Thoughts Of An Experienced E-Biker

[Rich W.]

Good on toast?

Probably not. The whole idea seems a little repulsive to me, but I guess you cross that bridge when you get really hard core about a hard skinny seat. I don’t see the need but I know people who do. Me, I’ll just stick to lubing the chain and ride on a seat with some padding.

 

[Rich W.]

yes weight makes a big difference. so does tire size. like my bulls with the older bosch motor and 1.5" tires was faster and I coud put out more wats then my trek with the new bosch motor because it has 2.3'" tires and its so much more sluggish. my average watts when down and I had a lower heartrate and burned less calories. I plan on putting smaller tires on it when I wear them out.

I do too - slightly smaller and less agressive tread. I saw some tire specs that included rolling watts and it would seem some balance between that and the amount of tread really needed for your type of riding would optimize that aspect. Something like this would give enough traction for my riding and have less rolling resistance:

 

[PSm]

I do too - slightly smaller and less agressive tread. I saw some tire specs that included rolling watts and it would seem some balance between that and the amount of tread really needed for your type of riding would optimize that aspect. Something like this would give enough traction for my riding and have less rolling resistance:
View attachment 144448

This is my go to site, for evaluating tires.

Bicycle Rolling Resistance | Rolling Resistance Tests

Bicycle Rolling Resistance publishes detailed reviews and articles about mountain bike and road bike tires, which have been tested on our rolling resistance roller

www.bicyclerollingresistance.com

Helped me decide on Conti GP 5000 Road Tires 30mm, which I highly (!) recommend and run at 85-90 psi range, if generally smooth road rides are your use case. Combined with high quality tubes like Schwalbe, getting low rolling resistance and decent puncture resistance, and unless it’s a placebo effect an increase of 1-2 mph in average speed

 

[fooferdoggie]

This is my go to site, for evaluating tires.

Bicycle Rolling Resistance | Rolling Resistance Tests

Bicycle Rolling Resistance publishes detailed reviews and articles about mountain bike and road bike tires, which have been tested on our rolling resistance roller

www.bicyclerollingresistance.com

Helped me decide on Conti GP 5000 Road Tires 30mm, which I highly (!) recommend and run at 85-90 psi range, if generally smooth road rides are your use case. Combined with high quality tubes like Schwalbe, getting low rolling resistance and decent puncture resistance, and unless it’s a placebo effect an increase of 1-2 mph in average speed

I just made our tandem tubeless so much nicer. so next tires on my trek will be tubeless. I have found on my bulls it is a bit of a placebo effect. it feels like less work so you can work harder. Your actually working harder but it doesn ot feel like it. even though the trek has more torque the ties make it so sluggish I feel like I am doing the same work but I am not. I find sometimes more assist I can up my watts output but it does not feel like it.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Since it is Winter where I live, I had to accept the fact winter studded tyres have a high rolling resistance. Moreover, I cannot convert to tubeless as I swap tyres for the cold and warm season and the tubeless is too messy for that. I have accepted the fact Winter riding is slow.

I am currently only left with Vado SL (for an undetermined span of time). I actually enjoy riding with less assistance nowadays (as long as I'm riding solo); it makes me feel a traditional cyclist, and I work out more! Only regretting my health disallows me riding traditional bikes... (that would be really slow!)

 

[PSm]

Since it is Winter where I live, I had to accept the fact winter studded tyres have a high rolling resistance. Moreover, I cannot convert to tubeless as I swap tyres for the cold and warm season and the tubeless is too messy for that. I have accepted the fact Winter riding is slow.

I am currently only left with Vado SL (for an undetermined span of time). I actually enjoy riding with less assistance nowadays (as long as I'm riding solo); it makes me feel a traditional cyclist, and I work out more! Only regretting my health disallows me riding traditional bikes... (that would be really slow!)

You are tougher than I am. No outdoor winter riding for me. Now using an indoor spin bike, and virtual reality cycling apps, and enjoying doing virtual group rides or solo rides, all from the comfort of indoors.

