Electric Bikes - Got scolded today

When I am addressing both styles, I refer to them as either "open frame" electric bicycle or "scooter style" electric bicycle. To call one, a "scooter" or a "moped" would be an innacurate description since a moped refers to a gas powered vehicle that requires special licencing. Just as calling an open frame electric bicycle a "bicycle" would be an innacurate description of what exactly one is talking about. Not as misleading as JUMBO SHRIMP. LOL They should both however be classified as "power assited bicycles" and that way the same laws apply to each. Handle bar to handle bar the scooter style is the same width as a regular bicycle. The fact that the centre of the bike is wider makes no difference on space required to "squeeze" through.

I think using the term "electric bicycle" isn't accurate. The term motorcycle implies that a motor drives a bi or tri-cycle vehicle. You couldn't pedal the thing to get around. The term "electric bicycle" may refer to those "scooter" style bicycles, that have pedals, but are really designed to be driven by an electric motor.

An electric assist bicycle, pretty much has to be pedaled to make the best use of the motor and the available battery power. It is usually installed on a plain bicycle and the bicycle can be ridden with no assist and there is virtually no difference in performance from before the assist was added.

Seems silly to discuss these points here - we all know what we have! Those that have never used a bicycle with electric assist, only possess a misconception.

Hi everyone, I read quickly through the posts on this thread.

First of all, i can guarantee you that bike shops will start considering power-assisted bikes since these will represent a large client base soon, and that means $$$ and nothing speaks louder than $$$.

My local bike shop is more than happy to lend their services but I simply choose to do all the work myself. One thing I find prevalent among e-bike owners is that they end up being bike mechanics (I knew nothing about fixing bikes until I decided to own an electric bike... I now know more about bikes than my colleagues do ... and I now help them with their bike problems!)

Bottom line is, like many have said here, it's a step in the right direction. Let's all play along nicely :-)))

... and for you Ontarians, like myself, :D please do wear your helmets, put front bright white lights at night, red ligts on the rear, keep to your right and signal at all turns as well as follow the traffic law. Getting hit by a car, whether you're on a ebike or a regular bike is the same, since we weigh just about the same to a car and we have little protection. Another thing: please don't follow another bike by a milimeter, give them two bike lengths.. and if you're gonna pass another bike, give them a wide enough birth... this is not Tallaged Nights :p(which, did you notice was all shot in the day???) :-)))

ride on!!! and all the more power to ya! :thumb:

Great Suggestions and Attitude Alphonsopolato. All these alternatives are a step in the right direction. Europe and Asia were first to adopt these choices, and in Canada, British Columbia and Quebec. Ontario of course was last. Better late than never...

cheerios mate ! :D

The emerging technology is less mo ped, but ped mo I think. The new breed of bikes with small motors are actually bikes that can be pedaled in a normal fashion that also handle like a bicycle as the weight is not compromised too badly. The motor allows for an assist that can be advantageous for many people in many ways, but wil not be the answer for everyone. However the bike industry and its staunchest supporters will poo poo this type of idea and drag its feet kicking and screaming until someone starts to make some money with the concept and some good press starts to flow. Then it will be "Here is our newest 2012 save the earth model blah, blah, blah."

I have been involved with a few of the latest industry upheavals, the Mtn. Bike back in the early 80's and the more recent 29" wheel phenomenom which came about in 1999. Both of these concepts were slow to take hold yet the sheer determination of a few to start brought both to the forefront within 10 years. I am seeing the exact same resistance to change as the prior two instances, from the industry and their disciples that will not give any credence to any other available options of emerging technology than the ones that they see fit to believe in. Like 10 spd cassettes for example.

Oh well, here we go again! And one word of advise to the naysayers of which there will be many in the coming years. Don't knock it until you have tried it!

Couldn't have said it better myself. Coming from a computer engineering background, this feels like a replay of the mainframe vs. personal computer argument. People who trained in mainframes thought they were the be all end all. Personal computers were seen as dangerous little devices that would only end up getting the user in trouble and creating havoc for IT support. The attitude was that people should either use a mainframe terminal, man-up and do things the hard way, or not use a computer at all. Personal computers were worthless go-betweens with no future and just wasted everyone's time by sucking up support time and financial resources.

Thirty years later, every single one of you is using a personal computer. I'm betting a similar thing will happen if gas prices really do continue increasing. But if we get super-capacitors or viable algea-ethanol, people could be back to gigantic SUVs in a few years and this whole thing could be a non-starter. Ironically, I think nothing would make the total bicycle purists happier.

