Ebike virtues
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Ebike virtues
Having owned both a carbon road bike and an ebike, The carbon road bike has a complicated derailleur gear system that needs to be cleaned every hundred miles or so, sometimes less, it also goes out of sync with regularity requiring some form of adjustment, and that adjustment isn't really working well for me because it skips gears. Because the parts of the carbon road bike are optimized for weight they are also kind of fragile and need to be replaced often because of their fragile nature.
The ebike has a belt drive and an IGH. Both are less efficient than a chain system but are gobs of less maintenance. It also can run bigger and less efficient tires for a more comfortable ride. As well, it can take a suspension system too and still maintain speed.
When it runs out of electricity like what happened to me today it is a bear to limp home in.
The ebike has a belt drive and an IGH. Both are less efficient than a chain system but are gobs of less maintenance. It also can run bigger and less efficient tires for a more comfortable ride. As well, it can take a suspension system too and still maintain speed.
When it runs out of electricity like what happened to me today it is a bear to limp home in.
Likes For adlai:
#2
SE Wis
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 10,525
Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970
Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2750 Post(s)
Liked 3,407 Times
in
2,062 Posts
If you have to clean your derailleur and adjust every 100 miles there is something wrong or you're doing something wrong.
Likes For dedhed:
#3
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 15,062
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 51 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6234 Post(s)
Liked 4,839 Times
in
3,336 Posts
They make regular bikes with IGH. So you don't have to have the derailleur drive system if you don't care for it. I agree that IGH is more worry free and lasts a long time.
Less weight and range of gearing is the plus for derailleur systems though over IGH. And many of us find them not as finicky as others do. But they can be more trouble for those that don't quite understand them.
Less weight and range of gearing is the plus for derailleur systems though over IGH. And many of us find them not as finicky as others do. But they can be more trouble for those that don't quite understand them.
#4
Expired Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 11,617
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3701 Post(s)
Liked 5,523 Times
in
2,795 Posts
The greatest "virtue" is that you don't have to sweat the hills! Of course that's been true for most of my motorized vehicles, the 1967 VW Westie being an exception. Hard not to like more motor.
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
But yes more motor helps with hills and it can keep you in an optimal cadence range more where your body is doing optimal levels of exercise.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Southwestern Ontario
Posts: 5,133
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1582 Post(s)
Liked 1,206 Times
in
612 Posts
I wonder if the administrators of Bike Forums might consider creating a sub-forum wherein the virtues of electric motorcycles bikes might be discussed, rather than here in 'General Cycling'? It could be called something like 'Electric Bikes'.
Just a thought.
Just a thought.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,325
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18446 Post(s)
Liked 15,679 Times
in
7,370 Posts
I have a ti frame with what was top of the line Shimano mechanical in 2016. I haven’t replaced one part. What group was your carbon bike built with? Let’s see some photos.
Likes For indyfabz:
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Fargo ND
Posts: 913
Bikes: Time Scylon, Lynskey R350, Ritchey Breakaway, Ritchey Double Switchback, Lynskey Ridgeline, ICAN Fatbike
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 474 Post(s)
Liked 552 Times
in
310 Posts
Having owned both a carbon road bike and an ebike, The carbon road bike has a complicated derailleur gear system that needs to be cleaned every hundred miles or so, sometimes less, it also goes out of sync with regularity requiring some form of adjustment, and that adjustment isn't really working well for me because it skips gears. Because the parts of the carbon road bike are optimized for weight they are also kind of fragile and need to be replaced often because of their fragile nature.
The ebike has a belt drive and an IGH. Both are less efficient than a chain system but are gobs of less maintenance. It also can run bigger and less efficient tires for a more comfortable ride. As well, it can take a suspension system too and still maintain speed.
When it runs out of electricity like what happened to me today it is a bear to limp home in.
The ebike has a belt drive and an IGH. Both are less efficient than a chain system but are gobs of less maintenance. It also can run bigger and less efficient tires for a more comfortable ride. As well, it can take a suspension system too and still maintain speed.
When it runs out of electricity like what happened to me today it is a bear to limp home in.
#9
Clark W. Griswold
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ,location, location
Posts: 13,632
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
Mentioned: 55 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4405 Post(s)
Liked 4,045 Times
in
2,699 Posts
Getting back to the topic, at the OP if you have to adjust that often you probably have done something wrong or you have some really cheap derailleurs like Tourney level stuff. Yes an IGH and a belt tends to be lower maintenance but a chain and derailleurs aren't exceptionally hard to maintain and you don't have to maintain them that often. As others have likely noted you can get an IGH and belt drive on non-electric bikes.
