I just got an electric bike! Maybe you want one, too...

2

Replies

  • mom23mangos
    mom23mangos Posts: 3,069 Member
    I just got a really neat lightweight thing you can strap on your back with LED lights to signal if you are going straight, stopping, turning left, right, etc.
  • 7elizamae
    7elizamae Posts: 758 Member
    I just got a really neat lightweight thing you can strap on your back with LED lights to signal if you are going straight, stopping, turning left, right, etc.

    Do you know what it's called?
  • L1zardQueen
    L1zardQueen Posts: 8,753 Member
    7elizamae wrote: »
    Update!

    I've hit 2,700 miles on my e-bike! I have had no problems with the motor, and I'm still having fun. :)
    I am faster now, as I know the path so well that I don't have to be quite so cautious.

    If you're thinking about an e-bike commute, I say try it!

    My DH owns a Sondors, I am hoping to get my own. They are so much fun! I read your OP to him, he said I will get one for Christmas. Thank you for your update! <3
  • CarvedTones
    CarvedTones Posts: 2,340 Member
    edited September 2018
    I have thought about it because of knee trouble. I get flares that are partly from use but with a randomness factor. So even though some days I can ride several miles without any issue, on some other days I might only ride 2-3 miles before getting the first sign of trouble, immediately turning around and still be in "blink back tears" pain before I make it back.

    How are they to pedal with the motor off? Or maybe a slight assist mode if they are harder to pedal?

    EDIT - I have had far less trouble since losing weight. I still have some, but less often and usually less severe.
  • aokoye
    aokoye Posts: 3,495 Member
    I think eBikes have their place for people such as yourself who don't ride very far or very fast but for me one of the reasons I like bicycles is because I don't have to plug them in or refuel them. If I want to go somewhere I can just get on one and go.

    I have what you'd call a traditional road bike, but with Di2 (electronic shifting), which is wonderful. I have to change my groupset every 600 miles or so, or it'll become a single speed 34x16. I don't mind.

    I also live in hilly Seattle. Rode up and down Queen Anne last night for the scenery. Probably gain about 50' per mile on average riding around town.

    Yeah the charging bit is why some people don't buy electric shifting ;) My reasoning is that I simply don't have have the money. I suspect my answer to the "crap I forgot to charge the battery" in that situation would be to buy a spare one and keep it charge.

    The owner of my favorite coffee shop uses an ebike to transport coffee beans and he's of two minds. He doesn't really have a preference because he doesn't have to deal with a lot of hills on his main coffee hauling commute but peddling his ebike when it isn't charged is beyond not fun for him. We were just talked about this a few days ago which is why his situation came to mind.

    I personally just wouldn't want to deal with a 60 pound bike (though I know they make lighter ebikes than that).
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    aokoye wrote: »
    I think eBikes have their place for people such as yourself who don't ride very far or very fast but for me one of the reasons I like bicycles is because I don't have to plug them in or refuel them. If I want to go somewhere I can just get on one and go.

    I have what you'd call a traditional road bike, but with Di2 (electronic shifting), which is wonderful. I have to change my groupset every 600 miles or so, or it'll become a single speed 34x16. I don't mind.

    I also live in hilly Seattle. Rode up and down Queen Anne last night for the scenery. Probably gain about 50' per mile on average riding around town.

    Yeah the charging bit is why some people don't buy electric shifting ;) My reasoning is that I simply don't have have the money. I suspect my answer to the "crap I forgot to charge the battery" in that situation would be to buy a spare one and keep it charge.

    The owner of my favorite coffee shop uses an ebike to transport coffee beans and he's of two minds. He doesn't really have a preference because he doesn't have to deal with a lot of hills on his main coffee hauling commute but peddling his ebike when it isn't charged is beyond not fun for him. We were just talked about this a few days ago which is why his situation came to mind.

    I personally just wouldn't want to deal with a 60 pound bike (though I know they make lighter ebikes than that).

    I had always heard that nobody who ever used Di2 goes back to mechanical, so I made a point of never trying it. I've always been happy with mechanical. I had to replace a bike, the only one I could find in my size was all the way in Redmond, and worse, Di2. I said I didn't even want to test ride it because of that, and they offered it to me for the price of the same group in mechanical. :smile:

    Helps that I bought it a couple months before Shimano released the current stuff, and they updated the frame to accommodate it.
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    I have thought about it because of knee trouble. I get flares that are partly from use but with a randomness factor. So even though some days I can ride several miles without any issue, on some other days I might only ride 2-3 miles before getting the first sign of trouble, immediately turning around and still be in "blink back tears" pain before I make it back.

