HillMiles MileCity 1 E-Bike Review

Working as a food delivery rider can be a great side hustle, and using an e-bike makes it better by eliminating the extra costs of insurance and fuel. To see if a budget-friendly option is up to the job, I’ve been testing the HillMiles MileCity 1. Priced at under £500, this electric bike offers an affordable entry point for delivery riders.

I’ve been riding for Stuart Delivery over the last few months using an e-bike, and I’m trying out different models to see which is the best all-rounder. The latest one I’ve been using is the HillMiles MileCity 1 – a bargain-basement step-through available online from eBay and other retailers. On paper, the spec is good for the price, with a 468Wh battery and 250w rear hub motor. 

First Impressions

The bike arrived boxed and partially assembled. Putting everything together was fairly straightforward with the front wheel, mudguard, seatpost, handlebars and pannier rack needing to be fitted. There was a lot of protective foam to remove and I would allow at least an hour to unpack and fully assemble the bike. In addition to the bike, there’s a box of accessories, a charger and a tool kit.

Once assembled, I inspected the bike and it looks very good considering the price. The matt grey paintwork is well finished with no imperfections and the frame welds look tidy. 

First Ride

After charging the battery, it was time to head out on my first Stuart delivery shift. From the off, the electric assist kicked in quickly and smoothly – there wasn’t the usual delay associated with a cadence pedal sensor. Another observation is the motor was unusually quiet for a bike at this price point. Most cheaper rear hub motors emit an audible whine, but on the MilesCity 1, this was nicely muted. 

The power delivery is also nice and smooth. I initially used assist level 3, and it produced a respectable level of assistance. The bike also rolls surprisingly well for a heavy(ish) electric bike—so far, so good. Unfortunately, about 3 miles into my journey, the chain came off the front chainring as I shifted to a higher gear. I thought this was a one-off, but it would be a recurring problem throughout my initial ride. 

My first job came through from a Tesco Express, The job was about two and a half miles from the collection point, and mostly uphill. With my bag loaded with heavy groceries, I headed off. I needed to use level 5 to comfortably get to my first stop which saw the battery gauge lose one bar – at this stage, I’d covered about six or seven miles. The bike performed admirably on the moderate hill climb and I didn’t feel like I was putting in too much additional effort. 

As I headed back to Tesco for another collection, the chain came off once again when I was shifting up. I stopped to inspect the chain, only to find one of the link pins was not in properly. I used my chain tool to pop it back in and hoped this would be the end of the chain problems (unfortunately it wasn’t). 

After a couple of hours and a few more jobs from Tesco and Co-op, the battery was showing 2 bars, so I headed home. By the time I got back, I had covered a total of 26 miles with around 2000ft of elevation gain. The battery was down to 1 bar by this stage which, considering, I’d kept the bike in level 5 for most of the shift, was acceptable. Unfortunately, the chain came off the front another two times, despite my fixing the link pin. 

When I got home, I noticed the chain was very slack when on the small cog at the back, so I decided to remove a couple of links from the chain. This did the trick and the problem didn’t rear its head again on subsequent rides. 

Apart from the chain issue, the HillMiles performed very well. It did struggle on some of the steeper hills but handled the moderate climbs with relative ease. The bike was comfortable and 

Handled nicely. Braking performance was what I’d expect from cheap mechanical disc brakes – functional but not confidence-inspiring. I did adjust the brakes when I got back, and the braking did improve a little. But, considering the price, it would be easy to upgrade to hydraulics if needed. 

Since the initial test, I’ve used the MilesCity 1 for a mixture of shopping and a few more delivery shifts. I haven’t had any more issues and the bike has proven itself as a solid performer. Considering the budget price, I’m suitably impressed. 

Specification

The frame specification states ‘high carbon steel’ but I suspect it’s aluminium. It looks well-finished with tidy welds and nice paintwork. All the cables are internally routed which gives the bike a clean and tidy look. 

The motor is a 36v 250w rear hub motor and looks identical to hundreds of other similar motors I’ve come across in the past. What sets this motor apart from some of the competition, is it’s quieter – something I wasn’t expecting. Also, the cadence pedal assist is pleasingly responsive and there’s not the usual annoying delay when you start pedalling. The power is delivered smoothly and the motor only reaches its useful limit on steeper hills. 

There’s no LCD display, instead, it has an LED panel which shows the battery level (5 bars) and the 5 assist levels. 

The battery has a good energy capacity for a bike of this price with 468Wh. After 26 miles and a fair bit of climbing, I had 1 bar left, which would indicate a range of just over 30 miles. Bearing in mind I’m a heavier rider carrying additional weight on hilly terrain. A lighter rider on less challenging terrain should see around 40 miles from a fully charged battery.

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Braking is via mechanical disc brakes, and these are typical of what’s found on budget e-bikes. I would be inclined to upgrade them to hydraulics, although riders in flatter areas may not feel the need to do this. 

The 7-speed Shimano gearing works predictably and gives a decent spread of gears. I’m assuming the problems I had with the chain were down to the bad link and incorrect length. Once I’d removed two links, it didn’t happen again. 

There is a very basic front suspension fork, which can’t be locked or adjusted. It seems to work okay though and didn’t have the annoying clatter usually associated with cheap forks. 

The 26-inch wheels are fitted with road-friendly tyres. Despite covering over 100 miles, I haven’t had any punctures. The tyres roll reasonably well on tarmac and are wide enough for unpaved surfaces like gravel. 

For a cheap e-bike, the HillMiles is well-equipped. There’s a full set of metal mudguards, front and rear lights, a pannier rack and a kickstand. You could, in theory, fit a food delivery box to the rack, as it has a 25kg maximum weight capacity. 

Comfort and Sizing

Having ridden several two-hour delivery shifts on the MilesCity 1, I found it comfortable. It has an upright riding position, typical of this style of bike. I wasn’t keen on the swept-back handlebars, but that’s a personal preference. 

Regarding sizing, I would say it’s a medium frame. There’s a lot of adjustment in the saddle height, so it should be suitable for riders from about 5ft 4” to 6ft 2”. I’m 6ft and found it a good fit. 

Alternatives

If you’re looking for a cheap step-through e-bike, there isn’t much choice in the sub-£500 price bracket.

The only other direct competitor price-wise is the Eskute C100 which comes in slightly dearer at £549. I’m currently testing one of these and it’s very similar to the HillMiles. Notable differences are a proper LCD display and a slightly smaller 360Wh capacity battery, but apart from that, there’s not much between the two. Eskute is a more well-established brand, so after-sales service may be better. 

For those with a little more to spend, it might be worth considering something with more cargo-carrying capacity, like the Engwe L20 or L20 Boost, that I’ve recently tested. I’ve used these e-bikes for Stuart Delivery shifts and they’re both a solid option if your budget allows.

Conclusion 

If you’re looking for an affordable electric bike to get you started in a delivery job, they don’t come much cheaper than the MilesCity 1. The battery range is acceptable for shorter stints, but you would need a spare for longer shifts.  Although it’s not as efficient and refined as more expensive options, and with the exception of the annoying chain issues, I couldn’t find a lot to dislike considering the price.