Orange Charger Pro - Shimano EP8 Motor and 500Wh Battery
"Riding an e-bike that gives more distance, in return for effort put in"
It's time to lose weight and get fit.
Being in the great outdoors has huge mental health benefits.
Electric bikes are a great way to spend more time outdoors, cycling further (Limited to the battery range) and building your fitness while riding trails or bike parks. In a word; they are FUN.
If you have bad knees or a bad back, you can build some strength bit by bit to go further and join in with your riding buddies. There are now more and more riders on e-bikes.
EMTB's aren't cheap, starting at £2k, with an average spend of £6k + for carbon frames and the choice of a bigger battery, depending on the use, some people want the smaller battery over a heavy more expensive one. These e-bikes offer a better ride the more you spend, with better equipment to ride the UK trails all year matching the cost of a motorbike.
Getting 20 miles on a 500 Wh battery works out 4 miles/100 watts. This will depend if you are riding on the road/off road, the number of hills and what power level being used.
Where you ride and how you look after your e-bike will also add to the ongoing maintenance costs. Mud will play havoc on your bike's components and could end up letting you down while out riding if not taken care of. The newer motors are also coming with more torque, made lighter, and give no or little resistance when peddling over the cut-off speed of 15.5mph.
Maintenance tip: After every ride, inspect your chain for wear, using a chain checker. For 9-speed to 12-speed chains, replace the chain on or before the chain checker reads 0.5%. You will find this is around 300 miles of riding. If you use the motor in full power and have a favorite gear, then a chain and cassette will need to be replaced as a pair.
I also recommend fitting a steel chainring, made by a UK manufacturer Uberbike, which makes an excellent chainring for e-bikes
This easy to use chain checker tool is perfect for E-Bike riders to check for wear to the chain & cassette after each ride.
Note: If you use a favourite gear (high gear/small sprocket in full motor power) it will wear that gear more quickly.
The chain checker is labelled with our customer care line for your convenience. Text or call to be put in contact with your local mechanic.
Made using recycled materials.
You can buy a bike with a bigger battery, but this makes the bike much heaver than it already is.
Weight-loss is one of those things that really benefits your riding. Every pound you lose, is a pound you don't have to carry up the hill.
The # 1 reason is being over-weight - If you are overweight this is the biggest factor. Buying a more expensive lighter bike is not the answer. It's time to have a fitness plan and stick to it by making it ongoing. Your diet is 85% down to your weight, if you are over 50 years old like me, then you need to focus on what you are eating and stay active to burn the fat and keep it off!
Riding up hills will soon eat up your battery, carrying the extra weight, use your e-bike to get you fitter and healthier and not only to get you outdoors more.
As you get fitter by losing weight you will be able to explore further and get stronger.
Before you do more harm then good. Read:- How to lose weight and get fit cycling
# 2 Train harder - Don't use the full power mode all the time, when on the flat ride in Eco. The newer e-bikes have more adjustments to each mode you use to this type of riding, to get the best life from your battery.
Once a week ride a non-e-bike, not as much fun but this will help to build strength in your legs. When riding long trails, you will need the legs to power your bike, when you are riding over 15.5 mph, as there will be no assistance from the motor. Be fit off the bike and do compound weight lifting 2 to 3 times a week.
#3 Ride more in Eco mode - We all like more power, it's fun especially going uphill, and you can keep up with your riding buddies. If you have come from cycling to an e-bike, you will find this much easier, as you will make the best use of the gears and power mode combined with finding the best cadence. Use eco mode especially on hills, it means you won't be going as fast up the hill's and it will take more of your energy, so when you are riding your regulars route start off by riding two hills in eco then progress from there. If you only have an hour to go cycling, go somewhere reasonably flat and find a speed using eco that you can pace yourself, increasing the length and speed over time. Having a plan and keep it regular each week and you will start to feel the benefits.
