Silly commuting racing
Comments
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martinc wrote:250kw is the legal limit for e-bikes
250kw?! That's about 330 horse power!
But yes, it's a 250W and a 25km/h limit. Plus it has to be pedal assist so anyone not pedalling and using a throttle is also on an illegal motorbike.
Personally, I think the 25km/h limit is a bit low. 30km/h seems more reasonable given a reasonably fit person can do this speed without too much trouble on the flats.0 -
I think eBike speed limits should be based on the quality of the brakes installed.
30kph to 0 is a tough ask for cheap brakes, especially with a heavy bike, heavy rider, and heavy battery.0 -
I’ve always thought ebikes shouldn’t have a speed limit but instead have a power limit of maybe 75-100 watts, just enough for a few extra mph. Gives the advantage of your top speed increasing with your fitness/skill as it ordinarily does AND a smaller, lighter motor with more range
And +1 on crappy brakes! Makes me nervous seeing budget cable discs on a 20kg+ bike that can do 30mph!0 -
inbike wrote:I think eBike speed limits should be based on the quality of the brakes installed.0
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dekant wrote:The one that did the same route as me is either suitcase guy or BMW guy. He definitely had a mahoosive battery filling the entire main triangle and it was a rear wheel hub motor on an old MTB style bike. I think he had a blue jacket and the helmet was like a ski helmet with a gopro on top.
I actually picked up two chipped ebikers initially - I think they came out of a side road together and were definitely chatting at a set of lights but parted pretty much immediately after I caught up to them.
If I can be bothered later I might go back through the footage to get a screengrab.0 -
dekant wrote:martinc wrote:250kw is the legal limit for e-bikes
250kw?! That's about 330 horse power!
But yes, it's a 250W and a 25km/h limit. Plus it has to be pedal assist so anyone not pedalling and using a throttle is also on an illegal motorbike.
Personally, I think the 25km/h limit is a bit low. 30km/h seems more reasonable given a reasonably fit person can do this speed without too much trouble on the flats.
Probably depends on use, I use a lot of shared/park paths, a number of the E bikes I see are being used flat out which in places is too fast for the conditions. And if on foot with damaged balance systems folks like that make me grumpy same goes for high powered E-skateboards etc.
On the whole I think much faster and it’s moving into moped territory.0 -
roger merriman wrote:dekant wrote:martinc wrote:250kw is the legal limit for e-bikes
250kw?! That's about 330 horse power!
But yes, it's a 250W and a 25km/h limit. Plus it has to be pedal assist so anyone not pedalling and using a throttle is also on an illegal motorbike.
Personally, I think the 25km/h limit is a bit low. 30km/h seems more reasonable given a reasonably fit person can do this speed without too much trouble on the flats.
Probably depends on use, I use a lot of shared/park paths, a number of the E bikes I see are being used flat out which in places is too fast for the conditions. And if on foot with damaged balance systems folks like that make me grumpy same goes for high powered E-skateboards etc.
On the whole I think much faster and it’s moving into moped territory.
I agree with this. The 25km/h road legal limit is a suitable limit for normal pedelecs, although I would really like a much more powerful motor to be allowed, especially for e-cargo bikes, even if the cutout is still constrained to 25km/h. After all, the draft DFT advice for shared path speeds was that cyclists exceeding 18mph shouldn't be using shared paths - cutting out at 25kmh/16mph aligns with this thought process.
The currently non-road legal MTB's are the mind blowers for me - 3KW and no top speed to blast up ben nevis; yep, ok, but it is really a motorcross bike, and given how light they are, are really quite unnervingly quick.
The designed S-Pedelec/E-Moped ( 30mph limited E-bikes) are something I don't know how to approach - that insurance, "tax" and registration plate feels heavy, but I do support the CBT need for them.Intent on Cycling Commuting on a budget, but keep on breaking/crashing/finding nice stuff to buy.
