Electric bicycles - who buys them?
Discussion
Indeed. I don't get why non-ebike riders can't just leave it alone. Who cares?
Just took my Giant Trance X E+ 2 Pro 2021 out on the maiden voyage; riding 7 miles to the local 'hill' with some dedicated trails. 33 miles in total, 1400m of ascent and descent and a STUPID amount of enjoyment. Average heart rate 155 and max of 185. Not sure how, as you can't get exercise on an ebike apparently. It's absolutely insane what the bike will climb up, and even more so that it doesn't tear the trail up. And back with double digits still left on the battery.
Just took my Giant Trance X E+ 2 Pro 2021 out on the maiden voyage; riding 7 miles to the local 'hill' with some dedicated trails. 33 miles in total, 1400m of ascent and descent and a STUPID amount of enjoyment. Average heart rate 155 and max of 185. Not sure how, as you can't get exercise on an ebike apparently. It's absolutely insane what the bike will climb up, and even more so that it doesn't tear the trail up. And back with double digits still left on the battery.
Another trip out today. Made the effort to put it in eco a lot of the time and off when it was anything easy. Is it normal to feel some drag, it's kind of artificial? Was top 5 on most the downhill parts and a few KOM's on the climbs, that'll get the Stravarists a right good reason to moan 
60% tempo on a day when I wasn't going to go out as I have been on the bike all week and putting the miles in. Works for me.
60% tempo on a day when I wasn't going to go out as I have been on the bike all week and putting the miles in. Works for me. I think what puts a lot of people off eMTBs is reliability and cost. If you're after full sus, you're staring at £4k+ and given that so many seem to have problems then those buying them are guinea pigs for those brilliant bikes that will follow. Eventually they'll make the motors tough enough to withstand UK off road conditions and standards will settle. I think we're probably another couple of generations from getting there so maybe another 5 or 6 years.
Saying that, off road, e bikes are brilliant fun and I say that as a fairly fit under 40. I'm not pushing 4.3w/kg, only about 3.3w/kg so I can't go as fast an e bike and my skill level can't compete with power either but when you can have nearly as much fun going uphill than you can down then it makes perfect sense.
Saying that, off road, e bikes are brilliant fun and I say that as a fairly fit under 40. I'm not pushing 4.3w/kg, only about 3.3w/kg so I can't go as fast an e bike and my skill level can't compete with power either but when you can have nearly as much fun going uphill than you can down then it makes perfect sense.
I bought one last year from GO Outdoors. £950 for a reasonably specced MTB ( hard tail), bought through cycle to work scheme so actually costing near to £600.
I was replacing a Kona Caldera, and apart from the front forks , it us pretty similar , so in effect the e part cost nothing.
It just makes it more enjoyable without losing all the exercise from cycling.
I was replacing a Kona Caldera, and apart from the front forks , it us pretty similar , so in effect the e part cost nothing.
It just makes it more enjoyable without losing all the exercise from cycling.
Chicken Chaser said:
I think what puts a lot of people off eMTBs is reliability and cost. If you're after full sus, you're staring at £4k+ and given that so many seem to have problems then those buying them are guinea pigs for those brilliant bikes that will follow. Eventually they'll make the motors tough enough to withstand UK off road conditions and standards will settle. I think we're probably another couple of generations from getting there so maybe another 5 or 6 years.
Saying that, off road, e bikes are brilliant fun and I say that as a fairly fit under 40. I'm not pushing 4.3w/kg, only about 3.3w/kg so I can't go as fast an e bike haven't and my skill level can't compete with power either but when you can have nearly as much fun going uphill than you can down then it makes perfect sense.
eMTB have been around for many years now and haven't stopped getting better and better. As someone who owns a £3200 full-sus eMTB with a Bosch motor, I have ridden last winter through thick, clinging mud and bog, had a few offs, and put a few hundred miles on it and it has been superb. 5 or 6 years - well, wait that long if you want, but there's no need. Bosch motors are regularly reaching up to 10,000km now without problem. Saying that, off road, e bikes are brilliant fun and I say that as a fairly fit under 40. I'm not pushing 4.3w/kg, only about 3.3w/kg so I can't go as fast an e bike haven't and my skill level can't compete with power either but when you can have nearly as much fun going uphill than you can down then it makes perfect sense.
