Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > General Cycling Discussion
Reload this Page >

how many batteries are in your bike?

Notices
General Cycling Discussion Have a cycling related question or comment that doesn't fit in one of the other specialty forums? Drop on in and post in here! When possible, please select the forum above that most fits your post!
View Poll Results: how many batteries are in your most-ridden bike?
NONE. electrons are for losers.
31
25.83%
1
14
11.67%
2
14
11.67%
3
11
9.17%
4
12
10.00%
5-7
22
18.33%
8+
16
13.33%
Voters: 120. You may not vote on this poll

how many batteries are in your bike?

Old 05-19-22, 06:08 PM
  #1  
mschwett 
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2021
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 2,028

Bikes: addict, aethos, creo, vanmoof, sirrus, public ...

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1272 Post(s)
Liked 1,382 Times in 707 Posts
how many batteries are in/on your bike?

inspired by a recent conversation in another thread about batteries, e-bikes, etc.

for your most-commonly ridden bike, or the one you put the most miles on, count all the separate batteries in your bike, or onyour bike for the majority of your rides? if you always ride with a computer/head unit, that's one. if you use a phone instead, it still counts as one. power meter might have one, might have two. SRAM wireless 2x setup has four, i think? shimano 12 speed "wired-less" has three, GRX di2 maybe only one? if you almost always ride with a varia, tail-light, etc, count that if it has it's own battery. for an ebike, the main battery just counts as one but often there are others in the displays or control units.

for my most-ridden bike:

iphone 12 mini
left brifter
right brifter
di2 derailleur battery
left 4iiii PM
right 4iiii PM
garmin varia

ooops. forgot HRM.

Last edited by mschwett; 05-20-22 at 10:04 AM.
mschwett is offline  
Old 05-19-22, 06:09 PM
  #2  
Reynolds 
Passista
 
Reynolds's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,584

Bikes: 1998 Pinarello Asolo, 1992 KHS Montaña pro, 1980 Raleigh DL-1, IGH Hybrid, IGH Utility

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 866 Post(s)
Liked 711 Times in 392 Posts
1, computer.
Reynolds is online now  
Old 05-19-22, 06:15 PM
  #3  
Troul 
Senior Member
 
Troul's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Mich
Posts: 7,291

Bikes: RSO E-tire dropper fixie brifter

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Liked 2,909 Times in 1,884 Posts
does a dead battery count? If so, 1... me!
__________________
-Oh Hey!
Troul is offline  
Old 05-19-22, 06:18 PM
  #4  
tempocyclist
Senior Member
 
tempocyclist's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: Australia
Posts: 815

Bikes: 2002 Trek 5200 (US POSTAL), 2020 Canyon Aeroad SL

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 309 Post(s)
Liked 664 Times in 324 Posts
I'm way more "minimalist" now, but back when I had a SRAM eTap equipped bike, there were NINE batteries in total! Ridiculous... 😮

(four in groupset, two for power pedals, front light, rear light, Garmin headunit)
tempocyclist is offline  
Old 05-19-22, 06:21 PM
  #5  
WhyFi
Senior Member
 
WhyFi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: TC, MN
Posts: 39,505

Bikes: R3 Disc, Haanjo

Mentioned: 353 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20791 Post(s)
Liked 9,436 Times in 4,663 Posts
I counted my HRM, too, so that put me at 5 (others are PM, computer, headlight/camera, radar/tail light).
Edit: ****, 6! I forgot about the speed sensor.
​​​
WhyFi is offline  
Old 05-19-22, 06:23 PM
  #6  
mschwett 
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2021
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 2,028

Bikes: addict, aethos, creo, vanmoof, sirrus, public ...

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1272 Post(s)
Liked 1,382 Times in 707 Posts
Originally Posted by WhyFi
I counted my HRM, too, so that put me at 5 (others are PM, computer, headlight/camera, radar/tail light).
****, i forgot that.
mschwett is offline  
Old 05-19-22, 07:07 PM
  #7  
ofajen
Cheerfully low end
 
ofajen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,965
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 642 Post(s)
Liked 1,040 Times in 663 Posts
None on either bike. Four on me: Fitbit, iPhone tucked in a sports belt and wireless earbuds.

