Passed by a guy on an electric assist bike

[potsy]

Strangely, a couple of years ago there were 4 people at work using electric bikes, which is why I initially was looking at them, of these 1 has left but since bought a Sirrus hybrid, 1 has given up altogether after a heart attack, 1 went on to a normal bike but has since all but given up with knee trouble (just started again last week), and the last one got rid of the electric one and got himself a hybrid and loves it.

This is out of a hardcore of say 20 cyclists, there are now no 'leccy ones at all being used here.

I did have a quick go of one in Tatton park a while go, good fun but oh so heavy when not using the motor, I think we weighed it once on the works scales and it was over 30kg.

 

[Dan B]

, there are deaths and injuries that happen while cycling. But about half of these occur due to poor cycling practices - most often through faulty lane positioning.

Funny, but I've never heard of a case where a death on the pavement was attributed to the victim's "poor lane positioning". This suggests that either pedestrians are really a whole lot smarter than cyclists, or that there's some other characteristic of carriageway collisions that makes them intrinsically more dangerous. I wonder what that might be - the surface treatment, maybe?

 

[Electric_Andy]

Strangely, a couple of years ago there were 4 people at work using electric bikes, which is why I initially was looking at them, of these 1 has left but since bought a Sirrus hybrid, 1 has given up altogether after a heart attack, 1 went on to a normal bike but has since all but given up with knee trouble (just started again last week), and the last one got rid of the electric one and got himself a hybrid and loves it.

This is out of a hardcore of say 20 cyclists, there are now no 'leccy ones at all being used here.

I did have a quick go of one in Tatton park a while go, good fun but oh so heavy when not using the motor, I think we weighed it once on the works scales and it was over 30kg.

That is interesting. I've yet to ride a "proper" road bike, but I had a look at my friends Trek and was amazed at how light it was. Who knows - in 2 years time when I'm fotter I may find myself trading my e-bike in for a normal road bike. My e-bike is good for a load carrier though - I have a motorcycle-style carry box on the back which saves having to carry a backpack which makes your back sweat. Also useful for carrying the D-lock, puncture repair kit etc and far more practical than pannier bags IMHO.

 

[benb]

In my view, if it's a choice for this person between a car and a pedelec, they made the right choice.
If I was going to get one, I'd get this:

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

I wonder if Sportives will ban these....

 

[Paul J]

Electricity is generated mostly by coal. Coal is worse than oil in terms of its environmental harm. Imagine that electric-assist bike spewing out the black smog of the coal-fired power plant that generates its electricity. Okay, the energy needed to power an electric-assist bike is probably nothing like what's needed to propel a 3000lb car, but still, it's hardly clean or renewable energy. And nowadays there are very fuel efficient cars.

Hmm obviously you don't use any electric in your home then? As most of that is generated by coal fired powerstations. I bet your one of them that needs to pedal the dynamo a bit harder if you want to watch telly and boil the kettle at the same time.

As for an electric assist it has got to be better then the spaz disability scooters that are on the increase

 

[downfader]

Hmm obviously you don't use any electric in your home then? As most of that is generated by coal fired powerstations. I bet your one of them that needs to pedal the dynamo a bit harder if you want to watch telly and boil the kettle at the same time.

As for an electric assist it has got to be better then the spaz disability scooters that are on the increase

Dont like the last sentence for obvious reasons but agree with the first paragraph.

 

[roadracerash1]

I've never seen a electric assisted bike in person. But i've seen a gadget show episode which had a road bike fitted with one. I honestly can't see the appeal. You may as well just get a ped if you want 20mph of speed with minimum effort.

 

[HovR]

I've never seen a electric assisted bike in person. But i've seen a gadget show episode which had a road bike fitted with one. I honestly can't see the appeal. You may as well just get a ped if you want 20mph of speed with minimum effort.

Us cycling type wouldn't really see the appeal. To the vast majority of users I'd imagine that it's not a bike to get fit and enjoy cycling on, but rather a cheap mode of transport without the hassles of insurance, VED, MOT, fuel, CBT/license etc.

 

[roadracerash1]

Us cycling type wouldn't really see the appeal. To the vast majority of users I'd imagine that it's not a bike to get fit and enjoy cycling on, but rather a cheap mode of transport without the hassles of insurance, VED, MOT, fuel, CBT/license etc.

Yep just shear laziness. I think we should all get as fit as the pros and show up these CBA attitude persons. Drop them on every hill. Obviously if you have a genuine health problem then by all means use these "electric bikes".

 

[HovR]

Yep just shear laziness. I think we should all get as fit as the pros and show up these CBA attitude persons. Drop them on every hill. Obviously if you have a genuine health problem then by all means use these "electric bikes".

That wasn't what I was trying to get at, and hence I'm not sure I agree. Can we really judge a person simply by the way they commute?

Not everyone wants to commute by human powered bicycle; I can respect that. I don't think the fact that we cycle gives us the right to deem people who don't lazy - For all we know they may be far more active in other ways?

 

[Dan B]

That wasn't what I was trying to get at, and hence I'm not sure I agree. Can we really judge a person simply by the way they commute?

Absolutely not: we should reserve judgment until we see how well they spell

 

[neil earley]

what a load of mish mash comments by a bunch of lycra clad roadies LOL who dont like to be overtaken by an e assist bicycle , have a day off and get over it !! Bicycles arent only for the racer boys and surely freedom of bike choice is a good thing/

 

[Ian H]

In a cafe in North Devon a while ago, we met some of the local club. One of them, whom I know, rides a trike since being wiped out by a lorry some years ago. He told me that a couple of the older members had resorted to electric-assist so that they could still get out on the club runs. He left, and we followed about 5 mins later. Despite the huge hill and he being on a trike it was 15 mins before we caught him. But then, he's a mere stripling of 80yrs old.

 

[benb]

Anything which means there are more cyclists on the roads, especially if that person has swapped from a car to a bike, is a good thing.

I don't care if they're riding a BSO (as long as it's not so awful that it puts them off)
I don't care if they're a fake hipster on a fixie
I don't care if they're using a pedelec
I don't care if they're a Cav wannabe in lycra
I don't care if they're on a vintage 3-speed with a basket

They are on a bike, and that is good.