Why do most E Bikes expect you to pedal with a cadence of an athlete to get any speed?

Why do most E Bikes expect you to pedal with a cadence of an athlete to get any speed?

Maybe your controller needs properly setting up?

I have not experienced that on either of the bikes I have owned...I shall be 74 this year!!

Andy

I like to cruise on the flat at 17/18 mph and down hill I like to exceed 35mph (if I can) but with my EBike I am pedalling like a lunatic.

I understand they are designed for puddling along the flat bits and then helping up hills but why are they geared so low?

With hub drive you can use any gearing you like.

I suppose it all depends on how the motor is programed, if i were radiacally go to the highest gearing possible would the system still work nomally up hills then allow me to do my thing downhills?

You haven't said what bike you've got and therefore we don't know what the drive system is.

Hi I think all Ebikes ar emanufacured the same, my theory is that they are geared so the user can get home with a flat battery, maybe taking in a few hills, hence the very low gearing to accomodate the wieght of the bike.

My bike is currently a 2014 Kalkhoff Agattu i8HS which has Nesus 8 gears. I can go up the steepest of hills in Gear 4 (with max boost) which seems a waste of gear range. I can purchase a range of sprokets for Nexus 8 ranging from 24 to 16 my bike is factory fitted with a 21 sproket. I have not counted the chainwheel teeth.

Every ebike I've seen has a single front chainring, which limits the total gear range available. If you manufacture bikes your make a bike that will suit the most people so you can sell as many as possible. In gearing terms that would tend to be at the low end for ebike's as fit riders don't buy them.

 

Prefect, if you can cruise at 17/18 mph why do you need an ebike in the first place? Just curious,

 

Darren

Hi I think all Ebikes ar emanufacured the same, my theory is that they are geared so the user can get home with a flat battery, maybe taking in a few hills, hence the very low gearing to accomodate the wieght of the bike.

My bike is currently a 2014 Kalkhoff Agattu i8HS which has Nesus 8 gears. I can go up the steepest of hills in Gear 4 (with max boost) which seems a waste of gear range. I can purchase a range of sprokets for Nexus 8 ranging from 24 to 16 my bike is factory fitted with a 21 sproket. I have not counted the chainwheel teeth.

Change to a 16 tooth rear sprocket and you will be sorted.

I played squash for many years which made me fit in the right places, heart and leg muscles to be a decent cyclist. As the years pile on its the hills that are a challenge and heading into the wind. I was anti getting an ebike for a long time but now I’ve tried it I love it.?All the hills I avoided in the last few years are now taken with aplomb. I am just frustrated by the low gearing. I should think many Pedelecs are in the same boat.

Have ordered a 16 tooth sproket, looking forward to trying out!

I should think many Pedelecs are in the same boat.

Not mine mate 'cos I took a 24gear bike and converted it myself at a fraction of the price of Bosch and co.

I like to cruise on the flat at 17/18 mph and down hill I like to exceed 35mph (if I can) but with my EBike I am pedalling like a lunatic.

I understand they are designed for puddling along the flat bits and then helping up hills but why are they geared so low?

 

They are IMO geared to suit the European pedelec market, which by law limits the assisted speed to 25 kph.

For those wishing to exceed that speed, then during that time they will not be assisted, the assistance there being simply a hill climbing aid though only where the speed is below the legal limit.

As said, these retail European e-bikes are geared to suit their market.

Hi I think all Ebikes ar emanufacured the same, my theory is that they are geared so the user can get home with a flat battery, maybe taking in a few hills, hence the very low gearing to accomodate the wieght of the bike.

My bike is currently a 2014 Kalkhoff Agattu i8HS which has Nesus 8 gears. I can go up the steepest of hills in Gear 4 (with max boost) which seems a waste of gear range. I can purchase a range of sprokets for Nexus 8 ranging from 24 to 16 my bike is factory fitted with a 21 sproket. I have not counted the chainwheel teeth.

 

21 sprocket on Alfine/Nexus is a kin to using a 13/40t cassette.

The ratio's relate approx. to 40, 33, 28, 25, 21, 17, 15 & 13t sprocket sizes.

Have ordered a 16 tooth sproket, looking forward to trying out!

 

16t sprocket is a kin to a 10/30 cassette.

The aprrox teeth ratio's are a bit closer.

30, 25, 21, 19, 16, 13, 11, 10.

Bring it on

Bring it on

Have looked to see the difference in Cadence for same speed and found this. This shows for just the 1 /1 4th gear in the Nexus 8.

But looks promising.

 

Found at https://www.bikecalc.com/speed_at_cadence

This is another calculator and Nexus/Alfine 8 can be selected.

http://www.gear-calculator.com/

Your Nexus hub is bomb proof reliable, bit its range is not great.

 

Many internal gear hubs are the same, apart from the Rohloff which has a range comparable to a mountain triple.

 

I have one and reckon it would do what you seek.

 

Hardly a viable mod at £1,000, so you are better off with your sprocket change.

 

As a general point, you have the wrong bike for your purpose.

 

A sit up and beg Kalkhoff Agattu is a quality ebike, but it is not designed for barrelling along on the flat and descending like a demon.

Dear RobF And Nealh

Thanks for your comments

The bike was bought as a pro tem from a chat just around the corner it works fine in most respects and allows me to keep up with wifey up the hills on her Raleigh Modus GT !

I was daft and did not do enough research before buying the two Raleighs. Mine has been away a month now having the motor reset. I am currently chatting with Tony at Woosh and I plan to convert my Fast Hybrid, it’s looking very promising. Keep all my gears and bike set up etc and have help going up hills.

When that’s done I will sell the other two.

in the meantime I will fit the 16 sprocket and see how it goes!

I had no issue with Alfine 8 on a mtb and a 20t sprocket, I used 2x 48/32 combo up front and a 36v front hub at 12 s/20a and used it on off road cake stuff without much issue. The motor torque was awesome and it was no slouch accelerating and 25mph capable.

Dear RobF And Nealh

Thanks for your comments

The bike was bought as a pro tem from a chat just around the corner it works fine in most respects and allows me to keep up with wifey up the hills on her Raleigh Modus GT !

I was daft and did not do enough research before buying the two Raleighs. Mine has been away a month now having the motor reset. I am currently chatting with Tony at Woosh and I plan to convert my Fast Hybrid, it’s looking very promising. Keep all my gears and bike set up etc and have help going up hills.

When that’s done I will sell the other two.

in the meantime I will fit the 16 sprocket and see how it goes!

 

You do have particular gearing requirements, so converting a bike which has gears with which you are happy is a good solution for you.

 

Mind, the motor will slow you down unless Tony gives you a naughty button.

Sounds intriguing!!!

Sounds intriguing!!!

 

Routinely, the motor cuts out at 15.5mph so for most of your use all it will be doing is slowing you down due to its weight and slight running resistance.

 

There are (illegal) ways and means to restrict most ebikes, particularly the kits.

 

Woosh is a responsible retailer, but it may be all you need to do is google the controller/display you are getting to find the buttons to press.

 

On some displays, cut off speed is an obvious user settable feature when you scroll through.