did my first 50 miles and realizing half the mandatory upgrades on youtube are useless
Posted by moiz_faisal135@reddit | ebikes | View on Reddit | 57 comments
Just got my first ebike a couple weeks ago. before it arrived i watched a ton of accessory guides and almost convinced myself i needed 400 bucks worth of extra gear just to leave my driveway safely. now that i am actually riding it to work every day, my view is totally different. things like a heavy lock are obvious, but half the stuff influencers call essential feels completely pointless for a normal ride. those massive heavy pannier bags just slow me down, and the fancy custom mirrors vibrating on the handlebar make me dizzy. i started logging the gear lists i found online against my actual daily riding experience just to see what is real utility vs hype. threw my thoughts into a quick sheet. did anyone else notice a massive gap between what people say you need online vs what you actually end up using?
funcentric@reddit
Exactly, my video shows stuff that I personally use regularly and none of it is sponsored and the channel isn't monetized. https://youtu.be/0kWreSoXa6I?si=G0xRuLEBZqpNiCBJ
The absolute necessities are water bottle cage, bell and phone holder. That's it. The rest are "accessories", meaning access/extra. Generally if you can help it, I wouldn't recommend locking the bike at all. Keep it within sight. I ride for recreation only, so obviously a lock is needed for those who commute who aren't able to bring it indoors to their work.
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Mirrors still require a head check, much like a car. So if you're going to do a head check anyway, then a mirror isn't going to be as "useful" as one may think. Obviously if you see something in the mirror, you won't have to perform the head check.
Inciteful_Analysis@reddit
See I would say a phone holder isn't necessary at all. And a bell is secondary to a mirror. You can always call out your alerts if you don't have a bell. But a bell makes life easier.
Being able to monitor traffic behind you without turning your head is a decisive advantage.
funcentric@reddit
I generally don't use a bell only b/c I find it a bit obnoxious. I'll only use it when absolutely necessary b/c the road is too narrow. I generally will give a pedestrian as much space as possible being that if I'm anywhere near them, chances are that I'm intruding on their space - not the other way around. e.g. temporary sidewalk riding and for bike lanes, I treat them as the single lanes that they are. I'm not passing another biker in a bike lane. If I want to pass, I take the risk and the burden and go into the car lane beside it. It would be great if other bikers would do the same, but I expect literally zero out of other cyclists b/c 99% of them suck and don't know how to behave. Very unfortunate. Too much entitlement these days.
Inciteful_Analysis@reddit
Not all bells are obnoxious.
The larger issue is that they often have the opposite of the intended effect. By ringing a bell pedestrians often naturally change lanes in response.
Strong argument that it is safer to simply give them wide berth and pass them unannounced.
But some pedestrians get upset if you don't warn them. It really is a no win situation.
funcentric@reddit
I find some of the higher end bells have a nicer sound to them that sound a lot more pleasant. $30-50 though. I don't assume most people are opting for those. I haven't found the "changing" lanes thing to be true in my instances of using a bell. I generally compliment it with "on your left please" and they know what to do.
As mentioned, I rarely use the bell b/c I'm too far for them to matter.
If they get upset and they're in a bike lane or jaywalking, then that's their bad. If I'm on a closed road, trail or something where pedestrians are typical, then I'm the one that does need to alert.
Inciteful_Analysis@reddit
Passive cowbells are great for offroad trails with obstructed corners. And there is never any feeling of guilt.
SnuffyMcfluff@reddit
I ride several thousand mile a year and I only have one of your big three (bottle cage). But, for the most part I think we are on the same page.
funcentric@reddit
Yeah, it really depends on what the rider is using the bike for. I'm typically not on the bike for more than an hour and don't really need a bottle cage for that. I used to ride 10-20mi a day and definitely wanted it then. Refilled often on my century rides. Around town? zero bottle. And if I know where I'm going and don't need a map, phone is in my pocket.
Beneficial-Exam-6097@reddit
Preach on - I am just getting into e-bikes, and I haven’t rode a bike in about 15-20 years so you hit the nail on the head there, at least with me lol
funcentric@reddit
Yeah, that's the general population of adults buying ebikes these days. I'm no exception, at least as of 15 years ago. Got into it before people really knew what ebikes were, before the craze and have been learning a lot since.