Bike 1 (Broken) - Bike 2(Borked) - Bike 3(broken spokes) - Bike 4( Needs Work) - Bike 5 (in bits) - Bike 6* ...0 -
Wolfsbane2k wrote:roger merriman wrote:dekant wrote:martinc wrote:250kw is the legal limit for e-bikes
250kw?! That's about 330 horse power!
But yes, it's a 250W and a 25km/h limit. Plus it has to be pedal assist so anyone not pedalling and using a throttle is also on an illegal motorbike.
Personally, I think the 25km/h limit is a bit low. 30km/h seems more reasonable given a reasonably fit person can do this speed without too much trouble on the flats.
Probably depends on use, I use a lot of shared/park paths, a number of the E bikes I see are being used flat out which in places is too fast for the conditions. And if on foot with damaged balance systems folks like that make me grumpy same goes for high powered E-skateboards etc.
On the whole I think much faster and it’s moving into moped territory.
I agree with this. The 25km/h road legal limit is a suitable limit for normal pedelecs, although I would really like a much more powerful motor to be allowed, especially for e-cargo bikes, even if the cutout is still constrained to 25km/h.
25km/h is dangerously low. Think about who ebikes appeal to - it's people who lack the fitness and confidence to ride a regular bike in traffic, but want the utility and health gains of riding. High speed differentials are the danger zone - if you can keep up with the traffic, you're less at risk. I won't defend idiots who cane it on shared paths, and I accept that stealth bikes are a bit mental - but limiting commuters to half the speed of traffic is sketchy, and it's unsurprising that ebikes have failed to take off in the UK.0 -
Sgt.Pepper wrote:Wolfsbane2k wrote:roger merriman wrote:dekant wrote:martinc wrote:250kw is the legal limit for e-bikes
250kw?! That's about 330 horse power!
But yes, it's a 250W and a 25km/h limit. Plus it has to be pedal assist so anyone not pedalling and using a throttle is also on an illegal motorbike.
Personally, I think the 25km/h limit is a bit low. 30km/h seems more reasonable given a reasonably fit person can do this speed without too much trouble on the flats.
Probably depends on use, I use a lot of shared/park paths, a number of the E bikes I see are being used flat out which in places is too fast for the conditions. And if on foot with damaged balance systems folks like that make me grumpy same goes for high powered E-skateboards etc.
On the whole I think much faster and it’s moving into moped territory.
I agree with this. The 25km/h road legal limit is a suitable limit for normal pedelecs, although I would really like a much more powerful motor to be allowed, especially for e-cargo bikes, even if the cutout is still constrained to 25km/h.
25km/h is dangerously low. Think about who ebikes appeal to - it's people who lack the fitness and confidence to ride a regular bike in traffic, but want the utility and health gains of riding. High speed differentials are the danger zone - if you can keep up with the traffic, you're less at risk. I won't defend idiots who cane it on shared paths, and I accept that stealth bikes are a bit mental - but limiting commuters to half the speed of traffic is sketchy, and it's unsurprising that ebikes have failed to take off in the UK.
I don’t think it is dangerous really my commute bike is heavy beast I’m rarely faster than that, and unless you have a e bike that does 30mph there will still be a speed differential, to be honest though that can be worring, since the uk views cycling as a sport not utility I suspect that is the limiting factor, not the bikes top speed.
I see very few bikes on my commute, even though I can ride avoiding roads bar some local back roads the rest is off road and this is a London commute right on the edge admittedly but still, and fairly decent shared paths, riding past the gridlock.
Essentially cycle use is culturally limited be that e- bike or not.0 -
Man down on the junction of Munster Road & NKR at around 7.45. Looked like the guy got left hooked and was in quite abit of pain holding his shoulder. I got there maybe a minute or two afterwards and there were plenty in attendance. Hope they guy is ok, took it steady after seeing that!
I tend to treat ebikes as mopeds and likely to pull the same moves as mopeds but I dont think they are dangerous per se, excpet for the ones that have been blatantly cobbled together in a shed which I think is just bloody unsafe.
