Electric bicycles - who buys them?

Electric bicycles - who buys them?

Author
Discussion

Chicken Chaser

7,744 posts

223 months

Thursday 19th November 2020
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nickfrog said:
Since switching to e, I have cut the bpm spikes basically, which is probably not a bad idea. I work more overall, but slightly differently. I spend more time in the fat burning zone.
I was just about to say the same thing. You're perhaps less likely to gas out Anaerobically but you spend a lot of time in zone 2 and 3. I've seen folk out on bikes you would never expect out. It also allows more routes open to riders of all abilities, particularly if you live in a very hilly area. Anything that encourages more people to get out cycling and get fitness (not everyone wants to be an athlete) is a good thing by me.

maccas99

1,697 posts

187 months

Thursday 19th November 2020
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Thanks for all the responses about your own evidence and the studies that have been conducted, certainly food for thought. However, for me right now, and the trails that are available to me (i.e. the ones I use most) I don't think it suits my situation (amount of time available, terrain etc). I'm not ruling it out for the future but for the moment I'm going to stick with my analog Norco. I have tried an eBike and it was amusing to just coast up the hill without much effort...biggrin

Janluke

2,552 posts

157 months

Thursday 19th November 2020
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benny.c said:
Yeah. One thing I notice on the Levo is the ability to maintain momentum whatever the terrain which as you say, flattens the heart rate over a ride - which obviously you can manipulate by altering the bike power.

Edited by benny.c on Wednesday 18th November 23:05
Also if you use the "smart" mode on the Blevo app, pair your HR strap to the app, you can set your heartrate and the the app will adjust the the assistance to keep you in your chosen zone

nickfrog

20,871 posts

216 months

Thursday 19th November 2020
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maccas99 said:
I have tried an eBike and it was amusing to just coast up the hill without much effort...biggrin
Thankfully not only you don't have to do that as they tend to come with different modes which themselves are usually customisable but what you can also do is go up with the same amount of effort as you would do with an analogue but at a higher speed which suddenly transforms a climb into a fun technical challenge too. Not to mention climbing stuff that you simply couldn't climb on the Norco, which can be very hard work physically irrespective of mode.

Doing BPW on the Decoy has multiplied the fun for me compared to a day on my acoustic bike.

trails

3,623 posts

148 months

Thursday 19th November 2020
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nickfrog said:
Thankfully not only you don't have to do that as they tend to come with different modes which themselves are usually customisable but what you can also do is go up with the same amount of effort as you would do with an analogue but at a higher speed which suddenly transforms a climb into a fun technical challenge too. Not to mention climbing stuff that you simply couldn't climb on the Norco, which can be very hard work physically irrespective of mode.

Doing BPW on the Decoy has multiplied the fun for me compared to a day on my acoustic bike.
I take it you aren't using the uplift?

nickfrog

20,871 posts

216 months

Thursday 19th November 2020
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trails said:
I take it you aren't using the uplift?
Correct and I should have been clearer. That's a massive part of the appeal: no smelly/muddy/crowded bus and save £30. It probably adds 5mn to the climb but it's actually quite a fun climb.

Only slight downsides is that I could only get 5 climbs on a 540 kwh battery but I am near 90kgs. They let you recharge at lunch time for a fiver which gave me another 2 climbs. I think I could have managed 8 climbs overall with a bit more management.

trails

3,623 posts

148 months

Thursday 19th November 2020
quotequote all
nickfrog said:
Correct and I should have been clearer. That's a massive part of the appeal: no smelly/muddy/crowded bus and save £30. It probably adds 5mn to the climb but it's actually quite a fun climb.

Only slight downsides is that I could only get 5 climbs on a 540 kwh battery but I am near 90kgs. They let you recharge at lunch time for a fiver which gave me another 2 climbs. I think I could have managed 8 climbs overall with a bit more management.
No worries, yes in the current climate uplift is certainly not an attractive prospect!

Dog Star

16,079 posts

167 months

Thursday 19th November 2020
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nickfrog said:
They let you recharge at lunch time for a fiver which gave me another 2 climbs.
Wow! What's a full charge actually cost on an ebike battery at home? About 5p?

Trophy Husband

3,924 posts

106 months

Thursday 19th November 2020
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Dog Star said:
nickfrog said:
They let you recharge at lunch time for a fiver which gave me another 2 climbs.
Wow! What's a full charge actually cost on an ebike battery at home? About 5p?
Surely 5p v a fiver when you are in the fun zone means sweet FA unless it is all about the money? Yes, it is a captive market thing but......how much to drive home, stick it on charge, wait and go again? It'd be dark FFS.
False argument as far as I'm concerned.


Barchettaman

6,280 posts

131 months

Thursday 19th November 2020
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Sebo said:
For those that have Road eBikes and use them for decent length commutes, can I pick your brains please...

