What have you learned from your e-bike experiences?

I bought my first ebike in 2019 after I saw my friends fat tire bike and I thought....I need that. Prior I had stopped riding bikes because my knees couldn't take the hills any longer. Of course the ebike has resolved that and now that I've gone to a mid drive I find the riding even more enjoyable. I do a lot of snow riding in the winter as well as my summer riding so my bike is year round fun. I do worry about the kids and the implications their riding will have on future regulations for the rest of us.
 
Jeremy McCreary said:
First and foremost, that I'm not over the hill at 76. Or at least not that hill. I've actually been over zillions of hills since I started ebiking almost 3 yrs ago. (Hard to avoid here.) Quite a few would have gotten a "Nope, not climbing that" even in my younger cycling days, and I used to be a pretty avid rider.

Now I'm climbing our hills on a lightweight low-power ebike without thinking twice. Mental and physical well-being have improved drastically as a result.

Your sense of competence comes under increasing threat as you find more and more things you can no longer do with age. An ebike is a good antidote.

Second, and related to the first, is to look at an ebike as a both a barrier remover and an option creator. I ride pretty much where I want now. Climbing 2 big hills to get to the fun part is no longer a deal-killer. I get as much or as little exercise as I like on any ride, and tacking on another 5 miles to check out this or that is no big deal. That's cycling freedom.

I'll add more lessons as they come to mind.
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I'm with Jeremy here. I didn't learn much about bikes, but I learned a lot about myself and that at my advanced age, the third stage of life doesn't have to be a sedentary decline .We are built to move, to try new things, to have fun, not to just survive . That's part of what makes EBR so special.
 
Yesterday I made a house call to a referral at a senior trailer park to help with the botched assembly of an adult eTrike. I ended up spending all day there as word of mouth spread with bikes and trikes coming out of the woodwork. One thing I have learned is that if you really treat someone right, they will tell their friends. Some of the eTrikes come in a box that is just parts that is 2.5 feet by 2.5 feet by 10 inches. The people dispatched to assemble them are only qualified for Ikea.
 
PedalUma said:
Yesterday I made a house call to a referral at a senior trailer park to help with the botched assembly of an adult eTrike. I ended up spending all day there as word of mouth spread with bikes and trikes coming out of the woodwork. One thing I have learned is that if you really treat someone right, they will tell their friends. Some of the eTrikes come in a box that is just parts that is 2.5 feet by 2.5 feet by 10 inches. The people dispatched to assemble them are only qualified for Ikea.
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I bought my wife a cheaper e-trike a few years back off Amazon, and it was one of those no name brands from whoknowswhereastan. It wasn't an e-trike. It was a kit to build an e-trike from a box of parts. It took me about 10 hours to build it with instructions that were partially lost in translation. Luckily I have some knowledge here and was able to get it done, but not what I expected. It turned out to be fairly crappy as expected and would try to fall over on turns pretty bad. We sold it and bought a Retrospec one from a LBS, already assembled, and a vast improvement in every way.
 
Another thing I've learned from personal experience and way too much time on EBR: If you're new to cycling or have been away from it for a while (as I was), your first ebike isn't all that likely to be the bike you want 6-12 months later.

An ebike is a vastly more complex purchase that most people realize. To get it exactly right the first time would require experience and knowledge of the technology and your real needs that most are unlikely to have at the time — even after spending time here.

The good news: Thanks largely to EBR, I did get it right the 2nd time! And my first ebike's still the goto for utility and beach rides.

So how to deal with that sad reality? No simple answers — especially on a tight budget. But pretty sure that buying a cheapo DTC ebike to get some experience isn't the answer. Ebikes shouldn't be disposable.

Best bet is to get as close as you can — mainly by testing and asking questions on that basis. See what local shops carry, learn from the staff what you can (with a grain of salt), and test a range of ebikes for yourself. Rent the main contenders for a day or so before deciding. Buy online only if you know for a fact that you can get local service.
 
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I realize not everyone can for numerous legitimate reasons... but for me, this is not rocket science.
My first ebike was a diy build and the experience was well worth it as well as being an awesome covid distraction.
My second is a DTC but with all known components.. I have no problem working on my Zen ebike with a Bafang mid drive /Rohloff hub.
You couldn't pay me to be tied to an LBS. I handle most issues in less time then it would take you to transport your bike to an LBS... with no waiting and minimal down time.
But this is old school mentality.. when you own something, you educate yourself and you get your hands dirty.
ymmv.
 
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I just went on a epic ride. What I learned is just because a woman is not 'your type' does not mean you can't have fun outside. She has wanted to ride and so I took her to a mountain top with amazing views all along the way. We could see the Wine Country hills, San Francisco, the Bay and it was with wildlife and free range cattle. It was nine miles of a climb with a loop of 12 miles back. Then we stopped at the municipal airport cafe to have outdoor burgers and saw a gyrocopter take off. Good wholesome fun.
 
