Debating Whether Ebikes or Regular Bicycles Are Better Is Nonsensical

When it comes to electric and regular bikes, claiming the superiority of one over the other is odd. A test on the physical effort required by each of them, expressed in watts, shows that each is more adapted to a particular type of usage and rider.

Nowadays, it seems like there’s always a debate of which is better: the old or the new. It especially applies to means of transportation (such as with combustion cars or electric ones).

And it’s no exception for cycling enthusiasts: the question of whether they should go for a regular bike, or an electric one pends on them as the market for ebikes increases and the demand for the more conventional bicycles slowly dwindles. Especially in countries where cycling is widespread, like in the Netherlands or in Germany, ebikes have conquered more than 50% of the market. Although many ebikes are used mostly for leisure, the ebike is increasingly becoming an economic and ecological alternative to the car, especially for commuting and shopping. When traffic is dense, it’s even quicker than a car.

We’re now seeing two fully formed camps: the well-established non-electric bicycle zealots, who believe themselves to have the stronger legs. They don’t want any “unnecessary” weight added to their handy bikes.  In the other camps, the avant-gardists ebike pedallers see a new and improved version of a very practical way to get around.

Debating which of the two is better, is missing the whole point

To put it simply, the ebike is more often the car substitute of a health, economy and environment savvy person, than the fitness tool of a lazy sportsman. If your legs are strong enough and you ride only short distances, or for sport, an organic bike is better in most cases. Should you use a bicycle to carry loads, ride medium or long distances, daily commuting to work, you would really appreciate an ebike. Also, the older you are, the better you can profit from electric assistance. It could encourage older, overweight and less active people who would otherwise not use a bicycle, to switch to two wheels. It woos them to continue cycling despite physical limitations and thus maintain their physical activity and fitness.

It’s no surprise that regular bike/ebike connoisseurs have put the two to the test, and we can now better gauge the advantages of both options.

The tests: ebike or organic bike?

The first tests were conducted in the Triangolo Lariano in Lombardy, going at a constant speed of 25km/h (15 Mph) for 10 kilometers, comparing the carbon Dynatek Gravel full carbon with a weight of 11,5kg to the Canyon Grilz:ON with a weight of 18,5kg, and a Bosch Performance Line CX Motor. Both bikes were tested on a windless day, on a track with very little traffic, all this while calculating the watts needed and how many heartbeats per minute the cyclist measured.

Watts required for pedaling, regular bike versus ebike with the motor turned off

The first test was made with the electric motor turned off and therefore none of the Canyon Grilz:ON’s assistance modes (Eco, Tour, Sprint & Turbo), it yielded the obvious result in favor of the organic bike. The traditional Dynatek Gravel, with its sophisticated yet sturdy design has proven to be a reliable bicycle, while the Canyon Grizl:ON doesn’t offer much other than extra weight from the battery, the motor and the motor resistance. Or that would be the case unless you press the ON button.

With the ebike motor assistance

The second test resulted in an average of 106 W with the Canyon ebike against 139 of the Dynatek. The calorie consumption is 678 versus 964, the final average velocity is higher with the ebike, the heart rate is higher with the organic bike. Sergio Borroni (medical doctor, cyclist adventurer, vlogger and the one who conducted the test) noted that average speed of 25km/h was more easily maintained by the ebike. It only demanded 106 watts to his pedalling, and the ride pushed his heartrate to barely 95HB. The Dynatek Gravel gave the result of 23km/h in terms of average speed, needed 139 watts for his pedalling and caused 119 heartbeats per minute. Borroni managed to burn 678 calories with the ebike while the traditional bike made him burn 964 calories (though this could be seen as a positive by some who are trying to lose weight). He states that his speed was practically double that of the cyclists he surpassed, and that of the regular bike.

Watts required for pedaling, regular bike vs. ebike in each assistance mode

The regular bike Dynatek Gravel, on the test flat, 10 kilometers path, required an average 114 watts for pedaling, resulting in 97 heartbeats for a minute. This sheet synthetizes the watts required by pedaling with the electric bike following its different assistance modes (HB= heartbeats per minute):

Mode	eco	tour	MTB	turbo	Motor off 25kmh	Motor off 30km/h
Flat terrain	152w/104HB	89W/86HB	77W/80 HB	44W/77HB	161W/114HB	211W/125HB

The test was conducted on a country road. Urban use, requiring frequent stops and starts, would widen the gap in favor of the ebike, in terms of wattage consumption for pedaling.

It should also be noted that when Borroni went uphill, a 44 km route with 430 m elevation gain, he only needed 172W for the electric bike compared to the regularl bike’s 223W. Heartbeats were respectively 112 and 140. As for the total time, well, he managed to complete the course 9 minutes ahead of time, compared to the regular bike, and with much less effort. More about that on our post Researchers confirm health benefits of ebike riding.

The gap is even wider if we are to consider sheer power

Regarding power transmitted to the wheel by electric bikes, their advantage is even more appalling. For instance, for their very popular Bosch Performance Line CX Motor Gen5, Bosch declares a peak power of 750 watts, and a 400% support. That involves multiplying by four your pedaling power, delivering at the wheel anything from five to seven times the pedaling power of a normal cyclist. What implies that the older a cyclist is, and the steeper the climbs he rides on, the more he is likely to forsake his regular bike for an electric one.

In the end, choosing is up to you

Of course, the fact that a regular bike requires more effort than electric one doesn’t mean you should necessarily go for one or the other. The math is there, but at the end of the day it comes down to your own preferences, and how you’re going to use your bicycle. If you have a “no pain, no gain” mentality or if you can’t afford an ebike, go for a regular one. If you’re looking for an effective means of transport that could keep you in shape without straining your body or trying to get into more serious cycling but don’t know where to start, then an ebike is your go-to option.

Images: Canyon, Dynatek, Bikeitalia.it