The Money Mustache Community
General Discussion => Share Your Badassity => Topic started by: Arbitrage on February 26, 2018, 08:13:40 AM
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In the process of shifting my (and DW's) thinking for early retirement, and I bit the bullet for my first big lifestyle change - commuting via electric bike.
In the near term, it's not going to save me much - if any - money, since I bought a $1700 e-bike plus necessary accessories (lock, panniers, safety gear, etc.) I plan to document my riding and credit myself per mile biked rather than driven. I did start by riding my regular bike a few places this past weekend, including a trip to the library I normally would've driven, and a test ride for my future e-bike commute.
Incidentally, I (obviously) do have a perfectly functional bike, but the sweat factor would be tough to get around in my office job. Commute is about 6.5-7 miles one way. I'm planning on mostly coasting on the way in to work, then working hard on the way home, with minimal boost, picking up the kids, and walking them home. Can't do it yet safely, but once my daughter is out of preschool and at the kindergarten near our home, it's on. Come June, the old beater car will only be for the odd trip and those days where the bike won't quite cut it (e.g. need to drive somewhere for work, have a doctor appointment somewhere far, etc.)
I plan to credit myself $0.50 per mile of driving avoided to hold myself accountable on the costs/savings. While I'm driving a fairly Mustachian car at the moment, I was going to replace it soon, likely with a new car. This will allow me to defer that purchase much longer...and who knows what or when I'll buy in the end. In fact, I took the much-needed step of cancelling my Tesla Model 3 reservation shortly before jumping in and making this purchase.
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Congrats! Considering an e-bike purchase myself. Wouldn't really save me any money since I don't commute to work. But it would reduce my around the town driving. Also, as I haven't seen it mentioned, if your car insurance company requires you to enter annual miles driven for quoting purposes, make sure you knock that number down. I did that and saw a decent savings on our car insurance.
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Congrats! Considering an e-bike purchase myself. Wouldn't really save me any money since I don't commute to work. But it would reduce my around the town driving. Also, as I haven't seen it mentioned, if your car insurance company requires you to enter annual miles driven for quoting purposes, make sure you knock that number down. I did that and saw a decent savings on our car insurance.
Thanks. I was actually just talking with my wife about the insurance last night; I just re-negotiated our car insurance and Friday but will do it again after starting the new commute.
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Looking to do the same. 7.5 mile commute. Still looking for the right used ebike on ebay
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I built a midrive Bafang (Lunacycle) kit last year.
It does the 14 mile hilly ride round trip with plenty of miles to spare.
I think you'll love having an ebike. I went the ebike route b/c of the hills and traffic here.
I didn't want to crawl up the hills at pedestrian speeds increasing my time on dangerous parts of my commute. Now I can tackle the hills at ~15 mph or more with flat ground speeds of 20+ mph. Still plenty of exercise to be had.
Edit: corrected my round trip mileage
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Congrats! I'll be interested in hearing about your favorite aspect of the ebike. The speed is fun, but my favorites were the net-infusion of cash (DW and I sold one car since the eBike covered short trips), reduced auto insurance (1 car instead of 2), and spending more time outside. Win all the way around!
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Favorite aspect: not climbing hills at pedestrian speeds. I feel safer b/c it minimizes the time spent on a hill. I have a couple of hilly streets that I must travel on but don't want to travel on.
I don't have to arrive at work spent and sweaty. The silent push of the electric motor as compared to a two cycle motorbike conversion of a bicycle. No odors or vibrations. Plenty of range with a 12Ah 48V Panasonic 18605GA cell battery.
Downsides: I worry about the bike when I park it places. Safe town here but (now) expensive bike.
Drivers see a bicycle here and expect it to be traveling at some speed much lower than it is so they will pull out in front of you. Sometimes you just have to act like a scooter or motorcycle and dominate the space around you to force other drivers to be safe for you. That's been rare for me.
Slightly more maintenance. If you are a big person with a mid-drive you will be truing the rear wheel from time to time. Spokes break and spokes stretch. Not difficult. Just watch YouTube videos and buy $3 spoke wrench. Buy a bag of 50 spokes on eBay for cheap. You'll need to learn what spokes you need. Bike shop charges ~$40 to do this for me. May relace the wheel with heavier diameter spokes at point in the future. Rim is a heavy duty off-road rim.
Mid-drives wear out pedal chains every thousand miles or so (not expensive). The bike brake pads wear out sooner too (depends on your weight, not a big expense though).
30+ mph on a bicycle is very different than 30 mph in a car. You'll notice every imperfection of the road. ;)
I'm running an "offroad" motor capable of much more speed than is legal. I hardly ever use that much power but it is handy to have on the steep hills here. No police can know how much power/speed I have on tap. No labels to prove anything for or against the rules. The police here don't care about me. I can ride places where a scooter or two-cycle powered bicycle can not b/c my motor is "invisible" (no noise, speed kept low near pedestrians and I look like a bike to other people).
~700 miles on the bike. I want to double or triple that this warm season.
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Has anyone pulled a trailer/transported kids on a ebike? How about biking on unpaved trails? I’m trying to brainstorm about whether it would even be possible for me to consider a switch.
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I’m also interested to hear if anyone has used an ebike/trailer combo with kids. I live on a very steep hill and have basically stopped biking because I can’t haul the extra 60 lbs of kiddos up with me. Ebike shave always interested me but I could never justify pulling the trigger. Does anyone know how they hold up in rainy areas? PNW?
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E-bikes/conversions are definitely awesome for towing/carrying heavy cargo! I have a few acquaintances that have added battery assist to their cargo bikes as their kids have grown, and now that my kids are 70+lbs only hubby can pull them up the hills in our neighbourhood. It's quite demoralizing when your kids are yelling 'faster mommy' and someone walks up the hill faster than you, and there is an old man on a porch who applauds when you get to the top of the hill...
You can definitely pull a trailer with one, just be aware of the brakes (cargo e-bikes, and cargo bikes in general tend to have disc brakes for a reason).
I have seen e-bikes used here all winter in the snow, cold, slush and salt. A mid drive conversion seems to be the best option for poor weather. (ie stoke monkey)... but the Copenhagen wheel seems to be easiest to install. I really really wish the Copenhagen wheel came in a 20" wheel size for easy conversion for my cargo bike... although then I'd never keep up with hubby even when he was weighed down by both kids!
Congrats OP, and enjoy your daily dose of awesome - I mean bike commute ;)
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I bring my three year old to school on my e-bike. School is about an hour away by bike. She has her own seat behind me. It works well, but I do have to avoid big potholes or cracks in the sidewalk since she feels very bump, pretty much, though I think the shocks are softened for her because the seat is “suspended” because I use a detachable seat. It’s kind of hard to describe. I ride a $400 Yunbike (I think it’s also registered as UMA) with smaller, skinny road tires...so not a diehard bike enthusiast. Just your typical mom. If my bike had fatter tires, I think it would be fine on unpaved /poorly paved roads.
I contemplated attaching a bike trailer, but decided against it as I live in a heavily populated city in China and worried that the cars and scooters may not see the low-riding trailer and may hit her. Attaching seats to the backs of bikes is common; trailers are not and would therefore be unexpected. Also, a trailer means less maneuverability, which i need since I’m competing with scooters, bicycles, taxis, and people on the road.
I’ve also never had any trouble riding in the rain, though I do have to ride slightly more slowly because the roads are more slippery. In China the max speed is 20km/hr. In the sun I’m usually riding 20-23 km/hr. In the rain, I’m usually at 15-20 km/hr.
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I would prefer a seat instead of a trailer for the same reasons you mention, but I have two sprogs now.
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In China, sometimes people attach one seat to the back and one seat to the handlebars or do the bar in front of the seat (so your smaller kid is sitting between your legs). Not sure if that makes sense. I I’m really not a big biking enthusiast so I don’t know the proper names for all the bike parts. I think a picture is worth a thousand words, so something like this...
https://b2b.hc360.com/viewPics/supplyself_pics/252446826.html (https://b2b.hc360.com/viewPics/supplyself_pics/252446826.html)
Couldn’t figure out how to insert a picture using my iPhone.
This one attaches to the handlebars but I think the ones that attach to the post that holds up your seat and the bar that connects the front and back of the bike is safer, like this one:
http://wap.go007.com/huhehaote/gujugusi/ed69c04b71bf48dd.htm (http://wap.go007.com/huhehaote/gujugusi/ed69c04b71bf48dd.htm)
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I find e-bikes interesting but don’t have a huge use case for one. Pretty flat here so for solo trips I like the extra exercise of the non-motor bike and for trips with kids either they’re close enough and/or bike friendly enough that they are biking on their own with my youngest on the trail a bike (this year we’ll get him off training wheels) or I’m piling them in the minivan.