Jeremy McCreary said:
Another thing I've learned from personal experience and way too much time on EBR: If you're new to cycling or have been away from it for a while (as I was), your first ebike isn't all that likely to be the bike you want 6-12 months later.

An ebike is a vastly more complex purchase that most people realize. To get it exactly right the first time would require experience and knowledge of the technology and your real needs that most are unlikely to have at the time — even after spending time here.

The good news: Thanks largely to EBR, I did get it right the 2nd time! And my first ebike's still the goto for utility and beach rides.

So how to deal with that sad reality? No simple answers — especially on a tight budget. But pretty sure that buying a cheapo DTC ebike to get some experience isn't the answer. Ebikes shouldn't be disposable.

Best bet is to get as close as you can — mainly by testing and asking questions on that basis. See what local shops carry, learn from the staff what you can (with a grain of salt), and test a range of ebikes for yourself. Rent the main contenders for a day or so before deciding. Buy online only if you know for a fact that you can get local service.
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Truer words were never spoken. I'd add that even if you were NOT away from riding for a long time (for me, it was only a year). an e-bike is a totally different animal, and no matter how meticulously you shop, you most likely won't get your first e-bike spot on perfect, especially if you are an experienced analog bike rider.

I had a fitting done today at the shop. We use the Selle Italia IDMatch system. It uses a combination of laser measurement, a special bike with data acquisition, and AI analysis. It's not the be-all end-all of fitting, but it's a great place to start. I've been working side by side with the fitter with customers, and it gets it right 80%-100% of the time. Sometimes we see anomalies that it doesn't account for, and we tweak the result to dial it in by eye.

I did this as a precursor to purchasing a new bike, to make sure that I order the right size. I learned that my current bike could never fit me 100% correctly. It just doesn't fit with my build, even if I swapped frame sizes. It explained why I can ride it for 90 minutes without soreness or pain most days, but after that, it all goes downhill. So I took the next step and ordered a bike that fits within 10mm in every important geometric measure. 10mm is very easy to compensate for. So we shall see. What happens to my existing bike, I don't know. Let's get the new one dialed in first.
 
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stompandgo said:
Truer words were never spoken. I'd add that even if you were NOT away from riding for a long time (for me, it was only a year). an e-bike is a totally different animal, and no matter how meticulously you shop, you most likely won't get your first e-bike spot on perfect, especially if you are an experienced analog bike rider.

I had a fitting done today at the shop. We use the Selle Italia IDMatch system. It uses a combination of laser measurement, a special bike with data acquisition, and AI analysis. It's not the be-all end-all of fitting, but it's a great place to start. I've been working side by side with the fitter with customers, and it gets it right 80%-100% of the time. Sometimes we see anomalies that it doesn't account for, and we tweak the result to dial it in by eye.

I did this as a precursor to purchasing a new bike, to make sure that I order the right size. I learned that my current bike could never fit me 100% correctly. It just doesn't fit with my build, even if I swapped frame sizes. It explained why I can ride it for 90 minutes without soreness or pain most days, but after that, it all goes downhill. So I took the next step and ordered a bike that fits within 10mm in every important geometric measure. 10mm is very easy to compensate for. So we shall see. What happens to my existing bike, I don't know. Let's get the new one dialed in first.
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Yes. Fit is the about the only technical thing about bikes that I really try to understand, and a big reason I am so leary of DTC bikes. Fit really matters more than the battery capacity or amount of boost for even a medium level ride, because my legs and butt give up long before my bike does.
 
I purchased my first ebike, a Haibike Xduro Pro, in 2016. I loved the bike, it got me back into a sport that I have loved my entire life, but had largely given up due to advancing age and lessening capabilities. After 9 years, my Xduro was still going strong, me, not so much. Getting my leg over the crossbar became increasingly difficult and awkward, and included a number of falls.

The move to a step-thru has come at a cost, the new bike is heavier, and not as agile as the xduro. On the other hand, new bike is more comfortable and has greater range.

What have I learned? Enjoy what you have, and relish it; look back on what you had and cherish the memories, don't regret the loss.
 
Going with a DTC bike, I enabled myself to learn a new hobby. Turns out I really like it and I’m learning quick. After reading horror stories of various DTC customer service and support issues, I decided I was going to be the electrician and mechanic. Im not willing to waste hours of my time with support. I’d rather use those hours to learn what to do, then when my warranty is out (or I void it) I’m not stuck without support. Sure I could’ve gone with a totally proprietary system like Yamaha or Bosch, but I also didn’t want to spend thousands of dollars more and be locked to specific shops that I’d have to arrange appointments and transport for my bike. My bike was just under the $2000 USD mark. I’m a good bike electrician, not a good bike mechanic (yet), but I am patient and have many (28) years of troubleshooting experience. So, I’ll get there. I’m still youngish.
 
