Electric bike - see mode note post #298

cdaly_ · 07-03-2019 4:26pm

There's also the case that, at 25kph, you're already going faster than many bike commuters. Bring that up to 30kph and there's a significant difference so you'll either be held up or be a menace to ordinary cyclists.

site_owner · 07-03-2019 6:35pm

i cycle the s2s most days per week. there is no way most cyclists are doing anything above 22-24kph. and thats on the flat with no obstacles.
into town and that drops a lot (IMO)

the average cycle speed within the M50 (according to census 2016) is 14kmh and car speed is 18kmh.

theres a few edge cases for fast ebikes but i they are really just light motorbikes and the type approval treats them that way.
a bike capable of sustained 45kmh needs serious components to keep on the road and stop it from rattling to pieces.

Mec-a-nic · 07-03-2019 8:27pm

ED E wrote: »

Thats a commute (not mine) across the city this morning. Very strong cyclist. Avg 19. With a 250w assist you can cruise at 25kph nearly all the time. Probably average 22kph. More than enough.

You're made an old boardsie happy. I'm outta shape but 26kph was my tailwind assisted average home, which is why I'm resisting getting an ebike for a couple of decades, it'll be too easy and fast in traffic.

Edit: between 5 and 12km is between Dublin's canals at rush hour

site_owner · 14-03-2019 12:11pm

https://www.halfords.ie/cycling/bikes/electric-bikes/free-48-hour-electric-bike-trial

657024?$imageZoomRetinaMobile$

rubadub · 14-03-2019 1:56pm

ED E wrote: »

If you're doing 30kph on a "traditional"(I'll abstain from saying real here) bike you're putting at least some effort in. Probably pumping 130bpm+ depending on fitness. Hopefully somewhat alert.

If you're just thumbing a throttle and thinking about what pastry you're gonna get in Centra before work you may well be full zombie.

Interesting, as I thought the opposite. I have a cross country MTB with front suspension and large tyres, it glides over any dodgy surfaces etc. I see lads on road bikes darting about avoiding stuff all the time, so eyes are fixed more on the road under them, while also putting a lot of effort in. While I find myself able to look further ahead etc than when on a road bike or hybrid.

ED E wrote: »

Thats a commute (not mine) across the city this morning. Very strong cyclist. Avg 19. With a 250w assist you can cruise at 25kph nearly all the time. Probably average 22kph. More than enough.

To find the average on a heavy ebike you would be getting those figures and pretty much converting any figure over 25 down to 25 and then getting the average -unless you are going downhill it would take a lot of effort to sustain anything over 25 once the power cuts out.

This is why I said it would be best to get a proper spin, that halfords 48hr trial would be ideal. A spin around a carpark is not enough.

Compared to the ebike I am faster commuting on a clapped out hybrid with front commuter suspension and 35mm marathon plus tyres, with only 1 gear working on it, so a single speed but still has a derailleur.

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime · 08-04-2019 7:40pm

Sorry if this has been done already , if has maybe I can be pointed into right direction

Have a bicycle at the moment, normal frame (male bike mtb)

I'm looking to turn it electric, I've seen before where a friend bought a kit online, but I'm unsure what he bought and where but essentially he ended up with a battery and button on the handle bar. He pressed the button and the wheel spinned itself.

Has anybody done this found it difficult or easy to set up ?

Also can anybody recommend a good place to buy this kit either online or store in Dublin.

Many thanks !

ED E · 08-04-2019 8:06pm

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »

I'm looking to turn it electric, I've seen before where a friend bought a kit online, but I'm unsure what he bought and where but essentially he ended up with a battery and button on the handle bar. He pressed the button and the wheel spinned itself.

Thats a motorbike, we cannot help you make something illegal.

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime · 08-04-2019 8:20pm

ED E wrote: »

Thats a motorbike, we cannot help you make something illegal.

I thought that was just petrol engine attached to bikes that were illegal

I'm not looking to do high speeds , just a simple conversion to travel along safely

homer911 · 09-04-2019 9:50am

A bicycle with a throttle is illegal, as is any power assist > 25Kmh on public roads
It doesn't matter if the power comes from a battery or a petrol engine

magicbastarder · 09-04-2019 10:01am

to clarify, it's not illegal to ride a bike with a push button throttle; it's illegal to do so without a licence, tax and insurance as the bike legally becomes a moped if you convert it in that manner.

