I am 62 years young and had not ridden a bike in over 45 years. Due to a problem with my left leg I cannot walk 200 yards without having to stop to rest. In September last year while on furlough I had the chance to try an ebike, what a game changer. Due to the cadence sensor system I can now ride 30 miles with ease and no stopping to rest because of the bad leg. I go out most weekends in all weathers and I am slowly building up my fitness level. 95% of the time I am only using assist level 1 and only use 2 and 3 for the steeper hills. Without the ebike I would be sat at home or driving my car. This has given me a new lease of life and enjoy every minute of my time on the bike. Most normal cyclists pass me on the road as I rarely go over 12mph so I don't see how this can be classed as cheating and after all I am not racing anyone, I am just out enjoying the fresh air and the scenery and seeing things I would never see while driving my car. Keep up the great videos. Thanks.
It just goes to show how keeping up exercise all your life ( cycling ) keeps your fitness and health for much longer. I am also 62 and have raced cycles all my life. Last season I was fastest over 60, and third fastest scratch first claim member ( all ages ) in my cycling club's evening series time trialling. Tonight I averaged 25.5 mph with an average 258 watts over a full hour on Zwift tempus fugit. I hope to keep the day I need an e- bike for decades into the future hopefully. At 40 I broke my neck of femur ( hip) but with continual exercise it completely fixed over many years after removal of 3 cannula hip screws, this proves as i was told by the consultant, that people who exercise also have better outcomes after operations also.
Taken the words out of my mouth, at 70 with walking issues I got an ebike 2 years ago, haven't ridden since a kid. Now I'm out every day for at least 10 mile. It keeps the car of the road and I feel I'm doing my bit for the overstretch NHS and the taxpayer lol.
This is exactly what an ebike is great for , people as yourself who without one would not be able to cycle. When the time comes I can no longer get up the hills under my own steam I will definitely be getting one. Hate to see youngsters using them though as I feel they will limit improvement
@@JK-wl5bxI'm only 24 and getting one for my way of transport. I do dog walking and cover 15 to 20 miles of cycling as well as walking dogs for several hours so it's a challenge to keep that up. I also have an autoimmune disease so when I'm ill I get fatigue. Most weeks I do around 45 to 60 miles of cycling to and from my customers homes
In my 70s and have found the"fun factor" has returned after getting an ebike. I go further and helps me want to explore more. So, yeah, I really don't care about the odd road side heckle, just smile and keep on peddling. Great video 👍
I am a keen cyclist a d love it. My partner isn't, but I have convinced her to join me and with her having an ebike we can do longer rides. Long enough to keep me interested and the electric helps her keep up. I think it's brilliant.
Great video, Leonard! I have been an avid road cyclist all my life but having retired last year, invested in a road ebike. I love cycling the hills and mountains near where I live and at my age, the ebike is so much fun. I have cycled 120kms with over 3000m of climbing and doing it with a big grin on my face! Am I lazy and cheating? Don't care what others think, I'm still getting a good workout, breathing fresh air and admiring the countryside. I have kept my "real" bikes and still use them for shorter, flatter rides. The best of both worlds!!
Just came back from a 3hour 73km ebike ride with 1000m of climbing. I’m utterly exhausted. Without that motor I would more likely have stayed home, had a couple of beers and some cake. Ebikes are great.
I bought an ebike 2 months ago and ridden 600km so far. The motor tells me I average about 1/3 of the power and it does 2/3. So to burn the same calories I would have had to ride 200km (+/-). A) That 200km would have been much more stress on my body and not as enjoyable, meaning that... B) I would not have done those 200km on my old bike. I absolutely love it and have gone from riding once a month to 3 times a week. I'm feeling fitter, happier and have finally explored my neighbourhood (get Komoot or an app which will show you the less known trails).
@@ecoworrier but having 3 x the power doesn't get you 3 x the top speed (unless on uphill) so it's more like probably 300-400km worth of pedaling. The best test is how far can you ride in an hour using A: a standard bike, B: an e-bike. Use the same route (although the wind direction and speed might change) and the same clothing on each. My standard bike usually goes about 60% of the distance in the same time.
I completely agree. I had a really nasty injury about 10 years ago on a normal bicycle, which has basically destroyed my knee. It is still functional, but I do not have all the strength and there is a major loss of cartilage from all the wear and tear. And having an e-bike to provide some form of assistance would definitely give me the encouragment to tackle the hills and stay out there instead of heading back earlier. And like you said: at the end of the day, if it gets you out and moving, then it’s a positive not a negative.
I'm an ebike rider and a strong advocate for them. Ebikers don't have any issues with regular cyclists but, for a small minority of very vocal regular cyclists, it isn't the same in reverse. Hell, even I had to shift my perspective, especially when witnessing an ebiker not pedalling but using a throttle. Put simply, I don't know what their mobility issues may be and it is none of my business, plus, they have every right to be out enjoying the outdoors too. As for cheating, well I don't seek validation from anybody. As for fitness, just like regular biking, it all depends. Keep your heart rate in the required zones and you will improve your fitness. Simple as that. Ebikes will get people out when they otherwise wouldn't, and they can control the amount of effort they put in, allowing for a gradual improvement in fitness, if that is their goal. I see way too many people that struggle like crazy on their regular bikes and you just know they won't stick with it. These folk should stop listening to the naysayers and seriously consider an ebike.
No, NOT regular cyclists. Roadies. Only roadies who have their ego's barely in check. E-bikes are both a magnificent workhorse for transport and everyday car alternative travel or as a recreation for others. Everyone else who rides a bike doesn't care or wants one too. Oh but I forgot, roadies think they are the only one's who are cyclists! 🤦♂️
Great coverage of what the ebike assist is about; not throttle-assist moped. Still working albeit more work with less effort = this old lady still gets to enjoy the mountain riding. I was “selecting a flatter route” ever since my stroke a few months ago and running out of ride options, ie same thing every day. I can expand my terrain options now. I appreciate the reasons why you are not yet totally sold on the ebike though. Thank you!
I am 62 and a very keen cyclist and I own both analogue and e road bikes. I use the analogue for shorter distances (sub 20km) but I have to use the ebike for longer distances. My heart goes into arrhythmia if I sustain even a moderate heart rate for too long. Without the e bike I would have given up cycling. Ebikes have kept may people like me in the sport.
Bicycles weren't invented for exercise. I could use a hand crank to drill a hole also but why not use current technology. I love my e-bike and honestly wouldn't currently own a bike if they didn't exist.
Well said Leonard, ebikes are for everyone and I have never done more cycling in my life! Blast through headwinds and enjoy the hills! More cycling = more enjoyment =more fitness!
I converted my bike just before Christmas. Arthritis and loss of fitness had turned local hills into a source of anxiety. It has succeeded beyond my wildest dreams. On a climb its like always having a gear low enough to cope. The twist grip works really well to blend the assist in with whatever I am managing to put out and just keep me moving. I've never used the highest setting. In theory I could sit there idly turning the pedals and putting no effort in, but I'm sure I don't need to spell out how uncomfortable that can be. I am finding cycling satisfying again. I haven't really started to go far afield yet, but I'm getting back from my local outings out of breath, which was not the case when I had to keep getting off to push. It is definitely opening a door for me and with a bit of luck one day I will feel able to change things back. I remember a day not all that long ago when I was locking up my bike outside the gym and noticed that someone had arrived on an ebike. Gods! How superior I felt. Its a different story when one realises that, actually, I can't quite manage it anymore... Great video. Thankyou!
I am a regular cyclist, But I also commute on an ebike. They are brilliant, Enables me to commute every day 20 miles when the weather allows. Arrive to work not sweaty.
Cheers Leonard, great video :) Being in the mid 50s I decided to get an e-bike, was very handy at first, but since I have been riding for 6 months I now find on the flat bits I exceed the speed that the pedal assist (15.5mph) helps with, so I am now pushing round a 19kg bike, handy for the steeper hills though. Just fixing up a second hand road bike I have bought to ween myself off the electric :)
I have been riding an e-bike for about 3 years and have completed a couple of fun rides of about 60kms whilst towing a grand daughter in a trailer and had plenty of battery left. Also have a non e-bike which is semi permanentmy attached to the turbo trainer in case the weather outside is uninviting. Thanks for the videos Leonard
The things people get judged on is absolutely hilarious. There’s no pre-requisite to own an ebike. Age, fitness, sex, religion, political affiliation, health condition, etc... NONE OF THAT MATTERS. If it makes you happy get one and ignore the haters. If they’re upset at seeing another cyclist on the road/trail enjoying themselves it’s generally due to a fragile ego. Laugh it off and continue to do you.