    How are they to pedal with the motor off? Or maybe a slight assist mode if they are harder to pedal?

    EDIT - I have had far less trouble since losing weight. I still have some, but less often and usually less severe.

    If you have health insurance, your doctor can send you and your bike to a physical therapist, who will adjust the bike to better fit you. It'll be covered. They will definitely be able to help with knee issues.
  • jenilla1
    jenilla1 Posts: 11,118 Member
    Sounds interesting, but it's not for me. If I used a bike for transportation, maybe it would be nice...But since I use mine for fitness, I actually WANT to do all the work! I enjoy the effort and challenge; powering through on my own is part of the fun. ;)
  • snickerscharlie
    snickerscharlie Posts: 8,578 Member
    I would love one of these e bikes! My daughter and I go biking a lot and there's a fabulous 25 km bike trail 2 minutes from the house. I would love to be able to do the whole thing one day.
  • L1zardQueen
    L1zardQueen Posts: 8,753 Member
    When I rode my husband’s bike (it has fat tires) for the first time, I took a steep and slippery, zig zagging dirt path to the bottom of a hill. Easy enough. But on my way back up this path, I lost traction, then momentum and needed to push this behemoth to the top. I got my workout in!
  • CarvedTones
    CarvedTones Posts: 2,340 Member
    I have thought about it because of knee trouble. I get flares that are partly from use but with a randomness factor. So even though some days I can ride several miles without any issue, on some other days I might only ride 2-3 miles before getting the first sign of trouble, immediately turning around and still be in "blink back tears" pain before I make it back.

    How are they to pedal with the motor off? Or maybe a slight assist mode if they are harder to pedal?

    EDIT - I have had far less trouble since losing weight. I still have some, but less often and usually less severe.

    If you have health insurance, your doctor can send you and your bike to a physical therapist, who will adjust the bike to better fit you. It'll be covered. They will definitely be able to help with knee issues.

    This is not a new thing; I have had issues for decades and been through regular doctors, rheumatologists, an orthopedic surgeon and to PT a few times. One surgery, several shots, lots of PT; when it is going to flare, it flares. It is more likely to happen when I am walking or pedaling but I have also had it happen in my sleep; I wake up inflamed and hobble to the shower, which kind of helps. Stress on the joints does seem to play into it since I seem to have had fewer flares recently. I say "seem to" because it really hasn't been long enough to be sure and I may be more hopeful than I should be, since it also affects my shoulders, hips, feet, hands and elbows. But I have not had a flare in several months.
  • L1zardQueen
    L1zardQueen Posts: 8,753 Member
    Packerjohn wrote: »
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    7elizamae wrote: »
    Update!

    I've hit 2,700 miles on my e-bike! I have had no problems with the motor, and I'm still having fun. :)
    I am faster now, as I know the path so well that I don't have to be quite so cautious.

    If you're thinking about an e-bike commute, I say try it!

    Good for you! If you're enjoying your bike and getting more exercise than you otherwise would have without it, it's a great thing. Any exercise is better for you than no exercise. Don't let the "hardcore" element bring you down. Not everybody desires to be an elite, spandex-clad roadie on a 14 lb. all-carbon fiber bike, there's room for everybody in cycling. "Proper cycling" is whatever you want it to be.

    It reminds me of the weight lifting discussions where anything over 3 reps is "cardio" and if you're not using exclusively barbells and squatting 2.5x your bodyweight, you're doing it all wrong and should just chuck it all in and go sit on the couch and eat Cheetos.

    And yeah, no *kitten* you don't burn as many calories on an e-bike.
    opgw40oprx6r.png

    You would think.

    I can't prove it, but I guarantee there is more than one person out there that tracks miles on an electric bike with some sort of traker/calorie counter, looks at the calories burned, declares victory, eats more and can't figure why they aren't losing weight.

    1aedse4tbucf.png

    I know you can’t prove it, but do your best.
  • Packerjohn
    Packerjohn Posts: 4,855 Member
    Packerjohn wrote: »
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    7elizamae wrote: »
    Update!