A few years ago I had the use case for one (lots of commuting, only one car, kids were young enough to all fit in a modified trailer) but didn’t have the money.
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...How about biking on unpaved trails? I’m trying to brainstorm about whether it would even be possible for me to consider a switch.
I use my ebike daily on about 6 miles of dirt/gravel unpaved trail. It's a hybrid bike with front suspension, 29" wheels. It does fine. Fastest I have gone on the trail is about 25 but only on the smoother spots. Typically keep it around 17-20 on trail just because much faster feels like I'm really pounding the bike.
I've put almost 2k miles on mine so far since October 2017. Chain is fine but I clean and lube it weekly. Brakes are probably getting close to needing some attention.
No problems in rain, though I do get paranoid about the electronics. If it's really coming down I'll cover the battery, display, and throttle with plastic just for peace of mind.
E-bikes rule! Congrats to the OP.
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@Syonyk is a great e-bike resource, both in posts he’s done here as well as on his blog.
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Favorite aspect: not climbing hills at pedestrian speeds. I feel safer b/c it minimizes the time spent on a hill. I have a couple of hilly streets that I must travel on but don't want to travel on.
I don't have to arrive at work spent and sweaty. The silent push of the electric motor as compared to a two cycle motorbike conversion of a bicycle. No odors or vibrations. Plenty of range with a 12Ah 48V Panasonic 18605GA cell battery.
Downsides: I worry about the bike when I park it places. Safe town here but (now) expensive bike.
Drivers see a bicycle here and expect it to be traveling at some speed much lower than it is so they will pull out in front of you. Sometimes you just have to act like a scooter or motorcycle and dominate the space around you to force other drivers to be safe for you. That's been rare for me.
Slightly more maintenance. If you are a big person with a mid-drive you will be truing the rear wheel from time to time. Spokes break and spokes stretch. Not difficult. Just watch YouTube videos and buy $3 spoke wrench. Buy a bag of 50 spokes on eBay for cheap. You'll need to learn what spokes you need. Bike shop charges ~$40 to do this for me. May relace the wheel with heavier diameter spokes at point in the future. Rim is a heavy duty off-road rim.
Mid-drives wear out pedal chains every thousand miles or so (not expensive). The bike brake pads wear out sooner too (depends on your weight, not a big expense though).
30+ mph on a bicycle is very different than 30 mph in a car. You'll notice every imperfection of the road. ;)
I'm running an "offroad" motor capable of much more speed than is legal. I hardly ever use that much power but it is handy to have on the steep hills here. No police can know how much power/speed I have on tap. No labels to prove anything for or against the rules. The police here don't care about me. I can ride places where a scooter or two-cycle powered bicycle can not b/c my motor is "invisible" (no noise, speed kept low near pedestrians and I look like a bike to other people).
~700 miles on the bike. I want to double or triple that this warm season.
Definitely concerned about the security aspect of it. I did buy an expensive Kryptonite lock with 1 year of built-in insurance, but there are still places (my local Target and regular grocery store) that I don't think I'd want to park it outside of. Might give me an excuse to ride it a bit further to go to those stores in less sketchy neighborhoods.
I bought a hub-drive rather than a mid-drive, so there shouldn't be extra wear on the chain/gears from the motor, but nonetheless I'm going to have to bone up on bike maintenance, both on the regular components and any e-bike specific parts. Thanks for the tip on the spokes - mine is a dedicated e-bike rather than a conversion, and has larger gauge spokes to compensate, but I'm sure that's a still a useful skill to develop.
And...as I was typing this, I just got the email that the bike is out for delivery!
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Has anyone pulled a trailer/transported kids on a ebike? How about biking on unpaved trails? I’m trying to brainstorm about whether it would even be possible for me to consider a switch.
Yes- Living on a hill and two kids in a trailer was the exact reason I bought the first ebike kit. This was in 2001. It was a hub kit with a Lead Acid battery and even that was so amazing, my DH started an ebike kit import business. We have also attached a trail a bike easily to this. I did not like it with the child seat carrier because the weight balance is odd.
Unpaved trails -- This will depend on your bike. I rode mine on good gravel trails, and it is great. With a hub motor, because of the extra weight / balance (heavy wheel) it does not work for jumping curbs and jumping roots / trees...
The problem is when you have more than just typical dirt road / gravel trails with a lot of impacts / drops. It's the weight of the hub motor that causes problems, especially without suspension on your bike, you will feel it. A mid drive with suspension should be no problem.
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So, we just got our car insurance renewal notices and gulp! Insurance went up dramatically for everyone this year.
The most basic insurance, with third party $200k liability only, the mandatory minimum, starts at $1000 here for any type / age of car for a driver with full discounts (10+ years no accidents).
DH wants to talk about going down to one car this year, and I am thinking about getting a mid-drive kit for my bike if we do that. We will have 4 drivers in the house soon, one car. Decisions..
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So, we just got our car insurance renewal notices and gulp! Insurance went up dramatically for everyone this year.
The most basic insurance, with third party $200k liability only, the mandatory minimum, starts at $1000 here for any type / age of car for a driver with full discounts (10+ years no accidents).
DH wants to talk about going down to one car this year, and I am thinking about getting a mid-drive kit for my bike if we do that. We will have 4 drivers in the house soon, one car. Decisions..
I've been seeing this for the past couple years. Our cars get older and less valuable, my spouse and I have perfect driving records for 20+ years, yet insurance has increased nearly 20% each year for the past 2 years. F'n ridiculous! I shop around but it somehow still beats other places. I wish I could just get rid of the car.
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I would prefer a seat instead of a trailer for the same reasons you mention, but I have two sprogs now.
I would be an investment to be sure but there is a Dutch? bike - well let me show you:
http://dutchcargobike.com.au/product-category/bakfiets/
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...How about biking on unpaved trails? I’m trying to brainstorm about whether it would even be possible for me to consider a switch.
I use my ebike daily on about 6 miles of dirt/gravel unpaved trail. It's a hybrid bike with front suspension, 29" wheels. It does fine. Fastest I have gone on the trail is about 25 but only on the smoother spots. Typically keep it around 17-20 on trail just because much faster feels like I'm really pounding the bike.
I've put almost 2k miles on mine so far since October 2017. Chain is fine but I clean and lube it weekly. Brakes are probably getting close to needing some attention.
No problems in rain, though I do get paranoid about the electronics. If it's really coming down I'll cover the battery, display, and throttle with plastic just for peace of mind.
E-bikes rule! Congrats to the OP.
It was suggested to me that shower caps are great for covering the display. My experience is similar to sixups.
I'll also second the brakes and trailer comment above. My brakes overheated on a very steep hill here years ago while I was towing our first child in a trailer. It was tense at the intersection at the bottom of the hill. Cheap bike, cheap brakes. Could not fully stop but i was able to make the turn (T-intersection) safely. My current entry level brand name bike has much better brakes that would have stopped that bike trailer without so much drama. I've gotten the brakes hot enough to smell (hot rubber) but they still stopped me.
When you need brake pads next time just buy a quality replacement brand. Some folks have disc brakes. I still have old fashioned rim brakes.
My ebike is happiest at 15-20 mph and tops out at 45 mph on downhills - and that's scary to me. Am running Schwalbe "ebike rated" touring tires. Very durable so far, quiet, and good grip. Have ridden on pavement dry and wet, and mulch or chipped stone paths. No drama. Test your bike in your spare time to see how well it stops and turns.
A friend built himself a 48V hub motor rear drive bike and loves it. In a short drag race to 15 mph they seemed to be about the same. If I build DW an ebike I'll likely build a rear drive hubmotor bike for her. Less maintenance, lower cost. Plenty of power depending on which one you buy.
Arbitrage, which voltage and wattage kit did you buy? What kind of battery?
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Rad Cycles makes an affordable cargo bike that can carry kids: https://www.radpowerbikes.com/
Something like this:
(https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0799/9645/products/OrangeWagon_LeftSide_rack.jpg?v=1471991168)
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Rad Cycles makes an affordable cargo bike that can carry kids: https://www.radpowerbikes.com/
Something like this:
So, my 4 year old loves riding on the back of my RadWagon - but I didn't spend the extra $250 or whatever for that extra contraption + plate replacement. He just rides on the back - there's a built-in handle hanging under the seat.
