E-bike and commuting in your office attire
10-26-18, 07:53 AM
#1
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E-bike and commuting in your office attire
My current commute distance to work is 14 miles over pretty flat terrain. I am thinking of getting new pedal assisted e-bike with Bosch mid motor, a Townie. I don’t have any convinient place at work to swap from full riding gear into office clothes, and I hate the whole baby wipes in the restroom routine (I used to commute 20 miles one way on a roadie). Question is, is it possible to get to work in your office clothes without breaking a sweat, or it’s a bad idea? We don’t wear suits, so it’s either long sleeve or short sleeve shirt with khakis or jeans, tennis shoes are fine.
Last edited by boggy; 10-26-18 at 07:57 AM.
10-26-18, 08:29 AM
#2
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Just an FYI. If you're spending anywhere near that much money I would highly recommend you go with a reputable ebike/pedelec bike manufacturer.
Like these guys:
https://www.ebike-manufaktur.com/en/e-bikes.php
Like these guys:
https://www.ebike-manufaktur.com/en/e-bikes.php
10-26-18, 08:47 AM
#3
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Just an FYI. If you're spending anywhere near that much money I would highly recommend you go with a reputable ebike/pedelec bike manufacturer.
Like these guys:
https://www.ebike-manufaktur.com/en/e-bikes.php
Like these guys:
https://www.ebike-manufaktur.com/en/e-bikes.php
10-26-18, 10:20 AM
#4
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Short answer is yes you can do 14 miles on flat ground without raising a sweat, all you needs do is put it on max assist... Now you will also need to re-charge the battery at work to get home as you would have probably used most of the battery like that...
10-26-18, 10:29 AM
#5
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Okay, here's an interesting question. The specifications for Bosch PowerPack 400 claim that battery lasts up to 500 charge cycles and is covered by a 2-year manufacturer warranty. If I charge it twice every business day, that would result in me using up the 500 charges within a year. Does that mean that Bosch will be replacing this pricey battery before the warranty expires, every year? That does not sound right...
10-26-18, 10:47 AM
#6
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If the battery is used up lets say 50%, and you charge it, then you would get 1,000 life cycles out of that battery... 70% used up you would get 650 life cycles out of that battery and so on... 
10-26-18, 10:53 AM
#7
Banned
Okay, here's an interesting question. The specifications for Bosch PowerPack 400 claim that battery lasts up to 500 charge cycles and is covered by a 2-year manufacturer warranty. If I charge it twice every business day, that would result in me using up the 500 charges within a year. Does that mean that Bosch will be replacing this pricey battery before the warranty expires, every year? That does not sound right...
I'd wager that you'd get a full commute out of a charge.
The batteries aren't so pricey. Also, I don't know about US consumer laws (usually much worse than the EU) but over here we'd get 2 years on just about everything and batteries should last 5 to 7 years in certain countries.
Most higher end bikes have switched from Bosch, which was great 3-5 years ago, to Continental (German as well) system but I don't know who makes the battery systems for each.
Also, I'm glad that you can exchange the product with REI but I must say that it looks quite inferior in quality/design to other bikes at that same price point.
Would I want a Chevy Captiva or an Audi Q3 at the same price point would be my first question rather than a warranty but it's your money.
10-26-18, 10:58 AM
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I think it would be doable. We have these bike share e-assist Jump Bikes in Sacramento and I have taken to using them for mid-day errands. Even on the hottest day, I arrive cool and dry. A couple of things make the difference: posture, because you sit up and catch the wind; and the e-boost, which gets you going from the stop lights. Feels like you're barely turning the pedals.
10-26-18, 11:03 AM
#9
Banned
This also answers your range questions:
https://www.butchersandbicycles.com/...ryGuide-EN.pdf
28 miles /day is roughly 45km/day ... should be OK with a single charge on the 400Wh.
I would assume that you'd be OK with 500 cycles assuming the standard 6-8 weeks holiday leave per year that results in about 200 days / year working.
They'd probably replace with a refurbished battery to cover that 2 years.
Batteries look to be around €400 or so, which seems OK when the 20% VAT is removed.
https://www.butchersandbicycles.com/...ryGuide-EN.pdf
28 miles /day is roughly 45km/day ... should be OK with a single charge on the 400Wh.