As an aside, I ride mine mainly in the lowest ECO mode these days when on the roads, very occasionally moving up power on large hills. Off roads over the South Downs is another story though! But you get a very good workout in ECO mode and know the assistance is there if you need it.
ddom said:
Was top 5 on most the downhill parts and a few KOM's on the climbs, that'll get the Stravarists a right good reason to moan 60%
Haha got a few mates like this! I think it's a little s 60% 
tty tbh, to the guys/girls busting a nut to get the KOMs on Strava, an honest eBiker should at least toggle the eBike setting.Only kidding yourself at the end of the day, I had great pleasure getting good times on Strava when I remember to set it for my rides, not sure I would feel the same if I had eBiked it up and claimed it
I'm mainly on a single speed MTB these days for fitness purposes predominantly (good to see my six pack back
) so my KOM days are over 
Will look at eBikes when my knees start creaking.
DailyHack said:
Haha got a few mates like this! I think it's a little stty tbh, to the guys/girls busting a nut to get the KOMs on Strava, an honest eBiker should at least toggle the eBike setting.
Only kidding yourself at the end of the day, I had great pleasure getting good times on Strava when I remember to set it for my rides, not sure I would feel the same if I had eBiked it up and claimed it
I'm mainly on a single speed MTB these days for fitness purposes predominantly (good to see my six pack back) so my KOM days are over
Will look at eBikes when my knees start creaking.
I really am not bothered, I had a load back in the day and lost a lot as the Tour of Britain came into town tty tbh, to the guys/girls busting a nut to get the KOMs on Strava, an honest eBiker should at least toggle the eBike setting.Only kidding yourself at the end of the day, I had great pleasure getting good times on Strava when I remember to set it for my rides, not sure I would feel the same if I had eBiked it up and claimed it
I'm mainly on a single speed MTB these days for fitness purposes predominantly (good to see my six pack back
) so my KOM days are over Will look at eBikes when my knees start creaking.
Then, there were lots of lads going out in 3's and 5's to attack a segment, but only when it was windy 
Don't think there was a 'wind assisted' setting
DailyHack said:
ddom said:
Was top 5 on most the downhill parts and a few KOM's on the climbs, that'll get the Stravarists a right good reason to moan 60%
Haha got a few mates like this! I think it's a little s 60% tty tbh, to the guys/girls busting a nut to get the KOMs on Strava, an honest eBiker should at least toggle the eBike setting.Only kidding yourself at the end of the day, I had great pleasure getting good times on Strava when I remember to set it for my rides, not sure I would feel the same if I had eBiked it up and claimed it
I'm mainly on a single speed MTB these days for fitness purposes predominantly (good to see my six pack back
) so my KOM days are over Will look at eBikes when my knees start creaking.
Newton472 said:
Ebike setting lol, no chance, half the times around my way are set on mopeds or they hack the .fit files...
The strange thing is, I am faster on the borrowed e 160 than my well setup T 130. Is it the extra travel, or the weight, which makes is so stable? It's an addictive bike to go fast downhill for sure. robsa said:
eMTB have been around for many years now and haven't stopped getting better and better. As someone who owns a £3200 full-sus eMTB with a Bosch motor, I have ridden last winter through thick, clinging mud and bog, had a few offs, and put a few hundred miles on it and it has been superb. 5 or 6 years - well, wait that long if you want, but there's no need. Bosch motors are regularly reaching up to 10,000km now without problem.
As an aside, I ride mine mainly in the lowest ECO mode these days when on the roads, very occasionally moving up power on large hills. Off roads over the South Downs is another story though! But you get a very good workout in ECO mode and know the assistance is there if you need it.