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Rad Cycles makes an affordable cargo bike that can carry kids: https://www.radpowerbikes.com/
Something like this:
So, my 4 year old loves riding on the back of my RadWagon - but I didn't spend the extra $250 or whatever for that extra contraption + plate replacement. He just rides on the back - there's a built-in handle hanging under the seat.
Another radwagon user here. I do use the kid carrying contraption, but I carry two kids, 3 and 5 years old since they were 2 and 4. I also have modified the bike in several ways to suit my needs better. Like others in the thread, I got the bike because I live in a monster hill and I just can't get up with the kid weight without assist. With kids I also really appreciate having the assist when crossing busy roads, so I can get out of traffic quickly. My commute is 7 miles each way to take them to preschool and the kids love it.
I feel the radwagon is one of the best value electric cargo bikes out there. I did spend an additional $700 dollars or so over a couple of years on some modifications such as exchanging one of the brakes for a hydraulic version, changing the handlebars and, changing the motor for a mid drive. Part of this is just that I like tinkering though...
Sent from my Redmi Note 4 using Tapatalk
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Rad Cycles makes an affordable cargo bike that can carry kids: https://www.radpowerbikes.com/
Something like this:
So, my 4 year old loves riding on the back of my RadWagon - but I didn't spend the extra $250 or whatever for that extra contraption + plate replacement. He just rides on the back - there's a built-in handle hanging under the seat.
Another radwagon user here. I do use the kid carrying contraption, but I carry two kids, 3 and 5 years old since they were 2 and 4. I also have modified the bike in several ways to suit my needs better. Like others in the thread, I got the bike because I live in a monster hill and I just can't get up with the kid weight without assist. With kids I also really appreciate having the assist when crossing busy roads, so I can get out of traffic quickly. My commute is 7 miles each way to take them to preschool and the kids love it.
I feel the radwagon is one of the best value electric cargo bikes out there. I did spend an additional $700 dollars or so over a couple of years on some modifications such as exchanging one of the brakes for a hydraulic version, changing the handlebars and, changing the motor for a mid drive. Part of this is just that I like tinkering though...
Sent from my Redmi Note 4 using Tapatalk
How's the battery pack doing?
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I've been contemplating the RadWagon for a few weeks now. Problem is my daughter is 8 and I am hoping she will start riding her own bike (she say she wants to) to gymnastics practices. It's really only a couple miles but has a couple large hills she will struggle with. And I am afraid doing it once will turn her away from wanting to do it again. I would like to get something that can carry quite a few groceries as well. It's about a 7 mile round trip to Aldi and back. So still thinking a trailer would work well. Ahh decisions...decisions!
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My commute would be 16 miles one-way by bike (more distance than by car), all on bike paths except for the first two miles and last four which are on potentially hair-raising roads but nothing awful.
Am I completely insane for hoping a decent e-bike would let me do that in 30~40 minutes? I probably wouldn't consider it if it took longer than that (which is why I've ruled out normal biking, that's definitely not happening at that pace). Are e-bike rentals common? Or do any offer returns? I feel like I'd know 100% the answer after trying it once.
EDIT: Also, do e-bikes commonly have removable battery packs? I'd probably want to unhook it and bring it inside to charge during work.
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You might want to bring the battery pack inside b/c it costs $400 by itself. ;) Also leaves the bike unpowered and heavy for a thief. Yes, most of the ebikes I have seen have an easily detachable battery. Mine locks to the bike with a key. Similar to the picture of the Radwagon in the thread above. You can see the lock tumbler in the pic.
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I've been contemplating the RadWagon for a few weeks now. Problem is my daughter is 8 and I am hoping she will start riding her own bike (she say she wants to) to gymnastics practices. It's really only a couple miles but has a couple large hills she will struggle with. And I am afraid doing it once will turn her away from wanting to do it again. I would like to get something that can carry quite a few groceries as well. It's about a 7 mile round trip to Aldi and back. So still thinking a trailer would work well. Ahh decisions...decisions!
@MasterStache is she big enough for a 20” bike? If so, that’s the smallest size that has multiple speeds, should help with the hills depending on how bad they are.
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My commute would be 16 miles one-way by bike (more distance than by car), all on bike paths except for the first two miles and last four which are on potentially hair-raising roads but nothing awful.
Am I completely insane for hoping a decent e-bike would let me do that in 30~40 minutes? I probably wouldn't consider it if it took longer than that (which is why I've ruled out normal biking, that's definitely not happening at that pace). Are e-bike rentals common? Or do any offer returns? I feel like I'd know 100% the answer after trying it once.
EDIT: Also, do e-bikes commonly have removable battery packs? I'd probably want to unhook it and bring it inside to charge during work.
16 miles in 40 minutes is 24 miles/hour. A Level 3 e-bike is limited to 28 mph max. In my state (CA), bike paths are only accessible by 20-mph e-bikes (Level 2). Other states have different laws/regulations. I'd say that it's dubious you'd be able to achieve the numbers you're hoping for, particularly on bike paths and/or if you need to deal with stop signs, traffic lights, etc.
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I was excited to see this thread. I too have an ebike on the way and am really looking forward to riding it everywhere.
In BC, we have a Scrap-It program where if you have an old vehicle to scrap you get rebates on a variety of clean alternatives including $850 for an ebike! https://scrapit.ca/incentivechoices/ (https://scrapit.ca/incentivechoices/)
We are getting a fat tire ebike that the whole family can share and ride all year round. Although I get first dibs. :)
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Ketcup- I commute by Ebike on 50% bike trails and 50% road. It takes me 25 minutes to go 5 miles in the city. Lots of stops and starts, and I have to be very careful on the bike paths with Peds and squirrels, can not go faster than 20 MP on the bike path.
I think your commute would take about an hour- you could try it on your bike and figure it will be a little fast by ebike maybe 15 minutes faster.
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I've been contemplating the RadWagon for a few weeks now. Problem is my daughter is 8 and I am hoping she will start riding her own bike (she say she wants to) to gymnastics practices. It's really only a couple miles but has a couple large hills she will struggle with. And I am afraid doing it once will turn her away from wanting to do it again. I would like to get something that can carry quite a few groceries as well. It's about a 7 mile round trip to Aldi and back. So still thinking a trailer would work well. Ahh decisions...decisions!
@MasterStache is she big enough for a 20” bike? If so, that’s the smallest size that has multiple speeds, should help with the hills depending on how bad they are.
It's funny that you ask that because I mentioned something to my wife about getting her a small e-bike possibly in the near future. She isn't big enough now. She is tiny for her age. But definitely something to think about.
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I've been contemplating the RadWagon for a few weeks now. Problem is my daughter is 8 and I am hoping she will start riding her own bike (she say she wants to) to gymnastics practices. It's really only a couple miles but has a couple large hills she will struggle with. And I am afraid doing it once will turn her away from wanting to do it again. I would like to get something that can carry quite a few groceries as well. It's about a 7 mile round trip to Aldi and back. So still thinking a trailer would work well. Ahh decisions...decisions!
@MasterStache is she big enough for a 20” bike? If so, that’s the smallest size that has multiple speeds, should help with the hills depending on how bad they are.
It's funny that you ask that because I mentioned something to my wife about getting her a small e-bike possibly in the near future. She isn't big enough now. She is tiny for her age. But definitely something to think about.
Yeah, my 8 year old is also very small for his age. It’s taken until this year that he finally was big enough to take the training wheels off the 18” bike we bought him because he grew much slower than I anticipated and we’d already sold the smaller bike he’d been on before. I thought he’d have been ready last year but couldn’t get his feet close enough to the ground to feel comfortable until this spring.
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Congratulations on your new commute. You'll find the exercise, fresh air, and sunshine make a big difference in your work days. I'll start soon, but probably only 2 - 3 days a week.
I just started a job 12 miles from home via bike. I've done the commute before. Since I'm out of shape I picked up an ebike so that I can get started sooner in Spring. I do have a fast eTrike but have to work on a bad battery cell, which may take some time to figure out.
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My commute would be 16 miles one-way by bike (more distance than by car), all on bike paths except for the first two miles and last four which are on potentially hair-raising roads but nothing awful.
Am I completely insane for hoping a decent e-bike would let me do that in 30~40 minutes? I probably wouldn't consider it if it took longer than that (which is why I've ruled out normal biking, that's definitely not happening at that pace). Are e-bike rentals common? Or do any offer returns? I feel like I'd know 100% the answer after trying it once.
It's not insane to hope for that, but you will need to be realistic about your bike and your route.
Bikes
My first ebike was a RadRover, and I averaged about 17 mph on that. While top speed was 20 mph, traffic, stop lights, etc. made an average of 17 about all I could do.