 

[fooferdoggie]

You are tougher than I am. No outdoor winter riding for me. Now using an indoor spin bike, and virtual reality cycling apps, and enjoying doing virtual group rides or solo rides, all from the comfort of indoors.

you are tougher then me that would kill me. I can keep warm outside. but I would die of boredom riding inside.

 

[PSm]

you are tougher then me that would kill me. I can keep warm outside. but I would die of boredom riding inside.

That’s what I thought, since I got the indoor bike for my spouse, and she loves it.

So I was SHOCKED when I started doing virtual races (with others around the world), competing with them while having my power in watts, FTP in w/kg, speed, cadence, BPM and hill incline data all displayed, and am REALLY ENJOYING IT. The Wahoo app even allows drafting, with watts saved displayed when you are above a certain speed, and at the proper distance behind other riders. And going downhill, you generate speed and can save your energy coasting, just like outdoors. And having the proper line into corners even makes a difference. And just like outdoors, if you lose the pack, it takes a lot of effort to regain and get back on the draft. Very unexpected fun, since I love biking outdoors.

The solo rides, and non-races are TBH too boring for me. So sticking to races and group rides only, and working to increase my FTP, and improve my standings at the finish in these virtual races.

But still looking forward to better weather and getting back outdoors.

 

[Rich W.]

That’s what I thought, since I got the indoor bike for my spouse, and she loves it.

So I was SHOCKED when I started doing virtual races (with others around the world), competing with them while having my power in watts, FTP in w/kg, speed, cadence, BPM and hill incline data all displayed, and am REALLY ENJOYING IT. The Wahoo app even allows drafting, with watts saved displayed when you are above a certain speed, and at the proper distance behind other riders. And going downhill, you generate speed and can save your energy coasting, just like outdoors. And having the proper line into corners even makes a difference. And just like outdoors, if you lose the pack, it takes a lot of effort to regain and get back on the draft. Very unexpected fun, since I love biking outdoors.

The solo rides, and non-races are TBH too boring for me. So sticking to races and group rides only, and working to increase my FTP, and improve my standings at the finish in these virtual races.

But still looking forward to better weather and getting back outdoors.

Interesting. I rode about 20 miles in the desert alone today and loved it, even when backtracking a couple miles when I got to a ravine I couldn't cross. But my wife does virtual rowing competitions with folks all over the world so I understand that as well.

 

[gromike]

Most of my cross country bicycling was done in the olden days. Just me on the bike, but I did learn to sing.

 

[fooferdoggie]

My body has issues with energy as all my fuel comes from protein because I cant eat carbs at all. so riding with others would be pointless without a e bike. I just don't always have the energy. what I do have I spend commuting 18 miles a day and then hopping on the tandem with the wife and riding 10 to 15 a day weekdays if the weather allows in winter. 25 to 50 on weekends. I max out at 350 miles a week and that is a hard week. so all my spare time is riding and more of that on the tandem for longer rides. )plus its all I can afford it may cost 500 or more just in chains brass and tires and such to ride that much a year.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

You are tougher than I am. No outdoor winter riding for me. Now using an indoor spin bike, and virtual reality cycling apps, and enjoying doing virtual group rides or solo rides, all from the comfort of indoors.

I've never ridden an indoor bike with virtual reality. Are there VR options besides terrain?

It'd be fun to cycle the solar system in VR -- lapping the rings of Saturn, racing Phobos and Deimos around Mars, playing dodge 'em in the asteroid and Kuiper belts, running through the sprinkler that is Enceladus, orbiting Io to watch the volcanos go off. No shortage of great places to ride.

 

[Rome]

I ride solo all the time. I get a better workout this way only at a higher speeds. My rides are broken down to 3 categories, fitness ride is where I push all in on highest assist and best my own time, 2nd is commute ride, also on highest level assist then 3rd is leisure ride. I take my time smell the scent of fresh mown grass, meet and greet folks on the pathways.
I'm glad to have discovered the joy of ebiking.
My saddle is from an aventon level it's firm but not narrow I call it touring saddle.

 

[PSm]

I've never ridden an indoor bike with virtual reality. Are there VR options besides terrain?

