"Riders of ebikes AND regular bikes--I have some questions for you!"

[Richard GS]

You sound like me two years ago. I went looking/test riding ebikes at my local shop. Rode the trek bike in the picture and was amazed/blown away/sold right then and there. The price stalled me to more test rides of other bikes. Looked up the Edison company in Atlanta and rode my first throttle bike. It is a nice commuter but not what I was looking for. At least at this point I knew better which direction to turn. I enjoy off road way more than traffic negotiation but I settled for a trek police ebike for a cross/hybrid if you will to ride nice on the pavement but handle off road as well. Dude, don't kid yourself, you want one of these bikes. I think you'll be enjoying your new bike long after the shine has gone. Trek offers many models and makes an excellent machine. They use top quality components and stand behind their product and their dealers. The dealer I ended up purchasing from has been in business over 30 years. A very reputable trek dealer that will service the bike when needed. We moved up to the mountains of north Georgia almost a year ago and I knew I was going to need the assistance for the hills around here. It's like riding in Florida! I purchased the bike earlier this year and ride it daily. It is fun. Go get yours!

Thanks for the feedback Mike!

 

[Athena]

I have two motorcycles, but bought a used E-bike at a yard sale, since I didn't have or need a bicycle. But in Arizona's summer heat, having to get decked out in leathers (acutally a cat suit, leather jacket and helmet) for motorcycle riding with the heat off the bike, I feel like I am cooking. I am definitely in a sauna situation. So the bike reduces the need for "armor" and jeans and a helmet work fine. I was surprised how heavy the bike was with two batteries, but the distance is nice. about 40 miles under battery, and then pedaling so I pretty well can go anywhere. Add a couple of left over panniers I have from the cycles and a built in carrying surface with a bungie net, and I can carry a decent load.

 

[Dgatch]

I am a 64 year old guy who is 6'5" and weigh 230. I live in Kansas City where we have neither long flat roads like Florida nor long steep ascents like Colorado. Rather, we have short .25 to .5 mile rolling hills. I have been riding for 5 years, and got rapidly hooked on it. I ride with a power meter and have 5 years of data which document my rather rapid increase in power metrics, followed by a peak in my third year of riding followed by a subsequent gradual decline from my peak year. The decline was bugging me, so a year ago, on our way to our place in Colorado, I stopped in Boulder and had an on-bike physiological test at the University of Colorado Sports Performance Lab. The results and feedback from the test and review of my ride files was that I was spending too much time riding in my anaerobic power and heart rate zones and not enough time in my endurance zones. In other words, my aerobic base was low while my anaerobic threshold and ability to tolerate high lactate buildup in the anaerobic zones was high. The CU specialist said I had the physiological profile of a track pursuit specialist with high 3 to 5 minute anaerobic power. This is not the profile for a person who wants to ride 20 mile ascents in Colorado at an average grade of 4 to 6%. The plan developed called for me to ride more at lower power outputs for longer to raise the base and therefore improve total power output. Well, if your are my size, riding where I live, in order to do that you have to crawl up hills in very low gears at a snail's pace. I did not find that type of riding enjoyable. Enter the Trek Crossrip+. I bought it 3 weeks ago and love It! I am riding longer, farther and faster at the same average power. I know this because my pedals are Garmin Vector pedals that measure the power output at the pedal prior to the boost imparted by the bike's Bosch motor. I can now ride in my rolling terrain and keep my max power output below my anaerobic threshold hill after hill after hill. What a joy this new bike is; the technology is awesome. The only downside is the weight of the bike, 43 pounds ( I took off all the attachments and replaced the alloy seat post, cockpit, stem, handlebars, wheels and tires) vs. sub-20 pounds for my other high end road bikes. Wider tires, lower pressure, longer wheelbase, however, make up for the weight. It is a joy to ride, and descending the downhills at 40 mph, I feel much more stable and planted to the road than on my carbon fiber "analog" road bikes. I sill ride my old road bikes one or two days a week, but the bike I find myself gravitating to as first choice every morning is the Crossrip+. I can get a range of about 50 to 60 miles riding solely in Eco mode. This morning, I rode solely in Tour mode for the first time to see range in that mode. At the end of a 27 mile ride at an average speed of 20.2 mph, the remaining range on the Bosch Purion display was 11 miles. Sorry for the long winded response, but, as I hope you can tell, I am sold!

