Electric Bikes - got beat by an electric bike today

DAYUM.

On the way home today an older guy with an electric front hub on his mtb snuck up behind me and dusted me...

I caught up to him at the next light and then went all out (I was on my fixed gear with a 49x16 or 17 gear..) and I beat him to the next light about 1/4 mile down, then he caught up again and I went all out again for another 1/4 mile or maybe a bit longer this time...

He finally caught up to me at the next red and by then I was already overheating lol .. so I let him go and he went another 1/2 a mile down the road and I finally caught up to him at yet another red light... at that point, I asked him if he would let me draft and he said ok so I drafted for another 1/2 a mile and he went a different way than me.....

ouch.

=)

Is there some reason you thought there was a race going on?

I don't consider myself "beating" everyone I pass when I ride my own eBike. I'm simply riding a bit faster than they are.

And I do get "beat" by some guys as well. Mostly roadies that are averaging in the mid 40km/hr range. But since it isn't a race, I just don't bother.

Is there some reason you thought there was a race going on?

it's entertaining? i know i get bored and i "race" people that don't know it. my commute isn't that long but 10 miles with nothing else but the wind can get rather tiresome.

Is there some reason you thought there was a race going on?
.....


I only get on the bike to race. j/k.

I like to have imaginary races with unsuspecting old guys on electric bikes.

smd. superior mechanical devices... =(

it is so much fun !

You could easily do 25mph + with 49x16. I didn't think those electric bikes could go that fast!

it's entertaining? i know i get bored and i "race" people that don't know it. my commute isn't that long but 10 miles with nothing else but the wind can get rather tiresome.

Plus it helps get you in better shape. Sprints, intervals, riding a fast pace against an electric bike... it all helps.

You could easily do 25mph + with 49x16. I didn't think those electric bikes could go that fast!


he told me he has it at 48 volts... and the motor was 400 watts.

I could easily beat him, I just ran out of steam .......

400 watts. Of course.....

ohh, and there was a mean headwind !!!!!

I was suffering.

Is there some reason you thought there was a race going on?

I don't consider myself "beating" everyone I pass when I ride my own eBike. I'm simply riding a bit faster than they are.

And I do get "beat" by some guys as well. Mostly roadies that are averaging in the mid 40km/hr range. But since it isn't a race, I just don't bother.
I like to keep my inner child young. If I pass you I win! HA!

No, seriously.

I like to keep my inner child young. If I pass you I win! HA!

No, seriously.


I will be the one to hand you the trophy at the end !

ohh, and there was a mean headwind !!!!!

I was suffering.

and i had experienced a gsw to stomach and left thigh as well:rolleyes:

NE wayz not to hijack thread, but man was beat he was a cyclist and he was beat down hard in Toronto by angry cager, it was filmed go see footage, i hope that judge would throw tough laws at this man :mad:

I race unsuspecting old ladys and 10 year old kids all the time

DAYUM.

On the way home today an older guy with an electric front hub on his mtb snuck up behind me and dusted me...



I put electric bikes in the same catagory as a motor vehicle, and I wouldn't feel bad about being "beat" by it. So if I get dusted by an electric bike, it's no different than getting passed by any other motorized vehicle on the road. I did my best to hold back a smile, several months ago, when I overheard a fairly overweight woman remarking, rather happily, to another person on how she could out run many roadies with her electric recumbent.

Is there some reason you thought there was a race going on?
.

Its always a race :D

Just wait for his batteries to run out, then you can ride away from him!!

Just wait for his batteries to run out, then you can ride away from him!!


Just as long as your's doesn't run down first. :D

I've never even seen an electric bike on the roads around here. I did overtake and pass a Segway once though. ;)

I only met one electric bike rider on the road. He pulled out quite a ways behind me and was pedaling, but wasn't catching up or dropping back. Then as we were climbing a hill, he slowly caught me as I was going about 8 MPH. At first I had no idea it was an electric bike so I was quite surprised to see him gaining on me up the hill, without standing or rocking in any way. Once we reached the top, we cruised side by side and talked for a couple of minutes. I closed our conversation by telling him to continue having a nice ride and then took off and left him behind! It wasn't a race but it still was fun! :)

I've never even seen an electric bike on the roads around here. I did overtake and pass a Segway once though. ;)

That's an amusing mental image! I've never seen a Segway out on the streets--the only place I've seen them was in college, where the campus police had a couple that they used on patrol. (I was also on the campus EMS squad and we had the option of using them when on duty as well).

