Electric bike for 25 mile commute?
Discussion
Perhaps like many, I've taken early retirement from my pre-Covid career as a pro-cyclist.
That is to say, the 1000's of miles per year, 50mm carbon wheels and Strava KOMs seem a long way away.
Prior to Covid I'd cycle to/from work at least twice a week which was great for my fitness, looking at the commute on Strava it shows an elevation gain of 900ft over 25 miles which my best ever average speed being 21mph and a general average of about 18.5mph.
Times have changed somewhat and I don't have the time available to gain that level of fitness back and truthfully, I'm not sure I want to but I do still love being on the bike.
I'm tempted by a bike similar to the below which would also open up weekend exploring on the local hilly terrain.
My worry is that 15.5mph upper limit would be prohibitive and that although I'd benefit on some of the short sharp inclines and draggier sections, I'd end up knackered from pushing a whole bunch of weight.
I'm also morally opposed to chipping beyond legal limits.
Thoughts on what could work for me?
That is to say, the 1000's of miles per year, 50mm carbon wheels and Strava KOMs seem a long way away.
Prior to Covid I'd cycle to/from work at least twice a week which was great for my fitness, looking at the commute on Strava it shows an elevation gain of 900ft over 25 miles which my best ever average speed being 21mph and a general average of about 18.5mph.
Times have changed somewhat and I don't have the time available to gain that level of fitness back and truthfully, I'm not sure I want to but I do still love being on the bike.
I'm tempted by a bike similar to the below which would also open up weekend exploring on the local hilly terrain.
My worry is that 15.5mph upper limit would be prohibitive and that although I'd benefit on some of the short sharp inclines and draggier sections, I'd end up knackered from pushing a whole bunch of weight.
I'm also morally opposed to chipping beyond legal limits.
Thoughts on what could work for me?
TheFungle said:
I'm also morally opposed to chipping beyond legal limits.
Some people also don't eat honey because they morally object to the exploitation of bees.This is my car replacement eBike, all 20kg worth when loaded up. 15.5mph is actually OK in the city centre areas due to traffic/pedestrians crossing without checking etc. Its very hard work riding the thing without battery support.
bongtom said:
So it’s hard to ride without help because it’s heavy with all the extra weight?!
Brilliant. Lol.
I'll bite.Brilliant. Lol.
Pretty much everything is harder work when heavy but often the utility of the extra weight is worth it.
My wife and I share an electric town bike and it's fantastic when battery powered, absolutely horrific when not.
What point are you making?
Donbot said:
If 15.5mph is too slow and you don't want the weight or to chip it you might as well just get a non e-bike.
The OPs is a legitimate complaint though, the e assistance is great for making it easier for people to commute longer distances by bike and that is something the Government appear to believe is extremely important. But the 15.5mph speed restriction does then restrict it again because not many people have the time it takes to ride 25 miles at 15.5mph.I'm in a similar boat, not fit enough to ride the 20 miles into work and back more than occasionally these days, could do it easily with some e assistance to flatten the hills and shorten the miles, but far too busy to spend that long commuting, cooling down and showering at the other end.
Whatever you think of the rules, the Government's position is that they'd prefer I didn't drive and this is a pretty easy way to make that happen. Especially as we're not in the EU any more so we're not bound by their rules on this any more.
Very similar situation to myself, I was much fitter pre covid (and kids) and used to ride much more.
Cycling my commute is the most time efficient way of getting out cycling. My commute is 28km (finishes with a big climb to get home which was a killer at the end if a long day at work) and takes about 1hr 5 mins on the way in and 1hr 15 mins on the way home.
I bought an Orbea Gain with the thought that it'd be much quicker / easier and it'd encourage me to commute much more.
With the standard limiter in place is was easier but no faster. So as bought a de-restrictor ... this made it about 1 or 2km/h faster and saved about 5-8 mins.
I've just sold it .... yes it was easier and yes it was marginally faster but it wasn't nearly as nice to ride as my carbon road bike (due to the weight) and in the end it just felt like pointless cheating.... I got less mental and physical benefit from the ride. The temptation always seemed to be to ride in the assistance zone rather than put some effort in.
Cycling my commute is the most time efficient way of getting out cycling. My commute is 28km (finishes with a big climb to get home which was a killer at the end if a long day at work) and takes about 1hr 5 mins on the way in and 1hr 15 mins on the way home.
I bought an Orbea Gain with the thought that it'd be much quicker / easier and it'd encourage me to commute much more.
With the standard limiter in place is was easier but no faster. So as bought a de-restrictor ... this made it about 1 or 2km/h faster and saved about 5-8 mins.
I've just sold it .... yes it was easier and yes it was marginally faster but it wasn't nearly as nice to ride as my carbon road bike (due to the weight) and in the end it just felt like pointless cheating.... I got less mental and physical benefit from the ride. The temptation always seemed to be to ride in the assistance zone rather than put some effort in.
My experience of going from a normal bike to an e-bike has been extremely positive. My commute is 13 miles each way, e-bikes are perfect for these sort of trips. I used to do it every other day on the normal road bike, but since switching an Orbea Gain D30 1X gravel bike I can do it every day if I want.
Often I hear that people are worried about having to 'drag around extra weight' and wearing themselves out as a consequence but my experience is the exact opposite. You still have to put in plenty of effort and talk of cheating and not getting you as fit is nonsense. My average speed is a little lower on the e-bike, but in terms of endurance and comfort it's like night and day. I have never had any desire to derestrict it, it's still 250w with the assistance cutting out above 15.5mph. It has a rear hub motor system. Once above 15.5mph there is no drag from the motor whatsoever and you'll spend plenty of time above this speed. I still have the road bike but only really use it now when out on a group ride.
