mschwett
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
First, thanks to everyone who makes this a great forum to discuss and learn!
I got my first bike in over 20 years at the start of the year, a vanMoof S3. It's a unique bike, mid-range in price, powerful (59nm), class 1 (20mph), 504wh battery, front hub drive, 4 speed automatic in the rear hub, and great anti-theft features for the city. I use it with a thule yepp next maxi for my 3 year old, and since I bought it have pretty much used it for 75% of my daily trips within the city. In addition, I loved riding so much that I started riding for exercise, which for me is a bit complicated because of an inherited heart rhythm condition (multiple open heart surgeries over the years, I have an ICD, and take antiarrythmics and beta blockers) that requires I keep my heart rate below 130 and averaging around 110, avoiding extended high output cardio.
I quickly got into longer rides on the S3, probably not exactly what a fairly heavy (45lb) upright flat bar ebike is meant for, but it worked and I enjoyed it.... so much that I ended up getting another bike, for the exercise/fun rides - a turbo creo comp carbon.
Here is my first four months of riding summed up in one graph. My rides are typically 20-25 miles, some as much as 45, usually starting by going across the Golden Gate and into the Marin Headlands, or something going west and south along the edges of San Francisco. Average speed has held relatively steady, declining a bit from the beginning when I used the higher assist levels and boost function
of the vanMoof more liberally, but in the same period of time, my reliance on the battery has gone way down to as little as 2-3 Wh/mile on the Creo and a pretty consistent 2-3 Wh/50 feet of elevation. In theory, with the range extender I could cover well over 125 miles and many thousands of feet on a charge, but I'm not quite ready for that long of a ride. I pretty much refuse to wear any sort of cycling clothes, so I'm sure I could improve these numbers a bit with some more aero attire, but while I do love the data the point for me is really the enjoyment of being outside, going fast (most rides i hit 40-45mph for a brief bit here and there), seeing the amazing scenery just outside my front door (I always ride from home, no driving to the ride), getting very controlled exercise and learning about a new hobby. And, of course, buying gear.
Given my health history, I never would have even considered cycling without an eBike, and as different as the two bikes are, I love them both - and thanks again to this great community!
I got my first bike in over 20 years at the start of the year, a vanMoof S3. It's a unique bike, mid-range in price, powerful (59nm), class 1 (20mph), 504wh battery, front hub drive, 4 speed automatic in the rear hub, and great anti-theft features for the city. I use it with a thule yepp next maxi for my 3 year old, and since I bought it have pretty much used it for 75% of my daily trips within the city. In addition, I loved riding so much that I started riding for exercise, which for me is a bit complicated because of an inherited heart rhythm condition (multiple open heart surgeries over the years, I have an ICD, and take antiarrythmics and beta blockers) that requires I keep my heart rate below 130 and averaging around 110, avoiding extended high output cardio.
I quickly got into longer rides on the S3, probably not exactly what a fairly heavy (45lb) upright flat bar ebike is meant for, but it worked and I enjoyed it.... so much that I ended up getting another bike, for the exercise/fun rides - a turbo creo comp carbon.
Here is my first four months of riding summed up in one graph. My rides are typically 20-25 miles, some as much as 45, usually starting by going across the Golden Gate and into the Marin Headlands, or something going west and south along the edges of San Francisco. Average speed has held relatively steady, declining a bit from the beginning when I used the higher assist levels and boost function
of the vanMoof more liberally, but in the same period of time, my reliance on the battery has gone way down to as little as 2-3 Wh/mile on the Creo and a pretty consistent 2-3 Wh/50 feet of elevation. In theory, with the range extender I could cover well over 125 miles and many thousands of feet on a charge, but I'm not quite ready for that long of a ride. I pretty much refuse to wear any sort of cycling clothes, so I'm sure I could improve these numbers a bit with some more aero attire, but while I do love the data the point for me is really the enjoyment of being outside, going fast (most rides i hit 40-45mph for a brief bit here and there), seeing the amazing scenery just outside my front door (I always ride from home, no driving to the ride), getting very controlled exercise and learning about a new hobby. And, of course, buying gear. Given my health history, I never would have even considered cycling without an eBike, and as different as the two bikes are, I love them both - and thanks again to this great community!
