Commuting - Electric bikes break my biking zen!

I'm just wondering if I'm the only one very annoyed by electric bikes?

Every time I met one I find their sound incredibly annoying. You hear them coming from a great distance; ZZZzzzZZZzzzZZZzzzzZZZzzZZZZZ... When I meet one I try to pass them as fast as possible to not have to bear this devil creation.

When I'm on my bike I get so zen, it's almost communion with life itself (really, I will sometimes go on 50km rides to relax and stop thinking about all that bothers me). ;) Then they come in and ruin it. :(

To each their own.

To each their own.
+1
I would like to test ride one, just to know how its like.

+1
I would like to test ride one, just to know how its like.

Like a Vespa, but slower.

I don't ever remember seeing one in person.

Like a Vespa, but slower.

Clearly you have not ridden one, or rode it wrong when you did. Electric assist bicycles need to be pedaled. They feel like a regular bicycle only a bit faster or with somewhat less effort.

There are also electric mopeds on the market, they feel a bit like a slow moped. None of the above feel like a Vespa. There is a forum devoted to electric assist bicycles; and yes, there is a lot of ignorance and ill feeling toward electric bicycles.

The ill feeling is understandable; to many people riding a bicycle is an opportunity to display their physical greatness. The electric assist bicycle is suitable for people who wish to use the bicycle to transportation and moderate exercise (remember, they still need to be pedaled). What some do not understand if the use of a mechanical contraption, for transportation, at all you can go everywhere you need to go by just running, anything else is just plain lazy (and it breaks the runners zen).

I'm just wondering if I'm the only one very annoyed by electric bikes?

Every time I met one I find their sound incredibly annoying. You hear them coming from a great distance; ZZZzzzZZZzzzZZZzzzzZZZzzZZZZZ... When I meet one I try to pass them as fast as possible to not have to bear this devil creation.

When I'm on my bike I get so zen, it's almost communion with life itself (really, I will sometimes go on 50km rides to relax and stop thinking about all that bothers me). ;) Then they come in and ruin it. :(

I much rather pass a mild ZZZZZ than a roaring Hog, a spewing diesel or any other motor vehicle. Most bicycles I see on the streets in Cleveland squeak due to lack of lube louder than a well maintained electric bike. I hope to see more electric bikes rather than fewer.
Craig

I'm just wondering if I'm the only one very annoyed by electric bikes?

Every time I met one I find their sound incredibly annoying. You hear them coming from a great distance; ZZZzzzZZZzzzZZZzzzzZZZzzZZZZZ... When I meet one I try to pass them as fast as possible to not have to bear this devil creation.

When I'm on my bike I get so zen, it's almost communion with life itself (really, I will sometimes go on 50km rides to relax and stop thinking about all that bothers me). ;) Then they come in and ruin it. :(

People talk a lot about "that's very zen" or "getting zen", but I find when I ask them what zen is, very few people know; they've just heard others misuse the phrase. Not saying you necessarily are, but your usage suggests that your idea of zen may not quite match with the real thing. Zen doesn't mean some kind of transcendence-on-earth, and it doesn't mean having the world go away and leave you alone -- rather the opposite at times. Better to just say "electric bike noise annoys and distracts me" than to claim that it "breaks your biking zen".

You're not being very zen if you're getting annoyed at anything.

I've had more issues with tailgating, engine-braking tractor trailers ruining my *zen*.

I wish I had your problem.

We've already had this fight once in here. In fact the thread is still alive after it was moved to the electric forum

http://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=297667

I've never even seen an electric bike, but I can't imagine they're any more annoying than cars, buses, UPS trucks, or my favorite pet peeve, the landscaper blowing grass off the sidewalk into my face.

LOL! That thread got too hot for me to get into. I have never seen one either and to tell you the truth I don't know what to think. A part of me does not like them because the main reason I commute is for fitness, which is something the US could stand to improve in. On the other hand I don't see any practical reason to not like them.

You're not being very zen if you're getting annoyed at anything.

+1

Deal with it or get a trainer, you're not the only cyclist on the road.

Electric assist bicycles need to be pedaled. They feel like a regular bicycle only a bit faster or with somewhat less effort.



Can the power/electric assist be turned off at will and use it like a regular bike? How heavy is it to pedal w/o the power assist?
I'm thinking, it would be nice to have if one is to haul some really heavy load, like a month worth of grocery stuff.

Thanks in advance for any info!

Can the power/electric assist be turned off at will and use it like a regular bike? How heavy is it to pedal w/o the power assist?
I'm thinking, it would be nice to have if one is to haul some really heavy load, like a month worth of grocery stuff.

Thanks in advance for any info!
We've got a whole forum devoted to e-bikes (http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?f=258), which includes pedal-assist. Check it out. :)

I haven't seen one, but I've had to share the bike path with some electric scooters, and they're not a problem. I'm happy to share the bike path, or the road; and I'd rather share it with something on two wheels than four; and I'm happy to have more cyclists out there, even if they're not working as hard as the rest of us.;)

And if they're recharging these things with solar or wind, cool! More than likely, however, they're really just coal-powered bicycles... and I don't see the value of that. Yes, it makes a difference, and yes, it matters.