I did a 50 mile ride yesterday just for the fun of it. I'm not sure I'd be quite so keen to do it on the road bike.
Often I hear that people are worried about having to 'drag around extra weight' and wearing themselves out as a consequence but my experience is the exact opposite. You still have to put in plenty of effort and talk of cheating and not getting you as fit is nonsense. My average speed is a little lower on the e-bike, but in terms of endurance and comfort it's like night and day. I have never had any desire to derestrict it, it's still 250w with the assistance cutting out above 15.5mph. It has a rear hub motor system. Once above 15.5mph there is no drag from the motor whatsoever and you'll spend plenty of time above this speed. I still have the road bike but only really use it now when out on a group ride.
I did a 50 mile ride yesterday just for the fun of it. I'm not sure I'd be quite so keen to do it on the road bike.
GSE said:
My experience of going from a normal bike to an e-bike has been extremely positive. My commute is 13 miles each way, e-bikes are perfect for these sort of trips. I used to do it every other day on the normal road bike, but since switching an Orbea Gain D30 1X gravel bike I can do it every day if I want.
Often I hear that people are worried about having to 'drag around extra weight' and wearing themselves out as a consequence but my experience is the exact opposite. You still have to put in plenty of effort and talk of cheating and not getting you as fit is nonsense. My average speed is a little lower on the e-bike, but in terms of endurance and comfort it's like night and day. I have never had any desire to derestrict it, it's still 250w with the assistance cutting out above 15.5mph. It has a rear hub motor system. Once above 15.5mph there is no drag from the motor whatsoever and you'll spend plenty of time above this speed. I still have the road bike but only really use it now when out on a group ride.
I did a 50 mile ride yesterday just for the fun of it. I'm not sure I'd be quite so keen to do it on the road bike.
Which just goes to show we all like different things!Often I hear that people are worried about having to 'drag around extra weight' and wearing themselves out as a consequence but my experience is the exact opposite. You still have to put in plenty of effort and talk of cheating and not getting you as fit is nonsense. My average speed is a little lower on the e-bike, but in terms of endurance and comfort it's like night and day. I have never had any desire to derestrict it, it's still 250w with the assistance cutting out above 15.5mph. It has a rear hub motor system. Once above 15.5mph there is no drag from the motor whatsoever and you'll spend plenty of time above this speed. I still have the road bike but only really use it now when out on a group ride.
I did a 50 mile ride yesterday just for the fun of it. I'm not sure I'd be quite so keen to do it on the road bike.
Here's my comparisons.
Ebike much easier and 1km/h faster. Road bike nicer to ride and felt more of a reward.
John Laverick said:
Which just goes to show we all like different things!
Here's my comparisons.
Ebike much easier and 1km/h faster. Road bike nicer to ride and felt more of a reward.
An hour each way, nice, that'll get you fit!Here's my comparisons.
Ebike much easier and 1km/h faster. Road bike nicer to ride and felt more of a reward.
I went for the gravel bike version with the Orbea, as it opens up some x-country options for my commute.
It was very windy today, I must admit, I backed off a bit into the headwind and let the assistance help me along
.... 
What speed restriction?
They're isn't any restriction, it's just that you don't get any assistance above that speed, it's all down to your own capability then,
I'm considering one because I only need the help up hills and won't be cycling above 15 mph uphill, on the flat it's just a slightly heavier bike.
They're isn't any restriction, it's just that you don't get any assistance above that speed, it's all down to your own capability then,
I'm considering one because I only need the help up hills and won't be cycling above 15 mph uphill, on the flat it's just a slightly heavier bike.
sociopath said:
What speed restriction?
They're isn't any restriction, it's just that you don't get any assistance above that speed, it's all down to your own capability then,
I'm considering one because I only need the help up hills and won't be cycling above 15 mph uphill, on the flat it's just a slightly heavier bike.
People want to use them as transport. It's not like you get a workout driving a car or riding a motorbike (at normal road speeds). If it's annoyingly slow people won't bother.They're isn't any restriction, it's just that you don't get any assistance above that speed, it's all down to your own capability then,
I'm considering one because I only need the help up hills and won't be cycling above 15 mph uphill, on the flat it's just a slightly heavier bike.
Interesting debate which I have with myself regularly.
I went with an e-gravel bike and it’s good for taking the sting out the hills but if you have the ability/fitness to breech the limiter it can make riding feel quite disjointed.
I’ll quite frequently nudge over the limit of assistance on mild-moderate gradients and it’s like hitting treacle. Flats are what they are, can go faster but it’s certainly harder with the excess weight. Downhill, well, once you build up momentum it’s quite good.
It’s also very easy to end up mullering yourself on the flats trying to hustle the heavier bike along as quick as you would normally go. Takes a mindset change to reap the full rewards of assistance.
I went with an e-gravel bike and it’s good for taking the sting out the hills but if you have the ability/fitness to breech the limiter it can make riding feel quite disjointed.
I’ll quite frequently nudge over the limit of assistance on mild-moderate gradients and it’s like hitting treacle. Flats are what they are, can go faster but it’s certainly harder with the excess weight. Downhill, well, once you build up momentum it’s quite good.
It’s also very easy to end up mullering yourself on the flats trying to hustle the heavier bike along as quick as you would normally go. Takes a mindset change to reap the full rewards of assistance.
Donbot said:
Fundoreen said:
Why is there this element in e cycling that wants to smash themselves up bad by going faster
with little protective clothing on?
Not just e-cycling but regular cycling as well. I guess we are just maniacs.with little protective clothing on?
I dont think every clueless idiot should be tearing around killing pedestrians or damaging the underside of a bus.
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