Do you pedal or just ride full throttle? Now Closed

[Solarcabin]

For a long while I was ghost pedaling but after testing the Ariel X ebike and seeing I got the same range and speed whether I pedaled or used throttle I have pretty much stopped peddling unless a I see a cop and don't want to get questioned about how I am doing 35mph.

Now it is basically a moped or motorcycle that doesn't require gas, license or insurance but I am also not getting any exercise unless I want to go slow as hell.

That could be a problem for an old fat guy like me!

I wish there was a way to set the ebike settings to just the amount of pedal resistance you want to get some exercise but still ride at full speed.

Is there an ebike like that and if not maybe someone should design one?

Your thoughts?

ADDED:
So after getting some help from another Ariel X rider he said a larger crank set would definitely increase resistance and he and others are using this one:

60T 170mm Crankarms 130 BCD Fixie Crankset for Single Speed Bike, Fixed Gear Bicycle, Track Road Bike (Square Taper, Black)​

If you are experiencing the same problem and want more pedal resistance on your ebikes that may also work for you and I have ordered one and will report back if that helped.

Thanks to the people that tried to help and I have learned a valuable lesson to not expect help on EBR in the general discussion section.

Since there has been so much interest in the Ariel Rider X 52 volt I ride you can watch videos of it in use and I will answer questions here:
https://electricbikereview.com/forums/threads/my-ariel-x-52-volt-videos.50258/#post-554092

 

[Bicyclista]

I don't peddle or sell anything. However, I pedal my ebikes and neither one has a throttle. That's how I get my exercise. As for riding at full speed while pedaling, it's a matter of being in the right gear. Bikes and ebikes are already designed to do that.

 

[fooferdoggie]

but at that speed it's hard to have gearing that can keep up.

 

[Tars Tarkas]

Do you have a trader's license? Peddling potpourri

 

[Rexlion]

Maybe a larger chainring will let you feel some resistance in the pedals at 35 mph. Not sure how many more teeth it would need to have (there are calculator tables online for that, though) or if it would fit your ebike.

At that speed, good luck if you wipe out....

 

[fooferdoggie]

Maybe a larger chainring will let you feel some resistance in the pedals at 35 mph. Not sure how many more teeth it would need to have (there are calculator tables online for that, though) or if it would fit your ebike.

At that speed, good luck if you wipe out....

I think a 52t would do it . my bulls came with that size and I think I could peddle to 35 going downhill.

 

[J.R.]

View attachment 132643

For a long while I was ghost peddling but after testing the Ariel X ebike and seeing I got the same range and speed whether I peddled or used throttle I have pretty much stopped peddling unless a I see a cop and don't want to get questioned about how I am doing 35mph.

Now it is basically a moped or motorcycle that doesn't require gas, license or insurance but I am also not getting any exercise unless I want to go slow as hell.

That could be a problem for an old fat guy like me!

I wish there was a way to set the ebike settings to just the amount of peddle resistance you want to get some exercise but still ride at full speed.

Is there an ebike like that and if not maybe someone should design one?

Your thoughts?

The amount of resistance you want still might not be any exercise. If you're looking for strength training, the resistance will have to be significant. You can get that on a bike or ebike. If you want cardio to strengthen your heart and improve blood flow you'll need to spin kind of fast and have resistance. You can get that on a bike or ebike as well. The resistance you want may or may not achieve that. A good fitness tracker will tell you if what you want is getting the job done. I use a Garmin Venu. Even on a good fitness ride a nice ice cream cone can wipe out the calories just burned, so diet plays a big part in it. The strength or cardio health gains aren't totally wiped out.

Health gains will be difficult on a moped like yours. The bike isn't styled for pedaling and throttle is difficult to precisely dial back for exercise. Add the speed you want to the mix and I think it's just too much to ask from that bike.

 

[sc00ter]

My old RadRunner 1 was doable in PAS 3. Was around 13mph and was a acceptable cadence. Then, if needed, I would use the throttle to clear intersections, in extreme heat, nasty headwinds and rain. I also think my lack of of just using throttle, like a moped, was that I have a Piaggio 150cc motor scooter as my daily rider. I'm soon to be ebike free. If I pick up another ebike it will have a throttle. You want lazy? I just ordered a Apollo Ghost electric scooter.

My old E-Lux would pedal pretty good to 28mph. But being a feet forward style ebike it would get twitchy the faster you go.

 

[Solarcabin]

I don't peddle or sell anything. However, I pedal my ebikes and neither one has a throttle. That's how I get my exercise. As for riding at full speed while pedaling, it's a matter of being in the right gear. Bikes and ebikes are already designed to do that.

Peddle, paddle, petal, pedal and piddle on you.

I ride in gear 7 and still ghost pedaling.

I think you are riding a much slower bike.

