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Hired an ebike today, since I've never ridden one before and age and a (relatively mild) heart condition have gradually reduced what I can do.
Well, I'm a convert. Rode about 3 times longer than I would otherwise, and loved every minute.
Getting one will involve at least putting a towbar onto the car though, so it won't be the cheapest change I could make!
Congratulations. What's the hit list?
They're game changing aren't they
This....
Getting one will involve at least putting a towbar onto the car though, so it won’t be the cheapest change I could make!
Ties in nicely with this....
https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/is-it-time-for-a-shakeup-in-the-mtb-world/
Congratulations. What’s the hit list?
I don't even have a list yet! Loved the Whyte e160 I rode today, but will need to compare against some others...
They’re game changing aren’t they
This is exactly the phrase I used today!
Ties in nicely with this….
I'd love to live in the middle of great riding, but unfortunately I have to travel to the riding I want to do.
I don’t even have a list yet
It's going to be a long list, a very long list.
It is an utter nightmare trying to finally decide whats best for you, but it can help by deciding one or two main factors, which helps the process of elimination.
Bosch - Probably the best choice, start at that.
Suspension - well the suspension bits are the important factor on a suss, so decide whats best there and just disclude anything other. - TIP. 99% of Suntour is shite.
A 36, a 38 or a Zeb.
If you have a better specced bike currently, it is always an idea to swop things over, because the base model, is usually the exact same frame as the top model
I've never ridden one. When I was out on Friday a chap on an e bike caught up to me on a long gradual climb part of a trail. I was surprised at how quiet it was, and also the speed he picked up after I'd let him past. Also how effortlessly he sped off.
Full fat or half fat ?
Yep,they really are good. I've a friend who is putting off getting one as she wants the exercise of riding a harder bike around but doesn't quite get that she will ride 3 times longer and hence her much more exercise on an ebike. It's a little counterintuitive.
*Stealth ad*
If you're interested in a Specialised Turbo Levo Comp Carbon which has covered just 100 miles, I'll be selling mine in a week's time. S3 size and I'll be sticking it on eBay for £3k. AXS shifting upgrade and bike in mint condition.
As big advocate of ebikes, I'm going to counter the exercise/fitness part
Yes you can get a workout - sweat, breathing, heat rate ergo yes you are getting exercise.
They categorically do not keep you bike fit though.
I have my assistance set to 18% in eco on a 50lb+ 180mm travel bike. I've put some serious miles in over the last year. I try and use my HT occasionally - more so now I've built the Ragley. It's taken a good few weeks to get anywhere near back to the levels where I'd consider riding with a group unassisted and I'm still a little way off.
Been riding one for 5.5 years - primarily bought because I couldn't get out enough to keep my fitness and wasn't enjoying group rides on leg power when I did manage to get out
Noted. It's a trade off being trying to get bike fit and actually just getting out regularly because it is easy and fun
I got mine in early January. I'd planned to sort of alternate rides between the ebike and my full-sus non-electric mtb.
I have to confess that I haven't done that and all my rides so far this year have been on the emtb. It's changed my riding in that apart from riding trails that I'm familiar with I'm experimenting and exploring a lot more. The other day I saw a trail that forked off from a familiar trail and I thought "I wonder where that goes?" So I tried it, nice... then it pointed upwards, got up it OK but I wouldn't without the "E".. and this trail just undulated over areas I'd never ridden, going up some inclines I'd never have got up, and then entered another set of trail I was familiar with.
Yes, game changing.
Game changer for me too with a range of health issues. Due to finances I just did a tongsheng conversion on my hard tail.
Re fitness....
Without the ebike my rides on my gravel bike were getting more and more draining and worse for my health and heart issues as I couldn't avoid working too hard over all. Any meaningful walking is out really with my knees, definitely not even a step of running.
With the ebike I can do a couple of hours of riding at Z2 which is great for health and aerobic fitness as well as mental health. Not top end sprint fitness, no, but that is what actually makes me ill. I do try to minimise the power level I use, unless I'm needing it for a reason like a steep hill, to save energy for something else, or because I'm feeling rough, but need to get out for my MH.
As big advocate of ebikes, I’m going to counter the exercise/fitness part
Yes you can get a workout – sweat, breathing, heat rate ergo yes you are getting exercise.
They categorically do not keep you bike fit though.
I agree with this, I think they could keep you bike fit but you'd need a lot of will power and some serious (steep) hills to do so. I'm back on an ebike more or less permanently now but previously I spent ~3 years riding one and then went back to a normal bike pretty much overnight, my cardio was ok but my leg strength was noticeably lacking.
