I'm looking to start my commute to my new office in the next month or so. Its around 18 miles (30km) each way with the longer flat second being single track gravel (UK canal path). The longer flat section also travels along a train track so I'll always have to option to grab the train and cut out this section (but its £8 each way (€9, $10).
Current plan is to use my gravel bike Giant revolt with some bigger tyres, but my work are offering about 50% off a new bike up to £3k.
If this was your commute would you use/buy an ebike? And if the answer is yes, what type? Eg Electric hybrid or dropbar electric gravel bike etc?
by fixitmonkey
7 Comments
You should be honest with regard to your fitness and willingness to spend this much time commuting via bike. And what you hope to get out of it.
I’ve got both and have been enjoying commuting on my manual bike lately, but it is 3miles each way. At 18mile, I would ebike simply for the speed and time efficiency.
If you want to do this regularly and are willing to spend 2.5-3hr commuting on those days then ebike 100% to save time & avoid changes of clothes and other inefficiencies of manual biking.
If you want to do this once a week to enjoy the trail and get some cardio, then I’d use the gravel bike and travel light. Would be a nice friday ride or whenever the weather is nice.
But I would probably not be willing to spend that much time commuting tbh
No ebike for 10 kilometres each way. Unless you are old, need to carry a full plumbing shop, or sone other abnormal circumstances.
A lightweight analogue bike is great, more.versatile, and way more fun.
I commute more than that, and I do it at 53, with an amputated leg (below-the-knee) and on an analogue cargo bike (although titanium).
When I do get really old or decrepit enough to not do the hills fully loaded up to my home, I will buy an electric one. Until then: Analogue all the way.
30km is a long commute. I do 20km each way, though some hills, and use my ebike pretty much all the time for it. After a long day, in bad weather, and carrying your stuff it’s really nice. I’ll ride 100km on my gravel bike on the weekend for fun, but commute ebike always.
That’s a rather long ride for a commute. Im about the same distance and it’s a similar amount of elevation.Â
I rode a lot more before kids but I hope to get back into it this summer, but it’s a long way in the morning. 10 miles would be great. ~20 is just a lot.Â
When i did this frequently I was in great shape though. I used a mid range road bike. I don’t think I’d take an ebike for this. A few climbs are a nice change of pace.Â
I have a similar commute, and I got myself a Santa Cruz Skitch for it, and it was such a life hack, esp. the final mile home at 5-8% grade
I love my commute, it’s 22km (14 miles). That takes me just shy of an hour on the muggle bikes.
That is a long time to ride twice a day. Any longer and I would likely drive or e-bike.
If you’re set on riding, I would suggest e-bike. Especially because if you’re tired at the end of the day….you have 90 minutes of riding ahead of you
https://preview.redd.it/309sh9uog2pg1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=15d9dd027b9addfb73f777178da61b1c6953f163
This was a slower commute home this week. Allergies are kicking my ass.
It took me a few years from couch potato to the point where I could do this or better every day and I took a lot of transit.
What I’d say to you is that you should evaluate your level of fitness, your willingness to be uncomfortable, and figure out how long this commute will actually take you.
I work 12 hour shifts and by car my commute is 45-60 minutes with occasional longer drives. A detour to a gym adds 75 minutes for about 50 minutes of working out. 110 minutes is my worst case ride home. 90 minutes is a sustainable ride in.
I’m on the hook for another 200 minutes of riding vs 120-135 minutes of commuting rigamarole and a trip to the gym. My day’s shot either way, but I get to ride way more. I do still occasionally take transit some or most of the way home. There’s a lot of accumulated fatigue with this.
There’s also coordination: laundry, food (so much food), hygiene, and sleep.
If it fits with your life I’d say bike. It’s what I do. If it doesn’t then I’d say e-bike. My wife’s asthmatic and she has one. We go out for fun rides and errands together all the time. E-bikes rock.