freesafety22

it’s a foot to pedal interface error.

cudak888 

"Error 16: You aren't riding your bike enough."

-Kurt

non-fixie 

The one thing I'm sure I prefer non-assisted bikes for is the charging process. Quicker and more fun.

1,400 Wh:

Millstone

I guess the situation here in The Netherlands is (totally) different than in the US. We have a lot of bicycle lanes for example

My parents (82 and 75 now) have always bikes without assistance. Simply because there wasnt a lot of it. But now (well, for the last 8 years I guess) they have ebikes and can still enjoy their holidays with camper in (for example) the Ardennen.
They have LOT more freedom now tha they would have if their bikes wasnt assisted. Espescially my dad, he has Bechterew's Disease. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ankylosing_spondylitis He was always the sportsman, teaching gym-classes and all that. He's from Frysland and dont get him started on the Elfstedentocht from 1963 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elfstedentocht Let's just say i am glad he can still do this.

In short: for me, it's something for old people who still want to have their mobility. I just hope they remember to "shift down" the assist when they tour the citycentre...

If you want to drive a speedpedelec, pedelec, or any of those other contraptions that go almost 40km/hr, you need a helmet and a "plate" on the bike.
I see a lot of those on people who would otherwise use a car, say, living 20-40 kms from their work. Or more. I can totally see that.

If I see people "my age" (say, 30-50), I just want to overtake them with whatever bike I am riding that moment . And I think it's good for them just to be ouside the house, or car. Whatever works for them. Too bad I cant overtake spedelecs but hey... if you've reached all your goals you havent set them high enough.


E-bikes are for old people. Nothing wrong with that.

qcpmsame 

I swear that my LDL and HDL as well as the triglycerides all went up about 50 points just looking at that meal. All that hard work, down the drain.......

Bill

Spinay70

Sounds along the lines of Whats the frequency Kenneth type thing...lookout!

Spinay70

jonwvara 

Well said! I'm 65 now and hoping to keep riding a conventional bike for many years yet. But when I have to go electric, I will.

squirtdad

cultural differences...... I can not use mayonnaise on fry's malt vinegar sure

non-fixie 

Not so many watts in vinegar, I think? Maybe here's the reason the Belgians won more world road cycling titles than anyone else ...

non-fixie 

This was halfway during a 65k ride, with a 90 degrees outside temperature. I'd like to think think I came out even.

squirtdad

I thought it was the beer

davester

I don't understand your point, but these were extremely common, especially in post-war Europe. There's nothing new under the sun.




Velo Solex

davester

My bike threw an error code 17 on Sunday. It manifested itself by locking up the drivetrain completely and almost throwing me onto the road. Turned out error code 17 is a snapped master link. Don't know my own strength I guess.

jackbombay

But, that motor is not controlled by how hard you pedal, mine will be.


And you're kind of right, there is no point, except to make it obvious that ebikes are motorized vehicles, this does not mean I am opposed to them, it just means I want people to recognize what they are dealing with and plan/think accordingly.

cudak888 

It even LOOKS like the predecessor of a JUMP e-bike

-Kurt

qcpmsame 

I'm certain you Xed out those calories, and the cholesterol too! I was referring to my absorption by osmosis from your picture

Actually, I'm fortunate, my total cholesterol is 160, cannot remember the exact trigylcerides off hand, but the primary care and cardiologist both, pat me on the shoulder and tell me to keep riding, and stay a vegetarian.

Bill

SurferRosa

Just like Dylan.

Hope you don't get "boo'd."

jonwvara 

When I do go electric, my first act will be to ride down to the Newport Folk Festival.

madpogue 

Are the Angels going to come in for security on Ebikes?

gna

Millstone

Maybe he was referring to those marklin toy-trains..? You know, H0-model things and such.

mstateglfr 

ebikes for sure open up opportunities to those who can afford the tech. Those with mobility difficulties, whether its due to health condition(s) or simply degradation from age, are able to participate in an active(relative) experience and that is absolutely fantastic.

Given my builds- using compact gearing on all my C&V bikes with period correct cranks and modern cranks, I understand the need for adjusting a bike to fit the rider's needs. I simply cant use a 53/39 crank with a 12-24 cassette as I need a bit easier gearing, and actually go overboard with some very rarely used gearing because I would rather have it there if ever needed.
Road bikes had pretty limited gearing back in the day(there were exceptions, yes, but it wasnt nearly as wide ranging as today's mainstream drivetrains) and that meant a lot of riders were limited in where they could ride, or if they really could ride at all. I have often wondered if road cycling in the 80s(during the decline) would have stayed popular had ebikes been available.

When my knees/hips give up the ghost, I will absolutely look into ebikes. Of course I hope thats another 3 decades from now and by then who knows what we will have for tech. It may be too hot and polluted to even ride in rural Iowa by then for all I know.


Looking at ebikes from the perspective of inclusion, yes they are excellent.
Looking at ebikes from the perspective of competition and validation of equal effort, not they arent excellent. It seems like many who dislike ebikes view them thru this lens.

In the end though- people dont need the validation of others. Hopefully the scorn is relatively silent and those with ebikes dont have to deal with outward contempt towards them just because they choose to ride with an assisted motor. The MUP works for runners, cyclists, walkers, rollerbladers(still?), skateboarders, and those on scooters too. Its a diverse group- no reason to hate on one segment of users.


----all this assumes those using ebikes are riding under control and safely. If they arent, then its an issue. But its no worse than the cyclist who is segment hunting and trying to get some arbitrary KOM on a busy MUP. Out of control riding thats dangerous and too fast is an issue regardless of if there is a motor.

madpogue 

People may not need "validation", but to use motorized means on infrastructure meant for non-motorized use, they do need authorization. MUPs were indeed designed, built and intended for use by different types of users. And yes, as mentioned, a lot of fast bicyclists fail to realize that. But MUPs are intended for multiple NON-motorized use. People who have a NEED to use a motorized assist have the means to be authorized to use their motorized assist on MUPs, just as motorized wheelchair users are authorized to use their devices on sidewalks, MUPs, etc.

This goes beyond e-bikes, of course. There's been a huge uptick in the presence of various stand-on motorized devices on the MUPs here - motorized kick scooters, those one-big-wheel "skate"boards, etc. Obviously these do not fulfill any physical need for mobility assistance. And since they do not qualify as vehicles (seat, at least two wheels at least 16" or more in diameter, at least one brake, etc.), they're "motorized toys", and have no place in the public right-of-way.

It's easy to forget, with the expanding multi-use infrastructure we have today as the next "roaring '20s" approach, that bicyclists fought hard not only for the infrastructure we have now, but for fair use of it, and fair share use of public right-of-way in general. This included working hard with state legislatures to draft specific definitions that describe how we use the infrastructure we have now. Watering down those definitions just for those who WANT some newfangled assistance (those who NEED it excluded) is a disrespect for those who fought for what we have and enjoy now.

non-fixie 

Well, that does look convincing!

Beautiful machine.

conspiratemus1

Exactly. People use these motorized toys on MUPs just because they know they'd get run over on the road by cars.