 

[Solarcabin]

The amount of resistance you want still might not be any exercise. If you're looking for strength training, the resistance will have to be significant. You can get that on a bike or ebike. If you want cardio to strengthen your heart and improve blood flow you'll need to spin kind of fast and have resistance. You can get that on a bike or ebike as well. The resistance you want may or may not achieve that. A good fitness tracker will tell you if what you want is getting the job done. I use a Garmin Venu. Even on a good fitness ride a nice ice cream cone can wipe out the calories just burned, so diet plays a big part in it. The strength or cardio health gains aren't totally wiped out.

Health gains will be difficult on a moped like yours. The bike isn't styled for pedaling and throttle is difficult to precisely dial back for exercise. Add the speed you want to the mix and I think it's just too much to ask from that bike.

The ebike is great but I just want more resistance at the higher speeds and not slow down. Someone said a bigger tooth main sprocket would work.

 

[Solarcabin]

I think a 52t would do it . my coach came with that size and I think I could peddle to 35 going downhill.

That is what someone else suggested in a different forum.

 

[Solarcabin]

Maybe a larger chainring will let you feel some resistance in the pedals at 35 mph. Not sure how many more teeth it would need to have (there are calculator tables online for that, though) or if it would fit your ebike.

At that speed, good luck if you wipe out....

I have been riding motorcycle for over 50 years so not worried about wiping out but I would like more resistance at the higher speeds. Someone else suggested a bigger main sprocket so I will have to research that.

 

[J.R.]

The ebike is great but I just want more resistance at the higher speeds and not slow down. Someone said a bigger tooth main sprocket would work.

I've ridden for a really long time and have had health challenges. I never truly knew what worked best, the best bang for the effort, until I tracked it. Just offering up what worked for me. Best of luck.

 

[Solarcabin]

I've ridden for a really long time and have had health challenges. I never truly knew what worked best, the best bang for the effort, until I tracked it. Just offering up what worked for me. Best of luck.

Thanks, I am a Health Education Specialist and yes interval training alternating with heavier and lighter resistance is better than always using the same resistance load. That is why I think an ebike designer should include the ability to change resistance on the fly would be a great feature.

I am going to play with my gears and see where I can get a decent resistance without greatly reducing my speed.

 

[dodgeman]

They make bikes such as class III that are assisted up to 28 mph with no throttle that do just what you want. Your not going to get 35 mph but sustaining 20 mph might be possible.

 

[retiredNH]

Thanks, I am a Health Education Specialist and yes interval training alternating with heavier and lighter resistance is better than always using the same resistance load. That is why I think an ebike designer should include the ability to change resistance on the fly would be a great feature.

??? You can do that by changing the gear and/or changing the power level. Do it all the time when I'm riding. Maybe it's harder when you're just using a throttle, but on a bike without a throttle, it's trivially easy.

I am going to play with my gears and see where I can get a decent resistance without greatly reducing my speed.

 

[ElevenAD]

If im riding my middrives i almost never use the throttle, if im riding my hub bike i will throttle to start up from stops or i will both throttle and pedal when going up a steep hill. I would never ride an E-Bike throttle only, i would just get a scooter or an electric motor cycle for that.

 

[ElevenAD]

View attachment 132643

For a long while I was ghost pedaling but after testing the Ariel X ebike and seeing I got the same range and speed whether I pedaled or used throttle I have pretty much stopped peddling unless a I see a cop and don't want to get questioned about how I am doing 35mph.

Now it is basically a moped or motorcycle that doesn't require gas, license or insurance but I am also not getting any exercise unless I want to go slow as hell.

That could be a problem for an old fat guy like me!

I wish there was a way to set the ebike settings to just the amount of pedal resistance you want to get some exercise but still ride at full speed.

Is there an ebike like that and if not maybe someone should design one?

Your thoughts?

With a cadence based PAS and a super high top speed it will be difficult to achieve your goal, i think they ship with a 52tooth? maybe slow it down a bit, you could then dial in some resistance and also avoid a 34mph crash! Win Win!
BTW sweet bike, black X-Class 52v is my favorite in the current Ariel Rider line up!

 

[Solarcabin]

??? You can do that by changing the gear and/or changing the power level. Do it all the time when I'm riding. Maybe it's harder when you're just using a throttle, but on a bike without a throttle, it's trivially easy.

On lower speed bikes that is true but once you get above 25-28mph you can pedal your heart out and you can not get resistance at that speed.. I am not new to ebikes or bikes and the EU bikes set at a measly 15-20mph are not what we are talking about here.

 

[mschwett]

On lower speed bikes that is true but once you get above 25-28mph you can pedal your heart out and you can not get resistance at that speed..

of course you can! as others have pointed out, you just need the right gearing - and to make sure the motor isn’t supplying so much power that you can’t meaningfully contribute.

let’s take 28mph as an example. a 52t up front and a 11t in back. 28mph is only 75rpm with those gears and 700c tires, actually below an optimal cadence for most human bodies to make good power. it takes 400-700 watts to go that fast on a bike, depending on your tires and position and clothes and so on. call it 600 for your bike. motor supplies 400, you supply 200 watts, at 75rpm. you’ll get a hell of a workout!

there is nothing mechanically standing in the way of this other than the size of the chainring and cogs and the programming of the motor.