yachell

If you want to buy a bike,which one would you choose? The one with battery-assist or with the gas or only use your legs to pedal only? Why?

THX very much for your answer

recumelectric

I checked into gas before getting my current set-up, and I didn't like the options I saw. My main complaints were noise, fumes, and the need to stop at the gas station. Those are the main reasons I prefer bicycle in the first place. So gas would be out for me.

As for the choice between pure pedal power and electric, I think it depends on your level of fitness, what you intend to haul, and your target pedaling distance. I prefer the electric assist technology for distances over 5 miles, but that is due to my various other preferences (getting up later, not aggravating arthritic knees, and no sore butt from a long ride). There are plenty of cyclists who scoff at my 20 mile round trip commute with electric assistance. On the other hand, there are plenty of people in the world who are amazed that I do it at all.

My suggestion is to get a regular bike and ride it around your neighborhood for a while. See what you are comfortable with. If you feel the need for more speed and power over longer distances, then look into electric. ...I still ride the plain ole Beach Cruiser with no motor when I'm tooling around close to home, and I love it just as much as my electric 'bent.

ecowheelz

Electric bikes are cleaner, quieter and safer than gas-powered alternatives. As recumelectric mentioned, the choice between power assistance and pure pedal power depends on how much work you are willing (or able) to do. The nice thing about an electric bike, is that you can cut the power off and ride it like a regular bike if you choose. Obviously, they're quite a bit heavier if you choose a cheaper SLA (lead acid) battery and pedalling will be much more difficult. But higher-end electric bikes which use NiMh or LiFePo4 batteries are much lighter and can be pedalled relatively easily - just like a normal bike.

Treker

If you offered some more information about yourself and the type of cycling you envision yourself doing, then recommendations might be easier.

You may want to ask yourself: what do you want your bike to do for you? or, what do you want out of your bike?

That being said, I'd recommend a quality-built, light, pure pedal power solution unless there was an overriding need for a motor assist.

yachell

Thanks very much for the recommendation you provided above!
And I decided to by a regular bicycle because the place I worked was not far away from my home,and I can take "exercise" during riding :-)

recumelectric

I just noticed that you are from China. I would have avoided slang phrases if I had noticed this at first.

What kind of bike did you buy? How far is your commute?

La Bicyclette

The benefit of the electric bike for going to work is that.. even if the distance is not too great, at least you can arrive to work in the summer without being sweaty and needing a change of clothes.