So back in June I gave in and decided to get an e-bike after watching the ease which a riding partner went up a hill near the end of a 35 mile ride. I had yet to find a hill I couldn’t get up with my mountain bike, but pedaling a cadence of 75-80 to go 4mph gets old quick, especially at the end of a long ride. It also makes my bad knee quite angry when I overdo it with elevation gains.


Haven’t touched my other bike since (except to cannibalize accessories) and I am now think I will never go back. I wish I had made the change a year ago when I bought my last “regular” bike.

I am able to get just as good of a workout. I really only use the assist when going up hills or pressed for time. I’ve done a 70 mile ride, a 50 mile ride and lots of rides between 25-40 miles. On my “light days” I still do at least 10-15 miles.



Yesterday I hit the 1000 mark and am hoping for ant least another 500 miles before the Pacific NorthWET weather changes.

60 years old, never thought I’d be this active. Anyone thinking about it, can’t recommend it high enough. No way my wife could do a bike due to some of her medical issues, but we are going to borrow a friends e-TRIKE for her to try out and hopefully she will be joining me for short neighborhood rides soon.


Bought a new Insta360 action cam last mostly for camping a Bronco trips. But I’ve been using it on the bike to learn features and editing with the program.

Here is a short vid of a 5 mile portion of yesterday morning’s 28 mile ride. Pretty cool tech with the 360 degree video that lets you change viewpoints and reframe in post all from a single camera. Easy to add music, text, effects, all with the app right on your phone or tablet.

I rode this stretch of trail at an average speed of 18 mph, sped the vid up to cut the time.




https://youtu.be/qXY96QIrW0k


Bike is an Aventon Aventure Fat Tire. It has given me no issues other than a flat tire when I picked up a roofing staple. Averaging over 75 miles on a charge and is a “Class 2/3” with throttle and top speed of 28mph. Top speed actually only 26+ due to an speedo/odo error of about 5% high compared to cycling computer/gps. In fact, my only real gripe on the bike is the controller on this model doesn’t allow you to adjust for tire diameter so the error can’t be corrected. Only really an issue due to my OCD

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 911Boss,

Nice Boss
I would like an update on the trike for my spouse. I have a RAD and a conversion from Johnny Nerdout.
Safe cycling !!

Boss, your post has encouraged me to look at e-bikes again. It looks like the price has come down a lot.
Also looks like there are a lot more choices.

If I were to buy one, I'd probably be looking at something like the Trek DualSport +2. It's more a hybrid bike; much lighter (ca. 40 lbs.); with an extender battery range supposed to be 70 miles.
Top speed is 20 mph.
I would have to try one out to see if it feels natural.

About the entire eBike thing...

I did a pretty epic ride in Majorca, Spain last month. (The Sa Colabra climb for those who are familiar.) Part of the ride included about a 6-mile section with 2,200 feet of climbing.

https://www.strava.com/segments/653262

My cousin has the skill set to get that done in about 52 minutes, but there was no way I was in the condition for it.

So I rented this beauty... Yes, it's an eBike. Still gotta pedal though.
(Specialized Creo)

That's a fine looking bike, Steve.
I like the Specialized brand.
What does one cost new?

I know high-grade carbon fiber e-bikes run above 10 grand.
Looked it up: Turbo Creos appear to run $5,000 and up.
They sure look nice, and sure are light (26 lbs compared with 40 lbs and up).

TBH I think my days of riding in the mountains are probably over.

On the other hand, I guess I COULD sell a couple of guns and pay for a bike.

quote:

Originally posted by sjtill:
Boss, your post has encouraged me to look at e-bikes again.

Same here.

I'm a little fuzzy on how they work: Do you pedal them like a regular bike, but use the "power" to help with hills?

With mine you can pedal like a regular bike, use pedal assist with different power levels or just turn the throttle like a motorcycle.

Shop is building my Specialized Levo right now. Should be able to pick it up this week. Been looking forward to this for a long time.

I hit 50 this year, and just can’t keep up with the younger crowd I usually ride with. This’ll be my first full suspension mtb too.

Astounding how far the tech has come in the last 20 years.

