Goals like riding farther, riding to stores/errands more, and maybe even riding to work. All those would be a little better with ebike power.
The riding to work... that's a whole thing. I can ride there (about 6 miles) pretty easily, but when it's too hot out or too cold out or I'm exhausted at the end of a long day I just don't know if I'd have it in me to do the trek home.
But then I think of doing it on an ebike and I'm like "yeah... hell yeah".
My plan was to get rid of the 1970's Raleigh (which looks so good but is not a good bike for me) and the Raleigh MTB my neighbor gave me that I put on the basement trainer.
I was using my partner's Trek 7100 which is practically a clone of my 7200, so my thought was get a very similar (old/used) bike just for the trainer, but it could also be a backup bike.
A better trainer bike is great for indoors in winter, rainy weather, but doesn't help with some other goals...
I really never had an ebike in mind until @mathias loaned me his Ride1Up and wow, it's been really nice.
I showed it to my neighbor as he was headed out biking to work this morning and he said "I haven't tried one because I'm afraid I'll like it too much." and I 100% agree with that statement.
So I'm starting to rethink the second bike plan I had a week ago...
Then again, I am not a young man. Two people mentioned to me that an ebike can really help to get you out and on a bike if you're not in 100% health, have an injury, more tires than usual, etc.
Those are things I didn't think of. I've canceled a few rides due to my knee acting up. Typically biking does not bother it (stairs are difficult sometimes, especially this past weekend) but if my knee is acting up & I can ride with assist, that might help prevent further injury.
So, the "cheating" part. I started riding last year for a few reasons.
- To get exercise (physical health)
- To get outside more (metal health)
And I occasionally bike instead of using a car. (I'd like to do that more if possible.)
It seems possible to use an ebike and not consider it cheating. Cheating sounds weird, but like if my goal was to cycle for fitness opting out of pedaling with all my might or getting assist can feeling like cheating.
Damn, this ebike things is actually pretty cool. I did my normal ride in the cemetery without using the motor and my stats are pretty damn close to my acoustic rides.
I’m probably going to have a lot to say about it this week.
E-bike noob here! I'm asking help! What should I focus on the electric bicycle when buying one?
My latest blog post: VanSpoof - Prototype 1 - Hardware
https://mikecoats.com/van-spoof-prototype-1-part-1/
Let's look at building a prototype PCB for my VanSpoof project. I really want to get better at soldering SMD components, so I'm going to try to use as few through-hole parts as I can get away with.
My latest blog post: Reverse Engineering a VanMoof e-shifter – Part 2 – Decoding the Signals
https://mikecoats.com/vanmoof-eshifter-reverse-engineering-part-2/
Now we've tapped in to the wiring of a VanMoof e-shifter, let's work out the baud rate and format of the data being transmitted and which format of messages are being exchanged between it and the bike.
Migrating back here from my previous, now-defunct, account @nix@social.stlouist.com. if you know me please boost so I can reconnect with followers.
This is a good time for an #introduction I suppose.
I'm an #educator from #stl that firmly believes in decentralized self organization, such as #anarchism, #socialecology, #solarpunk, or #librarysocialism.
Also I'm a big #urbanism and #foss nerd and #ebike commuter. I'm very involved in the local #freestore and trying to help organize larger #postcapitalist ventures.
@mathiasx That makes sense. For my longer rides, that's what feels natural. I know 4 isn't sustainable for a long ride. 2 is. And 2 gets me a lot of what I need: fat burning and aerobic workout.
That's the great thing about the #ebike: it lets me tune my ride to suit the workout I need. If I want more zone 2, I tend to use more motor, particularly on hills. If I want 4, I use a lot less motor and fight like hell not to use more on hills.
So far, so good.
Starting to feel a little guilty that I can't get myself to ride two days in a row. I know, it's wise to let my body rest when it's tired. And yet I wanna be out there, burning more calories and getting stronger! #ebike
I wish I could do a 20 every day. Afterward, I'm just the right kind of spent where almost nothing can touch me. A cyclist's high, I suppose?
Also, the shower where I am now is so damn high pressure. Just... 
Great way to end a ride.
Been eating better too. Except, yesterday, I passed this pizza place on the bike trail that smelled AMAZING! So, yeah, I ordered some serious junk food from them for dinner. Worth it.
Getting stronger!
How I wish I had a deeeep soaking tub and a whisky to go with it right now, after that ride. #ebike
Apropos this: boy, does my ass HURT! #ebike
And here's the return trip. I question the calorie count as I used some more motor on the way home. That said, I still busted my ass so could be accurate.
This ride will more than pay for the Chipotle bowl I just had for a late lunch. I still have the return trip!