 

[ebikemom]

@Dgatch , "What a joy this new bike is!" I'm so happy for you!

 

[bob armani]

You sound like me two years ago. I went looking/test riding ebikes at my local shop. Rode the trek bike in the picture and was amazed/blown away/sold right then and there. The price stalled me to more test rides of other bikes. Looked up the Edison company in Atlanta and rode my first throttle bike. It is a nice commuter but not what I was looking for. At least at this point I knew better which direction to turn. I enjoy off road way more than traffic negotiation but I settled for a trek police ebike for a cross/hybrid if you will to ride nice on the pavement but handle off road as well. Dude, don't kid yourself, you want one of these bikes. I think you'll be enjoying your new bike long after the shine has gone. Trek offers many models and makes an excellent machine. They use top quality components and stand behind their product and their dealers. The dealer I ended up purchasing from has been in business over 30 years. A very reputable trek dealer that will service the bike when needed. We moved up to the mountains of north Georgia almost a year ago and I knew I was going to need the assistance for the hills around here. It's like riding in Florida! I purchased the bike earlier this year and ride it daily. It is fun. Go get yours!

I am with Mike here. Very well said. If you have a deep passion for bicycle riding in general, you will love an E-bike. I have to say, I do not have much desire to get on a traditional bike as I now do on an E-bike. I just marvel over the fact that I have all these really cool electronics between my legs and it enhances the entire 'bike riding experience' 10 fold. I look at a traditional bike now like a Ford Model T compared to a Tesla electric car. Traditional bikes are great, however, getting on an E-bike makes me want to ride daily, even though I live in a climate that makes that quite difficult. After taking several out for test rides, you'll get a real feel as to exactly what your preferences are, and then work from there. Like Mike has stated, 'Go get yours ', you will not regret it! Happy shopping.

 

[Richard GS]

I am with Mike here. Very well said. If you have a deep passion for bicycle riding in general, you will love an E-bike. Like Mike has stated, 'Go get yours ', you will not regret it! Happy shopping.

Thanks Bob and to everyone who took the time to offer encouragement. It's great to know that there are so many perspectives to e-bikes beyond commuting or physical limitations. I look forward adding another dimension to my love of riding.

 

[Big Tom]

I was riding a regular bike for years until I lost use of part of my lung. Because of budget limitations and being a big guy I got a conversion kit for my bikes rear wheel . That way I didn't have to spend a lot of money to get the benefits of ebiking. I do not have a PAS system installed, just the throttle, so when I go out I can push my limit without fear of not making it home.. I started with a 500W Chinese internal geared hub and it was great, and have upgraded the kit twice. All on the same bike that fits me perfect. With your collection I would modify the bike you use for groceries. If you start with a cheap 500W geared hub and install yourself (simple) you can keep the cost to under $350 - pre tariff. Limited to seven gears on the rear wheel If you are heavy, lots of hills, or want a better kit get the Bisto 48V rear wheel kit. They are a lot more money but is a top of the line motor that can be made for any bike - up to a ten gears on the rear. With a nice battery that retails around $1300. If you are interested I can tell you where I got my set up from.

 

[Stromer2work]

I'm looking for feedback from owners who use their e-bikes as an addition to rather than a replacement their regular bikes. Does the fun factor and increased riding range justify your purchase?

I qualify to answer. I ride 500 miles a month combined between 4 ebikes and 9 naturally aspirated bikes. No, I don't ride them all at once and some get more use than others .

Does the fun factor and increased riding range justify your purchase? YES !! any other questions? lol.

The ebike makes my work commute nice because of my 10lb backpack and up to 20 lbs in packages I drop off at the USPS every day. I ride fast, so I get a great workout, I just get to work in 1/2 the time. I ride naturally aspirated bikes for pleasure in the evenings and weekends 90% of the time and 10% of the time I grab an ebike if I'm riding with someone else who has an ebike.

 

[larry-new]

I am fully enjoying my new ebike, and getting joy from the assist that's there if and when I want it. For example, today was between thundershowers, with a breeze around 23 mph. Normally, the only way to handle these conditions was to head into the breeze until exhausted, and drift on home. Instead, I ignored direction completely, heading home with the wind in my teeth...but now, I'm cruising at 19mph with a medium assist...easy as pie!

