Discussion
Hi PH, I currently have a 2019 Giant Defy and an 2011 Giant Anthem and am looking at getting an ebike as well, prob mainly for road cycling.
Presumably a 1k one from Halfords (Carrera Subway?) will be a POS so looking at a Fastroad but only really as I don't really know the market. Presumably will require a spend of £2k+ to get anything decent?
I probably only do up to 30km at a time
on the Defy but the hill assistance and potential to get much further on an ebike certainly appeals. Any advice / suggestions welcome.
Presumably a 1k one from Halfords (Carrera Subway?) will be a POS so looking at a Fastroad but only really as I don't really know the market. Presumably will require a spend of £2k+ to get anything decent?
I probably only do up to 30km at a time
on the Defy but the hill assistance and potential to get much further on an ebike certainly appeals. Any advice / suggestions welcome.Thanks.
Went for the Haibike in the end, hardtail is fine for my requirements and as you say the suspension post option is there if you really need+ it's a cheaper. Picked up yesterday and took it for a brief 20 mile spin to test on road and also cross country with some average hills.
Findings
Bike is heavier than both my other two (23kg vs I think 8 for my roadie and 10-11? for the MTB). However with the power assist the weight is less of an issue and an e-mtb rather than an e-hybrid or road bike provides the most versatile usage for my requirements.
Bike has four modes, sport (most assist), std, eco and eco+ (least) as well as an auto function. The auto function is just about perfect for all conditions based on my first ride.
On the flat
Pulling away from junctions and getting up to speed is where it really comes into its own. The boosted acceleration makes it much easier getting around on the flat and at junctions etc you can pull away immediately and keep pace with the traffic. So far so good. The speed limiting is a bit of a pain think I may look for a hack to disengage it. That said cruising at 15.5 mph is fine albeit a bit slow for road use.
Off road
This in my view is where the electric assist really comes into its own. Off road trails are always tough going for me and the ability to blast through incredibly muddy and rough terrain with ease was just fantastic. Must invest in some mud guards though as I so far gained a face full of mud...
Hills
Again, ebikes really come into their own on the hills. Road ascents are one thing, and the speed limiting is a bit annoying, however hills off road, particularly muddy steep ones are where the boost is just superb.
ebikes vs non-e
They definitely enable the non-physically fit / older rider to get much further and go far out of their comfort zone. Not being that old yet it does feel a bit lazy but if you have to commute or use day to day I imagine they are fantastic. But for exercise I won't be selling my conventional bikes as yet.
Went for the Haibike in the end, hardtail is fine for my requirements and as you say the suspension post option is there if you really need+ it's a cheaper. Picked up yesterday and took it for a brief 20 mile spin to test on road and also cross country with some average hills.
Findings
Bike is heavier than both my other two (23kg vs I think 8 for my roadie and 10-11? for the MTB). However with the power assist the weight is less of an issue and an e-mtb rather than an e-hybrid or road bike provides the most versatile usage for my requirements.
Bike has four modes, sport (most assist), std, eco and eco+ (least) as well as an auto function. The auto function is just about perfect for all conditions based on my first ride.
On the flat
Pulling away from junctions and getting up to speed is where it really comes into its own. The boosted acceleration makes it much easier getting around on the flat and at junctions etc you can pull away immediately and keep pace with the traffic. So far so good. The speed limiting is a bit of a pain think I may look for a hack to disengage it. That said cruising at 15.5 mph is fine albeit a bit slow for road use.
Off road
This in my view is where the electric assist really comes into its own. Off road trails are always tough going for me and the ability to blast through incredibly muddy and rough terrain with ease was just fantastic. Must invest in some mud guards though as I so far gained a face full of mud...
Hills
Again, ebikes really come into their own on the hills. Road ascents are one thing, and the speed limiting is a bit annoying, however hills off road, particularly muddy steep ones are where the boost is just superb.
ebikes vs non-e
They definitely enable the non-physically fit / older rider to get much further and go far out of their comfort zone. Not being that old yet
it does feel a bit lazy but if you have to commute or use day to day I imagine they are fantastic. But for exercise I won't be selling my conventional bikes as yet.You guys crack me up - purely speaking from personal experience a conventional ride is way harder than what I experienced earlier today on the ebike.
I've heard equivalent cycling distance is about 3x running distance to get the same work out give or take but not sure for ebikes. My ebike battery has a 60 mile range, but based on what I experienced today I think I'd need an extra battery or two to put in enough range to equal a conventional work out... Or perhaps the exercise is to be had when the battery runs out and you have to lug 23kgs all the way back home ...
Don't get me wrong I love ebikes, but I think as 'exercise' the benefit vs conventional cycling must be marginal.
I've heard equivalent cycling distance is about 3x running distance to get the same work out give or take but not sure for ebikes. My ebike battery has a 60 mile range, but based on what I experienced today I think I'd need an extra battery or two to put in enough range to equal a conventional work out... Or perhaps the exercise is to be had when the battery runs out and you have to lug 23kgs all the way back home ...
