Electric bicycles - who buys them?
Discussion
LeadFarmer said:
This is exactly what I don't understand when normal cyclist say this, Ebikes don't remove most of the fitness benefits as you can still choose to use the same amount of energy but you just get there quicker, or cover more distance for the same energy used. And have more fun.
Not true. If you used the same amount of energy you'd have to go further than the equivalent non powered bike to go the same distance. E.g. non powered cyclist expends 500 calories travelling 8 miles, ebike rider would have to travel further than 8 miles to expend the same amount of calories unless he used zero motor assistance which defeats the purpose of owning one. Its simple biology. (in the example this is assuming two identical people with the same metabolism)
EazyDuz said:
Not true. If you used the same amount of energy you'd have to go further than the equivalent non powered bike to go the same distance.
E.g. non powered cyclist expends 500 calories travelling 8 miles, ebike rider would have to travel further than 8 miles to expend the same amount of calories unless he used zero motor assistance which defeats the purpose of owning one. Its simple biology. (in the example this is assuming two identical people with the same metabolism)
Why couldn't the second rider just ride faster?E.g. non powered cyclist expends 500 calories travelling 8 miles, ebike rider would have to travel further than 8 miles to expend the same amount of calories unless he used zero motor assistance which defeats the purpose of owning one. Its simple biology. (in the example this is assuming two identical people with the same metabolism)
EazyDuz said:
LeadFarmer said:
This is exactly what I don't understand when normal cyclist say this, Ebikes don't remove most of the fitness benefits as you can still choose to use the same amount of energy but you just get there quicker, or cover more distance for the same energy used. And have more fun.
Not true. If you used the same amount of energy you'd have to go further than the equivalent non powered bike to go the same distance. E.g. non powered cyclist expends 500 calories travelling 8 miles, ebike rider would have to travel further than 8 miles to expend the same amount of calories unless he used zero motor assistance which defeats the purpose of owning one. Its simple biology. (in the example this is assuming two identical people with the same metabolism)
EazyDuz said:
LeadFarmer said:
This is exactly what I don't understand when normal cyclist say this, Ebikes don't remove most of the fitness benefits as you can still choose to use the same amount of energy but you just get there quicker, or cover more distance for the same energy used. And have more fun.
Not true. If you used the same amount of energy you'd have to go further than the equivalent non powered bike EazyDuz said:
Not true. If you used the same amount of energy you'd have to go further than the equivalent non powered bike to go the same distance.
E.g. non powered cyclist expends 500 calories travelling 8 miles, ebike rider would have to travel further than 8 miles to expend the same amount of calories unless he used zero motor assistance which defeats the purpose of owning one. Its simple biology. (in the example this is assuming two identical people with the same metabolism)
Except maybe the ebike is way more fun. It is for meE.g. non powered cyclist expends 500 calories travelling 8 miles, ebike rider would have to travel further than 8 miles to expend the same amount of calories unless he used zero motor assistance which defeats the purpose of owning one. Its simple biology. (in the example this is assuming two identical people with the same metabolism)
Dog Star said:
I don’t cycle for the sake of cycling.
Correct, and neither do I. I have little interest in normal cycling, which is why my normal bike has burn hung up in the garage with little use over the last few years. But I do enjoy the extra speed that my ebike gives, which happens to make me want to cycle further, and which means I get to places that I wouldn't even bother attempting on a normal bike. Which as a result, has improved my fitness. Runes said:
Why couldn't the second rider just ride faster?
Assuming its a legal bike, it will cut in/out constantly at 15mph so the rider couldnt go any faster unless he seriously pushed past 15mph in which case why not just get a lighter, non powered bike and do that with ease?Cupramax said:
Thats just the point though, i go way further on a ride now, probably 50% further than i used to on a casual ride pre electrification.
That wasn't the debate and is irrelevant.LeadFarmer said:
Thats what I said.