Otto
ofajen is offline  
Old 05-19-22, 07:12 PM
  #8  
spelger
Senior Member
 
spelger's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: reno, nv
Posts: 2,274

Bikes: yes, i have one

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1122 Post(s)
Liked 1,169 Times in 682 Posts
Originally Posted by ofajen
None on either bike. Four on me: Fitbit, iPhone tucked in a sports belt and wireless earbuds.

Otto
uh-oh, cue the earbud naysayers.

3 for me, 5 when running lights.
spelger is offline  
Old 05-19-22, 07:15 PM
  #9  
veganbikes
Clark W. Griswold
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ,location, location
Posts: 13,274

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: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4251 Post(s)
Liked 3,863 Times in 2,578 Posts
I mean it depends on the bike, my e-bike has 2 Bosch batteries and my Di2 road bike has one and my other bikes don't really have any though some do have usb charged lights but two of the bikes have Dynamos so they generate their own power.
veganbikes is offline  
Old 05-19-22, 07:20 PM
  #10  
indyfabz
Senior Member
 
indyfabz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,050
Mentioned: 210 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18318 Post(s)
Liked 15,270 Times in 7,223 Posts
5 if by night. 2 if by day.
indyfabz is offline  
Likes For indyfabz:
Old 05-19-22, 07:20 PM
  #11  
Mojo31
-------
 
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Tejas
Posts: 12,616
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9519 Post(s)
Liked 6,264 Times in 3,453 Posts
5 on the bike.

2 on me.
Mojo31 is offline  
Old 05-19-22, 07:23 PM
  #12  
Digger Goreman
Quidam Bike Super Hero
 
Digger Goreman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Stone Mountain, GA (Metro Atlanta, East)
Posts: 1,150

Bikes: 1995 Trek 800 Sport, aka, "CamelTrek"

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 331 Post(s)
Liked 415 Times in 282 Posts
Four at a time: Expendable button battery on the old "computer". Rechargeables on horn, fore and aft lights (plus one spare head light).
Digger Goreman is offline  
Old 05-19-22, 08:35 PM
  #13  
rsbob 
Grupetto Bob
 
rsbob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Seattle-ish
Posts: 6,065

Bikes: Bikey McBike Face

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2512 Post(s)
Liked 5,421 Times in 2,824 Posts
Front flasher
rear flasher/radar
cadence
wheel speed
garmin head unit
HRM

0 in my bike
__________________
Road 🚴🏾‍♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾‍♂️







rsbob is offline  
Old 05-19-22, 08:39 PM
  #14  
Polaris OBark
ignominious poltroon
 
Polaris OBark's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2022
Posts: 3,923
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2184 Post(s)
Liked 3,336 Times in 1,741 Posts
One in the bike (Di2, in seat post).
Four on the bike (Garmin, head light, tail light, radar)
One on my wrist.
One more on the bike if I mount a movie camera.

So, to answer the actual question asked: One
Polaris OBark is offline  
Old 05-19-22, 08:45 PM
  #15  
Chuck M 
Happy With My Bikes
 
Chuck M's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 2,185

Bikes: Hi-Ten bike boomers, a Trek Domane and some projects

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 867 Post(s)
Liked 2,277 Times in 1,099 Posts
GPS head unit, watch broadcasting HR, front and rear lights, Duotrap S, phone for Strava Beacon (when it works).
__________________
"It is the unknown around the corner that turns my wheels." -- Heinz Stücke

Chuck M is offline  
Old 05-19-22, 09:05 PM
  #16  
mschwett 
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2021
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 2,028

Bikes: addict, aethos, creo, vanmoof, sirrus, public ...

