I’m tempted to buy an e/bicycle but I’m a real traditionalist.

Thoughts/opinions? Thanks - Steve

Go for it my wife has one she gets a good work out. I have tried it around the neighborhood, it is fun.

Just one: What do you hope to get out of an e-bike that you cannot get out of a traditional bike?

In other words, Do you have to justify the purchase?

The question is; why?
I have an EMTB and I use it to ride climbs that I could never do.

Go out and try a quality one with a Bosch, Brose or Shimano STEPs system. They are awesome, I have a whole bunch of bikes which are all non-electric but I am planning on getting a custom one built (with Bosch Cargo Speed motor and Ti frame). Having ridden a lot of e-bikes in the past 5 years now I can say I love them. I will still keep riding non-e-bikes and do not believe one should replace the other but they are fantastic. It is fun to be able to go up a hill like it was nothing or for some people just get riding again. One test ride and it is easy to get hooked.

People are going to hate on e-bikes but most of those people have never ridden one or have ridden the garbage stuff. They want to sit there and roll backwards because this new technology scares them or something but honestly it is a game changer. I can certainly appreciate those against e-bikes in non-e-bike competition and the crappy throttled stuff that would make better scrap than bike but a good quality one is nothing to scoff at.

Here is a favorite article from Lennard Zinn (and the art of bike maintenance and of Zinn Cycles and the VeloNews tech question column):
https://www.velonews.com/2018/06/bik...cyclist_470738

For him it was a necessity to continue riding and you cannot hate for that especially looking at his bike. Titanium is just sexy and the hints of red set it off nicely. If the money comes in right I will also have a Zinn-E but a slightly different spec (as alluded to above).

You literally are my conscious or thoughts in my head!

Thank you and all the best! Steve

Thank you for this information! Very helpful!

Thank you and all the best! Steve

what brand do you have?

Thank you and all the best! Steve

I have Cube Stero Hybrid. Full suspension.
I never thought I would do such rides again, meaning serious uphill with some teeth chattering downhill, but here I am.
I am not at the point where I need an ebike for the road, but If I am lucky, I will still be around for that time

Hi Marcus -

I agree. I’m over 55 and I still ride strong even up fairly steep hills. I just think having “peddle assist” will be counter productive for me at this point in my life.

Thank Again and All the Best! Steve

It’s great your wife is enjoying an e/bike experience. If I were to get one it would be set up for urban bike commuting. I really enjoy cycling for a regular mode of transportation.

Thanks Again for your perspective. Steve

If you don't want/need one, why start the thread? If you change your mind and want one, ask in the ebike section for recommendations.

It absolutely depends on your circumstance. If because of age or physical needs, why not.

Or------------ if you think you would like one, get it. Ignore the nay sayers.

^this is sound logic. However, if your reasons are simply that you'd like to try it out, or that a new shiny thing might be fun, or some other reason, then think hard about it.

1) Expense. The true cost of ownership includes not just the substantial entry fee, but also any replacement parts that you might foresee over, say, 5 years. Are there components that are unproved, or that might be prone to failure? Consider the full costs.

2) Complexity. Are you a do-it-yourselfer? So, you'll be taking on the troubleshooting, maintenance and repair of these additional component parts, too? Is that what you want? Have a voltmeter, continuity checker, and troubleshooting skills? If not, you'll pay. See #1 .

Those would be two reasons to consider. Me, I'm 60, fit and a pretty strong rider. I have no immediate need for help. I like my bikes as they are. But, things always change, don't they?

If you're healthy enough to ride without assistance and you don't have some other requirement that an e-bike would help meet like avoiding arriving at work sweaty after commuting by bike, then my two cents is put off acquiring an e-bike.

Two reasons I say wait:
1. Use your ability to ride or risk having it diminish. Perhaps not much of a concern if you're young but as we age, a real threat.
2. E-Bike technology and options will likely continue to improve over time so if you're not 100% sure you're ready now, waiting will likely result in you getting improved performance, perhaps also at lower cost.

I do own an e-bike, purchased solely because it was a bargain at the time. It can be fun to ride but it doesn't give me the personal satisfaction that riding a regular bike does. The bike, purchased used, now has very little battery capacity due to neglect on my part and I will not be paying $400-500 to replace the battery. When I can no longer pedal up hills unassisted on the routes I regularly ride, I will transition to an e-bike.

Not. The "self-powered motion" aspect of cycling is a big part of the experience for me. I'd rather go slower for shorter distances than use a boost. I'm 57, if it matter.

At the REI in Washington DC, A guy came out of the store with his two toddler daughters and a large package in his arms. He strapped the package to his pedal-assist cargo bike, got his daughters to climb onboard, and away they went.

My girlfriend used to live 13 miles from work. Hilly roads. She'd bicycle from time to time but said that she would have done it more often if she had an ebike.

These are the kinds of trip that only the most dedicated of cyclist would normally do. If ebikes make these kind of trips more doable for a larger number of folks, I'm all for it.

I have tried them and they seem like a tonne of fun. I've also been in cities where they are starting to really catch on, and the more people on the bike paths the better! I rode with all sorts of people who may not have felt able to five years ago without eBikes.

I would think they are a great option for anyone who wants to ride a bit faster or further, or over more aggressive terrain or bigger hills than they currently feel able, or want to ride with someone who has better fitness.

edited: removed a word

Buy it 👍

for fun and to try something new and modern

keep old bicycles for hard Core exercise

When Giant released the LeFree somewhere around 1998, our shop picked up a bunch of them and they quickly sold. I really liked the mid drive layout and could go quite fast without a ton of effort. However, being a young buck and and racing at the time, I poo-poo'd them and did not pursue one. This past summer I rode a Cannondale mid-drive bike and lost my mind! Cruising with traffic at 25mph and not breathing hard. Absolutely will have one in the future, and it will be mid-drive.

I see the best use is for commuting. When battery tech gets better and a full charge will go 100 miles, then perhaps for riding in the hills. Either way, the ebike is in my future.

Is he actually peddling?!?!

At what point is it a scooter / motorcycle? Having to stop and charge a bike after less than 16 miles would be annoying.

If I might adapt my grandfather's passed down driving instructions:

when it's passing more pedal bikes than pass it.

It's really that simple - if the motor is letting someone fit in, it's a good thing. But once it's leading them to stand out, it's a negative for society to continue to pretend that it is any sort of "bicycle".

Such motorcycles belong on the ordinary motor vehicular infrastructure and the ordinary motor vehicle regulations, if they displace internal combustion versions there, all the better.

No, these people are peddling.

Keep with the non e bike till you learn the proper use of "pedaling".

The best reason of course is that it allows some people to get out on a bike or trike, that couldnt if they didnt have E-assist. Encourage cycling for everyone.