See a lot of hate towards e-bikes, I myself use to be a hater until I actually tried one. All the points in the video are spot on, and most of the people who hate never tried it. As you mentioned. Riding an e-bike can be a breeze or hell, depending on the level of assistance you give and the trails and distance... You can put on the same level of workout, I love non-e roadbikes and MTBs and continue to riding them, find them they are way better in most circumstances (short climbs, when going above 25 km/h). But just try to keep up with someone on an e-bike where the gradient keeps going up and up for long distances... It's borderline funny how you end yourself trying to keep up with the others... So in the end there's no reason for the hate. If you don't like e-bikes don't buy one, but stop being obnoxious or feeling superior because you want to suffer more than others when going uphill. If they were so crappy they wouldn't be selling so many units.
I had been a life long cyclist and picked up a lung condition that stopped me in my tracks. I took to a motorbike for fun and dropped the bicycle. I've recently bought a Cannondale synapse Neo and I'm back. Back on a bike with peddles and I'm liberated. If you don't like them don't get one. I'm bloody glad they exist and the gravel bike is so similar to the old touring bikes I used over the years. :)
I have a Haibike MTB and am absolutely in love with it! I hear all the comments about how I’m “cheating” quite often. All the points you brought up are spot on about electric assist. It would be so hard to go back to a regular bike because electric bikes are so much fun and give me the chance to ride areas I wouldn’t normally ride.
No need to waste time defending ebikes or their riders. There will always be haters and those living in the past. If the reason for riding an ebike is good enough for you, its good enough period.
I’m an MTB guy with my Merida Big.nine with tons of mods...and recently I bought a Specialized Turbo Creo SL Comp Carbon the gravel version with DT Swiss wheels, all GRX, Schwalve tires and XTR pedals...and it comes with Future Shock 2.0 with 2cm of travel and the saddle is a S works Carbon with 2cm of travel too...it only weight 12,6 kg...I’m in love...what a Bike...! 😍🚀
Seems like the reactions of others are driven by the motivation of challenging personal limits of self-propelled power which I understand and respect. As a shout out to the peeps who may have different motivations such as commuting, nature appreciation over long distances etc as a egravel rider myself, I am not old, sick or that unfit, i could just never imagine using a standard road bike when trapped by office hours when I lack the desire to constantly drain/push my muscles to explore the limits of my human body. Electrification is the future.
I bought the a Cannondale Topstone Neo Lefty 3 in September and I LOVE it. I still do my (senior's) group rides on my Giant Defy road bike, but when I want to do some light trail and gravel roading riding I ride my Lefty 3.
Great video. You hit exactly the right reasons. I have the specialized creo for bad weather days or simple when I know I’m pushing myself beyond my limits. Then for the group rides and nice days I have the diverge which is effectively the same bike but without the motor. Wouldn’t have it any other way.
Bloody hell that is nice Tony. That you've even been able to buy both is awesome. Almost impossible to get the Turbo Creo in parts of Aust.....very envious!
@@gavanconroy8453 and to think I almost sold it!!! For a few weeks I somehow convinced myself that I didn’t need it…. Ha ha. Then after 2 weeks I really noticed how it complements my Diverge. It just one of those bikes that once you start a ride, you just don’t want to stop!
100% nobody wants to arrive at work completely soaked in sweat and exhausted 😂.. and to cool yourself down you need to wear light clothing and have your winter jacket on your backpack while getting wet from the outside when its raining 😅😅 i would rather take the ebike with a light rain jacket and functional clothing while riding and not sweating on your back from the backpack 😅 maybe i should figure out how to attach the backpack to the bike somehow but i hate these rigid bikebags 🤷♂️
Better video. 5 reasons your next Gravel bike should be a XC mountain bike. 1. It's better at what you bought a gravel bike for in the first place, going off the pavement. 2. It's more capable and more comfortable than a gravel bike. 3. You can still wear your lycra off road and not get made fun of. 4. You won't be on a bike that is slower on the road than a road bike and lower off road than a mountain bike. 5. you'll be ahead of the curve since that is what gravel bikes will be in a few years anyway.
I have a Cannondale Topstone Neo 4 eBike and find like you that on steep climbs on a gravelly, wet track the torque of Turbo and Sport can be too much and the back wheel slips, so I have to turn it down. It’s all part of learning how these bikes work.
Had so much fun riding my hybrid e-bike conversion along various trails when I first converted it - the motor turned a heavy commuter bike into a sturdy trail beast - unfortunately it's now relegated to full-time road commuting complete with mudguards and rack. An electric conversion can give an old but mechanically sound bike a new lease of life - though that gravel bike does look amazing.
All my cycling friends who have bought an e-bike have lost fitness, you might ride for longer (they usually don't), you might ride faster on average but they are not getting peak efforts anymore. The lose condition and then hate riding their regular bike so they just become dependent on it. E-bikes can be great fun, great for recovery rides and for those who are older or have a health issue they are a new lease of life but for everyone else who is already a cyclist - its like the devils candy.
it really depends on what you're looking for, if it's purely a cardio workout then i'd stick with a manual. If it's additional fun, longer rides without caning yourself, no problem with e.
@@riproaringblues actual i get my HR higher on an e-bike. I think it's kind of like motopacing in that regard. But I feel you do loose power. In other words it moves the needle from being power limited to HR limited (but I am 59 now).
@@jpravetz hi jim, i’m just a year behind you on the age scale. I don’t monitor my heart but generally feel I’m having a work out while commuting/ casual cycling. It was the e-bikes that got me back in to cycling after 25 years of not. I just enjoy all aspects of getting out on the bike, the cycling itself just being one of them.
I ride my stationary bike at home for fitness, but live on the top of a massive hill..... In a beautiful sunny part of Australia. The thought of riding a bike back up the hill at the end of a long ride outside (which I would actually prefer) is enough to stop me doing it at all. An EBike though changes the equation. Booster up the hill at the end of the ride - now we are talking
My e-gravel bike(s) are my road bikes. Don't ride off road, just roads, paved or not. Isn't that what "gravel" bikes are for? Too many think they're drop-bar MTB's IMHO. As an old fart who used to shift down to that "granny gear" when the road tilted up steeply now I just dial-up some assist. Otherwise I ride 'em without help and love the 38 mm slicks so I don't have to worry about crappy roads, paved or not. I fear no climb or ride too long...there's always that gentle push uphill or that steady wheel I can follow back home if I've overdone it or there's a stiff headwind. If I was 30 years younger, nah...but at close to 70 my "acoustic" bikes are going away except for the vintage ones for events like L'Eroica.
