Electric bikes

Cressers

Are the spawn of Satan.

Discuss.

Bobbinogs

Possibly, possibly not. I think the odd bit of assistance for those with some kind of disability is great if the other option is to plan all cycling through Norfolk or give up. However, my sister in law's fella is a lazy scrote and thinks his electric bike is fantastic due to the effort saved. I would like to get him on a decent ride and flatten his battery whilst he is sparking up at his 10 mile break :twisted:

amun1000

I'll start it off.

There's this young lady who cycles home - roughly along my route on and its the the way they pedal that gets me -

The same cadence regardless of incline, wind and competition. Its infuriating to say the least

Hate them!

Bobbinogs

amun1000 wrote:

I'll go next.

There's this young lady who cycles home - roughly along my route on and its the theway they pedal that gets me -

The same cadence regardless of incline, wind and competition. Its infuriating to say the least

Hate them!

Fixed that for you

Cressers

There is something inherrently mal-moral about them, and the cost! £1500 for a BSO weighed down by a heavy lump of a battery! I can understand the uses for those who suffer a disability but for the rest I see them as another sign of our decline as a nation.

I overheard a salesman at an electric bike demonstration claim that the EU were considering furter legislation regarding powered bicycles or even an outright ban, has anyone any further information?

One Man And His Bike

Cressers wrote:

! I can understand the uses for those who suffer a disability but for the rest I see them as another sign of our decline as a nation.

It's how the notion of WALL·E starts, in the end we all become fat bastids on hover loungers in space and have to get saved by a little horny robot...

/looks at empty coffee cup

May have had one too many this morning me thinks.

petemadoc

I feel I should add the entirely positive experiences I have seen of electric bikes.

The wife's grandfather has ridden around all over the place since time began but he's in his late 70's now and so gets a helping hand from a battery on his bike. Fair play to him! Still riding.

A friend in his 40's wanted to shed a few lbs and bought a bike . . . yes an electric one . . . . and yes I laughed. Anyways it got him into cycling and he upgraded to a less expensive but non-battery powered road bike and he can now keep a decent speed! Good man!

Lastly there's a lady I'd guess is in her late 40's who I see every morning commuting to work on an electric bike. Better than driving IMO

So, I don't want one and wouldn't ride one, but why the bad feeling towards them.

shouldbeinbed

my mum is considering one. she's getting on, has problems with walking too far nowadays and lives up quite a draggy hill. she either drives the 1/2 mile down to the village or she could get a bit of pedal assist that she could manage when she only wants a paper or a loaf of bread.

We do seem to be an embarassingly judgemental bunch as cyclists if its something that we wouldn't consider for ourselves. Why not pick on something that there is a point to worrying about.

Hate????? jeez

verylonglegs

Electric bikes represent the decline of a nation??! Are you for real? Fark me, if that were the case then there are many millions of people in this world who'd love to be in such 'decline'.

alan_sherman

They have a place in the mix! Stop being such snobs!

I do think there is a lot of rubbish on the market however - i.e. BSOs with electric power added. My mum has one (60s post heart attack with asthma and arthritis). She wanted an electric bike to give her the confidence to get up hills that kill her otherwise. The downside is that she is scared of the battery going flat an being lumbered with a heavy bike.

Now giant and trek are in on the ebike game the standard seems to be improving with decent general purpose hybrid bikes with battery assist added.

Pross

They are a form of personal transport. The people using them aren't cycling as a form of leisure or fitness, it is to get them from A to B cheaply and conveniently. From that point of view they are potentially getting people out of cars and therefore reducing congestion, pollution and potential danger to vulnerable road users such as 'proper' cyclists. I think people should be applauded for using them when it may well be a car would be as convenient for them.

stevec205gti

Right - this is probably not the place to be saying this, but I have access to an electric bike :oops: I may even do some work test riding for a company that makes them :oops:

Realistically, they're not designed for proper cyclists. However, if you were a commuter it makes perfect sense - no traffic, master of your own destiny, but the added bonus of not getting hot and sweaty on the way in. I ride one of the lighter weight funkier models - it's no where near as quick as a road bike, but once you get your head round the fact it's a completely different style of riding it can be a good laugh. Around town it's great, out in the open it can be a bit of a drag. However, there's nothing more satisfy than baiting roadies when you're out and about on it - I have in the past let them by just so I can get a few miles worth of pacing, all done without the assist. :twisted: Not that they usually believe me! Clocking up between 600 - 1000 miles a month has done wonders for my fitness and physique, and I'm now at a reasonably quick level on my road bike because of it.

The one I ride weighs just over 16kg, not light by roadbike standards, but quite easy to chuck around like it's a bmx. My house mate has nicked his mums yamaha electric bike - this, in contrast to mine, appears to be a hideous overweight barge of a vehicle.

Roundandround

I don't have an e-bike (although did have a smile-on-the-face-inducing test ride on a Bionx set-up), but I'm guessing that using one rather than no bike at all induces SOME fitness at least. Is it possible to quantify, for instance, the calorie effect of a 50 mile trip on an e-bike? Or is that a stupid question?

Roundandround

I don't have an e-bike (although did have a smile-on-the-face-inducing test ride on a Bionx set-up), but I'm guessing that using one rather than no bike at all induces SOME fitness at least. Is it possible to quantify, for instance, the calorie effect of a 50 mile trip on an e-bike? Or is that a stupid question?

MattC59

Depends on your requirement.

geoff_ss

There's an article in the latest Tandem Club Journal about an electric motor fitted in the front wheel of a Longstaff tandem trike. It allows the couple riding it to keep up with the others on their rides. If any of you are still cycling in your 80s like that couple perhaps you mighty appreciate a little help.

Modern, efficient brushless motors using powerful rare earth magnets coupled with light, high capacity lithium based cells may help lots of people enjoy cycling for a few years longer than otherwise. Is that so bad?

I suppose they aren't 'proper' cyclists if they don't ride stripped down racing bikes with no luggage.

If anyone's interested have a look at this web page

http://www.alienbikes.co.uk/index.htm.

Worth a look even if you're young and fit. Looks very easy to install and it appeals to the electronic geek in me. I use brushless motors and lithium cells to power some of my RC aeroplanes.

Cleat Eastwood

If you all want to know about motorized vehicles have a look here.

It's the MTB's version of speedKing. They guy is a legend/hero

http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12792828