Any way to do 100 miles or more with an ebike?

[dogman dan]

Most people I would call fit, would still take 8 hours or maybe more to do a 100 mile pedal. If you average 15 mph including your stops, you'd make 100 miles in 6.6 hours. But it takes some fitness to maintain a 15 mph average for that kind of distance.

The most practical method for ebiking 100 miles might be to carry only about 1000-1500 wh, then figure on a long break at noon to charge. Carry enough battery to go 50 miles at 20 mph or so. But a faster ride is quite possible, it's just a matter of building a bike that can carry a lot of wh. My bike can carry the battery, but my wallet can't carry that kind of purchase, to have 3000 wh.

I'm hoping I can gain enough on my health to do some 50-60 mile days, then camp and repeat. Looking at state parks that have electricity and showers.

 

[dustyearlobe]

Heres a link you might want to look in to ,i toyed with the idear a time back ,but the tecnoligy isnt small enough yet http://www.hydrogencarsnow.com/blog2/index.php/hydrogen-bikes/pedego-electric-bike-uses-hydrogen-fuel-cell-range-extender/
i did have some correspondence with a manufacture of range extenders but at the time they didnt support the power i was looking for ,but
they do boast 30-40 miles on a single catridge ,light duty i think this is ment to represent.
For 48v 30a system was the size of a small shed at the time

 

[dannyboyohyeah]

Enjoyable thread....gets everyone to dreamin. And remembering. I did 100miles a day for nine months back in the 70's (no electric), and that was on a Brooks Saddle. Now, twenty miles, no electric really makes me moan. My butt gives out before my legs, but saddles are pretty cozy these days, like the cloud9. My sister now lives a mere 75miles away, instead of 3000, and I keep pondering the trip with the BMC. A liesurely lunch/charge would be required I guess. Since moving here (Rhode Island)....I'm astounded by the flatness...no mountains. I should quit my griping and get on with it. I wish the weather would stabilze at above freezing for abit though.

 

[melodious]

I've only done a few century rides in my lifetime on non-electric. I've always gotten sore, achy, fatigued muscles at the end of them. Couldn't do another century ride the next day because of it. I think it boils down to me not being able to properly nourish my body during the ride.

Now that I have electric, I can see myself doing the same century rides on a daily basis. Only because I've eliminated much of the caloric equation. I've yet to do 100 miles, but I've done plenty of 70 miles. I'm pretty sure adding on another 30 miles with or without assist is moot.

I'd agree with the folks here that a recumbent with fairing will keep your wh/mile at the minimum. Would also keep your arse from falling out. :wink:

 

[liveforphysics]

I'm racing member PaulD tomorrow in the low-key-hillclimbs race for 100miles of hilly terrain.

It looks like it will be 100miles of rain... and I'm only packing 1.3kWh of pack on board... But I've got a pair of legs that I think could do the 100miles with no pack at all, so I'm not overly worried.

I will be riding on a tiny unpadded roadbike racing saddle. I imagine things will be tender around this time of day tomorrow.

http://megamonster.lowkeyhillclimbs.com/2014/

 

[Kingfish]

^ Megamonster

Neat! My default commuter pack qualifies for this race (1890W). But as 2WD, hmmm... I'd really have to nurse the bike along at 24 mph to squeeze 100 miles out of it. The hill climbs look easy enough; just 1000 feet up and down. Wish I could join you guys 8)

Best o' luck! KF

 

[mrzed]

Pedaling saves your ass. Whenever I read these threads about getting sore in the saddle for long rides I have to remember it's because folks aren't really pedaling. Pushing on the pedals lifts your ass off the seat.

 

[wesnewell]

Pedaling saves your ass. Whenever I read these threads about getting sore in the saddle for long rides I have to remember it's because folks aren't really pedaling. Pushing on the pedals lifts your ass off the seat.