I agree, but as you shown, the gravel bike in forest on the mountain type trails with steep inclines are struggle, where mountain trail e-bike with grippier tires and shock absorbers would go up much better. Still, with more practice and alternate tires is achievable. So, gravel e-bikes are over all better for roads and trails in the U.K. I got Boardman ADV 8.9E.
Alan: Yes, people do talk a lot of rubbish - it's horses for courses when it comes down to it. My rides had been becoming harder and thus more restricted over the last two or three years, so when I hit 90 this year I finally got e-assist. Enjoying my rides once again - it was a good decision.
Electric bikes allow people to ride outside of their skill level. I just tried an egravel bike. It stresses me out in the city. I can not just chill and spin a bit… it always gave me a big unpleasant kick in speed. And there are already enough unaware people out there. With E-bikes the unaware and unskilled will create even more road hazards.
Fun speed. Have that bike absolutely brilliant. My spokes recently gave out on the rear though. Needs a better rear wheel. Brakes and suspension are fab.
People against e-bikes don't have to get them and they will be left behind once all their friends get it. For me, e-bikes make biking more fun and the impossible possible.
We purchased this Vivi 27.5” electric bike and a Tentaquil 26” electric bike for our 13 and 14 year olds. th-cam.com/users/postUgkxUiL0GnyDjP32RJdd660sP8mZk4CRLTCJ The Vivi was much easier to put together. With the Vivi, there was a video link to assist with assembly which made the process easier to follow (we did put the handlebars on upside down, but it was a quick and easy fix). With the Tentaquil, the assembly was not as simple to follow, but after we messaged the company for an assembly video, it was easier and they did respond quickly. The other major differences were that the Vivi has a grip throttle on the right handle (like a motorcycle) and the Tentaquil has a push throttle that you use your thumb to activate. The monitors were also different, so if you’re looking for something specific in terms of changing the bikes functions, pay attention to what the monitor offers. We were really impressed with the overall quality and functionality of both bikes, but if you’re looking for more power and an easier assembly, definitely go with the Vivi!
The people who say negative things about ebikes should try one first. And you know what the first reaction is - why did I wait so long - foolish pride?
I get that you guys need money to pay the bills and I'm glad you are approached by bike manufacturers, but sometimes you really need to learn to say "no". Same applies for all the other channels *cough GCN* that have become the marketing arm of the bike industry.
That looks a bit of a bastard climb !!!!! I doubt if I'd even attempt it even on a 1x12 MTB..... An eBike seems to be where I'm looking at for a celebration of being 60 years old......I'm less than 3 years away from that ? Hmmmm ?
An interesting fact about e-biking in Canada. E-bikes are not allowed on non-motorized trails. Which means they can only be used on trails where ATVs and snowmobiles are allowed. This however does not stop e-bikers from riding on same trails with dog walkers because there is nobody to enforce the law. ATVs cannot enter non-motorized trails because cannot fit in the openings but e-bikes can enter on trails where regular bikes can. Technically the law is for those very few disciplined riders.
@@arbjful I am not surprised because of the legal implications of the "motor" description. Imagine if you crash on a e-bike and you need to go to OCA (Ontario Cycling Association) for insurance or if you hurt someone while riding a e-bike and you hope your OCA would cover some expenses. I can see all kind of implications with this new trend. I wound be surprised if OCA would charge a premium price for someone who wants to get insurance from OCA for e-bike, or not cover e-bikes all together. I doubt OCA would cover an e-bike crash today in 30CAD per year someone needs to pay as a cycling club affiliate. It raises one valid point though: these e-bikes make unfit people ride faster than fit people, which could potentially mean less skilled cyclists going faster than skilled ones. This I believe is a valid concern especially if you show up at a fast group ride with an e-bike. I know GCN endorses using e-bikes for group rides but I believe that if triathlon bikes are not allowed for group rides e-bike shouldn't be either. I guess what I try to say is that the legal system is not prepared yet to handle e-bikes but I can see some hurdles in the future for those who own one.
@@L.O.K.I In Canada, e-bike regulations and retrictions are governed by the provincial government. In Ontario e-bikes are allowed on non-motorized trails, paths and bike lanes unless they are expressly prohibited by the region of municipality. I'm not sure what region of Ontario you ride in, but your municipality may have outright banned their use on some paths. I do agree that e-bikes can allow riders to go faster, but in Canada e-bikes only offer the rider assistance upto a speed of 32km/h. In my experience if you are riding an e-bike in a fast group (30+km/h avg) the members of that group will allow an e-bike as long as they ride at the back of the group on long climbs and are considerate riders. Of course every group is different and entitled to their opinions, but I know several 55+ riding groups that have allowed e-bikes because they help their members keep riding. IMO e-bike riding is better than no riding at all.
the knly way to convince me to buy an ebike is to standardise all of the mounts, plugs, etc.. so that in 15+ years i can still get parts for it... otherwise, your $18k ebike cannot be serviced after 2 years
If the presenter couldn’t get up that climb on a non electronic bike, he needs to get some proper training. That climb is a piece of cake. Come try some of the climbs we have in the Purbecks
So the gist of this video is, 'I don't want to be limited by my ability'? So just skip the pedals and go have real fun on an eMoto, not much difference but longer range, more fun and less chance of 'missing your meeting', except of course you want to ride on non motorized trails with a motor, ahhh.
I have a 35 miles round trip commute I do on a normally aspirated Cannondsle Topstone Apex fitted with 37c tires, rear rack and loaded panniers. It’s not much of slog, I can’t the point of riding to work daily if I don’t get a bit of workout in. I can only see an electric bike if you’re on a long trip or tour and not very fit but trying to keep up with a fit spouse or group.