I won't be waiting that long! I do still think that people who are buying into the tech are riding beta bikes. You seem to get a 50% split at best of those who have not had problems Vs those who have (with the electric part of it). The rest is just wear and tear. I really like the Bosch motor having tried it a few times and think it probably is one of the best out there, if not the most customisable. As an aside, I ride mine mainly in the lowest ECO mode these days when on the roads, very occasionally moving up power on large hills. Off roads over the South Downs is another story though! But you get a very good workout in ECO mode and know the assistance is there if you need it.
DailyHack said:
Haha got a few mates like this! I think it's a little stty tbh, to the guys/girls busting a nut to get the KOMs on Strava, an honest eBiker should at least toggle the eBike setting.
Only kidding yourself at the end of the day, I had great pleasure getting good times on Strava when I remember to set it for my rides, not sure I would feel the same if I had eBiked it up and claimed it
I'm mainly on a single speed MTB these days for fitness purposes predominantly (good to see my six pack back) so my KOM days are over
Will look at eBikes when my knees start creaking.
If it is a ‘knees start creaking’ position you hold - then you’re daft and missing out on the fun- now. Before you start creaking tty tbh, to the guys/girls busting a nut to get the KOMs on Strava, an honest eBiker should at least toggle the eBike setting.Only kidding yourself at the end of the day, I had great pleasure getting good times on Strava when I remember to set it for my rides, not sure I would feel the same if I had eBiked it up and claimed it
I'm mainly on a single speed MTB these days for fitness purposes predominantly (good to see my six pack back
) so my KOM days are over Will look at eBikes when my knees start creaking.
I've been commuting every day by bike for about 4 yrs but I don't class myself a cyclist, as I don't cycle for pleasure. Any route I take cycling home from work involves cycling up a hill that lasts about 3 miles.
In 2017 I gave cycling to work a try for three months using a normal bike and I really struggled to the point that I gave up. Initially I had to stop multiple times on my way home to get my breath due to the steep hills I had to climb. By the end of the 3 months I could just about get home without stopping for a rest, but I was still near to collapsing when I did get home. I began to dread the ride home, so gave up.
I then bought an ebike which helped massively, kind of turning that massive hill into a more gentle incline if I wanted it to. It meant I could attack the hill with some effort and speed, or take it more leisurely. I'm still knackered when I got home but take comfort in knowing at any time I can increase the assistance. This gives me the motivation to keep cycling to work. My ebike makes commuting enjoyable, rather than miserable, so if it wasn't for ebikes I'd still be driving to work every day.
In 2017 I gave cycling to work a try for three months using a normal bike and I really struggled to the point that I gave up. Initially I had to stop multiple times on my way home to get my breath due to the steep hills I had to climb. By the end of the 3 months I could just about get home without stopping for a rest, but I was still near to collapsing when I did get home. I began to dread the ride home, so gave up.
I then bought an ebike which helped massively, kind of turning that massive hill into a more gentle incline if I wanted it to. It meant I could attack the hill with some effort and speed, or take it more leisurely. I'm still knackered when I got home but take comfort in knowing at any time I can increase the assistance. This gives me the motivation to keep cycling to work. My ebike makes commuting enjoyable, rather than miserable, so if it wasn't for ebikes I'd still be driving to work every day.
bmwmike said:
Dog Star said:
Mike - you don’t like them for whatever reason. You think cycling up a hill is a great achievement - wow! That’s nice for you. How about leaving this thread alone though? Start your own anti-ebike bile thread?
I'll post where i like thanks. Cliffe60 said:
bmwmike said:
Dog Star said:
Mike - you don’t like them for whatever reason. You think cycling up a hill is a great achievement - wow! That’s nice for you. How about leaving this thread alone though? Start your own anti-ebike bile thread?
I'll post where i like thanks. 
ddom said:
Was top 5 on most the downhill parts and a few KOM's on the climbs, that'll get the Stravarists a right good reason to moan
Surely you log it as an e-bike ride on strava and that should have completely separate segments and leader boards to manual bikes? Otherwise it's like logging bike rides as runs? Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff