What do you wear when e-biking?

[Justin Fischer]

I know this is a touchy subject for a lot of people, but I'm looking for good discussion, not a bunch of people arguing on the internet. I'm genuinely curious, what do you wear? Why do you wear it? Have you had any crashes at e-bike speed?

I'll start with some stats: According to the Hurt report on motorcycle crashes: The median pre-crash speed was 29.8 mph, and the median crash speed was 21.5 mph - This is firmly in the ebike speed range. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_findings_in_the_Hurt_Report

There are of course differences, ebikes weigh an order of magnitude less than most motorcycles, so they won't pin you down and make you slide, or burn you, and motorcycles are much harder to stop. But the speed range for crashes is the same, and skin meeting asphalt at 28mph hurts no matter how you got to that speed. Motorcycle riders love to say "All the gear, all the time" because most accidents and fatalities happen at low speed.

Personally, I wear MTB armor, an Alpine Stars Evolution jacket and their padded shorts. I've crashed my road bike at 20mph and will forever have a chunk of scar tissue on my hip, right where the shorts have an armor pad.

I ride in all types of weather and visibility conditions, and get my bike up to 35mph on some downhill sections. It's all about piece of mind for me, I've known a few people who have died on motorcycles while not wearing any gear. Even if the $300 of armor keeps a small crash from being a trip to the ER for stitches it'll be worth it to me.

 

[ebikemom]

I wear ordinary clothing, adjusted for the weather, plus cycling gloves, a cycling helmet, and a high-viz-yellow jacket or vest. I don't ride as fast as you do, ever. I ride at slightly faster-than-normal cycling speeds, though my velocity is evened out by electric assist. If visibility is poor, or if it is wet, I slow down quite a bit, too.

 

[indianajo]

I've gone over the handlebars at speeds up to 25 mph, and get the bike up to 35 downhill without electricity. Long sleeve long pants dickies polyester workwear prevent road burn. I couldn't find a vented chin guard helmet before I broke my jaw in a spill, but after that posters here told me the secret code for search engines. "downhill mountain bike racing helmet". I don't have dripping sweat in the fox rampage helmet I bought even at 100 deg F.
When I hit gravel at 25 mph I didn't burn the skin, but I did tear the rotator cuff tendon off. Pity the e-room doctor didn't test that; by the time I noticed shoulder movement restriction wasn't healing the orthopedic surgeon said it was too late to repair it.

 

[harryS]

Justin, your attention to details makes for good safety, especially at your speeds.

 

[PDoz]

I've crashed my motorbike at running pace and scored a helicopter ride, yet crashed motorbikes on race tracks and barely grazed myself, so I'm not a fan of equating speed with risk! Freaky stuff happens.

On the emtb, I wear knee & elbow guards, a camelbak with built in back protector, gloves, but just a normal cycling helmet and no neck brace.

What I would really like is shoes with decent impact protection that are still flexible enough in the sole to work with flats. My left foot has had 4 brocken bones, and my right ankle has cartlidege damage, Feet injuries are nasty.

 

[Justin Fischer]

I've crashed my motorbike at running pace and scored a helicopter ride, yet crashed motorbikes on race tracks and barely grazed myself, so I'm not a fan of equating speed with risk! Freaky stuff happens.

On the emtb, I wear knee & elbow guards, a camelbak with built in back protector, gloves, but just a normal cycling helmet and no neck brace.

What I would really like is shoes with decent impact protection that are still flexible enough in the sole to work with flats. My left foot has had 4 brocken bones, and my right ankle has cartlidege damage, Feet injuries are nasty.

I feel the same way about the foot/ankle protection. I still use my e-bike to get a good workout, so lots of intense pedaling, not conducive to 9 inch leather boots. If I had a really serious crash there's a good chance I'd break a foot.

Justin, your attention to details makes for good safety, especially at your speeds.

I do think this is the biggest thing. While it's unlikely an accident will be your fault, that doesn't mean you can't prevent it, and never having an accident will obviously be better than crashing with the best protection. Lane positioning, signaling, picking a good route, and being visible are all more important than my gear.

