Electric bicycles - who buys them?
Discussion
Why were you so keen to get an ebike?We ride on a regular basis and often spend the day out - its part of what we call "active rest" at the weekends. It's not "exercise", thats during the week, so we dont need to push ourselves. We just got fed up with slogging up hills or through mud as part of a fun day out. The ebikes are superb, they will get us places we never got to before, and fun doing it - we also wanted stuff that was up to the spec of our old Santa Cruz bikes for when we do push them a bit harder.
Did a recent trip in Skye and were able to cover ground in a way that would have been exhausting on regular bikes (flat, but VERY rough)
Did a recent trip in Skye and were able to cover ground in a way that would have been exhausting on regular bikes (flat, but VERY rough)
Tiggsy said:
We ride on a regular basis and often spend the day out - its part of what we call "active rest" at the weekends. It's not "exercise", thats during the week, so we dont need to push ourselves. We just got fed up with slogging up hills or through mud as part of a fun day out. The ebikes are superb, they will get us places we never got to before, and fun doing it - we also wanted stuff that was up to the spec of our old Santa Cruz bikes for when we do push them a bit harder.
Did a recent trip in Skye and were able to cover ground in a way that would have been exhausting on regular bikes (flat, but VERY rough)
Oh cool. Did a recent trip in Skye and were able to cover ground in a way that would have been exhausting on regular bikes (flat, but VERY rough)
Toltec said:
The Bosch system has noticeable drag when the motor is not being used, I've seen figures that suggest around 17%, it is one of the reasons I went for a Shimano system. The Shimano drag was 3% and Brose <1% iirc. You have to look at the whole system though and which you prefer is down to what features are most important to you.
Having owned two bikes with the Bosch CX system and suffering from a knee which was due replacement, I agree with Toltec about the Bosch “drag”. I found the bike virtually unrideable with my knee problem.Eventually I decided my ebike was too heavy for me, as I’m not supposed to lift heavy weights, so I sold it and bought a standard 6speed Brompton with reduced gearing and loved it. However I missed the assistance so am now the proud owner of a white electric Brompton.
[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/Qqoaw2nU[/url.]I find the electric Brompton rides just like the non electric one if I don’t have the power switched on..... I feel virtually no drag from the hub motor.
Absolute losers. Listen to yourselves. Get a proper bike or stay at home. E-bikes are for cheats.
In all seriousness, they are filling a void in the market. I personally don't own one at the moment as I'm trying to lose weight and all of my cycling is me powered. However, I can see the advantages they bring. Great commuter tools. Will be even better when the technology moves on and gets cheaper. I've been watching them get more and more popular over the years.
For anyone saying anything negative about them, it doesn't really matter what people choose to ride. Anything that reduces vehicle usage and lets people get some fresh air and exercise is a good thing in my book.
Did make me laugh the other day when heading through my local town. Some chap was on some sort of e-bike that looked like a moped. The thing was bombing along and he was overtaking cars.
In all seriousness, they are filling a void in the market. I personally don't own one at the moment as I'm trying to lose weight and all of my cycling is me powered. However, I can see the advantages they bring. Great commuter tools. Will be even better when the technology moves on and gets cheaper. I've been watching them get more and more popular over the years.
For anyone saying anything negative about them, it doesn't really matter what people choose to ride. Anything that reduces vehicle usage and lets people get some fresh air and exercise is a good thing in my book.
Did make me laugh the other day when heading through my local town. Some chap was on some sort of e-bike that looked like a moped. The thing was bombing along and he was overtaking cars.
funkyrobot said:
In all seriousness, they are filling a void in the market. I personally don't own one at the moment as I'm trying to lose weight and all of my cycling is me powered.
I trust you're not wearing lycra as that's cheating. You want the biggest resistance possible so baggy clothing and one of these: https://amzn.to/2MpEvVK
Hoofy said:
funkyrobot said:
In all seriousness, they are filling a void in the market. I personally don't own one at the moment as I'm trying to lose weight and all of my cycling is me powered.