Beneficial-Exam-6097@reddit
Ride on and be safe 🤜🏻🤛🏻🚲
Proof_Ambassador2006@reddit
Even the absolute necessities, I find myself not wanting to put my phone on the bars lol. My smartwatch has been clutch, handles calls over the watch's speakerphone just fine.
funcentric@reddit
That might work for you but I would argue that a vast majority of people aren't riding with smart watches. Your single instance doesn't change the recommended necessities for most riders.
chrispark70@reddit
I've been trying to re-find your channel for a while. Glad you posted it.
"Myths include people thinking a battery twice the size will give them twice the range. "
I mostly and with some minor caveats disagree with this. The difference in weight between a big battery and a small battery is mostly minuscule. A battery that has twice the capacity isn't as heavy as two batteries of 1/2 the capacity each.
The bulk of the weight is the human and the bicycle minus battery. If I had double the battery, I would have twice the range or at least very close to it. My bike is 42lbs and I am 215. The battery (252wh included in bike weight) is maybe 5 pounds (I don't know because it is inside the down tube and removing the battery is a royal pain requiring tools and a lot of time) and .19% of the weight. Doubling that to 10lbs would make it .39% of the weight (both figures under 1/2 of a %). It is such a minuscule fraction of the weight that it does not appreciably cut down the mileage. While this weight would be a higher percentage of the total weight in a much heavier battery, it would still be tiny as a percentage of the total weight including the rider.
Also, weight is not the primary drain on the battery, that would be speed. Going twice as fast but getting there in only half the time dramatically increases the energy consumption for that ride. You're looking at 3-4 times the amount of energy to go 30mph vs 15mph.
I absolutely cannot ride a bike without a mirror. I have limited range of motion in my neck, plus even before the neck injury, I felt naked without a mirror.
funcentric@reddit
I hear that response a lot. Think of the static weight of the ride as the constant. It doesn't change in either a single or dual battery setup. The comparison really needs to be based on the weight of the battery vs the range it supposedly offers. The weight is 2x or 100% more. A heavier rider will get less than ideal range with a single battery setup and that same rider with a dual battery setup appears to be a less percentage of the weight only b/c one is comparing to a larger weight rider. Imagine a mouse riding the ebike. Basically zero weight. The added 2x battery weight is quite substantial.
Also handling of the ebike differs noticeably for anyone who is used to riding bikes.
Good point about speed vs weight. But going further, it's the amps that are being drawn. Typically the higher the speed, the more amps are being drawn. But amps is a better comparison b/c it takes into account hills.
I too ride with a mirror typically. Only one of my bikes doesn't have a mirror and only b/c it's so bulky. I recently got a digital camera mirror, but not for bikes. It definitely does help to be able to see blind spots but not everyone will be using a mirror. I don't recommend any fancy mirrors to anyone who wouldn't be using a regular mirror in the first place. Mirrors are like turn signals. Many motorists don't bother using them. Not b/c they're not important - just that they're lazy and we can't expect everyone to lift a finger b/c this day and age, that's too much work for some.
robotcoke@reddit
Wait til you find out the online bots claiming cheap ebikes are dangerous, trash, and unreliable are just as wrong. And that a cheap ebike is just as enjoyable as an expensive ebike, and if anything goes wrong with it in the future then it can almost always be repaired for much less than the cost of a new ebike. You may already know all of this, but just throwing it out there.
Something else that may or may not be surprising to you - there is no real life animosity between "fast" ebike owners and "proper" ebike owners. Online comments would leave you to believe there is a war, with anything that can exceed 28 MPH being the exact same as a Harley Davidson and the owners of such evil devices being despised by all the people who own "proper" ebikes. And that even if it has fully working pedals, does not exceed 750 watts, and has a top speed of 28 MPH, if it even slightly resembles a motorcycle in appearance - then it should be treated the exact same as a Harley Davidson and the owners of such evil devices are despised by all owners of "proper" ebikes.