My current ebike is a Haibike xDuro, with a Bosch mid-drive. I put a performance chip in it, so I have no speed limiter, and generally travel at 26-27 mph, with an average commute speed of 24 mph over 18 miles. Best ever was an average speed of 24.9 mph, and I was cranking hard the whole way to work. I have a shower at work.
Route
Route will make a massive difference in your average speed, and could easily double your ride time from an 'ideal' state. My commute is 15 miles of paved canal trail with very light cycling traffic, no intersections, and no stops. The final 3 miles is on surface streets with bike lanes with the occasional stop light. If I'm really hustling home, I will often clear 30 mph for a mile or two on some sections of my ride.
I have nearly 5,000 miles on ebikes now, nearly all commuting miles. Including a reasonable value on my current bike, my average costs have been about $.13/mile.
The RadRover was fun, but the miles I was putting on it really beat it up quickly. After 1,400 miles I had replaced the front fork, had the wheels trued up several times, replaced the tires, etc. It felt like a lot of maintenance. To be fair, it is a heavy bike with huge tires and I was using it as a long distance commuter. Just not the right tool for the job.
The Haibike I have now has been phenomenal. Quality is excellent, I trust all the components, and with 3,400 miles or so on it I have proven its reliability. I jump off curbs with it, ride at 30 mph frequently with the chipped motor, and generally have a blast of a time on it. I would buy it again in a heartbeat.
Good luck!
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My commute would be 16 miles one-way by bike (more distance than by car), all on bike paths except for the first two miles and last four which are on potentially hair-raising roads but nothing awful.
Am I completely insane for hoping a decent e-bike would let me do that in 30~40 minutes? I probably wouldn't consider it if it took longer than that (which is why I've ruled out normal biking, that's definitely not happening at that pace). Are e-bike rentals common? Or do any offer returns? I feel like I'd know 100% the answer after trying it once.
EDIT: Also, do e-bikes commonly have removable battery packs? I'd probably want to unhook it and bring it inside to charge during work.
20MPH is top speed on the RadWagon, and realistically you aren't going to maintain that speed. Plus you probably have various traffic signals or other mandatory "stop" time.
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Arbitrage, which voltage and wattage kit did you buy? What kind of battery?
I bought an as-built e-bike, not a kit. Juiced Bikes Crosscurrent S. It's listed at 650 W, peaking at 750 W, but really will peak at 1000 W with both throttle + pedelec engaged. Battery is 48V/12.8 Ah. I did my longest outing so far yesterday, about 15 miles, and the battery meter had barely budged, so the claimed range of 50-100 miles seems reasonable.
Absolutely loving it so far, and really looking forward to when I can commute on it. My biggest concern is theft (self-imposed, since the bike itself is outside of a mustachian price range), and I've been loading up on security gear. Kryptonite Mini-7 with $2500 insurance, plus wimpy cable for the front wheel, but I'm finding some difficulty locking it up. Just bought a heavy-duty chain for peace of mind and easier locking for those areas I'm more concerned about; won't need it for work but might for errands.
Also decided to get some accessory locks for the seat post, handlebars, front wheel: Hexlox. Pretty cool little magnetic gadgets that fit inside of hex sockets and prevent unbolting. PM me if you are interested in them, and I can get you a referral for 10% off.
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bought an as-built e-bike, not a kit. Juiced Bikes Crosscurrent S. It's listed at 650 W, peaking at 750 W, but really will peak at 1000 W with both throttle + pedelec engaged. Battery is 48V/12.8 Ah. I did my longest outing so far yesterday, about 15 miles, and the battery meter had barely budged, so the claimed range of 50-100 miles seems reasonable.
That bike sounds interesting, I would like a link , just PM me, if you don't mind.
I have alot of experience with Ebikes and I can tell you I get 20-25 Watts per mile ( going fast like 20-22 MPH) unless I pedal 50% then it is like 15-16 watts a mile( and that means speeds of 15 MPH)- so my calculations is that you can get 30 miles out of that pack and up to 40 with 50% pedal power.
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Well, after several weeks of debating I took the plunge. My new RadWagon will be here by the end of the week. Just in time for some warmer weather and my current work assignment ends today or tomorrow. So I will have plenty of time to enjoy riding. My daughter is super excited as well and can't wait to ride on it to gymnastics.
If anyone decides to buy a Rad Power Bike feel free to PM me and I can offer a referral. We'll both get a $50 Amazon GC.
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I have nearly 5,000 miles on ebikes now, nearly all commuting miles. Including a reasonable value on my current bike, my average costs have been about $.13/mile.
The RadRover was fun, but the miles I was putting on it really beat it up quickly. After 1,400 miles I had replaced the front fork, had the wheels trued up several times, replaced the tires, etc. It felt like a lot of maintenance. To be fair, it is a heavy bike with huge tires and I was using it as a long distance commuter. Just not the right tool for the job.
The Haibike I have now has been phenomenal. Quality is excellent, I trust all the components, and with 3,400 miles or so on it I have proven its reliability. I jump off curbs with it, ride at 30 mph frequently with the chipped motor, and generally have a blast of a time on it. I would buy it again in a heartbeat.
Good luck!
My guess is that you were jumping off curbs with your RadRover and it was not up to that abuse. The maintenance you mention (wheel truing and replacing front fork) are not likely a result of miles on a paved path but likely a result of hard hits over uneven terrain. Of course tires will wear out even on the best paved surface and choosing fat tires increases that expense. Glad your Haibike is working out for your riding style.
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Well, after several weeks of debating I took the plunge. My new RadWagon will be here by the end of the week. Just in time for some warmer weather and my current work assignment ends today or tomorrow. So I will have plenty of time to enjoy riding. My daughter is super excited as well and can't wait to ride on it to gymnastics.
If anyone decides to buy a Rad Power Bike feel free to PM me and I can offer a referral. We'll both get a $50 Amazon GC.
Congrats! I'm envious, since thus far I just have to look longingly at my bike all week - my current work/family schedule keeps me busy from 5:15 am-9 pm during weekdays without much opportunity to ride in there. I've been riding a lot on weekends, but it's hard to wait until I can start commuting on it in July.
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I have nearly 5,000 miles on ebikes now, nearly all commuting miles. Including a reasonable value on my current bike, my average costs have been about $.13/mile.
The RadRover was fun, but the miles I was putting on it really beat it up quickly. After 1,400 miles I had replaced the front fork, had the wheels trued up several times, replaced the tires, etc. It felt like a lot of maintenance. To be fair, it is a heavy bike with huge tires and I was using it as a long distance commuter. Just not the right tool for the job.
The Haibike I have now has been phenomenal. Quality is excellent, I trust all the components, and with 3,400 miles or so on it I have proven its reliability. I jump off curbs with it, ride at 30 mph frequently with the chipped motor, and generally have a blast of a time on it. I would buy it again in a heartbeat.
Good luck!
My guess is that you were jumping off curbs with your RadRover and it was not up to that abuse. The maintenance you mention (wheel truing and replacing front fork) are not likely a result of miles on a paved path but likely a result of hard hits over uneven terrain. Of course tires will wear out even on the best paved surface and choosing fat tires increases that expense. Glad your Haibike is working out for your riding style.
Solid guess, but no - the RadRover is a nice entry level bike, but I was just putting too many miles on it. It's almost 61 lbs, and far too heavy to be jumping it anywhere. At the time, I was riding just over 25 miles each way to work at close to top speed the whole time, and it was just not the right bike for that sort of constant use. I bought it from the original Indiegogo campaign, so it was probably one of the earliest models. I know the fork they sent me as a replacement was the new version, and all the current bikes they were shipping had it installed already.
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I have nearly 5,000 miles on ebikes now, nearly all commuting miles. Including a reasonable value on my current bike, my average costs have been about $.13/mile.
The RadRover was fun, but the miles I was putting on it really beat it up quickly. After 1,400 miles I had replaced the front fork, had the wheels trued up several times, replaced the tires, etc. It felt like a lot of maintenance. To be fair, it is a heavy bike with huge tires and I was using it as a long distance commuter. Just not the right tool for the job.
The Haibike I have now has been phenomenal. Quality is excellent, I trust all the components, and with 3,400 miles or so on it I have proven its reliability. I jump off curbs with it, ride at 30 mph frequently with the chipped motor, and generally have a blast of a time on it. I would buy it again in a heartbeat.
Good luck!
