Thoughts on "Cross, Gravel, Road" eBike

[foliedouce]

As a very inexperienced cyclist, I'm just wondering what people's thoughts are on a "Cross, Gravel, Road" eBike, specifically a Ribble CGR AL e - Grey Shimano Di2

I live in the Chilterns, do 1 x 30km road ride a week, and have just discovered mountain biking around here which is great fun......apart from the hills which you can't escape.

Not being as fit as I used to be, and carrying a few extra pounds, I thought the 'e' might make it more enjoyable rather than risking a heart attack.

So in summary, thoughts on this bike being used as:-

Road bike 30km a week
1-2 Mountain bike rides per week 12-24km (not hardcore)
Cycling up a bridle way with the kids at the weekend

On paper it does all of the above, but I'm interested to learn what more experienced folk think.

Thanks

[Ares]

e-bikes are a great tool to get you mobile. I have a few pals who are either getting on a bit but want to keep up their, or who have injuries, and want to keep up their riding

I've also got a friend who has just bought an e-MTB, having spent 20yrs mountain biking - his rationale being that he enjoyed the twisty, gnarly, downhill stuff, but was getting to old to do the uphill bit.

Great solution.


.....however, the only sidebar to all of that is that it won't necessarily do you fitness a huge amount of good. Yes you can mix the level of electric benefit, but the bikes are heavy. You'll get stronger, but not necessarily fitter.

The Ribble and other gravel bikes are an interesting route, as they are not as overly heavy as some e-bikes so the downsides are reduced. (usually c13kg rather than c9kg for normal decent gravel bikes/7kg for decent road bikes).


I don't have enough knowledge to advise with any real objectivity but what bit of knowledge I do have would lead me to suggest a programme of increasing fitness organically first.

Edited by Ares on Tuesday 21st July 19:19

[benny.c]

Ares said:

.....however, the only sidebar to all of that is that it won't necessarily do you fitness a huge amount of good. Yes you can mix the level of electric benefit, but the bikes are heavy. You'll get stronger, but not necessarily fitter.

https://formative.jmir.org/2019/3/e13643/

Results: The average heart rate during eMTB use was 94% (31/33) of the average heart rate during conventional mountain bike use. Therefore, eMTB use in this study achieved a majority of the exercise response and exceeded established biometric thresholds for cardiovascular fitness. Paired t test statistics were calculated to compare beliefs of conventional mountain bikes and eMTBs and to compare mean heart rate and speed between conventional mountain bike and eMTB use on the study loop. Participants overwhelmingly perceived the potential impact of eMTB use to be positive on both pre- and post-eMTB ride questionnaires....

...excellent form of aerobic or cardiovascular exercise, even for experienced mountain bikers who regularly engage in this fitness activity.”

foliedouce said:

So in summary, thoughts on this bike being used as:-

Road bike 30km a week
1-2 Mountain bike rides per week 12-24km (not hardcore)
Cycling up a bridle way with the kids at the weekend

On paper it does all of the above, but I'm interested to learn what more experienced folk think

If you think the number of off road rides may increase it will be worth considering an eMTB rather than gravel bike. Whilst gravel bikes are capable off road, eMTBs are enormous fun and much more comfortable when you inevitability increase the mileage. Having assistance means road sections aren’t the drag they are on a regular bike - even a full sus eMTB isn’t a chore on road. EMTBs are also more powerful than e gravel bikes and you’d soon be riding routes you’d never considered. It’s not easily done at the moment but I’d try and demo both styles before deciding.

Horses for courses, but I sold my MTB, and road and gravel bikes and now just have a Levo that does everything (excluding a Charge Grater for popping to the shops).

Edited by benny.c on Tuesday 21st July 23:59

[foliedouce]

Thanks for the responses, some food for thought, you can go round in circles if you're not careful.

That Levo looks like an awesome pieces of kit.

[Hard-Drive]

benny.c said:

If you think the number of off road rides may increase it will be worth considering an eMTB rather than gravel bike. Whilst gravel bikes are capable off road, eMTBs are enormous fun and much more comfortable when you inevitability increase the mileage. Having assistance means road sections aren’t the drag they are on a regular bike - even a full sus eMTB isn’t a chore on road. EMTBs are also more powerful than e gravel bikes and you’d soon be riding routes you’d never considered. It’s not easily done at the moment but I’d try and demo both styles before deciding.

Horses for courses, but I sold my MTB, and road and gravel bikes and now just have a Levo that does everything (excluding a Charge Grater for popping to the shops).

Edited by benny.c on Tuesday 21st July 23:59

Interesting response, and I totally get why an eMTB makes sense. We all love the downhills, and anything to get the fireroad drag out the way and extend range and fun has to be a good thing!

However I'd be interested in the science on the HRM study...I could be at the top of a section of downhill singletrack with a zen-like resting heart rate, but by the time I'd got to the bottom, even without really spinning the cranks at all, adrenaline would have well and truly kicked in and the old ticker would be going like a steam hammer! I wonder if this was factored in at all?

[louiebaby]

Where does the new Canyon sit in the market?

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/product-news/th...

[Ares]

benny.c said:

Ares said:

.....however, the only sidebar to all of that is that it won't necessarily do you fitness a huge amount of good. Yes you can mix the level of electric benefit, but the bikes are heavy. You'll get stronger, but not necessarily fitter.

https://formative.jmir.org/2019/3/e13643/

Results: The average heart rate during eMTB use was 94% (31/33) of the average heart rate during conventional mountain bike use. Therefore, eMTB use in this study achieved a majority of the exercise response and exceeded established biometric thresholds for cardiovascular fitness. Paired t test statistics were calculated to compare beliefs of conventional mountain bikes and eMTBs and to compare mean heart rate and speed between conventional mountain bike and eMTB use on the study loop. Participants overwhelmingly perceived the potential impact of eMTB use to be positive on both pre- and post-eMTB ride questionnaires....

...excellent form of aerobic or cardiovascular exercise, even for experienced mountain bikers who regularly engage in this fitness activity.”

Mountain bike, yes. But an MTB-ers highest heart rate is often from adrenaline/descents, not aerobic effort.

Road/Gravel bikes are a different case.

[benny.c]

Hard-Drive said:

Interesting response, and I totally get why an eMTB makes sense. We all love the downhills, and anything to get the fireroad drag out the way and extend range and fun has to be a good thing!

However I'd be interested in the science on the HRM study...I could be at the top of a section of downhill singletrack with a zen-like resting heart rate, but by the time I'd got to the bottom, even without really spinning the cranks at all, adrenaline would have well and truly kicked in and the old ticker would be going like a steam hammer! I wonder if this was factored in at all?

Ares said:

Mountain bike, yes. But an MTB-ers highest heart rate is often from adrenaline/descents, not aerobic effort.

Road/Gravel bikes are a different case.

I regularly ride a relatively flat, 35 mile XC loop that has no elements that raise adrenaline. It’s a 50/30/20 mix of bridleway/woods/road. I’ve ridden it many times on my Levo, Diverge and Titus Fireline and whilst my HR is broadly the same on the Titus and Diverge, it is approx 10-15bpm lower on average on the Levo. Now that’s only a sample of one but my experience and data ties in with the report.

Edited by benny.c on Wednesday 22 July 17:53