HI Leonard another great video. Aged 70 I was recently diagnosed has having a problem with my left heart chamber and I am convinced if I hadn't been a runner cyclist for most of my life you wouldn't be reading this. Interestingly my cardiologist said I could still cycle as long as I didn't use too much effort and got out of breath. So like you I will continue to cycle a normal bike but if I found it was too much it would be an electric bike for me. Last year one of my mates said he was thinking of getting an electric bike as he found cycling was getting too much like hard work. Myself and our other mates advised him to get one and he has and he loves it. He will be 84 this year so who would blame him. Stay safe. Ted
I'm 54. I used to look down on ebikes until I got one. I am a regular rider doing 20km per day but I'm not an avid rider doing 100km a day. An ebike makes life easier. It is a transport option. It is one less car. I ride further now and I can also carry stuff that I used to need a car for. Avid riders should stick to normal bikes but ebikes are perfect for the rest of us.
I have a regular road bike and a e bike ,I ride on the day, if I am feeling energetic it's the regular bike or if somewhat fatigued the ebike although only using assist on the steepest of climbs (big Devon hills ) not really bothered if people think it's cheating I,m on the road for enjoyment not to race or please someone else ...having just come out of a case very bad of covid the ebike is getting me back to some sort of fitness and as I am in my mid 60s I don't think I would have been out at all without the ebike
great video! I'm an enthusiastic cyclist that usually aims for 3000 - 3500 ft of elevation on most rides. I just ordered my first e-bike, which will be used mostly for shopping and in-town errands. But I'm also looking forward to doing some climbing on it and seeing what it feels like to be able to climb 3 to 5 mph faster. Should be fun!
I'm in my mid 70's and have health issues that limit my road bike stamina. Very frustrating so I had to quit the lycra clad crowd that I enjoyed. I started riding the neighborhood on my own. Girlfriend decided to join me but struggled. Christmas I bought her an ebike and the tables turned. Now she was bored with my pace so I bought an ebike for me. At first didn't like it and on the days she didn't ride went back to my regular road bike. I when alone ride primarily for exercise. I like to do repeated intervals. I have learned I can do more intervals esp when my health issues act up. When I feel good I can ride 95% of time with no assist. So now have the best of both worlds - IMHO.
In 2014 cancer and subsequent chemotherapy wreaked havoc on my body and in particular my fitness. Everything became harder to do and eventually this lead to nearly seven years of laziness and ever increasing BMI. At the start of April of this year I purchased a pedal assist mid-drive ebike and have ridden 400 km since. I started on the second assist level and now on the lowest, or sometimes off altogether so I can feel my fitness increasing dramatically in this short time. My plan is to add a regular road bike within a year. It should be noted that this is the first time I have been on a bike in 25 years. BTW, I really appreciate your channel, it is insightful and inspirational. So many cycling outlets are focused on the younger athletes that yours is absolutely refreshing.
Hi Leonard, the heart thing is exactly why I had to buy one. My HR was getting too high as per my doctor and told me the same thing, “stop cycling.” I was destroyed. Ebike is keeping me healthy and riding.
Strange how they do this after my heart attack my local hospital showed me how to walk and cycle while keeping my heart rate at a safe level, and recomended it to me. They did say no running or jogging though lol
Haha same. Came up on a fellow riding closed the gap and went on past. A short distance later he came by me and looked like he was in turbo mode. I'm sure he didn't like the fact I passed him and he upped the power setting. I just mumbled to myself "cheater" lol.
At 69 years old, I bought an ebike. Now winds and hills are not a problem. I go more frequently and for longer rides. Very nice and as much work as you choose.
I absolutely 100% agree with this man in 2010 I had to have stents fitted which stopped my fitness reign jogging and cycling even going in the gym, I have cycled since I was 12 year old I am now 57 and was 46 when my health problems started. I felt it would of been easier to die then face what I had to face, I used to do 100 miles cycling in one day, believe me when suddenly you have to stop doing what you love its painful, I went from 14 stone 7 lb to 22 stone, by 2017 i would walk to the end of the road and be puffing and panting, I decided I would stop feeling sorry for myself and get up and do something, I started swimming as they say that is the best exercise for over weight people, it started to work and decided to buy myself a road bike and started cycling in fact it lasted for approx 18months and got down to 18stone 7 lb but bad days when it was heavy wind I could feel the strain, I have always walked my dogs for years but that doesn't help lose or keep weight down, probably be heavier if I never so having a dog gave me insentive to walk each day. But no sadly I was getting a lot of pain and stopped cycling as it was hard and was adviced by the doctor, then came the Corona and my swimming stopped so from this fantastic 18.5 stone I was mantaining I was soon upto 20 stone. I spoke many times of getting a e bike don't get me wrong a person should ride a regular cycle as long as they can, but I listened to others its fiddling and do you no good. Well three months ago I had a review at doctors and was told I am on the borderline of diabetis and my blood pressure tablets have got higher and realise walking the dog isn't enough. I thought sad it I will get a e bike and give it ago and the last 3 weeks I have been going out on the bike, yes it gives some help but I still have to work and it is a lot easier then my regular cycle, today I went 15 mile on my e bike and got in to a false illussion and got my regular cycle, did about a mile and was puffing and panting. In the 3 weeks I have been using my e bike each day I am 7lb lighter just under 20 stone now, when I am going upstairs I feel a lot easier and my legs are a lot stronger. I just feel it gives me that little push and I can peddle faster because of the motor but the motor isn't doing all the work, I live in the UK so my cycle as to be peddle assist and I will just say there is a time we do need this change I just wish I was in my 60s when it happened, but I am not and just wish I left all that unhealthy food alone when I was young, I had the fitness but not the healthy diet and I have paid the price, so yes the e bike is another provision ideal for a person like me and I love cycling to be back on a bike and using the car less I feel good. Today I took over a younger man going up hill but take nothing away from him he was fit, had I been on his cycle I would of been walking up so if these older people on their e bikes take over these younger riders on their cycles don't feel discouraged because your in far better shape then us we just need that little extra encouragement. Mike
I've had a e-bike for two years now and I love it. I ride my bike to get out of the house,and to get a good workout. So when I ride the e-bike I ride it in the lowest setting(eco mode on a Juiced CCX) which will make your very heavy e- bike feel like you are riding a regular bike. When I get to the hills I can use the throttle, or put the bike up 2 pedal assist levels while pedaling very hard all the way up the hill. This makes hills easier but I still work pretty hard to get up them. I feel that riding this e-bike I will ride more miles than I would on a regular bike. With a regular bike I would probably ride about 20 miles,with my e-bike I usually do 30 miles. I also love how versatile my e-bike is. You can ride it any way you like,and if you went out too far,or are hurting a bit with 5 miles left,you can always get some extra help to finish your ride. At 60 years old I never thought that I would get in such great biking shape, and be able to do 30 mile rides regularly. E-bikes make biking funner,and it makes the hills easier so you can ride longer.
Mine was useful for commuting 21 miles into a headwind in 55 minutes, stacking cheese for 7 hours, charging at work and making it back on just the throttle so I didn't pedal myself awake in bed. On a regular bike I think I would have taken the car instead lmao
Thanks Sandra. Albert is actually a character in a 1970s British sitcom called Steptoe and Son. I’m sure some episodes are on UA-cam if you are interested.
Started riding my ebike in August 2020 T 365 LBS. I am now 306lbs in March 2021. I could not have rode a bike for as long without the assistance and it would not have been as enjoyable. The ebike has helped me do things I would be unable to do for longer. Isn't the point to spin the cranks and go? I'm still doing that but I just get a little help from my bike when it gets too hard for me. Its a 5yr old 7 speed beach cruiser style ebike but it gets me out.
I like the personal impressions, Leonard. The main thing to consider is whether one REALLY needs/wants an e-bike. There are costs: - It's one more piece of crap that needs to be stored, maintained and fixed when it breaks. - Many more parts which means many more opportunities for things to break. - An e-bike will probably go obsolete quickly and be hard to get fixed.I'm guessing proprietary parts and firmware - little standardization. - E-bikes aren't cheap. - Much higher environmental cost to manufacture motors, electronics and batteries. Harder to recycle. Shorter lifespan than regular bikes. I can see good arguments for some people to get e-bikes. For many of us, we don't need the hassle.
Ebikes are greener than regular bikes. Parts are readily available. Maintenance is about the same. Batteries outlast most cyclists. My current bike is at 8,000kms and will likely do many times that.
@@talkingebikes That's not my understanding. Batteries and motors require lithium and other minerals. Batteries wear out and are often not recycled. The electronics aren't standardized and many shops won't work on e-bikes. The situation will improve but we have a ways to go.
