Forum menu
just felt like a normal bike once you started going down, pretty tight singletrack we were on.
53. 100% agree - cruising down hill it feels just like a normal bike. If I attempt to put in a few cranks of the pedals for some extra speed the bike doesn't move like a normal bike. The acceleration isn't there because of the weight and engine drag. It's very difficult to explain. Overall I'm left feeling there is no point trying to push the bike past it's natural momentum on DH bits. Hence why I think a standard bike could/ will in a competent riders hands smash an e-bike.
But to complicate this theory a bit more the e-bike will accelerate out of braking sections stupidly fast giving advantage to the rider.
Part of me can see the appeal- at it's best it's like having a built in uplift.
So given that, can fat people go skinny dipping?
What will it be when Charles takes over, will we use Charlesian or Charlsan or Charlean or something else?
The actual answer to that question is, 'Carolingian'.
Go me.
Do you think that, despite your knee and ankle injuries, if you spent more time on the bike and less answering people's questions on the internet you could have a similar experience through fitness rather than by using an ebike?
Will they be cheap enough for me to get my dad one when he turns 70?
100% agree - cruising down hill it feels just like a normal bike. If I attempt to put in a few cranks of the pedals for some extra speed the bike doesn't move like a normal bike. The acceleration isn't there because of the weight and engine drag. It's very difficult to explain.
I had a limited play on my brothers and there was a weird feeling just as you start and stop pedalling... very hard to describe except as you said.. "engine braking" .. It feels really like when I use my cruise control on the car to brake
I can't really see this being different for the same Bosch motor/drive..
Even going uphill when you stop pedalling it's a more a more sudden deceleration. Its not a BAD thing (or didn't appear to be) just different.
Does everything start with an "E"??
If I attach a Bosch motor to a Swallow, what will it's average speed be?
Do swallow s fly south for winter or north for winter?
The actual answer to that question is, 'Carolingian'.Go me.
Keep up it's been answered already
[i]going uphill when you stop pedalling it's a more a more sudden deceleration[/i]
I would certainly put that down to the weight, and that you've gone from assisted to not assisted. Wouldn't say its engine drag.
Go me, I've had 2 hours on ebikes and I'm an expert 😆
going uphill when you stop pedalling it's a more a more sudden decelerationI would certainly put that down to the weight, and that you've gone from assisted to not assisted. Wouldn't say its engine drag.
Quite possibly (or probably) but it FEELS like engine braking on a car. I was also going through foot high grass and weeds (that the assist was probably overcoming).. it just felt weird.
It really does feel like engine braking... I do it going down a few specific hills on a regular basis...where I'll set the auto cruise at a speed then just click it off and when I stick it back on its a "feel" (somehow different to brakes)
I hadn't really put words to it until it was mentioned (my whole experience being less than 1 hour riding round my brothers field)
Do you think that, despite your knee and ankle injuries, if you spent more time on the bike and less answering people's questions on the internet you could have a similar experience through fitness rather than by using an ebike?
54. It's just age catching up with me. My options are use a normal bike and suffer with a painful ankle and knee for a week or go for blast on my ebike.
I live in a city centre - it's not the most conducive environment for a daily cycle to keep my fitness up. I wish I had the time to ride everyday but it's never going to happen. The ebike is now letting me ride more on the weekends... rather than being shattered after an hour I can keep going for three hours.
There is always a sense that I'm cheating.... and I am. But the only thing it really hurts is my fitness but the payoff in terms of fun and time on a bike is worth it. There is lots of vitriol from other bikers out there, they see my ebike as direct insult to them. It doesn't affect them or the love of their sport one bit. 😀 😀 😀 A lot of bikers find it hard to put themselves in someone elses shoes. Because they are strong, fit, young (you pick one) they can't understand why everyone else isn't. Not everyone is built for 30 mile rides - we come in all shapes and sizes. 😀
You seem to well balanced to have voted for Brexit, is this true or false?
is it embarassing to do a 28 mile ride for the battery to pack in on the final ascent
is it embarassing to do a 28 mile ride for the battery to pack in on the final ascent
55. This actually happened last week. I didn't charge my battery full. Geezus it was a slog. These bikes just don't like moving without the motor.
It's where I got my idea to switch off the motor at the end of each ride to get a work out. 1 mile with no motor felt like a normal 1 hour session on single track.
