“An ebike is not a bicycle but a motor, who use it does not deserve to be called a bicyclist!” This argument is repeated many times in the ebike versus normal bicycle debate. Electronic bikes and their use have been the subject of more and more popularity in recent years as they become more and more popular.
Their spread is unstoppable
Their spread is so unstoppable that in countries to the west of us (Austria, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, etc.) ebike sales are slowly reaching normal bicycle sales, and in fact they sell more of it. If the trend continues (9-10% growth per year), within two years 2/3 of the new bikes will become ebikes, and in the not too distant future normal bikes will be the curiosity.
Of course ebike-denial is more philosophical: it only counts as a bicycle that is powered by human power and that it rewards and appreciation to the one who go up to the top of the hill or mountain by his own power. Over the past year I have witnessed a conversation not only one where the arguments for the ebike were properly disregarded. Despite the obvious stupidity the most interesting thing is that those who have never tried it are saying it.
For those who would not move without a motor
The bike4fun bike tour company has several ebikes that we rent for tours. So every day I see who, why and how it is used. Although pre-ebike cycling “mammoths” are happy to say the counter-arguments, as a non-ebike user, I think that the ebike is a bicycle and traveling with them is a cycling.
Why? Because they offer a recreational, useful and healthy activities to people who otherwise would not do it without the engine. An ebike, for example, is a great tool for a couple, one of whom cannot or does not want to suffer on climbs (nobody loves ascents) or does not want to ride stronger for longer distances. It is also a great help to people who due to their age or health are no longer able to bigger cycling.
And for me, who organizing bike tours is a tool that my passengers can use for the reasons mentioned above to take a bike tour that they may not be able to take on a normal bike. I give you a fresh example! Our April Tuscan tour was taken by a 65-70 year old lady with her new ebike and cycled a 350 km with us at 4600m elevaton level. And he has serious plans with ebike. Obviously, without Ebike he would not have started the adventure.
The advantage of ebike is that you can move around without difficulty, living healthy. Without the bike you might not be able to do it. And now a few words on how the ebike works!
The ebike is as much a bike as you want it to be
First let’s be clear: ebikes are a generic name for bikes that have received electronic assistance and traction. Ebike can be any type of bike. They simply put an engine and battery on a bike, whether mountain bike, trekking bike, kids bike, roadbike, etc. The operating principle is very simple: the bike has an electric motor driven by a battery.
The ebike engine only helps its user when they pushing it, which is called pedelec (pedal electric cycle). There are already ebikes that help even if you do not pedaling, but these are mostly in the small engine control category, so we won’t deal with them now.
So the ebike doesn’t work like an mtorbike where you can pull the throttle to gas. If you want help you have to pedaling. If you don’t it won’t work. You can adjust the assistance from the steer. This is usually 4 speeds, depending on the manufacturer, but the maximum help can be 3-400%. The pedal assist only works at 25 km/h, after the engine stops, the boost is over, so if you want to go faster you have to do it yourself.
The use of an electric motor is optional, can be switched off at any time and the measure of assistance can be withdrawn. This allows you to choose the option of using the engine only on harder parts. That’s why I always say that the ebike is just as much a bike as you want it to be.
There is a more sporty version of the pedelec, the s-pedelec which helps it not to 25 but 45. These are already a small motor categories in most EU countries, requiring insurance and license (and even license plates in some cases). S-pedelecs have been reclassified to small engines in Austria and in some EU countries for a few years due to many accidents, in Hungary the regulations are not yet in place and many pedelecs are being modified to help up to 45, but this is forbidden and dangerous!)
How does it feel to ride an ebike?
The answer to this question is relatively simple: extremely enjoyable and very addictive. Perhaps the latter is the worst feature. If you try it once you will be irresistibly caught by the “I need one” fever which is usually cooled by knowing the price. Because ebikes are still quite expensive today (in Hungary) the better premium starts at around 2000-2200 euros and the sky is the limit. In Hungary this can be several months’ salary. West of us a 3,000 euros ebike is not expensive.
They will be getting better, cheaper not yet. For the same money today you’ll get a more sophisticated, better e-bike, but you won’t get it cheaper. This is because the engine, the electronic control unit and especially the battery (Lithium Ion) are relatively expensive. Battery technology has improved a lot, the premium segment now has a Li-Ion, but battery technology has stopped at its current level, a technology leap would be needed to make it cheaper, smaller and lighter. However, this has not yet happened. (By the way, in my opinion, this is one of humanity’s biggest technological problems right now, but this topic deserves a separate article.)
The weight of the motor and the battery provide another problem for ebikes, to their weight. An ebike is heavy. The average pedelec is 23-25 kg (an average normal bike is 13-15kg, a road bike 7-8kg) and although they are make an 17-18kg bike (for 10,000 euros) this is not general. It does not simplify the situation that for the extra weights make the ebike frame and wheels more robust, which increases the overall weight. Weight is not a problem as long as you ride with a full battery, but it can serious problems in everyday use (eg. put on the car).
Contrary to popular belief, however, it is not at all difficult to cycling a discharged ebike. Despite its heavy weight and well-resolved center bearings the drive feels smooth and light. It also helps that first-gear ebikes have been released today, which makes the situation a lot easier on climbs (this is not evident because at the cranks, where the first gear is, have the engine.)