If there's one thing we out-of-shape first worlders *don't* need, it's yet another motor to help us avoid exercise. Sure, they're great if someone is disabled or it's the only way someone will get on a bike. But for the rest of us? There's the problem of waste. It's going to be hard to fix those e-bikes after a few years. Companies will go out of business, others won't support their product. They're more complex than regular bikes, so Randy at the local bike store will throw up his hands when we bring one in. And as col lideus says in his comment, the making of electronics and batteries is not the most environmentally friendly industry. Plus you've got to charge the damn thing, deal with the ;problems that complicated devices always have ... they're heavy ... ugh. Do we need the hassle? My borther-in-law let me ride one of his e-bikes. Yes, it was kind of fun and I can see the apepal. But I don't need it, and riding my regular bike is more fun.
is there a difference between pedal assist and ebike? im interested in buying sth that's a simple assist for steep hills, but i dont want all electric.. im confused
zimmerzoom: You can just switch the power on for the hills if that's all you want. All e-bikes are heavier than a normal bike though - how much depends on the model - so it can be harder work unpowered.
The e-bike industry is still in its infancy. But it’s also moving fast. I think I’d really like an e-bike, but I think in a year the prices and weights of the bikes will fall and performance will improve.
seems to be too much motivated by the industry marketing; go out without support and enjoy it better way. no need for e-support if you are not disabled. Physically - then sure, mentally - no excuses ;-)>
@@arbjful lol 🤣 I have lots of Bikes and options to ride. Carbon titanium alloy steel road gravel. Hardtail and full sus mountain bikes. I ride between 160 & 200miles a week. Lately, I've been taking the e-mountain or e-grave/road bike out, why? Because they are simply more fun, and usually allow me to ride harder and longer in the time I have to ride my bike. I'm faster than your average rider. Yet I ride e-bikes, have you had the chance to have a proper test ride on one. ?
In my city there is lots of climbing even in the downtown. So, riding becomes a big challange (torture) and I know I'm corrupting my chain on pacing. If I had money to spend, I would buy one. By the way, that terrain is for a cross motor not for a poor gentle e.bike I think. You destroyed that lovely piece of art.
Can't buy of these anyway. For trail riding, I'd rather have a $3900 2022 Honda Trail 125 for many good reasons. I still own 5 bicycles and 4 motorcycles as well. Slam dunk decision.
I disagree with you on the "get to the good bits and get more miles in" as an excuse. Yes, it will do that. But a gravel bike isn't that much slower than a road bike. I am sure you are faster than I am and it may have a bigger impact on you, but I only average about 1km per hour slower on my gravel bike than my road bike. I also don't climb that much slower on the gravel bike either. Granted, that can add up but it isn't that much on a ride of only an hour or two.
Nice review, but I wonder what’s the long term maintenance of the e-bikes. And what if the motor fails during your ride? How difficult is it to pedal without the motor assistance?
I have both ebikes and gravel bikes. I quite often cycle my e bike with the motor off to extend range or get fitter. It’s only the additional weight that adds any difficulty.
Okay someone need to throw out the imperial system asap.. spent a good 3 minutes google searching how much 5000 pounds is in kg, thought it seemed a little much. realized way too late that we're talking cash
Absolutely spot on! ratings 83 + / 62- .... I guess 62 people haven't ridden one....further, steeper, fitter, more fun and riding much more with greater enjoyment...
Peoples knee jerk reaction, your cheating ,,,, Then when you explain your story you get comments like oh that’s amazing. Just try not to judge , you don’t know the riders story . Whatever it maybe .
Really don't like the mountain bike frame. I would expect gravel to be able to do endurance or touring and the low back is like, no. That frame, mountain bike. That commercial, mountain bike commercial. Bad cannondale.
I also dislike the traffic but if I had to ride 20 - 30 km just to get to any decent trail, I'd rather pack my bike into a car, get to the destination much faster than on an ebike and then that way maximize my time on the trail :)
Will never understand why someone needs to ride a road bike on a muddy gravel road. Like you want your death wish? Then you want it electrified too? Sounds like rich people who've got too much money and time on their hands....notice how us poor people can't buy a new bike? Or prey tell...fucking tubes and tires and chains cause of a shortage? Fuck me!
Of course ebikes are usefull for the people who not allways want the sport in bike riding when commuting. Its so obvious, but the "im a pro cyclist" ego guys cant handle that bikes have a purpose besides riding in circles 😂
£5k….. 😂 can’t you show bikes that actually affordable When you show it on the hill and it fails…. My £600 gravel bike can fail … you should have showed it motor on and off.
I cannot believe I just saw this. If you use an ebike to replace your car for commuting I agree, fully. If you use it because you carry kids around in a trailer, sure. If you are old or have a physical condition...fine. Although I would rather ride what I can with my own legs rather than using a motor to compensate. But if you just want to “ride further” or “get fitter” then ditch that bloody battery and spend the same money on something better, or even two bikes. Ebiking has absolutely FREAKING NOTHING to do with sport. If you can’t climb a steep gradient change the cassette, put better tires, improve your technique and get fitter. Fair means guys...fair means! Ebike are a product of a lazy society where we want all and now! The fun is trying harder and harder until you manage on your legs...not pushing a button and being pulled up!
so... you’re saying dirt bikes or motorcycles aren’t fun either? or driving a nice car? because all you do is push a few buttons on those with your hands or legs.
@@fliptight no, I’m saying that an ebike for the purpose of doing “sport” is no different to doping! The issue is that we live in a lazy society where we want everything and now and we don’t want to invest any effort on it. Take the usual diets that come up every spring on how to lose weight fast. That is just not the right approach. Same thing with ebikes. Our bodies need the effort and the “resistance training” to be healthy. Don’t come and tell me that with an ebike you can still do big efforts because that’s only true if you turn the motor off! People don’t want to train a bit or are not ready to accept the fact that they cannot climb so steep without a motor. Again if you are old or have some conditions or your are commuting to work or...more than welcome. But if you jump on one of those things to do sport that’s just pure laziness
@@paolocapozzi927 first of all, i agree with you that we live in a lazy society. not sure if you live in the U.S., but there are definitely plenty of obese people over here. but that is precisely the reason you should not be anti-ebike. ebikes get people out and moving that otherwise would still be sitting on the couch. why? well first off, intensity is only one factor in getting fit. as a beginner, it is actually the least important factor. the most important factor in the beginning is consistency and committing to something for the long-term. if something is not fun to a person, they are much less likely to stick with it, and hence they don't exercise long enough to get fit at all. i don't know if you remember what it's like to not be fit, but doing exercise that feels very intense to a person (relative to their fitness or lack of), is NOT fun. for some people, they are so unfit that in order for the intensity to not be an excruciating, they either have to bike very very slow or walk. and i think you will agree with me that biking at very slow speeds, much less walking, is NOT fun exercise. if they're not enjoying it even a little bit they are less likely to stick with and they go back to the couch. but you know what's fun even at a low intensity? e-biking. SPEED makes things fun. you can't tell me it doesn't because otherwise there is no point to biking at all --even regular bikes. if intensity is the only factor that mattered to people in getting fit the only exercise anyone should do is running. i mean, why bother cheating with a device that has wheels, gears, and suspension and makes going faster easier? that's mechanical doping! under your logic, everyone should literally be using only their own legs via running and NOT pushing pedals with wheels and gears to get pulled up. lastly, i think you may have a misunderstanding on how some ebikes work, specially if you never tried one yourself. i agree with you there are ebikes that have a throttle and people can just push a button and do absolutely no work at all. but the e-bike mentioned in this video is a class 1 ebike meaning it has no throttle. all it has is pedal assist. on a good bike, the way it feels is as if you are biking on a nice day with lots of tailwind. this has no effect on how much effort you can put into pedaling. you can go still choose to go very intense on an ebike the only difference is that you're going much faster.