The truth is, they're all bots, pushing an agenda. They have zero understanding of what is actually like in the real world because they only understand what they read online. In the real world, everyone enjoys whatever ebike they get, and they're always happy to ride with owners of every type of ebike. There are tons of "cheap" ebikes on the road being enjoyed. And they ride with bikes that look like motorcycles, bikes that look normal, bikes that have Christmas lights all over them, and everything else in between. They do this every Thursday at 9 in Salt Lake. Here's a video someone posted after one of them last year:
https://www.reddit.com/r/SaltLakeCity/s/XEsdhNtFIS
chrispark70@reddit
I paid 315usd shipped for my e-bike. The one before it was 260usd shipped, but it got stolen. So I agree to a point about cheap e-bikes.
But fast e-bikes are ruining it for everyone. Already come July 19th, I will no longer be able to e-bike into Jersey (I live 5 minutes from Jersey) and there are draconian laws being proposed all over the country now due to irresponsible "e-bikers" riding like maniacs on very fast non class-compliant bikes. People are getting seriously injured or killed on or (meaning 3rd parties like pedestrians and other cyclists) by these things. While this subredit heavily leans towards safety sallies and people who just want to complain, it's not like they are entirely wrong.
robotcoke@reddit
If people riding recklessly is a problem, then they should make it illegal to ride them recklessly. Way more people are killed in car crashes every day than ebike crashes, and they aren't making cars illegal anytime soon. In fact, it's not illegal or restricted in any way for your car to be capable of going 200+ MPH. Reckless driving is illegal, but cars capable of being driven recklessly are perfectly legal.
The bikes aren't the problem. If the laws are draconian, then the law makers are the problem.
chrispark70@reddit
In many, if not most American jurisdictions, reckless driving is a crime (usually a misdemeanor) and not just a ticket. I absolutely agree about enforcing the law. A lot of these new laws either being passed or discussed in legislatures and city councils are ignoring the enforcement aspects.
You're preaching to choir here about latent potential vs what people actually do. Personally, I think they should just enforce existing law against violators rather than limiting power. I often point out that you can buy a Dodge Challenger SRT with 800hp. OTOH, bicycles don't have tags. There have been news stories about teenagers driving like maniacs on city streets and then fleeing when police try and pull them over endangering both themselves and others.
High speed e-motos are not illegal, just like pit bikes and 2 stroke motos aren't illegal, they're just not legal for the road. I have no problem with people buying these powerful machines and taking them to the track, they should just not be on the road.
robotcoke@reddit
Why shouldn't they be on the road? For every person riding them recklessly there are probably 1000 people who don't cause a problem.
Like you said, you can buy an 800+ horsepower car and it's not a problem. Why should an ebike that can't even keep up with traffic on a busy street be treated like it's a Harley Davidson (if not outright banned altogether)?
chrispark70@reddit
Because it is a tautology. They are not electric bicycles, they are e-motos/pit bikes. We make exceptions for bicycles because they are bicycles with inherent limitations.
Do you think people should be allowed to take their off road 2 stroke 250 Yamaha dirt bike on the road? If so, you are just too much of a libertarian for me. You probably don't live in the city. In my city, it is a common occurrence for hundreds and hundreds of off road vehicles to perform a street takeover, and not just 1 or 2 blocks doing donuts, but miles of streets that become impassable.
robotcoke@reddit
Not according to the dictionary.
Bicycles exceed 30 MPH every day. You go slow uphill and you go fast downhill. It's been like that from day 1.
I absolutely think they should be able to. As long as they're not riding them recklessly, then I don't understand what the problem is.
I live in Salt Lake. So yes, I love in the city. And it's a city completely surrounded by mountains. So, again, half the ride is usually slow uphill, she the other half is really fast while you come back down. If hundreds of riders like to perform a takeover, then make that illegal and arrest them for it. It's ridiculous to say, "We know there are thousands of people who never bother anyone, but we're going to outlaw what they like to do because a smaller group of people are doing something else that actually is a problem."
Go directly after the actual problem. It's not complicated, lol
Similar-Elk7529@reddit
Hahahaha! You listen to influencers!! Just wait until AI gets hold of your helpless self.
Seriously people, learn how to do real research. The world is at your fingertips but that is useless without critical thinking skills.
chrispark70@reddit
Research what you need? Not me. I ride my bike, notice things missing that I would like and then try to obtain those things. Once I have identified a need, I may "research" which specific brand of that thing I need, but NEVER let other people decide what it is that I need in the first place.
