Do you still sweat using an ebike?

SneakySpectator

My journey to work is about 17 minutes (not using an ebike) and looks like this



I know it's only 15 minutes give or take but I absolutely hate arriving to work all hot and sweaty and trust me I get sweaty very easily. I'm not in the best of shape and peddling up those hills really kills me on a regular bike. 

I've never used an ebike but I'm thinking about getting a bike like this https://wisperbikes.com/shop/e-bikes/crossbar-ebikes/tailwind-city-crossbar/ I dunno if it's good or not but since every legal ebike is locked at 15.5mph anyway, I figure they're all going to provide the same sort of assist regardless right? 

In the description it says 

Throttle:  Standard: Thumb throttle to 4mph (6km/h) and Thumb throttle to 15.5mph (25km/h) when pedalling. Full throttle option available.

Throttle only range:  Using your Wisper bike on throttle only will reduce your range by up to 30%. If your bike has been upgraded so it works on the throttle only, we still suggest pedalling when you are able to do so. Use the throttle only function when you need to rest or to help you pull away when setting off.

So if I were going up a hill, do you still have to actually put in effort, or will it feel like you're cycling on flat ground still in terms of how much effort you put in? 

I have a test ride booked at Halfords for one of their carrea models in a few days so will try and see anyway but wanted some input from others who use an ebike.

Keep_pedalling

Motor assisted peddling will make the hills feel more like peddling on the flat. Using the motor alone will eat the battery faster especially if you are a heavy rider. 

I would not use that bike for a daily commute though, you might not get sweaty but you are going to turn up coved in road crap when the roads are wet. I would want something with full mud guards and the ability to take panniers. Carrying stuff in a back pack leads to a sweaty back. 

SneakySpectator

Keep_pedalling said:

Motor assisted peddling will make the hills feel more like peddling on the flat. Using the motor alone will eat the battery faster especially if you are a heavy rider. 

I would not use that bike for a daily commute though, you might not get sweaty but you are going to turn up coved in road crap when the roads are wet. I would want something with full mud guards and the ability to take panniers. Carrying stuff in a back pack leads to a sweaty back. 

Thanks for the reply. Yeah no mud guards of any kind built in lights is a bit of a bummer. 

Can you recommend a bike, somewhere in the range of £1,200 - £1,500? My journey is only like 15mins max and like 80% of the route the cycle lane is on the path anyway not the road.

Wyndham

I love my ebike. Mine has four modes - Eco, Tour, Sport and Turbo. As you go up the range, it gives more assistance. So, if I'm trying to put in effort I'm on Eco, if I'm fed up and the hill is big then I'm on Turbo. Hills are then not a problem!

While I'd recommend mine, it's not in your price range. The more you pay generally the better the motor and the battery. If you have a local bike shop go and talk to them - I found that invaluable when I was buying mine as they were really patient and listened to what I wanted rather than just assuming. 

Keep_pedalling

SneakySpectator said:

Keep_pedalling said:

Motor assisted peddling will make the hills feel more like peddling on the flat. Using the motor alone will eat the battery faster especially if you are a heavy rider. 

I would not use that bike for a daily commute though, you might not get sweaty but you are going to turn up coved in road crap when the roads are wet. I would want something with full mud guards and the ability to take panniers. Carrying stuff in a back pack leads to a sweaty back. 

Thanks for the reply. Yeah no mud guards of any kind built in lights is a bit of a bummer. 

Can you recommend a bike, somewhere in the range of £1,200 - £1,500? My journey is only like 15mins max and like 80% of the route the cycle lane is on the path anyway not the road.

I don’t have any experience of e-bikes, but I quite like the look of the bike in this uTube vid.costs £1500, comes with rack, mudguards, lights automatic 2 speed hub and is belt drive so no oily chain to deal with.

As it’s a folder you can take it into your place of work rather than leave it outside to be nicked.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAsfLgx0ZnE

ButterCheese

I had the exact same bike 10 years ago, and the elavation of your commute looks about the same as mine, albeit mine was longer.  I have done the commute on a regular bike and then used the Wisper for a whole year (rain or shine).  These are my experiences:

You will get wet and you'll want to carry stuff like dry clothes.  I used a hard top-box which I found much easier and dryer than pannier bags.  

A rucksack will make your back sweaty.

Invest in a good quality lock and remove the battery when parked - it's only held in by a plastic mount and can be broken/forced without using a key.  Scrotes will try to nick it even if they destroy most of it in the process (depending where you live and where its parked of course). e.g. I locked mine up in full view of CCTV and other offices.  Also, check the spokes.  I lost 3 in the first year because I didn't check them (or they just broke, I don't know).  Luckily Wisper honoured the warranty for them, and a faulty charger, 1 month after the warranty period had expired which would otherwise have cost me £500.

Yes you can use full assist all of the time but it's very slow up hills.  If you can tolerate that and are patient then there's a good chance you won't sweat too much.  But I bet my left shoe you will try to pedal aswell, either to get to work faster when late, or to get in/out of a junction when there is a gap.  It is not realistic to assume that you won't pedal at all.

