Ebike vs Road bike

[KTM Bike Industries UK]

I actually did some direct comparison on this a while back. Motors have improved since, so I suspect it'll be even better on an eBike. I might have to update it.

http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/how-much-faster-by-ebike.16505/

 

[redcup1999]

I have a broadly flat 8 mile commute.
As an overweight 45 year old, my Hybrid ebike is marginally faster than my Aluminium framed Giant Defy.
However, looking at back at Strava, as a slightly lighter 42 year old, my road bike was quicker.

 

[andrewdoddsuk]

DIrect comparison:

Before I got seriously ill about 18 months ago, my best time for cycling to work on a 10kg road bike was 47 mins (12.5 miles). I could sustain 20mph on the flat. After being ill, I had to get a pedelec (or stop cycling, but that wasn't an option) - my best time on that so far is 52 mins. It really dosen't like going over 18mph; it's a Salisbury LPX and just dosen't have the gears. Well, it didn't, I've just bought a 53 tooth chainring to replace the 38 tooth one that comes as standard, this may make a difference.

 

[anotherkiwi]

In my 20s I rode a drop bar racing bike on a daily commute of 28 km - 7km each way, home for lunch every day. My lungs are now shot (allergic asthmatic since birth) so despite me being a healthy strong rider for my age I could only use an unassisted bike on flat terrain. I can't get enough oxygen in to power my muscles on any kind of climb.

I average about the legal cut off speed of 25 km/h. On an unassisted bike with the hills we have here my average would be less than half that because I would be off and pushing on most... or on the bus which takes about the same amount of time I do on the bike to get to the station during tourist season

 

[flik9999]

Too all these people comparing road bikes to ebikes are any of you using road bike stance eg a converted road bike or a bike such as the road-e+. To put in comparison the speed of manual bikes, the specialised sirrus hybrid has a hard time even reaching 15 mph duo to its upride possition while the allex which is the drop bar version can easily do 20 mph like any other road bike.

What type of speed are people who use ebikes with drop bars noticing?

The general idea im getting is ebikes are slower than roadies but are easier and you dont have to knacker yourself out on hills.

However these are from people who are using mountain bikes and some hybrid and they nearly go as fast as a roadie so a roadie ebike probably beats a roadie manual?

These ebikes do however easily beat manual hybrid with there slow riding stance.


road e+ is 2nd bike in this list
http://ebiketips.co.uk/content/news/giant-launch-full-2017-e-bike-range-372

 

[Deleted member 4366]

If you derestrict your ebike and use maximum power, the ebike will trounce a roadbike, except if the roadbike rider is a proper trathlon guy or similar.

I ride my roadbike for exercise and my ebike for transport. The effort and speed on the roadbike are the same as my unrestricted ebike on power level 1 of 5. With the speed of the ebike restricted to 15 mph, the roadbike would win in as long as there's not too many hills, but nearly all my rdes finish with a 5 mile climb, which brings my roadbike down to 10 mph. My Ebike can do that hill at nearly 15 mph on maximum power (48v x 15A).

Obviously, on any ride that involves a lot of climbs, the ebike will win because it can provide an average of 400 watts to your own power, but on the flat and restricted to 15 mph, the roadbike would win because it's lighter and has less air resistance (thinner frame). Most people should be able to sustain speeds above 15 mph on a roadbike on flat roads after a bit of practice as long as they don't have impairments.

 

[RobF]

I rode my dongled Bosch bike with a group of hard core roadies from London to Brighton.

We averaged best part of 17mph for the 50-odd miles, not bad given we were riding fast but responsibly.

I couldn't have gone much faster and they told me the same applied to them.

Without the dongle I would have been dropped within a few metres of the start.

It was touch and go with the dongle as the leader set off on a flat bit at close to 20mph.

I was pleased to keep the pace, particularly as a few of them thought I would struggle.

But riding at that speed doesn't do a lot for me, it's just hammering along for the sake of it.

I feel like I need to do the ride again to see everything I missed.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

I rode my dongled Bosch bike with a group of hard core roadies from London to Brighton.

How many batteries did you use?

 

[D8ve]

Weight isn't the issue it's wind and rolling resistance.
I can at 50+years and 100+kg do around 20 on the flat.
But my bike and position is streamlined.
The fastest bike is a streamer at over 80 mph.
The weight is a small effect as acceleration is for you and the bike.
Imagine your 78 kg plus your current bike that's 12 kg= 90 kg.
The kit takes you to 100 kg that's a 10% difference.
Thar acceleration is a little slower and top speed virtually the same.
Ow except the motor doubled your power up to 15 mph and then

DIrect comparison:

Before I got seriously ill about 18 months ago, my best time for cycling to work on a 10kg road bike was 47 mins (12.5 miles). I could sustain 20mph on the flat. After being ill, I had to get a pedelec (or stop cycling, but that wasn't an option) - my best time on that so far is 52 mins. It really dosen't like going over 18mph; it's a Salisbury LPX and just dosen't have the gears. Well, it didn't, I've just bought a 53 tooth chainring to replace the 38 tooth one that comes as standard, this may make a difference.

If your getting 18 on a Salisbury then a old BH race, the Panasonic will give you a far higher speed. Of all my electric bikes that was the worst. So bad I returned it as not meeting the sale of goods description.
The Panasonic drive bikes were a dream to ride in comparison circa 20 on the flat and good hill climbing too.

 

[RobF]

How many batteries did you use?