I could get used to not suffering!

 

[John from Connecticut]

I have been riding bicycles since the early 1970's. I'm 67 years old and average two to five thousand miles a year. I have been researching and test riding e-bikes here in Denver for several months now. I'm considering buying a high quality, (and expensive) e-bike but NOT for commuting because I retired last year. I also have no health or physical limitations.

I'm looking for feedback from owners who use their e-bikes as an addition to rather than a replacement their regular bikes. Does the fun factor and increased riding range justify your purchase?

Hello Richard,
You wrote...."Does the fun factor and increased riding range justify your purchase? " Absolutely positively yes ! July of last year I was in my LBS,
getting something for my Trek non-ebike and had been eyeing the eBikes each time I stopped by. My sales Rep said take one out, so I hopped on the Trek XM700+ and went for 20 minute a test ride. It took me 10 minutes to realize this bike was for me !

I went back to the shop and bought it.....done deal ! This was the best money I've ever spent !! Everyday that I ride is like the first day I road my Trek. The XM700+ is a Commuter bike, very fast and very solid. I ride the XM700+ on paved Rails to Trails and quiet country roads.

I decided I wanted to ride hard packed gravel Rails to Trails etc, but wanted an eBike with a little more control and comfort. My LBS suggested the Trek Powefly7, he ordered one and I bought it on his recommendation having never ridden it. Again, the best money I've ever spent !!
This bike is so much fun. I love the Powerfly7 as well. I could not be happier.

So, Is my approach to buying right for others? Everyone is different, we all should do what feels most comfortable.... I can't wait ride. Every day I ride is 'Christmas morning'.....As far as Trek goes they provide fantastic support. Their products are great. I have 3600 mikes on my two Trek eBikes with zero problems..non ! I hope this was helpful.

John from CT

 

[Richard GS]

Hello Richard,
You wrote...."Does the fun factor and increased riding range justify your purchase? " Absolutely positively yes !

John from CT

Thanks John. Your feedback brings me one step closer to getting my new Trek.

 

[AHicks]

Yes, game changer... that's it in a nut shell.

The wife and I (in our late 60's) used to ride regularly, but we had to pick rides that were reasonably flat and would ride early to minimize riding into a wind. Both of us enjoyed these rides immensely.

Then we retired and bought a second home on Florida's Gulf side, right smack in the middle of an area with rolling hills, and 6 miles from a 45 mile long bike trail (now one of many in the area). What we learned afterward was that 6 mile ride through the rolling hills (that didn't look like much in a car) would literally wipe us out by time we got to the bike trail. This caused us to pretty much stop riding.

Then, a friend of the wife bought an e-bike, and shared how much fun she was having on it. The thought of something like that, that would allow us to get out to the bike trail with some energy left over (which hadn't even occured to me previously), led me to do some investigating on line, and I built my first e-bike conversion shortly after (avid DIY'er). That turned out to be a very successful venture and a second e-bike conversion for the wife followed shortly after.

What we discovered, is that now there is no concern about hills, wind conditions or trail surfaces when considering/planning a ride. The different pedal assist modes cancel those variables out completely, and we're back to riding frequently, even toting the bikes to different destinations. The change of scenery and some really wonderful trails we've since discovered really does make this e-bike venture a true game changer......

 

[JimmyJ]

I am 44, being riding for exercise/sport since 2011. I own a Canyon Ultimate CF SLX 9.0 road bike, and prior that a Trek Domane 4.5. I own a trek Xcaliber for MTB and my 13 year old son has a Trek Hybrid DS8.3. I recently purchased an electric bike for commuting to work (Vintage Electric Cafe). The electric bike to me is more like a car replacement. I still do club rides with my canyon 3 times a week for exercise (Average 30 miles per ride). I ride around 2500 miles a year on the canyon. I will add around 50 miles a week using the ebike with commuting to work (about 10 miles round trip). I ride because I love it. And it is great for health.
Attached a picture from last weekend doing the Wounded Warrior Soldier Ride.

 

[larry-new]

Yes, game changer... that's it in a nut shell.