I would assume that you'd be OK with 500 cycles assuming the standard 6-8 weeks holiday leave per year that results in about 200 days / year working.
They'd probably replace with a refurbished battery to cover that 2 years.
Batteries look to be around €400 or so, which seems OK when the 20% VAT is removed.
10-26-18, 11:11 AM
#10
Banned
This is largely known as the best test site in Europe. Youtube will auto translate from German in English, should you require. And yes, that apparatus is squirting water on to the disc brakes and measuring the reduction in braking force in newtons. Ja, the Germans are quite serious.
The full article can be purchased for €4.5 here:
https://www.test.de/E-Bike-Test-4733...urzurl.e-bikes
The full article can be purchased for €4.5 here:
https://www.test.de/E-Bike-Test-4733...urzurl.e-bikes
Last edited by acidfast7; 10-26-18 at 11:15 AM.
10-26-18, 11:13 AM
#11
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Your profile says you live in Los Angeles. Is there any way to get around hot + humid days? I haven't found one for the extremes, the kind of weather where simply walking outside will leave you drenched in sweat.
This is what I do when I'm biking to work (in minnesota):
- Smell is usually caused by sweat + bacteria on your skin, so I shower in the morning or the night before and then sweating does not cause me to smell.
- Wear bike-specific (more expensive) or breathable workout gear (cheaper) for the ride in. You want to stay cool, the right clothing is the best way to do it. That being said I either wear workout shorts or mountain biking shorts as I don't need to look professional but I don't want to stand out with out of place clothing either.
- For the last 5 minutes of my ride I make a point of riding at low effort. It takes about 5 minutes for your body to cool down and stop producing heat, and being on a bike doing low effort is great for cooling down. Biking at 12mph is like standing in front of a fan, it cools you as long as the air temperature isn't terrible.
- I just walk into the bathroom nearest the front door at work and change clothes in a stall. I don't find it to be a big deal and no one can see me in the stall. I just walk into the bathroom with my bike bag, walk out wearing work clothes.
- I don't do anything involving the sink, wipes, etc at all. For me at least it doesn't help anything and just leaves to potentially awkward situations if someone I know at work walks through the bathroom which I'd rather avoid. The only thing I do in the bathroom is going into a stall and change clothes.
- I wear Five Ten flat bike shoes for the ride then change shoes at my desk so I'm not carrying shoes back and forth. I saw they now offer a "officewear" pair of shoes called the five ten district that I've been considering getting so I don't have to change shoes at all:
https://www.adidasoutdoor.com/five-t...shoe/FT86.html
The problem with trying to give advice over the internet on this issue that a persons genetics play a huge role in all these issues. Sometimes people smell if they sweat regardless of whether they've showered which I fortunately don't have to deal with. Some people sweat a lot more than other people again because of genetics. When I would go swing dancing I'd just wear 1 shirt all night while a few other people had to change into a new shirt every hour or two because they'd sweat through their current shirt.
This is what works for me though.
This is what I do when I'm biking to work (in minnesota):
- Smell is usually caused by sweat + bacteria on your skin, so I shower in the morning or the night before and then sweating does not cause me to smell.
- Wear bike-specific (more expensive) or breathable workout gear (cheaper) for the ride in. You want to stay cool, the right clothing is the best way to do it. That being said I either wear workout shorts or mountain biking shorts as I don't need to look professional but I don't want to stand out with out of place clothing either.
- For the last 5 minutes of my ride I make a point of riding at low effort. It takes about 5 minutes for your body to cool down and stop producing heat, and being on a bike doing low effort is great for cooling down. Biking at 12mph is like standing in front of a fan, it cools you as long as the air temperature isn't terrible.
- I just walk into the bathroom nearest the front door at work and change clothes in a stall. I don't find it to be a big deal and no one can see me in the stall. I just walk into the bathroom with my bike bag, walk out wearing work clothes.
- I don't do anything involving the sink, wipes, etc at all. For me at least it doesn't help anything and just leaves to potentially awkward situations if someone I know at work walks through the bathroom which I'd rather avoid. The only thing I do in the bathroom is going into a stall and change clothes.
