Increase in seizures of illegal ebikes

[Alex321]

Bear in mind you would need towards 500 watts to maintain a gentle 6mph on a 20% hill.

Which very few people would manage unless it was only 50 yards or so.

Add the inefficiency of a 250 watt motor, a lot of work will usually still be needed to get up up a 8% hill.
8% is still classed as very steep.

What "inefficiency". The 250W is output power, not consumed power.

8% is fairly steep, but one that most of us if we are reasonably fit can get up at 7-8mph.

 

[Alex321]

I think you should read Simon Warrens Cycling Climbs of Yorkshire. In the section described as East Yorkshire which includes the North York moors there are 15 climbs with gradients with 20% and above sections. Then there’s the Dales, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire with their 20% plus climbs. Maybe you need to get out on your bike a bit more.😉

His point is absolutely correct. In an area of that type, 15 climbs which have sections (not even the whole climb) is not really very many. And that is very much one of those "pockets" with a lot of steep climbing.

I live in the Vale of Glamorgan. It is hilly enough that the average amount of climbing per mile I do is well above average, but I can only think of four climbs that I have tried within 15 miles or so of home which have sections over 20%. And none of those last for more than 200-300 yards.

 

[cyberknight]

Don't you guys use tyre sealant?
I've not had a puncture in many years which stopped my ride. I see my tyres are peppered with micro holes, sealant oozing out, but never go flat. Pump up once month. Caveat they are 50mm wide G Ones

haha unfortunately tubeless ready wheelsets are beyond my budget

 

[Webbo2]

Which very few people would manage unless it was only 50 yards or so.




What "inefficiency". The 250W is output power, not consumed power.

8% is fairly steep, but one that most of us if we are reasonably fit can get up at 7-8mph.

Am I on different planet to the rest of you 7 to 8 mph is double figures gradients not 8%.
My club mate Dave and his partner Rosemary just rode from North Yorkshire to Barcelona .
Dave is 75 and also rides his age in miles on his birthday which is in November.
Just to remind you this is cycling forum and some of you might need to up your game.🚴‍♀️🚴🛵🐌😵‍💫😉

 

[Alex321]

Am I on different planet to the rest of you 7 to 8 mph is double figures gradients not 8%.

Probably you are. Or maybe just much younger than many of us.

Though having said that, I'm probably still doing 7-8mph at 10-12%, I certainly wouldn't be above that. But that is me (and obviously you). It isn't "most".

My club mate Dave and his partner Rosemary just rode from North Yorkshire to Barcelona .
Dave is 75 and also rides his age in miles on his birthday which is in November.
Just to remind you this is cycling forum and some of you might need to up your game.🚴‍♀️🚴🛵🐌😵‍💫😉

Many of us are old codgers here. I'm 66, and many are much older than me.

But even then, I wasn't talking about what we on here might expect to do, I was talking abut what "most" cyclists might be able to manage. We on here are not a representative sample.

 

[mjr]

quick google says the dft says if you can do more than 18 mph you should consider using the road rather than shared use paths

No no no no that's a zombie myth. DfT or DETR or whatever it was then once considered saying that, put it out for consultation, got screaming in response and decided not to say it. Google is lying to you, yet again.

 

[Webbo2]

Probably you are. Or maybe just much younger than many of us.

Though having said that, I'm probably still doing 7-8mph at 10-12%, I certainly wouldn't be above that. But that is me (and obviously you). It isn't "most".



Many of us are old codgers here. I'm 66, and many are much older than me.

But even then, I wasn't talking about what we on here might expect to do, I was talking abut what "most" cyclists might be able to manage. We on here are not a representative sample.

Just younger than than many of us. As I’ve mentioned several times I’m 70.
l guess it’s whether you are just old in your body or your head.😎

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Just to remind you this is cycling forum and some of you might need to up your game.🚴‍♀️🚴🛵🐌😵‍💫😉

Why?
I am cycling, you are cycling.
You cycle for sport, I cycle for utility.
My effort getting my hefty commuter up the road is the same as yours getting your road bike up a mega hill.
Cycle Chat includes all type of (legal) cycling.

 

[albion]

What "inefficiency". The 250W is output power, not consumed power.

The one detailed by myself and others !
I like my flawed hub motor. The cassette and chain seems to last forever.

 

[classic33]

Why?
I am cycling, you are cycling.
You cycle for sport, I cycle for utility.
My effort getting my hefty commuter up the road is the same as yours getting your road bike up a mega hill.
Cycle Chat includes all type of (legal) cycling.

My utility cycling is done on four wheels. I've done it on three wheels, until they were pinched. And no e-assist on any of them. I did try under the old regulations, to do it legally, but the system wasn't very helpful. Especially when compared to the current system and regulations.

My cycling is done for fun, and when it stops being fun, I think I'll be stopping. But I want to cycle legally, even if what I'm using isn't very well known about.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Because you were claiming that to ride faster than an ebike on a normal bike was superhuman.

Sorry, there's a misunderstanding here, I wasn't claiming anything of the sort. Or not intentionally at least.

My point is that the arguments for increasing the available power and cutout speed on e-bikes because it's a practical necessity are flawed. The vast majority of unassisted cyclists manage just fine with less than 250W to play with, and don't ride at 25kmh. No one needs that extra power and speed. Plenty might want it, and they should buy a moped.

So you'll run into trouble if you need to go up a 20% gradient. That's no big deal because the likelihood of a randomly chosen cyclist on a particular day encountering a hill like that is practically nil. And if you do happen across one, and can't manage then walk, the steepest parts are never very long. You'll soon be back on a manageable gradient.

The year before last I visited the Grand Colombier with some friends. They turned up in their camper with 250W assist e-bikes that they use to tootle around on. They both got up the Colombier (1,700m @8% with some savage steep bits) just fine, 250W assist was just dandy. I rode up at 188W average with no problem. No need for 500W motors or legs.

 

[albion]

You certainly do not live 'up north'.
The flat artery roads here include the A19, the A1, the A66, the A689, the A189 and the A1068 and A1231.

All really none doable if you want to stay alive. So 1+++ mile climbs are near the norm.

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

Gone are the days of climbing sub 800 foot hills at ~4W/Kg under my own steam, but with a 250W ebike on a good day, I'm getting close to or even beating my old segment times while being ~13Kg+ heavier than I was '17-'22 on a ~6Kg heavier ebike.

 

[classic33]

Sorry, there's a misunderstanding here, I wasn't claiming anything of the sort. Or not intentionally at least.

My point is that the arguments for increasing the available power and cutout speed on e-bikes because it's a practical necessity are flawed. The vast majority of unassisted cyclists manage just fine with less than 250W to play with, and don't ride at 25kmh. No one needs that extra power and speed. Plenty might want it, and they should buy a moped.

So you'll run into trouble if you need to go up a 20% gradient. That's no big deal because the likelihood of a randomly chosen cyclist on a particular day encountering a hill like that is practically nil. And if you do happen across one, and can't manage then walk, the steepest parts are never very long. You'll soon be back on a manageable gradient.

The year before last I visited the Grand Colombier with some friends. They turned up in their camper with 250W assist e-bikes that they use to tootle around on. They both got up the Colombier (1,700m @8% with some savage steep bits) just fine, 250W assist was just dandy. I rode up at 188W average with no problem. No need for 500W motors or legs.

Unless your arms are up to the job, I think that last part is a necessity for cycling.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Unless your arms are up to the job, I think that last part is a necessity for cycling.Y

Yebbut not 500W legs