Vehicular cycling and e-Bikes
05-23-07, 11:43 AM
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Vehicular cycling and e-Bikes
BikeForums.net has a VC FORUM which covers a lot about the controversial VC practice.
Personally, I love it. Cars see me better and they don't buzz by me, cut me off and so on.
Now... how does eBikes fit into all this? Rather well actually. One practice of VC is to obey the traffic signal like all other cars do. This means stop signs, red lights and so on. Obviously the stop sign issue is a big problem with many VCers since on a regular bike they have to come to a stop and get back up to speed. It's annoying for them and they prefer to simply go right through the stop signs if there are no cars around. The eBike's advantage of course is the assisstance to get back up to speed.
I reconfigured my Bionx last night to help out a bit. For one thing I took off the speed limits and I also cpnfigured the motor to engage from a dead stop instead of 3 km/h. This really helps with VCing. I found myself using the thumb throttle a lot just to take off from a stop and then taking over by pedaling. The reason is that I found myself not downshifting to a lower gear and I just left it in a higher gear. Sometimes it's because I got caught at the last second when the light was changing.
If you practice VC, or want to try it, an eBike really helps.
Personally, I love it. Cars see me better and they don't buzz by me, cut me off and so on.
Now... how does eBikes fit into all this? Rather well actually. One practice of VC is to obey the traffic signal like all other cars do. This means stop signs, red lights and so on. Obviously the stop sign issue is a big problem with many VCers since on a regular bike they have to come to a stop and get back up to speed. It's annoying for them and they prefer to simply go right through the stop signs if there are no cars around. The eBike's advantage of course is the assisstance to get back up to speed.
I reconfigured my Bionx last night to help out a bit. For one thing I took off the speed limits and I also cpnfigured the motor to engage from a dead stop instead of 3 km/h. This really helps with VCing. I found myself using the thumb throttle a lot just to take off from a stop and then taking over by pedaling. The reason is that I found myself not downshifting to a lower gear and I just left it in a higher gear. Sometimes it's because I got caught at the last second when the light was changing.
If you practice VC, or want to try it, an eBike really helps.
05-23-07, 01:56 PM
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I wouldn't be doing VC as much if I didn't have an assist. Being able to a go little faster (and without burning your legs) makes it easier for cars to switch lanes since they're not approaching you as fast, and also you don't irritate them as much.
05-25-07, 06:31 AM
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I did plenty of VCing on my commute home last night. I works pretty well even though you sometimes encounter the impatient driver who feels he must tailgate you or try to push you aside. So what I'm doing now is moving even further out to the left of center. Just so the car behind has no chance at all to even try to "push" me over.
But I am reasonable. I do VCing on 2 lane roads for the most part and I stick to the right side lane except when I'm doing a left turn.
Another thing I noticed with eBikes and VCing, especially with the Bionx 350W motor, is that you can sometimes out-accelerate the guy next to you for the first 10 or so meters if you use the thumb throttle and pedal at the same time. It's almost like a slightly boosted assisstance level #4.
But I am reasonable. I do VCing on 2 lane roads for the most part and I stick to the right side lane except when I'm doing a left turn.
Another thing I noticed with eBikes and VCing, especially with the Bionx 350W motor, is that you can sometimes out-accelerate the guy next to you for the first 10 or so meters if you use the thumb throttle and pedal at the same time. It's almost like a slightly boosted assisstance level #4.