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1272 Post(s)
Liked 1,382 Times in 707 Posts
Originally Posted by Polaris OBark
So, to answer the actual question asked: One
the question was actually “in or on your bike,” should have specified also on your body!
mschwett is offline  
Old 05-19-22, 09:09 PM
  #17  
drlogik 
Senior Member
 
drlogik's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 1,763

Bikes: '87-ish Pinarello Montello; '89 Nishiki Ariel; '85 Raleigh Wyoming, '16 Wabi Special, '16 Wabi Classic, '14 Kona Cinder Cone

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 698 Post(s)
Liked 405 Times in 251 Posts
"On" my bike? Two, front and rear lights. On my body, three, Garmin watch, iPhone and Aftershokz headphones.
drlogik is offline  
Old 05-19-22, 09:38 PM
  #18  
tomato coupe
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,879

Bikes: Colnago, Van Dessel, Factor, Cervelo, Ritchey

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3905 Post(s)
Liked 7,181 Times in 2,905 Posts
I replaced all my batteries with one fuel cell.
tomato coupe is offline  
Old 05-19-22, 10:23 PM
  #19  
79pmooney
Senior Member
 
79pmooney's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 12,825

Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder

Mentioned: 128 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4741 Post(s)
Liked 3,860 Times in 2,509 Posts
All my bikes have a rear flasher and most are two AAAs. And I just remembered I carry my cell phone but that's in my pocket. At night, two more flashers on my reflecting vest and a handlebar headlight. Every blue moon or so, I ride with a computer but just about never on my fix gears and those are 2/3s of my riding. Sometimes a heart monitor so two more batteries but usually not on the fix gear as it is simply too much information, most of which is useless.
79pmooney is offline  
Old 05-19-22, 10:39 PM
  #20  
Polaris OBark
ignominious poltroon
 
Polaris OBark's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2022
Posts: 3,923
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2184 Post(s)
Liked 3,336 Times in 1,741 Posts
Originally Posted by mschwett
the question was actually “in or on your bike,” should have specified also on your body!
The question posed in the title says "in" but not "on."

Anticipating your actual intended question, I gave a full accounting.
Polaris OBark is offline  
Old 05-19-22, 10:44 PM
  #21  
mschwett 
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2021
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 2,028

Bikes: addict, aethos, creo, vanmoof, sirrus, public ...

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1272 Post(s)
Liked 1,382 Times in 707 Posts
Originally Posted by Polaris OBark
The question posed in the title says "in" but not "on."

Anticipating your actual intended question, I gave a full accounting.
sorry, i assumed people would read the post text. good point!
mschwett is offline  
Old 05-19-22, 10:48 PM
  #22  
mschwett 
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2021
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 2,028

Bikes: addict, aethos, creo, vanmoof, sirrus, public ...

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1272 Post(s)
Liked 1,382 Times in 707 Posts
Originally Posted by tomato coupe
I replaced all my batteries with one fuel cell.
to some extent, that’s what i’m wondering. would it be better (lighter, more reliable, less environmental impact) if bikes had a low voltage network with a smallish central battery that could power everything… lots of issues with getting power to the devices, of course.
mschwett is offline  
Old 05-19-22, 11:32 PM
  #23  
caloso
Senior Member
 
caloso's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur

Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times in 1,417 Posts
Garmin
Fly12
Quarq
blinkie
caloso is offline  
Old 05-20-22, 05:34 AM
  #24  
Kai Winters
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Northern NY...Brownville
Posts: 2,556

Bikes: Specialized Aethos, Specialized Diverge Comp E5

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 234 Post(s)
Liked 444 Times in 257 Posts
Oops voted 1 but really 4:
Assioma Uno Power Pedals
Garmin 830
Wahoo HRM
Red flashy light...don't often use it
Kai Winters is online now  
Old 05-20-22, 05:44 AM
  #25  
Bald Paul
Senior Member
 
Bald Paul's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Upstate SC
Posts: 1,680
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 806 Post(s)
Liked 1,612 Times in 764 Posts
Di2 system
Flare headlight
Garmin 1030+
Garmin extended battery pack
GoPro camera (front facing)
HRM
Left side power meter
Flare tail light on helmet
Varia 715 radar/light/camera
Cellphone (don't actually use it for the bike, but just in case)

So, that makes 10. The new Varia, with one battery, replaces 4 - Varia (radar only), Flare tail light, GoPro camera (rear facing), Anker power supply for GoPro.
Bald Paul is online now  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.