PS flyby tells me Rower flew by me at the priory lane junction. Thought I caught sight of a Rowing Jersey but never caught up to confirm or say hi.0 -
Kingstonian - was that you who was chatting to me this morning? Sorry if I was a bit anti social if so. General lack of sleep owing to small children + brutal running intervals session yesterday have left me feeling tired and grumpy today....1938 Hobbs Tandem
1956 Carlton Flyer Path/Track
1960 Mercian Superlight Track
1974 Pete Luxton Path/Track*
1980 Harry Hall
1986 Dawes Galaxy
1988 Jack Taylor Tourer
1988 Pearson
1989 Condor
1993 Dawes Hybrid
2016 Ridley Helium SL
*Currently on this0 -
Looked like a motorcyclist down alongside Clapham Common on the way home last night - they had closed the road for the ambulance to treat him/her, and there was that litter of discarded packaging of medical stuff, so I expect the poor sod was in a bad way.
Was that a north-easterly this morning, or am I just entering winter-induced lazy slow fat b@stardness? Felt like I was pedalling through treacle at times. Checks weather app = north-easterly. Phew.0 -
Rhodrich wrote:Kingstonian - was that you who was chatting to me this morning? Sorry if I was a bit anti social if so. General lack of sleep owing to small children + brutal running intervals session yesterday have left me feeling tired and grumpy today....
Were you on the Mercian, and Kingstonian on a Giant?0 -
Rhodrich wrote:Kingstonian - was that you who was chatting to me this morning? Sorry if I was a bit anti social if so. General lack of sleep owing to small children + brutal running intervals session yesterday have left me feeling tired and grumpy today....
Haha, yeah it was me. Don't worry, we've all been in that state on various days !!!
I did like seeing you berate the moped rider !!!
Enjoy your hols.0 -
Smokey Bacon wrote:Man down on the junction of Munster Road & NKR at around 7.45. Looked like the guy got left hooked and was in quite abit of pain holding his shoulder. I got there maybe a minute or two afterwards and there were plenty in attendance ... PS flyby tells me Rower flew by me at the priory lane junction. Thought I caught sight of a Rowing Jersey but never caught up to confirm or say hi.Dolan Titanium ADX 2016
Ridley Noah FAST 2013
Bottecchia/Campagnolo 1990
Carrera Parva Hybrid 2016
Hoy Sa Calobra 002 2014 [off duty]
Storck Absolutist 2011 [off duty]
http://www.slidingseat.net/cycling/cycling.html0 -
London-Red wrote:Rhodrich wrote:Kingstonian - was that you who was chatting to me this morning? Sorry if I was a bit anti social if so. General lack of sleep owing to small children + brutal running intervals session yesterday have left me feeling tired and grumpy today....
Were you on the Mercian, and Kingstonian on a Giant?
I'm on a Cannondale CAADX (sort of olive green colour, my youngest thinks it is camo) with black mudguards. No rucksack today, have progressed to taking a rucksack to work on a Monday morning and bringing everything home on a Friday - oh the liberation !!!0 -
Kingstonian wrote:London-Red wrote:Rhodrich wrote:Kingstonian - was that you who was chatting to me this morning? Sorry if I was a bit anti social if so. General lack of sleep owing to small children + brutal running intervals session yesterday have left me feeling tired and grumpy today....
Were you on the Mercian, and Kingstonian on a Giant?
I'm on a Cannondale CAADX (sort of olive green colour, my youngest thinks it is camo) with black mudguards. No rucksack today, have progressed to taking a rucksack to work on a Monday morning and bringing everything home on a Friday - oh the liberation !!!
I didn't think it was you, but they were having a right old chit chat all the way in0 -
rower63 wrote:Yes I did leapfrog a number of people at those Priory lights, and got good filtering breaks all the way to Col de Bolan. I was only 20-30 seconds ahead of you by the time I got to the Munster Road bit of NKR and there was no sign of an incident when I went past so it must have happened in that intervening 20-30 seconds!