Shimano steps feels like it has resistance when power is off. Bosch feels more free when power is off. You could pedal home with a flat battery on a Bosch but shimano you'd be walking. In realty though the runtime and range info is so good it's hard to end up in that situation.
If E-books are powered by electricity, what is cbike up there^ running on?
Q. Why did you decide on an e-bike rather than the conventional method of getting faster/keeping up with your mates?
[i]There is always a sense that I'm cheating.... and I am.[/i]
You're cheating if you think you're mountain biking... but you're not - you're eBiking.
Its a different thing.
56. What is the maintenance like on it ? Do they cost more to maintain than a regular bike and can all the regular mechanics still fix them or do you have to go to somewhere more specialised ?
57. How far can the battery go on hard rides such as the Pennines, Peak District, Lake District ?
58. Is it very hard and awkward to lift it over fences and gates ? Does the uphill assistance make up for this extra effort ?
59. Could I possibly get a decent one for less than £3K with full suss and dropper post that's not going to just fall apart in less than a year or two ?
60. Do you get get covered in a LOT more mud due to the extra power the wheel is putting down and the increased chance of wheelspin ?
56. What is the maintenance like on it ? Do they cost more to maintain than a regular bike and can all the regular mechanics still fix them or do you have to go to somewhere more specialised ?57. How far can the battery go on hard rides such as the Pennines, Peak District, Lake District ?
58. Is it very hard and awkward to lift it over fences and gates ? Does the uphill assistance make up for this extra effort ?
59. Could I possibly get a decent one for less than £3K with full suss and dropper post that's not going to just fall apart in less than a year or two ?
60. Do you get get covered in a LOT more mud due to the extra power the wheel is putting down and the increased chance of wheelspin ?
56. The if the motor goes it will have to go to a bosh service centre. Lucky for me there is one 10 miles away. All the other components are just bike components which I can service myself. I can see me going through brake pads at a quicker rate.
57. Battery - there are 4 modes. Eco mode says it will get me 90ish miles. The top turbo mode is 27ish miles.
58. It is really heavy, I had to lift the bike over a fallen tree yesterday. It's not easy. I can't even imagine getting it onto a roof rack of a car. Or over fence.
59. I got one for well under 1.5k - however with all second hand bikes you'll need to upgrade some components. I put another £200 into it. The battery is rated for 10 years use and guaranteed for 2 years.
60. I didn't put mudguards on mine and got covered in mud on the first ride. However that would be the same of any bike. There isn't enough power in them to wheel spin.
You're cheating if you think you're mountain biking... but you're not - you're eBiking. Its a different thing.
61. It's mountain biking, im on a bike on a mountain and peddling. 😀 😀 😀
Everyone has a different definition of biking. We don't slag off downhill mountain bikers for using lifts. We don't call BMXers sh*t because they can't do 24miles enduro races. If you ride to keep yourself in tip top physical condition good on you. I ride for fun, bike packing and to explore the country side. An assisted bike does just that... it assists me in my hobbies. It's just an extra tool in my quiver of 3 bikes.
Genuine question - do Ebikes annoy you and why? How do they affect your enjoyment of your sport?
Why did you decide on an e-bike rather than the conventional method of getting faster/keeping up with your mates?
62. Answered this a few times. It's combination of persistent injury and not having enough time to ride on a regular basis. Keeping my fitness up for all days rides hasn't happened over the past 18 months.
I'm still using my regular bikes for short less taxing rides. It's horses for courses - ebike when im low on pep and want to do a huge ride. Normo bike for when I want to go back to basics.
Are you still checking replies to this thread?
I am.
I have a question.
After getting blitzed on my commute this morning by a yoof on an obviously chipped Haibike full susser (on the road, me in full lycra doing 20+mph on the flat, him in civvies inc baseball cap with nobbly tyres)) I'm curios how long the batteries last if you derestrict them?
Purely to satisfy my curiosity, I'm aware that it's illegal to ride them on the road then.
Mine would last about 10 miles derestricted
"I've got a new tactic to ensure I maintain my fitness on the ebike (despite riding twice as far as usual)..... switch the motor off completely for one of the climbs at the end of the day. It's brutal. The weight combined with an element of engine breaking makes it a killer. What do you reckon?"
I reckon this will do your back in - just put more effort in on the bike (Whilst obviously travelling a greater distance.)
