Newbie seeks advice: hilly area, need decent freewheel over 15mph

[pfg]

Hi folks, newbie here. I'm 65, reasonably fit, and looking to buy my first ebike. My key requirements:
Good hill assistance. My home town of Falmouth is fiendishly hilly and has dissuaded me from unassisted cycling.
Minimum freewheeling resistance above 15mph. My natural rhythm is to cycle around 20mph on the flat, and although I know an ebike will be heavier, I don't want to be "pedalling through treacle" as the motor assistance cuts out at 16mph.
Larger than minimum tyres - I've had a test ride on an older hybrid with a front suspension and larger than pure road tyres, and liked the feel.
I'll ride mostly on-road, but would like to be able to cycle tracks occasionally, but I don't need full mountain bike capability.
I'm thinking probably of a large-framed hybrid (I'm 6'2") with a Bosch motor: does the new Perf Line CX freewheel decently above 15mph?
Most shops seem to be sold out at this point!
Grateful for any thoughts, opinions, suggestions from those with hilly home areas!

 

[vfr400]

Hi folks, newbie here. I'm 65, reasonably fit, and looking to buy my first ebike. My key requirements:
Good hill assistance. My home town of Falmouth is fiendishly hilly and has dissuaded me from unassisted cycling.
Minimum freewheeling resistance above 15mph. My natural rhythm is to cycle around 20mph on the flat, and although I know an ebike will be heavier, I don't want to be "pedalling through treacle" as the motor assistance cuts out at 16mph.
Larger than minimum tyres - I've had a test ride on an older hybrid with a front suspension and larger than pure road tyres, and liked the feel.
I'll ride mostly on-road, but would like to be able to cycle tracks occasionally, but I don't need full mountain bike capability.
I'm thinking probably of a large-framed hybrid (I'm 6'2") with a Bosch motor: does the new Perf Line CX freewheel decently above 15mph?
Most shops seem to be sold out at this point!
Grateful for any thoughts, opinions, suggestions from those with hilly home areas!

All crank-drive bikes free-wheel the same as a non-electric bike as everything from the chain backwards is the same. The resistance you get is when you pedal, which is low on most, but higher and noticeable on the CX motors with the small chainwheel.

 

[GSV3MiaC]

I get less resistance on the CX motor on my Homage than I did on the Active Line motor on the previous wheels (although mine is the older generation 2 CX). As VFR said, they all freewheel just fine ... 30 mph down hill not an issue .. but you probably meant does the motor drag .. ime no, and if you have the gearing to tackle hills, then on the flat you can find something you can whiz along in, even if it is maybe a gear lower than you'd use without the motor attached.

 

[pfg]

All crank-drive bikes free-wheel the same as a non-electric bike as everything from the chain backwards is the same. The resistance you get is when you pedal, which is low on most, but higher and noticeable on the CX motors with the small chainwheel.

HI VFR, thanks for the quick reply. I think I didn't express myself well - I appreciate that the rear wheel freewheel is as per normal, but I'm looking for feedback on how much resistance the motor provides when ridden above the 15mph assist limit. I generally ride at nearer 20mph, and so I'd like to find a motor that has minimal resistance at that speed. The dealers I've spoken to locally seem to have little specialist knowledge on this point and simply revert to standard sales techniques of "let me show you this bike in stock". So anyone who can speak with experience of this aspect of the different Bosch motors will be greatly appreciated!

 

[GSV3MiaC]

Pfg, I don't find the CX motor (generation 2) to be an issue, although I don't push along at 20MPH very often. The Gen4 version, new this year, is supposed to have a clutch to reduce drag even further, but I have yet to try it. Other mid-motor brands vary.

I should add that e-bikes are a pain to pedal fast for other reasons - heavy (5-10kg extra), and typically they use higher rolling resistance tyres (yes, you can fit Marathon Plus type tyres to a 'regular' bike, but for an e-bike punctures are such a PITA that they are almost required). Doesn't bother me - roads round here are not conducive to high speeds, and I like to smell the flowers anyway.

 

[Wicky]

I generally ride at nearer 20mph, and so I'd like to find a motor that has minimal resistance at that speed. The dealers I've spoken to locally seem to have little specialist knowledge on this point and simply revert to standard sales techniques

Best take a test ride or two so you can get a feel for what happens when the motor lessens its input and you have to contribute more to take over...

 

[vfr400]

HI VFR, thanks for the quick reply. I think I didn't express myself well - I appreciate that the rear wheel freewheel is as per normal, but I'm looking for feedback on how much resistance the motor provides when ridden above the 15mph assist limit. I generally ride at nearer 20mph, and so I'd like to find a motor that has minimal resistance at that speed. The dealers I've spoken to locally seem to have little specialist knowledge on this point and simply revert to standard sales techniques of "let me show you this bike in stock". So anyone who can speak with experience of this aspect of the different Bosch motors will be greatly appreciated!

The Bosch Gen 2 CX motor (small chainwheel) is the only Bosch motor that has widespread reports/complaints about drag over 15 mph. That's why the changed the latest one to a large chainwheel. The problem is the friction in the extra shaft and reduction system they need because the concentric drive and pedal shafts run at different speeds. The larger chainwheels are mounted on and therefore run at the same speed as the pedal shaft.

 

[pfg]

Best take a test ride or two so you can get a feel for what happens when the motor lessens its input and you have to contribute more to take over...

Thanks Wicky. That's proving a bit of a challenge at this point: there's very little in stock locally (Cornwall), and the only test ride I've been able to take was on an older 40nm Bosch. Dealers locally can sell everything they get in so have no incentive to hold onto bikes as demos! I'd like to buy locally, but may have to resort to online purchase which of course is risky if one can't test ride it first!

 

[Amoto65]

The last 2 e-bikes I have owned are a Carrera Crossfuse with the Bosch Activeline Plus motor and I now own a Specialized Creo with the Mahle motor, I never noticed any resistance with the Bosch motor and found it excellent for the 2500 miles I owned it. My latest bike is the Specialized Creo which is amazing it weighs less than 14kg and the transfer between motor and non motor is seamless, both these bikes are ridden around the Peak District with gradients in some places touching about 18% . If I was buying another bike I would probably go for a bike with the Bosch Activeline Plus or the Specialized Vado sl with the Mahle motor. The only reason I ended up with the UBER expensive Creo was that I got a bloody good deal on it.