Over thinking it probably but these ebikes aren't cheap so I want to chose correctly or at least as best I can.. I'm sure 3 years from now the technology will be better, the bikes will be better and possibly less expensive but we're not waiting 3 years to start "cheating". One test ride is all I needed to be hooked.
Actually, ebikes will get you much LESS exercise
- Thread starter Timpo
- Start date
elyhim
Active Member
I would contact Giant and have a word with them. Some Trek dealers in my area don't carry or don't support emtb's but the ones that do are getting better and better. I have two good Trek stores for maintenance and issues.
larry-new
Active Member
Actually, if you choose right and get a bike with standard components, there's little on nothing a local bike store can't fix if you can't.
Money doesn't come easy here, yet with a good deal of research, I (in NY) bought a bike (with test rides I only read about) from a direct manufacturer in Seattle, a bike which they never saw, as it was dropped shipped from China, but with such quality controls that it arrived perfectly. That same manufacturer has partnered with Velofix, country wide mobile bike mechanics. I've already bought several items from My LBS, too.
IMO, a dealer three hours away might as well be on the moon.
Technologically, bikes might well get better later, but at 71, I wanted to get back to biking. 350 miles and one month later, I'm still smiling, nay, grinning!
Money doesn't come easy here, yet with a good deal of research, I (in NY) bought a bike (with test rides I only read about) from a direct manufacturer in Seattle, a bike which they never saw, as it was dropped shipped from China, but with such quality controls that it arrived perfectly. That same manufacturer has partnered with Velofix, country wide mobile bike mechanics. I've already bought several items from My LBS, too.
IMO, a dealer three hours away might as well be on the moon.
Technologically, bikes might well get better later, but at 71, I wanted to get back to biking. 350 miles and one month later, I'm still smiling, nay, grinning!
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jazz
Well-Known Member
Agreed! The fact you are even on a bike or ebike is a good sign regardless!
Gator
Well-Known Member
One possibility: you could order the Giant online and then they would send it to that dealer and then the dealer would have to prep it for you. Maybe Giant would send it to the local Pedego shop. Just a thought.
Captain Slow
Well-Known Member
I commute both on my Juiced CCS and my Cervelo. I wear a HRM and would say that my average HR on the Juiced is roughly 20-30 bpm less on the Juiced. No way it is even close to 63 bpm. I suppose you could ride in a way that did that, but that's certainly not indicative of my experience.
Given that I ride more often, I'd say the less exercise on an ebike is not accurate for me. I'd say it's a wash or I get bit more on the ebike, because if I didn't have the ebike I would be carpooling or taking transit.
Given that I ride more often, I'd say the less exercise on an ebike is not accurate for me. I'd say it's a wash or I get bit more on the ebike, because if I didn't have the ebike I would be carpooling or taking transit.
larry-new
Active Member
The shop you are worried about is the shop that you want to be there when you need it. They will happily work on your bike, just not for free. I have no guilt bringing in my bike for questions, because I'm also spending money there. Tools, helmet, accessories, tubes, rim tape...
elyhim
Active Member
Call Giant and ask for another shop, explain your issue. They would want to know regardless. Also, Bulls dealers service a bunch of different motors not sure if Yamaha is one of them. Lastyear I was driving a bit over an hour for a Trek shop I trusted. Now I have two shops with experience with one 20 minutes away.
I also heard Specialized (Levo) is coming out with a 700 watt battery and will increase it's range by 40%. I wouldn't give up on the EMTB bikes. You will be sorry if you settle and want one for singletrack. I myself wouldn't consider an emtb from any other source than an actual quality mtb manufacture.
I know where the dealers are.. The only one remotely close to me is the dealer that refused to sell or even order me a stance E.. They told me they didn't want emtb's on or tearing up their trails and then practically hung up on me.. I wouldn't feel confident having them work on my bike even if they were required to do so under their contract with Giant.
elyhim
Active Member
Yes, there were quite a few shops like this around and GIANT needs to hear this. I wouldn't go to them for anything as well. Complaints like this might prompt Giant to make changes.
ebikemom
Well-Known Member
Me, too!
DaveMatthews
Well-Known Member
Great looking bike. I was tempted
You've posted about this quite a few times and I can understand how unpleasant the experience must have been, but I still think it's worth a call to giant - best case scenario they might have a new dealer planning to open up nearby, worst case scenario your time might result in the store / that salesperson being educated and the next potential purchaser gets better treatment . I can fully understand you not wanting to deal with that shop yourself, but as someone who employs people I also know how difficult it can be when a staff member behaves badly and you don't find about it until lots of customers have been alienated.
