Ebike commute from Reston to DC

[MikeS]

Hello,

I’ve been a bike commuter for a few years now, from Arlington into the city. I’ve never paid much attention to ebike’s on the trails before, or what laws or regulations govern them. Now that I’ve moved farther out, my bike commute is approximately 22 miles each way. I’m strongly considering getting an ebike so I can continue commuting and keep my commute time somewhat reasonable. I wanted to check in here to see if anyone is riding from Reston area, or have an ebike in the area in general, to see if this is a good idea or if I’d be breaking any laws riding W&OD and Custis. I think it could be pretty exciting, but the last thing I’d want is to get out there and ruin the trails for other folks on normal bikes. Thanks

Topic

[Judd]

@dasgeh 148063 wrote:

I’ve always heard that thieves can defeat any lock).

A Ryobi cordless angle grinder is 49 bucks at the Home Depot. A mini bottle jack is about 40 bucks.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[vvill]

@dasgeh 148063 wrote:

Au contrar! I find ebikes make cold and wet weather biking a lot easier, because you don’t have to worry about generating much heat. So you can bundle up with reckless abandon, and you can know when you walk out of your house whether you’ve found the balance between comfortably toasty and too hot. And it’s one less excuse in bad weather.

Glad you replied on this! I’d assumed one still generates enough heat to make raincoats/etc. impractical but perhaps not. Wouldn’t you still need enough freedom of movement in your legs to pedal? So rain pants and boots, etc. are still annoying? And you still have to deal with salt on roads, icy conditions, bad drivers, etc. from the seat of a relatively small, vulnerable two-wheeled vehicle. I guess I’m comparing biking to say, getting in climate-controlled car: e-biking is still a lot closer to biking – that’s what I meant by “all that much easier” (especially over the course of 44mi in a day!)

[dasgeh]

@vvill 148072 wrote:

Glad you replied on this! I’d assumed one still generates enough heat to make raincoats/etc. impractical but perhaps not. Wouldn’t you still need enough freedom of movement in your legs to pedal? So rain pants and boots, etc. are still annoying? And you still have to deal with salt on roads, icy conditions, bad drivers, etc. from the seat of a relatively small, vulnerable two-wheeled vehicle. I guess I’m comparing biking to say, getting in climate-controlled car: e-biking is still a lot closer to biking – that’s what I meant by “all that much easier” (especially over the course of 44mi in a day!)

It depends on the ebike, but most will let you ride with about the effort of walking. If you’re cool walking in raincoats/etc, you’ll be cool on an ebike.

Most ebikes are upright-style bikes, which means rain pants are significantly less annoying. Admittedly, that’s because they’re upright, not because they’re e-assist, but being e-assist means you (ok, I) can go for longer without being uncomfortable with the upright style.

Since you don’t get a lot of advantage from being clipped in on an ebike, you can wear whatever boots you’re comfortable in.

Also, since you have some help with power, using big, studded tires doesn’t mean a harder commute.

But, yes, you still have to deal with salt and ice and bad drivers. You have to deal with 2 of those in a car too.

[ShawnoftheDread]

We shall use your statements here in evidence when we vote to ban ebikes in BAFS.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[dasgeh]

@ShawnoftheDread 148076 wrote:

We shall use your statements here in evidence when we vote to ban ebikes in BAFS.

Are you going to ban short/flat rides on regular bikes?

[americancyclo]

@MikeS 148041 wrote:

I thought a lot about the comments here. When I had posted this thread I had already requested a local shop pull a specific ebike and have it shipped over, but wasn’t yet obligated to purchase.

I think I should expect an extra 15 minutes under normal conditions, and some additional time riding through the Mall, but overall I’d gladly take a little more time to avoid the metro.

50% battery left, so I’m not too worried about cold affecting its performance at this point.

Would you mind sharing what model ebike and what battery/motor combo?
I’d add another 20 min from Rosslyn to get to the far end of the Mall under regular rush hour conditions.

[Steve O]

@dasgeh 148077 wrote:

Are you going to ban short/flat rides on regular bikes?

Yes.
And all rides above 40 degrees
And all rides on a sunny day regardless of temperature
And all rides that are more downhill than uphill
And all rides in which your clothing does not have to be laundered afterward
And all rides on which your bike does not break down or you get a flat or something

I think that covers it, although I may have forgotten something.

[lordofthemark]

@Steve O 148083 wrote:

Yes.
And all rides above 40 degrees
And all rides on a sunny day regardless of temperature
And all rides that are more downhill than uphill
And all rides in which your clothing does not have to be laundered afterward
And all rides on which your bike does not break down or you get a flat or something

I think that covers it, although I may have forgotten something.

All rides made by anyone under 50 years of age

All rides made by anyone OVER 50 years of age, who has been riding regularly since they were under 40.

All rides made on a bike that cost more than $600.

:p

[hozn]

Should we also ban rides on mopeds this year?

[Judd]

@lordofthemark 148084 wrote:

All rides made by anyone under 50 years of age

All rides made by anyone OVER 50 years of age, who has been riding regularly since they were under 40.

All rides made on a bike that cost more than $600.

:p

May I be the first to congratulate lordofthemark for winning the 2017 Freezing Saddles Competition.

[Anonymous]

@americancyclo 148078 wrote:

Would you mind sharing what model ebike and what battery/motor combo?
I’d add another 20 min from Rosslyn to get to the far end of the Mall under regular rush hour conditions.

Yeah that last bit to the mall is slower.

The bike is a Trek XM700, Bosch motor, 400w I think.

[DismalScientist]

@Judd 148093 wrote:

May I be the first to congratulate lordofthemark for winning the 2017 Freezing Saddles Competition.

Sorry, I am the one you should be congratulating. :rolleyes:

[Anonymous]

Traffic on the W&OD and Custis is pretty light this time of year. I didn’t pass anyone on the Custis. Took me about 1 hour and 15 minutes from my home in Reston to L’enfant. I’m double locking with U-locks – both wheels in the back with a long Kryptonite NY lock and one holding up the frame with my travel lock. Parking in garages and signed up with Velosurance for now (USAA is saying they won’t cover Ebikes).

[Judd]

@MikeS 148213 wrote:

Traffic on the W&OD and Custis is pretty light this time of year. I didn’t pass anyone on the Custis. Took me about 1 hour and 15 minutes from my home in Reston to L’enfant. I’m double locking with U-locks – both wheels in the back with a long Kryptonite NY lock and one holding up the frame with my travel lock. Parking in garages and signed up with Velosurance for now (USAA is saying they won’t cover Ebikes).

What’s your initial thoughts on feasibility of doing regularly?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Judd]

@MikeS 148213 wrote:

Traffic on the W&OD and Custis is pretty light this time of year. I didn’t pass anyone on the Custis. Took me about 1 hour and 15 minutes from my home in Reston to L’enfant. I’m double locking with U-locks – both wheels in the back with a long Kryptonite NY lock and one holding up the frame with my travel lock. Parking in garages and signed up with Velosurance for now (USAA is saying they won’t cover Ebikes).

What’s your initial thoughts on feasibility of doing regularly?

Also I’m picturing your bike locked like this:

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Author]

Replies