3 years ago, Si bought an ebike. And now, he wants to tell you everything he’s learned about owning one! What has Si’s experience of owning an ebike been like, what have been the benefits, and what unexpected surprises have come along with it?
00:00 What has Si learned from owning an ebike?
00:43 A Smile On My Face
01:28 Weather
02:17 Power Modes
02:42 Battery Life
03:31 Maintenance
04:06 Insurance
04:55 Confidence
Useful Links:
Join this channel to get access to perks 👉
https://gcn.eu/JoinYTmemberships
GCN Uploader 👉 https://gcn.eu/gcnuploader
Visit the GCN Shop 👉 https://gcn.eu/gcnshop
GCN WhatsApp Channel 👉 https://gcn.eu/GCNwhatsapp
GCN Instagram Broadcast Channel 👉 https://gcn.eu/instagrambroadcast
Have you been riding an ebike too? What have you learned along the way? Do your experiences match up with Si’s, or are they completely different? Let us know!👇🚴♂️
Watch more on GCN…
📹 7 Things We Wish We’d Known About Commuting On An E-Bike 👉 https://youtu.be/47uH3NU-c84?si=NUn85Vo0KZNuPKl0
📹 Watch our Editor’s Choice Playlist 👉 https://gcn.eu/editorschoice
📹 Or why not check out our Features Playlist 👉 https://gcn.eu/gcnfeatures
🎵 Music – licensed by Epidemic Sound 🎵
Vertigo – Ryan James Carr
City, Street, Traffic, Busy, Horns, Cartagena, Colombia
frosty – dozeoff
London Garden – Roy Edwin Williams
Mr. Everything (Instrumental Version) – Max Volante
Ooh Wee – baegel
#gcn #cycling #roadcycling #roadbike #bike #bikes #bikelife #ebike #electricbike
📸 Photos – © Velo Collection (TDW) / Getty Images & © Sirotti Images
The Global Cycling Network (GCN) is the largest online cycling channel in the world, bringing together a global community of road cyclists to celebrate everything that’s great about the world of cycling.
Our videos bring fans compelling daily content including expert tutorials, techniques, training, racing, cutting-edge bike tech, unparalleled behind the scenes event coverage, humour, entertainment, and more.
Presented by ex-pro riders, GCN offers a uniquely qualified insight into the world of cycling, and most importantly it’s fuelled by our passionate and enthusiastic fans – everyone who makes up the GCN community. We also bring the latest and greatest tech to your attention, showcase the best places in the world to ride and get exclusive access to events and races.
Welcome to the Global Cycling Network | Inside Cycling
Thanks to our sponsors:
Pinarello Bikes: https://gcn.eu/Pinarello
Topeak Tools: http://gcn.eu/Topeak
Canyon Bikes: http://gcn.eu/-Canyon
CamelBak: https://gcn.eu/Camelbak
Pirelli Tyres: https://gcn.eu/Pirelli
Orbea Bikes: http://gcn.eu/Orbea
Vision Wheels: http://gcn.eu/Vision
Wahoo Fitness: http://gcn.eu/Wahoo-Fitness
Park Tool: http://gcn.eu/-parktool
Selle Italia: https://gcn.eu/SelleItalia
Zwift: https://gcn.eu/Zwift
Silca: https://gcn.eu/Silca
MET Helmets: https://gcn.eu/methelmets
Strava: https://gcn.eu/strava
ShadowStand: https://gcn.eu/ShadowStand
Precision Fuel & Hydration: https://gcn.eu/precisionhydration
AGU: https://gcn.eu/AGUxGCN
Elitewheels: https://gcn.eu/Elitewheels
Watch our sister channels:
GCN Tech – https://www.youtube.com/@gcntech
GCN Racing – https://www.youtube.com/@gcnracing
Global Triathlon Network – https://www.youtube.com/@gtn
GCN Italia – https://www.youtube.com/@gcnitalia
GCN en Español – https://www.youtube.com/@gcnenespanol
GCN auf Deutsch – https://www.youtube.com/@gcnaufdeutsch
GCN en Français – https://www.youtube.com/@gcnenfrancais
GCN Training – https://www.youtube.com/@GCNTraining
Global Mountain Bike Network – https://youtube.com/@gmbn
GMBN Tech – https://www.youtube.com/@gmbntech
Electric Mountain Bike Network – https://www.youtube.com/@embn
I bought an ebike about three years ago in this video I’m going to tell you what I’ve learned about owning one since then firstly what bike did I buy a cargo bike it has been in a fair few GCM videos over the years because I think cargo bikes are amazing and I want to spread the word to as many people as possible unfortunately I can’t say that I also own this ebike but it’s probably more representative of I would imagine what most of you have or are potentially looking at [Music] buying after 3 years of owning an ebike I’ve got to say it still puts a smile on my face every time I ride it yes I am a bike nerd and that is probably why but there is still something blooming cool and I think everyone feels this about how it feels like a normal bike only easier basically so uh what that means ultimately is that I end up riding my ebike more around town than if it were a normal bike so there’s just something about having that assist that breaks down the barrier to getting out of the door and onto a bike rather than out of the door and into a car or indeed just not going out at all and that’s true pretty much whatever the weather just about whatever the weather I mean rain and snow not a problem ice I will draw the line at but while I will