I didn’t do it yet: E-bike edition

[cantunamunch]

My doctoral advisor confessed to me on the day of his retirement (same as my graduation) that he almost didn't get the job he was now retiring from because he had been ticketed by campus police (during his own doctoral work) for riding his bike on campus while drunk.

I've seen a few steel frames with creased downtubes that never, ever saw a garage door. Curbs can be deadly to drunks.

My point was more to the subtle difference between a uni and a bike - you can't ride it unless you constantly pressure split between *both* feet - if you can ride an unelectrified uni drunk you won't fail the heel/toe test. So speech and other motion control (spastic arms say) is likely to be more telling.

 

[skibob]

I've seen a few steel frames with creased downtubes that never, ever saw a garage door. Curbs can be deadly to drunks.

My point was more to the subtle difference between a uni and a bike - you can't ride it unless you constantly pressure split between *both* feet - if you can ride an unelectrified uni drunk you won't fail the heel/toe test. So speech and other motion control (spastic arms say) is likely to be more telling.

I just like the story. My advisor was a badass. Before returning to school he was a Nazi hunter for military intelligence in post WWII Germany.

Has . . . absolutely nothing to do w/ e-bikes.

 

[Crank]

I miss bar ends.

 

[robertc3]

Funny, the majority of new adaptors we see here on eMTB's are the hard core riders that are not over 60 .. or 70 or 80 but in their 30's-50's. The reason they are using is not health but that they are more fun. The "earning your turns" rebuttle is all but gone.

I am sure there a plenty of riders for whom they are more fun. Those who love the down and just survive the up. I actually love the up, even more than the down sometimes. I fully expect to own an eMTB at some point, but I don't see that point coming any time soon.

 

[Erik Timmerman]

I know early on your daughter(s) were pretty dismissive of eBikes, what are their feeings now?

Definitely still a hard no, but she’s in favor of Bonnie trying to kick my butt.

 

[Tom K.]

He smiled and said "I celebrated by getting drunk and riding my bike across campus that night."

Let's just give it up for Mary Hopkin here for a minute:

 

[VickieH]

I didn't do it yet either (get an e-bike), but it's gonna happen.

I haven't been on a bike for about 10 years. Looked at bikes. Test rode bikes. My non-e-bike choice is Trek FX Sport 4 Carbon, a fitness/hybrid bike that rides more like a road bike. Before committing to that, though, I decided to try e-bikes. One benefit -- I don't know exactly what terrain I'll be on ... I could use pedal assist in lieu of extra gears if I end up riding more hilly terrain than I originally intended. Also, knowing I have pedal assist, I can go out and get some exercise on days when I'm not sure I'm really feeling it.

I've ridden 4 e-bikes and know what my priorities are:

• Looks like a traditional bike
• Max weight of about 40 lbs so I can load it in the car
• Prefer no throttle; I'm just looking for pedal assist to help with hills and to extend rides
• Prefer to stay with major bike manufacturers for maintenance purposes

Now it's just a matter of finding the right bike.

The Specialized Vado SL 5.0 checks all of the boxes. Local shop got one shipped in, but the Small frame is still a little too tall.

The Trek FX+ is ok. The hub drive adds a drag factor that the analog FX Sport doesn't have and that mid drives don't seem to have.

Over the next few weeks, as weather permits, I'll be test riding and plan to have something in the garage before spring.

 

[cantunamunch]

I've ridden 4 e-bikes and know what my priorities are:

• Looks like a traditional bike
• Max weight of about 40 lbs so I can load it in the car
• Prefer no throttle; I'm just looking for pedal assist to help with hills and to extend rides
• Prefer to stay with major bike manufacturers for maintenance purposes

Are you aware that Fazua now have a battery AND motor removable system?

The 60:

FAZUA - RIDE 60

www.fazua.com

The 50:

FAZUA - RIDE 50 EVATION

www.fazua.com

The Trek FX+ is ok. The hub drive adds a drag factor that the analog FX Sport doesn't have and that mid drives don't seem to have.

In a mid-drive. Notice how many mfgs have at least one design with the system.

