The opinions that I keep disagreeing with are the ones making sweeping generalisations which I know are inaccurate based on actual experience.
The point I was making is that your 'actual experience' and mine can be different, neither are absolutely correct and both can have validity. I have difficulty lifting a 50lb ebike over stiles and suspect quite a few other people would too. You have no difficulty and therefore think I am making a 'sweeping generalisation' apparently.
My lived experience is different from yours, but just as valid, but you seem to be exasperated that someone else has a different opinion 'based on [their own] actual experience'. If you're ever in the Peak District, drop me a line and I'll take you riding footpath tech and you can show me your technique, which would be potentially really helpful.
The eMTB helps because it saves time.
Which is because it makes things easier! You can go faster/further in the same time using the same effort as you would on a non ebike so it is making going faster/further easier.
If you wanted to go further or faster on your non ebike you would have to put more effort into it, with an eBike you can put the same effort in (or even less effort and still go faster/further)
you’re ever in the Peak District, drop me a line and I’ll take you riding footpath tech
Can you show me some footpath tech in the Peak please. After loads of fantastic rides in the Lakes I'm desperate to find some good tricky stuff nearer to home.
I'm going to do something radical here and reply to the original Q about “half fat” eMtbs.
I have a Levo SL along with my other bikes. I dont have a full fat ebike so wont offer an opinion on those.
The SL is designed for folk that are fit (ish). It's not a 'TURBO all day bike'. You gotta put the effort in.
I find it helps with my fitness for these reasons:
- it's got a 'heart rate mode'. When set: it is not an ebike. It's a heavy pedal bike. Until you hit the target rate you set in the app it doesnt help at all. If you go over the target: it kicks in.
- it's got a built in power meter. Not for the ebike part: but for your input. Pair it to your garmin: set yourself a target watts, and off you go.
- its got a limited range (deliberatly). You gotta put the effort in.
What's not so good - and this relates to some comments above about bonking: when the battery drops to a certain point (maybe 20%) the assistance drops off significantly. Keep riding and at 10%: you get barely any assistance. The first time it happens- it seems weird but just be aware.
When I swap back to my manual bikes: they seem lighter but sluggish initially but 30 mins in and I'm still smiling.
If you buy an ebike and ride as slow as a normal bike you won’t get much of a workout, you should give it 100% same as on a normal bike and the reward is more speed.
As for the half fat ebikes I had an ezesty and tbh don’t see the point compared to my bosch powered one. Either have a full fat ebike or a normal bike. On my local red route which has nothing hard on a normal bike I’m 48 minutes, half fat ebike 44 minutes and full fat ebike 34 minutes, giving 100% on each. My normal bike time is on a par with friends who only ride normal bikes very regularly, I mention this as I only started back on mtb 3 years ago and all my fitness has been built up on an ebike including a chunk of weight loss 👍
Good stuff couchy 👌🏻
The best thing about the emtb (if you are not riding with non ebikers) is the flexibility that you have to be able to do the kind of ride you want to do.
Eh. This is pure genius. I have a bike and already have the flexibility to do the kind if ride I want to do. I set off pedalling, go where I want, and end the ride approximately when I want to. I can’t see how having an eeb is going to improve that. In fact I’m pretty sure it’ll have the opposite effect.
Yes, of course you have flexibility of where to ride and how long you ride for with an mtb, but the terrain often dictates how far you are able to go and the speed that you are able to go at. With an emtb, you have extra options that are opened up as you can go further/faster/steeper and you have terrain accessible that is not achievable without a motor (either due to time constraints or due to the technicality/steepness of terrain) and as well as that, you have a greater choice of speed and effort levels.
With an emtb, you have extra options that are opened up as you can go further/.
Not unless you stache extra battery[ies?] at key points on your ride. And if you do this then you no longer have the flexibility that you were lauding; you need to go where the battery stache is.
You can carry extra battery(s) if you can afford one / them. A spare battery for the 2017 Levo currently taking up half our front room, retails for a cool £730 though, so it's an additional investment for sure. Or use a range extender. Mostly you have to just go easy on assistance if you're planning a longer outing. But yes, there is a thing known as 'range anxiety' where you worry whether your battery will last long enough. Obviously multiday outings are going to require some sort of recharging plan too, so probably not ideal for multi-day semi-wilderness, unsupported bikepacking.
Probably not an issue for most STW ebikers as they're super fit 😉 <---- wink denoting this is a joke before the ebike possee gets on its power-assisted lynch bikes.
The other thing, which I don't think has been mentioned, is that if you do go out for a 'blast', to me it feels a bit like riding everything in fast forward, which is a bit weird and not very 'zen'. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, it's just different.