Throttle assist alone will not get you up steep hills, and it feels just as hard to get up them when you're used to an assist.  You're heaving your body weight + 15k + a bit of resistance from the motor, compared to a regular bike.

You will end up pedalling to go faster and will therefore sweat.  If you have no shower facilities at your work then at the very least you'll want to change clothes and apply deoderant.  Not pleasant in a toilet cubicle.  And if there is a hint of damp in the air, you'll also get wet.  

I'm not trying to put you off, but for such a large investment you need to be aware that it's not a moped.  (A moped might also be an option to consider).  It is a lifestyle choice to commute by cycle; e-assist or not

ButterCheese

SneakySpectator said:

My journey to work is about 17 minutes (not using an ebike) and looks like this



I know it's only 15 minutes give or take but I absolutely hate arriving to work all hot and sweaty and trust me I get sweaty very easily. I'm not in the best of shape and peddling up those hills really kills me on a regular bike. 

I've never used an ebike but I'm thinking about getting a bike like this https://wisperbikes.com/shop/e-bikes/crossbar-ebikes/tailwind-city-crossbar/ I dunno if it's good or not but since every legal ebike is locked at 15.5mph anyway, I figure they're all going to provide the same sort of assist regardless right? 

In the description it says 

Throttle:  Standard: Thumb throttle to 4mph (6km/h) and Thumb throttle to 15.5mph (25km/h) when pedalling. Full throttle option available.

Throttle only range:  Using your Wisper bike on throttle only will reduce your range by up to 30%. If your bike has been upgraded so it works on the throttle only, we still suggest pedalling when you are able to do so. Use the throttle only function when you need to rest or to help you pull away when setting off.

So if I were going up a hill, do you still have to actually put in effort, or will it feel like you're cycling on flat ground still in terms of how much effort you put in? 

I have a test ride booked at Halfords for one of their carrea models in a few days so will try and see anyway but wanted some input from others who use an ebike.

Sorry I didn't check the link.  I didn't have that bike, I had the city version which had mudguards, integrated lights, pannier rack.  You'd want mudguards at the very least unless you want a skidmark up your back after every ride

SiliconChip

Keep_pedalling said:

SneakySpectator said:

Keep_pedalling said:

Motor assisted peddling will make the hills feel more like peddling on the flat. Using the motor alone will eat the battery faster especially if you are a heavy rider. 

I would not use that bike for a daily commute though, you might not get sweaty but you are going to turn up coved in road crap when the roads are wet. I would want something with full mud guards and the ability to take panniers. Carrying stuff in a back pack leads to a sweaty back. 

Thanks for the reply. Yeah no mud guards of any kind built in lights is a bit of a bummer. 

Can you recommend a bike, somewhere in the range of £1,200 - £1,500? My journey is only like 15mins max and like 80% of the route the cycle lane is on the path anyway not the road.

I don’t have any experience of e-bikes, but I quite like the look of the bike in this uTube vid.costs £1500, comes with rack, mudguards, lights automatic 2 speed hub and is belt drive so no oily chain to deal with.

As it’s a folder you can take it into your place of work rather than leave it outside to be nicked.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAsfLgx0ZnE

That's the bike I bought in March this year (only for it to be stolen in June  ), I hadn't ridden it much while I had it but the motor certainly helped to get me up hills. If you buy direct from ADO they often change the price for a few days, I paid £1,264 for mine. 

I'd also note that ADO have a new model coming out in August that has a 3 speed motor, but looks like it'll cost about £300 more.

bouicca21

What that description doesn’t say is how much the bike weighs.  The weight of the bike affects performance - a heavy e-bike might be no better than a lightweight push bike.  And as said above you will need at least a back mudguard. 

Personally I’d go to a bike shop that specialises in e-bikes and try some out.  

Also I’m wondering just how long OP has been cycling.  When I first took up cycling again I found any kind of a hill challenging.  Now I’m so much fitter that a 151 foot hill is no problem - unless it’s super steep.

SneakySpectator

bouicca21 said:

What that description doesn’t say is how much the bike weighs.  The weight of the bike affects performance - a heavy e-bike might be no better than a lightweight push bike.  And as said above you will need at least a back mudguard. 

Personally I’d go to a bike shop that specialises in e-bikes and try some out.  

Also I’m wondering just how long OP has been cycling.  When I first took up cycling again I found any kind of a hill challenging.  Now I’m so much fitter that a 151 foot hill is no problem - unless it’s super steep.

I bought a push bike for the first time in 15 years, cycled it about 20 times to work then sold it and went back to driving. I'm not fat, I'm just incredibly lazy and don't like putting in effort to move.

bouicca21

@SneakySpectator. Sounds as though you don’t like cycling, an e-bike won’t make it any more enjoyable.  DD1 used to cycle to work in central London, but she showered and changed her clothes when she got there.  

The direct(ish) route to DD2’s house goes via a big hill. I have adopted a longer route because it enables me to go round the hill instead of up it.  Doing a hill on a main road in London in rush hour was not a good experience.  I am a big fan of routes that use back streets and parks.  Also although I hate to admit it, I am fat.