    I've hit 2,700 miles on my e-bike! I have had no problems with the motor, and I'm still having fun. :)
    I am faster now, as I know the path so well that I don't have to be quite so cautious.

    If you're thinking about an e-bike commute, I say try it!

    Good for you! If you're enjoying your bike and getting more exercise than you otherwise would have without it, it's a great thing. Any exercise is better for you than no exercise. Don't let the "hardcore" element bring you down. Not everybody desires to be an elite, spandex-clad roadie on a 14 lb. all-carbon fiber bike, there's room for everybody in cycling. "Proper cycling" is whatever you want it to be.

    It reminds me of the weight lifting discussions where anything over 3 reps is "cardio" and if you're not using exclusively barbells and squatting 2.5x your bodyweight, you're doing it all wrong and should just chuck it all in and go sit on the couch and eat Cheetos.

    And yeah, no *kitten* you don't burn as many calories on an e-bike.
    opgw40oprx6r.png

    You would think.

    I can't prove it, but I guarantee there is more than one person out there that tracks miles on an electric bike with some sort of traker/calorie counter, looks at the calories burned, declares victory, eats more and can't figure why they aren't losing weight.

    1aedse4tbucf.png

    I know you can’t prove it, but do your best.

    People actually spend money on these, I rest my case:

    izsdp7ozabqk.png
  • L1zardQueen
    L1zardQueen Posts: 8,753 Member
    Packerjohn wrote: »
    Packerjohn wrote: »
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    7elizamae wrote: »
    Update!

    I've hit 2,700 miles on my e-bike! I have had no problems with the motor, and I'm still having fun. :)
    I am faster now, as I know the path so well that I don't have to be quite so cautious.

    If you're thinking about an e-bike commute, I say try it!

    Good for you! If you're enjoying your bike and getting more exercise than you otherwise would have without it, it's a great thing. Any exercise is better for you than no exercise. Don't let the "hardcore" element bring you down. Not everybody desires to be an elite, spandex-clad roadie on a 14 lb. all-carbon fiber bike, there's room for everybody in cycling. "Proper cycling" is whatever you want it to be.

    It reminds me of the weight lifting discussions where anything over 3 reps is "cardio" and if you're not using exclusively barbells and squatting 2.5x your bodyweight, you're doing it all wrong and should just chuck it all in and go sit on the couch and eat Cheetos.

    And yeah, no *kitten* you don't burn as many calories on an e-bike.
    opgw40oprx6r.png

    You would think.

    I can't prove it, but I guarantee there is more than one person out there that tracks miles on an electric bike with some sort of traker/calorie counter, looks at the calories burned, declares victory, eats more and can't figure why they aren't losing weight.

    1aedse4tbucf.png

    I know you can’t prove it, but do your best.

    People actually spend money on these, I rest my case:

    izsdp7ozabqk.png

    They do? Color me skeptical.
  • CarvedTones
    CarvedTones Posts: 2,340 Member
    Packerjohn wrote: »
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    7elizamae wrote: »
    Update!

    I've hit 2,700 miles on my e-bike! I have had no problems with the motor, and I'm still having fun. :)
    I am faster now, as I know the path so well that I don't have to be quite so cautious.

    If you're thinking about an e-bike commute, I say try it!

    Good for you! If you're enjoying your bike and getting more exercise than you otherwise would have without it, it's a great thing. Any exercise is better for you than no exercise. Don't let the "hardcore" element bring you down. Not everybody desires to be an elite, spandex-clad roadie on a 14 lb. all-carbon fiber bike, there's room for everybody in cycling. "Proper cycling" is whatever you want it to be.

    It reminds me of the weight lifting discussions where anything over 3 reps is "cardio" and if you're not using exclusively barbells and squatting 2.5x your bodyweight, you're doing it all wrong and should just chuck it all in and go sit on the couch and eat Cheetos.

    And yeah, no *kitten* you don't burn as many calories on an e-bike.
    opgw40oprx6r.png

    You would think.

    I can't prove it, but I guarantee there is more than one person out there that tracks miles on an electric bike with some sort of traker/calorie counter, looks at the calories burned, declares victory, eats more and can't figure why they aren't losing weight.

    1aedse4tbucf.png

    But my trail has lots of turns and my bike doesn't have power steering. Sometimes a dog or child or child with a dog runs out in front of me and I have to squeeze the brake really hard...
  • nutmegoreo
    nutmegoreo Posts: 15,532 Member
    Packerjohn wrote: »
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    7elizamae wrote: »
    Update!