At the very least, it might be therapeutic for you to contact giant and feel empowered?
Giant is making a big push into the emtb market for 2019 , I'd be very surprised if they didn't take your concerns seriously
PaD
Well-Known Member
@Riversurf , I don’t criticise your opinion, I use your post to get me started
I think it’s really great that a lot of people get out and get to move their limbs thanks to e-bikes.
I don’t think I’m obsessed but I am concerned about less exercise with my e-bike in comparison to the regular bike I’ve used daily 5-6 months per year for a loong time ( present bike 9 years I think)
I haven’t used that regular bike for exercise, it’s just something that has come as bonus when I’ve gone for shorter or longer rides. Cycling is fun and often a pratical way of getting around in the Stockholm area. In winter I walk about 3 miles almost every day (sometimes less , sometimes more) because I feel well when walking.
To me exercise (planned or unplanned) is not something to give you more years but perhaps better years.
Anyone who’s used a regular bike and then try an e-bike realizes that you will get less exercise.
It became even more obvious after 7 weeks of e-biking with my Specialized Vado when I took my old Gary Fisher Utopia out for a ride. ( Vado at LBS for 1000km service)
Holy cranks - it was suddenly sluggish and heavy to get my old companion to move from standstill. I thought something was wrong with it. I had become so used to the power assist on the Vado.
My Vado is almost too powerful in Eco mode ( it only has 3 assist modes). At least that’s what I felt today when riding it home after service.
I will absolutely ride my Vado instead of the GF Utopia because it is so fun and so easy to do longer rides but personally I will try to get exercise by e.g. stretching my walks.
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Gator
Well-Known Member
I agree. When I first read the post, I thought, "There's a 20% discount!" I would use it for all it's worth. Might even get it delivered.
Well, I've officially decided that the higher boost levels give me MORE exercise.
I've just returned from my mental health loop - a 25 km loop of intermediate trails that used to take me 1.5 hours on my dyno bike
On a good day, I'll do the loop averaging 18 km/ hr in economy mode and be tempted to go back out for a second run ( I usually manage half a runextra , but occasionaly a second loop)
Today I needed a bit more therapy than usual so hit the trails in max boost - I averaged 21.5 km/hr but was absolutely stuffed when I returned to the car ( I had been averaging 23 k but the last couple of k's was a real struggle) . Not only did I use twice as much battery power, but my human tank was completely drained.
My upper body is burning, my legs feel like jelly, and I'm even mentally drained ( it takes a fair bit of concentration for me to be holding those speeds on this trail)
To top off my highly scientific experiment....the only other mtb rider out there was raving about how great ebikes are and how great a workout people get on them ( he was riding a specialised stump jumper , but had ridden a few ebikes so was very much a convert)
I've just returned from my mental health loop - a 25 km loop of intermediate trails that used to take me 1.5 hours on my dyno bike
On a good day, I'll do the loop averaging 18 km/ hr in economy mode and be tempted to go back out for a second run ( I usually manage half a runextra , but occasionaly a second loop)
Today I needed a bit more therapy than usual so hit the trails in max boost - I averaged 21.5 km/hr but was absolutely stuffed when I returned to the car ( I had been averaging 23 k but the last couple of k's was a real struggle) . Not only did I use twice as much battery power, but my human tank was completely drained.
My upper body is burning, my legs feel like jelly, and I'm even mentally drained ( it takes a fair bit of concentration for me to be holding those speeds on this trail)
To top off my highly scientific experiment....the only other mtb rider out there was raving about how great ebikes are and how great a workout people get on them ( he was riding a specialised stump jumper , but had ridden a few ebikes so was very much a convert)
PaD
Well-Known Member
I get your point and believe you.
I guess I was a bit narrow-minded in my post above not considering the active e-mtb riding. You can of course get exercise from street riding too but I feel I have to really put my mind to it.
ebikemom
Well-Known Member
I'd say one would have to put one's mind to it if wanting intensive exercise.
As for moderate exercise, we can keep in mind that taking a walk at a reasonable pace is moderate exercise. SO, ebiking (with pedaling) also is. Using pedal assist and constantly pedaling raises my heartrate by 35 beats per minute. That's moderate exercise.
More intense exercise on a PAS bike is possible by using a lower pedal assist. For example, for part of my ride yesterday I stayed on a PAS that only goes up to 13mph or so. By working to keep a steady pace ABOVE that and using gears to get up hills (and we have lots of hills), I worked harder than I usually do. When I got tired of that, I went back to moderate exercise!
It all depends on the rider and the level of intensity desired!
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