My guess is that you were jumping off curbs with your RadRover and it was not up to that abuse. The maintenance you mention (wheel truing and replacing front fork) are not likely a result of miles on a paved path but likely a result of hard hits over uneven terrain. Of course tires will wear out even on the best paved surface and choosing fat tires increases that expense. Glad your Haibike is working out for your riding style.
Solid guess, but no - the RadRover is a nice entry level bike, but I was just putting too many miles on it. It's almost 61 lbs, and far too heavy to be jumping it anywhere. At the time, I was riding just over 25 miles each way to work at close to top speed the whole time, and it was just not the right bike for that sort of constant use. I bought it from the original Indiegogo campaign, so it was probably one of the earliest models. I know the fork they sent me as a replacement was the new version, and all the current bikes they were shipping had it installed already.
OK, if the fork that failed within 1400 miles was recalled (or equivalent), then it's not so bad.
Wheel maintenance might be improved if the wheels were re-built by an expert wheel builder. The specs (https://www.radpowerbikes.com/products/radrover-electric-fat-bike?variant=5032654929951) say it comes with 12 gauge spokes (lighter 14 or 15 gauge spokes are more common for regular bicycles). According to expert bike mechanic John Allen (https://www.sheldonbrown.com/spoke-pitch.html) optimum spoke tension is about 1/3 yield strength. Because the cross sectional area of a 12 gauge spoke is 60% larger than that of a 14 gauge spoke, the force required to develop this tension is 60% greater. This could be a problem if the eyelets on the rim or hub are not strong enough to take the force.
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You might want to bring the battery pack inside b/c it costs $400 by itself. ;) Also leaves the bike unpowered and heavy for a thief. Yes, most of the ebikes I have seen have an easily detachable battery. Mine locks to the bike with a key. Similar to the picture of the Radwagon in the thread above. You can see the lock tumbler in the pic.
We have done a boat & bike tour in the Netherlands, and when we got off our bikes, we took our batteries with us, as well as putting on an inexpensive wheel lock.
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The Radwagon is assembled and I am anxiously awaiting a test ride (raining/storming today). The bike is bigger than I thought, but not as heavy as I imagined. I think I'll be taking the battery with me inside whenever I go somewhere. Looking forward to some warmer weather, if it ever gets here!
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The Radwagon is assembled and I am anxiously awaiting a test ride (raining/storming today). The bike is bigger than I thought, but not as heavy as I imagined. I think I'll be taking the battery with me inside whenever I go somewhere. Looking forward to some warmer weather, if it ever gets here!
Took my Radwagon and kid out yesterday, we ended up getting rained on - but it was all fine. Reminds me I need to turn off the box fan I had blowing on it in the garage to dry out.
Note that the(dual) kickstand is close to the balance point of the bike (slightly toward the rear.) When you're working on the rear end (or even just cleaning/lubing the chain) - you can hang something off the front to get the rear wheel to stay off the ground. I haven't gotten around to buying a stand yet, this works fairly well.
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The Radwagon is assembled and I am anxiously awaiting a test ride (raining/storming today). The bike is bigger than I thought, but not as heavy as I imagined. I think I'll be taking the battery with me inside whenever I go somewhere. Looking forward to some warmer weather, if it ever gets here!
Took my Radwagon and kid out yesterday, we ended up getting rained on - but it was all fine. Reminds me I need to turn off the box fan I had blowing on it in the garage to dry out.
Note that the(dual) kickstand is close to the balance point of the bike (slightly toward the rear.) When you're working on the rear end (or even just cleaning/lubing the chain) - you can hang something off the front to get the rear wheel to stay off the ground. I haven't gotten around to buying a stand yet, this works fairly well.
Thanks for the tip!
Weather has been crappy here but today is beautiful. Took the RedWagon up to the library to return some books and then over to the post office to mail out a package. The two very daunting hills I encountered where a piece of cake this time around. All together about 10 miles of errands, good exercise (mostly kept in PAS 1 with exception of the hills), and fresh air in the lungs. Feels awesome!!
I just ordered the Deckhand as it finally came back into stock. My daughter is eager to ride up to gymnastics on the bike.
Edit: Forgot to add I received a compliment on the color of the bike while waiting at a cross walk from a very cute jogger.
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I would love to HAVE an e-bike, but I have two other nice bikes already. (Well, nice as in not junkers, not "top of the line" nice.) Nicer than I need for the 5-6 times a year I take a bike ride.
I just can't get on board to commute to work on a bike. I'd be turning an 8 minute drive into a 35 minute bike ride (not accounting for traffic). The difference there adds up to 180 hours a year, not counting time I'd be wasting to go home, get the car, and make the grocery trips, rather than doing so on my way home from work. 180 hours at my salary (which isn't all that high) is over 4 grand. Of wasted time.
I drive a paid off car, spend $300 on insurance for the whole year, and drive <7000 miles a year. My time is just too valuable to spend an hour a day extra on commuting. (And, no. I don't spend that time exercising anyway.)
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Rode to work the other day. Hilly country. Halved the estimated Google Maps time. Pretty good for a middle aged fat guy. Spent too much time on the couch over the winter.
Goal is to use the least amount of PAS boost possible (Level 1) and keep my commute time down.
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I would love to HAVE an e-bike, but I have two other nice bikes already. (Well, nice as in not junkers, not "top of the line" nice.) Nicer than I need for the 5-6 times a year I take a bike ride.
I just can't get on board to commute to work on a bike. I'd be turning an 8 minute drive into a 35 minute bike ride (not accounting for traffic). The difference there adds up to 180 hours a year, not counting time I'd be wasting to go home, get the car, and make the grocery trips, rather than doing so on my way home from work. 180 hours at my salary (which isn't all that high) is over 4 grand. Of wasted time.
I drive a paid off car, spend $300 on insurance for the whole year, and drive <7000 miles a year. My time is just too valuable to spend an hour a day extra on commuting. (And, no. I don't spend that time exercising anyway.)
I'd say it's not for everyone, certainly, though I definitely don't consider exercising to be a waste of time. Of course, I could nitpick a few things about your numbers and assumptions, but my numbers are nevertheless not the same as yours. My drive is about 15-18 minutes in the morning, and 20-30 minutes on the way home, trading for perhaps a 25-30 minute bike ride (we'll see how long it actually takes once I start). I also hate driving in traffic, and I like riding the e-bike (and can avoid much of the traffic via bike). Perhaps if I had a traffic-free commute that would be much faster via car, I wouldn't be willing to make the switch.
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I would love to HAVE an e-bike, but I have two other nice bikes already. (Well, nice as in not junkers, not "top of the line" nice.) Nicer than I need for the 5-6 times a year I take a bike ride.
I just can't get on board to commute to work on a bike. I'd be turning an 8 minute drive into a 35 minute bike ride (not accounting for traffic). The difference there adds up to 180 hours a year, not counting time I'd be wasting to go home, get the car, and make the grocery trips, rather than doing so on my way home from work. 180 hours at my salary (which isn't all that high) is over 4 grand. Of wasted time.
I drive a paid off car, spend $300 on insurance for the whole year, and drive <7000 miles a year. My time is just too valuable to spend an hour a day extra on commuting. (And, no. I don't spend that time exercising anyway.)
Motor vehicles are impacted by traffic much more than bike are. 35 minutes at 12 mph bike speed would be 7 miles (10.5 miles if 35 minutes is average speed of 18 mph on e-bike). Unless you are particularly well positioned for a short drive, but would require a longer bike commute, you are claiming an average driving speed of 52-79 mph. Plenty of people use their bikes for grocery stops. Bottom line you designed your car into your life and/or are making clown car excuses for not biking. You get a facepunch.
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I would love to HAVE an e-bike, but I have two other nice bikes already. (Well, nice as in not junkers, not "top of the line" nice.) Nicer than I need for the 5-6 times a year I take a bike ride.
I just can't get on board to commute to work on a bike. I'd be turning an 8 minute drive into a 35 minute bike ride (not accounting for traffic). The difference there adds up to 180 hours a year, not counting time I'd be wasting to go home, get the car, and make the grocery trips, rather than doing so on my way home from work. 180 hours at my salary (which isn't all that high) is over 4 grand. Of wasted time.
I drive a paid off car, spend $300 on insurance for the whole year, and drive <7000 miles a year. My time is just too valuable to spend an hour a day extra on commuting. (And, no. I don't spend that time exercising anyway.)
Motor vehicles are impacted by traffic much more than bike are. 35 minutes at 12 mph bike speed would be 7 miles (10.5 miles if 35 minutes is average speed of 18 mph on e-bike). Unless you are particularly well positioned for a short drive, but would require a longer bike commute, you are claiming an average driving speed of 52-79 mph. Plenty of people use their bikes for grocery stops. Bottom line you designed your car into your life and/or are making clown car excuses for not biking. You get a facepunch.