_kemaso@reddit
Calm down schizo
Similar-Elk7529@reddit
Calm as can be. Just find phone-raised children to be hilariously incompetent. Or it would be funny if they weren’t the future.
MickyBee73@reddit
Front and rear lights (rear light with built in braking light sensor, so those behind you know you're slowing down, or stopping). A decent pair of gloves. My phone stays in my pocket so it's not a distraction. * If your E-Bike is a 'Hardtail' then I highly recommend getting a decent suspension seat-post, trust me your arse and spine will thank you for it. Tyres - I always put Schwalbes on all my E-Bikes, their 'Marathon' is a great rolling tyre, that'll last a very long time and you shouldn't get any punctures using these, as they have a built in anti-puncture lining. I've done thousands of miles on these tyres without any punctures.
Cellist_Acceptable@reddit
My essential gears are phone holder, speaker, lock, mirrors, rear view camera, pov camera, and gloves.
MickyBee73@reddit
I was wondering if anyone was going to mention gloves. A good pair of comfortable, reasonably thin gloves (I've some thin leather ones, and they're great) are advantageous, especially on longer rides.
FatherSky@reddit
Is your phone your display? If not, why is the phone holder essential? I'm genuinely curious as I would never think that would be an essential accessory.
Cellist_Acceptable@reddit
Its for changing music, text, gps.
Cargobiker530@reddit
Helmet, eye protection, hand protection, bell, mirror, front basket or rear rack, lock, micro pump. Those are the absolute minimum for me. The list on your spreadsheet is insane.
dodonpa_g@reddit
To really enjoy an ebike, all you need is a helmet and mirrors. Safety is the priority because people in cars are your biggest threat. Wear a backpack with a spare tube and tools.
Odd-Lime-2738@reddit
It’s like any travel stuff. Working out what you need, rather than what other people think you need is definitely a process.
For mirrors, I’ve found a helmet or glasses-mounted one to be far better than my bar-end ones, but there’s definitely a learning curve. When it becomes second nature, it really is like having an eye in the back of your head. But a lot of people can’t get past the adjustment stage. 🤷♀️
Ohm_Slaw_@reddit
Agree. I have a helmet mounted one, it really is superior. But you do have to learn how to adjust it, and it must be adjusted every ride. Once it's dialed in, it's easy to sweep the road behind you and see everything.
But there is a "this thing can't possibly work" adjustment period.
nightwood@reddit
You did this after 50miles? Youtube ia obviously all ads for stuff we don't need but 50miles not exactly a lot.
MonzellRS@reddit
You can get mirrors that don’t vibrate, and they are an important part for safety.
ChristianLS@reddit
I can see how they'd be convenient, but I've always found that a simple look backward over the shoulder gets the job done. YMMV though, I very rarely ride in heavy traffic, usually on dedicated bike infrastructure and/or quiet residential streets.
chrispark70@reddit
What you actually need are a helmet, patch kit (or spare inner-tube), air pump, rear view mirror, water bottle, a good set of front and rear lights and phone mount if you want to carry your phone.
Preferable if you are using the bike as transportation is a rack and fenders if the bike didn't come with them.
Optional is a small triangle frame bag for keys and wallet.
Laserdollarz@reddit
The hummingbird feeder in your list is absolutely necessary
RockHead-MA@reddit
To each their own. Very dependent on your circumstances and preferences, as well as weather.
As someone who urban bike commutes to work outdoors, and brings lunch, panniers are a must have, because I probably need to carry more layers than an office worker. And in warm weather I HATE a sweaty back from a backpack. I work until sunset, so I consider turn signal lights on the bike and helmet, and ProViz outerwear, vital to riding home in the dark. Once I got used to a helmet mirror, riding in traffic felt better.
Winter commuting in single digit Fahrenheit temperatures requires some careful apparel choice as well. YMMV.
Do you need anything more than a $50 used bike? No, not absolutely. Do some accessories make you safer, more comfortable, or faster? Yes, definitely. But it's not the same for everyone.
padan28@reddit
You really should have a mirror of somesort if you are riding on the road, but I agree the handle bar mounted ones are not the best. Helmet or glasses mount is way better, I have this one:
https://www.brandscycle.com/product/take-a-look-active-llc-take-a-look-eyeglass-mirror-294027-1.htm
As someone else mentioned it takes a few rides to get used to it, but eventually it feels like part of you and you start miss not having it when you are walking around without it haha.
