Electric Bikes - Electric bikes

Anyone has one?

I'm thinking about getting one for commuting. They range in price from $500 to $3000.

Some are no-pedaling needed. Some are pedal-assist (which I prefer).

They weigh (get ready) from 40lbs to 120lbs!!

They are illegal here

B/C they have a motor they are classified as motorized vehicles but not street legal b/c they cant conform to all the regs governing automobiles

LoL. that's just amusing. I see no point in a bicycle with a motor...

I would get one when I get really old (like 70) and can't climb those big hills anymore. I plan to be riding up until the the day I die.

I tried one for about 15 minutes at my LBS last year and it was fun. You can pedal it without any power assist but when you turn it on, you go up an hills with little effort or cruise on flat ground without pedaling up to 15 km/hr. I think the battery lasts a couple hours or around 30km. When I'm 70 and ready for one of these, the battery will probably last for months and top speeds will be around 50 km/hr

T.J.

just buy a vespa.

The pedals are included so when you go by a cop you can pretend it doesnt have a motor

I would get one when I get really old (like 70) T.J.

Ya know, 70 isn't nearly as old as it used to be.

This is the best one I've seen: http://www.electricvehiclesnw.com/main/lite.htm

Really a nice design. Decent range, fun to ride, feels like a bike. Range is about 20 miles (depending on temperature, hills, speed), but you can switch power off when you're not climbing or accelerating to stretch that. I have one but I don't ride it any more because I like the speed and quiet of a non-powered bike.

BTW: This question tends to excite the purists. Ignore the flames. Get whatever you are most likely to ride.

No flaming intended here--they are just illegal to ride in many places---just like those stupid motorized scooters all the kids have

I checked with the local authorities. They are considered the same as normal bicycles.

They have appeal to me because I don't want to be all sweaty when I ride to work. There are no showers at work and no place for me to change. Still I only live 5 miles away and on a hill.

They are illegal here

Where is "here?"

The land O cheese

OTW known as Wisconsin

I got it because I was not confident about commuting 33 miles round trip in the winter in Seattle. It helped a lot when I was getting back into cycling after a long time. You can keep your head up to be aware of traffic and start out quickly at intersections. It's not effortless though. You may still sweat on a pedal electric.

The land O cheese

OTW known as Wisconsin
Cheese is good.

The more cheese the merrier

They have appeal to me because I don't want to be all sweaty when I ride to work. There are no showers at work and no place for me to change. Still I only live 5 miles away and on a hill.

keep riding so you don't break a sweat so easily, and drink cold fluids immediately after you dismount

electric bike is just silly, put the miles in or buy a vespa. halfway isn't halfway, just silly in this case.

sorry, but this makes as much sense as a car with pedals

I wouldn't get any excercise riding on a Vespa and besides Vespa's are illegal on the bike paths. When I'm 70, I'd still excercise to keep the fat off and the ol' ticker ticking. An electric assist bike will allow the me, as an old geezer, to pedal it so I can at least get some aerobic effect.

If I didn't excecise, I'd probably turn into one of those fat people you see riding on those electric "fat people movers" in the mall. I don't undertand that. I see them all the time, it's my own personal "sixth sense" ......"I see FAT people!" It's not that they can't walk, they choose not to because I see them get off of thier fat people mover to waddle over to the freezer to grab a gallon of Ben 'n Jerry's. If anyone needs excercise, it is them. I think they should put a set of pedals on those things and disconnect the motor. It'll sorta be like a recumbent with 4 wheels... *****, off topic... sorry... my bad...A.D.D.

T.J.

Tequila,
could not be said better,
that's what ebike is all about: pedal BUT with assist.
Hey not everyone is 30.
MC