Electric bicycles - who buys them?

[Trophy Husband]

Dog Star said:

Trophy Husband said:

Dog Star said:

Trophy Husband said:

I have a pal who has this which is utterly illegal even on trails but my oh my how it moves. Up to 40mph, twist and go. Linear acceleration up to V-max. More like an electric trial bike than a mountain bike but does have pedals.

I think it was north of £4k.

Bultaco Brinco

I see the value in these - and it's one of the reasons I've started to get into MTBing. Where I live you used to be able to get away with going on trails and on the moors on MX bikes and enduro bikes. People don't half get shirty about it though (which pisses me off - I live there, I get pissed off with hordes of townies descending on us in cagoules and alpine walking sticks). However nobody bats an eye at MTBs and eMTBS. I will be able to do a lot of the stuff I used to do and stay under the radar. And stop at the pub.

It is fantastic but a big risk to take riding it what with mobile phone cameras and busy bodies bl00dy everywhere. There is no way that I would get away with it on any of the Marin trails near me for long. Some envious twit would have you on facebook quicker than you can say terwat.

That Brinco - I'd just make like I was pedalling it and the ramblers would never notice.
I never had bother on my (otherwise road legal) enduro bikes over many years, but I never had a numberplate on anyway.

I was thinking MTBers. There is a little bit of sneeriness in the 'we do all the pedalling' brigade towards e-bikes in my experience. Usually I hear them cursing behind me after I've breezed past with a beer in one hand and a fag hanging out of my mouth!

[Tiggsy]

obvious issue with an e bike not sticking to the law is loosing your drivers license for the sake of a laugh in the woods.

[Trophy Husband]

Tiggsy said:

obvious issue with an e bike not sticking to the law is loosing your drivers license for the sake of a laugh in the woods.

Indeed true. Anything illegal ie. over 15.5mph before cut out and you could be in trouble wherever you are as far as I am aware.

[MiseryStreak]

I'm not being funny, I actually don't have anything against e-bikes (honest), but should these topics not go into a new sub-forum, i.e. not one called Pedal Powered?

[andy kirby]

MiseryStreak said:

I'm not being funny, I actually don't have anything against e-bikes (honest), but should these topics not go into a new sub-forum, i.e. not one called Pedal Powered?

Believe that's why each post has a title so you no what people are talking about. Also they are pedal assist bikes.

My bike by the way

[EazyDuz]

MiseryStreak said:

I'm not being funny, I actually don't have anything against e-bikes (honest), but should these topics not go into a new sub-forum, i.e. not one called Pedal Powered?

They are pedal powered, just assisted with a motor.

[BishBosh]

Trophy Husband said:

I was thinking MTBers. There is a little bit of sneeriness in the 'we do all the pedalling' brigade towards e-bikes in my experience. Usually I hear them cursing behind me after I've breezed past with a beer in one hand and a fag hanging out of my mouth!

Lol...^^

TH. I’m not even near your level of enthusiasm but have to agree with you on not having a serious infarction when I go near a hill. I get just enough exercise for me along with enjoying the ride at the same time. Means I use it more. Definitely not into the MAMIL scene either so this just works for me.

[Barchettaman]

I’ve just bought one for my wife, Decathlon Riverside 500, 250w Bosch middle motor and it is genuinely hilarious. Witchcraft!

She has a 26km daily commute so this will make it a bit easier.

[ElectricSoup]

threespires said:

I'd love an electric bicycle but not only the high price but the fear of it being stolen means I'll be doing without.

My missus bought a cheapie from Halfords for £600. Third day she had it, it was stolen. Hasn't bothered replacing it. It's a real shame as we live up a steep hill and it made her daily trips to the railway station effortless. Back to me ferrying her about in the car now.

[Hoofy]

Would removing the battery help at all?

[Sa Calobra]

Trophy Husband said:

I have a pal who has this which is utterly illegal even on trails but my oh my how it moves. Up to 40mph, twist and go. Linear acceleration up to V-max. More like an electric trial bike than a mountain bike but does have pedals.

I think it was north of £4k.

Bultaco Brinco

That is cringeworthy

You'd get sniggered at riding that

[LeadFarmer]

Trophy Husband said:

There is a little bit of sneeriness in the 'we do all the pedalling' brigade towards e-bikes in my experience.

