What are your thoughts on Ebikes?

[kootenayguy9]

So I decided to cancel my gym membership and purchase an ebike with the money I am saving. Has anybody done the same thing? I know there is a cycling thread on CP but I think there should be one ebikes. Does anyone have any good advice on their experiences in the ebike world? We are so fortunate to have so many great places to ride in Calgary and surrounding areas. One thing I read that I find interesting about ebikes is that they are “Climate change proof”as you can easily change your tires depending on what the weather and trail conditions are like.

[GGG]

I don’t know if an e-bike and a gym membership cancel each other out. I find that an e-bike is like going for a brisk walk with moderate heart rate increase but not into my cardio zone aside form the odd hill. I’ve got about 3000 km on mine now that I am back everyday at work.

I use mine as a commenter and have a Rad City. That Bike is purely a pathway/commuter bike. The bike thread has had Ebike s discussed a few times so I’d a good resource to search through

[skudr248]

Only ppl with e-bikes are people with DUI's and need to get to work

[KTrain]

Check out the cycling thread and ask some questions there. We've had a few good conversations about ebikes and some of the folks there are very knowledgable about brands and what to look for and avoid.

https://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=169784

[Sliver]

I have two ebikes. One is a RadRover (fat bike) and one is a Sondors Fold X.

The RadRover - presumably because of resistance due to the fat tires and weight - can give me a great workout. I use pedal assist five (maximum) on the way to work so I don't get super sweaty and I use assist two on the way home and can really get my heartrate going. I pedal as fast as I can to try to set a new record every day, which is really fun.

The Sondors Fold X is also fun, but not as comfortable for commuting. I do take it with me on vacation and camping because it's so easy to transport. Literally folds up into nothing and I can throw it in my vehicle without taking up any space.

I've started letting my daughter ride the Sondors now that she's 14 and has been driving so she knows the rules of the road. My wife rides it sometimes as well and we've gone on some really fun rides just the two of us. My wife is 5'3" and I'm 6'4" and the Fold is comfortable for both of us as it's super adjustable.

The Rad bike feels higher quality than the Sondors, so I'd recommend that if you're looking in that price range, but I do love them both. The Sondors has smaller diameter wheels, so feels torqueier unless you upgrade the Rad. I did just add a new controller, display and motor from www.boltonebikes.com and the Rad will basically climb up a wall now, so that's pretty cool.

Anyway, as a fun mode of transportation I don't think they can be beat. It's so awesome using the bike pathways on a motorized vehicle. They're like a warp zone for getting around while you have a great time. I've had the Sondors for three years and the RadRover since January and I'll never get tired of them.

[pseudoreality]

I've got the RadRunner and love it. It is fun to mod and just makes cycling more enjoyable.

[Flabbibulin]

My 74 year old dad purchased an e-bike after being instructed by doc to lose weight. From a caloric standpoint, it might not be all that different than perhaps brisk walking, but the difference is he took to it like mad and was out every day this summer, averaging maybe 25k a day. Lost a decent amount of weight too. He simply wasn't going to do the same with walking, hiking etc. So my advice is whatever works for you and motivates you to get out and be active. They are definitely heavy and cost a fair bit. An entry level e-bike will get you more of a mid range road/mountain I believe.

And most notably for me, at almost 40 years old, I went on my first bike ride with my dad this summer.

[Ozy_Flame]

One of Canada's Top 50 startups this year is a Calgary company called DJ Bikes. I believe they import electric bikes from China. Dude running it was also an ATB entrepreneur success story - you probably saw him on the ATB commercials last year.

If you're considering an e-bike, give them a look. You'd be supporting local.

[JR449]

Is there anything that can handle the fury of winter??

[RichieRich]

Originally Posted by JR449

Is there anything that can handle the fury of winter??

Rules #5 &9: HTFU; Badass
Shut up legs










https://www.velominati.com/

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by kootenayguy9

So I decided to cancel my gym membership and purchase an ebike with the money I am saving. Has anybody done the same thing? I know there is a cycling thread on CP but I think there should be one ebikes. Does anyone have any good advice on their experiences in the ebike world? We are so fortunate to have so many great places to ride in Calgary and surrounding areas. One thing I read that I find interesting about ebikes is that they are “Climate change proof”as you can easily change your tires depending on what the weather and trail conditions are like.

eBikes are a game changer. I've put 5000km on mine. It takes away any excuse you might have for not riding in my opinion. Costs are variable depending on what you go with. I'm looking at an electric cargo bike to be our "second car" and I want something that will be a little more robust. So I'm looking at a Tern GSD S00, but the one I want is like $9000. The rad power bikes are a much cheaper alternative, but I have concerns about the serviceability of those and how long the hub drive motor will last long term.

Originally Posted by GGG

I don’t know if an e-bike and a gym membership cancel each other out. I find that an e-bike is like going for a brisk walk with moderate heart rate increase but not into my cardio zone aside form the odd hill. I’ve got about 3000 km on mine now that I am back everyday at work.

I use mine as a commenter and have a Rad City. That Bike is purely a pathway/commuter bike. The bike thread has had Ebike s discussed a few times so I’d a good resource to search through

This is completely dependent on you as the rider. I used my electric mostly when I had wind or when I had a hill to climb. But eBike riders are proven to ride longer and more often, so it's a net benefit. You can dial up or down your pedal-assist. I often had an average heart rate of around 135 bpm even with mild pedal assist and I kept a lot of weight off.

