Hello, I found this group by accident while doing research on e bikes. The only thing I do know is the size. I would like one that will blend in with the cycling group I ride with. I am getting up there in age, hills have always been an issue and I did not ride at all last year with the pandemic. I will be peddling myself on the flat, I just need assistance on the hills. I like the looks of the specialized turbo Vado 4.0 thoughts? Is there any others I should be considering? Also weight would be an issue as I need to lift it to put on my rack. Thank you all for any guidance you can send my way.
HELP! Need advise on picking the right e bike
- Thread starter TMR
- Start date
Dewey
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Arlington, Virginia
Is the cycling group you ride with a road bike group? If so you might like a Class 3 mid-drive like the Yamaha Civante, it's reasonably lightweight for an ebike at 43.4lb. The Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0 (53lb) is more upright if you're leaning toward a more comfortable riding position, another like it would be the Gazelle Medeo T10+ that weighs 50lb. All three are Class 3 mid-drives that are good hill climbers
Last edited:
TMR, lots of ebikes to choose from and the members here have great info (and opinions!
).
Much depends on your budget. There might be one on Amazon under $1,000. At the other end of the price range the Specialized carbon S-Works Turbo Creo SL EVO lists for $14,750. And I’m sure there are other prices even higher.
You mentioned you would like to “blend in”. The trick to that is to stay in the middle or even back of your group. And don’t even think of passing anyone on a hill, especially the hot shots. Give it time until they get used to your bike. Expect lots of questions, especially about price and range.
Congrats and looking forward to a pic of your new ebike!
).Much depends on your budget. There might be one on Amazon under $1,000. At the other end of the price range the Specialized carbon S-Works Turbo Creo SL EVO lists for $14,750. And I’m sure there are other prices even higher.
You mentioned you would like to “blend in”. The trick to that is to stay in the middle or even back of your group. And don’t even think of passing anyone on a hill, especially the hot shots. Give it time until they get used to your bike. Expect lots of questions, especially about price and range.
Congrats and looking forward to a pic of your new ebike!
Thank you for your input, I have no intentions of racing anyone going uphill, I just want to get up them with out crawling up, barely making it. An incline is a hill for me. I just want to enjoy riding again. Excluding last year, the past few years before, I stuck with paved rail trails as the hills were getting too much for me. I want to get back out with the group and they have no issues with me going hybrid as it’s more out of necessity. Price wise, I am willing to go up to $5000 as long as I’m getting my money’s worth. I’ve read with some bikes, there are battery replacement and repair issues that need to be addressed when purchasing.
RunForTheHills
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
If you are riding for exercise, you will want a more aggressive position on the bike where some of your body weight is over the pedals and you are lower down on the bike. You don't want a completely upright bike with a pedal forward position. This will add wind resistance and also not allow you to use your body weight to add leverage to your pedaling. A geared hub motor or a mid-drive motor with a clutch would work best because they can coast. A direct drive motor will add some resistance while coasting.
indianajo
Well-Known Member
Yeah, as long as you don't mind being in pain every second of the rest of your life after you fracture your neck disk. I've never ridden with the neck flexed that much, and never will. Read an industrial ergonomics book.
Extra wind resistance is just the penalty I pay for spine health. Mother was in pain every second of her life from her spine from age 46 until death. Just made to sit incorrectly at work while typing. I ride for exercise, and get a lot when riding without power 30 miles when the wind is down. Electricity allows me to overpower the wind when its >12 mph in my face.
The bosch mid drive on the gazelle is definitely likely to drag when pedaled unpowered. Only gen 4 bosch has a one way clutch to prevent drag from an unpowered motor. Yamaha has always had this one way clutch for no drag unpowered. Specialized turbo vado is a mahle mid drive. I don't know whether it drags unpowered or not, it's new. I do know specialized has 333 postings on known problems thread of the brand forum. The specialized turbo vado has a 10 speed rear cluster. Those thin 10 spd chains are reported to only last 1000 miles when pedaled by humans on roadbikereview forum. Mid drive loads the chain worse. My 8 speed chain lasted 5000 mlles with a geared hub motor.
RunForTheHills
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
Well, everyone has different requirements. I prefer a more upright position for commuting because I can see the cars around me better and ride more defensively. However, an upright position does increase wind resistance and move your body weight to a less ideal position for pedaling. More aggressive doesn't mean you have to have your handlebars lower than your seat though. There are compromises and it looks like the Turbo Vado 4.0 is more aggressive than a typical upright cruiser.
RunForTheHills
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
You didn't say how fast or fit the group you ride with is, but you may need to use some motor assist to keep up with them on the flats as well as the hills then. If you get a bike with a torque based PAS system, it will scale the motor assist to how much pressure you push on the on the pedals with. You can adjust how much assist it gives through controls on the handlebars. The other types of controls are cadence based PAS and a throttle. You probably need to test ride some bikes to see what is going to work best for you.
I ride with the slower group, I can do 15-17 on my road bike on flat when I was riding. I don't like speed so I wouldn’t go faster than that anyway. Thanks for the info
Not yet, waiting for the weather to warm up, in New England and winter decided to show up just one more time
Thank you for your advice. As far as the pedals go, I will be switching them out as I clip in.
I would love to find a specialized Vado 5.0, I need the lightest bike I can get. I can’t lift the 40+ pound bike to put on my car. I need a small or xs, I’m only 5’ 2”, and I prefer upright as possible, arthritis. I need a class 3, the people I ride with are fast. I live in central Florida. No Specialized Vado small anywhere. Has anyone heard if they will be making more anytime soon? Or recommend another light bike?
PedalUma
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Petaluma, CA
I am almost done making one. Does it look electric? The battery will look like a standard water bottle. It is 80Nm with the torque sensor between the pedals. These bikes ride side by side with the Vado 5.0. I purchased it on Friday PM and sold it after test rides of my other bikes at Noon-thirty on Saturday when 1/2 completed. The new owner has tested Creo's and was going down that path.
Attachments
Hmmm......class 3 and under 40 lbs. Might be a challenge.
There’s a Trek Domane+ HP, carbon frame road bike, 37 lbs, Class 3 but it’s around $10,000.
Maybe one of the Cannondales, their bikes are fairly light.
Another point too, removing the battery before loading can bring down the weight.
Similar threads