I'm immediately off the interstate and two exits from work, which is then two blocks from the exit. Can't bike up and down the interstate, would have to reroute through town. I've never ridden an e-bike, but on a conventional bike, I average 10-12 mph, and there are about a dozen stoplights at which you sit, and sit, and sit, wasting valuable time. So even if you're making good time, you're spending at LEAST ten minutes just sitting there, each way. Which is longer than my drive time.
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Netskyblue... what do you spend that extra hour a day on? What would you give up if your commute took an extra hour a day?
My time is just too valuable to spend an hour a day extra on commuting.
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I'm looking at a RadWagon. I was looking at cargo bikes, and the expense of them are the same as a RadWagon, so I'm not sure that there is a benefit to going with a traditional cargo bike. I was also looking at getting a conversion kit and then buying a cheap bike on craigslist, but that would only be a few hundred less than the RadWagon and would rely on my mechanical skills (or lack thereof). I'm interested to hear how Arbitrage does on theirs and if they have any problems.
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Get the right clothing.
I normally don't ride to work in winter (near freezing this morn) so I broke out my warmest coat and gloves. Arrived in a sweat. Didn't expect that. Figured the windchill would cancel that out.
I have a Columbia windbreaker coming in the mail. I think that and a sweat shirt or light jacket under the windbreaker might be the right combo for above freezing. Warm gloves made a diff too.
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Get the right clothing.
I normally don't ride to work in winter (near freezing this morn) so I broke out my warmest coat and gloves. Arrived in a sweat. Didn't expect that. Figured the windchill would cancel that out.
I have a Columbia windbreaker coming in the mail. I think that and a sweat shirt or light jacket under the windbreaker might be the right combo for above freezing. Warm gloves made a diff too.
Getting the clothing just right for cold weather riding takes some practice. You can generate quite a bit of heat in your core while riding. If you're wearing warm enough clothing to be comfortable when you step outside, you will be sweating shortly after you start riding. Wintertime lows get near freezing where I live. I ride in jeans, a sweatshirt, gloves, and a head covering. I wear a windbreaker over the sweatshirt, but usually unzip it about 1/3 of the way through my 20 minute ride because my core generates plenty of heat, but my arms still tend to be a bit cold.
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Netskyblue... what do you spend that extra hour a day on? What would you give up if your commute took an extra hour a day?
My time is just too valuable to spend an hour a day extra on commuting.
More than likely, it'd end up coming out of sleep. I have about 3 hours a night between when I get home from work, and when I go to bed. Household chores, grocery shopping, dinner prep/eating/cleanup, and spending a little bit of time with my partner before sleep is nearly all I can fit in on weekdays. Not that it *matters.* I'm free to determine what is and is not a positive use of my time, and commuting is a definite not.
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I'm looking at a RadWagon. I was looking at cargo bikes, and the expense of them are the same as a RadWagon, so I'm not sure that there is a benefit to going with a traditional cargo bike. I was also looking at getting a conversion kit and then buying a cheap bike on craigslist, but that would only be a few hundred less than the RadWagon and would rely on my mechanical skills (or lack thereof). I'm interested to hear how Arbitrage does on theirs and if they have any problems.
I am very mechanically inclined but determined I might only save a couple hundred bucks building my own. Plus I liked the ideal of being able to transport my daughter on the bike.
I managed 13 miles of errands today. Went to two different grocery stores. First time taking the bike on a somewhat long commute. I might have to make some alterations to where I connect the cargo trailer but otherwise, a very fun and productive day. And my car didn't move an inch. Definitely not regretting the purchase. If you decide to buy from Rad Power Bikes I can give you a referral. I think we both get a $50 Amazon gift card.
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BTW, there is also a $50 off coupon code floating around for their accessories. I managed to snag the Deckhand for $15 shipped.
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I am about to buy a Lunacycle kit. Bafang Mid Drive BBSO2, upgraded controller, battery, charger...
Holy crap. Am I really about to spend $1100? This is not in my normal Mustachian vocabulary! Am I crazy?
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I'm looking at a RadWagon. I was looking at cargo bikes, and the expense of them are the same as a RadWagon, so I'm not sure that there is a benefit to going with a traditional cargo bike. I was also looking at getting a conversion kit and then buying a cheap bike on craigslist, but that would only be a few hundred less than the RadWagon and would rely on my mechanical skills (or lack thereof). I'm interested to hear how Arbitrage does on theirs and if they have any problems.
I am very mechanically inclined but determined I might only save a couple hundred bucks building my own. Plus I liked the ideal of being able to transport my daughter on the bike.
I managed 13 miles of errands today. Went to two different grocery stores. First time taking the bike on a somewhat long commute. I might have to make some alterations to where I connect the cargo trailer but otherwise, a very fun and productive day. And my car didn't move an inch. Definitely not regretting the purchase. If you decide to buy from Rad Power Bikes I can give you a referral. I think we both get a $50 Amazon gift card.
I did 19 miles of errands today! Unfortunately, I had another 8 miles of errands I had to pull out the car for...couldn't really drag the dog to the vet on my bike. Well, I suppose I could've, as she is a small dog, but...
I haven't hooked up the trailer to the e-bike yet. It's set up for my regular bike, but I haven't carted anything but kids around in it thus far.
So far, the bike is tip-top, though that's admittedly after only 120 miles on it, since I'm not yet commuting and have only been able to do weekend rides. I had free assembly through Amazon; I actually assembled it myself, and had the technician do a few minor adjustments instead. He actually built bikes for himself and others regularly, and had an e-bike that he built from a kit. He was very impressed with my bike. Hopefully mine will hold up in the long run; I'm starting to bone up on maintenance videos, since maintaining a well-used bike is not something I've done a whole lot of.
As far as problems, the only thing that I could say is that the front brakes are a bit squeaky, but the tech attributed that to lower-than-top-notch brake pads; the brakes themselves are hydraulic disc brakes and very nice.
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BTW, there is also a $50 off coupon code floating around for their accessories. I managed to snag the Deckhand for $15 shipped.
A pointer to the coupon or a PM with the code would be appreciated - I like their accessories, but prices seem way high.
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A bit more technical and anecdotal information on my bike's (Crosscurrent S with base battery) range/performance, since others expressed interested:
The bike has 5 boost levels (as well as a throttle):
S: I've barely used this, but it's the highest boost level. I think it peaks at 750W, similar to boost level 3, but ramps up the boost much more quickly.
3: Peak assist is 750W. I tend to use this when I'm riding in/with traffic on busy streets, to maintain 26-30 mph and accelerate quickly.
2: Peak assist is around 550W. I've been using this on lower traffic streets, or when I'm feeling lazier in a bike lane.
1: Peak assist is about 375W. Trying to use this setting as a default when I'm not sharing the road with cars, or on 25-mph residential streets.
ECO: Peak assist is about 250W. Basically using on walkways, shared bike paths, parking lots.
Battery is nominally 48V / 12.8 Ah.
I took it for a 24-mile ride today, which included some significant hills, some fast flat sections in traffic, a slow meander up a beach boardwalk, and some relaxed residential streets. I did about 1/3 of the ride on Level 3 boost, 1/2 on Level 1 (typical speed 22-25 mph, not counting hills), and the remainder on ECO by the beach. I do often engage the throttle when starting from a standstill at lights/stop signs, as well.
Initial voltage was between 55 and 56V. Final voltage was 48.8. Battery meter had emptied 3 of 9 ticks, meaning the indicator thinks that I had around 2/3 of the battery left. I'm not sure if I believe that, but I am quite confident there was a lot of juice left, as the voltage was still above the nominal battery rating. I'd have no qualms about undertaking a 40 mile ride given that ride profile, but I'll have to take some longer rides before I can be too confident about how far to push it.
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I am about to buy a Lunacycle kit. Bafang Mid Drive BBSO2, upgraded controller, battery, charger...
Holy crap. Am I really about to spend $1100? This is not in my normal Mustachian vocabulary! Am I crazy?
I bought a kit last June. Best thing I spent money on in a long time. 2100 miles and counting. I ride to work and the grocery store with my kit. I’m figuring some time this year it will pay for its self. I just hope it warms up here on the east coast.
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Get the right clothing.
I normally don't ride to work in winter (near freezing this morn) so I broke out my warmest coat and gloves. Arrived in a sweat. Didn't expect that. Figured the windchill would cancel that out.
