Another electric bike question
Discussion
^ As they say aero is king. Even with aero bars the final segment on the loop on the hybrid I was hitting just under 20mph, same section on the road bike for the same effort is a good deal quicker. So you are right even with an extra 200-300watts, speedwise it probably would only be just quicker than the road bike.
Hence I cannot stop looking at something like this, derestricted an extra 200-300watts will be very handy at any speed! Its not even that much more expensive compared to the leg powered Emonda SLR.
Hence I cannot stop looking at something like this, derestricted an extra 200-300watts will be very handy at any speed! Its not even that much more expensive compared to the leg powered Emonda SLR.
Edited by gangzoom on Friday 5th March 11:22
Having not ridden a bike in anger since I was 17 I bought my first Ebike last year at the age of 43 for the same reason as you. Not in peak physical fitness and a normal bike would have broken me. I’ve been commuting across London since June for 11 miles each way and it’s great. I can press on if I have the energy but can take it a bit easier if needed.
I opted for the GoCycle GX on the basis it folded and reviews were good. Bought for £1,800 with 250 miles on it but would have cost £3000 if bought new. The are just about to launch its replacement next week (G4) so you should be able to pick up a GX relatively cheaply. The other big bonus is ease of use. I’ve had 1 puncture in 2,000 miles and as the wheel is only attached on one side it’s really easy to change an inner tube without removing the wheel. You can set the app to say you’re in the US which means it will provide power up to 20mph. Technically not legal in UK though.
GoCycle themselves are great. Just had a bolt break (missed the recall notice) and they are replacing the frame free of charge. For a commuting bike it’s a really good bit of kit.
I opted for the GoCycle GX on the basis it folded and reviews were good. Bought for £1,800 with 250 miles on it but would have cost £3000 if bought new. The are just about to launch its replacement next week (G4) so you should be able to pick up a GX relatively cheaply. The other big bonus is ease of use. I’ve had 1 puncture in 2,000 miles and as the wheel is only attached on one side it’s really easy to change an inner tube without removing the wheel. You can set the app to say you’re in the US which means it will provide power up to 20mph. Technically not legal in UK though.
GoCycle themselves are great. Just had a bolt break (missed the recall notice) and they are replacing the frame free of charge. For a commuting bike it’s a really good bit of kit.
I would second the recommendation of a Gocycle for commuting duties. I have the S which is not a fast folder but can be broken down for weekends away.
It is very comfortable and the upright stance is great in the city as are the narrow handlebars and 20” wheels.
The single mounted wheels are a godsend when you get a puncture.
It will be interesting to see what the G4 brings to the table next week.
Just a couple of caveats- it is not an off road bike so if you anticipate using it for anything more challenging than tow paths look elsewhere. Aldo consider where you will leave it in the daytime. It can attract attention so secure storage is a must.
But a fantastic bike and I have no hesitation in recommending for an urban commute...
It is very comfortable and the upright stance is great in the city as are the narrow handlebars and 20” wheels.
The single mounted wheels are a godsend when you get a puncture.
It will be interesting to see what the G4 brings to the table next week.
Just a couple of caveats- it is not an off road bike so if you anticipate using it for anything more challenging than tow paths look elsewhere. Aldo consider where you will leave it in the daytime. It can attract attention so secure storage is a must.
But a fantastic bike and I have no hesitation in recommending for an urban commute...
stargazer30 said:
The problem I see here is the "I'm most comfy on a road bike" statement.
eBike's are limited to 15mph and for a roadie that's a real pain as typically roadies are between 10 to 20 mph. Above the cut off its just a heavy bike. Orbea and the like have tried to mitigate this by making the bike as light as possible which ends up with a ebike with a small battery and limited range unless you're doing most the work. They are a bit pointless and expensive to boot.
You can of course buy a regular ebike with a decent 15ah battery but that will most likely be a mtb or hybrid with flat bars.
I think your best bet is get a regular gravel bike as it will have drop bars but a sturdy frame and wider tyres to support the extra weight. Then add a hub kit and de-restrict it. A 250w 36v road legal kit can be derestricted and will hit 20mph. If you want to go faster you are into 48v 500w kits but they are illegal.
As lovely as the bafang mid drive kits are that have been mentioned, I'd stick with a hub. Mid drives do like to eat gears and chains and for your usage they don't add value, assuming you're not going on steep off road stuff where you need the extra torque and control of the mid drive. Hub kits are pretty much fit and forget and are ideal for commuters. They are forgiving and allow you to change gear anytime you like, a mid drive can snap a chain if you get it wrong.