I was against e-bikes until arthritis hit me. 12 months ago I found it hard to even get on to my bike and it took me 12 hours to recover from a 30-40 mile ride. Now I have forgotten my pride and bought a step through e-bike so I can continue riding, I normally only use the 2 lower assistance levels so still get a good workout.
It's fantastic to think we can go on Ecycling as long as we like. I recently had to admit to myself I do now need the Granny Ring and it's transformed my cycling. Next step the E tail wind.
Im 69 and ride about 125 - 150 mikes per week including two thirty minute stints on my Schwinn AD 7 which I just purchased a week ago due to missing days because of horrible weather. I can see a time in the DISTANT FUTURE 😳 where I might need a Ebike to keep me on the road. I used to think it was cheating but after looking into it more, I think there is a place from them.
I bought an ebike, with the intent of using it to commute into work, just before Covid arrived. Advantages? You can bump up the pedal assist going into work so you don't get sweaty, and then use the lowest pedal assist on the return trip home. My short-route in to work is 11 miles, or 17.7 km, and the long-route home is 17 miles, or 27.4 km. Commuting 3-4 days a week on an ebike is very realistic if your commute is over something like 5-6 miles. I see ebikes as a more realistic car replacement, or should I say a more realistic car replacement that people will use.
@@princewillanyagagligbo6890 55 minutes going to work, and about an hour and a half going home. Stop signs, signals and having roads to cross slow me down.
Just sharing for no reason: broke a spoke in my rear wheel! Haven't popped a spoke since Tony Blair was at #10! Took it in for repairs and it won't be ready till March 10? That backed up? So I did what any good cyclist would do. Surfed for a cheapie bike to ride till mine is repaired. Didn't see anything that struck my fancy, so I bought a new bike. Home from the shake down cruised. I am quite pleased. Thanks for the inspiration.
I'm 69 years old and own a light, carbon road bike and a 38 pound e-gravel bike. I enjoy riding both, but if I could only keep one it would be the e-gravel bike.
Great topic Leonard. I think e-bikes are great and your Italy journey swayed me. I don’t plan on buying one soon, but I won’t rule them out if the need arises.
I had an ebike on loan through my work for about 3 months. I an not sure about the terminology but it did not go itself you had to pedal and the different gears made pedaling easier (pedal assist). I thought it was great for going to shops and gym.
Leonard I have an ebike. I live in the Northern Fells part of the lake district and Im 61, and probs weigh a bit too much. By law ebikes are restricted to 25kph. So any speed after that you are not helped. My ebike weighs 21kg, so i reckon half the distance in my rides are unassisted and im riding a 20+ kg bike. If i didnt have an ebike, i wouldnt be out cycling. Since ive had my ebike, ive bought a kickr and ride alot in doors. Currently thinking of buying an ordinary road bike. No one should knock ebikes they are awesome and get people exercising.
I could see an ebike being useful for commuting. If you don't have a shower at work or wherever you are going then using the ebike even in an assist capability will make you less sweaty coming into work. If you are carrying something like putting panniers on a bike or attaching a bike trailer so you can use it for groceries or cargo then an ebike would be less strenous for those situations.
Great breakdown. I am an avid cyclist, no injuries or medical conditions. I ride a road e-bike for commuting and training. I get my HR up and have ended up riding more minutes now than when I rode an analog bike. My VO2 max is top 10% for my age group, just sayin'.
I as well as you am not ready to by an ebike yet. Although I did upgrade to a newer used chrome molly Surly touring bike. I like the idea of riding with longer group rides which I would need assistance so I could keep up and finish. An ebike would make that possible.
Hey Leonardo - nice balanced point of view - i think e-bikes are great (i dont have one though!) - you were able to enjoy the Tuscany tour because of the ebike given the distance and climbing each day and i know that if i had an ebike then hills wouldn't fill me with dread! the whole cheating and cant get fit is silly - its e assist so you still have to put the work in! nice intro tunes but heavens.....old steptoe scared me!! cheers :)
I have ti look at Ebikes in the next couple of years, because of arthritis in a knee, starting to find it more of a struggle to get up hills, but want to continue on a normal bike as long as possible. I like to fight any injury or illness as much as I can.
I have both road and a road e-bike. As a 50 yrs old, I was not ready for an ebike, but going out with lads which were 20 years younger then me and always being last up the hill, the ebike is leveller. You hit the nail on the head, and you have to still work hard with getting up the hills.....just a bit easier. You also have to use power and power levels wisely as running out of battery half way around a ride is no fun. Like you, I tend to use with power off until I need it. Done a 100 a mile ride on it like that last summer.
love your channel you convinced me! i cant e bike im 51 i raced back in the day but if someone wants one no problem thats why we ride for the freedom and love of it!
100% agreed on this, great video. E-bikes aren't for me I can see there benefit though if it gets more people cycling and enjoying there time on a bike that can only be good. Certainly not cheating or lazy I've ridden with plenty of people on E-bikes and they are working hard it just takes the edge off.
I’m an Ebikemotion convert. Assist but not automatic - you need to ride. I am riding 150 plus miles a week in mountainous country in ireland and I’m loving it. The inverse snobbery has kicked in and I am loathe to “switch on”. Most of my riding is on a 12kg road bike and the X35 is my extra gear on steep climbs or in strong head winds. No need for carbon, or SRAM/ the Orbea Gain D40 is perfect and affordably priced. (Aluminium frame with Tiagra chain set and disk brakes) My workout is a tough one, especially over 70k in this terrain and most rewarding. Riding partners (younger, stronger and fitter) soon look to me (at 70) to be lead bike on steeps and against wind and I’m happy to switch on and assist. I’m part of something I left behind many years ago again and recommend a good standard bike under €3k. I don’t believe a sexy carbon frame with expensive chain sets are necessary as I get everything I need from this bike. Spending more than €3k would be anathema to me, I’m Scottish 😂
I ride Mountain bikes, mostly in the spring to autumn period to keep fit (fair weather rider), but there are a lot of hills where I live and getting up them after a winter of Christmas excess was getting harder and harder. And when I did go out for a few rides, they would be shortish rides of 10-15 miles as my lungs would be busting after the climbs, and my legs would forbid me to ride for a couple of days afterwards. I was in my mid 50's and decided to persevere with my normal bike as eMTB's were too expensive and I was too young for one... until my mate, who is a sport billy in his mid 40's lent me his eMTB. I loved it, it just helps on the climbs, and that is it, you still get a workout, just without coughing up a lung. I bought one straight away, had it for two years now, and I get out for loads of rides, and much longer rides, to places I'd never cycled to before, and because you can vary the power you can vary your workout to match your fitness or the length of the ride. I did an 80km ride the other day with the battery mostly switched off (and with a 25kg bike, you really feel it on the hills), mix of road and off road, and combined with a changed in diet this last few months I've managed to lose 10kg. eBikes are not just for the unfit, or the overweight, or the old, they are for fun, but they also help improve the fitness, reduce the weight and even roll back the years (at least it feels like it at the moment) :D
I'm 65 and a regular cyclist. I only did just over half the mileage last year that I would normally do (3800 miles / 6100 Kms) and while I have increased my cycling this year and am ahead of my target, for whatever reason (age maybe) nearly every ride has been hard and felt that I've been struggling. Perversely however, I have never once felt that I should get an e-bike, as to me that would be giving in. Rather, I think to myself that I just need to keep getting out, do hills and some weight training and it will come together for the summer months for some long excursions. I'm heading out in the morning for a 210 Km ride which will probably take between 10-11 hours including stops and I'm really looking forward to it, and the sense of achievement I will have couldn't be matched if I was riding an e-bike.
Friend of mine and her husband signed up for a bike holiday....but it was a ton of mountain climbing, something her knees aren't good at, but her husband loves. So she rode an e-bike. It was still a good hard workout, but it saved her knees and she and her husband were able to ride together.
I think if you did one about e bike vs moped the e bike woud still be on top . Yes I am a motorcyclist and e bike owner, as well as a life long cyclist .
Not so sure, John. In the U.K. ebikes are limited to 25km/h (16mph) so I think any moped would be able to beat that. Over a long, flattish route, even a reasonable cyclist would be faster.
@@jollygoodvelo To Me personally its nothing to do with speed . if I want to go fast I use one of my motorcycles but as all round personall and convenent transport My e bike is the best tool for the job. with a trailer on the back it go's shopping or a day out with my grandaughter with a tent it takes me camping . the only downside i have found is that its very desireable to the light fingered members of the comunity.
Great vid Leonard , currently looking at the Specialized Creo Evo , £5700 , plus another £300for the range extender. Got to save up , probably be 2023 before I get one . Thanks.