Ferris · 09-04-2019 10:29am

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »

I thought that was just petrol engine attached to bikes that were illegal

I'm not looking to do high speeds , just a simple conversion to travel along safely

A good site to research is www.pedelecs.co.uk. A supplier on there http://wooshbikes.co.uk/ seems to give good advice and support and has a lot of satisfied customers on the pedelec site.

blackbox · 09-04-2019 10:31am

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »

I thought that was just petrol engine attached to bikes that were illegal

I'm not looking to do high speeds , just a simple conversion to travel along safely

You can get a switch operated by pedal rotation instead of a hand throttle. This will make it legal as long as assistance stops over 25 km/hr.

Utter Consternation · 17-09-2019 2:35pm

I've been looking at getting an ebike and saw this. I'm looking at this or trying to get something similar because i want a bike that is step through and has a forked kick stand which would hold it upright as i'm loading a child into a child seat. I've dodgy knees and poor balance so i'm thinking of supplementing my daily commute with an electric some days to take the pressure off. It seems very reasonably proced.

I've a question about the power of this. It has a 250W brushless Bafang geared hub motor with 80 Nm of torque and 5:1 planetary gear reduction. Is it adequate to give you enough power to assist you going up a hill?

The weight of the bike itself is 29.5kg and i weigh just under 12 stone.

If you're going 25kmph do you have to be pedaling that quick also? There's only the one gear on this bike.

I don't want to be stuck with a pig of a bike.

n1st · 07-01-2020 11:04pm

30km commute, national road for first 20km.
Looking for an ebike to commute. 2500euro.

I'm presuming I'll make it in around 1hr 15min.

Any recommendations or experience?

John Hutton · 08-01-2020 12:36am

n1st wrote: »

30km commute, national road for first 20km.
Looking for an ebike to commute. 2500euro.

I'm presuming I'll make it in around 1hr 15min.

Any recommendations or experience?

Build your own. Bafang kit and battery from psw power cost me less than 700 quid. Can be installed on most bikes. See the thread in the EV forum

magicbastarder · 08-01-2020 9:00am

n1st wrote: »

I'm presuming I'll make it in around 1hr 15min.

at a constant 25km/h (which is the max an e-bike can legally assist to), it's 1h12m.
if it's on an N route for much of the way, i'm guessing it's got large stretches unlit, so make sure you get decent lights too.

KevRossi · 08-01-2020 5:14pm

n1st wrote: »

30km commute, national road for first 20km.
Looking for an ebike to commute. 2500euro.

I'm presuming I'll make it in around 1hr 15min.

Any recommendations or experience?

I have a Cube One Hybrid 400. Purchased 10/2018, have 4,000 Km on it, commuting and toruing on the continent. I love it; very comfy, fast, easy to use and has the very reliable Bosch system.

I changed the tyres to Schwalbe Marathon Plus as I always use these, even on the road bike and I upgraded the brake discs as they overheated once or twice on long descents in the Alps (me, bike and panniers = 140Kg)

I was commuting 28 Km a day round trip, from the city centre to Leopardstown, which has a 100m climb over the last 4Km. Wouldn't be the fittest person and it meant I could cycle in to work in office clothes, no showering or changing required. Battery would last 5 days, just about, also easy to cycle when battery is dead.

Mine was priced at €2100, got it for €1750 before discounts as it was a display/test model.

Now cheaper, the 400 is €1900
The 500 is €2100 and has a 20% bigger battery. This is the one I'd go for.

rubadub · 08-01-2020 5:26pm

n1st wrote: »

I'm presuming I'll make it in around 1hr 15min.

due to the 25km/h limit I am faster commuting on a knackered old single speed hybrid with suspension than on my ebike.

With my bosch system the power drops off as you approach 25km/h, this means it does take more effort to be cycling at 25km/h.

The limitation is not just annoying but can be dangerous at first if you are not used to it. As the bike is a total hog to get around with no power you are effectively limited to just over 25km/h on the flat. e.g. if you are entering a roundabout or overtaking somebody you would be used to being able to ramp up your speed under your own power on a regular bike, but on the ebike it is like somebody has put the brakes on you just when you might need it most.

