The Journal of Electrified Myths and Tips

Everyday is a Good Day

Suddenly E-Bikes have become very desirable and cool. We are getting more enquiries about E-Bikes every week. And from a pleasingly wide array of folk - hyper-fit clients still out there gravel-racing or doing Haute Routes, clients, who like us, are getting older, coming back from injury or most commonly - E-Curious and looking for fun.
E-Bikes have suddenly evolved to be more desirable - they look amazing and are designed to fit seamlessly onto the fun-ledger side of our lives. And the best part - for all the bikes featured here - nobody would ever know you re on an E-Bike!

Myth Number One - E-Bikes Are Not Designed For 'Real Cyclists'

A few years ago E-Bikes may have mostly sold to folk who didn't want to pedal too hard or were not necessarily that into bikes. But not now.
Clients are now after a bike that will bank their often very commendable FTP, add a few hundred watts on top, in order to increase range, scope, speed, or just versatility into their riding diet.
No longer are E-Bikes clunky looking or feeling when you ride them. Some of them have been specifically designed to beam in intuitive power to feel like you plus, plus. TQ make a virtue out of power coming in like a breeze rather than a freight train. It is pretty clear that every E-Bike that we have built up in the last year or so is ridden hard by it owner. They report back that they have had just the same workout that they get on their analogue bike, except they have roamed farther, faster and often with a touch more adrenalin.

Myth Number Two - It's All About The Watts

No it really isn't. It is all about defining the mission:

• Where are you going to ride?
• Who are you riding with?
• What's the purpose of the ride?
• How fit you are?
• How fit you want to be?
• What's your long-term goal?

It is true to say that every bike project at Cyclefit starts with defining the mission. Maybe the mission is to help you maintain the where and how you currently ride. Help you in the hills - in which case you want a powertrain that 'compliments rather than dominates' as TQ express it with their HPR40 motor.
If your intention is to ride farther and faster off-road, the proposition is more nuanced - Trek's Fuel+ has 160mm of suspension to widen your riding envelope and a TQ HPR60 motor to donate up to 350 watts to the group engine-room should you need it. 350 watts is a decent amount but steep hills and acceleration will be gratifying rather than exciting - which is precisely the point.

It's About The Watts Continued...

However - if you are going down to the woods today looking for excitement - a challenge of riding up a one-in-one rock-strewn climb, then 170mm of travel and 680 watts would seem to be a the acceptable minimum. And at that point a Nukeproof Megawatt Carbon might be written in your tea-leaves. If you are jabbing up a technical climb that it would be impossible to walk up, it is mighty satisfying to bundle in your 300 watts with the Nukeproof's 680 watts. You can release a lot of neurochemicals with 1000 watts. Assuming - P ∝ v3 (roughly cubic relationship between power and speed) - would give you 50mph on a flat road in an aero-tuck!

Myth Number Three - The Electrified Third-Rail = 15.5 mph ≈ 25 km/h

The 15.5 mph has always been the barrier to established cyclists taking to E-Bikes. We are used to riding faster than 15.5 mph; but this was made difficult because until now, E-Bikes have been too heavy and clunky keep riding when the motor cut-out. It is so frustrating when you are late and have to make progress - the motor helps you accelerate and then abandons you when you really need to push on.
But not now. bikes like the E-Noah have been conceived at the outset to be fast whether the motor is running or not. The E-Noah weighs the same as my 1990 Eddy Merckx 7-Eleven replica team bike (on display at Stores Street). It is also way more aero than my Merckx - ergo it is quicker even when the motor is off. I am pretty sure that when I raced this bike in criteriums in the 1990's, I would ride faster than 15.5 mph! The cool thing about the Noah is that you ride it as a fast road-bike and then use the motor to help you accelerate or climb or both.

E-MTB/Gravel & The Third Rail

The 15.5 mph limit is less of a factor on an E-gravel bike and not at all on an E-MTB. There are times on both when 25kmh feels like plenty when riding up a steep and twisty climb. The Ridley E-Astr is a properly light and fast bike - a set of road tyres and it is very close to the E-Noah. In the right hands it is relatively easy to hold over 25 kmh on or off the road.

Cyclefit E-MTB Tip - Always Go Full-Suspension

The speed will top-out at 25kmh regardless so you may as well enjoy the benefits of 160mm of travel - you will ride further, in more comfort and safety. All you need to think about is your power requirements - enhance what you have got, or rock your world?

Myth Number Four - E-Bikes Need Less Maintenance

Absolutely not! They are performance bicycles, not appliances!

But E-Bikes have all the moving and consumable parts of analogue bicycles, as well as a high-torque electric motor, battery, wiring harness and circuitry. E-Bikes are actually more complex.

Always buy your E-Bike from a shop like Cyclefit. E-Bikes bought online are heavy to send back to the manufacturer and not serviceable by your local bike-shop. E-Bikes are now sophisticated and complex machines, that require skilled servicing as well as regular software updates to keep working at the highest level.

Watts Stopping You?

E-Bikes have finally come of age. They are now light and fast enough to pedal almost like a normal race-bike. They are silent, invisible, gorgeous and the power delivery is intuitive, tuneable and hugely fun.
They are on all of our event horizon for sure. For all kinds of reasons - injury, fitness, practicality, adventures or just a new kind of fun. Jules has been spending a lot of time on his E-Astr and Phil has a glint in his eye about a Nukeproof Megawatt Carbon. Come an talk to us about might suit your life and riding style.