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Are electric bicycles desirable mainly because of lower physical effort, or higher top speed? I am an avid cyclist in NYC and I don't think I would be comfortab

Are electric bicycles desirable mainly because of lower physical effort, or higher top speed? I am an avid cyclist in NYC and I don't think I would be comfortable going any faster than my current top speed. And I really enjoy the exercise. So why would I choose an electric bicycle over my traditional one?

kurttheviking 10y ago
I live in SF and feel a similar way; cycling is dangerous enough at my relatively slow speed and offers exercise built into my every day routine.
hkmurakami 10y ago
The one nice use case is for people discouraged by the distance of their commute (due to their fitness) or people discouraged by the one or two hills on their likely commute route. The electric assistance can push these folks over the hump.
- cfallin 10y ago
  Anecdotally, I hear hills cited pretty often as a reason not to bike-commute. I live in Pittsburgh and the city is taking biking more and more seriously, but there's only so much one can do about topography. An electric boost could make a big difference for some. (Then again, if you live on the hill and work in the valley, the morning commute is pretty fun!)
criddell 10y ago
To extend your range? But the ultimate answer is maybe you wouldn't choose an electric bicycle. That's ok.
Frondo 10y ago
In my experience (as someone who cycles 50-75 miles a week) people go for the electric bikes for less exertion. Probably 3-4 times a week people on e-bikes pass me on hills, zooming along. They always seem to be heavier-set than your typical bike commuter, so if the motor's getting them out on the road and getting some exercise and fitness in, I think that is just fantastic. Anything to get people out of their cars! Maybe they'll even upgrade to a real bike some day :)
- ZanyProgrammer 10y ago
  Not everyone is able bodied and has nice showers at work to change in.
  - Frondo 10y ago
    Happily, most people are able-bodied, and for those for whom a regular bike will never be an option, there remain cars, buses, light rail, electric bikes, and so on and so on. As for showering, I think that will probably start to matter less as time goes on. In the last few years, in the Pacific NW, I've noticed it's become somewhat acceptable to show up to meetings a bit sweaty, if you've just gotten off your bike. At least, among the business meetings I attend, of course.
    - Locke1689 10y ago
      The Pacific Northwest is badly non-representative of most of America, especially the east coast.
      - Frondo 10y ago
        Well, let me ask you--what is more likely to change in the next 10-15 years? Think we'll go back to higher standards of cleanliness in the Pacific Northwest, or think standards will relax on the east coast? Cause I assure you, things won't just stay the way they are. It's an honest question, really, I don't know! (though I know what I'd prefer!) What do you think?
    - bitwize 10y ago
      I lived there too and would see people show up and start work fully kitted out in what I call their "TRON gear" (though they would take the helmet off indoors). Denholm Reynholm in the stress episode of The IT Crowd may have been hilarious in London, but he wasn't too far off the mark in Portland.
      - Symbiote 10y ago
yodsanklai 10y ago
> Are electric bicycles desirable mainly because of lower physical effort, or higher top speed? I don't have one myself, but I know that in Europe, they can't go over 25km/h (higher than that, they're not considered as bicycles anymore) so the interest is to lower physical effort. > So why would I choose an electric bicycle over my traditional one? Not everybody enjoy exercising on their way to work, but even if they do, with electric assistance, they can cycle on longer/hillier commutes than what would be possible/convenient with a regular bike.
- holri 10y ago
  Yes but the downside is worser handling, more weight, added complexity, added price and maintenance. Not worth in my case (I tried it)
  - bdwalter 10y ago
    Many of the folks considering e-bikes here are not generally comparing them to traditional bikes, but rather with cars. In which case all of the negatives you cite here, become positives.
michaelwww 10y ago
In my case it's primarily the assistance the motor gives me up hill. I'm nearly 60 and my knees are worn out so pedaling unassisted is just too painful. There's quite a bit of ego involved among physically fit riders, riders who are into it for physical fitness I should say, but I feel they're not considering that not everyone can ride a bike without some help. And not only that, if you live in a hilly city and there are no showers at work, your coworkers might not appreciate you riding a bike to work.
- vanderZwan 10y ago
  > I'm nearly 60 and my knees are worn out so pedaling unassisted is just too painful. Electric assistance is not uncommon in the Netherlands among the 50+ age category, and we don't even have significant hills to speak of.
michaelwww 10y ago
Not higher top speed. Unless you change your gear ratio's, the electric motor can't keep up with the normal top speed going down hill.
kernelbandwidth 10y ago
I bike to/from work (on a regular bicycle) over a few hills. I enjoy the exercise in general, but I would still like a electric bike for the summer; a sunny Texas day with 98+ Fahrenheit weather is rough.
tirant 10y ago
Where I live (Netherlands) they are mainly used by seniors (60+) or people covering long distances. Top speed is limited to 25KM/h, and that is more than enough to get quickly to any place on your range distance. They are also useful in cities (e.g. Madrid) where hills maybe problematic for normal bikes.
zardo 10y ago
The higher speed uphills is appealing to me. If I could climb at 20mph it would shave a lot of time off of my commute, it would probably be as fast as driving most days. The other appealing thing would be hailing a trailer for groceries and still being able to make it up the steepest hills.
- jchrisa 10y ago
  I have an E assist cargo bike and it's average speed is close to its top speed (20 mph). It's not that it's faster, it's that I'm not going slow very often. It also makes me happy to stop at stop signs. I rode a Stromer for a while it's best feature was a top speed that could easily exceed the auto speed limit on local bike routes (some of those that are still 25 mph instead of 20). Taking the lane at the speed limit sends a clear message to cut through drivers.
nojvek 10y ago
I'd love to upgrade my bike to an electric one. A couple of things holding me back. In Seattle in rains a lot. So for those days I use alternate commute. Electric bikes are pretty expensive. I wish there was a monthly payment option like car loans.