Used Heybike electric bicycle-$500

48 volt lithium ion battery

Holds up to 330 lbs, accommodates height 5'3"-6'3"

Electric horn

Front and rear LED lights

48 mile range

Shimano 7-speed

Max speed-20 mph





Willing to ship at a reasonable fee.

Lots of fun. Easy to ride.

3-speed thumb control operation as well as manual pedal capabilities

Email [email protected] if interested
 
Daniel Nathan said:
Used Heybike electric bicycle-$500

48 volt lithium ion battery

Holds up to 330 lbs, accommodates height 5'3"-6'3"

Electric horn

Front and rear LED lights

48 mile range

Shimano 7-speed

Max speed-20 mph





Willing to ship at a reasonable fee.

Lots of fun. Easy to ride.

3-speed thumb control operation as well as manual pedal capabilities

Email [email protected] if interested
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You may not have been aware, but we have a dedicated sub-forum for selling bikes. This off-topic post belongs there.
 
“There was never a horse that couldn’t be rode, and never a cowboy that couldn’t be throwed.”

I started riding English bikes in first grade and had probably pedaled well over 20,000 miles when I finished high school. In those days, men over 20 usually rode English bikes, and the death toll per million miles for helmetless men was much lower than for helmeted men these days.

JFK put an end to safe, comfortable riding with a prohibitive tariff on all imported bikes except ten-speeds. I got my first e-bike at 73 and found that they all seem badly affected by ten-speed design, with bars too low and seats too far forward. I modified it and two I bought subsequently.

As of 12:32 PM, October 14, 2024, I’d pedaled about 8,000 miles on e-bikes in addition to far more miles on English utility bikes, all without a scratch. A 55-year-old youngster was visiting the woman next door; I think it was her nephew, a bank robber who loved his stretch in the federal pen, where he got a college degree at taxpayer expense. As I approached, a gate opened and his bulldog came after me. Because a brick wall obstructed my view, I didn’t see it until an instant before impact.

The breed was developed by gentlemen who enjoyed seeing their beloved pets killed in the process of tearing pieces off a tethered bull. The basic viciousness of a bulldog is exceeded only by its notorious stupidity.

I saw only a flash of the dog and the 90-pound cannonball hit the front of my front wheel from the left. A steering lock saves cables by limiting steering to 70 degrees each way, but this impact turned the wheel well over 90 degrees right.

High siding on a motorcycle happens when forces get so far out of phase that the contact patches of the tires act as hinges, converting the rider’s forward motion to downward motion, slamming him to the pavement. That’s what my e-bike did. In milliseconds I saw my horizon rotate 90 degrees as I went down with my feet on the pedals and hands on the grips.

I got right up. My hat had fallen off but wasn’t damaged. My mirror was smashed, but I had an extra one at home. My $42 Bombay horn was bent. I had abrasions on my hand, my elbow, and my forehead, but only my elbow hurt. The blow to my head wasn’t even hard enough to cause a bump. With the bars turned more than 90 degrees, I’d been slammed the pavement on my side with my left arm extended way out front, and I’d broken a rib. As long as it hadn’t penetrated my parietal pleura, I’d be okay. My shoulder hurt, but I didn’t know what was wrong because swelling on the back limited movement. The impact must have stunned my vagus nerve, for my pulse was 150. That didn’t seem to be a handicap, although in time it can increase the risk of a clot.

With the steering lock way out of whack, the handlebars would turn only slightly to the left, which meant I had to walk that bike back to my carport. Chalk one up for the stupid, vicious dog.

In an hour, my heart suddenly settled down; I guess my vagus nerve had recovered from the jolt. I discovered that I was in the habit of giving an occasional cough to clear my throat. Not with a broken rib! I’d run to the kitchen and quench my desire with a glass of water. I hoped my rib would heal before the next epidemic of respiratory infections.

I couldn’t budge the steering lock even with a hammer on a large screwdriver, so I was reduced to pedestrianhood until the next afternoon. There were no visible bruises, but I soon had several hematomas along my femur. I’d never had one before. In a day or two, they went away and one the size of half a cantaloupe appeared on my hip. For several weeks, it kept me from sleeping on my left side.

I hoped the scrape on my forehead would leave a distinguished Frankenstein scar, but in two days it was gone. After two weeks I could cough gently, and my rib was healed in 6 weeks. The shoulder ached and took longer to heal, but it was useful the whole time.

If you find yourself in a frying pan, you should resist the temptation to hop into the fire. In other words, when you find yourself at death’s door, you should remember that a doctor might pull you through. I must have gone through 20¢ worth of aspirin, the wonder drug.

Medical students are taught to follow the advice of bank robber Willie Sutton: go where the money is. Thus, when the bulldog owner complained to a doctor about a toe problem, the doctor amputated his leg.

My experience shows why the per-mile death rate for American men was so low before elitist JFK banned, in effect, the humble English 3-speed. My seating position was so well braced that I didn’t go over the bars even with the front wheel suddenly turned crosswise. Helmet or no helmet, my side could absorb the violent impact much better than my head and neck.
 
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