Electric bicycles - who buys them?
Discussion
quinny100 said:
How much assistance do e-bikes provide for climbing steep hills?
I’ve just landed a job less than 2 miles from home with good cycle facilities at the office. There are a few short steep climbs on the way, but coming home it’s almost all uphill.
I used to cycle to work 10 years ago and quite enjoyed it, but I’m older and nowhere near as fit now. Back then it used to take me 7 minutes to get to work, but about 30 minutes to get home because of the topography of where I live. Going to work I could technically pedal about 150 yards and freewheel the rest of the way - I could easily break the 30mph speed limit if I pedalled! Coming back it wasn’t much quicker cycling than walking really because I just ended up spinning in the granny gear!
I bought my Cube Reaction Race ebike purposely for that reason. I have steep downhills going to work, but the same steep up hills cycling home. Far too steep for me to be bothered on a normal bike, so I bought an ebike and have been riding up those hills for three years now. You can take it easy on the highest speed assist setting, or lower the setting and put more effort in. I’ve just landed a job less than 2 miles from home with good cycle facilities at the office. There are a few short steep climbs on the way, but coming home it’s almost all uphill.
I used to cycle to work 10 years ago and quite enjoyed it, but I’m older and nowhere near as fit now. Back then it used to take me 7 minutes to get to work, but about 30 minutes to get home because of the topography of where I live. Going to work I could technically pedal about 150 yards and freewheel the rest of the way - I could easily break the 30mph speed limit if I pedalled! Coming back it wasn’t much quicker cycling than walking really because I just ended up spinning in the granny gear!
Get a bike with the correct gears for the hills your tackling.The lowest of my 11 gears is just about right for the hills I ride up on my commute, but any steeper and I would need my lowest gear to be even lower, or I'd have to rely on using a higher assist setting instead, if that make sense?
Edited by LeadFarmer on Sunday 19th July 19:57
shady lee said:
Pushedover,
Let us know how you get on with those shocks bud
Update - the New Shocks :Let us know how you get on with those shocks bud
A big improvement. More compliant and 'softer'
I am sure more pricey are better still, but I took a usual run out first thing this morning that includes cycle route 65 and then the Paradise trail downhill sections.
Strava has me down for a few PB's and a KOM but the feel after some of the long trails at speed is more important - where normally I have to give my hands or arms a shake after were skipped over.
shady lee said:
Maybe it's the reaction SL I was looking at, was the fitting straight forward pushed over?
Yes - I delegated to the local lad who does bike servicing out the back of his van 
He did say it can be a doddle and a two hour job, or a pig, depending on the puller. I'm sorry no Idea what it entailed, but specialist tools I believe, and a pump thingy to charge it to the right pressure / weight.
Paid him £35
Fitted some ally pedals and some 780mm bars so far, next will be changing to a tubeless setup and a pair of magic Mary's, then maybe some recon SL shocks (provided the bikeshop says they will fit fine).
I use it every day to work and back, then in the woods on some trails local to me at the weekend if I get time.
I use it every day to work and back, then in the woods on some trails local to me at the weekend if I get time.
No particular reason for some random photos of my bike, so here they are:
Orbea Gain D31 in black:
40nm motor 50 mile range.
Shimano GRX brakes and 11 gear set.
Brakes way way better than the SRAM equivalents that I had on my previous e-bike.
Single front gear for simplicity and ease of maintenance.
1600 lumen power bank front light with Cat Eye rear light on an under the saddle mount.
Wahoo element Bolt Sat Nav.
Front and rear dash cams that run from an additional power bank in one of the storage pouches (not fitted in these photos)
Twin tools/storage pouches.
Double water bottles.
Magnesium flat pedals.
Selle Royal Gel saddle.
Modified rear MTB mudguard to suit the Orbea.
I cycle pretty much full time now and do about 5000 miles a year. Absolutely love this Orbea!
Orbea Gain D31 in black:
40nm motor 50 mile range.
Shimano GRX brakes and 11 gear set.
Brakes way way better than the SRAM equivalents that I had on my previous e-bike.
Single front gear for simplicity and ease of maintenance.
1600 lumen power bank front light with Cat Eye rear light on an under the saddle mount.
Wahoo element Bolt Sat Nav.
Front and rear dash cams that run from an additional power bank in one of the storage pouches (not fitted in these photos)
Twin tools/storage pouches.
Double water bottles.
Magnesium flat pedals.
Selle Royal Gel saddle.
Modified rear MTB mudguard to suit the Orbea.
I cycle pretty much full time now and do about 5000 miles a year. Absolutely love this Orbea!
PushedDover said:
18 miles before breakfast yesterday, then the Mrs wanted out last night, so that was 26 miles
Got out this morning and back for an 8am Teams meeting - 19 miles.