I have a Columbia windbreaker coming in the mail. I think that and a sweat shirt or light jacket under the windbreaker might be the right combo for above freezing. Warm gloves made a diff too.
Getting the clothing just right for cold weather riding takes some practice. You can generate quite a bit of heat in your core while riding. If you're wearing warm enough clothing to be comfortable when you step outside, you will be sweating shortly after you start riding. Wintertime lows get near freezing where I live. I ride in jeans, a sweatshirt, gloves, and a head covering. I wear a windbreaker over the sweatshirt, but usually unzip it about 1/3 of the way through my 20 minute ride because my core generates plenty of heat, but my arms still tend to be a bit cold.
Rode this morn in ~35F temps. Wore my regular jacket and a new windbreaker (tissue thin!) over it. Made all the difference. No big bulky coat as before. Same warmth. I think my clothing kit is complete. Need panniers.
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After today, just 9 more days of car commuting left (got some days of personal travel and work travel before the end of the month). Sure, there will be the occasional day where I have to drive in for appointments or work-related trips, but other than that, the new life is on the way!
This will coincide with my DW only needing to do one morning dropoff, going in to work later/getting more sleep, and our family childcare costs decreasing first by $200/month, then (2 months later) by an additional $250-300. DS will also get to play with his sister during after-school care and see her on the playground. Everyone is excited, except DD, who has to change schools for kindergarten. Sorry kiddo, it's part of life.
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One other factoid for those with interest in an e-bike: I did set a new personal trip record of 32 miles. This was mostly (probably 2/3 of the distance) on paved bike paths on the lowest level of boost. Still had plenty of juice for full power on some busy roads at the end of the trip, and then some.
I'd estimate you could do perhaps 55 miles using that level of boost, though I'm not planning any trips of that length. The other thing I learned on that trip was to bring sustenance for bike rides that long!
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I tried an e-bike this Wednesday and god dammit, I want it! I have a very run of the mill standard 7 speed bike I have put quite a few miles on which has put quite a bit of wear on it since I am heavy (a short woman weighing more like an average sized man) and I tow a two seat bike trolley with it. I have thought of getting a bike with more gears and that is slightly higher quality but having tried the e-bike I am strongly leaning towards an e-bike instead. It was awesome fun to just push the pedal a little and go *swosch* each time.
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I did not renew insurance on the car, and I have been using my ebike kit since the end of April. Mainly for all those errands, dentist / groceries, etc and meetings with my local volunteer group.
I did ride 30km (one way) to an all-day conference. As I bought the smallest battery they had (to save money), i was surprised that the pedal assist mode lasted at least 25km on rolling hills.
I did have to upgrade my lock when I discovered someone tried to cut through my old one.
Between that and the bus, I love the switch, and 6 months of car insurance savings pays for the ebike kit.
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I did have to upgrade my lock when I discovered someone tried to cut through my old one.
Every bike should be locked up with a U lock. A U lock won't stop a determined thief (easy enough to defeat with an angle grinder) but will pretty much guarantee that the thief who is simply looking for an easy target will look elsewhere.
I did not renew insurance on the car, and I have been using my ebike kit since the end of April.
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6 months of car insurance savings pays for the ebike kit.
Not operating your car at all for 6 months is great, but you might pay slightly higher premiums when you reestablish auto insurance for the winter season than you would have if you kept it constant. Be sure you've done all the things needed to store your car for an extended period.
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Hey great thread,
I just want to give big high fives to everyone making this life switch. It isn't easy. I have recently been ebike commuting. I picked up the izip E3 dash. I had been lusting after one for awhile. They did the big price drop on the 2017's so I went for it back in february $2599 down to $2099. I have about 800 miles on it so far and love it. I had wanted to cheap out and get a lower priced one, but, the disc brakes and front shock are necessary for my commute of 23 miles roundtrip on rough rural western NY roads with monster elevation change between my house and my work. I have a regular bike for joyriding w/family. For me the ebike is the difference between doing it or not doing it. It really is the bridge for me to get it done. I'm a nurse in a rural 2 horse town and if my shift goes badly or I get mandated for a 16 hour shift there is literally no physical/mental/emotional gas left in the tank. That is when I can basically let the bike ferry me home. I'd say on the way in I do 80% effort 20% bike. I do it because it makes me feel good, if I save a little money thats fine too. Kinda funny, I live in a really economic depressed area so when a fat middle aged dude starts riding a bike usually it is assumed they lost their license DWI's etc. Have fun out there everyone. P.S. if I did lose my license for some reason I would go high class and commute with a riding mower :)
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I am going to be moving closer to work in the next little while here, and I will be getting a bike to save on gas etc. I have considered an e-bike mostly do to the "arriving at work all sweaty" factor. But they are expensive, and I don't feel like I could leave it anywhere public (even locked) without worrying about it getting stolen. I think my other option would be to purchase a nice cheap used bike and just change my clothes when I get to work (even though that's a bit annoying.).
What do you guys do to deal with the sweat aspect?
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I am going to be moving closer to work in the next little while here, and I will be getting a bike to save on gas etc. I have considered an e-bike mostly do to the "arriving at work all sweaty" factor. But they are expensive, and I don't feel like I could leave it anywhere public (even locked) without worrying about it getting stolen. I think my other option would be to purchase a nice cheap used bike and just change my clothes when I get to work (even though that's a bit annoying.).
What do you guys do to deal with the sweat aspect?
I change clothes for my bike commute. I pack my work clothes daily in a pannier bag (I don't like biking with a backpack on). I could probably learn to bike slowly enough to not need to change, but I don't want to.
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What do you guys do to deal with the sweat aspect?
I wear bike shorts for butt comfort, hang them up to dry in my cubicle. Bring in several pairs of underwear and pants once a week to change into, bring the underwear home each day to change back into. I wear golf shirts to bike in and at work, they don’t stay wet. I take a shower every morning and put on deodorant, so my sweat doesn’t smell. I live in a pretty mild climate.
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Argh. I had a moment today -- about when the battery died on the ebike (I knew it would, I did not charge it affter my last ride, as I had about 40% power went, and I went errand running today for the exercise anyway.).
My key errand by bike was to buy fuel stabilizer for the vehicle I will keep in extended storage. A bit ironic.
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I have never had a commute long enough that I considered wearing special clothes. I will of course wear weather appropriate clothes like waterproof garments when it is raining or a jacket if it is a bit chilly but I just wear my regular clothes. When I had a longish commute of about 4.5 miles I would do a quick wipe of my armpits with a moist paper towel two times over when I got to work and a wipe down of my face with a paper towel. I would then reapply deodorant. I don't have a fancy bike nor do I go as fast as I can though, it is still much faster than walking and similar to or faster than the bus.
With a longer ride to work I would probably use some kind of work out clothes to and from work and change at work. I have never used bike shorts ever but I do see the appeal and with a long commute that would be something I might buy. I live in Sweden though so a lot of the time I would need full length pants so I assume I would need two layers or are there ones that are full length too? I don't ride a bike in the winter but I understand you often then need a thinner coat, thin thermal pants or something to keep your legs warm since they get more cold than they do from walking and a good hat and very good gloves. I do get cold hands from riding my bike already in autumn so I use bike gloves or regular gloves or both then. In summer I prefer to not wear bike gloves as I have pretty sweaty palms if I do and hate that sensation.
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I am going to be moving closer to work in the next little while here, and I will be getting a bike to save on gas etc. I have considered an e-bike mostly do to the "arriving at work all sweaty" factor. But they are expensive, and I don't feel like I could leave it anywhere public (even locked) without worrying about it getting stolen. I think my other option would be to purchase a nice cheap used bike and just change my clothes when I get to work (even though that's a bit annoying.).
What do you guys do to deal with the sweat aspect?
My Radwagon comes with a keyed detachable battery pack. I typically lock the bike up, detach the battery and take it with me. Sometimes I'll bring a backpack to store it in. The bike is pretty pointless with no battery.
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I have never used bike shorts ever but I do see the appeal and with a long commute that would be something I might buy. I live in Sweden though so a lot of the time I would need full length pants so I assume I would need two layers or are there ones that are full length too?
I typically wear baggy bike shorts with a separate padded liner. I've never tried cycling jerseys - regular tee shirts work fine for me. I like padded finger-less gloves.
When it gets cold (not very cold here), I wear the padded liner under regular pants and a sweatshirt and/or jacket over the tee shirt and either thin knit gloves under my padded finger-less gloves or regular full finger gloves. In spring and autumn some days are chilly in the morning but warm in the afternoon, so I've thought about getting leg warmers and arm warmers to wear with my shorts and tee shirt in the morning and pack home in the afternoon. Of course you can get full length cycling tights for cooler weather rides if you want.