Summer last year, I built up to commuting to and from the office, 3 days a week by bike - 50km each way (1hr 50 each way). It took me a few months to build up the fitness and 2 days a week were always easy but the return journey on the 3rd (effectively with 250km in the legs for that week by that point) was always a grind - actually it was fking miserable.

I am wondering whether an eBike would get me commuting 10 months of the year on those 2 - 3 days a week and allow me to still have enough in the legs to go out riding at weekends (when i was doing 300km a week the last thing I wanted to do was a fun ride on a weekend...).

What do those that do / did similar distance commutes on an eBike think?

Ta!
Hi Sebo,

A mate of mine does a slightly shorter commute on an e-hybrid daily (Frankfurt to Darmstadt)

He has chipped his Bosch motor and sits at about 35kmh with the assistance level on ‘tour’, so level 2 of 4.

He absolutely loves it.

Now, my maximum commute on my e-hardtail MTB with road tyres is 52km/day, and whilst you know you’ve done a bit of work, it’s not knackering.

Bear in mind that the Bosch mid motor offers resistance above the 26kmh cutout point (when unchipped), other drive systems are better in this respect.

HTH

LeadFarmer

7,411 posts

130 months

Thursday 19th November 2020
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Phil. said:
LeadFarmer said:
Just bought a Thule Easyfold XT 2 bike rack for my Cube Race ebike. Blooming expensive at £500, but about the only one I could find that can take the weight of my bike, and fold up small enough to fit in the boot of my Yeti (to remain out of sight when I'm out riding).

The only drawback is the lack of mounting options if your bike frame isn't standard tube shape, as the clamps don't otherwise fit.

Now you've bought it do you think you will be able to get 2 e-bikes on this rack? Just interested.

I have two Cube MTB's and they only just fit on the other rack we discussed. The clamps are the same as the ones shown in the above pic and I can get them to work on non-standard tube shapes.
If i'm honest it took me some head scratching just getting the one bike secured. I placed it closest to the car and used the short clamp to the bottom of the seat post tube, but had to remove the lock holder that i've fitted to the drink bottle fixing point. I then used the longer clamp to clamp to the cross bar so I had both clamps in use. I'll take some photos tomorrow for you.

As for a 2nd bike, I think it would depend on the shape of the frame as the clamps really don't suit any frame thats much different to standard tube shape. Its a shame the clamps don't have more adjustment in them to accommodate non tubular shaped frames.

You're right about the bracket being narrow, restricting mounting options. Your Velospce would be better, but it wouldn't fit I'm my boot which is something I wanted. The Easyfold loses on its restricted bike mounting options, but wins on compactness. It's a compromise, but I can only see me ever seeing to mount one ebike, and i have roof mounts for normal bikes.

Edited by LeadFarmer on Thursday 19th November 20:27

gangzoom

6,251 posts

214 months

Thursday 19th November 2020
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Dog Star said:
Wow! What's a full charge actually cost on an ebike battery at home? About 5p?
Most have sub 500watt hour batteries, my one is 250watt hrs. Most people pay 13-15p per kWh, so 5-10p is a good estimate.

Most eBikes will manage at least 30 miles on a charge, so 0.6 per mile......I spend more on snacks for a 30 mile non electric assisted ride.

LeadFarmer

7,411 posts

130 months

Thursday 19th November 2020
quotequote all
LeadFarmer said:
Just bought a Thule Easyfold XT 2 bike rack for my Cube Race ebike. Blooming expensive at £500, but about the only one I could find that can take the weight of my bike, and fold up small enough to fit in the boot of my Yeti (to remain out of sight when I'm out riding).

The only drawback is the lack of mounting options if your bike frame isn't standard tube shape, as the clamps don't otherwise fit.


For anyone wanting Thule Easyfold XT bike rack, if you don't mind a Volvo badge then Volvo sell them for under £500 (part number 31428156) if you can find them in stock anywhere

https://www.volvoparts.tmsmotorgroup.co.uk/volvo--...

Phil.

4,754 posts

249 months

Thursday 19th November 2020
quotequote all
LeadFarmer said:
Phil. said:
LeadFarmer said:
Just bought a Thule Easyfold XT 2 bike rack for my Cube Race ebike. Blooming expensive at £500, but about the only one I could find that can take the weight of my bike, and fold up small enough to fit in the boot of my Yeti (to remain out of sight when I'm out riding).

The only drawback is the lack of mounting options if your bike frame isn't standard tube shape, as the clamps don't otherwise fit.

Now you've bought it do you think you will be able to get 2 e-bikes on this rack? Just interested.

I have two Cube MTB's and they only just fit on the other rack we discussed. The clamps are the same as the ones shown in the above pic and I can get them to work on non-standard tube shapes.
If i'm honest it took me some head scratching just getting the one bike secured. I placed it closest to the car and used the short clamp to the bottom of the seat post tube, but had to remove the lock holder that i've fitted to the drink bottle fixing point. I then used the longer clamp to clamp to the cross bar so I had both clamps in use. I'll take some photos tomorrow for you.

