Cape Town Cycle Tour 2020

[Long Wheel Base]

Aren't ebikes capped at a top speed of 25km/h after which the motor cuts out?

Imagine being able to do 25kph up edinburg, smits, chappies and suikerbossie in windy weather(provided there is enough battery power by then). I'd say that is a serious advantage. If used wisely it can definitely benefit someone using it to cheat. Someone riding it because it allows them to actually get on a bike, we don't have to worry about them as they will still be slow.

[DieselnDust]

Aren't ebikes capped at a top speed of 25km/h after which the motor cuts out?

 

 

the road bike versions are capped at about 40km/hr. The e-mtb's are capped at 25km/hr.

 

Lets face it, if the motor cuts  out and disengages at 40km/hr they're probably going downhill and the weight will help them keep going at that speed or faster till a hill or the SE appears.

 

Never have I stated praying so hard for a SE...

[Shebeen]

Imagine being able to do 25kph up edinburg, smits, chappies and suikerbossie in windy weather(provided there is enough battery power by then). I'd say that is a serious advantage. If used wisely it can definitely benefit someone using it to cheat. Someone riding it because it allows them to actually get on a bike, we don't have to worry about them as they will still be slow.

Clearly you haven't ridden an ebike, they don't work like that.

[Jase619]

Clearly you haven't ridden an ebike, they don't work like that.

 

I can almost guarantee you he hasn't, why not enlighten us?

[Mamil]

I've never ridden an ebike up chappies but I'm assuming that if there is enough battery by then which I could ensure by having the motor off on the descents and in eco on the flats that it would add 250 watts to whatever I was putting out thereby propelling my mamilian bulk up the hill at 25kmph allowing me to pip the Savage in 172nd place.

 

Doesn't it work like that?

 

Clearly you haven't ridden an ebike, they don't work like that.

[Shebeen]

I've never ridden an ebike up chappies but I'm assuming that if there is enough battery by then which I could ensure by having the motor off on the descents and in eco on the flats that it would add 250 watts to whatever I was putting out thereby propelling my mamilian bulk up the hill at 25kmph allowing me to pip the Savage in 172nd place.

 

Doesn't it work like that?

 

 

Pedal assist...it is what it says on the box.

To go 25km/h up chappies will require some serious input from the rider.

 

Yes, there are "ebikes" with throttles. No they should not be allowed. No they were not specific about this.

[Pure Savage]

Imagine being able to do 25kph up edinburg, smits, chappies and suikerbossie in windy weather(provided there is enough battery power by then). I'd say that is a serious advantage. If used wisely it can definitely benefit someone using it to cheat. Someone riding it because it allows them to actually get on a bike, we don't have to worry about them as they will still be slow.

 

At 25km/h uphill would still get dropped at the CTCT 

 

 

 

 

[Chingy182]

Pedal assist...it is what it says on the box.

To go 25km/h up chappies will require some serious input from the rider.

 

Yes, there are "ebikes" with throttles. No they should not be allowed. No they were not specific about this.

Pedal assist for sure, but big emphasis on the assist part.

 

Just outside Nuwerus camping site in the Cedarberg there is quite the mother of a hill slog going toward Ceres side... 71YO Mother-in-law bought herself an e-bike for her 5km around the block adventures a few weeks prior. So there we go riding up this hill only for 71YO granny to be killing me on the climb with an absolute smile on her face

[Pure Savage]

There actually is an old ballie, 70 add that is the only person who rides Chappies more than Savage and the rasta dude. He rode through the whole of winter!

[Shebeen]

Pedal assist for sure, but big emphasis on the assist part.

 

Just outside Nuwerus camping site in the Cedarberg there is quite the mother of a hill slog going toward Ceres side... 71YO Mother-in-law bought herself an e-bike for her 5km around the block adventures a few weeks prior. So there we go riding up this hill only for 71YO granny to be killing me on the climb with an absolute smile on her face

So tannie with a throttle type ebike.. . Different beast to the one being allowed to ride argus

Those ones not limited to 25kph either fyi

[Mamil]

I still don't understand - my fastest ever up Chappies is at an average speed of 20kmph - 272 watts for 13:47. This is distinctly average and enough to get me 2773rd place.

 

Lets say on that day I took it easier and did 200 watts and the pedal assist augmented that with 200 watts I would do it faster than I ever could and if it weren't for the limiter I would leave the Savages red in the face in my wake. (A prospect that makes riding an ebike that looks like those sleek Bianchis and Colnagos from an earlier post quite attractive)

 

I've been watching Phil Gaimon chasing KOMs and he looks to average about 415 watts for 20 minutes on a climb - the pedal assist would put me taking it easy in his class. which strikes me as bizarre if these bikes are going to be racing on CTCT day in a mixed field.

 

 

Pedal assist...it is what it says on the box.
To go 25km/h up chappies will require some serious input from the rider.

Yes, there are "ebikes" with throttles. No they should not be allowed. No they were not specific about this.

Edited October 10, 2019 by Mamil

[Nick]

Having done this race enough times for it be a rinse and repeat, I'm pretty intrigued by this ebike inclusion. It'd be nice to try something different, even if the novelty value lasted just one year. It's basically the whole premise of gravel bikes. Of course, on a proper road e-bike, something like the Creo or Domane+.

Try get the first sub 3 including a stop to eat a Bar One at every waterpoint. That'd be something different 

[eddy]

Maybe a special starting chute with a 900mm wide gate.......if you can't ride through, they hand you a hacksaw.......

 

 

How do I get my stomach through ?

[Andreas_187]

Let's not get our knickers in a twist over ebikes. I agree, the more the merrier.

They won't be part of the equation for those competing for the first couple of hundred spots and for those like me who are placing in the 1000's... who cares if I am 1884 or 1924

[Stefalbertyn]

With Specialized range calculator for a bike with 500Wh battery, a rider of 168 cm , 60kg: He/She will have to keep to 15km/h for the battery to last 110km

So no advantage really - but it will help people with a disability or physical issue to be part of the fun - trust me it is mathematically impossible to do a sub 3 hour on a ebike (that sticks to the rules) - unless you are fit enough to do it easily on a dikwiel - which an ebike becomes when there is no more battery.

[Long Wheel Base]

Clearly you haven't ridden an ebike, they don't work like that.

Nope, and will probably never ride one.