My use case is like this.
The E-Bike was bought to encourage my outdoor riding and assist in the weight loss I intended to do. You can only do so much indoor riding before you go
. Medical issues delayed that, but I am now down 20 odd kilos from the time when it was bought.
Solo rides, currently up to and sometimes over 100km, are generally done on my E-Bike (a 2018 Cube Agree Hybrid SL A road bike). They, more often than not, involve more climbing for any given distance than my group rides. Most of the climbing below 7% is done without assistance, that gradient may go up as I have just installed a 36T largest rear sprocket, up from a 32. I use the assistance as a get out of jail card, only when I can't pedal anymore is it used. I can, on flat or slight gradients, ride above the 25kmh cut off so the battery is not used if the assistance is turned on, usually it is off until needed. So although I have an E-Bike most rides involve little use of the assistance. I get a descent workout with the added ability to dig myself out of almost any holes I find myself in, trying not to have to walk
. Most rides are done for pleasure.
Group rides are usually done on a non motorised bike (a GT Grade AL X, a gravel bike). I normally group ride with my brothers and they take a dim view of my 'cheating bike' even when I have no battery or motor installed
. Due to their fitness level, or lack there of, the rides are often fairly flat and relatively slow for me, 18-22 kmh, I can do the same routes @25+ kmh. These are also done for pleasure, although my brothers may disagree
I have a flat bar hybrid (BMC Alpenchallenge) that I sometimes ride short distances on that is not motorised. I find that I am more used to the drop bar setup and can't ride as fluidly on this as the other two.
It is, as always, what your use case is and how you use the tools you have that dictate their effectiveness.
I chose to use the motor as an assistance device, only used when I feel I can't do it own my own.
Others chose to use, a pedal assist E-Bike, as an always on addition to their own efforts. Thus making the whole ride slightly easier.
The last type of E-Motorbike where pedalling is not needed for the motor to run is, to my mind, a step too far. I know there will be some who will need this type of bike for physical reasons. However they, IMO, will be a small minority of users. Most of the riders will be the lazy arses I was, up until the last few years, choosing to get about with the minimum of physical effort, look at the rise in popularity of the E-Scooter as an example
Enjoy whatever you chose, in whatever manner you chose and 🖕 to anyone who gives you grief about it .
......As me about powered scooters however am old fashioned on my opinion, but again purely because I've never tired one.