Utter Consternation · 08-01-2020 5:39pm

rubadub wrote: »

due to the 25km/h limit I am faster commuting on a knackered old single speed hybrid with suspension than on my ebike.

With my bosch system the power drops off as you approach 25km/h, this means it does take more effort to be cycling at 25km/h.

The limitation is not just annoying but can be dangerous at first if you are not used to it. As the bike is a total hog to get around with no power you are effectively limited to just over 25km/h on the flat. e.g. if you are entering a roundabout or overtaking somebody you would be used to being able to ramp up your speed under your own power on a regular bike, but on the ebike it is like somebody has put the brakes on you just when you might need it most.

That is exactly what happens to me too. I fly it on my hybrid, but when i'm on the electric the sweet spot for passing people seems to be just over 25kmph. It's a massive pain in the hole, because my ebike is a big cheap lump of thing.

CramCycle · 08-01-2020 5:41pm

Having lost rubadubs wheel on the N11 on a few occasions, I like to think it is not as big an issue as he makes out :pac:

KevRossi · 08-01-2020 9:58pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

The Brits are so lucky to be getting out !

Well I’m sure that means you can pick up an unrestricted E-Bike in Newry on February 1sf if the Tories and Rupert Murdoch are to be believed.

rubadub · 08-01-2020 10:09pm

NI requires a licence for a regular ebike.

Electric bikes (electrically-assisted pedal cycles)
Electric bikes are known as ‘electrically-assisted pedal cycles’ (EAPCs). You need a motorcycle licence to ride any electric bike in Northern Ireland, and the bike must be registered, taxed and insured. You must wear a crash helmet when riding one.

Jump to table of contents
What counts as an electric bike (EAPC)
An electric bike (EAPC) must be fitted with pedals that can be used to drive it forward.

It must display one item from each of the following:

the power output or manufacturer of the motor
the battery’s voltage or maximum speed of the bike
Its electric motor:

must have a maximum power output of 250 watts
should not be able to propel the bike when it’s travelling more than 15.5 mph
An electric bike (EAPC) can have more than two wheels (for example, a tricycle).

Licensing, tax and insurance
You need a moped licence to ride an electric bike (EAPC) in Northern Ireland.

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/electric-bikes-electrically-assisted-pedal-cycles

Thargor · 08-01-2020 10:23pm

rubadub wrote: »

NI requires a licence for a regular ebike.

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/electric-bikes-electrically-assisted-pedal-cycles

Jesus thats as backwards as their attitude to gay marriage. Does anyone ever get prosecuted for illegal E-bike use up there though? I saw tourists on Segways near the Titanic centre a few years back.

1bryan · 09-01-2020 9:18am

Thargor wrote: »

Jesus thats as backwards as their attitude to gay marriage. Does anyone ever get prosecuted for illegal E-bike use up there though? I saw tourists on Segways near the Titanic centre a few years back.

absolutely horrible comment. Shame on you.

Thargor · 09-01-2020 10:30am

1bryan wrote: »

absolutely horrible comment. Shame on you.

rubadub · 09-01-2020 10:34am

Thargor wrote: »

Does anyone ever get prosecuted for illegal E-bike use up there though?

I don't think so, not much anyway. I think it was sort of unknown and maybe one case highlighted that it was illegal. I think chainreactioncycles (based in the north) had lots of discounts on ebikes at one stage and I think some said it was due to the law.

Halfords suspends sale of e-bikes in Northern Ireland due to 'confusing' legislation

https://www.halfords.ie/advice/cycling/expert-advice/e-bikes-faqs

E-bikes and the law
Under the law in England, Wales, Scotland and the ROI, e-bikes are classified as Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles (EAPC). To be classed as an EPAC, the bikes must meet the following criteria:

The motor has a power rating of 250 watts or less
Assistance is only provided when the rider is pedalling and assistance is only provided up to a speed of 25 km/h (15.5 mph)
The law also permits a 'walk assistance' mode, where the bike moves with you when walking alongside it. This is limited to 6 km/h (3.7 mph).

Being free to ride an e-bike wherever a regular bike can be ridden is an enormous benefit to cyclists, but could be jeopardised by people using higher power or faster e-bikes - particularly if there's an accident. Because of this, we'll never sell or advocate the use of electronic speed de-restriction devices or techniques, and we've made sure that it's impossible to use these with the e-bikes we sell.