 

[Deleted member 18083]

I've had no falls from my Trek Powerfly 5 (hardtail eMTB) but I do get whacked on feet and shins by small rocks thrown up by the front wheel. The rail trail that I ride most days is rough so I always wear my Specialized 2FO mountain bike shoes - '2FO' being advertising gobbledygook for 'flat out, foot out'.

In my early days of ebiking (first half of 2017) I wore Shimano touring shoes with SPD cleats. They were rugged but the inherent danger of being 'locked-in' led to their demise.

 

[Jerry LM]

I agree David being locked in to the pedals as on a regular road bike offers up some hazards. I always wear a helmet good closed toe shoes by Keen, long pants never shorts, and padded underwear bike shorts underneath. Always wear gloves in the event of needing to brace from a fall, and first and foremost, ride with my eyes open in anticipation of cage drivers doing stupid things and to be aware of road hazards! Whenever you put yourself on a bike on the road your at risk, just the way it is so best prepare as best you can.

 

[Justin Fischer]

I've had no falls from my Trek Powerfly 5 (hardtail eMTB) but I do get whacked on feet and shins by small rocks thrown up by the front wheel. The rail trail that I ride most days is rough so I always wear my Specialized 2FO mountain bike shoes - '2FO' being advertising gobbledygook for 'flat out, foot out'.

In my early days of ebiking (first half of 2017) I wore Shimano touring shoes with SPD cleats. They were rugged but the inherent danger of being 'locked-in' led to their demise.

My next gear upgrade is definitely a pair of shoes, I didn't know that MTB shoes are toughened to protect toes. My super flimsy running shoes would probably lead to a break in any serious crash. Have you considered shoes with the front ankle piece? It looks like you can also get that ankle/shin support seperately and wear a shoe over it.

 

[Deleted member 18083]

My super flimsy running shoes ...

Justin ...
Running shoes tend to have wide soles to cushion impact on hard surfaces but, on an ebike, simply force one's feet further from the cranks and off the edge of the pedals (slight exaggeration).

My Specialized 2FOs do have reinforced toes - not like steel-capped work boots, of course!

Shimano do a good range, including touring shoes with hiking soles which tend to grab hold of gravel and bring it indoors to scrape wooden floors (I'm being curmudgeonly again but I am speaking from experience).
... David

 

[Over50]

For me, with my spiked platform pedals, it is Etnies skateboard/bmx shoes - the models with the Michelin rubber soles. Nice and stiff and plenty comfortable for wearing all day at work:

https://www.etnies.com/us/marana/

 

[Mr. Coffee]

I prefer to wear clothes when cycling.

 

[AlanDB]

I wear shorts and T shirt when riding in hot weather, but not flip-flops! I always wear sturdy hiking shoes and a helmet.

 

[PDoz]

My next gear upgrade is definitely a pair of shoes, I didn't know that MTB shoes are toughened to protect toes. My super flimsy running shoes would probably lead to a break in any serious crash. Have you considered shoes with the front ankle piece? It looks like you can also get that ankle/shin support seperately and wear a shoe over it.

Five ten seem to be the go to shoe amongst trendy mtb riders - my trouble is finding a store where I can try them on because my feet resemble mutated duck feet. I'd particularly like to try riding in some impact highs , but I can't imagine a store letting me test ride in them !

Leatt seem to make a reasonable ankle brace, but to be honest I'm far more concerned with midfoot injuries than ankle injuries. ( I've had both)

 

[Deleted member 18083]

I always wear... long pants, never shorts, and gloves.

Jerry ...
Could you and others elaborate on the safety - not just the weather - aspect of long pants. Is there a problem/danger in getting the pants caught in the chainwheel?

I'm guessing that your gloves are the full-fingered variety. Do you have any suggestions regarding a lightweight, but still sufficiently protective, brand? I've wondered about Endura Hummvee Lite gloves.
... David

 

[6zfshdb]

It varies with weather & terrain but no spandex!

 

[mrgold35]

Cool/warm/hot weather:

- Fox Flux helmet with side helmet mount mirror
- WYND Blocker sports wrap cycle googles (clear for night, polarized for day)
- MTB shorts with spandex
- padded under shorts
- padded half finger gloves (full finger if chilly in morning)
- long sleeve neon colored cycling jersey
- Northwave MTB Evo Black/green shoes with black padded socks
- G-Form knee and elbow pads
- wind resistant neon yellow riding jacket
- long john top + rain jacket in pannier

I just add additional top/bottom layers, wool socks, bike skull cap, Bar Mitts, winter gloves, fleece balaclava, ski googles, and add my Columbia hiking boots as it gets colder (good until to around 15 degrees F). Have a backpack for work commuting with my lunch and work cloths. Never work commute in my work cloths.