You are definitely correct there. Some that I know have real genuine issues with ebikes, its as if they see them as cheating. But then I remind them that they themselves are cheating seeing as they have gears, and shouldn't they be riding a single speed if they really want a challenge?

ebikes just give you a different type of riding experience, and they don't even have to be compared with normal bikes. My ebike gives me more fun than my normal bike, and I can still get the same workout only I have cycled further, and on different terrain than on my normal bike. Whats not to like?

[Sa Calobra]

Hi I'm unfit but I love the challenge of getting fit and riding a bicycle.

An ebike isn't a bicycle.

Just as an old pedal/moped wasn't a bicycle.

If you are fit and healthy an ebike is the height of laziness.

I've said myself that if my knee detoriates in the future I'll get an ebike or give up but then I'd have a medical reason, age or long-term permanent injury.

[Zoon]

Sa Calobra said:

Hi I'm unfit but I love the challenge of getting fit and riding a bicycle.

An ebike isn't a bicycle.

Just as an old pedal/moped wasn't a bicycle.

If you are fit and healthy an ebike is the height of laziness.

I've said myself that if my knee detoriates in the future I'll get an ebike or give up but then I'd have a medical reason, age or long-term permanent injury.

You still have to pedal, if you don't the bike doesn't move.

[LeadFarmer]

Sa Calobra said:

If you are fit and healthy an ebike is the height of laziness.

Thats nonsense.

I have only 20 mins to get home from work to be with my young son, before my wife leaves the house for her work. I have always used my motorbike to get me home on time, but I can now manage to do it on my ebike. But I couldn't do it on my normal bike as it would take me weeks to build up that level of fitness to get up the steep hills, but I don't have those weeks spare to put in the training, and nor do I want to. On my ebike I can get home in time, and get quite a lot of exercise at the same time. I still get home knackered, but I've done it in time. It would be impossible for me on my normal bike.

I also go out on my ebike for an hour early in the mornings on my days off. I can take in a certain route and be home in time. On my normal bike I would have to do a much shorter route. So I get to go further, see more and still get great exercise. Since last October i have dropped 4" on my waist.

Edited by LeadFarmer on Tuesday 8th May 17:27

[Sa Calobra]

How many miles is it?

I ride 5 miles to work and it takes eff all time.

[Donbot]

Sa Calobra said:

If you are fit and healthy an ebike is the height of laziness.

The same could be said about anything with an engine in it.

You can buy pedal cars, doesn't make people who drive motor cars lazy.
Rowing boat (I'm not sure if sailing boats are cheating) / motor boat.
Pedal bike / motorbike.

I don't know why people care about this stuff.

[LeadFarmer]

Sa Calobra said:

How many miles is it?

I ride 5 miles to work and it takes eff all time.

The mileage is irrelevant, it takes 20 mins on my ebike but would take a lot longer on my normal bike due to the hills.

For someone who loves downhill mountain biking then they can get back up that hill quicker and get more downhills in during the day.

And even if someone wants to be lazy, so what? Its about the enjoyment you get from whatever you do.

Edited by LeadFarmer on Tuesday 8th May 18:22

[troc]

Sa Calobra said:

How many miles is it?

I ride 5 miles to work and it takes eff all time.

You’d hate it here in Holland, ebikes everywhere. Some commute on them, some use them for getting about and going further for exercise. It allows older and infirm people to get about. It allows people with limited time to get to work. It allows people who can’t afford a car to get about. It allows people to ferry kids to school and the. Head off to work.

Marvellous things. I know people who rush about all weekend on racing bikes doing time trials or crits who commute on an ebike.

If you think they are lazy or pointless or don’t provide exercise then I’m sorry, but you don’t know what you are talking about.

[Cupramax]

Donbot said:

The same could be said about anything with an engine in it.

You can buy pedal cars, doesn't make people who drive motor cars lazy.
Rowing boat (I'm not sure if sailing boats are cheating) / motor boat.
Pedal bike / motorbike.

I don't know why people care about this stuff.

It’s jealousy, nothing more or less. Building my own ebike has been the best thing I’ve done for a long time, it gets used way more than the bike did previously and I use it for things I’d have hopped in the car for before I had it, like popping to the shops or going to see friends.