What I think of the fight road - electric bikes
09-30-09, 03:35 PM
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What I think of the fight road - electric bikes
Hello, as I have ridden both types of bikes and I don't care to write some lines tonight, I feel I can say some things about this. I was retired two years ago, and I had an almost absolutely sedentary civil servant live, exactly since I had 22 years I hadn't do any sport at all, and then it was two days conmuting with a road bike, a fall made me give up the bike. And before that, it was when I was 17 the last time I have been in a bike. Even some years ago I had an heart infarction, so after that I yes did some walks. Sorry if this is boring and long.
Two years ago, I knew of the existence of the ebikes. I needed some mean of transport, because for reasons that I don't want to tell, I can't drive a car. So I bought an ebike, 36 v. 10 Ah. battery, 250 brushless rear motor and 25 kg. weight overall. I really liked it and I began to use it to do more than use it only for duties. I even bought a second battery and did some 100 km. rides. But with a second battery and the other stuff the bike weighted more than 30 kgs. (sorry for the european metrics) and I had to lift it to a second floor. A day when my legs were some more strong, the motor didn't work. I was 11 hilly km. far from home, so I began to tremble, but surprised I found myself able to return way better than I feared. The next day, boldning, I removed the battery, 21 kg. and was able to make 50 almost flat km. by myself. Even at the last kilometer I overtook a mtb in a 3% hill. So you could say that the ebike was an excellent way to get fit.
But I thought that if I could do that with a 21 kg. bike, a 9 kg. bike would be wonderful. So I bought a road bike and I've never went back to ebiking. It's wonderful the light feeling of a road bike. Now, one year after my first road walk I can do one century with 3.000 meters of overall ascension, of course only at 17,5 km/h., but I can do it.
But really what I want is to say what I think that this war that ebikers have versus roadies and vice-versa. I really think that both are two absolutely different worlds. I think what roadies don't see very well is the apparent pride that ebikers show when they overtake them. Pride? Why? By using a motor so you laugh? I am in this absolutely with the roadies, an ebike it's not a bike, it's a motor vehicle, so if you overtake a roadie, at least show some respect. And roadies shouldn't hate ebikers instictively, it is really as if you hate a motorist. Ebikers, also, have some I think wrong ideas about some things. For example, they think they overtake road bikers in the hillies. Wrong, they overtake some road bikers, not good road bikers. Of course, if you can go 60 km/h. in the flat with a motor it's another story, but with the majority of ebikes today you have nothing to do against a good road biker, hilly or flat. They think also that they can go further with some ebikes, and with light electric help. Absolutely wrong, also, and I haven't even to explain why, because I don't think an ebike can ride 200 km. in a run, and if an ebiker could do that, obviously with a road bike could win pro races. Allso they think that commuting in an ebike they don't sweat. With a road bike (or any push bike) if you are some fit you don't sweat at all in a commuting journey.
So i think an ebike is ok for sick people, or to get fit, or lazy people, but the help that the majority of the current motors give can't replace the strength of two mid fit legs.
I finish this saying that as we say in my country, to compare them is as comparing speed with bacon. Sorry for this boring thing.
Two years ago, I knew of the existence of the ebikes. I needed some mean of transport, because for reasons that I don't want to tell, I can't drive a car. So I bought an ebike, 36 v. 10 Ah. battery, 250 brushless rear motor and 25 kg. weight overall. I really liked it and I began to use it to do more than use it only for duties. I even bought a second battery and did some 100 km. rides. But with a second battery and the other stuff the bike weighted more than 30 kgs. (sorry for the european metrics) and I had to lift it to a second floor. A day when my legs were some more strong, the motor didn't work. I was 11 hilly km. far from home, so I began to tremble, but surprised I found myself able to return way better than I feared. The next day, boldning, I removed the battery, 21 kg. and was able to make 50 almost flat km. by myself. Even at the last kilometer I overtook a mtb in a 3% hill. So you could say that the ebike was an excellent way to get fit.
But I thought that if I could do that with a 21 kg. bike, a 9 kg. bike would be wonderful. So I bought a road bike and I've never went back to ebiking. It's wonderful the light feeling of a road bike. Now, one year after my first road walk I can do one century with 3.000 meters of overall ascension, of course only at 17,5 km/h., but I can do it.
But really what I want is to say what I think that this war that ebikers have versus roadies and vice-versa. I really think that both are two absolutely different worlds. I think what roadies don't see very well is the apparent pride that ebikers show when they overtake them. Pride? Why? By using a motor so you laugh? I am in this absolutely with the roadies, an ebike it's not a bike, it's a motor vehicle, so if you overtake a roadie, at least show some respect. And roadies shouldn't hate ebikers instictively, it is really as if you hate a motorist. Ebikers, also, have some I think wrong ideas about some things. For example, they think they overtake road bikers in the hillies. Wrong, they overtake some road bikers, not good road bikers. Of course, if you can go 60 km/h. in the flat with a motor it's another story, but with the majority of ebikes today you have nothing to do against a good road biker, hilly or flat. They think also that they can go further with some ebikes, and with light electric help. Absolutely wrong, also, and I haven't even to explain why, because I don't think an ebike can ride 200 km. in a run, and if an ebiker could do that, obviously with a road bike could win pro races. Allso they think that commuting in an ebike they don't sweat. With a road bike (or any push bike) if you are some fit you don't sweat at all in a commuting journey.
So i think an ebike is ok for sick people, or to get fit, or lazy people, but the help that the majority of the current motors give can't replace the strength of two mid fit legs.
I finish this saying that as we say in my country, to compare them is as comparing speed with bacon. Sorry for this boring thing.
10-01-09, 02:36 PM
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Biking is an imperfect sport, not all body muscles are worked in balance and equally. Most sports are so and moreover too much exercise and professional sports are no good for the health. Especially when stopped suddenly it has many reverse effects to the health.
Some kind of e-biking may be used as a better exercising method. I mean pedelecs. It is a way to design and plan how much exercise one takes.
I would prefer an e-bike for climbing hills through my commute. I want to exercise but not much and not after an exhaustic work day into the night and believe me you sweat even on an e-bike.
And I find your criticism of e-bikers unfair. I can criticise your interest in speed and overtaking though. To be proud of overtaking somebody no matter what is an immature state of mind unless this is a setup race. An e-biker priding himself because of that is ridiculous but also a road biker priding himself to overtake anything is no different at all. A mature person with a healthy mind and strong character never prides or despises himself because he can overtake somebody.
Some kind of e-biking may be used as a better exercising method. I mean pedelecs. It is a way to design and plan how much exercise one takes.
I would prefer an e-bike for climbing hills through my commute. I want to exercise but not much and not after an exhaustic work day into the night and believe me you sweat even on an e-bike.
And I find your criticism of e-bikers unfair. I can criticise your interest in speed and overtaking though. To be proud of overtaking somebody no matter what is an immature state of mind unless this is a setup race. An e-biker priding himself because of that is ridiculous but also a road biker priding himself to overtake anything is no different at all. A mature person with a healthy mind and strong character never prides or despises himself because he can overtake somebody.
