E-Bike

[yellowperil]

My friend came over today to visit with his new E- Bike. Quite impressive, with lots of new neat nerdy gadgets, big fat tires, battery assist if and when you want it.

It was nice, I liked it and only $1399 at Princess auto.

[Zeke]

That must ride nice. With the big tires, what does he use it for?

[sugarwood]

Why bother pretending to bike? Just buy a Vespa and be done with it

[yellowperil]

He's retired and the way he tells it, rides 10-20 miles a day just for the fun of it. Says he's been doing it since he bought it in June. Pretty flat where we live, just rolling hills, so when he gets to a hill hits a button to get battery assist (several settings) like a little help or medium help or full on "get me up that hill" help. He's my age mid '70's and wants to get exercise but doesn't want to kill himself doing it, I guess.

[stevej37]

I love my Propella!..$1200
I use it almost every day.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/1087090-propella-arrived-today.html

[billybek]

Originally Posted by yellowperil

He's retired and the way he tells it, rides 10-20 miles a day just for the fun of it. Says he's been doing it since he bought it in June. Pretty flat where we live, just rolling hills, so when he gets to a hill hits a button to get battery assist (several settings) like a little help or medium help or full on "get me up that hill" help. He's my age mid '70's and wants to get exercise but doesn't want to kill himself doing it, I guess.

That is exactly what e-bikes should be used for. Good for him for getting out.

[jyl]

I have mixed feelings about ebikes, because I see young fit people on 1000 wattt ebikes flying uphill in narrow bikes lanes at 20 mph without even pedaling, creating a real hazard for ordinary cyclists grinding up at 10 mph, but I also see older people happily commuting on ebikes who couldn't be on two-wheels if they had to ride a regular bike.

I have to wonder why some people think their ebikes have to have huge fat slow knobby tires like the one shown. That thing will be exhausting to pedal "manually" up a grade or for any significant distance on the flat. The rider will be required to use e-boost because he's chosen a machine that is a crappy "bicycle".

And don't get me started on yahoos on 2000 watt e-Mountain-bikes throwing rooster tails. Ride a real dirt bike or go home.

Eventually, as the power race extends, I think ebikes will need to be sent to traffic lanes like any other powered two-wheeler (motorcycle, scooter, moped) because otherwise you're going to have excessive speed differentials in narrow bike lanes, and getting plowed by a 70 lb ebike and 200 lb rider moving at 25 mph isn't a lot better than getting plowed by a motorbike.

[billybek]

Originally Posted by jyl

And don't get me started on yahoos on 2000 watt e-Mountain-bikes throwing rooster tails. Ride a real dirt bike or go home.

They are certainly tough on climbing trails.
I have run across some older cyclist on the trails outside of town that wouldn't be riding without the bikes assistance on the ups. I am good with that.
What we are starting to see now is the e-bikes taking the place of people shuttling to get their downhill fix.
It is a possibility that some of the ski areas that have invested heavily in their trail systems and selling lift tickets could have a problem if their market moves to this type of bike. Why pay for the up side of the park when you can do it on your own?

[LEAKYSEALS951]

I think the wide tires might be just the ticket up north there. When the weather gets bad, good traction, and the tires will keep you slow as to not have to deal with self induced windchill (like with a road bike in winter). Specially if you are riding on/near a beach.

Makes me think of the "If you chop your own wood, it warms you twice" saying, and then, for a 70 year old, the e option can get you home. The fact that he's outside doing 20 miles a day on anything is flat out awesome.

Those wheels/tires will give more way options than a vespa.

[porsche930dude]

My neighbor is bringing me one to repair or keep from his place down south. Im looking forward to it.

[jcwade]

What is the brand and model and how does it handle hills?

I brought our e-bikes from the beach (very flat) to our cabin.
The roads are VERY steep and we both wound up having to walk the steepest parts.

I would get rid of them and get something better if I could be sure they could handle the grade.

[yellowperil]

I believe it's a GREENWAY, has 15 lbs air in the tires, has front and back hand brakes that shut off the battery with a touch and lots of other neat things.

[pmax]

[yellowperil]

It's a RAD ROVER GREENWAY, check it out.

[LWJ]

My wife rode one on vacation and would not stop talking about it. So we got one. And then another.

AMAZING and yes it can be (should be) a good work out. We live on a nice sized hill. What my neighbors use a car for, we bike.

Hard to argue with that.

[island911]

Putting a motor on a cycle. ... why has no one thought of this before? This may become a whole new transportation mode.

so green

my text.

[Shifter]

My father has one of those. He loves it. He can go "riding" with the other people in his retirement community, and keep up with them. He is creeping up on his 80's and this way he can "keep up with those whipper snappers with the fancy spandex and *****." His words, not mine. Of course those whipper snappers are like 65, but whatever...

Crap. Did I just alienate 80% of the posters here?

[look 171]

Originally Posted by jcwade

What is the brand and model and how does it handle hills?

I brought our e-bikes from the beach (very flat) to our cabin.
The roads are VERY steep and we both wound up having to walk the steepest parts.

I would get rid of them and get something better if I could be sure they could handle the grade.

What did you buy? I bought one for my little one so he can hang with me on our sunday lunch ride. After a couple rides, he went back to grinding it out on a regular bike. Hats off to him. Now he drops me on the climbs on my bad days. Our ebike is a Ride-1-up. it will do 20mph with battery without assist. If you turn the pedals, it will do 20-29 mph without issues. I have gotten close to 50 miles with pedal assist. Hills are not an issue. My house is at 900' hill so its a grind up a mile hill with some steep parts. I have to help pedal up some of it with full throttle. It will go up most hills with just battery, no assist.

[aigel]

I'd argue that you can ride a bike into very old age with they right gears, so I don't see the attraction for a geezer. Just ride slower, less far and with people at your level. I can't ride with the fast group on the Saturday ride any longer either.

That said, if this gets people to bike who otherwise wouldn't, more power to them, especially if it is for transportation. I have seen it make a difference on commute routes with people now riding who would not be able or interested to ride otherwise. That's good, every car off the road is a win.

Mountain biking serious trails and peaks, these things just make me sad. Its like climbing a mountain in Europe and when you get up top, you meet the people in flip flops and heels who took the tram.

I agree with JYL that there will be rules required and enforced soon for these things to take the road and not the bike lane. I have had more than one dangerous situation getting passed with a 15 mph delta on a multi use trail I specifically chose to ride to get away from MOTORIZED traffic. Ugh ...

G

[beepbeep]

Studies show that E-bikers actually do get as much motion as ordinary bikers as they "dare" to ride much longer, compared to what they would do if not being able to enjoy electric assist.

My wife e-bikes 15 miles every day. She would definitely not do it on ordinary bike.