KPREN

II am only responding because you used the word best instead of the word fun. When I got an e bike I could not justify it totally in my mind. e bikes were cheating, e bikes were avoiding good exercise, e bikes were heavier than dog snot and were expensive. On top of that, I had a Specialized S works full suspension carbon Stump Jumper that cost more than that heavy e bike. I was firmly in the no category.
I built an e bike for my disabled wife so she could keep riding. In debugging the e bike I became hooked. An e bike was certainly not best for me. The e bike was an order of magnitude more fun. It enhanced everything that was fun about a bicycle big time. So what did I do? I set about rationalizing an e bike trying to deny what is best for me. First rationalization, I wanted a fat bike for snow, mud and sand but figured I could not pedal it enough to enjoy it. I was already having some over exertion issues on the Stumpy. Yeah, that was it. It's not cheating if I truly need it right. After all, what is best? Our ideas of best come from years of listening to experts and our bodies. We get into a rut but I am here to tell you that many of the "so called" expert consensus opinions over the years have turned out to be just bunk and I no longer trust consensus opinion like I once did.
Five years ago there was nothing I liked on the commercial market. I was a weight weenie and the bikes were very heavy and had low end components and they were not very refined. I bought a titanium fat bike and converted it to an e bike. God that bike is fun and I went around apologizing for cheating. My strength level dropped a little bit but my overall fitness level was actually higher. I felt better. That could be attitude and attitude is perhaps the biggest single factor in longevity. The damned bike was just a ton more fun for me. That cheater e bike put the biggest smile on my face.
Five years later I realize that I should never have tried to justify the e bike based on cost, weight and fitness. I could justify the e bike entirely on the fun factor alone. My attitude was better and I am riding five times a as much as I was.
The e bike has gotten heavier and more capable. I wanted to take more with me including the dog. Biking became less about single track and more about overall enjoying all aspects of biking. Rides became considerably longer and camping gear entered the picture after a 40 year absence.
The next few days are beautiful. The bike is loaded up to around the 170 lb mark with the trailer and camping gear. I am taking the dog for an overnighter. My camp site for the night is not to far, only 48 miles. I will enjoy the lake and cooking over the fire with a brew. I will not be too tired to enjoy the finer aspects of the life. Camping is once again part of the experience and fun. Yes it took a change in attitude and dropping the colorful adjective words to describe all the camping gear.
No question about it. I still could not really justify the e bike based on best. I can entirely justify the e bike based on the big smile on my face. The e bike is fun on steroids and I no longer feel one damned bit cheated. Gotta get moving, fun is awaiting. I have the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route in my sights on the e bike.

OldRailfan

Just had a look at that map. Now that will be some "adventure", good luck!

Artmo 

There is a sub-category for e-bikes:
e-bike has pedals and a throttle
pedelec has pedals and no throttle, usually limited to 250W and 20 mph(USA) assist

freddy12

I have never heard of pedelec
interesting since most of what I consider ebikes would fall into that category

PeteHski

It looks like you have different definitions of what an "e-bike" actually is over in the US compared to Europe/UK
e-bikes marketed over here are what you would call "pedelecs" but limited to 15 mph assist.

So it makes it a confusing situation as proven by this thread! People are talking about completely different types of bike and the term "e-bike" is way too generic.

Artmo 

I agree.
I have ebikes (pedelec) in the UK and here in Florida. I do think the Euro/UK 15.5 mph limit is too low. Our group rides at 16-19 mph, which is tough going for us oldies, which is why we have the US Cytronex C1 over here on a solo and on our tandem. In the UK, around Brighton we don't ride in a group when we are over there, so 15.5 suits us, but for roadies, it would be a drawback.

Biker395 

This all comes down to what is "fun" to different people. Cycling, like fun, means different things to different people in different measures. This article describes it pretty well:

https://www.rei.com/blog/climb/fun-scale

Some people are into Type I fun, some are into Type II fun, and some are into both. I kinda straddle the line, sometimes in the Type I category and sometimes in the Type II. Ebikes may be a better choice for Type I fun, but less so for Type II fun.

The older I get the less Type II appeals to me, so maybe someday if another crash doesn't take me out first. More than likely, the first experience will be using one on a bike tour so my SO (not so fond of Type II fun) can come along.

PeteHski

That's a very good point about the 15.5 mph assist limit in faster group road rides. It's okay for someone who just needs an extra boost up the climbs, but I can see the problem for a long group ride on flat terrain!

kaos joe

The Custer/Gallatin National Forest appears to have a definite opinion.

jkbrooks

Bravo!