As for a 2nd bike, I think it would depend on the shape of the frame as the clamps really don't suit any frame thats much different to standard tube shape. Its a shame the clamps don't have more adjustment in them to accommodate non tubular shaped frames.

You're right about the bracket being narrow, restricting mounting options. Your Velospce would be better, but it wouldn't fit I'm my boot which is something I wanted. The Easyfold loses on its restricted bike mounting options, but wins on compactness. It's a compromise, but I can only see me ever seeing to mount one ebike, and i have roof mounts for normal bikes.

Edited by LeadFarmer on Thursday 19th November 20:27
I’d be interested in a photo. It might be next spring before I use mine again but happy to supply a photo when I do. Mine is a 3 bike Velospace but it would be difficult to fit more than 2 Cube eMTB’s on it. I use the 1st and third rows.

Main benefit is you now have the ability to travel and enjoy some new routes smile

PS Just to ask, are you aware of towbar mounted bike racks being nicked off the back of vehicles whilst you are riding?

Edited by Phil. on Thursday 19th November 22:50

LeadFarmer

7,411 posts

130 months

Thursday 19th November 2020
quotequote all
Phil. said:
I’d be interested in a photo. It might be next spring before I use mine again but happy to supply a photo when I do. Mine is a 3 bike Velospace but it would be difficult to fit more than 2 Cube eMTB’s on it. I use the 1st and third rows.

Main benefit is you now have the ability to travel and enjoy some new routes smile

PS Just to ask, are you aware of towbar mounted bike racks being nicked off the back of vehicles whilst you are riding?
I wanted one for two reasons..

1- Driving to different locations to ride the ebike
2- Getting the wife to pick my up when something goes wrong with the bike (doesn't fit in our Yeti)

I don't carry a puncture repair kit as I'm never far from home, so can push the bike back home, but i had to leave the bike at work the other day following a puncture. That made me buy the rack so I could get it home without having to do the inner tube swap at work.

I've not head of a rack getting stolen from a car, but I wouldn't want to take the chance or risk it getting hit by another car. But then I'm the type that always plans for the worst!!

Edited by LeadFarmer on Thursday 19th November 23:27

nickfrog

20,871 posts

216 months

Friday 20th November 2020
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Dog Star said:
nickfrog said:
They let you recharge at lunch time for a fiver which gave me another 2 climbs.
Wow! What's a full charge actually cost on an ebike battery at home? About 5p?
I don't blame them for charging £5. I am happy to pay £5, particularly as I am saving £30. They have fixed costs for the facilities: a secured storage space and a bloke who comes and unlock it, stores your bike, plug it in and the same in reverse when you collect it. They probably also have some sort of liability cover if they fk up the bike.

£5 sounds derisory in relation to the service I got rather than the 400 miles round trip to get back home, which I would struggle to do over lunch time.

Edited by nickfrog on Friday 20th November 09:21

nosuchuser

837 posts

215 months

Friday 20th November 2020
quotequote all
nickfrog said:
I don't blame them for charging £5. I am happy to pay £5, particularly as I am saving £30. They have fixed costs for the facilities: a secured storage space and a bloke who comes and unlock it, stores your bike, plug it in and the same in reverse when you collect it. They probably also have some sort of liability cover if they fk up the bike.

£5 sounds derisory in relation to the service I got rather than the 400 miles round trip to get back home, which I would struggle to do over lunch time.

Edited by nickfrog on Friday 20th November 09:21
Do they supply the charger or do you need to take your own?

nickfrog

20,871 posts

216 months

Friday 20th November 2020
quotequote all
nosuchuser said:
Do they supply the charger or do you need to take your own?
You take your own.

Sebo

2,166 posts

225 months

Friday 20th November 2020
quotequote all
Barchettaman said:
Hi Sebo,

A mate of mine does a slightly shorter commute on an e-hybrid daily (Frankfurt to Darmstadt)

He has chipped his Bosch motor and sits at about 35kmh with the assistance level on ‘tour’, so level 2 of 4.

He absolutely loves it.

Now, my maximum commute on my e-hardtail MTB with road tyres is 52km/day, and whilst you know you’ve done a bit of work, it’s not knackering.

Bear in mind that the Bosch mid motor offers resistance above the 26kmh cutout point (when unchipped), other drive systems are better in this respect.

HTH
Danke for the feedback !

shady lee

962 posts

181 months

Friday 20th November 2020
quotequote all
Dog Star said:
nickfrog said:
They let you recharge at lunch time for a fiver which gave me another 2 climbs.
Wow! What's a full charge actually cost on an ebike battery at home? About 5p?
I think I got a 400wh battery at about 12p per charge, man maths though.