At 66yo, I love riding my bike. I can see, as time passes, something (balance, cardiac or whatever) may push me into an ebike or etrike so I can keep on riding. All the smoke and fury about ebikes otherwise is just that, except in the cases of good manners and prudence on shared and natural trails/paths and competitive events with well-stated rules and criteria. Sort of how I feel in my other activity life - sailing, in the sail v. power boat conversation: we share more by being out on the water versus not, than the mode of propulsion divides us, as long as we're all civil.
I had an e-bike with a throttle and it was fun, but I gained a lot of weight and wasn't getting any kind of workout. It's too tempting to just use the throttle the whole time. For the past 5 months, I've been riding my carbon road bike 4-5 times a week and lost about 40 pounds.
Great vlog Leonard. Horses for courses, anyone out on a bike isn’t in a car regardless of assisted or no.👍 Read a story about a keen cyclist who bought his wife an e-bike with two batteries. As he was much fitter and faster, his wife would use the e-bike turbo mode to keep up until the battery died. He carried the spare battery and swopped it out for the return leg. It’s a great story of how technology can help people of differing abilities or maybe disabilities ride together. Keep up your good work and content.👏👏👏
I'm 67 and had a great 48k today on my road bike, climbing 575m, no problem, BUT I go mountain biking as well and both my MTB mates have recently bought e-bikes. For off road, it would be great fun to re-do some of the rides that are real uphill killers in our local area, the Peak District. However, until the prices come down and the weight, I can't see me getting one.
@leonardmlee: Don't all Fazua powered e-bikes in Europe only provide assistance up to 25kmh and not 30kmh as you stated? If not, I'm feeling quite cheated with mine, which definitely only assists to 25kmh 😞. I've recently started riding again after almost a 20 year break and being in my late fifties and well over 100Kgs, there's no way I could ride as far and get as much enjoyment without the motor assistance.
Electric bikes are more enjoyable & u just cruise along the road & is less stressful. They're great for hills. A normal bike does have the advantage on a flat road as u can go faster as u have less weight. I've had a electric bike for a few days now & I enjoy cycling far more now as I don't have to worry about hills & breathing is far better & I save money on food as am using less energy Electric bikes has more advantages than a normal bike. If u look at statistics people who put the Heart & breathing under strain. They Die younger because of the stress on the body. Life is about being happy & eating well = Not who is better that anyone else & who can go faster
The only advantage of the ebike is the climbs. I just did a 28km ride and kept the pedal assistance to level 3 so I could feel the effort pedaling. Its different but still challenging
The motor disengagement system on the bike sounded very good, with present e-mtb's you reach the speed limit, it cuts out to a mass of mechanical drag, it's so bad that it makes it impossible to ride,like being on a treadmill whilst riding your bike when you try to go faster than the assist will give, it's bloody awful
Had a stroke a couple of months ago and buying an ebike allowed me to carry on with my main hobby. God knows what would have happened to my mental health otherwise. Cycling has always been my escape.
Ditto, stroke 2 months ago. Doc said keep riding buy moderate. I live in the Colorado mountains. I can keep going and control my effort better. From hater to understander.
Thanks. I have two e bikes and two "acoustical" bikes. I pretty much use my spendier ebike as I like to ride up on what we call The Flats and must go up some killer hills to get there. I wasn't riding much around here until getting an ebike. Unfortunately, my favorite ebike is having some problems so yesterday I pulled out my 20 year old MTB, Old Yeller, and went for a short ride. I noticed that I wasn't getting a sore butt and my legs seemed pretty strong on Old Yeller. Today, I'll ride it again, only on a route without any serious hills. Oh, we call crank assist, mid drive and that's why I favor one bike over the other. I get a bikier experience on the mid drive than on the hub drive bike. In fact, I am thinking about selling the hub drive. Oh, another perk of the ebike is being able to keep going when your knee starts hurting. On an ebike, one can increase the assist level and the bad knee will usually stop protesting.. Best to ya....
Knees are often very sensitive to setup, esp Q factor in crank set up. That said , my triple chainring , and maybe yours ,was a the real fix for the hills.
One thing I didn't realize about an ebike is that a battery lasts about five years and will need to be replaced. Depending on the bike, that can be upwards of $700. Not necessarily a reason to not buy one but just something to be aware of.
I couldn't agree more. I use an ebike as my primary means of exercise. I'm also training for another cycling adventure circumnavigating the coastline of Ireland (+- 2750km) with a trailer I'm building to sleep in and carry all my gear. Without the ebike, I don't think I would be even contemplating the trip or cycling much.
I had an ebike for over 4 years but lost interest in it, I'm 54 & over 17 stone & whilst the ebike was great uphills & into headwinds I just get more pleasure & satisfaction out of a regular bike, I've sold the ebike recently & now I've got a Boardman hybrid which is fantastic.
Hi Leonardo.Very interesting things in regards to Ebikes.I occasionally read about them and i have come to a conclusion; I will buy one the day after I turn Eighty.Ciao from sunny Italy for a change Temp in the twinty.
I own an E-Bike (Orbea Gain D30) as one of 7 bikes I own (just so people know I don't rely solely on an ebike.) I bought it to help with a 34 mile daily commute (17 miles each way.) It is more of an aid on the ride home when energy levels are lower. My average speed over the journey is 2-3mph quicker on the ebike than riding the same route on my default Pinarello. It isn't until you switch from the ebike to a traditional bike that you realise how much the motor helps. Personally I believe it is better to be out on a bike that is motor assisted or not, than sitting on the sofa. It certainly isn't a moped disguised as a pedal cycle, if you don't pedal, as Leonard stated, you don't move.
The problem with e-bikes more rides with difficulties in regulation in US and difficulties in proper segregation from other, slower, traffic in places like the low countries, where they are becoming more numerous in urban bike lanes. Implementation often takes more attention than they have received, not their intrinsic merit. The basic problem of going faster than you can think , can be offset by more thinking . They are a tool, and like most tools perform best when used with a bit of skill, where they are a good fit.
I am 62 years young and had not ridden a bike in over 45 years. Due to a problem with my left leg I cannot walk 200 yards without having to stop to rest. In September last year while on furlough I had the chance to try an ebike, what a game changer. Due to the cadence sensor system I can now ride 30 miles with ease and no stopping to rest because of the bad leg. I go out most weekends in all weathers and I am slowly building up my fitness level. 95% of the time I am only using assist level 1 and only use 2 and 3 for the steeper hills. Without the ebike I would be sat at home or driving my car. This has given me a new lease of life and enjoy every minute of my time on the bike. Most normal cyclists pass me on the road as I rarely go over 12mph so I don't see how this can be classed as cheating and after all I am not racing anyone, I am just out enjoying the fresh air and the scenery and seeing things I would never see while driving my car. Keep up the great videos. Thanks.
It just goes to show how keeping up exercise all your life ( cycling ) keeps your fitness and health for much longer. I am also 62 and have raced cycles all my life. Last season I was fastest over 60, and third fastest scratch first claim member ( all ages ) in my cycling club's evening series time trialling.
Tonight I averaged 25.5 mph with an average 258 watts over a full hour on Zwift tempus fugit.
I hope to keep the day I need an
e- bike for decades into the future hopefully. At 40 I broke my neck of femur ( hip) but with continual exercise it completely fixed over many years after removal of 3 cannula hip screws, this proves as i was told by the consultant, that people who exercise also have better outcomes after operations also.
Taken the words out of my mouth, at 70 with walking issues I got an ebike 2 years ago, haven't ridden since a kid. Now I'm out every day for at least 10 mile. It keeps the car of the road and I feel I'm doing my bit for the overstretch NHS and the taxpayer lol.
This is exactly what an ebike is great for , people as yourself who without one would not be able to cycle. When the time comes I can no longer get up the hills under my own steam I will definitely be getting one. Hate to see youngsters using them though as I feel they will limit improvement
How many miles were you going ?
@@JK-wl5bxI'm only 24 and getting one for my way of transport. I do dog walking and cover 15 to 20 miles of cycling as well as walking dogs for several hours so it's a challenge to keep that up. I also have an autoimmune disease so when I'm ill I get fatigue. Most weeks I do around 45 to 60 miles of cycling to and from my customers homes
In my 70s and have found the"fun factor" has returned after getting an ebike. I go further and helps me want to explore more. So, yeah, I really don't care about the odd road side heckle, just smile and keep on peddling. Great video 👍
Its a sort of envy...overtook about 60 riders on a long hill Sunday week ago. A couple shouted out 'thats an ebike' Sure is is my reply...
Some who criticize E bikes, are actually jealous because they can’t afford to buy an E bike.
I am a keen cyclist a d love it. My partner isn't, but I have convinced her to join me and with her having an ebike we can do longer rides. Long enough to keep me interested and the electric helps her keep up. I think it's brilliant.
