Electric assist bikes

[Joe Chapline]

There was some discussion of ebikes on this thread.

[americancyclo]

I’ve chatted with a woman on the W&OD who was using one while she was recovering from an injury. She said she had a hard time finding a shop to true her wheels, and that the add-on kit she got had some battery issues. Can’t offer much more than that, though. Good luck!

[Riley Casey]

I’m guessing you haven’t gotten this far without at least laying hands on an electric assist bike but if not at least go find one to heft. The added weight is pretty daunting.

[Greenbelt]

The shop I use in College Park MD has a Kona electric on the floor — priced just under 2k I think. Available for a test drive I think.

[pfunkallstar]

Unless you are willing to pony up for some LiPo batteries, those things are going to weigh quite a bit. I would look for one with a hub mounted motor (preferably on the front wheel to counterbalance the battery pack). Also, make sure that you have decent bike underneath all the electronics. A surprising number of electric bikes tend to be cheapo Walmart bikes with a motor plopped on the back.

[rcannon100]

I rode one during Bike to Work day, at Rosslyn. It was incredible. Talked to a few people I have seen with them on the trails – they loved them. I am assuming one day I will be buying one in order to make it up the Arlington Hill. Yes, the problem is that there is not good review information out there on them. But there is some.

The weight of the bike only matters when you run out of gas. And yes, if you run out of gas (if your battery goes dead), you will be peddling a tank and it wont be easy.

[Riley Casey]

I must be confused. Is this thread about bikes with electric motors that assist the pedal force when needed or are we talking about electric motorcycles? For electric assist bicycles I would think the weight matters all the time every time – electric motorcycles perhaps not so much but then I’ve not seen such a device.

@rcannon100 10171 wrote:

The weight of the bike only matters when you run out of gas. And yes, if you run out of gas (if your battery goes dead), you will be peddling a tank and it wont be easy.

[Dirt]

I Cat6 race with a dude who rides an Electric Assist add-on. Next time we hook up I’ll get the 411 and hope it isn’t a 911. He really flies on his…. until the batteries die. I’ve only seen that happen once. I used to ride with him twice per week, but I think he’s switched to Metro for the season.

[MCL1981]

Bear in mind many trails prohibit motorized vehicles and are worded to include those.

[Dirt]

@MCL1981 10221 wrote:

Bear in mind many trails prohibit motorized vehicles and are worded to include those.

Well the trails are closed from sunset to sunrise too… but the only person they tend to hammer about that is CCREW, if I recall correctly.

All joking aside, I have seen quite a few EA Bikes on the trails and my guess is that if they’re operated safely and wisely, there shouldn’t be a problem with that rule ever being enforced.

Totally my opinion… which is worth about as much as you pay for it.

Rock on,

Pete

[CCrew]

@Dirt 10226 wrote:

Well the trails are closed from sunset to sunrise too… but the only person they tend to hammer about that is CCREW, if I recall correctly.

Oh yeah. It’s my sworn civic duty to break in the newbie cops. Why do they always seem to be Vienna ones though? I look so much like I’m ninja’ing these days with 1k lumens worth of lights and an orange ANSI3 jacket they just have to see wassup!.

Pretty explicit signage about “no motorized vehicles” I agree, but I’ve never seen it enforced. First kid that gets mowed down by a speeding ebike I’m sure that’ll change though.

[MCL1981]

On the CCT, there was a gentleman that commuted with his electric bike zipping up and down. This perturbed a number of people including the national park police. Now with that said, had he not pissed off the other trail users, I doubt anyone would have called the NPP nor would the NPP have actively sought him out.

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