#4 Cleaning and maintenance - Using your bike in full power, in a high gear combined with not cleaning and oiling your chain will put extra load on your motor and drive chain, soon losing the efficiency and more brake downs from lack of maintenance.
The type of tyres (Soft tyres with more grip, means more drag) , tyre pressure and suspension setup, brakes rubbing, all add to more drag and energy from the motor, draining your battery much sooner. Riding more and all year will mean not only cleaning your bike after every ride, but the replacement of components regularly. Do not use a power wash, as the water will get into the electrics, bearings and will be a costly repair.
#5 Spare battery - Buying an e-bike now comes with the choice of battery size, from 250Wh to 750Wh, having the bigger battery gives you a longer range, but also weighs you down. Carrying a spear battery can mean an extra 3.75 kg's for a 500Wh battery. Some bikes have a place to fit an extra battery on the frame or you will need to carry it securely in your backpack. Losing 1/2 a stone will make up the difference of carrying more weight.
Having a max size 500 Wh external or semi-Integrated battery, not only makes the bike lighter but also allows the manufacturer to build or keep an off-road trail riding design. And not those ugly and heavy-looking mass-produced e-Bikes that are built for glossy magazines. It's an efficient size to carry a spare in your backpack or readily available in your campervan to change over.
The Orange e-Bikes are probably the best e-Bike in the world, for riding the trails in the UK and from a mechanics view, from working on all makes of e-bikes and regular riding with other e-bike buddies. The Orange is a bike that you can repair easily and change over electrical components in an hour or less, with having the basic tools and knowledge.
By having a charging station. The ideal way is to have two batteries, but if you want more time in remote areas and wild camping, then a solar generator is what you need.
The size required needs to be more than 500 Wh (More than your e-Bike battery) The solar generator can be changed in 3 ways. From your mains, before leaving home, from the 12 volt supply from your car or campervan. Ideally from the leisure battery in your campervan and from a solar panel. Subject to how much sun is available. So, a combination of all 3 ways to charge and keep topped up.
It's a great way to go for an early ride, and top up your battery while going for lunch or change over to your spare battery and put the other one on charge, ready for the next day.
A 3-hour drive to the bike park will have your 600 w output solar charger, charged ready.
EcoFlow RIVER Pro Portable Power Station 600 W output - Charging a Shimano 504 Wh battery and Gopro batteries.
In less than 2 months I have cycled 350 miles all off-road, I have ordered a spare chain, cassette, derailleur, battery, and a Thule battery backpack, so I can go to Wales and Scotland. (Due to arrive mid-May and I will post details about the backpack)
I would recommend ordering spare parts as items have become difficult to find and it could be 6 months before they all arrive.
Depending on where you plan on going and for how long, you would also need spare brake pads, tyre, tubes, or sealant. Basic tools to carry on the trail and a set of tools back at the car/van for maintenance and cleaning after each ride, particularly the drive-chain.
Update: Before, 800 miles the chain, cassette and chainring all needed replacing. I have fitted the SLX cassette, XT chain and the Uberbike steel chainring. I will let you know how this rides and how long it lasts before replacing...........
Do, let me know your thoughts in the comments below, with the cost of e-bikes, are they good for our environment and any tips you have to share or what's you preference in battery size and why?
"Freedom of riding a bike that gives independence in return for effort put in"
While cargo bikes and those who have health issues, a good make of e-Bike with the aftercare support makes sense.
BUT, the e-Bike nonsense - Removing the energy of cycling is introducing problems, from a lifestyle of no movement - Too much time sitting. We are not here to have an easy life. The flipside is mental depression...
No shortcuts in life, buy a bicycle instead of an e-Bike - Life is not a race.
Cycle further, not faster... Why cycle faster in nature? Ask yourself why do I need an e-Bike? Is it because you are told it's for the environment, or one of your mates in the group now rides one? A well-built bicycle is simple and feels great to ride under your own steam.
"Whenever I see an adult on a bicycle, I have hope for the human race" ~ H.G. Wells.
The Cycle Tech GROUP