kurttheviking 10y ago

I live in SF and feel a similar way; cycling is dangerous enough at my relatively slow speed and offers exercise built into my every day routine.

hkmurakami 10y ago

The one nice use case is for people discouraged by the distance of their commute (due to their fitness) or people discouraged by the one or two hills on their likely commute route. The electric assistance can push these folks over the hump.

cfallin 10y ago
Anecdotally, I hear hills cited pretty often as a reason not to bike-commute. I live in Pittsburgh and the city is taking biking more and more seriously, but there's only so much one can do about topography. An electric boost could make a big difference for some. (Then again, if you live on the hill and work in the valley, the morning commute is pretty fun!)

criddell 10y ago

To extend your range? But the ultimate answer is maybe you wouldn't choose an electric bicycle. That's ok.

Frondo 10y ago

In my experience (as someone who cycles 50-75 miles a week) people go for the electric bikes for less exertion. Probably 3-4 times a week people on e-bikes pass me on hills, zooming along. They always seem to be heavier-set than your typical bike commuter, so if the motor's getting them out on the road and getting some exercise and fitness in, I think that is just fantastic. Anything to get people out of their cars! Maybe they'll even upgrade to a real bike some day :)

ZanyProgrammer 10y ago
Not everyone is able bodied and has nice showers at work to change in.
- Frondo 10y ago
  Happily, most people are able-bodied, and for those for whom a regular bike will never be an option, there remain cars, buses, light rail, electric bikes, and so on and so on. As for showering, I think that will probably start to matter less as time goes on. In the last few years, in the Pacific NW, I've noticed it's become somewhat acceptable to show up to meetings a bit sweaty, if you've just gotten off your bike. At least, among the business meetings I attend, of course.
  - Locke1689 10y ago
    The Pacific Northwest is badly non-representative of most of America, especially the east coast.
    - Frondo 10y ago
      Well, let me ask you--what is more likely to change in the next 10-15 years? Think we'll go back to higher standards of cleanliness in the Pacific Northwest, or think standards will relax on the east coast? Cause I assure you, things won't just stay the way they are. It's an honest question, really, I don't know! (though I know what I'd prefer!) What do you think?
  - bitwize 10y ago
    I lived there too and would see people show up and start work fully kitted out in what I call their "TRON gear" (though they would take the helmet off indoors). Denholm Reynholm in the stress episode of The IT Crowd may have been hilarious in London, but he wasn't too far off the mark in Portland.
    - Symbiote 10y ago

yodsanklai 10y ago

> Are electric bicycles desirable mainly because of lower physical effort, or higher top speed? I don't have one myself, but I know that in Europe, they can't go over 25km/h (higher than that, they're not considered as bicycles anymore) so the interest is to lower physical effort. > So why would I choose an electric bicycle over my traditional one? Not everybody enjoy exercising on their way to work, but even if they do, with electric assistance, they can cycle on longer/hillier commutes than what would be possible/convenient with a regular bike.

holri 10y ago
Yes but the downside is worser handling, more weight, added complexity, added price and maintenance. Not worth in my case (I tried it)
- bdwalter 10y ago
  Many of the folks considering e-bikes here are not generally comparing them to traditional bikes, but rather with cars. In which case all of the negatives you cite here, become positives.

michaelwww 10y ago

In my case it's primarily the assistance the motor gives me up hill. I'm nearly 60 and my knees are worn out so pedaling unassisted is just too painful. There's quite a bit of ego involved among physically fit riders, riders who are into it for physical fitness I should say, but I feel they're not considering that not everyone can ride a bike without some help. And not only that, if you live in a hilly city and there are no showers at work, your coworkers might not appreciate you riding a bike to work.

vanderZwan 10y ago
> I'm nearly 60 and my knees are worn out so pedaling unassisted is just too painful. Electric assistance is not uncommon in the Netherlands among the 50+ age category, and we don't even have significant hills to speak of.

michaelwww 10y ago

Not higher top speed. Unless you change your gear ratio's, the electric motor can't keep up with the normal top speed going down hill.

kernelbandwidth 10y ago

I bike to/from work (on a regular bicycle) over a few hills. I enjoy the exercise in general, but I would still like a electric bike for the summer; a sunny Texas day with 98+ Fahrenheit weather is rough.

tirant 10y ago

Where I live (Netherlands) they are mainly used by seniors (60+) or people covering long distances. Top speed is limited to 25KM/h, and that is more than enough to get quickly to any place on your range distance. They are also useful in cities (e.g. Madrid) where hills maybe problematic for normal bikes.

zardo 10y ago

The higher speed uphills is appealing to me. If I could climb at 20mph it would shave a lot of time off of my commute, it would probably be as fast as driving most days. The other appealing thing would be hailing a trailer for groceries and still being able to make it up the steepest hills.

jchrisa 10y ago
I have an E assist cargo bike and it's average speed is close to its top speed (20 mph). It's not that it's faster, it's that I'm not going slow very often. It also makes me happy to stop at stop signs. I rode a Stromer for a while it's best feature was a top speed that could easily exceed the auto speed limit on local bike routes (some of those that are still 25 mph instead of 20). Taking the lane at the speed limit sends a clear message to cut through drivers.

nojvek 10y ago

I'd love to upgrade my bike to an electric one. A couple of things holding me back. In Seattle in rains a lot. So for those days I use alternate commute. Electric bikes are pretty expensive. I wish there was a monthly payment option like car loans.