@Wooly Chewbakker don't be a nob.
Great video, Leonard! I have been an avid road cyclist all my life but having retired last year, invested in a road ebike. I love cycling the hills and mountains near where I live and at my age, the ebike is so much fun. I have cycled 120kms with over 3000m of climbing and doing it with a big grin on my face! Am I lazy and cheating? Don't care what others think, I'm still getting a good workout, breathing fresh air and admiring the countryside. I have kept my "real" bikes and still use them for shorter, flatter rides. The best of both worlds!!
Just came back from a 3hour 73km ebike ride with 1000m of climbing. I’m utterly exhausted. Without that motor I would more likely have stayed home, had a couple of beers and some cake. Ebikes are great.
That is one of the best cases for ebikes I have heard.
The danger is coming home and THEN having beers and cake. Maybe even two slices.
@@yakoridesagain Beers and cake? Cake and tea and then beers and pizza!
I bought an ebike 2 months ago and ridden 600km so far. The motor tells me I average about 1/3 of the power and it does 2/3. So to burn the same calories I would have had to ride 200km (+/-).
A) That 200km would have been much more stress on my body and not as enjoyable, meaning that...
B) I would not have done those 200km on my old bike.
I absolutely love it and have gone from riding once a month to 3 times a week. I'm feeling fitter, happier and have finally explored my neighbourhood (get Komoot or an app which will show you the less known trails).
@@ecoworrier but having 3 x the power doesn't get you 3 x the top speed (unless on uphill) so it's more like probably 300-400km worth of pedaling. The best test is how far can you ride in an hour using A: a standard bike, B: an e-bike. Use the same route (although the wind direction and speed might change) and the same clothing on each. My standard bike usually goes about 60% of the distance in the same time.
I completely agree. I had a really nasty injury about 10 years ago on a normal bicycle, which has basically destroyed my knee. It is still functional, but I do not have all the strength and there is a major loss of cartilage from all the wear and tear. And having an e-bike to provide some form of assistance would definitely give me the encouragment to tackle the hills and stay out there instead of heading back earlier. And like you said: at the end of the day, if it gets you out and moving, then it’s a positive not a negative.
For me eco mode is like riding a super light road bike.
Trail mode takes away the wind.
Turbo mode removes the horrible climbs.
That's why I want one.
I'm an ebike rider and a strong advocate for them. Ebikers don't have any issues with regular cyclists but, for a small minority of very vocal regular cyclists, it isn't the same in reverse. Hell, even I had to shift my perspective, especially when witnessing an ebiker not pedalling but using a throttle. Put simply, I don't know what their mobility issues may be and it is none of my business, plus, they have every right to be out enjoying the outdoors too. As for cheating, well I don't seek validation from anybody. As for fitness, just like regular biking, it all depends. Keep your heart rate in the required zones and you will improve your fitness. Simple as that. Ebikes will get people out when they otherwise wouldn't, and they can control the amount of effort they put in, allowing for a gradual improvement in fitness, if that is their goal. I see way too many people that struggle like crazy on their regular bikes and you just know they won't stick with it. These folk should stop listening to the naysayers and seriously consider an ebike.
No, NOT regular cyclists.
Roadies. Only roadies who have their ego's barely in check.
E-bikes are both a magnificent workhorse for transport and everyday car alternative travel or as a recreation for others.
Everyone else who rides a bike doesn't care or wants one too.
Oh but I forgot, roadies think they are the only one's who are cyclists! 🤦♂️
Great coverage of what the ebike assist is about; not throttle-assist moped. Still working albeit more work with less effort = this old lady still gets to enjoy the mountain riding. I was “selecting a flatter route” ever since my stroke a few months ago and running out of ride options, ie same thing every day. I can expand my terrain options now. I appreciate the reasons why you are not yet totally sold on the ebike though. Thank you!
I am 62 and a very keen cyclist and I own both analogue and e road bikes. I use the analogue for shorter distances (sub 20km) but I have to use the ebike for longer distances. My heart goes into arrhythmia if I sustain even a moderate heart rate for too long. Without the e bike I would have given up cycling. Ebikes have kept may people like me in the sport.
Outstanding
Bicycles weren't invented for exercise. I could use a hand crank to drill a hole also but why not use current technology. I love my e-bike and honestly wouldn't currently own a bike if they didn't exist.
Interesting subject. As I get older I will think about buying an ebike but for now its pedal power for me
I’m going to stay with Leonardo power for as long as I can.
Well said Leonard, ebikes are for everyone and I have never done more cycling in my life! Blast through headwinds and enjoy the hills! More cycling = more enjoyment =more fitness!
I converted my bike just before Christmas. Arthritis and loss of fitness had turned local hills into a source of anxiety. It has succeeded beyond my wildest dreams. On a climb its like always having a gear low enough to cope. The twist grip works really well to blend the assist in with whatever I am managing to put out and just keep me moving. I've never used the highest setting. In theory I could sit there idly turning the pedals and putting no effort in, but I'm sure I don't need to spell out how uncomfortable that can be.
I am finding cycling satisfying again. I haven't really started to go far afield yet, but I'm getting back from my local outings out of breath, which was not the case when I had to keep getting off to push. It is definitely opening a door for me and with a bit of luck one day I will feel able to change things back.
I remember a day not all that long ago when I was locking up my bike outside the gym and noticed that someone had arrived on an ebike. Gods! How superior I felt. Its a different story when one realises that, actually, I can't quite manage it anymore...
Great video. Thankyou!
I am a regular cyclist, But I also commute on an ebike. They are brilliant, Enables me to commute every day 20 miles when the weather allows. Arrive to work not sweaty.
Lovely, objective analysis there Leonardo!
Great to see those sunny Tuscany climbs again.
Cheers Tim. Happy days cycling in the sun.
Cheers Leonard, great video :)
Being in the mid 50s I decided to get an e-bike, was very handy at first, but since I have been riding for 6 months I now find on the flat bits I exceed the speed that the pedal assist (15.5mph) helps with, so I am now pushing round a 19kg bike, handy for the steeper hills though. Just fixing up a second hand road bike I have bought to ween myself off the electric :)
According the N+1 rule, it is permissible to own a regular bike and an e-bike, with room for more
I have been riding an e-bike for about 3 years and have completed a couple of fun rides of about 60kms whilst towing a grand daughter in a trailer and had plenty of battery left. Also have a non e-bike which is semi permanentmy attached to the turbo trainer in case the weather outside is uninviting. Thanks for the videos Leonard
The things people get judged on is absolutely hilarious. There’s no pre-requisite to own an ebike. Age, fitness, sex, religion, political affiliation, health condition, etc... NONE OF THAT MATTERS. If it makes you happy get one and ignore the haters. If they’re upset at seeing another cyclist on the road/trail enjoying themselves it’s generally due to a fragile ego. Laugh it off and continue to do you.
Exactly. It is good to see all kinds of people out biking no matter what they ride.
HI Leonard another great video. Aged 70 I was recently diagnosed has having a problem with my left heart chamber and I am convinced if I hadn't been a runner cyclist for most of my life you wouldn't be reading this. Interestingly my cardiologist said I could still cycle as long as I didn't use too much effort and got out of breath. So like you I will continue to cycle a normal bike but if I found it was too much it would be an electric bike for me. Last year one of my mates said he was thinking of getting an electric bike as he found cycling was getting too much like hard work. Myself and our other mates advised him to get one and he has and he loves it. He will be 84 this year so who would blame him. Stay safe. Ted
Sorry to hear about your heart issue. At least you are still cycling and there are ebikes if you need one.
I'm 54. I used to look down on ebikes until I got one. I am a regular rider doing 20km per day but I'm not an avid rider doing 100km a day. An ebike makes life easier. It is a transport option. It is one less car. I ride further now and I can also carry stuff that I used to need a car for. Avid riders should stick to normal bikes but ebikes are perfect for the rest of us.
I have a regular road bike and a e bike ,I ride on the day, if I am feeling energetic it's the regular bike or if somewhat fatigued the ebike although only using assist on the steepest of climbs (big Devon hills ) not really bothered if people think it's cheating I,m on the road for enjoyment not to race or please someone else ...having just come out of a case very bad of covid the ebike is getting me back to some sort of fitness and as I am in my mid 60s I don't think I would have been out at all without the ebike
I keep telling people......you’re only cheating if you’re breaking the rules !
great video! I'm an enthusiastic cyclist that usually aims for 3000 - 3500 ft of elevation on most rides. I just ordered my first e-bike, which will be used mostly for shopping and in-town errands. But I'm also looking forward to doing some climbing on it and seeing what it feels like to be able to climb 3 to 5 mph faster. Should be fun!