Funny how the biggest knockers of ideas usually hop on board years later. It is either that they have no vision or just grew up negative. The same was true with microwave ovens when they first came out. The first year they came out, a staggering 88% said they would never get one and that they wouldn't last. Both styles of electric bikes are not going away, in fact are just in their infancy.
The exciting aspect is of course the battery technology. They will continue to become lighter, more efficient, charge faster, and require less space which will mean more cell capacity. The future is friendly.

Hey Norske, the old mainframe-types weren't too far off. The latest push is to thin-clients precisely because PCs in corporations are costing them a fortune for support. Think virus, malware, spyware etc. Not to mention bloatware. I may be wrong but now that bandwidth inside the corporation is a non-issue, I think it won't be long before the PC gives way to the PT (Personal Terminal). Those old timers were kinda cranky as you said, and arrogant sometimes, but the mainframe-terminal will live to see another day soon, albeit with a mouse. My 2 cents.

I may have missed some posts...there are only one or two :) but other than "attitude" there may be some very practical reasons why a bike shop may not look at electric assist.

Insurance: may be very clear on non-motorized
Zoning: Again possible big difference (never mind the electric motor does not = gas motor, but may not make a difference for local zoning)
Supplier agreeements (some what noted earlier)

Hey Norske, the old mainframe-types weren't too far off. The latest push is to thin-clients precisely .

OK I'm dusting off my CICS.....and If you know what I am talking about I am 33 years old.....in the notation used for Cobol dumps

sorry off post

ah yes, CICS. What's funny is under the hood, most of the really big systems like airline reservations are still running on mainframes, they just have a pretty face now...that's the last word on this from me lest I get cited for malposting (ha).

I'm tempted to respond, but we'd get quickly off topic.

I spent enough time arguing about mainframes to last more than a lifetime. :roflmao2:

As you can no doubt tell, I'm wet behind the ears, both with regard to posting in this forum and also incidentally, to owning an e-bike.

I bought my e-bike for the purpose of having fun on it, if I get fitter in the process, great but that wasn't the main idea. I live in an extremely hilly town and a non-assisted bike is totally impractical for me, as it is, I shall probably end up pushing it up most hills, I can't imagine many that I'll be able to ride up!

Call me lazy, unfit, not a 'proper' cyclist if you will but what I buy and how I make use of it is no-one's business but my own!

One point I'd rather like to make though, after reading some of the posts in this thread is this...

As we power-assisted cyclists appear to be looked down on by some 'pure' pedal-cyclists, with the comment that they get around by human-power alone, I can't help but wonder how an equally egotistical and biased marathon-runner would feel about the idle so-and-so's that need a mechanical device to cover great distances... Surely the long-distance runners 'human-power' is something that is infinitely more to be satisfied by and proud of than that of the lazy cop-outs that use pedal-cycles? ... Just a passing thought! ;)

snip...
I can't help but wonder how an equally egotistical and biased marathon-runner would feel about the idle so-and-so's that need a mechanical device to cover great distances... Surely the long-distance runners 'human-power' is something that is infinitely more to be satisfied by and proud of than that of the lazy cop-outs that use pedal-cycles? ... Just a passing thought! ;)
I think most marathon runners would agree with that statement.

I think most marathon runners would agree with that statement.

And Tibetan Buddhists on a pilgrimage who travel miles on hands and knees would say marathon runners are really cheating with their comfortable running shoes, short races and so on.

But if we get super-capacitors or viable algea-ethanol, people could be back to gigantic SUVs in a few years and this whole thing could be a non-starter.

Super-capacitors and sources giving enough electricity to charge them. (and no, solar and wind are not likely to meet that demand, although :crash: coal :crash: and nuclear might.)

Super-capacitors and sources giving enough electricity to charge them. (and no, solar and wind are not likely to meet that demand, although :crash: coal :crash: and nuclear might.)
:roflmao:

OK, I really wasn't clear there! I can see how I ended up sounding like Al Gore...

I meant that energy dense Super-capacitors would enable electrically powered vehicles to become practical. They charge quickly and they have a long lifespan, that's key. When you're filling gas, you're filling your car at about the rate of 5-6 Megawatts. Gasoline has a lot of energy.

Totally agree with you about wind, solar & nuclear!! Nuclear could have supplied all the energy we need, but we're just getting back on track now, still haven't fixed all the regulatory issues and even France is ahead of us.

:D I love my ebike :love:

:D I love my ebike :love:

+1

This thread is too negative. Why don't we let this one die and open a more positive one instead? I'll come to bat for that.