E-bikes are great and the silliness of people who have to dislike them is getting old. I can understand not liking e-mopeds, the crap that poor quality/not UL listed and actual motorcycles and I can understand someone having ridden a quality one saying it is not for me but those who don't like e-bikes (again no throttles only pedaling moves it forward) just because is just is so tiring.
Likes For veganbikes:
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 2,007
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2724 Post(s)
Liked 488 Times
in
353 Posts
Drafted an ebike for about 4 miles today. I ride an acoustic bike bike but love seeing e-bikes out here. Acoustic cyclists who hate e-bikes are slow and their opinions can be readily ignored.
Likes For LarrySellerz:
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 5,404
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2503 Post(s)
Liked 2,982 Times
in
1,690 Posts
Don't be so ashamed about performance issues. Lashing out can be healthy. Drafting a Viagra bike when you're on a manual bike is better than not riding at all.
Likes For Trakhak:
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,325
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18446 Post(s)
Liked 15,679 Times
in
7,370 Posts
Likes For indyfabz:
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,325
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18446 Post(s)
Liked 15,679 Times
in
7,370 Posts
Likes For indyfabz:
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,325
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18446 Post(s)
Liked 15,679 Times
in
7,370 Posts
Likes For indyfabz:
#16
Method to My Madness
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 3,701
Bikes: Trek FX 2, Cannondale Synapse x2, Cannondale CAAD4, Santa Cruz Stigmata 3
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1972 Post(s)
Liked 1,495 Times
in
1,037 Posts
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 15,519
Bikes: 2015 Workswell 066, 2017 Workswell 093, 2014 Dawes Sheila, 1983 Cannondale 500, 1984 Raleigh Olympian, 2007 Cannondale Rize 4, 2017 Fuji Sportif 1 LE
Mentioned: 144 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7662 Post(s)
Liked 3,508 Times
in
1,850 Posts
The OP was doing okay until s/he said these things:
... and ...
This is all crap. Hating on pedal bikes is no better than hating on e-bikes.
Trying to explain why trucks are better than trains just sounds silly. Comparing ebikes to pedal bikes is the same sort of silliness. They are different things with different designs, and operating methods.
Neither is good or bad ... but the same cannot be said for posters.
The carbon road bike has a complicated derailleur gear system that needs to be cleaned every hundred miles or so, sometimes less, it also goes out of sync with regularity requiring some form of adjustment, and that adjustment isn't really working well for me because it skips gears.
Trying to explain why trucks are better than trains just sounds silly. Comparing ebikes to pedal bikes is the same sort of silliness. They are different things with different designs, and operating methods.
Neither is good or bad ... but the same cannot be said for posters.
Likes For Maelochs:
#18
Expired Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 11,617
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3701 Post(s)
Liked 5,523 Times
in
2,795 Posts
If an Incel on an acoustic bike drafts a Viagra bike w/o permission would that generate a Me Too moment or a change of luck? We need a poll. Maybe in Ebikes....
Likes For shelbyfv:
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Hacienda Hgts
Posts: 2,115
Bikes: 1999 Schwinn Peloton Ultegra 10, Kestrel RT-1000 Ultegra, Trek Marlin 6 Deore 29'er
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 824 Post(s)
Liked 1,966 Times
in
948 Posts
E-bikes, for those that can't perform when 'tis time to strike while the iron is still hot.
Likes For CAT7RDR:
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,834
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 509 Post(s)
Liked 654 Times
in
386 Posts
If you are going to make believe you are pedaling, might as well hook up to an indoor contraption and make believe you are going somewhere, or get a Prius or a Tesla already...
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 2,605
Bikes: 06 Lemond Reno, 98 GT Timberline mtn.bike
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 427 Post(s)
Liked 703 Times
in
437 Posts
"Acoustic"? Do you tune the spokes and play it like a harp? I've heard a regular bike referred to as analog (makes more sense to me--mechanical watches have been referred to as analog for years). But acoustic? This may be current slang, but makes no sense to me.
#22
Newbie
I think 'acoustic' comes from the music performance world.
Remember the 'horrors' of Bob Dylan playing an electric Guitar in 1965 at the Newport Folk Festival:
And the flipside, an 'electric' Guitar player, like Eric Clapton, playing an acoustic Guitar:
Remember the 'horrors' of Bob Dylan playing an electric Guitar in 1965 at the Newport Folk Festival:
And the flipside, an 'electric' Guitar player, like Eric Clapton, playing an acoustic Guitar:
Likes For ScottCommutes:
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 8,531
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4454 Post(s)
Liked 4,920 Times
in
3,044 Posts
Or you could just ride an e-bike if that’s what you had in mind. None of your suggested alternatives above are better choices.