 

[indianajo]

Jerry ...
Could you and others elaborate on the safety - not just the weather - aspect of long pants. Is there a problem/danger in getting the pants caught in the chainwheel?

I'm guessing that your gloves are the full-fingered variety. Do you have any suggestions regarding a lightweight, but still sufficiently protective, brand? I've wondered about Endura Hummvee Lite gloves.
... David

With my full leg long work pants, I wear a 2" binder clip on the chain side to pull the excess away from the chain. Stores on the battery rack when I get off. These come from office stores.
To prevent sunburn I wear cotton $1 work gloves in the summer. If I was worried about hitting the hands in a fall I'd wear the leather type https://www.mcmaster.com/5312T1. I probably should be but never have yet, mostly I hit my chin and forearms. Yesterday below 30 deg & 12 mph wind I wore leather insulated mittens from Wells Lamont.

 

[christob]

This past spring/summer season:

Mostly basketball shorts, plain t-shirt with a short-sleeve, baggy casual shirt over it, tennis shoes/sneakers, helmet. Sometimes padded cycle shorts for planned longer rides. Palm-padded, fingertip-less biking gloves.​

When commuting to work, I'd change there (business casual office attire.) In the spring/early fall, there would be a few days I could bike into work fully dressed for the office (morning ride only; ~5 miles one-way) and arrive sweat-free -- but then I'd change into the shorts outfit above, for the longer (20 miles) sweatier afternoon rides home. I have a simple velcro packing strap that I use to rein-in my pants cuff / leg fabric, on the chain-side leg.​

Since fall / cooler temps arrived:

Added clip-pedals in Oct. for the first time, and now ride only in my clip shoes (although the pedals have a flat side for normal shoes, I never use that, it turns out.) I just can't believe what a difference the clips make, overall, to the biking experience!​

Commutes to work; usually done in my office khakis (if temp is below about 45f, I'll add merino long underwear beneath.)​

As it got colder, I added merino long-sleeve undershirt below a lightweight windbreaker (then at office, switched into t-shirt and button-down, packed in the pannier.)​

As sub-40f mornings settled in, I added Gordini goretex gloves (I already had them from before the bike) when my Pearl Izumi cold-weather gloves seemed to not be warm enough for my tastes.​

Also a half-balaclava (nose, chin, some neck coverage.) I often used 180's earmuffs; surprising how miserable cold ears make me!​

Then in Nov. I added a Smith ski-goggle that fits entirely over my prescription eyeglasses -- what a world of difference that makes, for no cold wind making my eyes water constantly, and, keeping a large span of my face warm / wind-free!​

Cold leisure rides are usually with Pearl Izumi leg warmers added to the padded cycle shorts (always worn under basketball shorts.)​

Just added ShowersPass waterproof socks this week, for hopefully warmer toes on those longer, cold rides ​

I hate to jinx it by putting it into writing... 3,800 miles so far this year, with no crashes or falls or flats.
I pretty much ride paved multi-use trails, and some side-streets, exclusively. Except for some larger down-hill runs, I'm rarely going consistently above say, 19mph. (Highest yet, on a downhill, was about 31mph, and it was a bit nerve-wracking!)

 

[Justin Fischer]

The shorts and sandals option was kind of a joke, I'm glad no one picked it .

I was walking on the road the other day and had traffic passing me at 25-30mph, really hit home how fast I'm going on the bike. You can get used to any speed if your platform is stable, but kinectic energy (and thus impact energy if you have an accident) increases by the square of velocity.

Example: If my bike and I weigh 250lbs, this is our kinetic energy at various speeds:

15mph - 2549 Joules
20mph - 4532 Joules
25mph - 7,082 Joules
30mph - 10,198 Joules

As you can see, twice the speed, 4 times as much energy! Standard off the rack helmets just aren't made for these speeds. Even Virginia Tech's helmet testing method has a maximum speed of 16mph. https://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/