Can the power/electric assist be turned off at will and use it like a regular bike? How heavy is it to pedal w/o the power assist?
I'm thinking, it would be nice to have if one is to haul some really heavy load, like a month worth of grocery stuff.

Thanks in advance for any info!


Yes you can turn the assist off. The weights of E-bikes vary greatly. Mine (no longer in production) was light at ~45 pounds, and they can be as much as 70+ plus. Pedaling mine without the power feels exactly the same as pedaling a touring bike with a load.

I use mine as a heavy hauler. I used to drag a trailer but have since added a XtraCycle kit to it. Funny how the opinions on it changed when I did that. With just a trailer or loaded panniers I would get ridiculed, but once it grew its long-tail it's now considered cool. I guess the XtraCycle is both "in" and forces one to consider its practical applications.

Before the XtraCycle (http://homepage.mac.com/awcg/.Pictures/Bike/Lite.jpg)
After Xtraizing it (http://homepage.mac.com/awcg/.Pictures/XtraLite/XL1.jpg)
Carrying a 9x12 rug (http://homepage.mac.com/awcg/.Pictures/Bike/Giant/Rug.jpg)
Hauling an 8 foot ladder (http://homepage.mac.com/awcg/.Pictures/XtraLite/XL3.jpg)
A month's groceries (http://homepage.mac.com/awcg/.Pictures/Bike/Commute1.jpg)

I wouldn't mind having one to help haul things from the store.

People talk a lot about "that's very zen" or "getting zen", but I find when I ask them what zen is, very few people know; they've just heard others misuse the phrase. Not saying you necessarily are, but your usage suggests that your idea of zen may not quite match with the real thing. Zen doesn't mean some kind of transcendence-on-earth, and it doesn't mean having the world go away and leave you alone -- rather the opposite at times. Better to just say "electric bike noise annoys and distracts me" than to claim that it "breaks your biking zen".
I think you need to take my thread with a grain of salt. It is more of a funny rant and being way more picky that I should be.

Quite frankly it doesn't annoy me as much as I might have depicted it. I thought it would make a fun thread that would turn into how biking makes you feel nice or whatever similar.

Looks like I was wrong...
:o

Like a Vespa, but slower.

No way. Vespas are way more fun than e-bikes.

(used to have a '66 V9A1 back in college)

I think you need to take my thread with a grain of salt. It is more of a funny rant and being way more picky that I should be.

I was thinking this morning how I am not really able to establish a routine and go on autopilot for my commute. Not that you can ever afford to slack off on paying attention to road conditions, but anyway, it's interesting how there are always lots of things taking up your brain space even when you're mostly doing something as purely instinctive as pedal-pedal-pedal-pedal... I can never zone out and just enforce watching my front wheel and what it's immediately about to hit or avoid, I keep needing to adaptively manage potential route changes as errands and scheduling are adjusted.

I saw a 2nd one of these things (http://egovehicles.com/fileadmin/user_upload/products_ego2_lg.jpg)today, in addition to the one that I have been seeing on my route for a month or so. This time got close enough to see it definitely lacked pedals, and could squint out something like a make/model id. I see why the one I was following down hill was bugging me, when you back off the throttle it increases the brake for you! So I was trying to go faster, and his cruise control was keeping him slowing.

Boo hoo. It's no different than biking past a house with a couple guys using leafblowers.

I much rather pass a mild ZZZZZ than a roaring Hog, a spewing diesel or any other motor vehicle. Most bicycles I see on the streets in Cleveland squeak due to lack of lube louder than a well maintained electric bike. I hope to see more electric bikes rather than fewer.
Craig

Off topic, but this reminds me of the other day, when a young (about 13 year old) girl was peddling up our street as I was driving home. I signaled to turn left into my driveway, and she stopped to let me go first, which was nice, but I wanted to talk to her about her right to the road and her lane, etc.. I didn't, but keep thinking I should have. Couple days later she was riding around the block no-handed. Her bike was squeaking like crazy. I was working on my car, and had all my tools available. I wanted to tell her to pull in, so I could adjust it, and/or lube it, but decided not to. She peddled around the block twice more, squeaking all the way, and I had to stop myself from waving her down to fix it. Know why? Fear of being seen as some kind of predator, or something. Sad, eh? :(

On topic, I WILL own an E-bike at some point. I ride for enjoyment mostly (just like that little girl riding no-handed), and would appreciate the assist on some occasions. Otherwise, it will be used by my wife when we ride. She doesn't "enjoy" riding as much as I do, and that might just be the ticket to longer rides with her. Anyway, E-bikes are coming along (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dRpAZci9m0&mode=related&search=) whether you're on board or not. Maybe there's an E-car (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqqtJpfZElQ) in your future instead.

I hate electirc bikes! I think all electric bike riders need to go back to driving their cars!
(joking)