Regular vs Electric Bike

Johnmcl7

esuhl wrote: »

Your mass doesn't change when you travel faster.

Your momentum (mass times velocity) does, however. And momentum over time exerts a force (since force is mass times acceleration, and acceleration is velocity over time).

Mass does increase as you travel faster:

https://futurism.com/why-do-objects-increase-in-mass-as-they-get-faster-2/

However that would need to be a *very* fast ebike for that to become an issue

The ebike speed limit is a hotly debated issue although I do think it's a sensible limit, I'd say I'm a decent cyclist but on average (factoring in hill climbs and head winds) I rarely average much over 17mph. Bearing in mind there are no legal requirements for the bike, a license for the rider nor any protection required either I think a 30mph limit is dangerous and far faster than a normal pedal bike.

When going through town one day in the car I caught up to an ebike doing around 16mph and just as I was about to overtake, the bike suddenly veered across the road and crashed. I immediately stopped and helped the rider up then went to check her bike and found the entire crank arm had fallen off. The bike was made up of very cheap no-name parts that normally due to their weight and inefficiency would limit the bike if on pedal power but with a motor could go much faster and made for a worse crash.

However the idea of such a bike being able to do 30mph which would have made for a much more serious crash just seems dangerous particularly when that's the speed a moped does and has much tougher requirements.

jackyann

Hello all, I'm reviving this thread as I'm thinking of getting an e-bike.
Arthritis and replaced joints have left me both struggling and anxious about cycling ( which I did on and off for most of my life).
A trike might be the answer in some situations, but not in others. I haven't completely decided how and when I'll use it, just thinking about it.
Fortunately I have money saved for this.
Weight might be an issue as I'd like to put it on a bike carrier, but I need good stability. I now need a 'step through '.
Does anyone have any advice to add to the above? And many thanks for the helpful comments in this thread.

Nasqueron

You can get either dedicated e-bikes or retro fit bikes with motors

The former will be heavier but will likely have a full motor and bigger battery, the latter will be lighter and more of an assist than a full on.

New ebikes are getting lighter but I'd still imagine 15-20kg will be the norm vs say a retrofit CAAD10 which comes in at about 10kg...

You'll get a better range of options for 2 wheeler vs 3 but there are a few I have seen with suspension forks and hefty batteries that will do 30-35 miles

Richard53

For simplicity, get an ebike. It will weigh ~20 kg or more, so to transport it you will probably need a carrier that fits on a towball. I have a Thule which has a total limit of 3 bikes/50 kg and it carries it all just fine. Look on it as an investment.


For a step-through, I can recommend the Raleigh Motus low step. My wife had one and it was superb.

jackyann

Thank you. I am definitely going to look at the Motus, and thanks for the advice on the carrier. I probably will only use the carrier when I'm going out with someone who can help me.
Fortunately I have money put aside for this, so am able to look at good value rather than going for the cheapest.
It will be a dedicated e-bike. I gave away my last bike a couple of years ago as I couldn't manage it any more, but do miss it for lots of reasons.

Johnmcl7

There should be a good choice of step through hybrid bikes which will offer a comfortable riding position, my Mum decided to get an ebike recently and that's the design she went with complete with integrated mudguards, lights and a pannier rack to help her carry items. She loves it as it has a little suspension on the front and on the seatpost to make it quite a smooth ride.

Unfortunately there's not much you can do to get away from the weight as it's not just the total weight but the fact the weight is very concentrated in the motor can make them a bit awkward.

You're right not to just go for the cheapest and if possible, try any bike out first. My Mum had been hiring Giant e-bikes and when I was looking to buy one for her, she tried out a Trek hybrid which was a similar design but she didn't like the fit of it. Bike sizing is a bit misleading as it only refers to a single measurement of the frame so different bikes that are technically the same size can be quite different. Getting a good fit is important so you're comfortable on the bike particularly as you may find on the ebike you'll ride a bit longer.

Good luck with your hunt and I hope you find something suitable as my Mum loves her ebike as during the good weather she can get about easily without worrying about traffic and we can go for longer rides out into the countryside as I don't need to worry about hills or wind as the ebike makes them easy for her. Despite the claims they're just electric mopeds I've been impressed at the improvement in her fitness as well as she was able to ride a single speed hire bike 16 miles which is a big improvement compared to what she could do before the ebike.

John

RichardD1970

I have to say I would definitely recommend looking at FreeGo.

They have a good range of different type (crossbar, step through, folders) and from what I have seen have excellent customer service often going way above and beyond to sort any problems.

buildersdaughter

Again, many thanks. My user name is misleading - during the great password debacle I ended up signing in with a new name, but I have one device that I use occasionally that stubbornly keeps the old name and won't let me change! Mods know.
So from both of my usernames, thank you very much