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Clothing --
My formula -- shower in the morning, wear cycling clothing, bring a small towel. Starting clean really helps even if you sweat later.
Change into work clothing at work (mopping up / clean up with towel).
The only thing I need to be aware of is to not put on the work clothing while I am still warm from exertion, so a cold shower at work helped (when that was possible), otherwise, I need to cool down in my cycling clothing before changing.
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The only thing I need to be aware of is to not put on the work clothing while I am still warm from exertion, so a cold shower at work helped (when that was possible), otherwise, I need to cool down in my cycling clothing before changing.
Yes, a cool down is important. I usually start my cool down a few blocks away from work. I'm still cooling down as I lock up my bike, make my way to the restroom, and unpacking my work clothing. Sometimes I even pack up my cycling clothing nude before putting on my work clothing to give myself a little longer cooling down.
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In December my job moved back to within 10 miles from home (half on rail trail). I used to commute with my normal road bikes but am much heavier, older, and out of shape. I picked up a ProdecoTech Phantom 400 eBike this early spring. It is heavy with disc brakes, and can only do about 20 miles (not 30+) at my weight. I'll be riding my third trip to work tomorrow. I will probably stay with this bike until I get enough strength and training rides on my non eBikes. It forces me to work more than the recumbent.
I also bought my wife the step through white version of the eBike. I got both new for the Amazon unit price. I bought them from a flipper who got them off a local bike shop that couldn't figure out how to sell eBikes.
I also have a very expensive powered tadpole recumbent trike that can really haul. I bought it with proceeds of flipping dozens of bikes. It has a bad cell in it's battery pack, so it's range is down to 20 miles with pedaling until I figure out how to fix. That one powers on at 4mph and can haul me up steep hills. It also coasts fast/far and can hit speeds in the 30s. I usually average in the low 20's.
My wife and I will never be car free, but perhaps we can get down to one car within a few years when we are both retired.
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I have never used bike shorts ever but I do see the appeal and with a long commute that would be something I might buy. I live in Sweden though so a lot of the time I would need full length pants so I assume I would need two layers or are there ones that are full length too?
I typically wear baggy bike shorts with a separate padded liner. I've never tried cycling jerseys - regular tee shirts work fine for me. I like padded finger-less gloves.
When it gets cold (not very cold here), I wear the padded liner under regular pants and a sweatshirt and/or jacket over the tee shirt and either thin knit gloves under my padded finger-less gloves or regular full finger gloves. In spring and autumn some days are chilly in the morning but warm in the afternoon, so I've thought about getting leg warmers and arm warmers to wear with my shorts and tee shirt in the morning and pack home in the afternoon. Of course you can get full length cycling tights for cooler weather rides if you want.
Nice! I have never really seen anything but actual shorts but I have not really dived into it. We do have one specialist bike shop in our town (and several with different types of sporting equipment) so I might have to go to that one and really look through the clothing section. A liner sounds like a good idea that I will check out. If I can't find anything like that at the cycling store I will check out online sources but clothes like this that are tight-fitting I tend to like to buy at least the first one at a store where I can see them and maybe also try them on. If you have one pair that fits you can use it for measurements even if you get one from another company and then the online world is open for you. I haven't checked out the bike shop yet since it is at a location that is relatively far from both our house and my work so going there is a separate trip. I might have to either get my husband to go there with me or I will tell him I want to go there and go there after work if it fits with their opening hours and my work hours.
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Nice! I have never really seen anything but actual shorts but I have not really dived into it. We do have one specialist bike shop in our town (and several with different types of sporting equipment) so I might have to go to that one and really look through the clothing section. A liner sounds like a good idea that I will check out. If I can't find anything like that at the cycling store I will check out online sources but clothes like this that are tight-fitting I tend to like to buy at least the first one at a store where I can see them and maybe also try them on. If you have one pair that fits you can use it for measurements even if you get one from another company and then the online world is open for you. I haven't checked out the bike shop yet since it is at a location that is relatively far from both our house and my work so going there is a separate trip. I might have to either get my husband to go there with me or I will tell him I want to go there and go there after work if it fits with their opening hours and my work hours.
I think your chances of finding a good fitting set of tights locally is very slim, but you should have a reasonable chance of finding shorts that would work under other pants. Good luck.
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Part of the reason for the e-bike for me is to cruise in and minimize the sweatiness in the morning. Since I live in a mild climate (coastal SoCal) and arrive at work very early, it shouldn't be much of an issue outside of the 1-2 serious heat waves per year. I will be packing athletic clothes to change into before the ride home.
One note about locks - all U-locks are not created equal. Some of the flimsier U-locks can be defeated with a big pair of cutters; no power tools needed. For a more expensive bike like most e-bikes, I'd think $20-40 bucks extra on a beefier U-lock is a worthwhile investment.
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Props to everyone making the switch. Just a warning that this is definitely something that you buy new or VERY carefully used. I bought an older 24V prodeco for $500 a few years ago. Helped slightly on takeoff and slightly on hills. ( I.e. it will keep you from coming to a complete stop.) Since I live in rolling hills that was just enough to get me to work and back.
I ended up growing out of it pretty quickly. I eventually decided to resell it while I could still get my money back out of it.
The big benefits or owning and general takeaways were:
1. Prodeco actually makes a pretty high quality sturdy (HEAVY) bike.
2. I didn't really become that dependent on the electric since it didn't really help that much anyways.
3. My town has bike racks on buses. So I could stay dry if a rain storm came.
Again glad the electric is working out for so many folks here.
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I had a delivery guy at work tell me the other day I was "cheating" using an ebike when we were talking bikes. I attempted to explain my pov which is I use the ebike as a car replacement and I still joyride with friends/family on my specialized sirrus. I feel it is very mustachian despite the upfront cost to ebike if it means the car stays in the driveway or replaced altogether. After the delivery guy left I thought of a good comeback (I'm "cheating" on my car with an ebike :) I am definitely not a cyclist just someone who gets a kick out of riding bicycles electric or no. I am dad in a traditional family of four, we have 2 cars. I bug my wife all the time about going one car. She is super skeptical so I feel committing rain/shine to bike to work plan shows her I'm willing to put in the work. Started Apr 1st with the ebike and probably going to hit 1000 miles next week. Kudos to all that put in the effort riding to work.
As an aside I have found when I ride in downpours my fenders are pretty awesome except they funnel water right at my feet, so my shoes while waterproof still end up feeling like I took a dunk in the creek. I have been thinking about waterproof shoe covers. Lately, I wear crum shoes when I know I will get caught in it and putting my primary shoes in the pack.
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3 weeks in:
Things are largely going as planned. The car is sitting in the garage, barely used but for the occasional carting of kids, though I broke down and drove to the dentist 17 miles away. I tried to figure out a safe ride there by a lot of google mapping, but couldn't quite get comfortable with it (Los Angeles). I gave the route a test drive rather than taking the freeway, and ended up happy that I didn't bike it; the route would need some tweaks for safety.
The commute itself is very nice, and I'm in a much better mood before/during/after. Occasionally, I mentally grumble a bit before getting on my bike, but that ceases within 15 seconds of riding. It ends up taking me perhaps 3-5 minutes longer than driving on the way to work (20-22 minutes rather than 15-20), and 0-5 minutes longer on the way home (25-30 minutes in rush hour traffic). I've been continually tweaking the route and/or scoping out alternatives, especially on the way home, due to traffic patterns.
Exercise - gotta love it. I've added an extra pre-dinner bowl of cereal/oats/fresh fruit. Legs are getting a bit stronger (for biking - different than my power-lifting strength), even though I barely work them on the ride in. Still going on the occasional leisure ride, where I'm definitely noticing the improvement.
No close calls with cars, but part of that is due diligence. Scoped out a lady staring at her phone who veered into the bike lane without looking and braked prematurely. Had to brake a few times for other cars who underestimate my speed (or just didn't care) and cut me off to turn right. It's the bike lane section of the busy road I'm looking to minimize come the darker/wetter time of the year because of observations like these. I did map out an alternative, but haven't tried it yet; it does involve some sidewalk riding, which I don't love.
Weather - it's summer. This is easy! We did have a nasty heat wave recently, and since I am wearing my work clothes on the way in, I kept things super easy on the ride in. That's been the only adjustment so far. Winter will be a new challenge, I know. Bought some rain gear and shoe covers. Need to plan out my cold weather gear as well.