E bike

[Rowland]

Thanks for the reply wasnt really sure where to put it.

I have never actually ridden a e bike so not seen how much help they give.

I currently have a scott s35 and a specialised Sirius but was thinking about getting back into trails I did have a 10 year old cube ams 125 but got rid as it needed a fair bit of work doing.

I have been toying in my head between e bike or just new bike and really can't decide.

The only thing I am thinking with the e bike is it would make me more inclined to go out.

I used to do a fair bit of riding but sort of gave up 6/7 years back I’ve put weight on and become unfit then I moved to an area with nowt but hills . I’m 55 and have stepped back from full time farming and have time spare to do things I enjoy.
Back in February I got a Gtech mountain bike 2nd hand (not the white one) with the idea of getting back into cycling again at 1st I was a little sceptical about it but now I’m a bit fitter it’s pretty good. It turns what would be daunting topography it to a usable area where once over I’d say I’m not going round that because of that climb it’s no problem now.
I switch the battery off quite a bit so it’s not always helping.
I’m going to sell my Giant XTC and the Gtech and buy a better E bike.

 

[Phil P]

I bought an E fatbike back in January, I’ll be honest I’m not a big cyclist (more into the ones with an engine?) but need to do a little bit exercise!
I’ve not used it as much as I’d have liked due to a very busy spring but when I do get out on it it’s great fun, it’s really good off road with the big tyres and a comfortable ride. Handy for nipping round a few fields for crop walking and I sometimes nip home on it for my dinner as I don’t end up sweating my tits of in my work gear.

Has 5 power settings so you can set how much effort you put through the pedals and the top speed, also has a hand throttle which I’ve found really handy for if you end up in the wrong gear when you come to a stop!

I picked it up pretty cheap as a friends dad had just bought it in December and unfortunately past away unexpectedly over Christmas (nothing to do with the bike). They where clearing out his stuff and asked if I wanted it, so made a reasonable offer.

 

[Zebbedee]

I have one and been using it for 2 years

Fab thing

Did 21 miles yesterday from home

Backroads and tracks/bridleways

View attachment 872256

What make and model is that looks very cool thanks

 

[dubs]

is there not free money on these things now ?
some bike to work scheme ?
neighbour has one, got a grant towards it

 

[Boysground]

Cycle to work scheme, basically you get the value of the bike put against your tax bill so there can be a significant saving. The issue i had when I looked into it which would affect many farms is that the employer has to be a company, partnerships/sole trader not eligible, or directors of companies. I dont think that has changed.

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[Derrick Hughes]

Not being picky I hope but E Bikes are not allowed to post times on the cycling app Strava

 

[Boysground]

There are so many activities available now it wouldn’t surprise me if there was already one for E bikes, I have a friend who posts his canoeing times on Strava.

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[Tomr10]

Not being picky I hope but E Bikes are not allowed to post times on the cycling app Strava

You can add anything even using a car if you want. Typically you add what bike you did it on

I’m looking forward to my new e bike coming

 

[Derrick Hughes]

You can add anything even using a car if you want. Typically you add what bike you did it on

I’m looking forward to my new e bike coming

There are sections and one for e bikes
The peddle bike section being for person power only ,

 

[Wuffler]

There are sections and one for e bikes
The peddle bike section being for person power only ,

With my pedant hat on:
One peddles drugs. A bicycle is pedalled... with or without the Strava app.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

I did not realise E Bikes had their own section sorry ,

 

[Secret Agronomist]

I'm not sure I see the point of them. If you get a good light carbon road bike then you are propelling a lot lighter weight than an ebike around. I saw someone on an ebike the other day and it was an awful lash up between a hybrid bike and a mountain bike with poor quality components (fork was substandard).

Why not just cycle until you are tired? And you will get fitter then. Hills aren't that bad

I hire an mtb version now and again. If you are into downhill runs its a great way of doing more in a day but I prefer climbing and carting the extra weight around seems counterintuitive unless you run in turbo all the time. Note, I PREFER climbing I don't ENJOY climbing.

 

[Boysground]

My brother was asking me about bikes the other day. He hasn’t got one at the moment, his idea is that a £5k 24kg E mountain bike will get him fitter. I suggested that £1k on a ordinary bike might be a better bet.

Im happy with my 8.5 kg road bikes

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[Secret Agronomist]

My brother was asking me about bikes the other day. He hasn’t got one at the moment, his idea is that a £5k 24kg E mountain bike will get him fitter. I suggested that £1k on a ordinary bike might be a better bet.

Im happy with my 8.5 kg road bikes

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Thats my thought, especially if I get rid of 2 stone, then I'll be flying. Have a carbon road bike but fancy a short travel lightweight mtb but they are crazy prices, just waiting for folk to get bored with their santa cruz tallboy then I'll swoop in and pick one up cheap, maybe!

 

[Boysground]

I was riding the local lanes a couple of weeks ago. A chap and his wife caught me up and we were chatting for a couple of miles. I noticed she was on an E road bike. She said it was the only way she could keep up with her husband

He was definitely a machine, I was flagging when we parted

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[john 650]

My brother was asking me about bikes the other day. He hasn’t got one at the moment, his idea is that a £5k 24kg E mountain bike will get him fitter. I suggested that £1k on a ordinary bike might be a better bet.

Im happy with my 8.5 kg road bikes

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agree fully with this. Can see the logic in them if it's to go further in a day, to keep up with someone, or for commuting etc, but as something that's going to help you get fitter, by letting you do less exercise... That's some marketing ploy!

 

[The Seeker]

I bike do make you fitter if you had a low base fitness, I see lots of old folk who wouldn’t even be out if it was not for the battery assist , the fitness leve had a cap for me but the fun level is off the chart

 

[Hjwise]

Biking doesn’t have to be about fitness though. I’ve reduced my derv expenditure by at least 80% since getting my ebike 18 months ago. I got a GT I-drive off eBay and and rear wheel motor convert ion kit for a total cost of about £650. Full suspension and good mudguards make it really nice to get from my house to the farm all year round.

 

[john 650]

Biking doesn’t have to be about fitness though. I’ve reduced my derv expenditure by at least 80% since getting my ebike 18 months ago. I got a GT I-drive off eBay and and rear wheel motor convert ion kit for a total cost of about £650. Full suspension and good mudguards make it really nice to get from my house to the farm all year round.

Spot on- it doesn't have to be about fitness, but I'm sure most of us know of e bike buyers who've spent £2K + on an e-bike, on the assumption that it will help them "get out there and get fit", when hard tail MTBs are so good these days a £500-600 one will get you most places for a couple of hours, and will actually give you something in return.

Once went out with a mate on his e-bike (bought to get him fit), thinking he'd be leaving me standing on climbs. Instead he sat on my shoulder, chatting away up climbs, whilst his battery took the strain... Where's the point in that?

 

[Tomr10]

New toy