Help deciding when to switch to an ebike?

[apctjb]

I’m a 70-year-old road cyclist still riding a analog bike and trying to maintain or improve fitness. Typical rides are 40–60 miles with ~3,000 ft of climbing.

I’m intrigued by the latest generation of lightweight e-road bikes (TQ40 drives, smaller battery packs) but worry they might not push me as hard as a regular bike. At the same time, longer or harder rides are starting to leave me pretty wiped out for the rest of the day.

For those of you who were strong riders before switching:

When did you decide it was the right time to get an e-bike?
Did you wish you had done it earlier, or were you glad you waited?
Did switching make you ride longer, harder and make you fitter (or just gave the feeling that you were?)

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Immediately

I’m a 70-year-old road cyclist still riding a analog bike and trying to maintain or improve fitness.

How long would you wait?

 

[speedub.nate]

Good on you!

No need to "switch." Ride both!

 

[mrgold35]

Is there a ebike rental in town you can try a mid-drives and hub drives? It will give you a general feel of how the power is delivered, handling, braking, and comfort. The wife test rode Radcity rear hub step-thru at a rental shop when it came out back in 2018 and we purchased online afterwards (still have it today). You might need a second battery depending on the ebike you pick in the end (batteries will drop in range over time).

The HUGE advantage I found switching from pedal to ebike was being able to ride almost all year (I skip snow, ice, and rain). Being able to ride at a faster speed 15-22 mph when temps are +95 degrees F on an ebike really helps with body cooling for a more comfortable ride. We get spring winds in the 15-30 mph range that would sideline most pedal bikes. I can just bump the PAS 1 or 2 levels to maintain my speed and have the bike path to myself. Another plus is an ebike can flatten most inclines. I would really start to overheat on inclines on a pedal bike in summer heat.

Having an ebike is similar to those moving airport sidewalks you have the option to walk. You're using the same amount of energy walking (or pedaling); but, covering more ground at a faster speed. I'm not going +40 miles per ride. I'm more into 10-16 miles on single ebike ride per day at 3X-5X per week (mostly dirt/single track with 4.8" fat tire ebike). My range was probably 1/3-1/2 as far on a pedal bike.

 

[RunForTheHills]

There are lots of ways to get exercise. I have been a runner my whole life, but that's not for everyone. My take is that you have to do something you enjoy or you won't do it enough to make a difference. If you find yourself not looking forward to tomorrow's ride or struggle to keep up with the group, then an ebike might be the solution. It can put the fun back into your rides. The alternative is that you start talking yourself out of riding that day or cut the ride short because you are just not into it.

 

[apctjb]

My take is that you have to do something you enjoy or you won't do it enough to make a difference. If you find yourself not looking forward to tomorrow's ride or struggle to keep up with the group, then an ebike might be the solution. It can put the fun back into your rides. The alternative is that you start talking yourself out of riding that day or cut the ride short because you are just not into it.

So true...

 

[harryS]

Discovered ebikes 11 years ago when buying myself a new bike. Figured it would get my wife to ride more so I did a little research and ought one for my wife a few weeks later. After I saw how hers were put together, I converted one. We've ridden about 18K miles together since then. She did ride a lot more. Me too. Both of us in our 70's now.

Went riding with the grand kid over the weekend. Wow, when I was 12, there was no way I would even think of riding with my grandparents.

 

[gromike]

If you know bikes, test ride a few quality ebikes and see what works for you.
You can still ride your pedal bike when you want, just not at the same time as you're on the ebike.

 

[McApple]

I bought my first ebike 10 years ago when riding my android bike up hills and into the wind took the fun out of the ride. The deciding factor was that I could no longer keep up with my wife after She started riding an ebike.

 

[Extreme1]

When I got back from my analog bike rides and was thrashed for the rest of the day, we bought our first e-bikes. We bought two Vado 4.0 and loved them, still do. They are our go-to bikes for everything and our travel bikes as we fitted them both with panniers.

Fast forward a couple years after that, we bough Levos so we could go Mtb riding wherever we wanted to and didn’t have to worry about the climbing.

About a year ago we bought a Creo 1 and a Creo 2 and love them too. We ride them with friends that are younger and have analog bikes and now can keep up with them and go on any ride they have planned.

I would say don’t wait no longer. If you want to hurt yourself one day riding, just shut the power off.

I’d look at the Creos, or Trek also make some incredible e-bikes that look almost identical to a road bike.

 

[MrClortho]

When did you decide it was the right time to get an e-bike?
Did you wish you had done it earlier, or were you glad you waited?
Did switching make you ride longer, harder and make you fitter (or just gave the feeling that you were?)

I was a strong-ish mtb rider for going on 15 years, but after taking a few years off due to those life altering things, I returned to the sport. After over a year of training, I was realizing it takes 4X longer to get into any kind of real riding shape than it did in my 30s. I fought the good fight for over a year, making 5am rides several times a week, and hurting all the time before making the switch.

Should I of done it sooner? No, I don't think so. I had to get to that point where I was questioning if I wanted to continue modeling part of my life around mtb's as I was not enjoying it anymore. It was becoming more of a painful act of futility. Switching brought the joy back, but I don't think I would of appreciated it near as much had I not of suffered as long as I did to get there.

Switching helped double my ride lengths, ride harder trails, make more difficult climbs that I ever could and despite the motor assist, I lost about 20lbs of fat in 6 months. I would not say that I am more fit from a pure cardo stand point...maybe less so, but my overall endurance is probably better. I supplement the pure cardo lack with running now to make up the difference and this creates a good balance for me. I never get too winded anymore on the emtb but my heart rate will reach the mid 130's if I am really hammering in on the single track like a young'un.