Chased an electric assist bike yesterday

[BrumJim]

Yes, I've now reached the next plane of the commuting hierarchy. Heading home last night, and a man on an average mountain bike caught up with me at the lights. Got some clear space from him up a slight hill through the park, but as I relaxed down the other side, he caught up. Had a decent cadence, but his bike was clearly not built for speed. He wasn't much out of breath, but after keeping alongside me for a fair distance, I noticed LED lights on his handlebars.

Yes, I'd been busting a lung to keep up with an electric bike! On the positive side, it was a good target to help me keep my effort going. On the down side, a lot of energy wasted proving nothing!!

How many other members in this club?

 

[ianrauk]

*waves hand in the air*

Been caught out a couple of times. once up a mile long hill. (Bromley Hill for those who know it, not steep but a long drag). I was trying my darnedest to catch up with the lardy chap on a MTB. Only when I got to the top I realised it was an electric assisted bike.

Another time I could sense a cyclist in my slip. So upped the cadence but he was sticking to me. He then over took to turn right and yep, he was on an electric bike...

like thanks for making me bust a gut people..

 

[BSRU]

Some of the newer more expensive assisted bikes have the battery located in a slightly larger seat tube and hence look almost like a non-assisted bike.

 

[Herzog]

Some of the newer more expensive assisted bikes have the battery located in a slightly larger seat tube and hence look almost like a non-assisted bike.

Or on the down tube (http://m-way.ch/de/produkte/e-bike/thoemus-stromer.html). There's load of them around here; I think the Swiss are a bit lazy...

 

[summerdays]

Yes I've accidentally chased one and just about kept up. (Never uphill as I wouldn't attempt to overtake anyone uphill). In the long run I think it will have some positive benefits - for a start motorists may realise that we don't cycle at 4 mph.

Or on the down tube (http://m-way.ch/de/produkte/e-bike/thoemus-stromer.html). There's load of them around here; I think the Swiss are a bit lazy...

I know someone in Switzerland who has one ... but as she is 70 and lives up above Vevey I think its a great way for her to get around.

 

[Hacienda71]

I love chasing them down, as they are generally limited to circa 15mph. I get a sense of satisfaction when someone can't keep up with you even with a motor.

 

[potsy]

Friend of mine has one which is a good few years old now, certainly couldn't mistake it for a regular bike, the whirr it makes is very loud and the size of the battery pack
We weighed it once on the work scales, kept the panier on and it came to 35kg

 

[BlackPanther]

I used to quite regularly pass a chap on my way home from work. Since ebikes are limited to 15mph (the legal ones anyway) and I average almost 20mph on the road bike it's quite easy to pass them. But hey, I've nothing against ebikes. Although some might see it as 'cheating' by using battery power, it's one less car on the road and the rider still gets some exercise.

Besides, aren't we 'cheating' by using our super duper well defined Adonis like leg muscles?

 

[fossyant]

Oh god - if you can't drop an electric bike it's time to get one yourself

 

[BentMikey]

Oh god - if you can't drop an electric bike it's time to get one yourself

You'll never beat one like this:


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxl_C5GIEn8


Even assuming it was a legal electric version, because someone with similar power to you should be able to do an unassisted 30mph into a 15mph headwind on the flat for some considerable time, and then still do an assisted 15mph uphill.

 

[Origamist]

A good write up of a man vs machine battle:

http://traumradfahren.wordpress.com/2011/12/07/commuter-bicycle-race/

 

[BrumJim]

No, but he told me that he had spent 15 years commuting on a regular bike.

 

[CopperCyclist]

When I first started, on an old Orange E3 mountain bike, I chased an old man on an electric assist bike down a canal towpath. I didn't realise it was electric until I passed him, and just couldn't believe such an old man should be able to go faster than me.

Problem was when I did catch up, pass, and realise, I was knackered, but for prides sake had to keep going. Plus there's nowhere to pull off on a towpath!

 

[Mista Preston]

*waves hand in the air*

Been caught out a couple of times. once up a mile long hill. (Bromley Hill for those who know it, not steep but a long drag). I was trying my darnedest to catch up with the lardy chap on a MTB. Only when I got to the top I realised it was an electric assisted bike.

Another time I could sense a cyclist in my slip. So upped the cadence but he was sticking to me. He then over took to turn right and yep, he was on an electric bike...

like thanks for making me bust a gut people..

that guy has got me too on Bromley Hill. I took him at the bottom and then woosh !.....i am sure I heard him cackle with laughter as he sped off

 

[Dave 123]

[quote="CopperCyclist Plus there's nowhere to pull off on a towpath![/quote]


Coppercyclist= You're very wrong there. As a 13 year old fishing on the Shropshire union canal I witessed someone doing it, he'd earlier offered to strip and swim for a stuck float for me & my mate...