 

[Erik Timmerman]

Just ordered an Evil Epocalypse. It's April 1 but I'm not foolin'. We have a local DH park with no lift - so I plan to use it as a self propelled DH bike and save myself hours of driving to lift served parks.

 

[Philpug]

Just ordered an Evil Epocalypse. It's April 1 but I'm not foolin'. We have a local DH park with no lift - so I plan to use it as a self propelled DH bike and save myself hours of driving to lift served parks.

Who are the original naysayers haven't switched over, @tball? Who else?

 

[scott43]

Who are the original naysayers haven't switched over, @tball? Who else?

 

[Erik Timmerman]

Who are the original naysayers haven't switched over, @tball? Who else?

Switching seems to imply no more muscle powered bikes.

 

[tball]

Who are the original naysayers haven't switched over, @tball? Who else?

I'm still doing fine with human power. That's even with a few new parts installed in my heart.

When I can't get from Copper to Vail and back under my own power, I'll consider an e-bike. Hoping I'll make it to late 70's.

My wife could be on an e-bike much sooner so we can both have more fun riding together.

 

[tball]

I plan to use it as a self propelled DH bike and save myself hours of driving to lift served parks.

This makes a ton of sense.

 

[Rod9301]

I'm still doing fine with human power. That's even with a few new parts installed in my heart.

When I can't get from Copper to Vail and back under my own power, I'll consider an e-bike. Hoping I'll make it to late 70's.

My wife could be on an e-bike much sooner so we can both have more fun riding together.

Don't delay the fun

 

[cantunamunch]

Don't delay the fun

4am analog ride ftw

 

[MnLakeBum]

Are you aware that Fazua now have a battery AND motor removable system?

The 60:

FAZUA - RIDE 60

www.fazua.com

The 50:

FAZUA - RIDE 50 EVATION

www.fazua.com

In a mid-drive. Notice how many mfgs have at least one design with the system.

I finally pulled the trigger on an ebike and it uses the Fazua system. It’s this gravel bike from Pivot and I’m having a blast with it. 30 lbs with the battery and about 9 pounds lighter without it. At age 59, it allows me to go riding with my 26 year old son and not hold him back. The last time he was timed in the mile was in college 3 years ago he ran a 4:27 so he’s sometimes a challenge to keep up with even with the battery assist. I just got back from Big Sky for a week with my wife, son, and oldest daughter and riding my Pivot 4+ days a week before the ski trip was a big part of me getting my cardio and legs in shape. It’s my first bike with electronic shifting(Ultegra Di2) and what a difference from my old SRAM Red.

https://www.mtbr.com/threads/pivot-e-vault-details-and-ride-impressions-dialed-e-gravel-bike-worth-10k.1178002/

 

[Tom K.]

My wife could be on an e-bike much sooner so we can both have more fun riding together.

I cannot overstate how well this works for us, in both road and mtb contexts. Huge!

 

[cantunamunch]

It’s my first bike with electronic shifting(Ultegra Di2) and what a difference from my old SRAM Red.

LOL this made me feel old - I was riding Daytona when Red and Force came out.

 

[skibob]

I finally pulled the trigger on an ebike and it uses the Fazua system. It’s this gravel bike from Pivot and I’m having a blast with it. 30 lbs with the battery and about 9 pounds lighter without it. At age 59, it allows me to go riding with my 26 year old son and not hold him back. The last time he was timed in the mile was in college 3 years ago he ran a 4:27 so he’s sometimes a challenge to keep up with even with the battery assist. I just got back from Big Sky for a week with my wife, son, and oldest daughter and riding my Pivot 4+ days a week before the ski trip was a big part of me getting my cardio and legs in shape. It’s my first bike with electronic shifting(Ultegra Di2) and what a difference from my old SRAM Red.

https://www.mtbr.com/threads/pivot-e-vault-details-and-ride-impressions-dialed-e-gravel-bike-worth-10k.1178002/

View attachment 231965

Beautiful bike! I have something roughly equivalent in a Cannondale. A few years older, a few lbs heavier, with a Bosch motor. Love that bike. Still debating whether to take it with me when we move to France this summer (where it won't strictly speaking be legal) or sell it and buy something new.