Pendleton Somerby Review

The Pendleton Somerby is one of the most familiar electric bikes on the UK high street. It sits in Halfords stores nationwide and looks like a classic town bike rather than a gadget. The Somerby is designed under cyclist Victoria Pendleton’s brand. It pairs a low step-through frame and upright riding position with a 250W Bafang rear hub motor. That aims squarely at riders who want easy, comfortable, electric-assisted town and towpath miles. It is not built for speed or serious distance. For its intended job it is a genuinely likeable bike.

Who the Somerby is for

This is a bike for relaxed, practical riding. The Somerby fits perfectly for trips that are mostly around town, to the shops, to the station or along flat cycle paths. The low step-through frame makes it easy to get on and off. That is a real advantage for shorter riders, anyone with reduced mobility, or those wearing work clothes. The swept-back bars and upright seating put you in a comfortable, see-and-be-seen position rather than a sporty crouch.

It is a popular choice as a women’s commuter e-bike. The step-through design suits plenty of male riders too. Where it is less at home is on long rural rides, steep sustained climbs, or fast commutes where you want to cruise near the assist limit for miles. The motor and battery are tuned for gentle assistance, not for flattening big hills or covering long distances on a single charge.

Motor, battery and range

The Somerby uses a 250W Bafang rear hub motor with a speed (cadence) sensor. That sensor reads whether you are pedalling and adds assistance accordingly through Low, Medium and High modes shown on a simple LED display. It keeps the bike firmly within UK EAPC rules: assistance cuts out at 15.5mph and there is no licence, tax or insurance to worry about. The push is smooth and steady on the flat and helpful on gentle inclines. Steeper hills reveal the limits of a hub motor that lacks a torque sensor.

Range is the figure most buyers should pay attention to. The battery is a 36V 317Wh (8.8Ah) pack. That is modest by current standards. Halfords quotes up to around 50 miles. That is a flat-ground, low-assist, light-rider best case. Plan for a realistic 25 to 30 miles per charge in normal mixed UK riding. Expect less in the cold or on hillier routes. That is plenty for a short commute or local errands. It does mean charging more often than bikes with larger batteries. Our electric bike range guide explains how to squeeze more miles from any pack.

Riding and components

The Somerby is easy and reassuring on the road. The 8-speed Shimano gears give a sensible spread for town and gentle hills. The Tektro alloy V-brakes are simple and effective in dry conditions. The hydraulic discs on some rivals still have more all-weather bite. Mudguards, a rack and lights on most builds make it genuinely commute-ready out of the box. That is more than many direct-to-consumer e-bikes offer.

Some chunky hub-drive e-bikes are heavier at around 21 to 22kg. It is still a fair lift onto a car rack or up a flight of stairs. Factor that in if you live in a flat without lift access. The step-through frame at least makes wheeling and parking it straightforward.

Living with it

The strongest argument for the Somerby is buying and owning it through Halfords. The bike is built and safety-checked by a mechanic. You can see and sit on it before you pay. You have a high-street store to return to for servicing, spares and warranty work.

The trade-offs are the things you would expect at this price: a modest battery, a cadence-sensor motor rather than a torque sensor, and rim brakes instead of discs. None of these are deal-breakers for the relaxed riding the Somerby is designed for. They are the reasons to spend more if you want longer range or hill-climbing punch. The battery typically carries a 2-year or 500-charge warranty. The bike also qualifies for the Cycle to Work scheme. That can take a useful chunk off the price.

Alternatives to consider

Compare the wider line-up if you like the style but want other options. Other step-through and upright electric bikes bring bigger batteries and disc brakes into the mix at a higher price.

Our best electric bikes for women guide covers those bigger-battery, disc-brake alternatives in full.

Check the latest Pendleton Somerby price

Verdict

The Pendleton Somerby is a stylish, comfortable and easy-to-ride step-through e-bike that does relaxed town and towpath commuting well. Halfords building and servicing it backs that up. It will not satisfy anyone after long range, steep-hill power or all-weather disc braking. Better-equipped bikes exist for more money. It remains an easy UK recommendation for the riding it was built for. It is a good-looking, road-legal way to add gentle electric assistance to everyday rides.