If you're in Northern Ireland, the law is different and you'll need the following to legally ride an e-bike:

tax
insurance
motorcycle helmet
DVLA registration
AM category moped licence.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-40861110

Anyone riding an electric bicycle in Northern Ireland without a proper licence could face a fine of up to £1,000, it has been revealed.

SteM · 09-01-2020 10:51am

Thargor wrote: »

They would NEVER allow segways near the titanic centre!

Utter Consternation · 09-01-2020 5:43pm

SteM wrote: »

They would NEVER allow segways near the titanic centre!

How about a Segway cake?

Duckjob · 09-01-2020 6:03pm

rubadub wrote: »

due to the 25km/h limit I am faster commuting on a knackered old single speed hybrid with suspension than on my ebike.

With my bosch system the power drops off as you approach 25km/h, this means it does take more effort to be cycling at 25km/h.

The limitation is not just annoying but can be dangerous at first if you are not used to it. As the bike is a total hog to get around with no power you are effectively limited to just over 25km/h on the flat. e.g. if you are entering a roundabout or overtaking somebody you would be used to being able to ramp up your speed under your own power on a regular bike, but on the ebike it is like somebody has put the brakes on you just when you might need it most.

My Haibike is the same - extremely severe in its cut off, even cutting off below the limit.

My first eBike was a BH Easy Motion, and it would only just start to ease off the assistance when you hit the limit, and with a bit of a downhill you could generally get another couple of kph out of it without too much effort.

n1st · 15-01-2020 11:30am

rubadub wrote: »

due to the 25km/h limit I am faster commuting on a knackered old single speed hybrid with suspension than on my ebike.

With my bosch system the power drops off as you approach 25km/h, this means it does take more effort to be cycling at 25km/h.

The limitation is not just annoying but can be dangerous at first if you are not used to it. As the bike is a total hog to get around with no power you are effectively limited to just over 25km/h on the flat. e.g. if you are entering a roundabout or overtaking somebody you would be used to being able to ramp up your speed under your own power on a regular bike, but on the ebike it is like somebody has put the brakes on you just when you might need it most.

What speed are you cycling you push bike at? I wouldn't have thought much over 25kmph.
I never thought that the 25kmph limit would be an issue, is it for some?

magicbastarder · 15-01-2020 12:16pm

it'd be fairly typical for a fit cyclist to be able to maintain over 30km/h.

KevRossi · 16-01-2020 4:01pm

rubadub wrote: »

The limitation is not just annoying but can be dangerous at first if you are not used to it. As the bike is a total hog to get around with no power you are effectively limited to just over 25km/h on the flat. e.g. if you are entering a roundabout or overtaking somebody you would be used to being able to ramp up your speed under your own power on a regular bike, but on the ebike it is like somebody has put the brakes on you just when you might need it most.

Not sure how old your bike is, but it possibly needs to be repaired. I never notice if the motor in mine is on or off as it's that smooth. I've often cruised long distances at a 28 Km/h average, only putting on the motor at hills.
And the tyres I have are chunky enough: 28x1.75 Schwalbe Marathon Plus.

I had a similar experience to you with an older Ebike that I rented out for a half day, but the bike was knackered in more ways than one.

As mentioned above mine is a 2018 Cube One Hybrid.

rubadub · 16-01-2020 4:34pm

n1st wrote: »

What speed are you cycling you push bike at? I wouldn't have thought much over 25kmph.
I never thought that the 25kmph limit would be an issue, is it for some?

I would have been faster than most people on my old hybrid, usually was only lads on roadbikes that would pass me. Not sure of my speeds. It is important not to simply look at your average speed. When I suggest upping the limit people keep coming out with figures about their average commute speed. But I was saying they should get those figures and every figure over say 27 should be brought back to maybe 26 or 27, unless it is a known downhill section -THEN work out your average.

The real issue I was saying is being momentarily able to go fast to get out of trouble, pass people, enter a roundabout etc. I certainly could not sustain the high speed for long but need it, an ebike is horrible as its like the brakes are on. I was saying it should be like the suggested speedlimiting for cars where it would allow a very short burst of high speed now & then.

KevRossi wrote: »

Not sure how old your bike is, but it possibly needs to be repaired.

