An ebike for roadies

[Pale Rider]

Most ebikes are like my Rose, a hybrid which in road bike terms weighs a ton.

There's now a lightweight carbon road bike with a clever motor which sits in the seat tube and drives the bottom bracket.

The battery is in a bottle and the controls appear to be no more than a wireless button which sits on the handlebars.

The maker - Vivax/Gruber - have produced the system for a while, but it's relatively low power - 150w - so never caught on when fitted to a hybrid.

It's hard to gauge performance, but I reckon a club cyclist on one of these could go quite a bit further and faster.

http://www.vivax-assist.com/en/unternehmen/index.php?we_objectID=340

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I notice the words ''we_object'' in the link. I have a feeling that that would be the reaction from the rest of the club.

 

[Pale Rider]

I notice the words ''we_object'' in the link. I have a feeling that that would be the reaction from the rest of the club.

No doubt, the huffing and puffing from the maiden aunts on the committee would be a joy to behold.

What I meant by 'club cyclist' was any tolerably fit roadie.

In other words, the bike would be no good to a podgy middle-aged bloke of very average fitness such as me.

 

[gavintc]

It certainly caused a stir when Cancellara was accused of 'doping' his bike.

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Nd13ARuvVE

 

[pauldavid]

That's blimmin cheating.

Where can I get one?

 

[amaferanga]

150W is more than your average recreational cyclist could maintain for anything more than a few minutes so I don't see why 150W wouldn't be enough for a hybrid.

But I can't see the point in electric bikes unless you're either very old or have some kind of disability that means you can't propel a bike yourself. If you're healthy, but just unfit then ride your bike more so you get fitter - don't cheat with a motorbike.

 

[Pale Rider]

. If you're healthy, but just unfit then ride your bike more so you get fitter - don't cheat with a motorbike.

Cheating what or whom?

Gravity? You?

And riding an ebike will get you fitter, just the same as riding any other bike, although arguably not as quickly.

As regards why ride one, again it's the same as an ordinary bike, they are fun, which sadly seems to be a swear word to some 'cyclists'.

 

[ufkacbln]

Given the 15 mph limit on assistance for these bikes, they won't be beating anybody!

 

[Pale Rider]

Given the 15 mph limit on assistance for these bikes, they won't be beating anybody!

It's not clear from the website, but I think the bike in the link is not limited.

 

[ufkacbln]

It's not clear from the website, but I think the bike in the link is not limited.

In which case it cannot be used on UK roads!

 

[ufkacbln]

This is now as standard 200 watts, but only has a battery life of 70 minutes on the normal or 90 minutes on the larger battery

The quoted speeds are 20 mph for the de-restricted off road version