It'd be fun to cycle the solar system in VR -- lapping the rings of Saturn, racing Phobos and Deimos around Mars, playing dodge 'em in the asteroid and Kuiper belts, running through the sprinkler that is Enceladus, orbiting Io to watch the volcanos go off. No shortage of great places to ride.

Don’t know about imaginary rides. The ones out there are either based on real roads and routes/courses around the world but presented in computer generated 3D, or are actual videos that are captured by cameras and move faster as you ride faster (and sometimes have the added computer generated riders superimposed on the actual video).

 

[Rome]

I thought I was the only member smoking Cannabis.
China Wall I think will be the best..
Your avatar and a loud Bafang Ultra FS.
Ring Ring Ring. Which way do you guess the tourists and locals move. Left or Right.

 

[fooferdoggie]

Don’t know about imaginary rides. The ones out there are either based on real roads and routes/courses around the world but presented in computer generated 3D, or are actual videos that are captured by cameras and move faster as you ride faster (and sometimes have the added computer generated riders superimposed on the actual video).

that would be the cool part seeing different places we are pretty stuck where we can get o the tandem. but I have found the tandem is more of a workout. mentally and physically. this is todays ride rode the tandem I them morning the bottom ride and the other two were my commutes. burned around 200 calories on the commute rides but 300 on the tandem ride higher heart rate too.

 

[PSm]

If you want a look at what the VR riding is like, here’s a good YouTube overview

. Maybe start at 12 minutes into the video for an interesting few minutes. It’s got me hooked. Outdoor riding when the weather is good, and indoor training for cold or inclement weather or when I only have a spare 30-45 minutes.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

If you want a look at what the VR riding is like, here’s a good YouTube overview

. Maybe start at 12 minutes into the video for an interesting few minutes. It’s got me hooked. Outdoor riding when the weather is good, and indoor training for cold or inclement weather or when I only have a spare 30-45 minutes.

Thanks! Pretty cool. I can see how this kind of VR would make indoor riding a lot more interesting.

But riding Valles Marineris would be even cooler. The necessary Martian digital elevation models exist and are probably in the public domain. Vertical resolution could be a problem, but interpolation and smoothing could take care of that.

Best of all, you could race Marvin the Martian. Just be careful. He's a sore loser, has an Illudium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator, and isn't afraid to use it.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

@PSm: How do you ride an e-bike on the trainer? Can you pedal the trainer for 4-5 hours?

A big part of my cycling buddies ride the trainer in the winter-time. I am afraid no trainer can simulate a decent gravel group ride? With all the shakes, bumps, fighting with ruts, carrying the bike over obstacles? I understand the trainer is a convenient thing but I am all for the adventure!

Now, with the temperatures slightly above the freezing point I learned wearing lightweight and breathable clothes for my rides. It is such a great pleasure to zoom in the cold environment being so nicely insulated against the elements!

The clothes I wear now for the rides are minimal compared to what I was wearing three, two, or one year ago:

1. Base layer underwear for legs, warm cycling bibs, socks, and either regular 510 shoes or hiking boots (depending on the weather)
2. A top modern (very thin) cycling jersey with detachable sleeves. It serves as the basic layer for the torso, is breathable but does not let the wind in
3. Helly Hansen Men's Crew Midlayer Sailing Jacket. It is a miraculous thing in terms of light weight and protecting the body against the elements
4. A balaclava, snowboarding helmet and matching goggles
5. Very warm winter cycling gloves.

I only wear any warmer clothes than described during the frost. The only weak point is it takes time to put the clothes on before any ride...

 

[PSm]

A rule I cannot stand to exercise with nothing accomplished it has to have an end game rather than ephemeral benefits, firewood, gardening, making the loop , building something. etc, the years of very uncomfortable hard physical labor in the elements cured me of that( plus working for people who really thought they would never run out of wage slaves)

Same. That’s why for my indoor riding, I’m focused on training, competing with others in races, keeping my heart rate in my target zones, and trying to increase my FTP. Gives me goals and challenges.