Interesting discussion.
Think the weight of an e-bike would put me off to be honest. That and I would take the calories burnt riding a bike than the convenience of an e-bike.
But surely your original interest in a bike was to make accessing the hills easier. And ebikes are the bees knees in that respect.
One of the consequences of rougher cycling terrain is that while it will always save you time, the transfer from cycling to walking can be demanding aerobically and basically result in feeling more tired than if just walking.
Totally agree with that. If you are going to use a conventional bike to access the more remote hills, then you need to get out and about on it and get cycle fit, otherwise the bike will do you in before you even get started on the hill. Even with an ebike it makes sense to be bike fit.
My EMTB has burnt many more calories than my MTB ever did. I simply go further, and more frequently, on the EMTB. Apparently my experience is not uncommon. It's always a joy to looking forward to ride - never a chore. You can also tone-down or ramp-up the assistance, and toning-down or turning-off the assistance of a 25kg bike... you certainly do get a work out. And that's what I tend to do, knacker myself out, up the assistance, catch my breath, drop it back down again... basically interval training but at my pace not the happenstance of the environment.
Absolutely. Most people don’t ‘get’ ebikes until they try one. I got one for two main reasons, I struggle with my knees and have had great difficulty in riding a conventional bike. Two, yup to make hill access easier. Also having a cycle to work scheme really helped with purchasing a bike, and yes I do often cycle to work on it.
My ebike gives me all sorts of information. One thing it tells me is how much effort I am putting in and how many calories I am burning. Admittedly these are guide figures but interesting nonetheless. So, on my way home from work I often take a detour for fun and exercise. It takes me up and back down about 1300 feet. Sometimes I stick it in eco and suffer to try and build more leg strength. As the fitter you are the more fun you can have on your ebike. I checked the power meter, I was sustaining up to and over 300 watts over a period of time to climb the hill – and it was absolute hell. But other nights I just leave the bike in ‘intelligent mode’ and step on it. I fly up the hill like a tour rider and it is absolutely outrageous mad fun. One evening when doing that I checked the power meter – I was putting out over 300watts, though admittedly over a much shorter time period, but I was having so much fun at no time did I really feel I was suffering, I was just having fun.
Ebikes aren’t as some folks say cheating, they are just a method of going further faster and having much more fun. You also have to be careful you don’t overdo it. Ebikes are so fun you can overtire yourself without initially noticing.
As for hills, I recently cycled up Corryhabbie Hill via Glenfiddich Lodge from the B9009. I then returned to the B9009, cycled down to Tomachlaven and then up and over Ben Rinnes returning to the car via Roy’s Hill. Two separate Corbett summits in one day by ebike. I used the full battery and was pretty knackered too but it was an absolute hoot.
Also recently did Maoile Lunndaigh. Parked the car at Craig. Got the ebike out. About 30 minutes later I was at the plantation near Glenuaig Lodge. Dumped the bike there. Popped up Maoile Lunndaigh, back to the ebike and returned to the car. That walk would have previously knocked the stuffing out of me, but I got back to the car feeling as fresh as a daisy.
I have just finished stripping down my old 90’s mountain bike, fixing it up and putting it back together. So, if I can get on with it, I might use it for some of the flatter routes. As naw I’m not that keen on leaving my fancy full suspension emtb lying about. But then that is probably as much to do with my townie mentality, than the possibility of somebody actually nicking my bike in the middle of nowhere (isn’t it?).
But yeah, love my ebike. Downsides – they ain’t that much fun to lift over fences or locked gates. Obviously, the cost of buying one. Mine eats bicycle chains and turns knobbly tires into slicks surprisingly quickly.
But if you fancy one and can afford or justify it, go for it. Ebikes rule if you ask me.