What I Like About e-assist

[@tomboyd9053]

Great overview on your personal experience with e-assist, Sylvia. Thank you! I have often said that if it wasn't for my e-assist and trike adaptations, I would no longer be able to ride as I do today. It has kept me physically active in the outdoors. Keep on Triking!

[@TravelsByTrike]

@@tomboyd9053 thanks!

[@EllenJohn4]

Game changer for my husband who is disabled! He could ride 3-5 miles on a flat trail and now can easily cover 25-30 at altitude in our mountainous area. It changed his life and gave him freedom from his wheelchair.

[@TravelsByTrike]

@@EllenJohn4 yes, that is fantastic.

[@LolliPop_Farm_VT]

❤❤I resisted for far too long, pride and all that. But when my Recreational Therapist at the local VA said “if you want to keep pedaling, It’s time, at least until after your knees and hip replacement… and we can reassess after that.” What I found was… electric assistance has give me the ability go on longer rides, engage with my community, and has been especially helpful in dealing with the symptoms of Iraq Afghanistan War Lung Injury (burn pit exposure), by elevating and especially _maintaining_ my heart rate in the target training zone, for longer periods of time, which I found has a much more beneficial response, than the short strenuous rides without it. And my knees and ankles definitely hurt less from less “pushing”, I found a good Torque Sensor was the key to that relief.🎉

[@TravelsByTrike]

@@LolliPop_Farm_VT those are all very good points. I’m glad you didn’t wait any longer.

[@garyseckel295]

Torque sensing IS superior to cadence sensing!

[@IonFire1967]

Sylvia, great videos. I just took delivery of my HP Velotechnik Scorpion Plus 20. Made my first ride here near Munich on 1 January 2025, 13km. Why a Trike with e-assist? I'm 85 and have a row of health issues starting with balance and insecurity on my normal e-bike (we were early adopters in 2013). I also have heart insufficiency, and Afib, running on a pacemaker. I also got my second fake knee in September. Besides, we do almost everything on our bikes/trikes, shopping, Doctors, Biergarten, etc. Therefore, to stay active, a trike with e-assist is the only answer.

[@TravelsByTrike]

@@IonFire1967 very good choice. Congrats!

[@punterwegs9651]

I had ridden my HP Streemachine Gte for a few years when I decided to get a trike - I still do enjoy my Streetmachine very much! So after I had bought my Scorpion FS20 I took it for my first ride up the little hill behind my house. Two kilometers uphill 8 to 12 % degree. I ordered e-assist rigth afterwards. It's a Bosch Performance Gen 4 with dual battery (2 x 500). I decided for the Bosch system because of it's prevalence. I kept the rear 9 gear derailier system which works just fine - never had any problems so far. Just once in a while I think that riding without e-assist would be great for touring and not having to depend on electricity for recharging - and a lighter trike that's easier to transport. But I have to be realistic: At the age of 67 I enjoy the comfort of not having to struggle any more. Sometimes I wish I was 25 again - then I would go without.

[@TravelsByTrike]

@@punterwegs9651 yes, touring to remote locations or wild camping is more challenging to charge the batteries. It’s good to have choices.

[@redtail59]

I have a Catrike Villager e-assist and absolutely love it. I'm almost 74 and have had 2 knee replacements and find the e-assist is so much kinder to my knee joints!

[@TravelsByTrike]

@@redtail59 oh yes!

[@22Vets]

Hi Sylvia, Lance Smith here from Bill's FB birthday wishes. I'm glad to see this subject discussed. I went from a Cl-3 bike to a Cl-1 Catrike Max with the Bosch after my stroke. I find myself often going from Eco to Off & taking time to smell the roses. Conversely, I'll put it in Turbo if I'm short on time. & yes, the division between e/non-e is too bad. But it IS getting smaller thanfully. To each their own & Matthew 7:12 (golden rule). Happy 🦃 Day

[@TravelsByTrike]

@@22Vets thanks!!

[@kenmcclow8963]

I put a 12 volt motor on a mountain bike I had in the 1990’s which was a great thing for commuting. Since lithium hadn’t been invented yet it used a 12 volt motorcycle battery, so it had about a five mile range. It had a two speed throttle for low and high. On flat ground it could go 20mph, but going uphill it would die and fall over unless I was pedaling because it didn’t have much torque. It was great for riding to work and then I would pedal home unassisted. I put a Bafang motor on my Terratrike and it is ridiculously overpowered, so when I bought my Catrike I wasn’t going to put a motor on it initially, but I go up some hills at 2mph and joggers pass me, so I didn’t think I could keep up with any groups without a motor. I bought a Tongshen which is torque assist so the harder you push the more power you get which I like better than the Bafang where pedaling faster gets more assist. I keep changing my front gears so I’m somewhere between easier to pedal versus faster speed. I usually end up in the back of the group now, but using less battery than I was. I think the social aspect of riding makes having the motor worthwhile. I also think having the motor on solo rides means I will go a lot further without worrying about getting back. I added a throttle after I had the motor for awhile and rarely use it. Primarily if I stop suddenly at an intersection and am in the wrong gear. And one time when I hurt my foot and didn’t want to do the last five miles uphill to my car. I probably could have waited for 30-60 minutes and been ok to pedal, but I didn’t want to wait

[@TravelsByTrike]

@@kenmcclow8963 wow! You’ve been riding with e-assist a long time.