The other thing, which I don’t think has been mentioned, is that if you do go out for a ‘blast’, to me it feels a bit like riding everything in fast forward, which is a bit weird and not very ‘zen’. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, it’s just different
100% that for me. It changes the dynamics and mentality of riding from relaxing and enjoying the tranquility of being out, into a flat out motor fest of speed. It's not why I ride bikes to do that.
Hence why I last rode the ebike 6 months ago and have only ridden it 3 times ever.
If you buy an ebike and ride as slow as a normal bike you won’t get much of a workout
Sorry but is that all it is to you 😕 and if that is the case why then are you on a mtb in the first place and not a road bike as part of a club, putting in times and max output every ride 😕
And given that most offroad cycling is about the downward slope, not the annoying, soul destroying, energy sapping uphill bit, it would appear that having and using an Emtb for offroad is the epitome of mtb'ing, its just taken a while to get here.
Something pretty much never heard on any mtb forum - 'Yeah, went out the other day and really had a blast on those uphill sections. What a shame there were too many downward slopes that totally ruined it for me'
If the uphill sections were what it was all about, what the fk would you need a suss bike for 😕
And given that most offroad cycling is about the downward slope, not the annoying, soul destroying, energy sapping uphill bit, it would appear that having and using an Emtb for offroad is the epitome of mtb’ing, its just taken a while to get here.
So how has the ebike been for your fitness?
So how has the ebike been for your fitness?
Again you're falling into the trap that cycling for any individual is about fitness, not riding for enjoyment or as a cheaper form of getting about.
Maybe put these misconceptions away 😉
Again you’re falling into the trap that cycling for any individual is about fitness, not riding for enjoyment or as a cheaper form of getting about.
No, I was just curious given that this thread is about whether your fitness has got worse since buying a mountain bike. I didn't fall into any traps at all, I just asked the question, all the other stuff is assumptions you've made.
Of course it could be that riding bikes - any bikes - can be about riding for enjoyment and getting fit in the process and be a cheaper way of getting about, but that's really neither here nor there. I was genuinely just curious in the spirit of the original question.
Something pretty much never heard on any mtb forum – ‘Yeah, went out the other day and really had a blast on those uphill sections. What a shame there were too many downward slopes that totally ruined it for me’
If the uphill sections were what it was all about, what the fk would you need a suss bike for
Pure nonsense. Proof this is nonsense can be found with a quick analysis of youtube video searches:
total views for top 10 results for "climb mtb" 2.1 million
total views for top 10 results for "descend mtb" 3.1 million.
Maybe put those misconceptions away 😉
No, I was just curious given that this thread is about whether your fitness has got worse since buying a mountain bike. I didn’t fall into any traps at all, I just asked the question, all the other stuff is assumptions you’ve made.
Perhaps the only assumption that has been made is the basis of the thread itself, in that cycling is purely about fitness.
I just asked the question
Oh is that what it was ? 😕
Maybe put those misconceptions away 😉
Hmmmm
Sorry, vids about climbing are vids about technique, not the enjoyment of it. It is a means to an end.
I think you've misconstrued the point of those results 😉
Proper low-grade trolling. I preferred the one where you asked about lightening your ebike.
I love a blast on mine! Couple of hours of absolutely hammering the local built trails, top to bottom and repeat.
Took the Bronson out yesterday for the first time since I got the eeb, christ it's like chucking a kids bike about! Brilliant.
Proper low-grade trolling.
Which is exactly what you were doing with that question buddy.
Which is exactly what you were doing with that question buddy.
Well, it genuinely wasn't meant that way, but you seem to have embroidered it with all sorts of stuff that's purely designed to get a rise out of folk. Either that or really believe it? I'll leave you to it, petal. Have fun.
I will honeybunch.
and i took a look at my e lightening thread as from what you stated thought i must have annoyed you somehow and I see from the off you trolled that one too.
You’d be better off doing some resistance training. I’ve lifted a 50lb+ Turbo Levo over gates and stiles.
And do you have copd ? or vascular problems with the femoral arteries in your legs ?? my right foot is white and cold, and thats a frikkin scary proposition right there matey. Not everyone has your fitness BWD, nor the capability to regain it.
So the whole frikken reason for me owning a frikken ebike is health related. I'd love fitness again, and prior to these issues ranked quite high in that score. 200+ miles a week as standard, most of my riding was out of the saddle. Glasgow to Loch Lomond in about an hour forty.
So your input did nothing but grate. You seemed incapable of taking the threads in the past about my health and at least applying them to this.
But from the off its about not owning an ebike but what the fitness level is without even a thought or consideration as to there being other reasons for having one.
This entire thread I've played devils advocate, trying to say its not about fitness as there is two clear camps shouting at each other.
Try to defuse, not ignite 😉
.
Well, I demoed a Kenevo SL last week, definitely still a cardio workout up hill just really didn’t feel like I worked my leg muscles as much as a normal bike.
Still most of my riding group now have mopeds, so I’ve got a full face helmet on order…
