E-whine

[Drago]

I see that, but for me, it currently makes no sense to drop at least 2k€ on a bike that will make my commute and shopping trip take longer than it currently does, especially when I have to assume it'll cost another 1k€ in half a decade when the battery refuses to charge...

Then dont!

Plenty of riders do find value in them though. I didnt think I would until Mrs D bought me one, and now its my main ride. As I'm getting o,der and creakier I'm appreciating it more and more.

Maybe you will when you're older. Maybe you won't. Jt doesnt matter, because cycling is a broad church.

 

[All uphill]

I see that, but for me, it currently makes no sense to drop at least 2k€ on a bike that will make my commute and shopping trip take longer than it currently does, especially when I have to assume it'll cost another 1k€ in half a decade when the battery refuses to charge...

It made no sense to me until my body suddenly needed a bit of help.

because cycling is a broad church.

And that is to be celebrated. There's room for all of us, and the opportunity to challenge the hegemony of the car.

 

[numbnuts]

Had an etrike since 2016 and being old and the trike weighing in at 60lb the motor is welcome
without it I would be struggling and as it is pre 2016 I can have a throttle to aid start offs on hills, lights ect.

 

[Mike_P]

I managed this, but then you're fighting the motor on many bikes: so it's not only adding to the weight, it's acting as a brake: I borrowed the company Bakfiets for a shopping trip once and my goodness my legs hurt afterwards: I used my bike with panniers after that.
The worst bit about that trip was I'd forgotten to get bog roll and that was the whole point of borrowing the bike in the first place...

Mine regularly achieves 32 mph heading down showground hill, but the upward inclination in the road thereafter quckly sees it drop below 15.5.

 

[classic33]

@rydabent, is this you on the same subject elsewhere?
From several quarters there is what I call E-whine. It is people that whine about E-bikes and trikes.

 

[Andy in Germany]

Then dont!

Plenty of riders do find value in them though....

Maybe you will when you're older. Maybe you won't. Jt doesnt matter, because cycling is a broad church.

It made no sense to me until my body suddenly needed a bit of help.


And that is to be celebrated. There's room for all of us, and the opportunity to challenge the hegemony of the car.

You'll notice that I added the rider "currently": I'm aware this may change as I get older. Also, a house move is once again in the offing and if I end up in the hills I may consider one. I rather like the look of the Tern Orox, and my employer does participate in the local Bike to Work scheme...

That said, one reason I ride so much is in the hope that in a decade or so, I'll still be able to ride without assistance. I see the advantages of E-Bikes for many people, certainly, but I don't think they're the panacea they are often presented as.

 

[Dadam]

I managed this, but then you're fighting the motor on many bikes: so it's not only adding to the weight, it's acting as a brake:

Not on the 3 ebikes I own. With the motor off the Orbea Gain e-road bike rides just like a heavy road bike (14kg) as does the Vado SL (16kg). Only the Cube eMTB at 25kg with its 29x2.6" knobbly tyres is a struggle to pedal over the cutoff with the motor off, and that's not due to motor braking but weight and rolling resistance.

I do accept it is the case with some. The ones with larger direct drive motors particularly and those with regen braking.

The Gain and Vado have integral batteries but they're still replaceable, it's just a workshop job.

 

[raleighnut]

I managed this, but then you're fighting the motor on many bikes: so it's not only adding to the weight, it's acting as a brake: I borrowed the company Bakfiets for a shopping trip once and my goodness my legs hurt afterwards: I used my bike with panniers after that.
The worst bit about that trip was I'd forgotten to get bog roll and that was the whole point of borrowing the bike in the first place...

Precisely why I chose a front hub motor for the trike rather than a 'mid drive', the wheel 'freewheels' once the motor is disengaged

 

[Mike_P]

Precisely why I chose a front hub motor for the trike rather than a 'mid drive', the wheel 'freewheels' once the motor is disengaged

Mid drives wheels freewheel.

 

[raleighnut]

Mid drives wheels freewheel.

Never had one, it was just @Andy in Germany's comment about the motor acting as a brake

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

This time three years ago I was setting PBs and getting the odd top ten and KOM on leaderboards. It took ~2.5 years of long covid to start looking at ebikes and I so wish I'd bought one sooner, it's been a Gamechanger for I situation I never expected to happen so quickly.

 

[BoldonLad]

I managed this, but then you're fighting the motor on many bikes: so it's not only adding to the weight, it's acting as a brake: I borrowed the company Bakfiets for a shopping trip once and my goodness my legs hurt afterwards: I used my bike with panniers after that.
The worst bit about that trip was I'd forgotten to get bog roll and that was the whole point of borrowing the bike in the first place...

It very much sounds like you don't NEED an e-bike, you are young enough to/ fit enough to use a "normal" bike. However, we (myself and Mrs @BoldonLad) are 77/78 years old, after age 75, we found we needed a bit of assistance, so, e-bikes kept us cycling.

More recently, Mrs @BoldonLad has been diagnosed with Alzheimers, she can no longer safely ride a bicycle (even an e-bike), it has nothing to do with her fitness level, which is upto the task, but, to do with dealing with traffic, gears, brakes etc. Even that has been solved by purchasing a Hase Pino Steps semi-recumbent tandem. So, we are still enjoying our cycling outings, and, keeping relatively fit.

I think the term "horses for course" may be appropriate.

Perhaps, more on. topic, when we rode our e-bikes (Specialised Vado 4 SL) we did get the very occasional "cheaters" comment, whilst riding the Pino, we have had only smiles, cheers and the occasional shout of "awesome", or "amazing" 😂

 

[Mike_P]

Never had one, it was just @Andy in Germany's comment about the motor acting as a brake

You cannot back pedal with a mid drive but you should be able to cycle perfectly normally with the motor switched off. I took the comment to refer to the weight of the motor acting as a brake rather than anything to do the motors mechanism.

 

[All uphill]

This time three years ago I was setting PBs and getting the odd top ten and KOM on leaderboards. It took ~2.5 years of long covid to start looking at ebikes and I so wish I'd bought one sooner, it's been a Gamechanger for I situation I never expected to happen so quickly.

You have my sympathy. Our son experienced long COVID in 2020, and as he recovered he bought a Tern GSD ebike which gives him great joy.

I've recently had a sudden change in my health and have had to make the painful transition from 100km days on my old tourer to being grateful for 5 miles on an ebike. It's all cycling!

 

[Rusty Nails]

It very much sounds like you don't NEED an e-bike, you are young enough to/ fit enough to use a "normal" bike. However, we (myself and Mrs @BoldonLad) are 77/78 years old, after age 75, we found we needed a bit of assistance, so, e-bikes kept us cycling.

More recently, Mrs @BoldonLad has been diagnosed with Alzheimers, she can no longer safely ride a bicycle (even an e-bike), it has nothing to do with her fitness level, which is upto the task, but, to do with dealing with traffic, gears, brakes etc. Even that has been solved by purchasing a Hase Pino Steps semi-recumbent tandem. So, we are still enjoying our cycling outings, and, keeping relatively fit.

I think the term "horses for course" may be appropriate.

Perhaps, more on. topic, when we rode our e-bikes (Specialised Vado 4 SL) we did get the very occasional "cheaters" comment, whilst riding the Pino, we have had only smiles, cheers and the occasional shout of "awesome", or "amazing" 😂

Never really fancied a recumbent but that e-tandem looks awesome.
What a great way to keep your wife actively involved in cycling.