beat the racers

[carpetbagger]

last night i went on one of my regular 20 mile rides,despite the black clouds and the 15mph headwind which was always there no matter which way i turned...strange because at some point i thought i would get an extra 15mph assistance !
Just approaching my last big climb a couple of guys on racing bikes pulled out in front about 50 yards ahead. I kept up a brisk pace but no faster than i had been, over a bridge and to the bottom of the hill with the gap still about the same.The hill is generally a 2nd/3rd gear on my modified Agattu. As i hit the meduim power the gap was narrowing all the time,but i wasn't sure whether i was going to pass at this stage in case they left me for dead. At the steapest point i had had enough of hanging back and went onto pass them ,commenting when i was level that they shoould get a turbo button like me...they laughed and so did i as they disappeared into the distance in my mirror...and i wasn't putting in 100% effort either. Marvellous these electric bikes when somebody who is twice there age can overtake a couple of racers on a hill and leave them for dead ! Cheating.....no......when they get to my age they will be doing the same no doubt

 

[eddieo]

My son leaves me standing on his 8kg road bike...Untill we get to a hill that is......

 

[carpetbagger]

i could do with a try on a roadbike as i am definitely fitter than at any time in my life. It would be interesting to see how much difference it would make...i think i know the answer though.......

 

[Mussels]

i could do with a try on a roadbike as i am definitely fitter than at any time in my life. It would be interesting to see how much difference it would make...i think i know the answer though.......

I thought the same a while ago and picked up a cheap road bike, I was quite a bit faster than I expected to be. Despite the electric assist my fitness has improved a lot since I started riding.

 

[eddieo]

while my fitness has improved my new ready to be converted bike awaiting DaaHub kit nearly killed me last week when I went to the bank...fine getting there but a gradual uphill struggle all the way back. No fun I'm afraid, I am def an E biker!

 

[lemmy]

I ride my non-powered Brompton folder regularly and there is no question that I'm stronger riding it after having had my Kalkhoff for 18 months.

My theory is that e-bikes, by reducing the effort for a given distance, enable you to ride further. I certainly take mine further and many people here have reported similarly Indeed, in many cases, that was the reason for buying an e-bike.

In a simple case, the assistance, say, halves your effort. But you are cycling for twice as long, so your energy expenditure in the saddle is the same as your shorter trip undertaken on a ordinary bike.

Having gone to the gym for some years, I know that the way you build fitness and stamina is by small effort for a longer time, not big effort for a shorter time and that is what e-biking is encouraging you to do.