Joe Bikerider

I love how the OP blames his wife for getting him into ebikes. This is a very common theme. It’s just a justification for getting a motorcycle. Why can’t people just accept that as you get older you ride slower. But riding becomes more important to your physical and mental health. Twisting the throttle to get up that hill you used to pound up doesn’t mean squat. I have changed my favorite routes and enjoy the ride. Except when it’s swarmed by ebikers speeding along.

Clyde1820

Yup. Same boat, for me. I'm slowing, and old injuries are catching up. Next bike likely will be an eBike. Simply can't easily make it up the hills, anymore. The recent refurb to get much lower gearing has helped, but at some point it'll not be enough. At which point ...

prj71

Yup. Totally agree with this.

I'm 50 now but ride with some folks in their 60's. They are still strong riders. Had they went the e-bike route they wouldn't be.

Biker395 

Not for me … at least not yet. But when the time comes, I’m glad the option is there.

Chuck M 

I didn't take that from the OP at all. He simply wishes to continue riding with his wife and the purchase of an e-bike for her allows them to continue doing something they enjoy together.

50PlusCycling

I don’t have a “real” E-bike, but I have a Panasonic power-assist bike. In Japan it’s called the “Gyutto Annys” which is Japanese-Italian which is supposed to sound European. It has a kid’s seat on the back, and a basket on the front. I got it for my wife to run errand and shuttle our daughter around, by I probably use it more than she does. It’s very heavy, and very rugged, but can climb pretty much anything while carrying a kid on the back and a load of groceries on the front.

When I bought it about 6 years ago it cost 120,000 yen, or a about $1100 at the time. So far it has been a durable and reliable bike, they only issue is battery durability. The original battery last about 40% as long as it used to. A replacement battery costs about $300, and I’m probably going to have to get another one soon.

Carbonfiberboy 

At 77 and still riding RAMROD (on the 28th), I don't think I'll ever get an ebike. OTOH, I can see a future where we only ride non-ebikes for sport and for everything else, we ride ebikes rather than use automobiles. They make so much sense for transportation.

I've ridden with several ebike riders who try hard to exactly match a road bike for performance, One wouldn't know they were on an ebike by watching their performance. OTOH, there are ebike riders who ride for ego and are a total PITA to ride anywhere near. I can't even drop them to get rid of them except by descending fast but they'll be right back and I'll have to pass them again and again.

prj71

If you live in a warm climate year round they do.

Those of us that have to deal with below zero temps, driving rains in 50 mph winds,5-6 ft. of snow every winter...they make zero sense.

Carbonfiberboy 

Lotsa stuff is gonna change. It'll be interesting. Luckily, I won't be here to see it.

Depends. I had an employee who rode his bike to work year 'round in Fairbanks. I grew up there, so I knew what that was about. Doesn't blow 50 though. We have a whole subforum, Winter Cycling. I used to ride year-round in the PNW. Figured once I turned 70, I don't need to do that anymore.

fooferdoggie 

we don't have snow but I have ridden below zero in rain way too much and winds, 33 and rain on Christmas eve morning

AlgarveCycling

The problem for roadies in Europe wanting e-bikes is that the rules limiting assist are mainly aimed at preventing accidents in cities where cycling is the most common form of transport; Amsterdam, etc.

The relatively low assist kinda works for e-MTB and it means a safer environment for commuters in dense cycling traffic but, yes, sports cyclists on the road are somewhat limited. However, they are in the minority by some margin so unlikely to sway change.

It wouldn't take too much more assist for some European countries to require specific licensing etc for e-bikes and restrictions that would take them out of cycle lanes. So it is the speed limitations of cycle lanes in countries with excellent cycling infrastructure that is dictating those low assists - to safe guard the commuters.

prj71

Yup. Looks miserable.

Definitely not going to do something like that for going to and from work or making a run to the store.

I fat bike in the winter months but cut myself off when temp gets below 15 degrees.

fooferdoggie 

I have it down to a art and its just inconvenient.

BlazingPedals

The way I see it, e-bikes are what mopeds always wished they could be - some at least you can run around under your own power and turn on the assist when your legs run out. Others can merely supplement what you put in. As long as nobody pretends that an e-bike is in the same class as a regular bike and starts 'racing' them, I don't have a problem with them at all. They're not for me yet, but ya never know...

terrymorse 

I wouldn't mind having an e-bike rider pace me up a hill,

or let me draft them along a flat section,

or give me a lead-out before a sprint.

...

In fact, I've experienced all three situations.