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If I want to ride at high intensity, I use a normal bike. You can go hard on an ebike, particularly at lower assistance levels, but if you’re lowering assistance to make the thing more like a non-assisted bike, what’s the actual point of riding an ebike.
For starters I am on a lower powered bike anyway, and yes I turn it down more. For a few reasons:
- I want to work when out with others, so make it a bit harder.
- I am happy to ride further to do more trails, rather than faster & be done in 2 hours. I can get 2000m vert quite comfortably & it takes the edge off enough that it’s not the same as doing a 2k day on a leg bike (which requires a bit of planning, food, water, etc).
There are times I still rode it in Turbo too.
If I want to ride at high intensity, I use a normal bike. You can go hard on an ebike, particularly at lower assistance levels, but if you’re lowering assistance to make the thing more like a non-assisted bike, what’s the actual point of riding an ebike.
But I thought it was common knowledge that "you get just as much of a workout on an ebike"? Or have people stopped saying that now.
😉
But seriously, I might get one as my next "big bike" in the coming years, and part of the appeal is what I've heard people call the "power hour" - getting a ton of riding done in a short timeframe, zipping up steep climbs etc.
The other part of the appeal is indeed recovery-style rides, exploring and covering ground easily.
But I thought it was common knowledge that “you get just as much of a workout on an ebike”? Or have people stopped saying that now.
Not as much of an aerobic work out but I'm definitely stronger and more able to push a slightly higher gear on my normal bike since I got an ebike. I think that's because I'm more likely to go for a ride if it's windy or I'm tired than I would be otherwise, so I'm riding more and getting more excercise as a result. Not having a car helps with that too mind!
My e-bike usage tends to be quick blasts after works, so I tend to boost and pedal like f*ck. At the Golfie, so fireroad / steep climb and very little pedaling on the way down. I would say I'm easily twice as fast over the course of a ride.
But seriously, I might get one as my next “big bike” in the coming years, and part of the appeal is what I’ve heard people call the “power hour” – getting a ton of riding done in a short timeframe, zipping up steep climbs etc.
The other part of the appeal is indeed recovery-style rides, exploring and covering ground easily.
Addition to this
Out for a ride with my non e-bike mates. Get to the end of the ride, I've still got loads of battery left, I go and bang out a few more runs.
out of interest, those saying that they can ride longer or dont have to walk/push, is this due to not riding regularly enough to improve fitness and strength?
I know from personally experience i can ride harder and longer now than i could six months ago and the same six months ago to the previous six. Mainly down to regular rides, zwift and beasting myself a couple of times when out.
Genuine interest.
I have a Slash and a Rail
Both brilliant
Rail great for banging out laps at lunch, towing kids etc
once gravity takes over its very capable so settled with the extra weight and grip.
I only really ride it in emtn bike mode which gives load of torque and assistance. Normally do different climbs which I cant do on the Slash etc.
Get to the end of the ride, I’ve still got loads of battery left, I go and bang out a few more runs.
That was me on a normal bike just a couple of years ago. And sometimes arriving early for a couple of sighting laps as well.
Do you ride a full fat eeb with people on normal bikes?
out of interest, those saying that they can ride longer or dont have to walk/push, is this due to not riding regularly enough to improve fitness and strength?
I don't know. But the one of the things that I learned from not being able to ride for around 18 months - long covid - is that mountain biking is, in relative terms, really hard work if you're not fit. More weight, more rolling resistance, more necessity to go anaerobic and recover regularly. As someone who's never really stopped riding, I used to think that e-bikers and occasional riders were simply lazy. Now, even though I'm close to normal again, I can appreciate that if you don't have the time or motivation to get and stay fit or have a health issue, but still want to ride bikes then an e-mtb makes a certain amount of sense.
I only bought mine due to a health issue. I'd love more than anything in this shitty ****ing world to have my health back and be able to fully enjoy riding unpowered bikes again, but it doesn't matter how "fit" riding an ebike can get me, it's never going to happen. Maybe one day the batteries will be able to power a time machine bike.
out of interest, those saying that they can ride longer or dont have to walk/push, is this due to not riding regularly enough to improve fitness and strength?
I previously rode my regular bike twice a week. Now I do that, plus 2 e-bike rides a week. So my fitness and riding generally has improved.
That poor Kanevo, having to go round Swinley 😂
Do you ride a full fat eeb with people on normal bikes?
Of course
That poor Kanevo, having to go round Swinley 😂
It was fun actually, kept more flow than on the HT
Working away from home darn sarf, so just getting a ride somewhere when I can - it's natural habitat is the White Peak/Derbyshire Dales., with the Dark Peak not far away. It can't have the cream all of the time 😉
Don't forget that on the flat you may well be slower on the ebike. That restriction kicks in and the easy thing to do is just sit there whereas on the normal bike you'll probably be moving faster. Not a huge thing but one factor.
I’m in need of a new full sus, was going to buy a Trek Remedy. You ebike boys are making me think twice…..
Won’t have a massive budget, prob £4k so second hand.
Question though….for those of us who are time constrained, have crap skills but still enjoy challenging terrain….are ebikes poppy enough? I’m not into big gap jumps but don’t mind a small amount of air. Just want to make sure that for a lightweight wimp like me, a 25kg bike will be easy enough to handle (with my lack of skills, so read mm high bunny hops and rubbish manuals!!)
Next up: how riding a motorbike makes you a faster cyclist 😀
“Don’t forget that on the flat you may well be slower on the ebike”
They’re only slower on the flat if running slower tyres or a model that has a lot of motor drag (my second gen Levo doesn’t).
“how riding a motorbike makes you a faster cyclist 😀”
Works for plenty of DH pros! There was this motorbiker called Aaron Gwin…
I only bought mine due to a health issue. I’d love more than anything in this shitty **** world to have my health back and be able to fully enjoy riding unpowered bikes again, but it doesn’t matter how “fit” riding an ebike can get me, it’s never going to happen.
Snap!
Don’t forget that on the flat you may well be slower on the ebike. That restriction kicks in
What's this restriction you speak of? 🤣
I’m in need of a new full sus, was going to buy a Trek Remedy. You ebike boys are making me think twice…..
Won’t have a massive budget, prob £4k so second hand.
I have a YT Decoy Pro 29 in the classifieds at £4K with some tasty upgrades and under 900km on the clock.
What’s this restriction you speak of? 🤣
if you didn’t have the 16mph limit, how on earth did you only average 8.9mph. Were you pushing it down the hills? 😉
a bit like that movie where they had to keep above a certain speed. What was that called now?
Ooh I know this. Father Ted.
@jamj1974 thanks for the heads-up, I’m not in the UK I’m afraid (Spain where it is currently 23 degrees, I like to gloat when I can!)
@jamj1974 thanks for the heads-up, I’m not in the UK I’m afraid (Spain where it is currently 23 degrees, I like to gloat when I can!)
No worries! I’d love some weather like that!