Originally Posted by JR449

Is there anything that can handle the fury of winter??

Any bike can handle winter if you prepare it properly. I rode my Simcoe Roadster that I converted to an eBike all winter (my winter bike was stolen). Be careful though, winter in Calgary eats bikes.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by kermitology

eBikes are a game changer. I've put 5000km on mine. It takes away any excuse you might have for not riding in my opinion. Costs are variable depending on what you go with. I'm looking at an electric cargo bike to be our "second car" and I want something that will be a little more robust. So I'm looking at a Tern GSD S00, but the one I want is like $9000. The rad power bikes are a much cheaper alternative, but I have concerns about the serviceability of those and how long the hub drive motor will last long term.

A 750 watt Bagfang motor for a RadWagon is $249 USD and you'd also need the RadPower Upgrade Kit for $139. Dirt cheap for tons of power. It's really not a concern if you want to upgrade the motor or if it craps out.

[Buff]

Perhaps I don't understand ebikes. Please help me to do so. My big question, simply (and harshly) put, isn't it a bike for lazy people? Wouldn't you be better off to just ride a regular pedal bike?

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Buff

Perhaps I don't understand ebikes. Please help me to do so. My big question, simply (and harshly) put, isn't it a bike for lazy people? Wouldn't you be better off to just ride a regular pedal bike?

It makes cycling as a daily activity even more accessible. Longer commutes can be done with less effort, larger loads can be carried (cargo bikes), hills are flattened, headwinds are lessened. It's a great advancement to get more people riding bikes so we can continue the war on cars.

[KTrain]

Originally Posted by Buff

Perhaps I don't understand ebikes. Please help me to do so. My big question, simply (and harshly) put, isn't it a bike for lazy people? Wouldn't you be better off to just ride a regular pedal bike?

Most ebikes just assist you. You still have to pedal. Like others have said, you'll burn less calories but they allow you go further. For someone with a longer commute, it will help get them to work more quickly, less sweaty but still get some exercise in.

On something like a cargo bike or pulling the kids they would be great.

They're also fun.

I'll be getting one when I slow down on my regular bike. Hopefully by then the road bike ones have come down in price.

[surferguy]

I’ve been spying the radwagon for carting my kids around. I currently have a yuba xtra cycle cargo but from my place if I dip into the river valley, I’ve got to come out of the river valley and if I’ve got the kids on the bike that isn’t happening without a lot of cursing.

I know I’d use the bike a lot more if it had the e option on it.

TL DR: I want one and will follow discussion here to get an idea if it is a decent purchase or not

[Flames0910]

Originally Posted by Buff

Perhaps I don't understand ebikes. Please help me to do so. My big question, simply (and harshly) put, isn't it a bike for lazy people? Wouldn't you be better off to just ride a regular pedal bike?

They greatly improve accessibility for those who want to be able to bike (for recreation, longer distances, up hills, with cargo, etc) but cannot (due to fitness, health, weight, or other reasons).

They can also be good for allowing non-biking friends or partners to keep up with more fitness oriented cycling enthusiasts. Or if you want to bike to work but don't want to or can't shower when you get there. They can be used to expand your range so that you can go on more interesting or longer rides. Or if you used to be a serious mountain biker but age and kids have caught up with you.

It doesn't seem to me like laziness is a primary motivation to get an ebike though as those people would just drive.

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

It makes cycling as a daily activity even more accessible. Longer commutes can be done with less effort, larger loads can be carried (cargo bikes), hills are flattened, headwinds are lessened. It's a great advancement to get more people riding bikes so we can continue the war on cars.

Commuting / carrying cargo makes sense. I can buy into that.

But as someone who uses their bikes purely for pleasure and training purposes, and treats hills and headwind as an extra training bonus (rule #5), I have a hard time respecting my (totally mobile) neighbour who is bragging to me about doing 60K in two hours, only to drop later in the conversation that it was on his eBike.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Buff

Perhaps I don't understand ebikes. Please help me to do so. My big question, simply (and harshly) put, isn't it a bike for lazy people? Wouldn't you be better off to just ride a regular pedal bike?

My commute is about 20k each way. I would commute 3 times a week depending on how I was feeling and while doing that was not feeling like going for runs, mountain biking, and other things because I wanted to rest. I just end up over training.

Instead with the E-bike I can commute every day and feel rested and its about 10 minutes faster. I am then back to normal evening and weekend energy levels. I also use it for any car trip I would be taking by myself. So grocery trips etc. I hauled my thanksgiving meal groceries including the turkey back.

These were just things I wasn't doing without the E-bike. So am I Lazy? That is definitely part of the benefit. Instead of expending energy especially on the short post work trips around the neighborhood I now can put in very little effort. However overall my activity level increased and E-biking decreased driving and didn't displace any other physical activity.

An E-bike is a summer car replacement, not a bike replacement.

[KTrain]

I say this with affection, but knowing Sliver's fondness for his Rascal scooter and the reason he uses it, means him riding an ebike is 100% laziness and I respect that.