I trust you're not wearing lycra as that's cheating. You want the biggest resistance possible so baggy clothing and one of these: https://amzn.to/2MpEvVKPlease note that I'm not slating e-bikes in any way.
I wear cycling clothes. I don't think they have lycra in. My bike has fat gravel tyres, isn't that light and is shod with mud guards. The riding position isn't aggressive either.
The tyres only take 60 psi so need a good push.
The "i want to get fit" issue is misunderstood by many non Ebike owners - If I want to ride and exercise lets say I need to give it 8/10 effort for 2 hours (random numbers)......I can do that on a non Ebike or.....I can do it on an Ebike and go further, climb higher, travel faster.
Equally, I dont need to - same as I can walk even when wearing my running shoes!
As someone suggested above - effort is what you put it to the task......you can put in max effort on a task assisted by tech......or put in max effort on a task held back by lack of it. The effort is the same.
Equally, I dont need to - same as I can walk even when wearing my running shoes!
As someone suggested above - effort is what you put it to the task......you can put in max effort on a task assisted by tech......or put in max effort on a task held back by lack of it. The effort is the same.
Tiggsy said:
The "i want to get fit" issue is misunderstood by many non Ebike owners - If I want to ride and exercise lets say I need to give it 8/10 effort for 2 hours (random numbers)......I can do that on a non Ebike or.....I can do it on an Ebike and go further, climb higher, travel faster.
Equally, I dont need to - same as I can walk even when wearing my running shoes!
As someone suggested above - effort is what you put it to the task......you can put in max effort on a task assisted by tech......or put in max effort on a task held back by lack of it. The effort is the same.
My will power would not be up to it. Yesterday I hd a few killer (to me) hills. I know that if I had a electric boost available I would have used it even though with effort I could climb the hills unassisted.Equally, I dont need to - same as I can walk even when wearing my running shoes!
As someone suggested above - effort is what you put it to the task......you can put in max effort on a task assisted by tech......or put in max effort on a task held back by lack of it. The effort is the same.
I have no doubt though that as time moves on, and I get less capable, I will undoubtedly get one.
funkyrobot said:
Hoofy said:
funkyrobot said:
In all seriousness, they are filling a void in the market. I personally don't own one at the moment as I'm trying to lose weight and all of my cycling is me powered.
I trust you're not wearing lycra as that's cheating. You want the biggest resistance possible so baggy clothing and one of these: https://amzn.to/2MpEvVKPlease note that I'm not slating e-bikes in any way.
I wear cycling clothes. I don't think they have lycra in. My bike has fat gravel tyres, isn't that light and is shod with mud guards. The riding position isn't aggressive either.
The tyres only take 60 psi so need a good push.
funkyrobot said:
Absolute losers. Listen to yourselves. Get a proper bike or stay at home. E-bikes are for cheats.
In all seriousness, they are filling a void in the market. I personally don't own one at the moment as I'm trying to lose weight and all of my cycling is me powered. However, I can see the advantages they bring. Great commuter tools. Will be even better when the technology moves on and gets cheaper. I've been watching them get more and more popular over the years.
For anyone saying anything negative about them, it doesn't really matter what people choose to ride. Anything that reduces vehicle usage and lets people get some fresh air and exercise is a good thing in my book.
Did make me laugh the other day when heading through my local town. Some chap was on some sort of e-bike that looked like a moped. The thing was bombing along and he was overtaking cars.
One of the bIn all seriousness, they are filling a void in the market. I personally don't own one at the moment as I'm trying to lose weight and all of my cycling is me powered. However, I can see the advantages they bring. Great commuter tools. Will be even better when the technology moves on and gets cheaper. I've been watching them get more and more popular over the years.
For anyone saying anything negative about them, it doesn't really matter what people choose to ride. Anything that reduces vehicle usage and lets people get some fresh air and exercise is a good thing in my book.
