Surgery recover/an ebike mainly for hill assist???

[GenXrider]

I've been riding a standard bike for many years. I got an e-bike this year. I still ride to keep my heart rate up and get a great workout. I always wear a heart rate monitor. It is outright false to state that you can't get a good cardio workout on an e-bike. Craziness.

 

[m@Robertson]

I've been riding a standard bike for many years. I got an e-bike this year. I still ride to keep my heart rate up and get a great workout. I always wear a heart rate monitor. It is outright false to state that you can't get a good cardio workout on an e-bike. Craziness.

Unfortunately, in cycling there is no shortage of arrogance. Here in the States at least it largely comes from being a part of a fringe group of superior athletes who are belittled by a less-able population who regard them as playing meaningless games on children's toys, while dressed in their underwear.

It helps to create a sullen, snotty attitude Us lifers are all guilty of it. The trick is to be at least a little self-aware, and be a little less close-minded as a result.

 

[Nomad]

I've been riding a standard bike for many years. I got an e-bike this year. I still ride to keep my heart rate up and get a great workout. I always wear a heart rate monitor. It is outright false to state that you can't get a good cardio workout on an e-bike. Craziness.

if you put the same effort in you get the same excise you just go faster but if you put less effort in you get less excise but you still get excises

 

[m@Robertson]

Sounds very... taxing.

 

[steve mercier]

There is also the range factor. My typical Ebike ride is approx 100 km. I could not do this on a daily basis on an Acoustic bike. I wished I could, but there is no way.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

There is also the range factor. My typical Ebike ride is approx 100 km. I could not do this on a daily basis on an Acoustic bike. I wished I could, but there is no way.

if you put the same effort in you get the same excise you just go faster but if you put less effort in you get less excise but you still get excises

I concur.

Riding e-bike with less effort allows covering far longer distances and that means longer time spent in the saddle, meaning a good workout. I think my longest distance on a traditional bike was some 70 km, and that was well before my two angioplasty surgeries. I would have never dreamt of riding for 7 h 20 mins to cover 168 km distance on a traditional bike.

 

[jodi2]

Elkman you are right, that ebikes are quite expensive and that a road or gravel bike also would help many riders to cycle faster/longer and for less money. But money is not the topic here.
It's also great, when somebody is happy with a bike without any motor!
It's also true, that many ebikes tentate the riders to use more motor support then they really need.
But it's untrue, that every ebike and in every use case always do so and have no advantage. The main advantage is, that the riders often use their bike more often and for longer distances than they would do without motor. That can(!) result in more fitness (especially with a light bike with only a small motor support, where the differences between ebike and normal bike vanish), but also simply in using less other/worse alternatives like car or (slow&unreliable) public transport. But it results nearly always in a lot more joy&fun when cycling!

About your arguments for 2x drivetrains, I don't see the point in this thread. 1x drivetrains are so common today, also at expensive and sportive bikes and also fit riders use them. 2x drivetrains may be a little bit better, but it's definitely nothing grave, what extinguishes the benefit of on ebike for someone who wants or needs an ebike.

 

[dodgeman]

New e biker here and like many been a biker since I was a kid.

I have two points to make. Riding an e bike without assist makes the bike feel like a slug to me. I always have some assist on.

My main goal with an e bike was to ride further. I just don’t have the energy for long rides any more. with an e bike I feel I still get the workout I want.

 

[GenXrider]

New e biker here and like many been a biker since I was a kid.

I have two points to make. Riding an e bike without assist makes the bike feel like a slug to me. I always have some assist on.

My main goal with an e bike was to ride further. I just don’t have the energy for long rides any more. with an e bike I feel I still get the workout I want.

I spend more miles riding my e-bike with assist completely off than the time I use all of the assist levels combined, and my bike is 62 pounds just for the base weight and has 2.4" wide tires. My longest ride of the summer was 61 miles, also mostly with no assist. On level ground, once I'm up to speed, I find it just as easy to pedal along as my lightweight hybrid bike. I use assist on hills and headwinds and very much appreciate it there, but I still pedal with greater effort at those times. I don't ever want to make it too easy on myself since my primary purpose is for exercise and not having to spend a lot of extra time to get it.

 

[retiredNH]

I spend more miles riding my e-bike with assist completely off than the time I use all of the assist levels combined, and my bike is 62 pounds just for the base weight and has 2.4" wide tires. My longest ride of the summer was 61 miles, also mostly with no assist. On level ground, once I'm up to speed, I find it just as easy to pedal along as my lightweight hybrid bike. I use assist on hills and headwinds and very much appreciate it there, but I still pedal with greater effort at those times. I don't ever want to make it too easy on myself since my primary purpose is for exercise and not having to spend a lot of extra time to get it.

Sounds just like my experience. Some ebike riders, the ones looking for 1000 watt hub motors, I think, are after speed. Then there are the ones like us posting here, who are a bit older and would like some help on hills. I live in a very hilly area, where all the climbing takes the fun out of a ride on a regular bike. With an ebike, I'm power off most of the time, just kicking the power on as a climb gets steeper. I'm still getting my HR in the `130s, about right for my age....

 

[dodgeman]

I rode tonight and had it turned down to the lowest level most of the way and even did a steep hill that way. Then on the way home I had a head wind so I turned it up a notch. I expect I will also ride further at a lower level sometimes, I think it just depends on the length of the ride. At this point my backside is my limiting factor not my endurance.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I have two points to make. Riding an e bike without assist makes the bike feel like a slug to me. I always have some assist on.