    I've hit 2,700 miles on my e-bike! I have had no problems with the motor, and I'm still having fun. :)
    I am faster now, as I know the path so well that I don't have to be quite so cautious.

    If you're thinking about an e-bike commute, I say try it!

    Good for you! If you're enjoying your bike and getting more exercise than you otherwise would have without it, it's a great thing. Any exercise is better for you than no exercise. Don't let the "hardcore" element bring you down. Not everybody desires to be an elite, spandex-clad roadie on a 14 lb. all-carbon fiber bike, there's room for everybody in cycling. "Proper cycling" is whatever you want it to be.

    It reminds me of the weight lifting discussions where anything over 3 reps is "cardio" and if you're not using exclusively barbells and squatting 2.5x your bodyweight, you're doing it all wrong and should just chuck it all in and go sit on the couch and eat Cheetos.

    And yeah, no *kitten* you don't burn as many calories on an e-bike.
    opgw40oprx6r.png

    You would think.

    I can't prove it, but I guarantee there is more than one person out there that tracks miles on an electric bike with some sort of traker/calorie counter, looks at the calories burned, declares victory, eats more and can't figure why they aren't losing weight.

    1aedse4tbucf.png

    Well this explains the endless numbers of threads about this.
  • Resistive
    Resistive Posts: 212 Member
    Packerjohn wrote: »
    Packerjohn wrote: »
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    7elizamae wrote: »
    Update!

    I've hit 2,700 miles on my e-bike! I have had no problems with the motor, and I'm still having fun. :)
    I am faster now, as I know the path so well that I don't have to be quite so cautious.

    If you're thinking about an e-bike commute, I say try it!

    Good for you! If you're enjoying your bike and getting more exercise than you otherwise would have without it, it's a great thing. Any exercise is better for you than no exercise. Don't let the "hardcore" element bring you down. Not everybody desires to be an elite, spandex-clad roadie on a 14 lb. all-carbon fiber bike, there's room for everybody in cycling. "Proper cycling" is whatever you want it to be.

    It reminds me of the weight lifting discussions where anything over 3 reps is "cardio" and if you're not using exclusively barbells and squatting 2.5x your bodyweight, you're doing it all wrong and should just chuck it all in and go sit on the couch and eat Cheetos.

    And yeah, no *kitten* you don't burn as many calories on an e-bike.
    opgw40oprx6r.png

    You would think.

    I can't prove it, but I guarantee there is more than one person out there that tracks miles on an electric bike with some sort of traker/calorie counter, looks at the calories burned, declares victory, eats more and can't figure why they aren't losing weight.

    1aedse4tbucf.png

    I know you can’t prove it, but do your best.

    People actually spend money on these, I rest my case:

    izsdp7ozabqk.png

    Can Amazon have it to me in two days?
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    edited September 2018
    Packerjohn wrote: »
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    7elizamae wrote: »
    Update!

    I've hit 2,700 miles on my e-bike! I have had no problems with the motor, and I'm still having fun. :)
    I am faster now, as I know the path so well that I don't have to be quite so cautious.

    If you're thinking about an e-bike commute, I say try it!

    Good for you! If you're enjoying your bike and getting more exercise than you otherwise would have without it, it's a great thing. Any exercise is better for you than no exercise. Don't let the "hardcore" element bring you down. Not everybody desires to be an elite, spandex-clad roadie on a 14 lb. all-carbon fiber bike, there's room for everybody in cycling. "Proper cycling" is whatever you want it to be.

    It reminds me of the weight lifting discussions where anything over 3 reps is "cardio" and if you're not using exclusively barbells and squatting 2.5x your bodyweight, you're doing it all wrong and should just chuck it all in and go sit on the couch and eat Cheetos.

    And yeah, no *kitten* you don't burn as many calories on an e-bike.
    opgw40oprx6r.png

    You would think.

    I can't prove it, but I guarantee there is more than one person out there that tracks miles on an electric bike with some sort of traker/calorie counter, looks at the calories burned, declares victory, eats more and can't figure why they aren't losing weight.

    1aedse4tbucf.png

    I've seen some discussion of e-bike riders taking segments on Strava as well, then getting a sh!tty-on when it's flagged as dubious
  • 7elizamae
    7elizamae Posts: 758 Member
    I have thought about it because of knee trouble. I get flares that are partly from use but with a randomness factor. So even though some days I can ride several miles without any issue, on some other days I might only ride 2-3 miles before getting the first sign of trouble, immediately turning around and still be in "blink back tears" pain before I make it back.