Its like this from day 1, others have said it is normal and the newer bosch motors do not have this "drag" or whatever the term is, or at least the drag is nowhwere near as much.

n1st · 16-01-2020 4:41pm

rubadub wrote: »

due to the 25km/h limit I am faster commuting on a knackered old single speed hybrid with suspension than on my ebike.

With my bosch system the power drops off as you approach 25km/h, this means it does take more effort to be cycling at 25km/h.

The limitation is not just annoying but can be dangerous at first if you are not used to it. As the bike is a total hog to get around with no power you are effectively limited to just over 25km/h on the flat. e.g. if you are entering a roundabout or overtaking somebody you would be used to being able to ramp up your speed under your own power on a regular bike, but on the ebike it is like somebody has put the brakes on you just when you might need it most.

rubadub wrote: »

I would have been faster than most people on my old hybrid, usually was only lads on roadbikes that would pass me. Not sure of my speeds. It is important not to simply look at your average speed. When I suggest upping the limit people keep coming out with figures about their average commute speed. But I was saying they should get those figures and every figure over say 27 should be brought back to maybe 26 or 27, unless it is a known downhill section -THEN work out your average.

The real issue I was saying is being momentarily able to go fast to get out of trouble, pass people, enter a roundabout etc. I certainly could not sustain the high speed for long but need it, an ebike is horrible as its like the brakes are on. I was saying it should be like the suggested speedlimiting for cars where it would allow a very short burst of high speed now & then.

Its like this from day 1, others have said it is normal and the newer bosch motors do not have this "drag" or whatever the term is, or at least the drag is nowhwere near as much.

Should Ebikes not limit the unassisted speed?

i.e. the motor can get you to 25 but if you can pedal faster then it will not stop you or will not make it more difficult.

Ray Palmer · 16-01-2020 5:09pm

n1st wrote: »

Should Ebikes not limit the unassisted speed?

i.e. the motor can get you to 25 but if you can pedal faster then it will not stop you or will not make it more difficult.

It depends on the model. The cheaper and older drive wheel types won't go over 25kph no matter how much you peddle.

It was one reason my first ebike was a mid motor. So I could cycle faster. The comment there seems to be about ones that use the cheap/old system as I believe most hub motors now don't have that restriction bar the cheap Chinese ones.

I bought a high end haibike and regret it. The components are just so expensive to replace. I first had a Gepida ebike and it was better value. Much cheaper sale price and cheaper to maintain.

The thing that will go and probably determines a new bike it the battery. Make sure the battery is used by a lot of designs or you might find it hard to replace in a few years. The price tends to make it worth your while to buy a new bike

rubadub · 16-01-2020 5:28pm

n1st wrote: »

Should Ebikes not limit the unassisted speed?

i.e. the motor can get you to 25 but if you can pedal faster then it will not stop you or will not make it more difficult.

It is not like it purposely is designed to impose a restriction, its just naturally there. Its a mountain bike with big tyres and about 20kg and there is just more to overcome trying to surpass the internal gearing or mechanisms or whatever it is.

You get into this repeat cycle effect of easy, easy easy, hit 25, absolute hog!, slow down, motor engages again, easy easy easy, HOG!. Going on a slight decline is fine, you can pick up decent speed due to momentum, I would not be pedalling and be catching up with people going at a fairly OK speed.

I commuted on crap mountain bikes before with suspension and it was NOTHING like this, an absolute hog. I have left it outside shops before unlocked and kept catching a glimpse of it, knowing that if it was gone I would be able to sprint after the thief as I take the display off it so it has no power.

Ray Palmer wrote: »

The thing that will go and probably determines a new bike it the battery. Make sure the battery is used by a lot of designs or you might find it hard to replace in a few years. The price tends to make it worth your while to buy a new bike

I plan on replacing the cells on mine if it wears down a lot, it has held up very well though. I get 2 round commutes out of it no problem, so it would be a long time before I need to do that. THe charger is very light so I could bring it into work if it did get to a stage where it was not enough for a single round commute.