happily tackle wet snowy weather in a decent jacket a pair of waterproof trousers and waterproof boots I will admit there is something definitely not as Chic as turning up at your destination in your normal clothes with only an umbrella to keep you dry now I’m not very often fussed about being Chic I last used an iron in 2009 to illustrate that point but it is what it is it’s just it’s just not quite as [Music] cool number three you have several Power modes on an ebike so I’ve got a Bosch powered ebike uh and I’ve got Eco tour Sport and turbo mode as well as off but whil I have those modes at my disposal I completely admit that I only ever use turbo mode literally except if I’m about to run out of battery and then I have to knock it down a bit in spite of being slightly more frugal when the battery does run low I will admit that I do on occasions run out of battery entirely now if that does happen what I found is that as long as I’m not too far away from home and I never have been so far and as long as I have any super long heels to get up I can actually get home absolutely fine like it’s a bit hard obviously but it is absolutely fine and so I don’t actually have any battery anxiety to speak of there is one thing oh the lights still work by the way when the batteries run out so that was good but on this bike and bikes like it you might have to watch out because the gears are also connected to the battery so when the battery runs flat the gears also stop working so that would be more of a problem aside from running out of batteries two punctures and one trip to a bike shop to service the brakes are the only mechanical issues that I have had and that is in as I said 3 years of owning the ebike clocking up about 1,300 Mi and in all weathers of course this is a sample size of only one so my experience of reliability might not be what you have I’ve done a little bit of research and found that yes some people do have problems with reliability with their ebikes but as I said in my experience super positive I know a lot of people worry about their ebikes getting stolen and for good reason right I worry about it too we’ve just made a video recently covering some of the more advanced technological features on the newest ebikes like alarms and locks and trackers and things for me though I found peace of mind when I bought my ebike cuz I took out insurance right so that should hopefully pay out even if my bike gets stolen when I’m out and about the conditions are that I’ve got a good enough lock and that it’s locked to something immovable now there are lots of different types of insurance out there you can get it through your home insurance sometimes if you want to take out specific bicycle Insurance then you can actually do so through gcn so if you live in the USA or the UK we can get you covered lastly something that really has surprised me actually seeing as I’m a lifelong cyclist and I was a professional cyclist for 10 years or so but riding an ebike gives me more confidence on the roads in traffic now it’s not like I’m not confident on a normal bike I am and it’s not like therefore an ebike makes me overconfident it doesn’t but there is just something about it whether it’s the power from the motor that means that the bike responds really quickly or perhaps it’s the increased weight of the bike that makes it feel more planted to the road mod but in slow moving traffic it just feels like you have more confidence obviously in fast moving traffic is less relevant in UK Europe and lots of other parts of the world ebik motors have to cut out at 25 km an hour and then of course you’re on your own but City riding slow traffic situations definitely is good and if that’s true of me I can only imagine someone who’s perhaps less confident on a bike what it would do to them right then seven things that I have learned from owning an ebike for the last 3 years be super interested to hear your thoughts right have you agreed with me if you already own an ebike or have you had different experiences get involved in the comments section down below and if also if there’s anything else you want to know or you want us to cover about ebikes City cycling cargo bikes then get involved in the comment section and let us know
24 Comments
Have you been riding an ebike too? What have you learned along the way? Do your experiences match up with Si’s, or are they completely different? 👇🚴♂
The best thing I learned from owning an E bike is that climbing steep hills doesn't always suck! In fact, I can do it with a smile on my face on my e bike.
Do you feel the 15.5mph support is sufficient for commuting ?
Love my Ebike, gets far more use than my conventional bike in the real world. Every ride, hills, headwinds etc are exactly as much hassle as I decide they are to be. If I fancy working harder, that's still an option. The quick movement away from a standstill is a huge bonus in town.