It’s a good point, and I’d never want to use one for a long road ride, but for my commute, with a seemingly infinite number of junctions, roundabouts and traffic lights, I think that even the 15mph limit won’t be too much of an issue, it’s the constant starts and accelerating, and the hills that it’ll help on.eBike's are limited to 15mph and for a roadie that's a real pain as typically roadies are between 10 to 20 mph. Above the cut off its just a heavy bike. Orbea and the like have tried to mitigate this by making the bike as light as possible which ends up with a ebike with a small battery and limited range unless you're doing most the work. They are a bit pointless and expensive to boot.
You can of course buy a regular ebike with a decent 15ah battery but that will most likely be a mtb or hybrid with flat bars.
I think your best bet is get a regular gravel bike as it will have drop bars but a sturdy frame and wider tyres to support the extra weight. Then add a hub kit and de-restrict it. A 250w 36v road legal kit can be derestricted and will hit 20mph. If you want to go faster you are into 48v 500w kits but they are illegal.
As lovely as the bafang mid drive kits are that have been mentioned, I'd stick with a hub. Mid drives do like to eat gears and chains and for your usage they don't add value, assuming you're not going on steep off road stuff where you need the extra torque and control of the mid drive. Hub kits are pretty much fit and forget and are ideal for commuters. They are forgiving and allow you to change gear anytime you like, a mid drive can snap a chain if you get it wrong.
I’ll see if they can be “unlocked” or not.
okgo said:
If you've ridden up french cols before, do you really think you won't get in good shape fairly quickly by just getting on with it and doing it on your existing bike?
I don't know where you live but I've ridden out of London in every direction and the worst of it is surely less than 5 minutes long (Crystal Palace/shooters hill/whatever the hill to Highgate are the only notable things I can think of) and if you live up a hill you'll get the benefit one way anyway?
If you really think otherwise then presumably you'll want to go for the value brands with that budget, Canyon a good call generally.
I may well, but I know that I just won’t start at the moment. I’m not doing well through lockdown, and my motivation has just dropped close to zero.I don't know where you live but I've ridden out of London in every direction and the worst of it is surely less than 5 minutes long (Crystal Palace/shooters hill/whatever the hill to Highgate are the only notable things I can think of) and if you live up a hill you'll get the benefit one way anyway?
If you really think otherwise then presumably you'll want to go for the value brands with that budget, Canyon a good call generally.
Edited by okgo on Thursday 4th March 17:43
I hope that a new toy, and an easy way to get up the hills will make the difference.
It mightn’t, but I have to try something, and this feels the most likely way to get me there.
Ungarsee said:
Having not ridden a bike in anger since I was 17 I bought my first Ebike last year at the age of 43 for the same reason as you. Not in peak physical fitness and a normal bike would have broken me. I’ve been commuting across London since June for 11 miles each way and it’s great. I can press on if I have the energy but can take it a bit easier if needed.
I opted for the GoCycle GX on the basis it folded and reviews were good. Bought for £1,800 with 250 miles on it but would have cost £3000 if bought new. The are just about to launch its replacement next week (G4) so you should be able to pick up a GX relatively cheaply. The other big bonus is ease of use. I’ve had 1 puncture in 2,000 miles and as the wheel is only attached on one side it’s really easy to change an inner tube without removing the wheel. You can set the app to say you’re in the US which means it will provide power up to 20mph. Technically not legal in UK though.
GoCycle themselves are great. Just had a bolt break (missed the recall notice) and they are replacing the frame free of charge. For a commuting bike it’s a really good bit of kit.
Thanks. Was that from a bike shop, or eBay?I opted for the GoCycle GX on the basis it folded and reviews were good. Bought for £1,800 with 250 miles on it but would have cost £3000 if bought new. The are just about to launch its replacement next week (G4) so you should be able to pick up a GX relatively cheaply. The other big bonus is ease of use. I’ve had 1 puncture in 2,000 miles and as the wheel is only attached on one side it’s really easy to change an inner tube without removing the wheel. You can set the app to say you’re in the US which means it will provide power up to 20mph. Technically not legal in UK though.
GoCycle themselves are great. Just had a bolt break (missed the recall notice) and they are replacing the frame free of charge. For a commuting bike it’s a really good bit of kit.
A few points to add.
The 250w legal limit isn’t actually peak power. Most legal 250w bike controllers are 36v and can put out 15amps so the power to the motor can peak at around 500w. Mine often shows that under heavy load.
I’ve tested the can my ebike beat a roadie theory. My emtb can be destricted on the display settings. So giving it full pelt, me and the roadie went for it over a 2 mile stretch. No problem on the bridle path but once we got onto the tarmac I had no chance. The ebike was good up to 17mph and above that it’s simply didn’t have the power to overcome the massive aero drag being too upright. I managed 20mph tops and he must have been 25 at least on that last section.