Did make me laugh the other day when heading through my local town. Some chap was on some sort of e-bike that looked like a moped. The thing was bombing along and he was overtaking cars.
ds races me when I've just got to the 'ding, he comes out of that rust place smoking a rollup 
Bloody thing does about 25MPH!WinstonWolf said:
funkyrobot said:
Absolute losers. Listen to yourselves. Get a proper bike or stay at home. E-bikes are for cheats.
In all seriousness, they are filling a void in the market. I personally don't own one at the moment as I'm trying to lose weight and all of my cycling is me powered. However, I can see the advantages they bring. Great commuter tools. Will be even better when the technology moves on and gets cheaper. I've been watching them get more and more popular over the years.
For anyone saying anything negative about them, it doesn't really matter what people choose to ride. Anything that reduces vehicle usage and lets people get some fresh air and exercise is a good thing in my book.
Did make me laugh the other day when heading through my local town. Some chap was on some sort of e-bike that looked like a moped. The thing was bombing along and he was overtaking cars.
One of the bIn all seriousness, they are filling a void in the market. I personally don't own one at the moment as I'm trying to lose weight and all of my cycling is me powered. However, I can see the advantages they bring. Great commuter tools. Will be even better when the technology moves on and gets cheaper. I've been watching them get more and more popular over the years.
For anyone saying anything negative about them, it doesn't really matter what people choose to ride. Anything that reduces vehicle usage and lets people get some fresh air and exercise is a good thing in my book.
Did make me laugh the other day when heading through my local town. Some chap was on some sort of e-bike that looked like a moped. The thing was bombing along and he was overtaking cars.
ds races me when I've just got to the 'ding, he comes out of that rust place smoking a rollup Bloody thing does about 25MPH!WolfieBot said:
funkyrobot said:
Hoofy said:
funkyrobot said:
In all seriousness, they are filling a void in the market. I personally don't own one at the moment as I'm trying to lose weight and all of my cycling is me powered.
I trust you're not wearing lycra as that's cheating. You want the biggest resistance possible so baggy clothing and one of these: https://amzn.to/2MpEvVKPlease note that I'm not slating e-bikes in any way.
I wear cycling clothes. I don't think they have lycra in. My bike has fat gravel tyres, isn't that light and is shod with mud guards. The riding position isn't aggressive either.
The tyres only take 60 psi so need a good push.
I'm also on my winter hack at the moment as my lovely summer bike is gone due to frame warranty issues. I did get a refund though, so it's not all bad.
sas62 said:
My will power would not be up to it. Yesterday I hd a few killer (to me) hills. I know that if I had a electric boost available I would have used it even though with effort I could climb the hills unassisted.
I have no doubt though that as time moves on, and I get less capable, I will undoubtedly get one.
I get what you are saying, there is a satisfaction in beating a climb, what you can do with an ebike is try to make the point at which you turn on assist later and later while still making it to the top without grinding to a halt. The other thing you can do is use it to climb much faster so it becomes more fun, then you ride to the next climb and do it again and again. Basically they give you more options for how you want to train and have fun on your bike.I have no doubt though that as time moves on, and I get less capable, I will undoubtedly get one.
Round here it's not the hills (90 meters elevation on an 18km ride last night 
), it's the wind, I struggled to get over 15kph pedalling down one slope last night. Old boy on an e-bike flew past me
Looking to move house next spring/summer and seriously considering an e-bike to commute on if I'm within 10km or so from work. That's fine to commute on a normal bike in nice weather but when it's blowing a gale and raining letting the electrics take the strain is a great ide.
), it's the wind, I struggled to get over 15kph pedalling down one slope last night. Old boy on an e-bike flew past me Looking to move house next spring/summer and seriously considering an e-bike to commute on if I'm within 10km or so from work. That's fine to commute on a normal bike in nice weather but when it's blowing a gale and raining letting the electrics take the strain is a great ide.
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