You said that but you also said ebikers can choose to use the same amount of energy but reach their destination quicker which isnt true. If your destination is a mile away, and you ride it once on an ebike and once on a normal bike, no matter how fast or slow you go on the ebike, the normal bike will use more energy because no motor is helping, thus burns more calories. You'd have to purposely go further than your intended destination to burn the same amount of calories on an ebike.stuckmojo said:
Except maybe the ebike is way more fun. It is for me
Again, not the debate. Why so defensive? I had an ebike myself but I never kid myself into believing I was working as hard if not harder than I would have been on a normal bike because its literally impossible unless I purposely overshot my destination by a few miles then backtracked to get the same workout.EazyDuz said:
Again, not the debate. Why so defensive? I had an ebike myself but I never kid myself into believing I was working as hard if not harder than I would have been on a normal bike because its literally impossible unless I purposely overshot my destination by a few miles then backtracked to get the same workout.
I didn't mean to come across as defensive. I have another bicycle but, to be honest, that will be sold as the ebike will cover what I wanted: fun and training. Agreed that on a given course the ebike will make one burn much fewer calories. No question about thatsjg said:
If I lived somewhere like Bristol with nightmare traffic/parking and big hills to contend with, I'd be all over one.
Actually I'd say due to the historical & geographical way towns and cities are situated on (the narrowest crossing point across) rivers Bristol is an example of the perfect place to cycle as your workplace is most likely in the bottom of the natural basin. Assuming you're working in the centre, you pretty much freewheel into work (not 100% obviously but tbh not too far off). The only hot and sweaty part is cycling back home up the hill where you have a shower when you get home. Where I worked they also had secure bike storage and showers - and this was before I moved out 18 years ago. Since then Bristol claims its self to be a cyclist friendly city so would hope that things such as infrastructure has improved.I'm certainly not against ebikes but personally the reason I don't have one is that one of the reasons I cycle is to stay fit, so having one would be a step in the wrong direction imho. One of our riding group who *should* have an ebike (and is at least 10 years older than the rest of us) doesn't want anything to do with them - preferring a retro bike almost as old as I am which constantly falls to bits on every ride
, and for us to wait at the top of a hill while he hauls his ass up it As has been said above, Germany seems to be positively swimming in them, and for many who solely use them for commuting make an awful lot of sense. TBH the more I read in this thread the more sense they make to me too...
Edited by Fetchez la vache on Tuesday 22 May 08:37
LeadFarmer said:
Correct, and neither do I. I have little interest in normal cycling, which is why my normal bike has burn hung up in the garage with little use over the last few years. But I do enjoy the extra speed that my ebike gives, which happens to make me want to cycle further, and which means I get to places that I wouldn't even bother attempting on a normal bike. Which as a result, has improved my fitness.
The OH and I are going to the Obersalzberg area of Germany in August and so we are talking hills. I wanted to take bikes because for scenery like that there is no better way of seeing it. I enjoy two wheels (and have three motorbikes) but I'm really not up for spending an entire week huffing and sweating up bloody great mountain passes, and the OH will no way do that. She also has a bit of a dodgy knee. We also live near Rochdale and while it has some truly amazing trails around and about it they are all - as are the roads - hills and valleys. Ebikes are perfect for this.
I suspect that a lot of the people who say they don't keep you fit are the same sort as my dad who thinks that riding motocross bikes and enduro bikes are in no way physically taxing because "you just sit on them". Er, yeah, right!
EazyDuz said:
Not true. If you used the same amount of energy you'd have to go further than the equivalent non powered bike to go the same distance
EazyDuz said:
Cupramax said:
Thats just the point though, i go way further on a ride now, probably 50% further than i used to on a casual ride pre electrification.
That wasn't the debate and is irrelevant.LeadFarmer said:
Dog Star said:
I don’t cycle for the sake of cycling.
Correct, and neither do I. I have little interest in normal cycling, which is why my normal bike has burn hung up in the garage with little use over the last few years. But I do enjoy the extra speed that my ebike gives, which happens to make me want to cycle further, and which means I get to places that I wouldn't even bother attempting on a normal bike. Which as a result, has improved my fitness. 
In other words, any exercise is better than none.
I am out in Switzerland, was on the hills this weekend, and regularly passed by e-bikes flying the hills whilst I was tapped out in bottom gear and sweating !
Look like a lot of fun, and most of the folks on them simply couldn't get up an hour climb to the views, so I am all for them. The bring a range of routes into play for all kinds of people and they are seriously popular out here.
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