Hill climbing ability

[Barry S]

The Origin8 Supercell is another fat tire to consider for hard surface riding. Comes in both folding and wire bead.

 

[keithd]

Just found this page great info on watts required to power different human powered drive systems

http://www.ihpva.org/HParchive/PDF/hp52-2001.pdf

 

[Dionigi]

M2S sells Ultra mid-motor bikes but derates them 750w (1500w peak) so as to be legal - similar to what Bosch/brose et al are likely doing with their 250w (500w peak) motors.
Regardless, i refuse to pay top dollar for 500w peak Euro motors with lame low capacity, low voltage 36v batteries. I'd gladly pay for a sleek Euro-look with Ultra motor/48v20ah battery. Unfortunately, I don't think such a thing - yet - exists. Give it a year and I hope there will be a few choices.

That said, haven't heard anyone ever (outside NYC) say that someone has checked to see if they have class 1, 2 or 3 ebikes. It seems a legal nicety, but nobody really cares. Just dont act like a jerk

I was stopped on a trail at Wilder State Park in Santa Cruz by a park ranger on horseback. She wanted to check my class 1 sticker.

 

[Nova Haibike]

I was stopped on a trail at Wilder State Park in Santa Cruz by a park ranger on horseback. She wanted to check my class 1 sticker.

My understanding is that the stickers did not start implementation until last year, so if you have an older bike with no sticker, then what happens? Also from what I have read, the sticker only applies to e-bikes sold in California, so if you purchased the bike online or from out of state, again, what happens? Lastly, what does the sticker look like? Is is standardized; is it easy to fake?

 

[Dionigi]

My understanding is that the stickers did not start implementation until last year, so if you have an older bike with no sticker, then what happens? Also from what I have read, the sticker only applies to e-bikes sold in California, so if you purchased the bike online or from out of state, again, what happens? Lastly, what does the sticker look like? Is is standardized; is it easy to fake?

The bike, a Riese and Müller Nevo GH, was purchased from Propel and delivered February 1, 2018. The bikes came with class 1 stickers. Apparently the California law came into effect on January 1, 2018.

 

[ebikemom]

I bought e-bikes in Washington, and they have stickers. Maybe because the maker is a California maker, they just put the stickers on all of their bikes? Also, regarding enforcement, from what I've seen, police officers have no interest in me as I safely pedal by. I think this must be very very low on law enforcement priorities. Maybe it would become an issue of a rider were reckless or involved in an accident?

 

[MisterM]

I was stopped on a trail at Wilder State Park in Santa Cruz by a park ranger on horseback. She wanted to check my class 1 sticker.

Guess we all need to invest in some stickers...

 

[john peck]

Here is my dilemma my LBS has no major hills nearby that would be similar to my daily commute. I like the Stromer ST1 Elite how does this compare to the more powerful motor of the Radcity hill climbing? If I go the mid-drive route I would most likely look for an internal hub or Nuvinci system bike both of which I have not ridden as of yet. Am I asking too much? Please do tell.

Thanks

Can speak for the ST1 or Rad, I have a 650 Juiced Bikes CCS, It'll climb all kinds of steep as long as you can keep spd above 9 mph.
It starts to fade on a steep grade at approx. 500 yds.

 

[Chris Hammond]

So my bike computer (Magellan Cyclo) has a slope grade indicator, there is a route I sometimes take to work that has a climb that peaks at 16% grade. On my Juiced CCS in first gear in highest assist I can maintain ~11 mph, I doubt that this would be sustainable from a heat standpoint if the hill was really long (its ~ 1/3 mile) and heat has never been an issue there. I do have a longer climb ~4 miles of 2-5% grade that I ride home on everyday. I have given this a good heat test as I have had several commutes with ambient temps ~100F and strong headwinds slowing me down. Without a head wind I can ride this hill 25-29 mph but headwinds will slow me down to as low as 16 mph (that day was 20 mph headwind). The highest controller temp I have seen is 72C. I do my best to keep my speed up when climbing in these conditions as the motor is more efficient (less heat loss) at higher speeds. I have yet to use my CCS to climb a real mountain pass (I live in Utah so this has a different meaning than what most think, for me it means 8-12 miles of 5-10% grades). I typically use my road bike when I am doing this kind of riding, perhaps this fall when its cooler I will try it on the CCS out of curiosity.

 

[Trail Cruiser]

So my bike computer (Magellan Cyclo) has a slope grade indicator, there is a route I sometimes take to work that has a climb that peaks at 16% grade. On my Juiced CCS in first gear in highest assist I can maintain ~11 mph, I doubt that this would be sustainable from a heat standpoint if the hill was really long (its ~ 1/3 mile) and heat has never been an issue there. I do have a longer climb ~4 miles of 2-5% grade that I ride home on everyday. I have given this a good heat test as I have had several commutes with ambient temps ~100F and strong headwinds slowing me down. Without a head wind I can ride this hill 25-29 mph but headwinds will slow me down to as low as 16 mph (that day was 20 mph headwind). The highest controller temp I have seen is 72C. I do my best to keep my speed up when climbing in these conditions as the motor is more efficient (less heat loss) at higher speeds. I have yet to use my CCS to climb a real mountain pass (I live in Utah so this has a different meaning than what most think, for me it means 8-12 miles of 5-10% grades). I typically use my road bike when I am doing this kind of riding, perhaps this fall when its cooler I will try it on the CCS out of curiosity.

Sixteen percent grade is pretty steep already and this picture below even exaggerates it

I posted this before at https://electricbikereview.com/forums/threads/how-steep-is-your-hill.24004/#post-148620

 

[Mr. Coffee]

My last 160 vertical feet of climbing happens in a little less than 740 feet for a 22 percent grade. A Bosch Performance CX in emtb ("sport" mode) and a Rohloff hub in a pretty low gear (3 or less depending on how tired I am) makes short work of that climb.

 

[Chris Hammond]

Sixteen percent grade is pretty steep already

Yeah I know. . In the days before my ebike, I did this short climb on my road bike, it was first gear (triple front chainring setup), and it was like doing a max output interval training, 5-6 mph, and me barely making it to the top before I would've needed to stop for a breather. I have seen plenty of people walking their bikes up.

 

[nelzea]

I live in a very hilly city which is why I bought an e-bike. Shimano STEPS mid-drive. I tried it out on a short 16% hill and it sailed up, so I bought it. It's super easy to get up the longer but less steep hills (7-10%). It struggled when I took it up a 20% gradient hill but it did make it. *I* struggled when I took it up a 400m 17% hill. High assist, lowest gear, lots of spinning! (I don't do hills very well).