So many people racing their bikes here on public streets it's scary. You do realize that you're "street racing" right? Your bike is still considered a vehicle and, in Ontario at least, racing against another vehicle and/or clock is considered street racing.

there aws a full on gas powered scooter locked to the bike rack the other day... i got so mad that he was taking a spot from a real bike i was almost tempted to kick that damn thing over.

zeuser - so if street racing is illegal, is taking a motorized vehicle on a bike path legal?

So many people racing their bikes here on public streets it's scary. You do realize that you're "street racing" right? Your bike is still considered a vehicle and, in Ontario at least, racing against another vehicle and/or clock is considered street racing.

Is there something wrong with that? I race every time I ride.

zeuser - so if street racing is illegal, is taking a motorized vehicle on a bike path legal?

A motor vehicle is illegal on a bike path. And since I know what you're trying to get at, you need to understand that under the law, an eBike is NOT considered as a motor vehicle. An eBike is a bike. It follows all the same rules as a regular bike; with a few more restrictions. It's allowed everywhere a regular bike is allowed to go. An eBike is allowed on a bike path because it's not a motor vehicle.

Sounds weird doesn't it? You would think that an eBike would be considered a motor vehicle right? Well, think about it for a second: an eBike doesn't require a driver's licence, insurance or licence plate. Why? because it's not a motor vehicle.

EDIT: Here's what the law states regarding eBikes in Ontario Canada. Most states in the U.S. are similar:

http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/vehicle/emerging/image/electricbike.jpgEffective October 3, 2006, the Province of Ontario began a three-year pilot project to evaluate the use of power-assisted bicycles (also known as electric bikes or e-bikes) on roads and highways where conventional bicycles are currently allowed. The pilot is opened to all Ontarians 16 years of age and older and will run for three years. For the duration of the pilot, electric bicycles will be treated as bicycles and must follow the same rules of the road as set out in the Highway Traffic Act that currently apply to cyclists.
There are two exceptions:

Operators must be 16 years of age or older, and
All operators must wear an approved bicycle helmet at all times.SAMPLE LABEL:
THIS VEHICLE IS A POWER
ASSISTED BICYCLE AND
MEETS ALL THE
REQUIREMENTS UNDER
SECTION 2(1) OF THE
CANADA MOTOR VEHICLE
SAFETY REGULATIONS.


CE VÉHICULE EST UNE BICYCLETTE
ASSISTÉE ET RECONTRE LA NORME 2(1)
DU RÈGLEMENT SUR LA SÉCURITÉ
DES VÉHICULES AUTOMOBILES DU CANADA.
During the pilot:

No driver's licence is required,
No written test is required,
No vehicle registration or plate required,
No requirement for motor vehicle liability insurance.An e-bike is a bike that:

has steering handlebars and is equipped with pedals;
is designed to be propelled primarily by muscular power and to travel on not more than three wheels;
has a motor that has a power output rating of 500W or less. (Note: the motor is electric, and is incapable of propelling the cycle at speed of 32km/h or greater on level ground, without pedaling.)The power-assisted bicycle pilot is authorized by Ontario Regulation 473/06. In this regulation, the legal definition of an e-bike refers to the federal definition of a power-assisted bicycle. For the full definition, please see subsection 2(1) of the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act.


Edit: Hold on... I think I was in error about the whole racing part. I just noticed the law states MOTOR VEHICLE. Bikes are vehicles but not motor vehicles. so if you're in Ontario, by all means.... go ahead and race!. W00T!

What I want to know is whether they have spoked wheels so I can give Mr. E-Biker the Cinzano Treatment.

Is there some reason you thought there was a race going on?
I think he left out the part where the guy on the ebike gave him "the look" and then began to turn the pedals in anger as the road turned towards the sky and began to twist back and forth on the mountain like string discarded by the Devil himself.

That's an amusing mental image! I've never seen a Segway out on the streets--the only place I've seen them was in college, where the campus police had a couple that they used on patrol. (I was also on the campus EMS squad and we had the option of using them when on duty as well).