@@fliptight everyone starts somewhere and that somewhere is no fitness at all for everyone. The first time I went running I struggled to finish 5km. Many years after I did my first ultramarathon. But in the meantime I did not buy e-shoes (I know they don’t exist) because it was not fun. I wanted to do only what my body allowed me to do. But I knew that training will bring my limits further and further. You know the story of the first climb of the Dent du Geant? Mummery (not a nobody, he was one of the best during his times) tried it. Realized it was not possible without using ladders and left a note in the rock saying “not possible by fair means”. And went back home. Then the Italians arrived and set up a siege to the mountain and got to the top by just bolting tons of ladders and strings to the rocks. They barely touched the rocks but got to the top. That is the immense difference between getting to the top of a mountain and climbing a mountain. Now that’s the same with biking. If you are that unfit and that lazy at the same time that you don’t even want to go for a 10km ride flat, or even 5, then I’m sorry but an ebike is not the solution. An ebike will not change your mind set. That is the problem. If I know a group of cyclist if very fast I don’t use an ebike because this way I can keep up with them. Either I can do it or I train to be able to. And if I don’t want to train then I just do something else! It’s a matter of principle and most people are so lazy that they don’t care about this. But I strongly believe that an ebike used for doing sport is not fun. The issue is that people are LAZY! Oh an concerning the ebike is not so easy as I think. That thing has a motor. It will make your ride much less tiring. Unless you do what you should have done long time ago. Throw away that motor and do a favor to yourself and to the environment as well!
@@paolocapozzi927 again, I agree with you that people are lazy. I just think its a little close-minded that ebikes can't be a solution to get started with exercise. Plenty of people do and have lost weight on ebikes. so I take it that all you do is run right? Because you shouldn't ride a normal bicycle at all that's just being lazy. Why make exercise easier with wheels and gears. Everyone should do themselves a favor and throw their bicycles away the only exercise anyone should do is running. Making normal bikes also causes pollution. Using only your feet doesn't.
It will if the rider has a knee problem, but still loves to ride, e bikes are a boon to such people, I think it's a good thing that people are able to get out and ride
@@arbjfulthat assumption is often made but not realistic. If the rider has a knee problem, smaller gears will provide him with a better solution than a heavy bike. Also in many cases adjusting the rider’s position to alleviate his knee joints will have a far greater positive effect that a couple of watts worth of support (which will not help if the loads on his knee are causing him pain). An e-bike can be a solution for less mobile people but the strain of navigating around an unexpected obstacle in a knee-jerk reaction must be taken into account by both the salesperson and the rider.
This is great for lazy and out of shape people. Get a bike rack and take your car to the trail, or just ride the measly 30km. We have been doing this with mountain bikes for decades.
yes and innovation for transportation has also been evolving for decades. electric vehicles are the future. analog bikes will still be around, they are each fun in their own ways.
They suck big time. Get a motor bike. That has nothing to do with cycling anymore , it's just another product that has to be sold. You are just an 'ad man', You are a shill, You are a fraud. Get off the channel.
I've tried Komoot several times, route planning is garbage... It might be OK for sheep wanting to ride other peoples routes, but for planning, it's absolute crapola!!!
Blimey 😅 This one divided you guys...
Ha hahaha
See a lot of hate towards e-bikes, I myself use to be a hater until I actually tried one. All the points in the video are spot on, and most of the people who hate never tried it. As you mentioned. Riding an e-bike can be a breeze or hell, depending on the level of assistance you give and the trails and distance... You can put on the same level of workout, I love non-e roadbikes and MTBs and continue to riding them, find them they are way better in most circumstances (short climbs, when going above 25 km/h). But just try to keep up with someone on an e-bike where the gradient keeps going up and up for long distances... It's borderline funny how you end yourself trying to keep up with the others... So in the end there's no reason for the hate. If you don't like e-bikes don't buy one, but stop being obnoxious or feeling superior because you want to suffer more than others when going uphill. If they were so crappy they wouldn't be selling so many units.
I had been a life long cyclist and picked up a lung condition that stopped me in my tracks. I took to a motorbike for fun and dropped the bicycle. I've recently bought a Cannondale synapse Neo and I'm back. Back on a bike with peddles and I'm liberated. If you don't like them don't get one. I'm bloody glad they exist and the gravel bike is so similar to the old touring bikes I used over the years. :)
I have a Haibike MTB and am absolutely in love with it! I hear all the comments about how I’m “cheating” quite often. All the points you brought up are spot on about electric assist. It would be so hard to go back to a regular bike because electric bikes are so much fun and give me the chance to ride areas I wouldn’t normally ride.
No need to waste time defending ebikes or their riders. There will always be haters and those living in the past. If the reason for riding an ebike is good enough for you, its good enough period.
I’m an MTB guy with my Merida Big.nine with tons of mods...and recently I bought a Specialized Turbo Creo SL Comp Carbon the gravel version with DT Swiss wheels, all GRX, Schwalve tires and XTR pedals...and it comes with Future Shock 2.0 with 2cm of travel and the saddle is a S works Carbon with 2cm of travel too...it only weight 12,6 kg...I’m in love...what a Bike...! 😍🚀
Seems like the reactions of others are driven by the motivation of challenging personal limits of self-propelled power which I understand and respect. As a shout out to the peeps who may have different motivations such as commuting, nature appreciation over long distances etc as a egravel rider myself, I am not old, sick or that unfit, i could just never imagine using a standard road bike when trapped by office hours when I lack the desire to constantly drain/push my muscles to explore the limits of my human body. Electrification is the future.