Lazy people don't ride ebikes, they ride sofas 😂
I'm in my mid 70's and have health issues that limit my road bike stamina.
Very frustrating so I had to quit the lycra clad crowd that I enjoyed.
I started riding the neighborhood on my own.
Girlfriend decided to join me but struggled.
Christmas I bought her an ebike and the tables turned.
Now she was bored with my pace so I bought an ebike for me.
At first didn't like it and on the days she didn't ride went back to my regular road bike.
I when alone ride primarily for exercise.
I like to do repeated intervals.
I have learned I can do more intervals esp when my health issues act up.
When I feel good I can ride 95% of time with no assist.
So now have the best of both worlds - IMHO.
In 2014 cancer and subsequent chemotherapy wreaked havoc on my body and in particular my fitness. Everything became harder to do and eventually this lead to nearly seven years of laziness and ever increasing BMI.
At the start of April of this year I purchased a pedal assist mid-drive ebike and have ridden 400 km since. I started on the second assist level and now on the lowest, or sometimes off altogether so I can feel my fitness increasing dramatically in this short time. My plan is to add a regular road bike within a year. It should be noted that this is the first time I have been on a bike in 25 years.
BTW, I really appreciate your channel, it is insightful and inspirational. So many cycling outlets are focused on the younger athletes that yours is absolutely refreshing.
Sounds like an ebike has worked really well for you. Great that you are also thinking of getting g a regular bike. Wishing you all the best.
Hi Leonard, the heart thing is exactly why I had to buy one. My HR was getting too high as per my doctor and told me the same thing, “stop cycling.” I was destroyed. Ebike is keeping me healthy and riding.
Strange how they do this after my heart attack my local hospital showed me how to walk and cycle while keeping my heart rate at a safe level, and recomended it to me. They did say no running or jogging though lol
Anything that gets more people riding can't be a bad thing.
I am 67 years old. A year ago I bought an e-road bike with Fazua drive. I haven't ridden a bike so much the years before.
I have no issues with e-bikes, except when I’m passed by one. 🤣
Haha same. Came up on a fellow riding closed the gap and went on past. A short distance later he came by me and looked like he was in turbo mode. I'm sure he didn't like the fact I passed him and he upped the power setting. I just mumbled to myself "cheater" lol.
Haha
@@jjmoto65 You all butt hurt,lol.
At 69 years old, I bought an ebike. Now winds and hills are not a problem. I go more frequently and for longer rides. Very nice and as much work as you choose.
I absolutely 100% agree with this man in 2010 I had to have stents fitted which stopped my fitness reign jogging and cycling even going in the gym, I have cycled since I was 12 year old I am now 57 and was 46 when my health problems started. I felt it would of been easier to die then face what I had to face, I used to do 100 miles cycling in one day, believe me when suddenly you have to stop doing what you love its painful, I went from 14 stone 7 lb to 22 stone, by 2017 i would walk to the end of the road and be puffing and panting, I decided I would stop feeling sorry for myself and get up and do something, I started swimming as they say that is the best exercise for over weight people, it started to work and decided to buy myself a road bike and started cycling in fact it lasted for approx 18months and got down to 18stone 7 lb but bad days when it was heavy wind I could feel the strain, I have always walked my dogs for years but that doesn't help lose or keep weight down, probably be heavier if I never so having a dog gave me insentive to walk each day.
But no sadly I was getting a lot of pain and stopped cycling as it was hard and was adviced by the doctor, then came the Corona and my swimming stopped so from this fantastic 18.5 stone I was mantaining I was soon upto 20 stone. I spoke many times of getting a e bike don't get me wrong a person should ride a regular cycle as long as they can, but I listened to others its fiddling and do you no good. Well three months ago I had a review at doctors and was told I am on the borderline of diabetis and my blood pressure tablets have got higher and realise walking the dog isn't enough. I thought sad it I will get a e bike and give it ago and the last 3 weeks I have been going out on the bike, yes it gives some help but I still have to work and it is a lot easier then my regular cycle, today I went 15 mile on my e bike and got in to a false illussion and got my regular cycle, did about a mile and was puffing and panting.
In the 3 weeks I have been using my e bike each day I am 7lb lighter just under 20 stone now, when I am going upstairs I feel a lot easier and my legs are a lot stronger. I just feel it gives me that little push and I can peddle faster because of the motor but the motor isn't doing all the work, I live in the UK so my cycle as to be peddle assist and I will just say there is a time we do need this change I just wish I was in my 60s when it happened, but I am not and just wish I left all that unhealthy food alone when I was young, I had the fitness but not the healthy diet and I have paid the price, so yes the e bike is another provision ideal for a person like me and I love cycling to be back on a bike and using the car less I feel good. Today I took over a younger man going up hill but take nothing away from him he was fit, had I been on his cycle I would of been walking up so if these older people on their e bikes take over these younger riders on their cycles don't feel discouraged because your in far better shape then us we just need that little extra encouragement. Mike
I've had a e-bike for two years now and I love it. I ride my bike to get out of the house,and to get a good workout. So when I ride the e-bike I ride it in the lowest setting(eco mode on a Juiced CCX) which will make your very heavy e- bike feel like you are riding a regular bike. When I get to the hills I can use the throttle, or put the bike up 2 pedal assist levels while pedaling very hard all the way up the hill. This makes hills easier but I still work pretty hard to get up them. I feel that riding this e-bike I will ride more miles than I would on a regular bike. With a regular bike I would probably ride about 20 miles,with my e-bike I usually do 30 miles. I also love how versatile my e-bike is. You can ride it any way you like,and if you went out too far,or are hurting a bit with 5 miles left,you can always get some extra help to finish your ride. At 60 years old I never thought that I would get in such great biking shape, and be able to do 30 mile rides regularly. E-bikes make biking funner,and it makes the hills easier so you can ride longer.
Mine was useful for commuting 21 miles into a headwind in 55 minutes, stacking cheese for 7 hours, charging at work and making it back on just the throttle so I didn't pedal myself awake in bed. On a regular bike I think I would have taken the car instead lmao
Another great, informative and engaging video. Albert surprised me-I laughed out loud...I think I’m a fan! 🤣
Thanks Sandra. Albert is actually a character in a 1970s British sitcom called Steptoe and Son. I’m sure some episodes are on UA-cam if you are interested.
Started riding my ebike in August 2020 T 365 LBS. I am now 306lbs in March 2021. I could not have rode a bike for as long without the assistance and it would not have been as enjoyable. The ebike has helped me do things I would be unable to do for longer. Isn't the point to spin the cranks and go? I'm still doing that but I just get a little help from my bike when it gets too hard for me. Its a 5yr old 7 speed beach cruiser style ebike but it gets me out.
Great video Leonard. I think there is room for both type of bikes as long as you can afford it...variety is good in riding
I like the personal impressions, Leonard. The main thing to consider is whether one REALLY needs/wants an e-bike. There are costs:
- It's one more piece of crap that needs to be stored, maintained and fixed when it breaks.
- Many more parts which means many more opportunities for things to break.
- An e-bike will probably go obsolete quickly and be hard to get fixed.I'm guessing proprietary parts and firmware - little standardization.
- E-bikes aren't cheap.
- Much higher environmental cost to manufacture motors, electronics and batteries. Harder to recycle. Shorter lifespan than regular bikes.
I can see good arguments for some people to get e-bikes. For many of us, we don't need the hassle.
Ebikes are greener than regular bikes. Parts are readily available. Maintenance is about the same. Batteries outlast most cyclists. My current bike is at 8,000kms and will likely do many times that.
@@talkingebikes That's not my understanding. Batteries and motors require lithium and other minerals. Batteries wear out and are often not recycled. The electronics aren't standardized and many shops won't work on e-bikes.
The situation will improve but we have a ways to go.
This was an outstanding video I gave me the answers on comparison, along with the data that I
I was against e-bikes until arthritis hit me. 12 months ago I found it hard to even get on to my bike and it took me 12 hours to recover from a 30-40 mile ride. Now I have forgotten my pride and bought a step through e-bike so I can continue riding, I normally only use the 2 lower assistance levels so still get a good workout.
It's fantastic to think we can go on Ecycling as long as we like. I recently had to admit to myself I do now need the Granny Ring and it's transformed my cycling. Next step the E tail wind.
Im 69 and ride about 125 - 150 mikes per week including two thirty minute stints on my Schwinn AD 7 which I just purchased a week ago due to missing days because of horrible weather. I can see a time in the DISTANT FUTURE 😳 where I might need a Ebike to keep me on the road. I used to think it was cheating but after looking into it more, I think there is a place from them.