I bought a Tern Vektron S10 folding cargo bike last summer. I wanted the folding capability for storage. I'd been thinking about it for around two years, did my research, including watching Si's previous cargo bike video, and was inspired by "Not Just Bikes" and "Active Towns" YouTube channels. I also chose Tern due to the range of accessories, I have a pair of Kontti basket panniers, a Market Basket that clips to the rear rack, and a Kanga Rack on the front which takes a fabric shopping bag. This gives me enough capacity to do my weekly supermarket shop and save on car trips. I mainly use Eco mode on the flat, but up it to Tour which is enough for me to climb hills when loaded. Finally I recently added a Dutch style "ding dong" bell.
@gcn what model Cannondale is Si riding in this video?
Get an illegal one so you can zip around ignoring all the rules of the road and atleast you aren’t stuck at so slow 15.5mph.
It’s crazy how slow it feels going at the legal limit.
Ebikes is a compromise for lack of cycling infrastructure because it makes you keep up with slow traffic so you can be part of traffic. The minimum infrastructure you ever really need are safe, dry, and accessible parking areas.
What is an iron ?
I heard gears were still working if the battery ran out. I just ordered that Canyon gravel e-bike. In the US, assist is up to 28mph
Last time i actively pedaled was like 20 years ago (I'm 44)
Bought me a mid-drive eMTB few months back.
Wow…just wow… literally the best thing I could've done with my life at this point, honestly. Can't get enough of it and my body's finally waking up from all the lethargy over the years.. amazing. I get much further, see more things and still get to train (I know people are a bit confused about this, but it is a training, you are both burning calories and doing cardio, and you can always turn the motor off and drive it dry)
Can't recommend enough 😊
That are not bikes. It's for mentsl ill persons.
Except the 0,001 percent fysic handicapted
It's that stop and go shit that wears out your energy. That's the worst part about biking IMO.
Well here we go ! 75 later this year , extortionate road taxe costs ! And the need to get a bit fitter hopefully, picking my ebike later today let's hope😊 doesn't turn into 😢 , stay safe .
how to fit the rear.liggt to your crash helmet
I have an electric trike, and I think I can agree a bit with the confidence thing. Mine can hit about 20 MPH, so plenty fast, especially on certain roads, and I do throttle if I feel I need to, at the leastI know I can get to a shopping center and back.
Owned an E bike for a couple of months, now, and it's probably the best thing I have purchased in the last 10 years! All positive so far. My bike is a Samebike A21, classed as a City Bike, has built-in lights, mudguards and a sturdy rear rack. Absolutely chuffed to f**k!
They killing many young in the uk the learning process.
I got an e gravel bike in March 2025, one thing not mentioned is how it eliminates headwinds. On windy days where I would not go out on my normal bikes, I go out. Had a weeks holiday in Lincolnshire and fresh breezes were forecast. Took the e bike and it eliminated nasty headwinds. One thing I am aware of is the e bike is so nice I don’t want to get lazy and use it all the time. So I deliberately put in hard rides on my road bike to keep the fitness up. But all in all best thing I ever bought.
Well, there are some e-bikes with mechanical gears, but they are the exception.
So ive been wanting to get an ebike to commute to work and back. I have a crippling anxiety when it comes to operating a death machine[thats what i call a car, ive seen and been in to many bad expirences with them[such as my paremts always speeding, getting into car accident while i was younger and just the general lax feeling people have operating a 4500-
on average-piece of matter], so i dont trust myself to operate one without anxiety taking over. But i want to be able to be independant.And your videos have really cemented the idea that i should go for this. I only have to travel to work 4 miles, and theres plently of side roads i can take. And the biking community where i live is large.
Im going to take the plunge, and i feel like is going to be one of the best decisions ive made. I can get healtier while not making the earth less healthy. I can be independent and above all safe because you keep sharing your wealth of knowldge, thank you kind sire
Also id love you guys to do a , "list of strategies and handling that would keep toy the absolute safest as an ebike user"
To protect the growing community as a whole. I feel knowing all the ways to be co.pletely safe on one would help the community grow more rapidly
Another cool thing would be "the overall cost of and indivual looking to start out with a reliable ebike fpr community, and all the acessory and inaurance and cost they would need"
Taking out a loan would be an easy way to access this kind of travel and lifestyle deciaion
And have is asap. I feel delving into the finavial part of it and guivibg a guideline qould be super helpful
You aren't going to have reliability issues with only 1,500 miles on the clock. They start to become money pits at around 10,000 miles. My ebike is 4 years old with 14,000 miles on it, and it's in the shop once every 2 months with another issue
If my ebike died today, I would easily consider it worth the money I paid for the seven months of joy it gave me riding the rail trails and other places. But you have to use it to make it worthwhile.