The 'cycling though treacle' effect

[Prime Mover]

i have an ebike that is a nightmare to use above 15.5 mph.
On a few times i have ran out of battery whilst using it, and have chosen to walk and push it home rather than pedal through treacle.
I have noticed some people don't really feel much of this effect, and others think they might, but aren't too sure. In my case, there is no question. Could there be something wrong with it? Or could it be because of the type of motor that it is (it has regenerative braking)? Are there really bikes that aside from being heavier, can be ridden without the motor on at all pretty much as well as a regular bike?

 

[mike killay]

As you have regenerative braking it sounds as though you have to turn the motor over when pedalling.
My Tonaro crank driver broke when I was on holiday in Belgium but I was able to still use the bike because the engine is de coupled from the drive.

 

[Ducknald Don]

I find once it gets going it's fine, it's just getting all that weight up to speed that's the problem.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Most electric bikes can be pedalled easily without power. Regeneration is like a brake. Can you switch it off in the settings? It's as good as useless anyway. Even with it switched off, it's not going to be as easy as a bike with a clutch, which is most of them.

What bike is it?

 

[PatH]

I have regen too but mostly it's switched off, if I know I'll be doing a lot of coasting then I switch it on, and there is a small noticeable braking effect.

What is more noticeable though is cycling along past 16mph, when assistance stops and you are pedalling on your own, most noticeable when accelerating past 16mph going uphill, you are suddenly powering the bike up a hill, on your own. In all other circumstances I hardly notice.

And yes it is bloody hard work pedalling it without assistance. I've got stuck a couple of times and the hill towards where I live is a get off and walk job.

Nothing to do with motor drag, it's just a heavy bike, as are most e-bikes.

 

[Prime Mover]

i have had heavy bikes, before, and i have carried heavy loads before, but i have never felt like it's better to walk and push the bike, apart from on this ebike.

 

[soundwave]

 

[Deleted member 4366]

i have had heavy bikes, before, and i have carried heavy loads before, but i have never felt like it's better to walk and push the bike, apart from on this ebike.

Well tell us which bike it is, then maybe we can help you!

 

[Martin56]

If the battery went flat I would find somewhere to charge it up for a couple of hours, or ring the wife for a lift home. There is no way I would pedal without power except downhill. It's not just you!

 

[anotherkiwi]

Yesterday i went for a long ride around town with my GF and felt sorry after a while and turned off the motor. I guess there is a 6-8 W drag there but since I have the trike I am much stronger and didn't feel any resistance.