I think there was two bars left on the second one.

The route undulates, but could not be described as hilly.

Biggest climb is Ditchling Beacon, which the roadies make a bit of a fuss about, but it's not steep.

A couple of ramps at 15-16% and it goes on for a bit.

We copped some headwind going past Gatwick, so I made my way to the front to give the roadies some shelter - they love that sort of stuff.

My plan was to slow 'em down a little so I could have a breather.

It worked until I eased back just a touch too much and a couple of them popped passed me.

 

[JimRides]

Unless it's really windy, I usually do 14-15 mph on my big, heavy folding e-bike and am passed by plenty of people on regular bikes on my commute, so it can't be too hard for them to go faster. They rarely look like they are enjoying the ride as much as me though

As an aside, I've noticed a some of the more "serious" looking riders seem to be making an extra special effort to sprint past my e-bike, must have a point to prove

 

[Gubbins]

One Sunday morning whilst out and about in the Dales on my EMTB in my Bright Yellow Aldi waterproof Jacket, sporting 2 bright orange Pannier bags, mudguards and flashing lights front and back, I was overtaken by a.. Peleton!! Is that the word? On a Sportive event of some sort, all with numbers on their backs and cracking on like they were late for a wedding.....
There was a whole flock of em .. but, as they overtook me we were at the bottom of a short steep hill and the road was twisty and narrow.. Well, about 5 got past all out of the saddle 2 or 3 abreast wearing that red no pain no gain grimace on their insect like faces, but as we started to climb, their speed began to drop but mine didn't which meant that a quick overtake of this old bloke on a mountain bike ended up with them all stuck on the wrong side of the road puffing and panting , wondering what the hell was going on.. They could just about manage my 14 mph on this hill but a car coming the other way could easily have wiped the lot of them out..
So who gave in? Not me, I am on the left riding as normal, not them either cos they never give in..
On the next downhill they all floated past with a few angry glares and head shakes, so I tried to follow in the slipstream thinking I would pass them good and proper on the next rise, but they were clocking over 30 so it just wasn't possible.
I would like to have heard the conversations regarding their encounter with a geriatric superman in a yellow Jersey , and scoured the cycling websites for any note of my exploits, but sadly no-one felt I was newsworthy enough to mention.. Or, perhaps they were too embarrassed and colluded to keep it quiet..

 

[soundwave]

on bike radar they think a ebike is slower that an old age granny and give every excuse going why there crap from they dont work in the cold to they cant ride in mud and rain and after i put them right are left with well there to heavy and destroy the trails.

to which i add well a full dh bike is not that far off say 5kg less and they go lot faster than i ever could so ban them from the trails as there all fkn off there head.

i win on the flat and up hill against mtb dh i am always slower tho if you do post on there more and more want one to cut out the uplift cost and get more time on the trails.

 

[flik9999]

On a side note can we use ebikes made with kits when its really hevay rain? Or would I need to swap to a manual for those shifts (Delivery job)

 

[KeithMac]

I'm not a roadie but would love a go on a Giant e road plus, just looks the business!.

I would say I'd be faster on my geared mountain bike in comparison to my single speed ebike, but the difference would be negligible and the former I'd be a sweaty mess which is no good when turning up for work.

There's more to life than outright speed..

 

[Gubbins]

I'm not a roadie but would love a go on a Giant e road plus, just looks the business!.

I would say I'd be faster on my geared mountain bike in comparison to my single speed ebike, but the difference would be negligible and the former I'd be a sweaty mess which is no good when turning up for work.

There's more to life than outright speed..

Hey Keithmac
Take it from one who knows... don't go to a bike shop and try one or else you may become converted and have to have a walletectomy....
My Giant road e +1 turns everything I thought I knew about riding emtb bikes upside down ..

 

[nemesis]

Hey Keithmac
Take it from one who knows... don't go to a bike shop and try one or else you may become converted and have to have a walletectomy....
My Giant road e +1 turns everything I thought I knew about riding emtb bikes upside down ..

Is it legal or derestricted,i would like one but have only tested a legal one and it was cutting out all the time because of the 15mph limit.

 

[Gubbins]

Is it legal or derestricted,i would like one but have only tested a legal one and it was cutting out all the time because of the 15mph limit.

Mine is fully legal as I am not interested in dongles, and I dont notice the cut off as its so easy to go past it. The power can be felt as you pull away from a standstill and just fades away as you pass 15 to 16 mph. On a light gradient it seamlessly and silently applies power so its hard to tell whether you are getting help or not without looking at the display and is only obvious on steeper inclines.

 

[KeithMac]

Hey Keithmac
Take it from one who knows... don't go to a bike shop and try one or else you may become converted and have to have a walletectomy....
My Giant road e +1 turns everything I thought I knew about riding emtb bikes upside down ..

Yeh I think if I had a go on one I'd buy it so staying well away for the time being!.

 

[Gubbins]

Sitting and thinking about my bikes.. (One off-Road and one Road both e bikes)
Given the choice of a trail ride or a road ride I would choose a trail ride 90% of the time, but if for some obscure reason I had to get rid of one of the bikes then that would be a more difficult choice, and bearing in mind that the off-Road bike is equally capably on the road, and the road bike would be useless on a trail..
I would probably keep the road bike.. Yep, I know, and it doesnt make sense to me either..
So, anyone reading this with more than one bike ask yourself the question, and see just what a difficult question it is!