Some old dude was riding one on a paved MUP around here last summer. Riding a motorized vehicle on the MUP is a no-no BTW.

So many people racing their bikes here on public streets it's scary. You do realize that you're "street racing" right? Your bike is still considered a vehicle and, in Ontario at least, racing against another vehicle and/or clock is considered street racing.

I seriously hope you are kidding.

DAYUM.

On the way home today an older guy with an electric front hub on his mtb snuck up behind me and dusted me...

I caught up to him at the next light and then went all out (I was on my fixed gear with a 49x16 or 17 gear..) and I beat him to the next light about 1/4 mile down, then he caught up again and I went all out again for another 1/4 mile or maybe a bit longer this time...

He finally caught up to me at the next red and by then I was already overheating lol .. so I let him go and he went another 1/2 a mile down the road and I finally caught up to him at yet another red light... at that point, I asked him if he would let me draft and he said ok so I drafted for another 1/2 a mile and he went a different way than me.....

ouch.

=)

Ebikers give something fun for roadies to do while on their ride. If you can pass them, it definitely tells you you're in shape! So far I've had two roadies able to keep up, and one actually left me in the dust. I was pretty impressed by the latter (we were on a slight downhill, but still pretty impressive).

so can i legally tell those segway freaks to get the hell off the MUP?

they seem to have segway training classes around the art museunm here in philthy from time to time (i see them on the way home). they have never gotten in my way yet but i could see if these things increase in popularity they will become a big nuisance.

i don't even undersatnd them. do they even go over 10mph? my nightmare is the day all the lazy people of the world figure out they can clog up the MUP with these things and electric bikes and whatnot.

so can i legally tell those segway freaks to get the hell off the MUP?

they seem to have segway training classes around the art museunm here in philthy from time to time (i see them on the way home). they have never gotten in my way yet but i could see if these things increase in popularity they will become a big nuisance.

i don't even undersatnd them. do they even go over 10mph? my nightmare is the day all the lazy people of the world figure out they can clog up the MUP with these things and electric bikes and whatnot.

In terms of health benefits (or lack of), there's a huge difference between a segway and an electric bike. On a segway, you're not walking... you're standing there. An e-bike requires you to pedal or at least gives you the option to pedal. So people get exercise in an e-bike. And even more so since they normally would just hop in their car. An electric scooter is more analogous to a segway.

I would love to see more electric bikes out on the MUP. It just means more cyclists in general, meaning more demand for cycling infrastructure in the region and less cars polluting the air. I guess my dream is your nightmare.

You just gotta drink more whiskey and beer the night before, ala one mr. landis. Then you could smoke those electric bikes :rolleyes:

I was able to out accelerate him, I just could not sustain it forever in that headwind condition !

So many people racing their bikes here on public streets it's scary. You do realize that you're "street racing" right? Your bike is still considered a vehicle and, in Ontario at least, racing against another vehicle and/or clock is considered street racing.

The moniker of "street racer" is for cars as not many ppl are going to get killed if I get all squirlly on Queen Street on my bike. I somehow think a judge would have a bit of difficulty droppin' 10k fines on alley cat riders. I've seen several EV bikes locked up though have yet to see one moving. I have seen them with batteries removed as well left on the bike.....looks like a PITA to have to lug that cell around. Hey if it gets a whole new segment of riders out there.....bonus, CM is coming for real. The curb lanes are gettin' pretty crowded at rush hour in a few spots.

In terms of health benefits (or lack of), there's a huge difference between a segway and an electric bike. On a segway, you're not walking... you're standing there. An e-bike requires you to pedal or at least gives you the option to pedal. So people get exercise in an e-bike. And even more so since they normally would just hop in their car. An electric scooter is more analogous to a segway.


That's my big problem with the Segway. The technology is, admittedly, really cool and it can be fun to ride (while on the college EMS squad I took the Segway training that was offered), but do people in this country REALLY need another way to not get any exercise when out and about? I don't think so. I never even ended up using the Segway on any of my shifts, partially because I felt it would be faster for me just to walk/run if there were stairs or other obstacles involved when responding to a call (and this was usually the case), and partially because of the aforementioned philosophical problem with the whole concept.