Why wouldn’t you here :
That looks amazing. I'd definitely get out on mine a bit more if I had more varied rides on the doorstep, and especially if they looked like that!Got out this morning and back for an 8am Teams meeting - 19 miles.
Why wouldn’t you here :
GSE said:
No particular reason for some random photos of my bike, so here they are:
Orbea Gain D31 in black:
40nm motor 50 mile range.
Shimano GRX brakes and 11 gear set.
Brakes way way better than the SRAM equivalents that I had on my previous e-bike.
Single front gear for simplicity and ease of maintenance.
1600 lumen power bank front light with Cat Eye rear light on an under the saddle mount.
Wahoo element Bolt Sat Nav.
Front and rear dash cams that run from an additional power bank in one of the storage pouches (not fitted in these photos)
Twin tools/storage pouches.
Double water bottles.
Magnesium flat pedals.
Selle Royal Gel saddle.
Modified rear MTB mudguard to suit the Orbea.
I cycle pretty much full time now and do about 5000 miles a year. Absolutely love this Orbea!
Amazing that they've hidden a motor and a battery in there! I think that's one of the most discrete installations I've seen.Orbea Gain D31 in black:
40nm motor 50 mile range.
Shimano GRX brakes and 11 gear set.
Brakes way way better than the SRAM equivalents that I had on my previous e-bike.
Single front gear for simplicity and ease of maintenance.
1600 lumen power bank front light with Cat Eye rear light on an under the saddle mount.
Wahoo element Bolt Sat Nav.
Front and rear dash cams that run from an additional power bank in one of the storage pouches (not fitted in these photos)
Twin tools/storage pouches.
Double water bottles.
Magnesium flat pedals.
Selle Royal Gel saddle.
Modified rear MTB mudguard to suit the Orbea.
I cycle pretty much full time now and do about 5000 miles a year. Absolutely love this Orbea!
Usget said:
Amazing that they've hidden a motor and a battery in there! I think that's one of the most discrete installations I've seen.
The only clues are a slight kink in the down tube before it meets the bottom bracket (to allow access to the battery) and the down tube being slightly larger than usual. The motor is in the rear hub between the gears and the disc brake. At first glance, you really don't notice that it's there, unless you take a close look. The philosophy behind the Orbea Gain range is that "it's designed to enhance your ride, not dominate it" and that's exactly what it does. It only has a 40nm motor, but that's the reason why the parts are smaller, and able to be integrated into the frame so well. You won't be doing wheelies up hills, but it will get you to the top without worry.
Once I'm above 15mph, the assistance drops away, and I'll cruise at a comfortable pace. To deal with hills, I back off the speed a little to let the assistance kick in, and let it get me up the hill, at about the same effort as when cruising. The result being that you can smooth out the energy required for your entire route despite the conditions. No more arriving at your destination feeling completely knackered after a long slog up a hill. And you can go a lot further
It's just perfect.
The Mad Monk said:
Usget said:
Amazing that they've hidden a motor and a battery in there! I think that's one of the most discrete installations I've seen.
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/discreet-discrete/#:~:text=%C2%B7%20Basics,Discrete%20means%20distinct%20or%20unconnected.
PushedDover said:
18 miles before breakfast yesterday, then the Mrs wanted out last night, so that was 26 miles
Got out this morning and back for an 8am Teams meeting - 19 miles.
Why wouldn’t you here :
Looks amazing. I live close to some decent countryside but there is next to no bridleways to ride on. I'm reluctant to ride on footpaths as I don't want to piss anyone off. I basically only ride in the local bike park, which is fine, but sometimes I'd like something more relaxing than hitting red trails for an hour.Got out this morning and back for an 8am Teams meeting - 19 miles.
Why wouldn’t you here :
Brainpox said:
Looks amazing. I live close to some decent countryside but there is next to no bridleways to ride on. I'm reluctant to ride on footpaths as I don't want to piss anyone off. I basically only ride in the local bike park, which is fine, but sometimes I'd like something more relaxing than hitting red trails for an hour.
A large amount of the riding I've been doing is the Bridleways, with some cautious use of some tracks used for shoots over the moors, or ....... some tracks that seemed to be used by a few according to Komoot / Strava that may have "Get Oooorf my land" signs, but if you pedal quick...........
shady lee said:
Fitted some ally pedals and some 780mm bars so far, next will be changing to a tubeless setup and a pair of magic Mary's, then maybe some recon SL shocks (provided the bikeshop says they will fit fine).
I use it every day to work and back, then in the woods on some trails local to me at the weekend if I get time.
What's that back mudguard, Lee? I'm after a stubby thing like that - I can't be doing with those big, ugly things (eg. that Orbea Gain ^^^ up there - fantastic looking bike absolutely ruined by that abortion of a mudguard (no offence)).I use it every day to work and back, then in the woods on some trails local to me at the weekend if I get time.
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