The 250w legal limit isn’t actually peak power. Most legal 250w bike controllers are 36v and can put out 15amps so the power to the motor can peak at around 500w. Mine often shows that under heavy load.
I’ve tested the can my ebike beat a roadie theory. My emtb can be destricted on the display settings. So giving it full pelt, me and the roadie went for it over a 2 mile stretch. No problem on the bridle path but once we got onto the tarmac I had no chance. The ebike was good up to 17mph and above that it’s simply didn’t have the power to overcome the massive aero drag being too upright. I managed 20mph tops and he must have been 25 at least on that last section.
Recent unrestricted versus road bike test -https://youtu.be/cjcsla7U6GM
I think a lot of this discussion isn't really relevant to what the op is after. They might be faster on a non ebike but they'd arrive at work a sweaty mess. The assistance of the motor takes the effort out of it.
I am currently considering a bike to commute to work (17 miles). I've tried it on my normal bike and I've tried it on my father-in-law's ebike. Personally I was much faster on the ebike and more importantly I arrived at work without needing to shower.
I think a lot of this discussion isn't really relevant to what the op is after. They might be faster on a non ebike but they'd arrive at work a sweaty mess. The assistance of the motor takes the effort out of it.
I am currently considering a bike to commute to work (17 miles). I've tried it on my normal bike and I've tried it on my father-in-law's ebike. Personally I was much faster on the ebike and more importantly I arrived at work without needing to shower.
Ebikes look like great fun, but to me they seem to be a moped alternative rather than a bike alternative.
The way the Covid road closures are going round here, I am seriously considering a cargo ebike for shopping however.
How much exercise do you actually get on an ebike? Genuine question.
And re being a 'sweaty mess'. If you don't sweat it's not doing you any good;)
The way the Covid road closures are going round here, I am seriously considering a cargo ebike for shopping however.
How much exercise do you actually get on an ebike? Genuine question.
And re being a 'sweaty mess'. If you don't sweat it's not doing you any good;)
dontlookdown said:
Ebikes look like great fun, but to me they seem to be a moped alternative rather than a bike alternative.
The way the Covid road closures are going round here, I am seriously considering a cargo ebike for shopping however.
How much exercise do you actually get on an ebike? Genuine question.
And re being a 'sweaty mess'. If you don't sweat it's not doing you any good;)
Which one have you tried ? The way the Covid road closures are going round here, I am seriously considering a cargo ebike for shopping however.
How much exercise do you actually get on an ebike? Genuine question.
And re being a 'sweaty mess'. If you don't sweat it's not doing you any good;)
Because it sounds like you are not open minded to this because of experience.
Having had motorbikes, trials bikes and MTBs/ road bikes for years the eBike is definitely not a motorbike replacement!
You can work as hard as you want, and arrive as tired/ sweaty as you want when you take the eBike. Purchased mine due to ill health and it’s been a (literal) lifesaver.
For the OP the gravel bike style may work and give you a bike that you can also explore further afield on, when your motivation increases. Which it undoubtedly will!
I have a FS eBike but an sorting a spare set of wheels to ease the commute, will fit a gravel style tyre to ease progress.
You can work as hard as you want, and arrive as tired/ sweaty as you want when you take the eBike. Purchased mine due to ill health and it’s been a (literal) lifesaver.
For the OP the gravel bike style may work and give you a bike that you can also explore further afield on, when your motivation increases. Which it undoubtedly will!
I have a FS eBike but an sorting a spare set of wheels to ease the commute, will fit a gravel style tyre to ease progress.
dontlookdown said:
How much exercise do you actually get on an ebike? Genuine question
You do as much or as little as you want. For commuting they really are game changers, not having to worry about sweating or stinking out the room on arrival makes cycling much easier to live with.This is one of my commutes into work last week, bike was on 'max' power mode so about 300watts, you can see the total power out put of the ride was only 180watts, and my lowest speed was hardly ever below 15.5mph and only really above that speed down hill. The bike was doing 90% of the work, my heart rate was up when I got into work but I might as well been sitting on the sofa interms of actual feeling fatigued.
On the flip side this is my ride home, no assistance, into a mild head wind, shifting a 16kg hybrid + lights + rucksak takes some effort
. Essentially commuting into work with max assistance, and than going home but putting the effort me has let me do all the cycling exercise I need in the week without eating into family time. I've haven't done any other forms of exercise or cycling through out winter, the eBike has been a great exercise tool for me. 
dontlookdown said:
Ebikes look like great fun, but to me they seem to be a moped alternative rather than a bike alternative.
