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If I have a high intensity ride I normally do a recovery ride and an endurance zone ride in the next couple of days. Such rides are boring. A mate lent me his ebike for a spin and it seems like a more interesting way to have a low intensity ride.
Does anyone use an ebike in this way?
Cheers
Rich
Plenty riders use Ebikes to train. incl some pretty high profile professional racers.
Low intensity rides can be kinda dull whatever bike you're on. an ebike will allow you to climb a lot faster while remaining in lower intensity zones. On the flat it'll depend a lot on your current level of fitness and how draggy your regular bike's tyres and how smooth/dry/fast rolling the terrain is as to how much difference an Ebike will make to your speed in lower zones. Descending your intensity zones should be fairly similar to a regular bike. ie. the more you put into moving the bike around etc, rougher/more technical the descents. the higher your intensity level will rise.
They're actually a really fun way to do HIIT (training) rides. Especially if they aren't restricted to a 15mph assist limit. Stick it in boost and do a non stop technical ride flat out and you'll see what I mean.
The one thing they're really not great for is sprint training.
There are no firm rules on how you need to use the assistance. So just use cmmon sense. Not all that common here with regards to views on Ebike use. 😉
I always used to enjoy recovery rides when I was training seriously, because it was an opportunity to relax, smell the roses and just enjoy a nice cycle, without worrying about specific training efforts.
Surely the main issue with trainig on an e-bike is specificity? An e-bike is heavier than a conventional bike, will handle differently and doesn't respond in the same way when you are pedalling, so you are training under a set of conditions that are very different from a competitive situation.
Plenty riders use Ebikes to train. incl some pretty high profile professional racers.
Thanks for the comments. Good to hear it’s already a thing and well known. I wasn’t certain I’d missed something that would make it a bad idea because I tend to be a bit impetuous with bike buying.
I recently purchased a Canyon SoectralON. Was really cynical about ebikes but am now a complete convert. They are on point descending (ebikes have come a long way since that argument, that they are poor downhill) bore weight). They are ideal as a training tool and I use it a lot for just that. Also, if you buy the right bike, be prepared for wondering about which bike is your main bike.
They are ideal as a training tool and I use it a lot for just that.
What sort of training rides do you use it for? I am curious about the Shimano motor. What I like about the Specialized is that you can customise the levels of assistance. For example you can set Eco to 5% assistance, and it actually felt like riding a normal bike, then set Trail for 20% and Boost for 50%. Can you change the settings on the Shimano In the same way?
trail and boost assistance levels can be altered between low/mid/hi by bluetooth using the shimano steps E-tube phone app
Eco, trail and boost can now be altered by percentage with the PC E-tube app (using the PC E1 interface)
This customisability is being incorporated into the phone apps and will be available via update sometime inj the next few months
They feel like a normal unassisted bike if you simply switch the motor off. just 17lb heavier.
They feel like a normal unassisted bike if you simply switch the motor off. just 17lb heavier.
🙂
Thanks for the information. I asked Canyon and YT this question and got a helpful “Ask Shimano”. Madison hasn’t replied yet. Sounds like you can customise the assistance levels as low as you want but currently have to buy the £200 interface.