I don't ride either of ours for fitness, ever.
I ride them for
1. Fun
2. More laps
3. When Zwift tired and wanting to enjoy the sunshine
The fitness side of things I use the MTB and Zwift to manage.
But in terms of bang per minute when at somewhere like FoD, they're impossible to beat.
I was riding a few weeks ago with @joebristol at FoD and he was getting pretty tired by the end on his manual, I could've done another 3 hours. Even though he's pretty fit, you just can't lap like an ebike can.
I also noted recently when out with a mate how much the power helps when in slop, he bogs down as the mud slows him, the Eeb just powers through.
I Eeb'd Fri and Sat after wed and Thu on Zwift and I'm fresh enough to hit Zwift shortly for a race.
Full fat or half fat ?
On just about every thread on 'other' forums, the ones that are mostly dedicated to ebikes, anyone who has bought a half fat has posted up looking for info on buying/fitting a range extender.
Maybe you can save a couple of kilos initially, but you lose the range, and then look to spend more money that the full fat equivalent getting the extra power pack.
I’ve very much enjoyed my Levo for over 5 years now. For me it’s the bike for commuting and more gnarly riding and I’ve always had a hardtail (now a singlespeed one) for my other riding.
My LBS has been brilliant with their support and I’d struggle to buy a non-Specialized ebike when this one needs replacing.
“I think they could keep you bike fit but you’d need a lot of will power”
If you want to keep riding normal MTBs (fast-ish) then doing so often enough or riding the ebike with the power down/off with other riders on normal bikes or using more assistance seems to solve that.
They are a bit 'instant gratification' for me as most people can achieve a level of fitness on a leg bike that allows them to do more laps, climb quicker and go farther in their normal riding locations.
But I so appreciate I am far from the norm as I am in a position where I've purposely built my life around removing as many restrictions on my time as possible like choosing not to have children and a job that allows me to get out riding multiple times a week every week.
“But I so appreciate I am far from the norm as I am in a position where I’ve purposely built my life around removing as many restrictions on my time as possible like choosing not to have children and a job that allows me to get out riding multiple times a week every week.”
But even if you do that, you still have the limitations of health (and none of us are in full control of that) and ageing.
It’s interesting to note the number of pro MTBers that use e-bikes for some of their riding - and their lives are entirely built around MTBing but like all humans there are limits when it comes to physical workload and recovery.
I’ll never give up my hardtail (I hope) but I feel that a big long travel ebike as my only big bike (as opposed to an Enduro or DH) perfectly compliments the HT.
I’ll never give up my hardtail (I hope) but I feel that a big long travel ebike as my only big bike (as opposed to an Enduro or DH) perfectly compliments the HT.
I sold my YT Capra when I got my big bouncy ebike as I could never see me riding it - too similar to the ebike, just sans motor. Now I still have the ebike and three HT's (and now a gravel bike)
It’s interesting to note the number of pro MTBers that use e-bikes for some of their riding – and their lives are entirely built around MTBing but like all humans there are limits when it comes to physical workload and recovery.
I think it's also amount of runs too. My lad was out on the Rise yesterday and got 3x the runs in less time than usual. It's not the same as the DH, but it works for working on particular skills
“I’ll never give up my hardtail (I hope) but I feel that a big long travel ebike as my only big bike (as opposed to an Enduro or DH) perfectly compliments the HT.”
That’s what happened to me - my normal full-sus wasn’t as good downhill as my ebike (that’s partly a riding style thing because I preferred the heavier longer 29er steamroller vs the more nimble lighter non-e 27.5).
And then I moved from 27.5 to 29 hardtail and tried singlespeed too and I found I prefer that to being on a geared bike and being annoyed by how slow it is uphill without a motor. When you don’t have gears you don’t think like that, it’s just “PEDAL!!!” or get off and push.
I'm a huge advocate for e-bikes. I think they are bloody great and you should definitely buy one. I do agree with what
Full fat or half fat ?
Full torque, small battery.
Lots of time in low levels of assist, but with all the peak torque available in boost for those most difficult fun/difficult bits of climbing.
Rise can be set up to do this well. Light enough to handle well and use in lowest assist mode (that can be made even less aggressive with the Etube app) lots for “normal bike” feeling, but with a motor that offers plenty of torque to do what only ebikes can do for the moments that require it.
I love my ebikes .I ride more distance in a ride and ride hard and consistently.