Experiment: Riding e-bike without the "e"

[NoDTMF]

This is mostly rambling, might be of interest for this who don't have an ebike.

Details:
Commute is 14 miles roundtrip
Going to work is downhill
Going home up hill
Total elevation change is about 650 feet in one direction
Bike has Bosch Active Line mid-mount motor.
Since I bought the bike I tend to put it in Touring mode and go.

I started thinking about conserving charge cycles.

Decided that, since going to work is primarily down hill I would ride with no assist going to work.

Observations with no power on the way to work:
-Since there are little uphills along the way I notice I tend to shift a lot more
-I notice slight inclines that I didn’t notice before
-Instinctively I tried to keep the same cadence, but at times slowed down
-took me a little longer to get to work, felt about the same physically
-Interestingly, a bike passed me on the trail…first time for that happened and I almost turned the power on to pass him up on small high emerging from an underpass!

Conclusion: Easily doable and would save on the number of battery charges….But not as fun. I probably will go back to leaving touring mode on.

 

[Shea N Encinitas]

I once dropped my wallet and doubled back on my 25 ride without the battery (it was drained by then). Most notable to me was just getting off the line, once up to speed it was not too bad, I even passed a roadie going up a 400 foot climb. Heck now I don't even like touring mode, spoiled by Turbo and a 2nd battery. BTW a good human turned the wallet and cash into my bank. -S

 

[NoDTMF]

LoL...good news on the wallet and Turbo all the way...I like it.

With the advent of electric cars, the drivers are getting what is called "Range Anxiety." Basically they are stuck if they are out of charge, so they continually worry about charge. Luckily we can still peddle, but in some of the steep places I've been, I think have experienced range anxiety as well.

 

[Shea N Encinitas]

One time at band camp,.. JK - I was once 27 miles out then when I swapped batteries I realized I forgot to switch the charger over the night before. I had 27 miles to cover with two bars, basically picked my battles using the lowest assist on a few hills and no assist the majority of the ride. Funny that has never happened again! -S

 

[opimax]

only once ? you are good ...I have this thing called a wife . The bike rack is always on my Baja. I tell her where the keys were left and hope my phone is not dead and wait. She also rides and understands STUFF happens. She just wants to know if i got hurt and doesn't believe me until she see me no matter what I tell her happened .

Having access to 4 batteries I can be pretty far away or worse if i drive somehwere like Baltimore,then ride to York PA . She at least has to drive and worse find the Baja where I parked it , park her car and then find me....those kind of favors take a long time to work off

 

[J.R.]

On my commute the last two miles into town are flat, paved bike path through a park and often times I won't use power (time permitting). Mostly because it's a pleasant place to go a little slower. Side benefit more power for the hills! Serious down hills I won't use power, go just as fast without it.

 

[stevenast]

This is mostly rambling, might be of interest for this who don't have an ebike.

Details:
Commute is 14 miles roundtrip
Going to work is downhill
Going home up hill
Total elevation change is about 650 feet in one direction
Bike has Bosch Active Line mid-mount motor.
Since I bought the bike I tend to put it in Touring mode and go.

I started thinking about conserving charge cycles.

Decided that, since going to work is primarily down hill I would ride with no assist going to work.

Observations with no power on the way to work:
-Since there are little uphills along the way I notice I tend to shift a lot more
-I notice slight inclines that I didn’t notice before
-Instinctively I tried to keep the same cadence, but at times slowed down
-took me a little longer to get to work, felt about the same physically
-Interestingly, a bike passed me on the trail…first time for that happened and I almost turned the power on to pass him up on small high emerging from an underpass!

Conclusion: Easily doable and would save on the number of battery charges….But not as fun. I probably will go back to leaving touring mode on.

So this post inspired me to try a little test. I went out and rode a loop that has a fast downhill and then, of course, a fairly significant uphill coming back.

With the electrical system turned off, the bike felt a little heavy coming up the hill. I had to stand and pump all the way, but I would be doing that on any bike. It was not really tremendously more difficult than a regular bike - the extra ten pounds just made a little bit of a difference.

In Eco mode, there was a measurable improvement. Still standing but far less effort.

Tour was the first setting to induce a taste of ebike exhilaration: "Watch me destroy this hill - sitting on my butt!"

Sport brought out the Superman feeling, "Hill, what hill?" Flying up, accelerating with ease to the 20 mph limiter!

I didn't bother with Turbo. Overkill for this experiment.

@NoDTMF - thanks for this thread.

 

[NoDTMF]

@stevenast - sure make me jealous of performance drive. However, I'm still laughing at "Turbo all the Way" Shea!

 

[Shea N Encinitas]

However, I'm still laughing at "Turbo all the Way" Shea!

Funny because I still get a decent workout, I just do it at a higher speed. Deep sleep, sore muscles (like when the dog walks on me), healthy diet & sex life are all my indicators. I guess it is just the joy of bionic powers that makes want to boogie down. -S

 

[Vern]

This is mostly rambling, might be of interest for this who don't have an ebike.

Details:
Commute is 14 miles roundtrip
Going to work is downhill
Going home up hill
Total elevation change is about 650 feet in one direction
Bike has Bosch Active Line mid-mount motor.
Since I bought the bike I tend to put it in Touring mode and go.

I started thinking about conserving charge cycles.

Decided that, since going to work is primarily down hill I would ride with no assist going to work.

Observations with no power on the way to work:
-Since there are little uphills along the way I notice I tend to shift a lot more
-I notice slight inclines that I didn’t notice before
-Instinctively I tried to keep the same cadence, but at times slowed down
-took me a little longer to get to work, felt about the same physically
-Interestingly, a bike passed me on the trail…first time for that happened and I almost turned the power on to pass him up on small high emerging from an underpass!

Conclusion: Easily doable and would save on the number of battery charges….But not as fun. I probably will go back to leaving touring mode on.

My commute sounds exactly like yours. I have have often thought about going no e on the way to work. I tried it once, got to the first hill and said to myself forget that.
I actually wish I had a road bike for the way to work and an e bike for the way home.