I bought the a Cannondale Topstone Neo Lefty 3 in September and I LOVE it. I still do my (senior's) group rides on my Giant Defy road bike, but when I want to do some light trail and gravel roading riding I ride my Lefty 3.
Great video. You hit exactly the right reasons. I have the specialized creo for bad weather days or simple when I know I’m pushing myself beyond my limits. Then for the group rides and nice days I have the diverge which is effectively the same bike but without the motor. Wouldn’t have it any other way.
Bloody hell that is nice Tony. That you've even been able to buy both is awesome. Almost impossible to get the Turbo Creo in parts of Aust.....very envious!
@@gavanconroy8453 and to think I almost sold it!!! For a few weeks I somehow convinced myself that I didn’t need it…. Ha ha. Then after 2 weeks I really noticed how it complements my Diverge. It just one of those bikes that once you start a ride, you just don’t want to stop!
I’ll be going electric for my commute, save the legs for a big weekend non assisted effort and running.
These bikes have their place.
100% nobody wants to arrive at work completely soaked in sweat and exhausted 😂.. and to cool yourself down you need to wear light clothing and have your winter jacket on your backpack while getting wet from the outside when its raining 😅😅 i would rather take the ebike with a light rain jacket and functional clothing while riding and not sweating on your back from the backpack 😅 maybe i should figure out how to attach the backpack to the bike somehow but i hate these rigid bikebags 🤷♂️
Better video. 5 reasons your next Gravel bike should be a XC mountain bike. 1. It's better at what you bought a gravel bike for in the first place, going off the pavement. 2. It's more capable and more comfortable than a gravel bike. 3. You can still wear your lycra off road and not get made fun of. 4. You won't be on a bike that is slower on the road than a road bike and lower off road than a mountain bike. 5. you'll be ahead of the curve since that is what gravel bikes will be in a few years anyway.
Excellent video thank you. Not to mention the energy on an analogue bike to keep trying a different approach all in one outing. 👍🏻
I have a Cannondale Topstone Neo 4 eBike and find like you that on steep climbs on a gravelly, wet track the torque of Turbo and Sport can be too much and the back wheel slips, so I have to turn it down. It’s all part of learning how these bikes work.
Had so much fun riding my hybrid e-bike conversion along various trails when I first converted it - the motor turned a heavy commuter bike into a sturdy trail beast - unfortunately it's now relegated to full-time road commuting complete with mudguards and rack. An electric conversion can give an old but mechanically sound bike a new lease of life - though that gravel bike does look amazing.
Anything with two wheels and pedals is awesome. We're all on the same team
Absolutely fantastic video on e-bikes, you did a wonderful job dispelling the myths and misinformation!
All my cycling friends who have bought an e-bike have lost fitness, you might ride for longer (they usually don't), you might ride faster on average but they are not getting peak efforts anymore. The lose condition and then hate riding their regular bike so they just become dependent on it. E-bikes can be great fun, great for recovery rides and for those who are older or have a health issue they are a new lease of life but for everyone else who is already a cyclist - its like the devils candy.
Same story everywhere bro.
it really depends on what you're looking for, if it's purely a cardio workout then i'd stick with a manual. If it's additional fun, longer rides without caning yourself, no problem with e.
@@riproaringblues actual i get my HR higher on an e-bike. I think it's kind of like motopacing in that regard. But I feel you do loose power. In other words it moves the needle from being power limited to HR limited (but I am 59 now).
@@jpravetz hi jim, i’m just a year behind you on the age scale. I don’t monitor my heart but generally feel I’m having a work out while commuting/ casual cycling. It was the e-bikes that got me back in to cycling after 25 years of not. I just enjoy all aspects of getting out on the bike, the cycling itself just being one of them.
I ride my stationary bike at home for fitness, but live on the top of a massive hill..... In a beautiful sunny part of Australia. The thought of riding a bike back up the hill at the end of a long ride outside (which I would actually prefer) is enough to stop me doing it at all. An EBike though changes the equation. Booster up the hill at the end of the ride - now we are talking
My e-gravel bike(s) are my road bikes. Don't ride off road, just roads, paved or not. Isn't that what "gravel" bikes are for? Too many think they're drop-bar MTB's IMHO. As an old fart who used to shift down to that "granny gear" when the road tilted up steeply now I just dial-up some assist. Otherwise I ride 'em without help and love the 38 mm slicks so I don't have to worry about crappy roads, paved or not. I fear no climb or ride too long...there's always that gentle push uphill or that steady wheel I can follow back home if I've overdone it or there's a stiff headwind. If I was 30 years younger, nah...but at close to 70 my "acoustic" bikes are going away except for the vintage ones for events like L'Eroica.
I agree, but as you shown, the gravel bike in forest on the mountain type trails with steep inclines are struggle, where mountain trail e-bike with grippier tires and shock absorbers would go up much better.
Still, with more practice and alternate tires is achievable.
So, gravel e-bikes are over all better for roads and trails in the U.K. I got Boardman ADV 8.9E.
i'm and e-biker and love it. Fantastic on the hills, allowing long and enjoyable rides. But, in this video it's obvious you need better tyres?
I believe your tires let you down on this climb! Not aggressive enough tread!
e-bikes give the chance for disabled riders to get out there and have fun with able bodied folks. +1 from me.
Alan: Yes, people do talk a lot of rubbish - it's horses for courses when it comes down to it. My rides had been becoming harder and thus more restricted over the last two or three years, so when I hit 90 this year I finally got e-assist. Enjoying my rides once again - it was a good decision.
Electric bikes allow people to ride outside of their skill level. I just tried an egravel bike. It stresses me out in the city. I can not just chill and spin a bit… it always gave me a big unpleasant kick in speed. And there are already enough unaware people out there. With E-bikes the unaware and unskilled will create even more road hazards.
Loving it!!
Fun speed. Have that bike absolutely brilliant. My spokes recently gave out on the rear though. Needs a better rear wheel. Brakes and suspension are fab.
Mid-drive motors need an IGH.
Ebike brand names - take heed - get rid ot RD's.
And thumb throttles need to be made legal.