You know what they say about people who only see accidents in their rear view mirror0 -
rower63 wrote:Yes I did leapfrog a number of people at those Priory lights, and got good filtering breaks all the way to Col de Bolan. I was only 20-30 seconds ahead of you by the time I got to the Munster Road bit of NKR and there was no sign of an incident when I went past so it must have happened in that intervening 20-30 seconds!
Yes must have, the window wasnt big at all. I find that junction very sketchy alot of the time.0 -
inbike wrote:rower63 wrote:Yes I did leapfrog a number of people at those Priory lights, and got good filtering breaks all the way to Col de Bolan. I was only 20-30 seconds ahead of you by the time I got to the Munster Road bit of NKR and there was no sign of an incident when I went past so it must have happened in that intervening 20-30 seconds!Dolan Titanium ADX 2016
Ridley Noah FAST 2013
Bottecchia/Campagnolo 1990
Carrera Parva Hybrid 2016
Hoy Sa Calobra 002 2014 [off duty]
Storck Absolutist 2011 [off duty]
http://www.slidingseat.net/cycling/cycling.html0 -
Asprilla wrote:hotspanners wrote:That was indeed me. Thanks for the tip about the White Industries hub. You nearly mugged me with that attack on Pen Pond, I was deep in the red when you came past and I didn't have the gears to follow, wouldn't have caught you if it wasn't for the guy chasing you giving me a pull. Classic SCR!
Once I had to abort on Priory Lane due ot late pull out / scooter idiocy / Royal Parks car parked on the wrong side of the road carnage when entering the park I knew I was going to wait until Pen Ponds. Your position in the middle of the road was making it clear that anyone on your wheel was making a deliberate choice and you didn't want them there so I stuck to the left and took it easy up to the Ballet School.
What GI are you pushing?
Sorry for the late reply, only just seen this. Yeah that whole situation was really sketchy, especially the Royal Parks car. Was sketchy last night too, driver did a sudden U-turn with no signalling. Will have to watch it next week and drivers slowly figure out that winter is coming and you can't rat run the park after dark.
Re: gearing - 46x16.0 -
Nice to see you briefly last night @rower63 - lost you filtering through the traffic carnage on Chelsea Embankment0
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hopkinb wrote:Looked like a motorcyclist down alongside Clapham Common on the way home last night - they had closed the road for the ambulance to treat him/her, and there was that litter of discarded packaging of medical stuff, so I expect the poor sod was in a bad way.
Was that a north-easterly this morning, or am I just entering winter-induced lazy slow fat b@stardness? Felt like I was pedalling through treacle at times. Checks weather app = north-easterly. Phew.
The wind only seemed to kick in east of wimbledon this morning.If I know you, and I like you, you can borrow my bike box for £30 a week. PM for details.0 -
Nice to finally say hello to Asprilla this evening. Not that you would have been able to hear much over the noise my bike was making...
And for what seemed like a decent tailwind on paper, that seemed like a lot of hard work.0 -
Really looking forward to this very stupid event tomorrow -
https://www.facebook.com/events/3279478 ... discussion0 -
That was a fun ride in, with groups forming all the way in.
Lady on a Specialised called Esme (according to Strava) was doing much of the work, guy on a Ritte was there for a while, the IF chap, guy on a Bowman and a guy on a Trek who I think were buddies. Plenty of others in the peloton by the time we hit the Embankment.
Anyone here?
And nice to finally have some seasonal weather0 -
Hanging on for grim death to a little guy on a black & white Basso last night. He had 2 speeds. Stop and go. Go was really quite quick indeed, and he accelerated up that speed at a remarkable rate. I was delighted when he took the left at Oval towards the A23 and I carried straight on and could catch my breath a bit.
Lovely crisp morning, looks set fair for the weekend too, so might see if I can slip out early on Sunday morning for a spin.0 -
Mattsaw wrote:Past the Ballet School? The Ritte could have been me, I pull off towards Hammersmith at Barnes.
Yep, you sailed past me* just after entering the park and then must have slowed to admire the sunrise by pen ponds, because we came back together at that point together with the Spesh girl.
* I was still warming up0 -
London-Red wrote:And nice to finally have some seasonal weather0