I bought an ebike, with the intent of using it to commute into work, just before Covid arrived. Advantages? You can bump up the pedal assist going into work so you don't get sweaty, and then use the lowest pedal assist on the return trip home. My short-route in to work is 11 miles, or 17.7 km, and the long-route home is 17 miles, or 27.4 km. Commuting 3-4 days a week on an ebike is very realistic if your commute is over something like 5-6 miles. I see ebikes as a more realistic car replacement, or should I say a more realistic car replacement that people will use.
How long that trip take
@@princewillanyagagligbo6890 55 minutes going to work, and about an hour and a half going home. Stop signs, signals and having roads to cross slow me down.
Just sharing for no reason: broke a spoke in my rear wheel! Haven't popped a spoke since Tony Blair was at #10! Took it in for repairs and it won't be ready till March 10? That backed up?
So I did what any good cyclist would do. Surfed for a cheapie bike to ride till mine is repaired. Didn't see anything that struck my fancy, so I bought a new bike. Home from the shake down cruised. I am quite pleased. Thanks for the inspiration.
I'm 69 years old and own a light, carbon road bike and a 38 pound e-gravel bike. I enjoy riding both, but if I could only keep one it would be the e-gravel bike.
Great topic Leonard. I think e-bikes are great and your Italy journey swayed me. I don’t plan on buying one soon, but I won’t rule them out if the need arises.
I had an ebike on loan through my work for about 3 months. I an not sure about the terminology but it did not go itself you had to pedal and the different gears made pedaling easier (pedal assist). I thought it was great for going to shops and gym.
You must be referring to pedal assist (pedalac)
Leonard I have an ebike. I live in the Northern Fells part of the lake district and Im 61, and probs weigh a bit too much. By law ebikes are restricted to 25kph. So any speed after that you are not helped. My ebike weighs 21kg, so i reckon half the distance in my rides are unassisted and im riding a 20+ kg bike. If i didnt have an ebike, i wouldnt be out cycling. Since ive had my ebike, ive bought a kickr and ride alot in doors. Currently thinking of buying an ordinary road bike. No one should knock ebikes they are awesome and get people exercising.
Absolutely. Many people are also doing what you are doing: starting on an ebike, getting fit and then moving over to a regular bike.
I ride for exercise. If I used an E bike I would just be cheating myself.
Not really. You would still be getting exercise but not quite as much
@@jollygoodvelo Not enough exercise? have even try to ride a pedelec? ebikes are different.
I could see an ebike being useful for commuting. If you don't have a shower at work or wherever you are going then using the ebike even in an assist capability will make you less sweaty coming into work. If you are carrying something like putting panniers on a bike or attaching a bike trailer so you can use it for groceries or cargo then an ebike would be less strenous for those situations.
Great video, I'd consider getting an EBike when I needed too, but like you say if it gets more people out and moving then that's not a bad thing
I have had an eMTB for 2 years now.
All I will say is having fun is not a competition.
Brilliant comment, this sums up ebiking perfectly
Great breakdown. I am an avid cyclist, no injuries or medical conditions. I ride a road e-bike for commuting and training. I get my HR up and have ended up riding more minutes now than when I rode an analog bike. My VO2 max is top 10% for my age group, just sayin'.
My wife’s Orbea ebike is amazing. One day I might follow suit but for the moment I’m loving my Fairlight Secan!
I as well as you am not ready to by an ebike yet. Although I did upgrade to a newer used chrome molly Surly touring bike. I like the idea of riding with longer group rides which I would need assistance so I could keep up and finish. An ebike would make that possible.
Hey Leonardo - nice balanced point of view - i think e-bikes are great (i dont have one though!) - you were able to enjoy the Tuscany tour because of the ebike given the distance and climbing each day and i know that if i had an ebike then hills wouldn't fill me with dread! the whole cheating and cant get fit is silly - its e assist so you still have to put the work in! nice intro tunes but heavens.....old steptoe scared me!! cheers :)
Whatever gets you home after that second glass of Tuscan red is a good bike.
I have ti look at Ebikes in the next couple of years, because of arthritis in a knee, starting to find it more of a struggle to get up hills, but want to continue on a normal bike as long as possible. I like to fight any injury or illness as much as I can.
youd benefit from one now, just turn off the motor and if u get knee pain turn it on ..
Check crank set up and pedals carefully , and see if the knees like it better.
Thank you Leonard for touching on such an interesting topic.If this help the fan,then welcome the technology.Another thing is professionalism.👍
It’s a great way for anyone to cycle.
I have both road and a road e-bike. As a 50 yrs old, I was not ready for an ebike, but going out with lads which were 20 years younger then me and always being last up the hill, the ebike is leveller. You hit the nail on the head, and you have to still work hard with getting up the hills.....just a bit easier. You also have to use power and power levels wisely as running out of battery half way around a ride is no fun. Like you, I tend to use with power off until I need it. Done a 100 a mile ride on it like that last summer.
love your channel you convinced me! i cant e bike im 51 i raced back in the day but if someone wants one no problem thats why we ride for the freedom and love of it!
The floaty chair is are next stop...
The ones you use in a swimming pool?
No from the Disney movie wall-e😅😂🤣
100% agreed on this, great video. E-bikes aren't for me I can see there benefit though if it gets more people cycling and enjoying there time on a bike that can only be good. Certainly not cheating or lazy I've ridden with plenty of people on E-bikes and they are working hard it just takes the edge off.
I’m an Ebikemotion convert. Assist but not automatic - you need to ride. I am riding 150 plus miles a week in mountainous country in ireland and I’m loving it. The inverse snobbery has kicked in and I am loathe to “switch on”. Most of my riding is on a 12kg road bike and the X35 is my extra gear on steep climbs or in strong head winds. No need for carbon, or SRAM/ the Orbea Gain D40 is perfect and affordably priced. (Aluminium frame with Tiagra chain set and disk brakes) My workout is a tough one, especially over 70k in this terrain and most rewarding. Riding partners (younger, stronger and fitter) soon look to me (at 70) to be lead bike on steeps and against wind and I’m happy to switch on and assist. I’m part of something I left behind many years ago again and recommend a good standard bike under €3k. I don’t believe a sexy carbon frame with expensive chain sets are necessary as I get everything I need from this bike. Spending more than €3k would be anathema to me, I’m Scottish 😂
I ride Mountain bikes, mostly in the spring to autumn period to keep fit (fair weather rider), but there are a lot of hills where I live and getting up them after a winter of Christmas excess was getting harder and harder. And when I did go out for a few rides, they would be shortish rides of 10-15 miles as my lungs would be busting after the climbs, and my legs would forbid me to ride for a couple of days afterwards.
I was in my mid 50's and decided to persevere with my normal bike as eMTB's were too expensive and I was too young for one... until my mate, who is a sport billy in his mid 40's lent me his eMTB. I loved it, it just helps on the climbs, and that is it, you still get a workout, just without coughing up a lung.
I bought one straight away, had it for two years now, and I get out for loads of rides, and much longer rides, to places I'd never cycled to before, and because you can vary the power you can vary your workout to match your fitness or the length of the ride. I did an 80km ride the other day with the battery mostly switched off (and with a 25kg bike, you really feel it on the hills), mix of road and off road, and combined with a changed in diet this last few months I've managed to lose 10kg.
eBikes are not just for the unfit, or the overweight, or the old, they are for fun, but they also help improve the fitness, reduce the weight and even roll back the years (at least it feels like it at the moment) :D
I think if an ordinary Joe wants to go to the Alps or Dolomites but not dedicate months to training for their holiday it is a great option
Exactly. I think they would still need to do a fair bit of training, though. Even on an ebike you have to put a fair bit of effort in up the climbs.
I'm 65 and a regular cyclist. I only did just over half the mileage last year that I would normally do (3800 miles / 6100 Kms) and while I have increased my cycling this year and am ahead of my target, for whatever reason (age maybe) nearly every ride has been hard and felt that I've been struggling. Perversely however, I have never once felt that I should get an e-bike, as to me that would be giving in. Rather, I think to myself that I just need to keep getting out, do hills and some weight training and it will come together for the summer months for some long excursions. I'm heading out in the morning for a 210 Km ride which will probably take between 10-11 hours including stops and I'm really looking forward to it, and the sense of achievement I will have couldn't be matched if I was riding an e-bike.
If you say so..paul miller
@@rivergladesgardenrailroad8834 Thank you for your well thought out input
Friend of mine and her husband signed up for a bike holiday....but it was a ton of mountain climbing, something her knees aren't good at, but her husband loves. So she rode an e-bike. It was still a good hard workout, but it saved her knees and she and her husband were able to ride together.
I’ve heard that this is how many couple do a cycling holiday when one of them is not really a cyclist. Kind of even things out.
I think if you did one about e bike vs moped the e bike woud still be on top . Yes I am a motorcyclist and e bike owner, as well as a life long cyclist .