[@kenmcclow8963]

@ that first bike only had the motor for a couple years, then it went back to being a regular mountain bike. That motor and battery were really heavy for the short range. Then I bought a fat tire ebike in 2016 that I rode until one of my friends bought a HP Velo FS20, and I started looking at trikes

[@Lhaffinatu]

I knew I wanted electric assist before I even got my trike. I always planned on it since day one. It's really made long rides on the trike more enjoyable and I never feel like I'm going to end up stranded somewhere because I'm too tired to make it home. If I ever feel the need to get some extra exercise, I just turn the electric assist off. I also turn it off when I just want things to be very quiet while I'm riding. It doesn't make much noise to begin with, but it's enough that sometimes I do want to turn it off.

[@TravelsByTrike]

@@Lhaffinatu it’s nice that many motor system can be ridden with the battery turned off.

[@terrienoll225]

@@TravelsByTrikeThat is essential as far as I’m concerned because what if it goes out? You can be somewhere and stuck in one gear, which is why I got a Rohloff so I could still shift without power.

[@richardbickel7278]

Thank you for making this video. I've been on the fence about adding E-power to my recumbent. You absolutely nailed it. I've been asking, is it time, what will others think, am I giving up, is it too soon, etc. Thanks to this presentation, I've decided to pull the trigger. I'm going to the dark side 😂 Again, thank you, Sylvia. Keep up the good work.

[@TravelsByTrike]

@@richardbickel7278 many thanks!🙏

[@TravelsByTrike]

@@richardbickel7278 thank you!

[@richardbickel7278]

Seriously, my sincere thanks to you. I've already sent the email to my HP dealer to get the ball rolling to order the components to convert my Streetmachine.

[@TravelsByTrike]

@@richardbickel7278 that's great!

[@PhyllisBoone-sn8oi]

My stroke-disabled husband has a mid-drive Bosch class 1 pedal assist on his trike. I ride with him without e-assist-I chose not to get e-assist yet as I've got 40+ years of riding tours and doing some racing, my heart and legs are strong and endurance trained so I've no problems riding briskly and changing gears frequently as I go. It's second nature to me. What his e-assist has done is enable him to ride comfortably at greater speeds and for longer distances. That has eliminated a lot of frustrations for both of us, as he doesn't struggle to ridecand I am able to enjoy our rides together more because I am not worried about dropping him as my body warms up to my natural cadence and speed. It's easier for me to stay with him now. I know this is hard for some to understand, but it isn't always easier to ride very slowly. Eventually, if riding means e-assist for me, I'm glad the tecnology is there. But for now, e-assist has made it easier for my husband and I to enjoy riding together.

[@TravelsByTrike]

@@PhyllisBoone-sn8oi that’s great!

[@PhyllisBoone-sn8oi]

@TravelsByTrike Thank you, Sylvia. I love riding with my e-assisted better half!

[@rustyfarkel]

My wife and I both have electric assist batteries on our Terra Trikes and love the horsepower. I see you have 250 Watts, but one day, you will want more. We both have 750-watt electric assist motors and love the horsepower, especially my wife. It has given us a sense of freedom to climb steeper hills and roads in the Northern California area with a throttle, and we love the burst of power when needed. The higher-wattage electric batteries are a game changer in the hilly area where we live.

[@doriskeil-shamieh8852]

With that kind of power it is hard to ride slow enough on rail trails where pedestrians have the right of way. I hope you are riding roads only because most trails are for class 1 e-trikes and bikes.

[@rustyfarkel]

@@doriskeil-shamieh8852 Just because you have extra power doesn't mean you have to use it all the time When we are crossing a busy road it is a safety factor in so much as having to slow traffic to cross. Seems to work well for my scaredy-cat wife.

[@TravelsByTrike]

Zoom zoom!

[@jeffreylevenson8156]

Have had a throttle for 10 years, yes can burn a bit more power but at almost 80 sure helps getting through an intersection quickly. Only gripe is the loss of the triple chainring setup. BTW, recent studies show that people who have motorized their rides actually get more exercise since they ride farther than they used to.

[@markfeldman6509]

You can keep your triple rings up front by using a hub drive system instead of the mid drive. It is also substantial less expensive

[@TravelsByTrike]

It’s interesting to hear about the studies.

[@doriskeil-shamieh8852]

My bike shop said it would cost $2700 to put electric assist on my trike. That is a no-go price for me. I can't afford a new trike with assist either and the trike I have works well so I don't need a new trike. So, I will always be riding alone. I was in a trike group and everyone but myself and two other people didn't have assist, and we all dropped out of riding with the assist group because they would leave us. Riding with groups who have assist is no fun for us unassisted folks.