reg114 · 16-01-2020 5:47pm

While Id rather see ebikes on the road than yet more cars, its a real lost fitness opportunity I feel. If you're going to go to the effort of exposing yourself to all the elements and dangers of being on a bike, then why not at least have the benefit of improved health and fitness to go with it. You'd be surprised at how quickly your fitness becomes enhances and at how quickly your average speed increases once you're cycling regularly. I'm at the point where I would pass most ebikes without too much effort but i would be hitting mid to high 30s kmph on the flat , plus i own a turbo trainer, the fact is many people underestimate their potential and unnecessarily opt for an ebike.

magicbastarder · 16-01-2020 5:52pm

that's great if you're fit and healthy, and not having to worry about getting to work in a lather of sweat.
they're a great option for people who don't have showers in work, or are getting on a bit (or might have health issues) and still want to get out for a good old spin.

reg114 · 16-01-2020 5:59pm

magicbastarder wrote: »

that's great if you're fit and healthy, and not having to worry about getting to work in a lather of sweat.
they're a great option for people who don't have showers in work, or are getting on a bit (or might have health issues) and still want to get out for a good old spin.

But you're not going to get any fitter or healthier on an ebike. As far as arriving in work in a lather of sweat is concerned, I have the option of bringing a change of clothes. If you have health issues , you simply pace yourself. You arent going to get a good ole spin of any consequence on an ebike.

CramCycle · 16-01-2020 6:03pm

reg114 wrote: »

But you're not going to get any fitter or healthier on an ebike. As far as arriving in work in a lather of sweat is concerned, I have the option of bringing a change of clothes. If you have health issues , you simply pace yourself. You arent going to get a good ole spin of any consequence on an ebike.

Well that's untrue. If you are on an ebike as opposed to a car or bus, you will be fitter. If someone has to go at sub 12kmph to evade sweating they are more likely going to opt for the bus or car. Plenty of people I have met would never have went on a bike only for the intro of ebikes and they are fitter because of it.

rubadub · 16-01-2020 6:14pm

magicbastarder wrote: »

that's great if you're fit and healthy, and not having to worry about getting to work in a lather of sweat...

^^ was going to make that point above.

also

reg114 wrote: »

If you're going to go to the effort of exposing yourself to all the elements.

In my work if its raining or very windy there are about 1/3rd the bikes there would be on a sunny day. I cycle rain/sleet/snow, and can use nasty cheap 100% waterproof raingear, which would be horrible on a regular bike.

I enjoy cycling for excerise far more on an ebike, I can easily work up a sweat by dropping the assistance, which still having the benefit of being able to take off at lights with full assistance so have rapid acceleration. I can also go scenic routes I would never consider before. I will cycle places I would have got a taxi or bus before.

reg114 wrote: »

If you're going to go to the effort of exposing yourself to all the elements and dangers of being on a bike, then why not at least have the benefit of improved health and fitness to go with it.

Same could be said to people who choose to walk to work, why not jog or run? and their answer would often be the same as those who use an ebike. The effort to me on the ebike is similar to walking, so its a ~20-25min stroll, I would not be on for walking that distance to work daily, did cycle for years..

This is a post on reddit, I think I have read 1 or 2 of the links before.

We sell 1000's of E-bikes and from our experience, it is true that E-bikes help you burn more calories than a regular bike. Because, you go much longer distance and you stay in aerobic breathing zone more consistently. If you keep all factors identical then obviously regular bikes win. But, the point is, E-bikes prompt you to ride more often in real life. our customers report that they go on trips, commutes that they would have never thought of on a regular bike. Let's break it down.

Here is a scientific article on how cardiometabolic risk factors are affected by E-bikes. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00421-016-3408-9

University of Basel study on how E-bikes improve health compared to regular bikes. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/07/180726161118.htm

The effect of E-bikes on physical activity levels: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5644161/

A very good NYT article on the health benefits of E-bikes. https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/07/06/the-surprising-health-benefits-of-an-electric-bike-2/

n1st · 16-01-2020 8:14pm

ebike really limits to 25 unless downhill.
Ebike will not improve fitness dramatically.
Ebike allows you cycle to work without breaking sweat.
Ebike allows you to cycle greater distances at ease.

beauf · 16-01-2020 9:11pm

reg114 wrote: »

...the fact is many people underestimate their potential and unnecessarily opt for an ebike.