Some old dude was riding one on a paved MUP around here last summer. Riding a motorized vehicle on the MUP is a no-no BTW.
Sorry dude, but e-bikes are considered bicycles, and are allowed on MUP's. I don't know about segways.
There is a guy on the forums who is building what amounts to an electric moped. And given how strong he's going to power it, it'll have to be tagged to be legal on the roads, and it would not be legal on a MUP.
But my ol' "pick-up-truck" in my sig below is legally a bicycle, and I would use the MUP's if we had such things here. Not that I could drop anyone on that thing anyhow.

Its always a race :D

yup

i have never seen or herd of anyone getting killed by illegal bicycle racing. now illegal street bike racing...different story. i have seen 2 people die in new orleans east.

well except being blasted by cars

so can i legally tell those segway freaks to get the hell off the MUP?

they seem to have segway training classes around the art museunm here in philthy from time to time (i see them on the way home). they have never gotten in my way yet but i could see if these things increase in popularity they will become a big nuisance.

i don't even undersatnd them. do they even go over 10mph? my nightmare is the day all the lazy people of the world figure out they can clog up the MUP with these things and electric bikes and whatnot.

Well, I don't know about Philly but the one paved MUP near me has signs at all the entrances saying no motorized vehicles. To me, that means any vehicle with a motor...which certainly includes the Segway. I can see disregarding that for an e-bike but not for a Segway.

I live about 2,000 miles away from where you live though. ;)

so can i legally tell those segway freaks to get the hell off the MUP?

they seem to have segway training classes around the art museunm here in philthy from time to time (i see them on the way home). they have never gotten in my way yet but i could see if these things increase in popularity they will become a big nuisance.

i don't even undersatnd them. do they even go over 10mph? my nightmare is the day all the lazy people of the world figure out they can clog up the MUP with these things and electric bikes and whatnot.

Not really. Unless there's a municipal bylaw against it.

The moniker of "street racer" is for cars ...

Should've read my other post. I corrected my error in that one.

Should've read my other post. I corrected my error in that one.
No fair sneaking back and correcting....:lol:
RACE AWAY!!!

I seriously hope you are kidding.
the law is of curious thing in kanada

you be surprised at the crazy things :eek:

so can i legally tell those segway freaks to get the hell off the MUP?

I'm not sure, max. AFAIK, in some places there are special laws pertaining specifically to segways and where they can/can't be used.

No fair sneaking back and correcting....:lol:
RACE AWAY!!!

I didn't, you just missed the correction that's all.

but do people in this country REALLY need another way to not get any exercise when out and about?

Perhaps they aren't out-and-about for the purpose of exersizing in the first place? There are other reasons people are going from point A to point B. It isn't hard to imagine a host of reasons people would like to get to where they're going twice as fast without breaking a sweat.

Hey, if it gets even a minute section of the populace out on two wheels as opposed to being in the car then WE HAVE A WINNER. I have zero issues with e-bikes, if at whatever age you decide to forgo the car and want to get one of these babies, more power to ya. If they are that quick and are willing to offer me up a rest in the way of allowing me a draft....cool.

Just playing Zeuser. Where abouts in miss.?

Perhaps they aren't out-and-about for the purpose of exersizing in the first place? There are other reasons people are going from point A to point B. It isn't hard to imagine a host of reasons people would like to get to where they're going twice as fast without breaking a sweat.

It's true that they aren't out and about just to get exercise, but in our society everything is set up to eliminate any physical effort from normal daily activities, and that situation just isn't what the human body is designed for. The sedentary lifestyle that is so prevalent nowadays is not healthy; we need to move in order for our bodies to stay in good condition. It would be better for public health if day-to-day transportation involved some physical activity, as it does for people who walk or bike for their shorter trips. Things like Segways tend to discourage this rather than encouraging it, IMHO.

It would be better for public health if day-to-day transportation involved some physical activity, as it does for people who walk or bike for their shorter trips. Things like Segways tend to discourage this rather than encouraging it, IMHO.

So what? Pie isn't good for you either. You wanna outlaw pie, too? Quit being such a busybody. Other people can make their own decisions about what they "need". You don't have any moral standing to decide what other people "need".