What we discovered, is that now there is no concern about hills, wind conditions or trail surfaces when considering/planning a ride. The different pedal assist modes cancel those variables out completely, and we're back to riding frequently, even toting the bikes to different destinations. The change of scenery and some really wonderful trails we've since discovered really does make this e-bike venture a true game changer......

Got that right! 23mph headwind.....used to have to head into it until exhausted, then turn and drift home....now, direction doesn't matter...19mph into the wind in an 80" gear. Completely changed biking.

 

[ebikemom]

I still do club rides with my canyon 3 times a week for exercise (Average 30 miles per ride). I ride around 2500 miles a year on the canyon. I will add around 50 miles a week using the ebike with commuting to work (about 10 miles round trip). I ride because I love it. And it is great for health.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this! It's not either-or, is it? An ebike adds functionality and really is a great car replacement. I'm not a conventional cyclist anymore, but boy, my ebike is sure a great car replacement along with giving me the ability to do recreational riding.

 

[Richard GS]

I'm really enjoying reading these comments. I've ordered my Trek Super Commuter but until it arrives I'm sure I'll continue waking up in the middle of the night second-guessing why I'm buying yet another bike. (Aren't four enough?) All of these posts on this thread are confirming my suspicion that an e-bike is not a replacement, it's a new dimension I've never experienced. In some respects this feels like buying my first computer. The day I ordered it my wife said to me, "What are you going to USE that thing for?" I said, "I'm sure I'll figure it out when it gets here."

 

[AHicks]

I can share that a Craigslist add listing my Trek 7100 at a fair price (the no longer used bike sitting in a corner of my garage collecting dust) resulted in a sale to the first caller. He couldn't have been happier! I enjoyed the idea somebody else was going to get some use out of it, and the guilt feelings of having it just sit there were gone! -Al

 

[e-trecker]

F R I I am in my 80s and still riding In our garage are 7 bikes 1 scooter and 2 motorcycles Seems I have a problem with two wheels Ride both the regular bikes and the e-bike I am going to line them all up one day for a picture Did not know till today that they made a e-bike that was both assist and throttle Great place to learn whats going on in e-bike land

 

[rannyv]

Richard ...
I'm 74 and have acquired n+1 bikes over the last dozen years.

I have learned that there is no reason to assume that a high price assures you of quality. My eye-wateringly expensive titanium "handmade in the USA" randonneur and, years later, my top-of-the-line "legendary German engineered" ebike proved so unsatisfactory that they had to be replaced by vastly superior (and considerably cheaper) bikes available at local bike shops.

As for mixing ebikes and regular bikes... just do it! It's a new avenue of fun. My eMTB allows me to head up the local rail trail which is far too rough for a road bike and is separated from home by a >10% descent that habitually changes into an incline on the way back. I had thought about buying a gravel bike - plenty of unpaved country roads around here - but have found the eMTB can zip me over our switchback country roads in a way, until this year, unknown to me.

My road bikes are still used. Essentially, I phased myself into ebiking and, after about a year, realised that the road bikes were tending to be neglected. I've changed the way I ride rather than continuing to do the same but with a bit of motor assistance.

As for range... I ride shorter distances but do so more regularly. My dream ebike (R&M Homage) will be fitted with a dual-battery system allowing really long rides; however, the main benefit that I receive from ebiking is having a decade knocked off my age. That's fun.
... David

Totally agree that spending big bucks on a bike does not guarantee a decent bike. I bought an eye wateringly expensive custom made randonneuring style bicycle and although it looks great and has great build quality, a friend purchased a second hand off the shelf framed bike for the same purpose and it is far superior to my custom. At less than a tenth the price. I would be happy to sell my expensive bike for a third what I paid for it. It's not getting near the use my e-bike is.

 

[Tim Skafidas]

I’m 48 and an an elite athlete. I live in the mountains in Crested Butte Colorado at 9,000 ft above sea level. I run, lift, ride a mountain bike and do every type of skiing. I plan on using my fat e bike to commute, to take the edge off after hard exercise sessions, and to go onto snow. I’m adding this to my existing movement and exercise. Will go night riding on snowy trails. Plan to do some huge rides on dirt roads and fs roads. Also to do trails where motorcycles are allowed. I think it will not take away from my fitness, but add a new spin on it. Want to drive less for sure, but am open to new ways to use it...