@Wooly Chewbakker no
9:14 "Let the motor do the torquing" I see what you did there.
People against e-bikes don't have to get them and they will be left behind once all their friends get it. For me, e-bikes make biking more fun and the impossible possible.
We purchased this Vivi 27.5” electric bike and a Tentaquil 26” electric bike for our 13 and 14 year olds. th-cam.com/users/postUgkxUiL0GnyDjP32RJdd660sP8mZk4CRLTCJ The Vivi was much easier to put together. With the Vivi, there was a video link to assist with assembly which made the process easier to follow (we did put the handlebars on upside down, but it was a quick and easy fix). With the Tentaquil, the assembly was not as simple to follow, but after we messaged the company for an assembly video, it was easier and they did respond quickly. The other major differences were that the Vivi has a grip throttle on the right handle (like a motorcycle) and the Tentaquil has a push throttle that you use your thumb to activate. The monitors were also different, so if you’re looking for something specific in terms of changing the bikes functions, pay attention to what the monitor offers. We were really impressed with the overall quality and functionality of both bikes, but if you’re looking for more power and an easier assembly, definitely go with the Vivi!
The people who say negative things about ebikes should try one first.
And you know what the first reaction is - why did I wait so long - foolish pride?
Thumbs up.i love ebikes. More fun in the same time
One of best review I’ve seen on a bike, great work! Keep it up CW
11:22 "An absolute BLAST...." That the whole point of cycling.
I get that you guys need money to pay the bills and I'm glad you are approached by bike manufacturers, but sometimes you really need to learn to say "no". Same applies for all the other channels *cough GCN* that have become the marketing arm of the bike industry.
Why what's wrong with ebike??
That looks a bit of a bastard climb !!!!! I doubt if I'd even attempt it even on a 1x12 MTB.....
An eBike seems to be where I'm looking at for a celebration of being 60 years old......I'm less than 3 years away from that ? Hmmmm ?
why wait....that's what you will be thinking when your 60...
@@johnbeedham3010 God, I'm tempted !!!!
An interesting fact about e-biking in Canada. E-bikes are not allowed on non-motorized trails. Which means they can only be used on trails where ATVs and snowmobiles are allowed. This however does not stop e-bikers from riding on same trails with dog walkers because there is nobody to enforce the law. ATVs cannot enter non-motorized trails because cannot fit in the openings but e-bikes can enter on trails where regular bikes can. Technically the law is for those very few disciplined riders.
They should allow e bikes in normal trails, I don't understand why they don't
@@arbjful I am not surprised because of the legal implications of the "motor" description. Imagine if you crash on a e-bike and you need to go to OCA (Ontario Cycling Association) for insurance or if you hurt someone while riding a e-bike and you hope your OCA would cover some expenses. I can see all kind of implications with this new trend. I wound be surprised if OCA would charge a premium price for someone who wants to get insurance from OCA for e-bike, or not cover e-bikes all together. I doubt OCA would cover an e-bike crash today in 30CAD per year someone needs to pay as a cycling club affiliate. It raises one valid point though: these e-bikes make unfit people ride faster than fit people, which could potentially mean less skilled cyclists going faster than skilled ones. This I believe is a valid concern especially if you show up at a fast group ride with an e-bike. I know GCN endorses using e-bikes for group rides but I believe that if triathlon bikes are not allowed for group rides e-bike shouldn't be either. I guess what I try to say is that the legal system is not prepared yet to handle e-bikes but I can see some hurdles in the future for those who own one.
@@L.O.K.I In Canada, e-bike regulations and retrictions are governed by the provincial government. In Ontario e-bikes are allowed on non-motorized trails, paths and bike lanes unless they are expressly prohibited by the region of municipality. I'm not sure what region of Ontario you ride in, but your municipality may have outright banned their use on some paths. I do agree that e-bikes can allow riders to go faster, but in Canada e-bikes only offer the rider assistance upto a speed of 32km/h. In my experience if you are riding an e-bike in a fast group (30+km/h avg) the members of that group will allow an e-bike as long as they ride at the back of the group on long climbs and are considerate riders. Of course every group is different and entitled to their opinions, but I know several 55+ riding groups that have allowed e-bikes because they help their members keep riding. IMO e-bike riding is better than no riding at all.
damn..I didnt know this.
the knly way to convince me to buy an ebike is to standardise all of the mounts, plugs, etc.. so that in 15+ years i can still get parts for it... otherwise, your $18k ebike cannot be serviced after 2 years
I love ❤️ my emtb but always want more range without carrying two batteries or more!
If the presenter couldn’t get up that climb on a non electronic bike, he needs to get some proper training. That climb is a piece of cake. Come try some of the climbs we have in the Purbecks
So the gist of this video is, 'I don't want to be limited by my ability'? So just skip the pedals and go have real fun on an eMoto, not much difference but longer range, more fun and less chance of 'missing your meeting', except of course you want to ride on non motorized trails with a motor, ahhh.
I have a 35 miles round trip commute I do on a normally aspirated Cannondsle Topstone Apex fitted with 37c tires, rear rack and loaded panniers. It’s not much of slog, I can’t the point of riding to work daily if I don’t get a bit of workout in.
I can only see an electric bike if you’re on a long trip or tour and not very fit but trying to keep up with a fit spouse or group.
If you don't like electric bikes, why are you here?
Nice. You can now keep pace with the serious amateurs even pros. On the Road 100km becomes possible easily. Cheers.
If there's one thing we out-of-shape first worlders *don't* need, it's yet another motor to help us avoid exercise. Sure, they're great if someone is disabled or it's the only way someone will get on a bike. But for the rest of us?
There's the problem of waste. It's going to be hard to fix those e-bikes after a few years. Companies will go out of business, others won't support their product. They're more complex than regular bikes, so Randy at the local bike store will throw up his hands when we bring one in.
And as col lideus says in his comment, the making of electronics and batteries is not the most environmentally friendly industry.
Plus you've got to charge the damn thing, deal with the ;problems that complicated devices always have ... they're heavy ... ugh. Do we need the hassle?
My borther-in-law let me ride one of his e-bikes. Yes, it was kind of fun and I can see the apepal. But I don't need it, and riding my regular bike is more fun.
is there a difference between pedal assist and ebike? im interested in buying sth that's a simple assist for steep hills, but i dont want all electric.. im confused
zimmerzoom: You can just switch the power on for the hills if that's all you want. All e-bikes are heavier than a normal bike though - how much depends on the model - so it can be harder work unpowered.
