e-Bikes – Let’s talk

[eBikeDude]

I see a number of pros and cons to e-bikes, and I’d like to get a conversation going on that topic. Any other e-Bike users out there? What do you like about it? Anyone with concerns about e-Bikes? Let’s hear from you too! Please be nice, though!

Topic

[83b]

@Tim Kelley 51349 wrote:

Can you knock out this one? http://app.strava.com/segments/739916

That road looks dead-flat. No way I can hit 40+ there without getting one of those insane Stealth bikes from earlier in the thread! Color me impressed.

[hozn]

@83(b) 51348 wrote:

This brings up an interesting question. How glaringly unethical is it to use Strava while on an ebike? I can pretty easily crack 25mph up Capitol Hill (#1 or #2) while cranking, but without standing.

Well, that depends. It is obviously cheating to use e-assist on a Strava segment, but then some people think it’s cheating to use EPO too. Haters gonna hate, so crank it in high for Anglers climb.

[Steve]

Looks like they are banning them in NYC (from WashCycle): http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/04/26/mayor-bloomberg-expected-to-sign-e-bike-ban/

[rcannon100]

Hum I wonder if that will go over like his big gulp ban. A HUGE number of delivery folk us e-bikes.

[mstone]

On the one hand, I think banning e-bikes from bike/car infrastructure (as opposed to shared pedestrian infrastructure) is counterproductive. On the other hand, look at that thing in the picture in the article–yowza, I don’t want to see that coming at me on the sidewalk.

[jnva]

Yeah, I wish they would stop calling those electric scooters “ebikes” just because they have pedals.

[jabberwocky]

Ah, NY continues their steady march to banzoring all the things. :rolleyes:

[dasgeh]

@jnva 51933 wrote:

Yeah, I wish they would stop calling those electric scooters “ebikes” just because they have pedals.

Yep, this is just silly. They have a convenient standard they could use to differentiate between those contraptions and the bikes that have little motors that are leading to more and more people getting out of cars in places like Amsterdam and San Fransisco. Sigh.

[jopamora]

I just remembered that I saw the ELF the other day on the Georgetown Branch.

[dasgeh]

Cool. Does it have pedals?

[jopamora]

@dasgeh 54508 wrote:

Cool. Does it have pedals?

Yup, WTOP did a story on them last month.

[Bilsko]

Personally, I’ve never been interested in the least in e-bikes. Until now

[83b]

@Bilsko 54521 wrote:

Personally, I’ve never been interested in the least in e-bikes. Until now

Very stealthy! It looks like it uses one of the tiny new 250W Cute motors, which at 24V should assist up to about 15mph. The only downside looks to be the 8.5Ah battery, which would get 10-15 miles before a recharge. Reminds me a lot of the Farraday Porteur that was all the rage on Kickstartr.

That integrated GPS solution is awesome. I’ve considered trying a SpyBike, but can’t find much by way of reviews.

[jnva]

@83(b) 54534 wrote:

Very stealthy! It looks like it uses one of the tiny new 250W Cute motors, which at 24V should assist up to about 15mph. The only downside looks to be the 8.5Ah battery, which would get 10-15 miles before a recharge. Reminds me a lot of the Farraday Porteur that was all the rage on Kickstartr.

That integrated GPS solution is awesome. I’ve considered trying a SpyBike, but can’t find much by way of reviews.

I was thinking the same thing, about the similarity to the faraday bike. This one does look real nice, I like how the batteries are built into the frame. The only thing preventing me from buying one of these is the range. I need at least 10ah battery to get to work, one way.

[runbike]

After contemplating it for a few months, and reading a lot of the back and forth on this forum I finally decided to purchase an e-bike (specifically a Stromer ST1) and become a full-time cycling commuter. 2 days in and it has been absolutely amazing. I’m shaving about an hour total off my regular round trip commute by metrobus, and I’m arriving non-sweaty at work (which is key due to lack of shower access).

I am riding on the trails (Custis) and I know some take issue with this. However, based on my admittedly limited sample of the past two days I’m really just about average for speed on the trail. I would say I was passed about as many times as I passed others. I know if I was on my Jamis road bike I’d be much quicker, albeit much sweatier.

As dasgeh also pointed out, I’ve also noticed that the incentive to run stop signs/lights, or make less-than-safe passes is totally gone. And I have way more confidence on the road as well since I know I can accelerate and keep up with traffic flow much better.

Anyway, if you see me out there please say hi. I might even let you try out the Stromer for a quick test spin

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