cycling fraternity is "Hey its one of those high tech streamlined downhill racers". The look on their faces as I pull away without pedalling is priceless.

The riders here are practicing for the following days 100+ km Argus road race and with over 36,000 cyclists is the biggest timed race in the world. Even at my age the little guy on the bike was a major babe magnet to the lady riders. Again as I passed many groups of cyclists I heard 'What the hell" " and "hope you've entered, they'll never know" etc....great fun.