@@vincekerrigan8300 cool. Thanks so much. Have fun stay safe
Wow, it weighs 5,000 pounds? That's crazy!!
Oh that is beautiful, I really want to sit on that bench.
He pronounces „th“ like a German - like a „z“. Makes me feel good. Greetings from a German.
The e-bike industry is still in its infancy. But it’s also moving fast. I think I’d really like an e-bike, but I think in a year the prices and weights of the bikes will fall and performance will improve.
If you need or want assistance then do it. I don't and probably won't but to each their own.
I don't understand the problem people have with an E-bike - if it gets more people out, is that bad? No....
My main fitness is bodybuilding. So I like saving my legs a bit.
seems to be too much motivated by the industry marketing; go out without support and enjoy it better way. no need for e-support if you are not disabled. Physically - then sure, mentally - no excuses ;-)>
I absolutely love my Specialized Creo, it's a total blast on or offroad. Definitely the future, why are people are still buying Donkey bikes 🤔. 🤣🤣
Cause its fun riding under your own power, un-assisted
@@arbjful lol 🤣 I have lots of Bikes and options to ride. Carbon titanium alloy steel road gravel. Hardtail and full sus mountain bikes. I ride between 160 & 200miles a week. Lately, I've been taking the e-mountain or e-grave/road bike out, why? Because they are simply more fun, and usually allow me to ride harder and longer in the time I have to ride my bike. I'm faster than your average rider. Yet I ride e-bikes, have you had the chance to have a proper test ride on one. ?
@@arbjful I agree, thats why I sold my car and always walk. No assisted anything for this lug.
Because they like "cycling"
In my city there is lots of climbing even in the downtown. So, riding becomes a big challange (torture) and I know I'm corrupting my chain on pacing. If I had money to spend, I would buy one. By the way, that terrain is for a cross motor not for a poor gentle e.bike I think. You destroyed that lovely piece of art.
Can't buy of these anyway. For trail riding, I'd rather have a $3900 2022 Honda Trail 125 for many good reasons. I still own 5 bicycles and 4 motorcycles as well. Slam dunk decision.
I disagree with you on the "get to the good bits and get more miles in" as an excuse. Yes, it will do that. But a gravel bike isn't that much slower than a road bike. I am sure you are faster than I am and it may have a bigger impact on you, but I only average about 1km per hour slower on my gravel bike than my road bike. I also don't climb that much slower on the gravel bike either. Granted, that can add up but it isn't that much on a ride of only an hour or two.
Put it on an e channel! Who cares about watts when you're bike makes them!?
When are gravel bikes going to get suspension forks?
Great bike, great price!
Nice review, but I wonder what’s the long term maintenance of the e-bikes. And what if the motor fails during your ride? How difficult is it to pedal without the motor assistance?
I have both ebikes and gravel bikes. I quite often cycle my e bike with the motor off to extend range or get fitter. It’s only the additional weight that adds any difficulty.
Okay someone need to throw out the imperial system asap.. spent a good 3 minutes google searching how much 5000 pounds is in kg, thought it seemed a little much. realized way too late that we're talking cash
So only good for short rides?
You need a MTB for that incline
Absolutely spot on! ratings 83 + / 62- .... I guess 62 people haven't ridden one....further, steeper, fitter, more fun and riding much more with greater enjoyment...
This is nothing more than a full suspension e-MTB with a road bike's handle bar. I thought gravels were roadbikes with off road tyres, right?
Peoples knee jerk reaction, your cheating ,,,,
Then when you explain your story you get comments like oh that’s amazing.
Just try not to judge , you don’t know the riders story .
Whatever it maybe .
Keep it up and I give this channel 6 months.
Well, I disagree. Keep it up and I give this channel many many years.
Lets see the thumbs down on this one.
@@petrub27 I think I'd better add that I've been riding an e-bike for 10 years now due to a chronic illness, so I've given a thumbs up.
Really don't like the mountain bike frame. I would expect gravel to be able to do endurance or touring and the low back is like, no. That frame, mountain bike. That commercial, mountain bike commercial. Bad cannondale.
That's a sweet bike
Is that Caesars camp nr Fleet
"should be electric"? oh come on ... are you serious?
I also dislike the traffic but if I had to ride 20 - 30 km just to get to any decent trail, I'd rather pack my bike into a car, get to the destination much faster than on an ebike and then that way maximize my time on the trail :)
Range Range and Range is a problem on a 100 mile gravel ride
Lol kinda looks like the gravel ebike failed going up that hill
Bit surprised at the number of dislikes on this video.
How much!?
Leith Hill?
Each to their own. Just not for me....yet.
Will never understand why someone needs to ride a road bike on a muddy gravel road. Like you want your death wish? Then you want it electrified too? Sounds like rich people who've got too much money and time on their hands....notice how us poor people can't buy a new bike? Or prey tell...fucking tubes and tires and chains cause of a shortage? Fuck me!
whoa. you may have issues worse than not being able to buy a bike.
Of course ebikes are usefull for the people who not allways want the sport in bike riding when commuting. Its so obvious, but the "im a pro cyclist" ego guys cant handle that bikes have a purpose besides riding in circles 😂
Perhaps just get an emtb?
£5k….. 😂 can’t you show bikes that actually affordable
When you show it on the hill and it fails…. My £600 gravel bike can fail … you should have showed it motor on and off.
I have no interest in an e-gravel bike, but I still enjoyed the video. It's a like from me.
that fork is sooo weird
Or you could ride a mountain bike.
I cannot believe I just saw this. If you use an ebike to replace your car for commuting I agree, fully. If you use it because you carry kids around in a trailer, sure. If you are old or have a physical condition...fine. Although I would rather ride what I can with my own legs rather than using a motor to compensate. But if you just want to “ride further” or “get fitter” then ditch that bloody battery and spend the same money on something better, or even two bikes. Ebiking has absolutely FREAKING NOTHING to do with sport. If you can’t climb a steep gradient change the cassette, put better tires, improve your technique and get fitter. Fair means guys...fair means! Ebike are a product of a lazy society where we want all and now! The fun is trying harder and harder until you manage on your legs...not pushing a button and being pulled up!
so... you’re saying dirt bikes or motorcycles aren’t fun either? or driving a nice car? because all you do is push a few buttons on those with your hands or legs.