My main goal with an e bike was to ride further. I just don’t have the energy for long rides any more. with an e bike I feel I still get the workout I want.

I'm the same rider type as dodgeman. When I read some posts about unpowered riding of e-bikes, I wonder why such posters wouldn't simply buy a traditional bike, which is more lightweight, and either far cheaper of far better specified than an e-bike... Because I could ride a traditional bike: at 12 km/h and for 12 km max.

 

[GenXrider]

When I read some posts about unpowered riding of e-bikes, I wonder why such posters wouldn't simply buy atraditional bike, which is more lightweight, and either far cheaper of far better specified than an e-bike.

??? I'm surprised you say something like that as much as you are on this forum. I explained just 3 posts prior to yours why I appreciate having an ebike and also mentioned a few posts back that I have been riding a standard bike for years. The e-bike is much nicer to ride, even unpowered on the flats.

Again, the e-bike makes it easier and nicer riding up hills and into strong headwinds, which is when I use the assist, which makes ALL the difference over an entire ride by taming those parts of the ride. I don't need it with tail winds or when it's calm and flat, since the bike rides easily like my standard bike on level roads once I'm up to speed, and I don't stop often. No point is using assist at those times. The e-bike also has wider tires and rides more smoothly on the routes I ride than my lightweight standard bike's narrow tires, which adds additional value to having this e-bike. It has been without a doubt an excellent investment for me, despite riding in PAS 0 most of the time. In fact, I like riding it so much better than the standard bike that I'm even looking into getting another e-bike.

 

[dodgeman]

I think people should ride them any way they want. I don’t know there is a wrong way to ride.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I think people should ride them any way they want.

Sure.

I only cannot understand the virtue of pedalling unpowered e-bikes. The human body can only produce such and such amount of energy. If unpowered, the e-bike rides just slower.

 

[Dallant]

I was recently amazed and inspired by the sight of bicyclists, young/old, ebike/analog, riding up the extreme Logan Pass (aka Going To The Sun road) in Glacier National Park along with cars, busses, etc. I saw riders certainly older than me on ebikes or analog taking on this Herculean task. Inspiring!
I also must acknowledge @Alaskan who has faced cancer, with radiation/surgery/etc. riding onward along with many of us on this forum facing post-surgical recovery with ebikes.
Frankly, if it helps get you back, I’m ALL for it, no matter what it is!

 

[jodi2]

I only cannot understand the virtue of pedalling unpowered e-bikes. The human body can only produce such and such amount of energy. If unpowered, the e-bike rides just slower.

I wonder about such a statement from you while you already ride some months one of the best (in terms of weight/handling/agility) ebikes on the market. I'm with you that many normal/heavy ebikes are a pain to ride longer distances without support. But "assist ebikes" like SL ride almost like a normal bike. Of course there is no need for them if you NEVER use the motor. But you benefit much earlier than with a normal ebike and already if you only use it once in a while.

Sounds just like my experience. Some ebike riders, the ones looking for 1000 watt hub motors, I think, are after speed. Then there are the ones like us posting here, who are a bit older and would like some help on hills.

But I also do not totally agree with this. As I already wrote somewhere here I have both, a almost 1000W monster to get somewhere AFAP (for example to get to work each day, instead of using a car or public transport). And a SL ebike just to get a little bit of support in leisure rides.

I think we should stop thinking just black&white or just see our own reason for our ebike. All types of ebikes have their use case and a SL ebike is great to ride with much as well as with little motor support.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

But "assist ebikes" like SL ride almost like a normal bike.

Probably in your state of health. I could ride the SL without assistance only for a few km, in emergency. (Check Jodi what "angioplasty" stands for).
And I had to ride my "big" Vado unpowered for 15 km once. It was an ordeal.

 

[kmccune]

Yes, I would like to pedal as hard as I can the uphill stretch, probably increasing my share of the effort over time. It's hard for me to estimate grade. A wild guess---the road raises 120 feet (I'm thinking of a 15-story building) in maybe a tenth of a mile or less. I've walked up one of the hills at a good pace......it feels like quickly climbing the stairs nonstop in a tall building.....heart rate shoots right up.

Thats pretty steep!, close to 25% grade, VDOT will not build a road that steep around here.

 

[kmccune]

Thanks to all who have posted. So much to think about. I've gone to the first bike store and took a test ride on a Batch, step-through, mid-engine (Bosch), pedal assist only. It felt great. I rode 95% of the time with power off, and I was surprised at how easily I could go 12mph into a light breeze. I rode briefly with power assist on low level, couldn't really tell it was there. I still intend to ride power off, just going as far and fast as I can comfortably manage; the power assist is to manage the hills that are too much for Coby-power along the way. As long as this is the situation, throttle is unnecessary. However, I realize the advantage of having the throttle option as insurance should I develop a problem mid-ride. The bike shop I visited didn't have a good option with throttle. The only one that met all needs had the handlebars that curve back for a very upright ride, like the Dutch cycle photo posted by PedalUma. I think I prefer the straighter handlebars. I don't think the carpal tunnel worry would apply to the straight handlebar, not nearly the weight shift forward of dropped handlebars on a classic road bike. Heading for a second bike shop, with a larger selection, soon.

Yep 12 isn't that hard on pedal power( level or slight down hill) I never gained that much standing on the pedals,I could sit down and pedal by the Guys pushing their bikes.