Answered How much weight do I need to lose?

[Beekeeper]

I really wanted a Cube bike with a 625wh battery but in the end bought one with a 500wh.
I weigh 100kg. How much weight do I need to lose to get the same range from a 500wh battery as I would have got with the bigger battery?

 

[118]

Additional range could be achieved by your improved fitness, through simply riding, without the need of a bigger battery. Lots of factors can effect battery usage.

118.

 

[Anto Levo]

Depends on your height as to what weight you should be. I was 15.5 stone 4 years ago an down to 10.5 now. But I cycle 170 - 200 km a week on a nukeproof mega. I use my emtb once a week or sometimes once a month as I use it for exploring mainly but I always use eco mode myself. I think building your fitness and legs helps greatly. I wouldn’t be overly thinking about the weight as much.

 

[Rusty]

How long is a piece of string?

Based on pure maths you would need to lose around 19kg as the 625 - 19% is 506.
Of course, it is not that simple and there are many variables. As you lose weight you will probably also find you put more input into your riding which will in turn give you added range.
I expect after dropping 10kg you will find you have exceeded your targeted range goal.

 

[HORSPWR]

How long is a piece of string?

Twice its half length!!

 

[118]

Twice its half length!!

Not, twice the distance, from the middle, to the end?

 

[flash]

Well, for me, I need to lose 12-14kg because I'm getting fat and old and I know the weight where I feel like Superman. That's 12 kg away. I'd also increase my battery range. But only a tiny bit of that would be weight. Most of would be the extra fitness I gained getting to my ideal weight.

I could lose 20kg. People my height are that weight. But unless I'm trying to be an ultra endurance guy again that's not right for me and I'll actually have less fitness and power because I'll be starving myself to get there.

So I suggest you lose enough to get to where you feel great and just ride the bike.

Gordon

 

[kafkastan]

Based on pure maths you would need to lose around 19kg as the 625 - 19% is 506.

For a power-to-weight calculation, you should include the full system weight, and I believe you're forgetting the weight of the bike itself and any pack. Based on that, I reckon - mathematically - the figure is likely circa 25kg.

That said, I agree with the rest of your post. Losing 25kg would likely entail losing muscle mass and consequent mandraulic power, so that's unlikely to be the answer.

 

[Rusty]

For a power-to-weight calculation, you should include the full system weight, and I believe you're forgetting the weight of the bike itself and any pack. Based on that, I reckon - mathematically - the figure is likely circa 25kg.

True enough - 25kg could be closer. Was not forgetting overall weight - just mentally calculating as I was leaving the bike weight as a static. Don't take packs into account as I don't use them and the other random is that the 625Wh battery is something like 800gms heavier than the 504Wh.

I figured the 10kg drop would be a good starting point as 10% of body weight. Worked as a trainer for 20 years and hate scaring people with too ambitious targets.

 

[davarello]

Your range will improve with your fitness, but losing weight would also help as the batteries make us all acutely aware of the power to weight ratio and the key variable of gradient. Compared to when I got my bike 9 months ago I am the same weight, but can get up shallower climbs with lower assist levels and higher gears. Sometimes I still just need lowest gear and Turbo to make it up 28% steeps, the difference is I recover quicker at the top than before. I'd agree with Rusty that 10% would be good weight loss target.

 

[Zimmerframe]

I really wanted a Cube bike with a 625wh battery but in the end bought one with a 500wh.
I weigh 100kg. How much weight do I need to lose to get the same range from a 500wh battery as I would have got with the bigger battery?

Maybe none ... there's the psychological side.. with the 625 you'd be thinking "wow, I've got a huge battery - no need to worry as it's more than the 500" .. so you'd probably abuse the higher assist modes more.

Depending where and how you're riding, you'll still be getting pretty good range with the 500.

For the first few weeks I wouldn't think about weight or range. Just get used to it. Ideally use the least assist modes where possible and treat yourself to the others when you need them or at times it's not pleasurable ! Just being out on the bike enjoying yourself will be increasing your metabolism. Maybe lay off the Mead after a ride !

 

[p060064h]

The more you loose the fitter you get so will naturally use less assist and gain more range.

 

[p060064h]

The more you loose the fitter you get so will naturally use less assist and gain more range.

 

[Zimmerframe]

The more you loose the fitter you get so will naturally use less assist and gain more range.

Could you say that again ? ?

 

[cozzy]

Embrace the fatness & buy a second battery. Thats what ive done.

 

[Zimmerframe]

Battery gives you power to get up hills quick.

Lard gives you momentum to go down hills quick .

Does sound like a good combination when you look at it logically ..

 

[Gary]

I don't really get all the range anxiety here.
the other day I rode to work in the morning and straight rode out of town to meet friends for an evening ride and a few beers in the local hills. After the beers my battery ran out (had done 40 miles and about 3200ft ascent) so I just rode the 10 miles home on the road with the motor switched off. Other than the odd hill I was riding along above 16mph anyway.

I'm far from race fit these days and also a little overweight. (but I am strong) If you're able bodied and healthy and worried about range you're probably just not very fit or strong.

 

[Zimmerframe]

After the beers my battery ran out

So what you're actually saying here is that the beers ran out before the battery ?

You knew this would probably happen ? Did you have beer anxiety before hand ?

 

[Gary]

There's always beer man

 

[ggx]

Ride e-bike empty is a good exercice tool !

 

[andytiedye]

If you're able bodied and healthy and worried about range you're probably just not very fit or strong.

Or the hills are very steep.

 

[Doomanic]

It doesn't help that Bosch are very disingenuous with their capacity claims.
The 500Wh battery is actually 482.4 (36v x 13.4Ah) and the 625Wh is actually 601.2Wh (36v x 16.7Ah)

 

[khorn]

It doesn't help that Bosch are very disingenuous with their capacity claims.
The 500Wh battery is actually 482.4 (36v x 13.4Ah) and the 625Wh is actually 601.2Wh (36v x 16.7Ah)

View attachment 17832

Could it be that when battery is 100% charged, the voltage is higher than the nominal 36 volts? When looking at my fully charged Levo in Mission Control the indicated voltage is higher than nominal power.

Karsten

 

[Doomanic]

I don't think so, I'm pretty sure capacity is based on nominal, not peak voltage.

 

[Doomanic]

The Steps is advertised as a 504Wh battery and is bang on the money at 14Ah and 36v nominal.

 

[Doomanic]

Triple Post, yaaay!

Have a look at the plating label on your Levo, what does it say for voltage and capacity?

 

[khorn]

I don't think so, I'm pretty sure capacity is based on nominal, not peak voltage.

You might be right for sure but as an advertising gimmick it could be Bosch way of tweaking the truth. It could be interesting to confront them.

Karsten

 

[Mikerb]

The main reason to lose weight is for your health not to increase range on a bike! That said the bike may act as a good barometer and incentive and indeed a method of achieving that weight loss...…….but score your weight loss as the result not range on the bike because there are too many other factors at play to guarantee any range increase will be proportionate to the weight loss.