- I wear Five Ten flat bike shoes for the ride then change shoes at my desk so I'm not carrying shoes back and forth. I saw they now offer a "officewear" pair of shoes called the five ten district that I've been considering getting so I don't have to change shoes at all:
https://www.adidasoutdoor.com/five-t...shoe/FT86.html
The problem with trying to give advice over the internet on this issue that a persons genetics play a huge role in all these issues. Sometimes people smell if they sweat regardless of whether they've showered which I fortunately don't have to deal with. Some people sweat a lot more than other people again because of genetics. When I would go swing dancing I'd just wear 1 shirt all night while a few other people had to change into a new shirt every hour or two because they'd sweat through their current shirt.
This is what works for me though.
10-26-18, 11:30 AM
#12
Senior Member
This also answers your range questions:
https://www.butchersandbicycles.com/...ryGuide-EN.pdf
28 miles /day is roughly 45km/day ... should be OK with a single charge on the 400Wh.
I would assume that you'd be OK with 500 cycles assuming the standard 6-8 weeks holiday leave per year that results in about 200 days / year working.
They'd probably replace with a refurbished battery to cover that 2 years.
Batteries look to be around €400 or so, which seems OK when the 20% VAT is removed.
https://www.butchersandbicycles.com/...ryGuide-EN.pdf
28 miles /day is roughly 45km/day ... should be OK with a single charge on the 400Wh.
I would assume that you'd be OK with 500 cycles assuming the standard 6-8 weeks holiday leave per year that results in about 200 days / year working.
They'd probably replace with a refurbished battery to cover that 2 years.
Batteries look to be around €400 or so, which seems OK when the 20% VAT is removed.
10-26-18, 11:30 AM
#13
Senior Member
Here in the Swamp, you’ll break into a sweat just looking out the window in the summer. If you can add some air conditioning, surround yourself in glass and metal, and add a couple wheels, you’ll be fine.
10-26-18, 11:48 AM
#14
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So, where would I get the Audi Q3 version of e-bike in California in $3,000 range, the manufacturer you linked to in your original post does not have any vendors in continental US.
Last edited by boggy; 10-26-18 at 11:52 AM.
10-26-18, 10:47 PM
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I don't want to sweat on the way to work. Going back home I don't have to use maximum assist, I could lower it to minimum. So, in theory, battery could last the entire commute. That remains to be tested. I would hate to be stuck on heavy cruiser bike with no power assist of any sort, that would suck.
10-27-18, 09:51 AM
#16
Senior Member
I don't want to sweat on the way to work. Going back home I don't have to use maximum assist, I could lower it to minimum. So, in theory, battery could last the entire commute. That remains to be tested. I would hate to be stuck on heavy cruiser bike with no power assist of any sort, that would suck.
Some type/kinds of E-Bikes like my BionX E-Assist bike you can pedal like a normal bicycle no problem, you can't even tell the difference. But most others it could be like pedaling a stationary bike that has resistance on purpose to make you work out... 
10-27-18, 12:11 PM
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Thing is, I am commuting early enough to work so that sun is not in the killer mode yet, think 7:00-8:00AM. On the way back home it could get very hot, but I have shower waiting at home. So I could wear light cargo pants with vents and swap formal shirt to cycling jersey before ride home - I have shower waiting at home.
You end up with 2 things on the legs:
- Your leg muscles are doing all the work, so they generate the most heat.
- Pants trap the heat inside the pants. In contrast, shorts push air in and our via the action of pedalling which is much better at keeping your legs cool.
Like I said genetics play a big role in overheating etc, it could work for one person, but be awful for someone else. My experience personally was that a variety of reasons I found doing any "over the sink" stuff when I arrived at work to be to much hassle/awkward/etc. There's no way I'm doing that unless my work has a specific shower area. But just bringing my change of clothes with me and changing in the bathroom before heading to my desk was the easiest and most comfortable option.
Would be curious what you think if/after you try it...
10-27-18, 12:30 PM
#18
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Electra is owned by Trek, fwiw. It’s not a fly by night operation.
Last edited by Darth Lefty; 10-27-18 at 12:45 PM.