[@TravelsByTrike]

@@doriskeil-shamieh8852 yes, I understand. There are group rides that are ‘no one left behind’. Even 2-wheel bike club rides have them.

[@LolliPop_Farm_VT]

@@doriskeil-shamieh8852 if you are handy, or knows someone who is, you can do it for a lot less at home, and gain invaluable knowledge and skills in the process. For a trike I’d highly recommend a mid-drive, into an internal gear hub . Hub motors are awesome, but make trailside maintenance such as changing tubes, quite cumbersome.

[@littlebitofhope1489]

That's just plain bad manners, and you should call them on it. You ALWAYS travel to the abilities of the slowest person. If they want to go fast, have extra fast days. But group days should be slowest person day. Shame on them. But it gives you a little glimpse of how disabled people are treated regularly.

[@doriskeil-shamieh8852]

Yeah, we did say something, and it didn't change anything. Electric assist really has changed how people ride. Those who don't have assist are shut out of groups.

[@markfeldman6509]

I’m glad it has worked out so well for you. I’m tempted to do an e assist hub drive conversion on my Catrike 559 next spring just to have it available. My Catrike 700 will just have this old man as the only motor.

[@TravelsByTrike]

@@markfeldman6509 I think you will enjoy e-assist.

[@arlenewinick7725]

Now that hubby has added Bosch e-assist to his Ice Sprint he finds himself now waiting for me at the top of long hills. So I sold my 2010 Sprint & my mountain bike and have a Terratrike EVO waiting for me in the Spring. Can't wait. BTW where did you get that helmet visor? Thanks, Arlene

[@TravelsByTrike]

@@arlenewinick7725 give me your email and I’ll send it to Leslie who makes the visors.

[@DemiGod..]

Have an ICE Sprint X Tour 26 trike with full suspension and a 250W motor. It is comfortable, easy to ride with the motor and great for pulling a trailer and carrying luggage , the Cyclone IV trailer having a foam insert on the bottom to carry 6 batteries , the trike itself , 2 on the frame. My criticism with it though is it is not great for excercise due to the weight, for that I got an ICE VTX sports trike which is as fast as my sports bicycle but alot more fun and safer.

[@debbieschwartz3132]

@@DemiGod.. I definitely get my heart rate up pushing a heavy trike. Im certainly not as fast but I'm ok with it

[@TravelsByTrike]

@@DemiGod.. wow, I thought I was carrying a lot with 4 batteries!

[@debbieschwartz3132]

Next years goal is adding a motor to my Ice Sprint X Tour. Im looking at torque sensing CYC Photon.

[@DemiGod..]

I did. To a Ice Sprint X 26 Tour RS, added front suspension a bafung 250W motor and a rohloff hub aswell as a rear rack and extension. It is comfortable and will climb any hill with ease. It also has near puncture proof 47mm Marathon plus tires. I get over 50 miles per battery on full assist, it carrys 2 bettterys on the frame , 2 in a pannier and , 6 more in a trailer giving a potential range of 500 miles without recharging.

[@debbieschwartz3132]

@DemiGod.. Sounds great!! I have FS and Alfine 8sp hub at the moment. I run the same tires as well. Bafang had the the M 635 torque sensing for a year then discontinued it. So I'm researching Cyc

[@tomprentice6935]

⚔️💪😎🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👌👍(stroke) ICE

[@pitufouno]

Thanks for the video. So, you didn't describe your present system. What model trike and motor do you use? How much did it cost, or does it cost now? I assume since you mentioned HP Velotechnic it's a Bosch or Shimano mid-drive, rather than a direct or geared-reduction in wheel type. I have heard the 750 watt mid-drives like the Bafang reduce chain life, but 250 watts may not affect it much. How many miles have you ridden with it, any problems, does it have a throttle or is it by pedaling sensors, etc?

[@TravelsByTrike]

@@pitufouno thank you. My last video went into detail about my trike and e-assist system. I ride a HP Scorpion fs20 with Shimano Steps E-8000. In that video I talk about problems and how I solved them.

[@pitufouno]

​@@TravelsByTrike Great, thanks, I will look for that.

[@garyseckel295]

250Watt Rohloff mid mount gearbox on my Hase Lepus'! Dual air suspension and 2WD under torso and any luggage, not rider's knees. 25-inch-high seat option BEST for my wheelchair/dual forearm crutches off and on!!!

[@garyseckel295]

Remember potential electric-assist pursuers, that 250W is legal on bicycle paths. Rohloff here too. Mid mount gearbox on my Hase Lepus is far easier than cassette shifting for us aging riders!

[@TravelsByTrike]

@@garyseckel295 good point!

[@clydekaneshiro5250]

The e assist on my trike allows me to keep up with the diamond riders in group rides. My throttle allows me to zip through intersections to avoid oncoming traffic. The electric also allows me to cover greater distances with less toll on my body. Is the electric cheating ? I’m not racing anyone so cheating is irrelevant.

[@TravelsByTrike]

@@clydekaneshiro5250 if e-assist is cheating, I bet 80% of cyclists are guilty.