The way the Covid road closures are going round here, I am seriously considering a cargo ebike for shopping however.
How much exercise do you actually get on an ebike? Genuine question.
And re being a 'sweaty mess'. If you don't sweat it's not doing you any good;)
We have an urban arrow family cargo bike in our extended family. It's really impressive, I can pedal along at a constant 25-30 kph without any problems whilst transporting our 4 year old and one year old. The kids love it.The way the Covid road closures are going round here, I am seriously considering a cargo ebike for shopping however.
How much exercise do you actually get on an ebike? Genuine question.
And re being a 'sweaty mess'. If you don't sweat it's not doing you any good;)
You can get plenty enough exercise on an ebike, the likes of GCN have looked at this in detail. Yes, a normal bike will get you sweatier and be better exercise but that's secondary if you're commuting. A restricted ebike may be slower at the top end but being able to maintain speed up hill is where the savings are made.
dontlookdown said:
Ebikes look like great fun, but to me they seem to be a moped alternative rather than a bike alternative.
The way the Covid road closures are going round here, I am seriously considering a cargo ebike for shopping however.
How much exercise do you actually get on an ebike? Genuine question.
And re being a 'sweaty mess'. If you don't sweat it's not doing you any good;)
I live in Amsterdam at the moment, and that’s really not how people view using bikes here. They are for travelling on, and if an e-bike lets you travel further then that’s a good thing.The way the Covid road closures are going round here, I am seriously considering a cargo ebike for shopping however.
How much exercise do you actually get on an ebike? Genuine question.
And re being a 'sweaty mess'. If you don't sweat it's not doing you any good;)
I don’t want my ride to work to be a training session, but getting a bit of exercise each way while arriving able to work would be good.
I can honestly say I’ve got more exercise since I swapped from analogue to an ebike. You can alter the power level so you do more or less if the work. So on those days where you are in two minds to go out, you’ll ride if you have an ebike knowing you have that safety net if you get too tired.
Plus less injuries. I used to fry my knees and lower back on my old bike.
Plus less injuries. I used to fry my knees and lower back on my old bike.
stargazer30 said:
I can honestly say I’ve got more exercise since I swapped from analogue to an ebike. You can alter the power level so you do more or less if the work. So on those days where you are in two minds to go out, you’ll ride if you have an ebike knowing you have that safety net if you get too tired.
Plus less injuries. I used to fry my knees and lower back on my old bike.
I can see the appeal of a bit of help on the way home from a long ride. I am not sure how well I could resist the temptation to use it all up on the outbound leg though;)Plus less injuries. I used to fry my knees and lower back on my old bike.
I changed tack on the Giant Fastroad as I'm moving more rural shortly.
So I'm picking up a Giant Road E+ 2 Pro 2020 model in the morning
Great price too at £1K off now the 2021 model is out...
It's an absolute monster. I can really feel the difference with an extra 10nm and 18kg vs the Haibike at 24kg.
The 2020 model still uses the external speed sensor, so I can whack a Badass box on. I think the 2021 uses a sensor on the brakes, so you have to take the bike apart if you want it derestricted.
So I'm picking up a Giant Road E+ 2 Pro 2020 model in the morning
Great price too at £1K off now the 2021 model is out...It's an absolute monster. I can really feel the difference with an extra 10nm and 18kg vs the Haibike at 24kg.
The 2020 model still uses the external speed sensor, so I can whack a Badass box on. I think the 2021 uses a sensor on the brakes, so you have to take the bike apart if you want it derestricted.
MaxFromage said:
I changed tack on the Giant Fastroad as I'm moving more rural shortly.
So I'm picking up a Giant Road E+ 2 Pro 2020 model in the morning Great price too at £1K off now the 2021 model is out...
It's an absolute monster. I can really feel the difference with an extra 10nm and 18kg vs the Haibike at 24kg.
The 2020 model still uses the external speed sensor, so I can whack a Badass box on. I think the 2021 uses a sensor on the brakes, so you have to take the bike apart if you want it derestricted.
Where are they reduced like that? I may prefer not to fanny about waiting and eBaying if there’s a bargain to be had.So I'm picking up a Giant Road E+ 2 Pro 2020 model in the morning
Great price too at £1K off now the 2021 model is out...It's an absolute monster. I can really feel the difference with an extra 10nm and 18kg vs the Haibike at 24kg.
The 2020 model still uses the external speed sensor, so I can whack a Badass box on. I think the 2021 uses a sensor on the brakes, so you have to take the bike apart if you want it derestricted.
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