    How are they to pedal with the motor off? Or maybe a slight assist mode if they are harder to pedal?

    EDIT - I have had far less trouble since losing weight. I still have some, but less often and usually less severe.

    My bike weighs 60 pounds, so pedaling with the motor off is a big, big workout. I usually ride with level 1 (out of 5) power assist. That way I get the push but I still get good exercise. I use level 2 or 3 on an incline, and 4 or 5 on a real hill.

    You should try one and see how your knee likes it. It might be a game changer!
  • 7elizamae
    7elizamae Posts: 758 Member
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    7elizamae wrote: »
    Update!

    I've hit 2,700 miles on my e-bike! I have had no problems with the motor, and I'm still having fun. :)
    I am faster now, as I know the path so well that I don't have to be quite so cautious.

    If you're thinking about an e-bike commute, I say try it!

    Good for you! If you're enjoying your bike and getting more exercise than you otherwise would have without it, it's a great thing. Any exercise is better for you than no exercise. Don't let the "hardcore" element bring you down. Not everybody desires to be an elite, spandex-clad roadie on a 14 lb. all-carbon fiber bike, there's room for everybody in cycling. "Proper cycling" is whatever you want it to be.

    It reminds me of the weight lifting discussions where anything over 3 reps is "cardio" and if you're not using exclusively barbells and squatting 2.5x your bodyweight, you're doing it all wrong and should just chuck it all in and go sit on the couch and eat Cheetos.

    And yeah, no *kitten* you don't burn as many calories on an e-bike.
    opgw40oprx6r.png

    Thanks! Great post. :)

    I do get some flack from Real Bikers, but they really don't bother me. To each his own.

    BTW, my fitbit tells me (according to heart rate measurements) that my rides burn an extra 450 calories per day. I assume that's on the generous side, count it as around 300, and I'm very happy with that. 1500+ calories burnt per week just going to and from work on a fun ride -- I love it!
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    7elizamae wrote: »
    I have thought about it because of knee trouble. I get flares that are partly from use but with a randomness factor. So even though some days I can ride several miles without any issue, on some other days I might only ride 2-3 miles before getting the first sign of trouble, immediately turning around and still be in "blink back tears" pain before I make it back.

    How are they to pedal with the motor off? Or maybe a slight assist mode if they are harder to pedal?

    EDIT - I have had far less trouble since losing weight. I still have some, but less often and usually less severe.

    My bike weighs 60 pounds, so pedaling with the motor off is a big, big workout. I usually ride with level 1 (out of 5) power assist. That way I get the push but I still get good exercise. I use level 2 or 3 on an incline, and 4 or 5 on a real hill.

    You should try one and see how your knee likes it. It might be a game changer!

    !!!

    :hushed:

    How does it handle going down hill?
  • 7elizamae
    7elizamae Posts: 758 Member


    My bike weighs 60 pounds, so pedaling with the motor off is a big, big workout. I usually ride with level 1 (out of 5) power assist. That way I get the push but I still get good exercise. I use level 2 or 3 on an incline, and 4 or 5 on a real hill.

    You should try one and see how your knee likes it. It might be a game changer![/quote]

    !!!

    :hushed:

    How does it handle going down hill?[/quote]

    It's great! It actually feels much smoother than my 'acoustic' bike. The only time the weight is really a problem is when I need to get it on my car's bike rack. I can't possibly do it alone. And I wouldn't want to ride it with the power off entirely -- so I don't.



  • GiddyupTim
    GiddyupTim Posts: 2,819 Member
    My town has about 300-plus Jump bikes, which are public e-bikes. They are super-fun. They are super-popular in the downtown and midtown area.
    With my app, I can usually find one within about 5 blocks of where I am at.
  • jo_nz
    jo_nz Posts: 548 Member
    I am pretty excited...I have just ordered an ebike and should pick it up on Friday!!

    I definitely more of a casual cyclist, and after I broke my ankle a couple of years ago, my son claimed my bike (he outgrew his old one).
    So now, knowing I was slow to begin with, some limitations in my ankle, and needing to get a new bike, the time was right to go electric.
    Looking forward to keeping up with the family and getting out there more.