Not so sure, John. In the U.K. ebikes are limited to 25km/h (16mph) so I think any moped would be able to beat that. Over a long, flattish route, even a reasonable cyclist would be faster.
@@jollygoodvelo To Me personally its nothing to do with speed . if I want to go fast I use one of my motorcycles but as all round personall and convenent transport My e bike is the best tool for the job. with a trailer on the back it go's shopping or a day out with my grandaughter with a tent it takes me camping . the only downside i have found is that its very desireable to the light fingered members of the comunity.
Well said Sir! Any form of cycling has got to be good!!
Great vid Leonard , currently looking at the Specialized Creo Evo , £5700 , plus another £300for the range extender. Got to save up , probably be 2023 before I get one . Thanks.
They can be a bit pricy.
At 66yo, I love riding my bike. I can see, as time passes, something (balance, cardiac or whatever) may push me into an ebike or etrike so I can keep on riding. All the smoke and fury about ebikes otherwise is just that, except in the cases of good manners and prudence on shared and natural trails/paths and competitive events with well-stated rules and criteria. Sort of how I feel in my other activity life - sailing, in the sail v. power boat conversation: we share more by being out on the water versus not, than the mode of propulsion divides us, as long as we're all civil.
Yes, we are all cyclists. Doesn’t matter what we rode.
Whatever keeps you on the saddle I say!
I had an e-bike with a throttle and it was fun, but I gained a lot of weight and wasn't getting any kind of workout. It's too tempting to just use the throttle the whole time. For the past 5 months, I've been riding my carbon road bike 4-5 times a week and lost about 40 pounds.
Well done.
@@jollygoodvelo Thanks!
The Schwinn AD 7 is the Airdyne stationary bike which works and upper and lower body. It much tougher than my road bike out on the roads.
if it helps people get out on the bike then all is good.....
Absolutely. Ebikes are great for doing that.
E bikes are amazing and a true car replacement. Nevertheless it's always enjoyable to have a non ebike as well
By the way,could you comment on which are the best shorts,especially the best “sheepskin”for day to day? Thanks all.
At the moment I’m finding the basic DHB ones from Wiggle very good.
Great vlog Leonard. Horses for courses, anyone out on a bike isn’t in a car regardless of assisted or no.👍 Read a story about a keen cyclist who bought his wife an e-bike with two batteries. As he was much fitter and faster, his wife would use the e-bike turbo mode to keep up until the battery died. He carried the spare battery and swopped it out for the return leg. It’s a great story of how technology can help people of differing abilities or maybe disabilities ride together. Keep up your good work and content.👏👏👏
Without my ebike I would be out of the game now for months with an ankle injury, as it is I can go out now and still get exercise.
I'm 67 and had a great 48k today on my road bike, climbing 575m, no problem, BUT I go mountain biking as well and both my MTB mates have recently bought e-bikes. For off road, it would be great fun to re-do some of the rides that are real uphill killers in our local area, the Peak District. However, until the prices come down and the weight, I can't see me getting one.
I have tried a really good e-mountainbike and it was great fun in the woods but so boring on the road. But there is room for us all 🥰
@leonardmlee: Don't all Fazua powered e-bikes in Europe only provide assistance up to 25kmh and not 30kmh as you stated? If not, I'm feeling quite cheated with mine, which definitely only assists to 25kmh 😞.
I've recently started riding again after almost a 20 year break and being in my late fifties and well over 100Kgs, there's no way I could ride as far and get as much enjoyment without the motor assistance.
You may be right about the 25kms rule. I thought it was 30kmh
Great overall non biased pros and cons comparison
Electric bikes are more enjoyable & u just cruise along the road & is less stressful. They're great for hills. A normal bike does have the advantage on a flat road as u can go faster as u have less weight. I've had a electric bike for a few days now & I enjoy cycling far more now as I don't have to worry about hills & breathing is far better & I save money on food as am using less energy
Electric bikes has more advantages than a normal bike.
If u look at statistics people who put the Heart & breathing under strain. They Die younger because of the stress on the body. Life is about being happy & eating well = Not who is better that anyone else & who can go faster
The only advantage of the ebike is the climbs. I just did a 28km ride and kept the pedal assistance to level 3 so I could feel the effort pedaling. Its different but still challenging
The motor disengagement system on the bike sounded very good, with present e-mtb's you reach the speed limit, it cuts out to a mass of mechanical drag, it's so bad that it makes it impossible to ride,like being on a treadmill whilst riding your bike when you try to go faster than the assist will give, it's bloody awful
Had a stroke a couple of months ago and buying an ebike allowed me to carry on with my main hobby. God knows what would have happened to my mental health otherwise. Cycling has always been my escape.
Ditto, stroke 2 months ago. Doc said keep riding buy moderate. I live in the Colorado mountains. I can keep going and control my effort better. From hater to understander.
@sherryb9770 Well done. Glad you're on the mend 👍
Did you find any resistance from the motor once you went over the assist level?
No. Generally speaking I would have been on the flat or on a descent riding above 30kph and would not have been using the motor for quite a while.
i recently bought and ebike, i use the peddle assist, i dont go all electric
I haven't watched the video but I already thumbs it up 👍👍👍🏁🏁🏁🚴🚴🚴😘
Thank you.
Thanks. I have two e bikes and two "acoustical" bikes. I pretty much use my spendier ebike as I like to ride up on what we call The Flats and must go up some killer hills to get there. I wasn't riding much around here until getting an ebike. Unfortunately, my favorite ebike is having some problems so yesterday I pulled out my 20 year old MTB, Old Yeller, and went for a short ride. I noticed that I wasn't getting a sore butt and my legs seemed pretty strong on Old Yeller. Today, I'll ride it again, only on a route without any serious hills. Oh, we call crank assist, mid drive and that's why I favor one bike over the other. I get a bikier experience on the mid drive than on the hub drive bike. In fact, I am thinking about selling the hub drive. Oh, another perk of the ebike is being able to keep going when your knee starts hurting. On an ebike, one can increase the assist level and the bad knee will usually stop protesting..
Best to ya....
Great that you feel stronger on your regular bike.
Knees are often very sensitive to setup, esp Q factor in crank set up.
That said , my triple chainring , and maybe yours ,was a the real fix for the hills.
One thing I didn't realize about an ebike is that a battery lasts about five years and will need to be replaced. Depending on the bike, that can be upwards of $700. Not necessarily a reason to not buy one but just something to be aware of.
I couldn't agree more. I use an ebike as my primary means of exercise. I'm also training for another cycling adventure circumnavigating the coastline of Ireland (+- 2750km) with a trailer I'm building to sleep in and carry all my gear. Without the ebike, I don't think I would be even contemplating the trip or cycling much.
The trip will hopefully be done next summer when I come back to Ireland for the next (and hopefully last) set of surgeries for an eye disease I have.
I had an ebike for over 4 years but lost interest in it, I'm 54 & over 17 stone & whilst the ebike was great uphills & into headwinds I just get more pleasure & satisfaction out of a regular bike, I've sold the ebike recently & now I've got a Boardman hybrid which is fantastic.
Enjoy your new bike.
Hi Leonardo.Very interesting things in regards to Ebikes.I occasionally read about them and i have come to a conclusion; I will buy one the day after I turn Eighty.Ciao from sunny Italy for a change Temp in the twinty.
Hi Saverio. Glad to hear it’s warmed up a bit over there. Hope you are also managing to get out on the bike.
Yesss Cyling,Running and a bit in the Gym can't wait till they reopen the swimming pools.
UN Abbraccio at InspiredItaly,great organization.Ciao.
I own an E-Bike (Orbea Gain D30) as one of 7 bikes I own (just so people know I don't rely solely on an ebike.) I bought it to help with a 34 mile daily commute (17 miles each way.) It is more of an aid on the ride home when energy levels are lower. My average speed over the journey is 2-3mph quicker on the ebike than riding the same route on my default Pinarello. It isn't until you switch from the ebike to a traditional bike that you realise how much the motor helps. Personally I believe it is better to be out on a bike that is motor assisted or not, than sitting on the sofa. It certainly isn't a moped disguised as a pedal cycle, if you don't pedal, as Leonard stated, you don't move.
The problem with e-bikes more rides with difficulties in regulation in US and difficulties in proper segregation from other, slower, traffic in places like the low countries, where they are becoming more numerous in urban bike lanes. Implementation often takes more attention than they have received, not their intrinsic merit. The basic problem of going faster than you can think , can be offset by more thinking . They are a tool, and like most tools perform best when used with a bit of skill, where they are a good fit.
The way I see it. If something helps more people get out and ride, more power to them! Especially those who wouldn't be able to otherwise.