Hmmm.. When I was 50 years younger and weighed 150lbs I could walk 20 miles or more without a problem. Did 30 once when I got struck in south Texas during the summer. Today I can't even be on my feet for more than 10 minutes without them going numb, so the bike is my exercise. I can still pedal and do 90% of the 10 miles average I do every day of the year. But the butt just can't take it for much more than an hour even with the largest (14" wide padded) saddle I could find. I lasted about 5 minutes on the regular cruiser bike saddles, and can't stay on one of them thin things 60 seconds. Enjoy your youth. BTW, I was doing 10 miles a day before going electric.

 

[liveforphysics]

I will be carrying a hubmotor mounted to my roadbike, but will have no assist for the 100mile race. Smoked the halls in a wiring mistake that PaulD and I still don't understand... :,(

This is great in a way though. I love to push myself.

 

[dogman dan]

Well that sounds like less fun than you thought. Too bad you don't have more spare bikes laying around. Id have that original wheel back on the bike asap.

Just say the word race, and weird shit starts happening eh?

Standing on the pedals more does help your ass, but even standing the pedals can chafe you if you are wearing jeans. For the long rides, I have shorts that have the pad from bike shorts installed in them. You definitely can't sit on that seam in levis all day. For me it's more time in the saddle than miles. About 4 hours I'm feeling it, by 5 I want off, by 6 hours I'm so numb I can't feel the pain anymore. The other thing you must do for a really long ride is lube up. There are special lubes, but petroleum jelly, or even a pat of butter is better than nothing. Especially in hot weather, the acid in your sweat will start dissolving your balls. The lube keeps the acid sweat from contacting the skin.

It's not a matter of a soft seat as much as people think, its about not rubbing a blister on your ass. For that, wide can be worse. For me, I do prefer a wider saddle than a race saddle, but it still must have a very narrow nose.

Building up to it helps, you don't just hop on a bike and start doing 4 hour rides. You do grow some callus on your balls if you ride a lot.

 

[liveforphysics]

Pouring down rain by the bucket so far this morning. It's going go be an adventure.

 

[LockH]

Good luck you guys (knot that you'll need it against the "competition" (so-called). I expect you will SLAY the competition, but kindly do it nicely?)!

Also please fly the (not yet invented) ebiker flag (for the mad/crazy(?) Global ebiker krew?).

 

[liveforphysics]

Thank you lock.

I have only a front wheel weight in this race though, and left my food and water in my camelback at home... lol

I did make fenders for my bike though.
I think fenders will give me an edge in high speed downhill in the wet, as I should be able to see and breath better with less water in my face.


I will be starting soon. Really excited!!!!

 

[liveforphysics]

Major headwinds when I started late. Sadly they died down for my return pass,but had favorable wind for a few parts. Feels amazing! I started too late to do the 100mile and had to register for the 100k (62.5miles). It was cake, with around 15miles left my seat started chaffing/bruising my ass for some reason. Otherwise minimal discomforts, enjoyed all the hill climbs and downhills, hated the headwinds.

PaulD rocked it!!! New event record! 3:53 for 10miles! He looked like a rocket and sounded quietly turbine powered as he ripped downhill towards me pedaling like mad as he passed by. Awesome job Paul!

 

[LockH]

"New event record! 3:53 for 10miles! "

Awesone showing for the ebiking clan you two! Congrats! To both of U!

 

[liveforphysics]

Oops. I was a bit tired when I typed that race report.

PaulD got 3 hr 54mins to ride 102miles not 10 miles. lol

I saw ES member Mr.Bill there as well and we chatted a bit. Very nice guy.

I know we have a big ES clan in the bay area. Lets storm this race next year with many fast ebikes!

 

[dogman dan]

Go Paul!! Not surprised you got chafed by 60 miles. I always do too.

 

[LockH]

Hehe... I shoulda figured that time might be "a little off" :wink:

Still, wish I was there! (So, when was the last time some half-dead sorta broken old ebiker competed? (And my next trike might have a big, comfy seat on a "bent". Some might be disturbed if I don't spill my drink.)