When you sit on an ebike and push the pedal, the bike jumps out and you’re caught in a “hurray” feeling. You think I won’t get off of it! You will feel this feeling especially when you try a premium ebike with a torque sensor and/or start assist (the answer for the higher the pedal force is a higher torque). You start to pedaling, adjust the boost rate and on the climb you just wonder how it can be! When you make a higher ascent (5-8%) by a third or a quarter as much effort as you would with a normal bike your mouth will smile.
How much human energy does using an ebike?
When we bought our ebikes for our passengers to use on tours, we tried them out. We went with them in exactly the same route we used to ride on road bikes (60km, 600m level). The tempo was not that great, because with thicker tires you can move slower and the ebike only helps it up to 25 km/h, so we tried to stay below average 25 km/h speed to test the engine and the boost.
Even so the calories consumed were half to two-thirds of normal cycling. Of course, we switched off the engine on the flat or used it in first boost level, but on the climbs we used the engine. We were sweating and quite a few energencies had to be put in the pedalling. But the climbs went fast 🙂 (Just for fun: the battery still had 50% left after the trip.)
How to use an ebike?
What I mean by this is not just to look at it, but to ride it, use it as if you were riding a non-motorized bike! Assistance is just an extra help, as if somebody on a climb would help.
Most importantly to use the gear as well just as if you were on a normal bike! The ebike has a gear also, on the better (yamaha) already in front! So if there is a headwind or climb, switch back! If you descend, up!
Do not adjust the boost permanently! Get started, set a boost and then use gear to adjust to the difficulty. If come a heavier uphill, then adjust to the booster. It is usually 4-speed, you have much less to touch than a gear.
Of course, the ebike’s engine can handle upward with torque, even if you don’t change the gear, but riding will not be optimal (not using the engine either), and the battery will dying earlier.
How far does it go with a charge?
And of course, the most asked question is: How far can you get to with an ebike? The answer, of course, is not simple (not 42 🙂 Range depends on a lot of components, such as terrain, because it doesn’t matter how much mountainous-hilly terrain you biking, how much you use the motor on inclines. It also depends on how you use it, for example: it doesn’t matter which assistant level you use a lot: even if you put it in 4th for the little difficulty, after 30-40km you will be discharged, but if you use it wisely, you can go up to 100 km with them (obviously not in the Alps).
From our passengers’ experience, I can say that with today’s premium ebike, where the motor is modern, the akkumulator is 400 or 500, you can ride 100-120 km under Hungarian terrain or even in hilly Tuscany 80-100 km.
Buying an ebike
It doesn’t matter whether you buy a factory ebike or a rebuild. They are made by tuning the normal bike with a set. Of course there is no way to compare the two, although we are not talking about prices in either category. Also beware of factory-made bicycles of anonymous Far East brands there are better for shopping but not for serious tours.
The ebike has 3 important components: the engine, the battery (and the control electronics). Battery performance is reported in watts hour, but is usually referred to as Watts only. This indicates the capacity of the battery (how much power it can store). More higher the number more longer you can use the bike. This data is around 4-500 on most bikes these days, but of course there are bigger ones.
Most modern premium ebikes’s motor today are powered by 2 manufacturers, Bosch and Yamaha. Some are made by themselves (eg Specialized), but their count is negligible (though still quite good!). The main characteristic of the engine is its power and torque, which is mean the total power of the engine. Today’s average power is 250W and premium-grade motors are capable of 50-70 Nm. (this is the power of a stronger 3-400cc motorbike engine!)
Of course, there are also differences between manufacturers’ engines. Bosch and Yamaha engines do not work in the same way, but there are engine differences within a manufacturer, for example, Bosch has 4 types of engines with different power ratings and for different uses. Which one you like is a matter of perspective. I think Bosch’s engines are finer, more precise, Yamaha’s cruder, but more powerful. I personally prefer Yamaha, but in Europe Bosch is goes better.
interesting Facts
Various engine and electronics manufacturers make different displays for ebikes. some of them are simple, some complex, some monochrome or colorful. But almost all type of displays have a mini-USB port for charging phones.
The battery can be removed with the help of a key. The key does not need to put, it is enough to snap it in; never forget to take the key with you if you want to remove the battery! Most battery can be recharged without removing from the bike, but transport your bike with a battery probably not possible (on the other hand it is hard to do).
The better premium ebikes also have a torque sensor and a start assist, which means that when the stronger pedalling is sensed, the engine automatically helps it better. It’s like getting kicked ass up at the start. Starting with ebike in a climb is no big deal.
Most premium ebikes show on the screen if you need to shift – with the gearshift (which is actually a torque indicator). If you watch this, you can use the energy very optimally. At the same time, the display shows the remaining energy and the rest of the range, which of course is changing, depending on how big assistance you have. So you may still have 70km in 1st, but if you switch to 4th, you will only have 20km.
Modern premium ebikes already have ABS on the front brakes. This is the future and I think it will go the world of normal cycling. Better ebikes are capable of recharging energy during braking (but not all of them).
Summary
On the subject of ebike or normal cycling, the summary is very simple. Experiences of the last few years tell me that no matter what you ride, just push the pedal and don’t worry about the other’s feeling good! It can even be as a good advice.
Back-wind for everyone!
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