A lot of people who've been cycling for years buy ebikes.

magicbastarder · 16-01-2020 9:18pm

reg114 wrote: »

But you're not going to get any fitter or healthier on an ebike. As far as arriving in work in a lather of sweat is concerned, I have the option of bringing a change of clothes. If you have health issues , you simply pace yourself. You arent going to get a good ole spin of any consequence on an ebike.

it's quite simple - for many people, cycling is not necessarily about going faster/getting fitter (delete as appropriate). for some people, it may be about getting out in the fresh air; for others, it may be about getting to or from work. e-bikes are great for them, because it allows them to get their fresh air more easily, or more easily commute to work.
and if they want to push themselves harder, they can.

Hamsterchops · 16-01-2020 10:21pm

E-bike technical issue.

I've only had it for a couple of months & she's started to creak already.

So with every rotation of the pedals there is an annoying 'creak-creak' sound, which at first I thought was coming from the plastic housing on the Bosch Active Line motor, then I thought the noise came from the headset, then finally I tracked it down to [inside the down tube] at the top, where the cables enter the tube from the Bosch Purion display on the way down to the motor!

There is a tiny little rubber grommet where the cable enters the tube, so I guess there's a plastic channel inside that's creaking, but how do I get access, and how can it be fixed?

So any theories or suggestions are very welcome.

Step through (no crossbar) adult unisex e-bike
Bosch Active Line motor/ battery on rear rack.

rubadub · 16-01-2020 10:38pm

magicbastarder wrote: »

more easily commute to work.

I would wager that the majority of people who have issues with ebikes are the sort who would pay handsomely to shave 500g off their commuting bike (not even competitive racing bike) weight, and would spend ages comparing the rolling resistance of their new potential commuting tires. Yet look sneeringly at somebody else trying to make life a bit easier simply since its electrical and so not "pure". I would not be surprised if some of the cheaper electric bikes with lower power motors would take more energy input than a light highly efficient road bike. I know I would be faster on my clapped out bybrid than my ebike in "eco mode".

Ebike will not improve fitness dramatically.

Can depend on the person, same could be said of walkingg., which I was saying my ebike cycle feels like to me, a 20-25min stroll. For people with very low fitness levels and/or high weight issues and sort of light exercise is going to make a decent difference.

I used to pass a very overweight woman on a MTB on my commute. I thought fair play to her getting out there, it was a shame it was a MTB which did make it harder but she was that large it might have been advisable. I was thinking how an ebike would have suited far more, esp. as she was going so slow. I do not see her any more and guess she might have given up.

Pigeon Reaper · 17-01-2020 10:22am

You can try unplugging the cable and then wrapping something plumbers tape around the cable and re-feed it into the tube. Most of the cables are sealed but unplug easily from the bottom where they connect into the motor. If in doubt bring it to the shop where you bought it from.

Ray Palmer · 17-01-2020 5:37pm

Anybody suggesting ebikes are not good for your health should just Google it to see they studies that say it is good for you. I guess many of the people commenting have never used one regularly or tried cheap or old models. Half of what has been said can be true.
1. You won't work up a sweat.
Unless you are an incredibly passive cyclist you will easily sweat on a commute.
2. Can't cycle over 25kph
You certainly can and people saying that is an easy speed on a regular bicycle are ignoring stopping and starting. You will reach 25 kph more or less instantly and it takes time and effort to get up to speed on a regular bike. In urban cycling you stop and start a lot. Many times have I passed and caught up with people with ultra light bikes and bikes. Yes on a straight continuous cycle they will be faster. Stopping and starting and going up hills I will be faster and a lot less effort

3. You won't get any health benefits
You certainly will get benefits. It is still cycling and mainly only kicks in starting off or up hills. Studies show people also cycle more with ebikes. People with heart problems benefit greatly due to the consistency of the cycle without peaks.

When I first mentioned getting an ebike on boards I got loads if snobbery about it being a cheat and I should try regular cycling. I am a commuter who cycles so don't need to be 'pure'

homer911 · 17-01-2020 6:08pm

I bought my ebike to get me up the hills, not so I could go faster - on the flat I'm generally going faster than 25 kmh

On a side note, mine is Bosch mid-drive and when I bought it, the power would start to drop out above 25 and be gone by 27. I got the bike serviced a while back and they updated the controller OS and the power now drops out by 26 kmh

Hamsterchops · 17-01-2020 7:38pm

Hey, same motor as me

Electric bike - see mode note post #298

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