Originally Posted by
Biker395
Well, by that rather broad definition, you could call a the bicycle itself an "assist" as opposed to walking, no?
Personally, I do not regard ebikes as bicycles or motorcycles. They are not motorcycles, because you have to pedal them go keep going, and they are not bicycles, as they are driven by a motor (albiet with a more sophisticated throttle that relies on sensed pedal pressure). I'm not sure why people want to pigeonhole them in one category or the other. They're different enough from each so as to merit a separate category.
Broad definition...??? I don't think so, a person only has a certain amount of energy, (I need to stop,
or I will die energy criteria) to blow on a single day, maxing himself/herself out... The (average) walking/running, person is only going to get lets say 50Km in a day, the (average) single speed bicyclist gets 100Km in a day and the (average) 27 speed cyclist manages to go 200Km in a day spending the "same amount of "energy/or
I need to stop cause I think I will die criteria"... So, what's up.? The single speed is more efficient than walking, (assistance of wheels) the 27 speed is more efficient than the single speed (assistance of gearing)… Do you follow my train of thought there.? It comes down to "assistance/efficiency", the best word that I can think of. Was assistance..Maybe the word I am using is the wrong word... BUT, in any case "something" IS
assisting/allowing, you from going from 50Km a day walking and( I can't go farther cause I think I'm going to die), to 100Km a day riding a single speed, and (I can't go farther cause I think I'm going to die), or to 200Km a day using the same amount of energy, (or at least
using the max that you have in you that day, or I think I'm going to die)... as I understand it...
EDIT; and yes there IS another criteria of assistance, the E-Assist, where you can go another 30% longer/farther than the "I need to stop because I think I am going die", criteria...
BUT, it's the human input/energy that most here are concerned about... and I believe my example's have shown that the human energy input i
sn't all that is going on here in the bicycle world... There are other things that assist/influence how bicycling works in today's world...
Like even the weight, geometry, and other things that "assist" you going further/faster...
and, no they aren't E-motors, but their "effect" can be the same.... Easier, faster, farther, riding with
less effort.
and NO, I am NOT missing the "point", Human effort, E-Motor effort, NOT the same...Just like a single speed human effort and a 27 speed human effort ends up not being the same.