Are ebikes (finally) mainstream?

[Smokin Joe]

What level of exercise does a typical ebike rider get? I know it depends how hard they pedal but even a slower ebike rider must get some benefit from slowly turning the pedals. Better than sitting in a car anyway.

The majority of people who ride bikes don't give a fig about any exercise benefits. They just want a cheap method of transport and the easier to ride the better.

 

[Specialeyes]

If you use the Mahle eBikemotion-powered bikes (Ribble, Orbea, Bianchi and others I forget) you can use a heart rate monitor to control when the assist kicks in, effectively riding to a target heart rate so you can get a proper workout and a good sweat on - you just end up farther away from home when you're done For an even more taxing workout, just turn the assist off.

Or just use it as a viable car alternative, suitable for a wider range of people and enjoy continually fresh legs.

 

[boydj]

Who cares whether their mainstream or not, if you want one get one. To me they're a moped so I'm not interested but I have no feelings either way as to what other people ride.

Serious misunderstanding here. To be legal an e-bike has to be 'Pedal-assist' - there's no throttle, and assistance cuts out above just over 15mph.

I've been a 'roadie' for many years, but old age and a dodgy prostrate has meant that I'm unable to keep up on club runs, even with the slow group. A recently bought e-bike has meant that I can resume club runs. The power is only used to help manage the hills and without the power the bike performs like an ordinary road bike.

For me the e-bike means I can still get out and do longer runs which are no longer possible on my standard bike and I'm sure will keep my cycling for a few more years yet.

Modern e-bikes are a godsend for older or infirm cyclists, and if they encourage younger people who might not otherwise cycle, then so much the better.

 

[Blue Hills]

The majority of people who ride bikes don't give a fig about any exercise benefits.

I don't know if that's true.
If it is, a problem I think.

 

[Blue Hills]

Maybe we'll have to ask the French for another power line or the Chinese to build us a nuclear power station in the near future

you may joke mr nuts, but raise a point - they are not as green as some seem to imagine. Similar issues with electric cars of course.

 

[annedonnelly]

Have you still got your faithful old Edinburgh Bicycles hybrid?

You've certainly had your money's worth out of it.

Yes, indeed. In fact, given it wasn't expensive in the first place, I probably owe them more money now.

 

[Deleted User]

I'll have to keep an eye out the next time I see a moped, I've never seen moped riders pedal. Maybe they only do it when no-one's looking. Just as well you don't care what other people ride I guess

The definition of a moped yrs ago was that it had to be capable of being pedalled, Suzuki AP50, Fizzie, SS50 etc, your youth let's you down 😉

 

[Deleted User]

The majority of people who ride bikes don't give a fig about any exercise benefits. They just want a cheap method of transport and the easier to ride the better.

I can't say I agree with that, sure the fella's you see trudging to work covered in s**t at stupid o'clock in the morning may be, but all the so called lycra clad hero speed demon type I see out there giving it some are surely doing it for fitness, I know I do.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I'll have to keep an eye out the next time I see a moped, I've never seen moped riders pedal. Maybe they only do it when no-one's looking. Just as well you don't care what other people ride I guess

I'm old enough to remember mopeds with pedals, I take it they're not required now. Have a look at these images.

https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=Norman+nippy&atb=v248-1&iax=images&ia=images

 

[Pale Rider]

Yes, indeed. In fact, given it wasn't expensive in the first place, I probably owe them more money now.

Pleased to hear it.

Much as I like shiny new bikes, your hybrid is an excellent example of how a relatively cheap but sound bike can give many years and many miles of good service.

The definition of a moped yrs ago was that it had to be capable of being pedalled,

My Raleigh moped had pedals,

The only way to start the engine was to bump start it by pedalling, although it had a centrifugal clutch so you could then come to rest and it would stay ticking over.

I seem to recall it had a decompression lever on the handlebars, so you could get up a little speed before compressing the engine to get the bump to make it fire.

It would climb most things, although you often gave it some pedalling as it began to run out of steam towards the top.

 

[Pale Rider]

Here's a pic of a similar moped to mine.

Note the car fan belt primary drive.

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C925369

 

[numbnuts]

Serious misunderstanding here. To be legal an e-bike has to be 'Pedal-assist' - there's no throttle, and assistance cuts out above just over 15mph.

pre 2016 ebike had throttles and pedal-assist under granddad rules are allowed on the roads

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Pleased to hear it.

Much as I like shiny new bikes, your hybrid is an excellent example of how a relatively cheap but sound bike can give many years and many miles of good service.



My Raleigh moped had pedals,

The only way to start the engine was to bump start it by pedalling, although it had a centrifugal clutch so you could then come to rest and it would stay ticking over.

I seem to recall it had a decompression lever on the handlebars, so you could get up a little speed before compressing the engine to get the bump to make it fire.

It would climb most things, although you often gave it some pedalling as it began to run out of steam towards the top.

Yes, I remember having motorcycles where I had to tickle the carburetor to start them, I never had a moped myself but both my Dad and my Sister had them, Norman Nippies and Mobylettes, plus the converted pedal cycles with the engine on the rear carrier.

 

[Mike_P]

As I have written before getting an ebike has lead me to using it for commutes and shipping trips that due to the amount of climbing needed I rarely did by pedal power due to the need for a shower. On that basis yes exercise is somewhat less but it has dramatically cut down on car use which is what all cyclists want.

 

[matticus]

The majority of people who ride bikes don't give a fig about any exercise benefits. They just want a cheap method of transport and the easier to ride the better.

Survey says:

• 11% of adults in England reported cycling at least once a week

... so there could be 5% of adults who give one or more figs about exercise benefits. That's a lot of people!