Don't get me wrong I love ebikes, but I think as 'exercise' the benefit vs conventional cycling must be marginal.
I find I get the most exercise from the necessity of having to climb hills or cycle the, say, twenty miles to return back home on a conventional cycle.
Fine as you say to run the ebike in low assist modes or switch off entirely, but if I have a button to make it easier I’m far more likely to use it. Remove that option and you have no choice but to put in the effort.
Will update again once I’ve put in some more miles...
Fine as you say to run the ebike in low assist modes or switch off entirely, but if I have a button to make it easier I’m far more likely to use it. Remove that option and you have no choice but to put in the effort.
Will update again once I’ve put in some more miles...
Well I scoffed earlier at the exercise argument, and said when you're limited to 15.5 mph there's no real motivation to put in as much effort. So today I hacked the speed limiter, and it seriously flies now.
What I did find was hacking the limiter gave me a pretty tough workout, because I was (as ever) motivated by the desire to go as fast as possible. What can I say, it's just too much fun and I can't recommend it enough. I actually think it's safer on the road as the speed differentials are lower with other cars going at 30mph say.
Battery life wasn't as bad as I thought either. Wish my mudguards would arrive though, essential in winter weather as every time I go out at present I end up with a faceful of mud and rain.
What I did find was hacking the limiter gave me a pretty tough workout, because I was (as ever) motivated by the desire to go as fast as possible. What can I say, it's just too much fun and I can't recommend it enough. I actually think it's safer on the road as the speed differentials are lower with other cars going at 30mph say.
Battery life wasn't as bad as I thought either. Wish my mudguards would arrive though, essential in winter weather as every time I go out at present I end up with a faceful of mud and rain.
Edited by Newton472 on Friday 29th January 16:02
Definitely agree with the above. Fitted my new Mudhuggar mudguards today and all the issues I had getting covered in road spray and a face full of dirt every time I go out are now solved. Definite necessity in this weather.
Went for distance today so did a fair amount in eco mode to prolong the battery, works really well and I have to admit you do then get some really good exercise with the benefit of having electric support for the hills.
So to sum up re ebikes I can’t recommend enough. Have scoped out some good routes I’ve not tried before to try on my conventional bikes come the summer. Will be interesting to see how much they get used when the weather finally turns.
One final thing, possibly not popular here but I must say I really do enjoy blasting past other ‘conventional’ cyclists at speed now I’ve hacked the limiter. After all the work some put in to getting their fitness levels up having a fat oaf like me just blast past with comparative ease must surely be slightly annoying.
Went for distance today so did a fair amount in eco mode to prolong the battery, works really well and I have to admit you do then get some really good exercise with the benefit of having electric support for the hills.
So to sum up re ebikes I can’t recommend enough. Have scoped out some good routes I’ve not tried before to try on my conventional bikes come the summer. Will be interesting to see how much they get used when the weather finally turns.
One final thing, possibly not popular here but I must say I really do enjoy blasting past other ‘conventional’ cyclists at speed now I’ve hacked the limiter. After all the work some put in to getting their fitness levels up having a fat oaf like me just blast past with comparative ease must surely be slightly annoying.
Just rolled over 1,000 KM and it's still going fine. Mix of riding off road trails to on-road it really works perfectly on all surfaces. Currently I'm equaling downhill speeds on my road bike but it feels so much more capable of handling pot holes and poor surfaces due to the chunky tyres than my unassisted carbon, with the assist you really don't need the ultra low rolling resistance tyres of a road bike and obviously on the hills it is somethng else.
Can't recommend enough, definitely a game changer.
Can't recommend enough, definitely a game changer.
jonm01 said:
Newton472 said:
Well I scoffed earlier at the exercise argument, and said when you're limited to 15.5 mph there's no real motivation to put in as much effort. So today I hacked the speed limiter, and it seriously flies now.
What I did find was hacking the limiter gave me a pretty tough workout, because I was (as ever) motivated by the desire to go as fast as possible. What can I say, it's just too much fun and I can't recommend it enough. I actually think it's safer on the road as the speed differentials are lower with other cars going at 30mph say.
Battery life wasn't as bad as I thought either. Wish my mudguards would arrive though, essential in winter weather as every time I go out at present I end up with a faceful of mud and rain.
Cool. I hope you've now taxed and insured it as a motor vehicle?What I did find was hacking the limiter gave me a pretty tough workout, because I was (as ever) motivated by the desire to go as fast as possible. What can I say, it's just too much fun and I can't recommend it enough. I actually think it's safer on the road as the speed differentials are lower with other cars going at 30mph say.
Battery life wasn't as bad as I thought either. Wish my mudguards would arrive though, essential in winter weather as every time I go out at present I end up with a faceful of mud and rain.
Edited by Newton472 on Friday 29th January 16:02
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