other cyclists out there?

[mighty58]

For me, it was about exercise and weekend/after-work outings with the kid. So going electric would remove the exercise component.

You actually do get quite a bit of exercise from an electric bike, but I have yet to convince a non-electric bike rider of that fact.

[Yossarian]

I just purchased a Trek FX2 a few months ago. I had a hell of a time hunting down and XL frame. Trek had a 18 month waiting list. However Y-Cycle Shinjuku had some stock! (They almost upsold me an FX3).

yeah, I got the FX3 a few years ago. Disc brakes was the main reason didn't get the FX2 (do new FX2 have disc brakes now?) - doesn't matter how much it rains, brakes are super effective.

[Kanto]

I just purchased a Trek FX2 a few months ago. I had a hell of a time hunting down and XL frame. Trek had a 18 month waiting list. However Y-Cycle Shinjuku had some stock! (They almost upsold me an FX3).

yeah, I got the FX3 a few years ago. Disc brakes was the main reason didn't get the FX2 (do new FX2 have disc brakes now?) - doesn't matter how much it rains, brakes are super effective.

Yes, the fx 1-3 have disc brakes.

7man for the FX2 seemed pretty reasonable to me! 10man for the FX3 was a bit much. Very limited options for XL though.

[Beaglehound]

I love biking and bike everywhere, but I avoid referring to myself as a cyclist as invariably there will be a "real" cyclist around that asks what I ride, hand then end up scoffing at my bike when they hear I ride an electric cargo bike (the Tern HSD), complete with a Thule kids seat on the back, a pannier, and a folding container as basket in front. Maybe the RJ crowd will be less snobby. I love the bike, so versatile, and I do Costco runs with it as I can carry almost anything (the rack can handle 100kg) but it helps me avoid buying too much stuff I don't need as well. I'm based in Yokohama, nice waterfront and riverside paths around, and although I usually stay within a roughly 10-12km radius, I've ridden up to Shinjuku and Shibuya a few times as well, and it's not that bad at all.

E-bikes are becoming really popular for ‘guided’ bike tours up here in Hida. Makes places accessible that would otherwise be beyond the ordinary person. I can see myself investing in one when I get a bit older and could use some assistance on steep climbs.

[mighty58]

E-bikes are great and I firmly believe they are the future. Awareness is rising, but the two most common reactions I get are either a) people who only know e-bikes from mamachari's and thus dismiss them as crap, or b) people think I primarily turn a throttle and don't do any work. Mamachari's are crap, and while adding a motor helps, it's still a crap bike so that is justified, while the throttle-turning ebikes (ie. the 45kph pedelecs) are a different beast and are illegal here in Japan anyway.

A decent quality bike (I know the sky's the limit with bike components, but I'm just referring to a non-ebike that would otherwise retail for about 8-12万円) that is then assisted by a quality high-torque motor from Shimano or Bosch, is the sweet spot for ebikes I think. And emphasis on "assisted" because you're changing gears and pedalling just like a normal bike. I won't pretend you get as much of a workout as a normal bike, but you can always adjust the assist level or turn it off completely if that is your primary goal. I see no downside to ebikes except for the cost, which is still relatively high.

[Kanto]

E-bikes are great and I firmly believe they are the future. Awareness is rising, but the two most common reactions I get are either a) people who only know e-bikes from mamachari's and thus dismiss them as crap, or b) people think I primarily turn a throttle and don't do any work. Mamachari's are crap, and while adding a motor helps, it's still a crap bike so that is justified, while the throttle-turning ebikes (ie. the 45kph pedelecs) are a different beast and are illegal here in Japan anyway.

A decent quality bike (I know the sky's the limit with bike components, but I'm just referring to a non-ebike that would otherwise retail for about 8-12万円) that is then assisted by a quality high-torque motor from Shimano or Bosch, is the sweet spot for ebikes I think. And emphasis on "assisted" because you're changing gears and pedalling just like a normal bike. I won't pretend you get as much of a workout as a normal bike, but you can always adjust the assist level or turn it off completely if that is your primary goal. I see no downside to ebikes except for the cost, which is still relatively high.

They are incredibly popular, every single bike at our hoikuen is an e-bike. However, they are overkill for many parents who buy an 11-20万 bike for very short journeys.

An FX1+child seat would run you 7万.

Anyways, none of these were options for me, unfortunately. Long legs mean few choices in this country.

[japanville jojo]

I've seen a comment or more about cycling, and japan is truly a nice place for this in a number of ways.

I know there are better forums for discussing it, e.g., https://tokyocycle.com (and I'm jdd there, to dox myself)

But how about if members here check in with any comments about their riding? Or if you're already there at TCC, what do you go by?

I've ridden here for years, crashed a couple times, and have three bikes, none of them new. Oldest is an aluminum cannondale (cross) with slightly fatter tires, next a carbon trek (road) that is probably 15, and last a steel tourer. Two of them have fenders/mudguards, all three have triples (and brooks saddles).

Today's ride was on the cannondale, since it's still a little wet in places--25km/80min, kind of a retiree's pace. I used to commute when schedule and weather allowed that, and would then wander a little on the way home.

Anyone?

Hey jdd, didn't know you were on this forum. Well, like mentioned over at TCC, I hope to hop on the bike and tour Shikoku after the wife's birthday in a few days from now. Oh, and the Ishikawa Peninsula was really a test for me.