@@fliptight no, I’m saying that an ebike for the purpose of doing “sport” is no different to doping! The issue is that we live in a lazy society where we want everything and now and we don’t want to invest any effort on it. Take the usual diets that come up every spring on how to lose weight fast. That is just not the right approach. Same thing with ebikes. Our bodies need the effort and the “resistance training” to be healthy. Don’t come and tell me that with an ebike you can still do big efforts because that’s only true if you turn the motor off! People don’t want to train a bit or are not ready to accept the fact that they cannot climb so steep without a motor. Again if you are old or have some conditions or your are commuting to work or...more than welcome. But if you jump on one of those things to do sport that’s just pure laziness
@@paolocapozzi927
first of all, i agree with you that we live in a lazy society. not sure if you live in the U.S., but there are definitely plenty of obese people over here.
but that is precisely the reason you should not be anti-ebike. ebikes get people out and moving that otherwise would still be sitting on the couch. why?
well first off, intensity is only one factor in getting fit. as a beginner, it is actually the least important factor. the most important factor in the beginning is consistency and committing to something for the long-term. if something is not fun to a person, they are much less likely to stick with it, and hence they don't exercise long enough to get fit at all.
i don't know if you remember what it's like to not be fit, but doing exercise that feels very intense to a person (relative to their fitness or lack of), is NOT fun. for some people, they are so unfit that in order for the intensity to not be an excruciating, they either have to bike very very slow or walk.
and i think you will agree with me that biking at very slow speeds, much less walking, is NOT fun exercise. if they're not enjoying it even a little bit they are less likely to stick with and they go back to the couch.
but you know what's fun even at a low intensity? e-biking. SPEED makes things fun. you can't tell me it doesn't because otherwise there is no point to biking at all --even regular bikes.
if intensity is the only factor that mattered to people in getting fit the only exercise anyone should do is running. i mean, why bother cheating with a device that has wheels, gears, and suspension and makes going faster easier? that's mechanical doping! under your logic, everyone should literally be using only their own legs via running and NOT pushing pedals with wheels and gears to get pulled up.
lastly, i think you may have a misunderstanding on how some ebikes work, specially if you never tried one yourself.
i agree with you there are ebikes that have a throttle and people can just push a button and do absolutely no work at all. but the e-bike mentioned in this video is a class 1 ebike meaning it has no throttle. all it has is pedal assist. on a good bike, the way it feels is as if you are biking on a nice day with lots of tailwind. this has no effect on how much effort you can put into pedaling. you can go still choose to go very intense on an ebike the only difference is that you're going much faster.
@@fliptight everyone starts somewhere and that somewhere is no fitness at all for everyone. The first time I went running I struggled to finish 5km. Many years after I did my first ultramarathon. But in the meantime I did not buy e-shoes (I know they don’t exist) because it was not fun. I wanted to do only what my body allowed me to do. But I knew that training will bring my limits further and further.
You know the story of the first climb of the Dent du Geant? Mummery (not a nobody, he was one of the best during his times) tried it. Realized it was not possible without using ladders and left a note in the rock saying “not possible by fair means”. And went back home. Then the Italians arrived and set up a siege to the mountain and got to the top by just bolting tons of ladders and strings to the rocks. They barely touched the rocks but got to the top. That is the immense difference between getting to the top of a mountain and climbing a mountain.
Now that’s the same with biking. If you are that unfit and that lazy at the same time that you don’t even want to go for a 10km ride flat, or even 5, then I’m sorry but an ebike is not the solution. An ebike will not change your mind set. That is the problem. If I know a group of cyclist if very fast I don’t use an ebike because this way I can keep up with them. Either I can do it or I train to be able to. And if I don’t want to train then I just do something else! It’s a matter of principle and most people are so lazy that they don’t care about this. But I strongly believe that an ebike used for doing sport is not fun. The issue is that people are LAZY!
Oh an concerning the ebike is not so easy as I think. That thing has a motor. It will make your ride much less tiring. Unless you do what you should have done long time ago. Throw away that motor and do a favor to yourself and to the environment as well!
@@paolocapozzi927 again, I agree with you that people are lazy. I just think its a little close-minded that ebikes can't be a solution to get started with exercise. Plenty of people do and have lost weight on ebikes.
so I take it that all you do is run right? Because you shouldn't ride a normal bicycle at all that's just being lazy. Why make exercise easier with wheels and gears. Everyone should do themselves a favor and throw their bicycles away the only exercise anyone should do is running.
Making normal bikes also causes pollution. Using only your feet doesn't.
No
sorry...but its one of the ugliest bikes EVER!! glad i got myself a wilier jena hybrid! ;-)
Watchin you road boys struggle on really basic MTB stuff is funny , even with an e-gravel bike , just get an MTB , get over ya selves !
Some folks don't want a mountain bike.
This video does not convince me to buy one. At all.
It will if the rider has a knee problem, but still loves to ride, e bikes are a boon to such people, I think it's a good thing that people are able to get out and ride
@@arbjfulthat assumption is often made but not realistic. If the rider has a knee problem, smaller gears will provide him with a better solution than a heavy bike.
Also in many cases adjusting the rider’s position to alleviate his knee joints will have a far greater positive effect that a couple of watts worth of support (which will not help if the loads on his knee are causing him pain).
An e-bike can be a solution for less mobile people but the strain of navigating around an unexpected obstacle in a knee-jerk reaction must be taken into account by both the salesperson and the rider.
The issue of electric assist aside, this is one of the ugliest bikes I have ever seen.
This is great for lazy and out of shape people. Get a bike rack and take your car to the trail, or just ride the measly 30km. We have been doing this with mountain bikes for decades.
yes and innovation for transportation has also been evolving for decades. electric vehicles are the future. analog bikes will still be around, they are each fun in their own ways.
When I hear the word lazy being used I assume they only ride a fixie.
Anything else would be, well just plain... LAZY
another sponsored, biased video
They suck big time. Get a motor bike. That has nothing to do with cycling anymore , it's just another product that has to be sold. You are just an 'ad man', You are a shill, You are a fraud. Get off the channel.
ebike = moto
sell sell sell
HELL no. You should be ashamed pushing this stuff.
Lol shut up
I've tried Komoot several times, route planning is garbage... It might be OK for sheep wanting to ride other peoples routes, but for planning, it's absolute crapola!!!