SnuffyMcfluff@reddit
E-Biking culture is frustrating to watch. I love a lot of E-Bike tech, but the folks who use it are shockingly uninformed and are not using basic observation skills. Look at bike commuters without motors who’ve obviously been doing it for a while. What are we using and where do we ride? Emulate that. People who make their money on social media are just marketers. Avoid them.
You don’t really need much to commute. I don’t use mirrors because I can look over my shoulder effectively. If you are new to riding you might want a mirror as you may find yourself drifting toward the side where you are turning your head. Eventually you will probably be able to ditch mirrors as they are fragile and annoying. If you aren’t carrying a change of clothes, just use a light backpack. Panniers are fine for grocery runs but a nuisance otherwise and are easily stolen while your bike is locked up. Good locks are really important for E-Bikes. Commuting on a an old clunker is a huge advantage. If you feel your fitness is up for your commute you can ride something no one wants to steal.
E-Bikes have opened up commuting for a lot of people who didn’t have the fitness or ability to commute on a normal bike. That is great, but you aren’t doing anything new or revolutionary. Bike commuters have been around for a century and most know what they are doing. Ask them questions.
PatrickGSR94@reddit
Rack and trunk bag/panniers are just a quality of life upgrade. Commuting with a backpack sucks ass, panniers are definitely the way to go. And I get the bar mirror thing, I don't see how anyone can see in one of those. I do, however, use a helmet mirror, always. Can't ride without it. I can always see what is happening behind me at all times, just as you can when driving a car. I don't understand why anyone would want to ride without one.
CaterpillarKey6288@reddit
I think the only thing you really need is a small bag with tools spare inter tube and a pump. Everything else is extras. My bike had mirrors and they were useless, mo matter how tight they moved. Got a bike camera and mounted the camera on the rear and got rid of the mirrors.
soyeahiknow@reddit
which camera did you get?
aninjacould@reddit
My must have accessories:
SP phone mount
Racktime rear rack and basket (I like to put my backpack in the basket. Plus it’s great to be able to remove a layer and put it in there.) I can easily remove the basket when I don’t need it.
MrM3ow@reddit
My current accessories atm are
basket for carrying groceries + pouch for a small tool and other stuff
left side mirror
phone holder
brompton-like front bag adapter (3d-printed, haven't used yet)
And I plan on finding / making and adding some pannier bags / baskets for more carrying capacity
Byproduct@reddit
Redditor has ridden a grand total of 50 miles so time to share the expert opinion.
Just like the influencers.
unseenmover@reddit
lock & foldable light cleverland pannier bag..
Anything else will just attract attention..
DarkVoid42@reddit
i needed a pannier bag, fixed mirror, cycling pants and jackets for summer and another set for winter, 7idp project 23 carbon helmet, home depot mechanix gloves and thats pretty much it.
rabotat@reddit
I use a cheap helmet from Decathlon and have lights installed and connected to the battery so I don't need to charge them.
I've found everything else usles, panniers especially. They would be useful if I went camping, which I won't do with an ebike. And they're okay for a grocery run. But for commuting, really unnecessary.
DarkVoid42@reddit
i use my panniers to hold my rhinowalk cycle bag so i can fold and put the ebike in for the train/bus or office. that way i dont get funny looks taking a bike in through an office building foyer.
Byproduct@reddit
Mirror is not only a huge convenience but also important for safety. Mine doesn’t vibrate.
I also like carrying stuff on the side bag much more than on my back.
Other stuff, eh, situational (didn’t read the list tbh, you’re the first person I’ve heard caring about influencers’ opinions this much)
ManyLayersOfFilament@reddit
YouTubers need to crank out content constantly to be promoted by the algorithm and share affiliate links to make any money since views alone aren't worth squat.
It's a downward spiral, YouTube gets less trustworthy as people all end up playing the same game.
Significant-Pen-6049@reddit
Their mostly paid kick backs for stuff or for making the video longer. Lights, mirror, helmet, phone holder is what I consider my necessary items
LieLevel7361@reddit
Use what you need and like. Not all are this same. For me essentials on ebike is : basket on the back to keep this heavy lock, helmet and removable pedals as I have folding bike, that's it. Enjoy your bike mate