10-27-18, 01:03 PM
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So yeah, that could work, I don't think we'd be able to tell you via the internet whether that would work well for you or not it's right in the middle where it might work well or it might not.
You end up with 2 things on the legs:
- Your leg muscles are doing all the work, so they generate the most heat.
- Pants trap the heat inside the pants. In contrast, shorts push air in and our via the action of pedalling which is much better at keeping your legs cool.
Like I said genetics play a big role in overheating etc, it could work for one person, but be awful for someone else. My experience personally was that a variety of reasons I found doing any "over the sink" stuff when I arrived at work to be to much hassle/awkward/etc. There's no way I'm doing that unless my work has a specific shower area. But just bringing my change of clothes with me and changing in the bathroom before heading to my desk was the easiest and most comfortable option.
Would be curious what you think if/after you try it...
You end up with 2 things on the legs:
- Your leg muscles are doing all the work, so they generate the most heat.
- Pants trap the heat inside the pants. In contrast, shorts push air in and our via the action of pedalling which is much better at keeping your legs cool.
Like I said genetics play a big role in overheating etc, it could work for one person, but be awful for someone else. My experience personally was that a variety of reasons I found doing any "over the sink" stuff when I arrived at work to be to much hassle/awkward/etc. There's no way I'm doing that unless my work has a specific shower area. But just bringing my change of clothes with me and changing in the bathroom before heading to my desk was the easiest and most comfortable option.
Would be curious what you think if/after you try it...
10-28-18, 11:44 AM
#20
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Just FYI, if you’re charging that battery 100% twice per day you will burn it out a lot faster. You’ll get 400-500 charge cycles before the battery is down 50% of capacity. Bosch charges $1k for a replacement battery. Good luck collecting on the warranty. My guess is that they’ll say the battery still works so you have no warranty claim. I like Bosch mid-drives but they are way behind the industry when it comes to battery capacity and pricing.
For a that type of commute you really should be getting a bigger battery and charging it to 70-80%. Look at something like a Stromer ST2 or Juiced Bikes Cross Current X.
For a that type of commute you really should be getting a bigger battery and charging it to 70-80%. Look at something like a Stromer ST2 or Juiced Bikes Cross Current X.
10-28-18, 11:53 AM
#21
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Just FYI, if you’re charging that battery 100% twice per day you will burn it out a lot faster. You’ll get 400-500 charge cycles before the battery is down 50% of capacity. Bosch charges $1k for a replacement battery. Good luck collecting on the warranty. My guess is that they’ll say the battery still works so you have no warranty claim. I like Bosch mid-drives but they are way behind the industry when it comes to battery capacity and pricing.
For a that type of commute you really should be getting a bigger battery and charging it to 70-80%. Look at something like a Stromer ST2 or Juiced Bikes Cross Current X.
For a that type of commute you really should be getting a bigger battery and charging it to 70-80%. Look at something like a Stromer ST2 or Juiced Bikes Cross Current X.
https://www.amazon.de/Bosch-PowerPac...sch+akku+400wh
About €400 without tax.
10-28-18, 02:03 PM
#22
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Bosch batteries are much cheaper than that ... as an example ...
https://www.amazon.de/Bosch-PowerPac...sch+akku+400wh
About €400 without tax.
https://www.amazon.de/Bosch-PowerPac...sch+akku+400wh
About €400 without tax.
10-28-18, 02:51 PM
#23
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10-28-18, 04:15 PM
#24
Senior Member
Just FYI, if you’re charging that battery 100% twice per day you will burn it out a lot faster. You’ll get 400-500 charge cycles before the battery is down 50% of capacity. Bosch charges $1k for a replacement battery. Good luck collecting on the warranty. My guess is that they’ll say the battery still works so you have no warranty claim. I like Bosch mid-drives but they are way behind the industry when it comes to battery capacity and pricing.
For a that type of commute you really should be getting a bigger battery and charging it to 70-80%. Look at something like a Stromer ST2 or Juiced Bikes Cross Current X.
For a that type of commute you really should be getting a bigger battery and charging it to 70-80%. Look at something like a Stromer ST2 or Juiced Bikes Cross Current X.