The Cube I rode was £3000 (Ish)
I find that I can only catch them up on climbs! On the flat they leave me for dead. I'm not a high cadence rider I just tend to plod along but I can grind a long climb out. They must just be using the motor only on the climbs, combined with the weight and lack of pedalling I can normally claw back a bit on the climbs, on the descents it's pretty even.
I use them as a target to follow and see if I can keep up. I have no problem with them at all. If it gets people out and they are having fun then good on em.
Does it vibrate?
He still hasn't told me why the chicken crossed the road....
I've not slept for days!
😥
[i]I find that I can only catch them up on climbs![/i]
Catch who up? EBikes? Are they being ridden by old biddies or something?
I had a great idea on a demo day - I would ride a normal bike, dezbJr would ride eBike - we'd be able to ride together.... No way! he flew off up the climbs and was laughing at me.
The thing Ebikes will always have an advantage at is up the climbs!
(Can't actually believe I had to even mention that, its so damn obvious 😆 )
This is turning out to be one of the most entertaining threads for a while! Good work beicmodur 🙂
Ps what does 'tuhs eht lleh pu' mean? (In the interests of completing the ealier De La Soul reference 😉 )
I’m concerned that Ebikes will just result in a lot of extra riders on the trails who really dont have any business there, but then I like to work for my rewards rather than have the descents handed to me on a shiny 250kw motor.
On the subject of “is it cheating”, not really if you are just riding for yourself but absolutely for the endless amount of liars posting their ebike rides on strava.
If I want a fast ride I take my dirt bike out but ultimately it isn’t as satisfying, although it can be just as much fun. But then i arsed myself to pass my test and do it properly. The ebike is coming across as an instant gratification ‘hack’ for people who want things easy. Bit of a shame but not a big issue, I just wish people would be honest about it.
You resurrected a year old thread just to spout the usual tired anti-eBike bollocks? Good work!
A 250kW ebike motor would get you up the hill pretty quick.
OP - does having an eBike mean you are better at satisfying your partner in the bedroom????
Love me some gratificatin
I’m concerned that Ebikes will just result in a lot of extra riders on the trails who really dont have any business there, but then I like to work for my rewards rather than have the descents handed to me on a shiny 250kw motor.
On the subject of “is it cheating”, not really if you are just riding for yourself but absolutely for the endless amount of liars posting their ebike rides on strava.
If I want a fast ride I take my dirt bike out but ultimately it isn’t as satisfying, although it can be just as much fun. But then i arsed myself to pass my test and do it properly. The ebike is coming across as an instant gratification ‘hack’ for people who want things easy. Bit of a shame but not a big issue, I just wish people would be honest about it.
Is it also true that they're mostly for women and gays?
😂
@op
Where is your dignity?
Have you been castrated?
I had a go on a sit up and beg Dutch style city bike yesterday with an E bike kit fitted. It was brilliant. I'm considering a kit on our ex-post office Elephant Bike. Don't fancy an E-MTB though.
I think my favourite anti e-bike argument is the "instant gratification" one. I'm assuming they all walk everywhere rather than drive? Wash clothes by hand rather than use a machine? Walk up the Alps rather than use the ski lift?
Me me me I'll bite. I have an ebike I bought in October to start mountain biking. I mountain bike for the adrenalin buzz only whereas it seems a lot of cyclists ride for the fitness. This is where they don't understand the difference and think anyone that gets the speed without the pain is in their words 'cheating'. You still do get fit on an ebike if you use the motor to go faster rather than go the same speed as you would on a clockwork bike. How much extra speed you get is pretty phenomenal, I'm a novice and on my local red route I'm quicker than every clockwork bike, this means at 50yrs old I've just bought the fitness of the fittest people in the country and the speed that brings too, of course I still have to ride at a good level to be able to control the bike at those speeds. The added bonus of the speed is I want to get out there more for my fix as it's addictive, I've lost a stone in weight and gained a huge amount of fitness. So much so I've now bought a clockwork bike as well, a few more months and I'll have the attitude of a seasoned cyclist so I'll be able to sneer at anyone who hasn't spent years puffing out their arse up hills getting fit. Just got to grow the beard and get some too tight lycra and moan about every ****ing thing then I'm a proper cyclist 🙂
I love the South Downs. I love the space, I love the views.
However it's not all that good on a bike compared to the north downs.
I'd have an ebike purely as a means to get me on the downs without having to drive, pay for a carpark and then walk.
These clockwork bikes sound interesting. So you wind them up and then the motor kicks in? Not seen them yet.