E-bike upgrade or stick with gravel?

[Alexcycles]

Hi All,

Looking for people’s views on the pros and cons of swapping my gravel bike commuter out for a Gravel E-bike as I’m currently on the fence between not wanting to “cheat” and just let myself get fitter, vs not being wrecked at the end of each week.

Some Details are:
Currently ride a 2020 Norco Search Xr A1 gravel bike (~11 kg) as a commuter (16 km each way for ~160 km a week on concrete and road).

When combined with rock climbing 1-2 times a week and playing hockey 2-3 times a week I’m wrecked and struggle to climb stairs. Hence thinking of a switch so I can reduce the impact.

However, it feels like cheating since I can cover the distance currently. I feel I should wait to get fitter (but probably would just ride faster not easier) and the e-bike is heavier for when I’d ride without the battery. Plus I normally ride over the 25 km/h e-bike limit. Plus obviously the $$ although less worried there since not riding the train counters that with time.

I’m looking at something with the Fazua motor for the low weights (~15 kg down to 11.8 with the motor out) like the Kinesis range.

So what are others thoughts. Why not switch, or tough it out?
Thanks

[Duck!]

...Plus I normally ride over the 25 km/h e-bike limit.

The bit I've picked out gives you your answer. An e-bike is not going to help you, and will actually be harder to ride at unassisted speeds than an unpowered bike. Partially due to the extra weight of the bike, but more because you're working against the drive unit instead of it working for you.

[Mr Purple]

E-bike won't help if you're doing over 25km/hr.

Upgrading to a lighter bike might be an obvious answer, but honestly it's the wrong one. Given it's a gravel bike, what tyres are you running? I'd suggest a change to a similar width quality road tyre rather than gravel tyres would make a massive difference, and cost you all of $120.

[Alexcycles]

Just out of interest then would it change thinking on 25 kph limit if I added that my typical commute average is ~22-24 kph moving 18 kph total, with about 8 mins stopped. And speed oscillates between 16-18 uphills (max hill about 10%) to 26-28 on flat and 32+ downhill?

Gravel bike has had G-one bites swapped out for Panaracer gravel king slick 32s for when it’s set up to commute.

Side note. When I rode my 9 kg CAAD8 road bike some days with 25 mm velo s tyres I’m slightly faster but not much. Just average speed is in the upper end of gravel bike commutes.

[Mr Purple]

Well it'll make a significant difference for every hill on which you currently average under 25km/hr. So yes. It'll make little difference on the flats or downhills (though technically you might go downhill slightly faster because it weighs more).

Tyres seem about right, so it's not that simple then.

As you said your easiest option is to get fitter though! Can you hire one for a week first?

[nickobec]

A thought from left field.

How hard are you riding? If it hard (ie borderline uncomfortable, short of breath, can speak a sentence), knock it back a couple of notches (ie breathing heavily, can hold a conversation) for all rides in a week (ie instead of averaging 25kph, try for 20 or 22) and see the results from that.

If that works, add a couple of sessions per work.

Smashing yourself for 20 minutes twice a day for a week is going to fatigue you, especially combined with your other activities. How did you go outside hockey season?

ps forgot to mention my commute is 40km (minimum, one way) and usually do around 160km a week commuting. Only a couple of them are hard efforts, the others are easy efforts. If I do more plus race on the weekend I will be fatigued.

[AUbicycles]

I see this first as a financial question... but if that is sorted then my answer cones down to the terrain.

If it is mostly flat and without much stopping / starting the the benefits can ve negligible if you have a comfortable 25kmh pace.

But an ebike will get you faster (easier) acceleration out of the blocks and will be easier up the hills... so if that is where your fatigue is getting you, then the ebike can help you extend your range.

Ebikes are not cheating because it is not a competition... if you can get more range and joy... then that is a good thing.

Regarding the deadwight, it depends on the total weight and I recently found on a test that with inertia, the additional weight is not that bad when over 25kmh ... but it becomes a drag when you run out of power or expect to be as responsive as a light-weight roadie.

[Alexcycles]

Thanks for all the info and thoughts.

Currently I can’t seem to rent one for a week, can’t even track down styles similar to ones is go for in my size with the current demand. But definitely a good idea if they come in.

I’m not riding right in the Red Zone all the time but it’s not leisurely. If all I do is ride I’m fine. But adding in anything else pushes it over. Part of the problem is they all kill your knees a bit.

It’s downhill to work on average and uphill home (~1% average but dropped in as a few steep sections and then one long 2-3% drag) and definitely quite a few stop-starts.
Good to know on the weight test though. Backs up what geeking out in bike calculator suggests even if it doesn’t feel like it.

Sounding like it’s a compromise. I won’t be much faster, the weight will be more but negligible when moving and it just comes down to how long I put up with fatigue and soreness trying to build up the fitness.

[Alexcycles]

Update.
Thanks for the help but seems it’ll all be moot anyway.
None of the gravel e-bikes I’d looked at are shipping to Aus thanks to the battery import rules and none of the locally available options particularly appealed or they’re sold out in my size at my budget.
So analogue it is until new stock and possibly improved shipping come November-ish.