Never imagined myself paying that kind of money for a bike, but realized that if it keeps me out there riding longer it’s much cheaper than a heart attack.

quote:

Originally posted by sjtill:
That's a fine looking bike, Steve.
I like the Specialized brand.
What does one cost new?

I know high-grade carbon fiber e-bikes run above 10 grand.
Looked it up: Turbo Creos appear to run $5,000 and up.
They sure look nice, and sure are light (26 lbs compared with 40 lbs and up).

TBH I think my days of riding in the mountains are probably over.

On the other hand, I guess I COULD sell a couple of guns and pay for a bike.

YEah, they start at $4,500 and go up depending on what frame material and components are included. I think the one I rented was a SL Expert that seems to run about $8,500. Their S-Works versions get up to $14k.

quote:

I'm a little fuzzy on how they work: Do you pedal them like a regular bike, but use the "power" to help with hills?

Depends on the bike you select, but the classification is not a hard-rule or regulation across the industry, so there will be differences between manufactures and in some cases differences between models within the same manufacture. There are also different guidelines regarding the top speed available between Europe and the USA. Like anything with a chip, I hear you can tweak the chip to adjust the speed limits.

quote:

Class 1: The Class 1 e-bike provides assistance only when you pedal and stops assisting when you reach 20 mph — great for bike lanes, bike paths, roads or anywhere you'd take a traditional bike.
Class 2: The Class 2 e-bike is equipped with a throttle which provides a boost without pedaling, and stops assisting at 20 mph.
Class 3: The Class 3 e-bike is equipped with a speedometer, and only assists until the bike reaches 28 mph — an excellent choice for commuters. The most popular bikes fit into Class 1 or Class 3 because riders still want to pedal.

My concern with these bikes is the battery life over time. If the battery quits after the warranty expires, and it will, what is the availability of replacements? Could the manufacturer stop making them? Of course they could! And since there are not huge numbers of bikes like the model I would be interested in, would a third-party be willing to build batteries? Form what I understand, it is not easy to rebuild the batteries.

I love my two e-bikes (one mountain bike and the other gravel)....my bad knee and not-so-good knee both like e-bikes especially at the end of a ride and the next day.

quote:

Originally posted by CoolRich59:

quote:

Originally posted by sjtill:
Boss, your post has encouraged me to look at e-bikes again.

Same here.

I'm a little fuzzy on how they work: Do you pedal them like a regular bike, but use the "power" to help with hills?

Depends on the bike. Mine has an 8 speed rear sprocket, 5 levels of pedal assist and a throttle.

Throttle will take you close to 20mph on level ground without pedaling.

My bike is a Cadence sensor, so if I am pedaling it triggers assistance at whatever level I’ve selected. If I am pedaling hard or in a higher gear and drive the bike beyond the assist level, motor cuts out and it is all me.

If I go to a lower gear and just spin the pedals without really putting torque on them, motor will drive to whatever assist level/speed (11-25mph) I have picked and bike is doing nearly all the work.

Some bikes are torque sensors instead of cadence, on those the assist at a given level varies based on the torque you are applying to the pedals. Low gear/easy pedaling gives you very little assist. High gear/strenuous pedaling gives you max assist.

Since I bike mostly for exercise, I try to do most the work myself and reserve the battery for uphill sections to reduce knee strain and keep average speed up. My bike is advertised as having an “average range” of 45 miles with a 160 lb rider. I am about 225 and am getting 60-70 miles on a charge but if I avoid the hills or use lower assist on them I can stretch it to 100 miles on a charge.

Short clip from today’s 20 mile ride… Off in my own little world




https://youtu.be/wUo0Fz3NWU4

Looks like fun but around here the roads are not safe to ride a bike or walk on anymore.
Drivers have no respect or common curiosity for others anymore. Most of them won't slow down or move over when they encounter people in or near the roads.
I was on my mower cutting grass right at the (dirt) roads edge and a car just blasted by. One of the tires kicked out a gravel stone that hit me in the leg that hurt like hell. Had a bruise and was sore for several days.
Around here you risk your life just to get your mail.

How real a problem are these as far as catching fire while charging? Michigan's Mackinaw Island is a strictly horse and bicycle only resort, and they have banned them due to fires started by them.