Strange interaction with electric bike rider

[bianchi1]

So i'm out today for a spin when a cyclist flashes past me at some great speed. Im always up for a chase so I pick it up and try and catch his wheel. Before I know it im doing 28 mph and only just hanging on..and the rider in front is in jeans wearing a rucksack!

It soon became clear that this was some super duper electric bike but as long is I was in his slipsteam i could just about keep up.

He then slowed slightly and turned and said "ive got a full carbon Bianchi, but this is more fun" before speeding effortlessly back to 28 mph and left me for dead. I then caught him at some lights where he again told me about his 'full carbon' Bianchi and how he had been waiting for a 'proper' cyclist to scalp! When I pointed out that it doesn't really count, he replied "Well i'm as fit as fu@k anyway" and off he went!

Very strange

 

[young Ed]

if you can do 28mph on an electric bike then why get your licence and a scooter and tax and MOT and insurance plus fuel after all that just to go 30 MPH?

you sure about his 'full carbon banchi'?
Cheers Ed

 

[mark c]

Nowt as queer as folk !!

 

[G3CWI]

Obviously floated his boat. Who cares?

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

if you can do 28mph on an electric bike then why get your licence and a scooter and tax and MOT and insurance plus fuel after all that just to go 30 MPH?

you sure about his 'full carbon banchi'?
Cheers Ed

Strictly speaking, if his electric bike can do 28mph it is a scooter and should be registered, taxed, MOT'd and insured accordingly. Naughty chap.

 

[bianchi1]

I maxed out at 28.2 mph and i was just about staying with him...plus that was on a gentle incline. He told me (at the lights) that he wasn't even using it on full power...I said I was!

 

[slowmotion]

Slightly off topic. In electric-only mode, the maximum legal speed is 15mph for ebikes. Quite a few ebike shops will deactivate the speed limiting circuit.

 

[CopperCyclist]

Strictly speaking, if his electric bike can do 28mph it is a scooter and should be registered, taxed, MOT'd and insured accordingly. Naughty chap.

This! Should be limited to 15mph on electric power. Nothing to stop him pedaling to 28mph unassisted after that, but it certainly wouldn't be effortless!

 

[ColinJ]

This! Should be limited to 15mph on electric power. Nothing to stop him pedaling to 28mph unassisted after that, but it certainly wouldn't be effortless!

Presumably, the assist should cut out altogether over 15 mph so the bike would actually be harder to get to a higher speed because of extra weight and friction?

 

[CopperCyclist]

Presumably, the assist should cut out altogether over 15 mph so the bike would actually be harder to get to a higher speed because of extra weight and friction?

Indeed, that's what I'm led to believe as well - never actually ridden one.

 

[Drago]

For the price of a decent one of those you could just by a car and stay dry.

 

[bianchi1]

Presumably, the assist should cut out altogether over 15 mph so the bike would actually be harder to get to a higher speed because of extra weight and friction?

I would estimate that at 28 mph his cadence was around 10-15, and he wasn't even breathing hard...me on the other hand!

If this thing had a limiter it was turned off!

 

[Colin_P]

Sounds like a top bloke.

 

[jefmcg]

I read on an E-bike forum about a shop that sells bikes from germany that can achieve this sort of speed. His website has warnings and instructions about registration, licenses, insurance etc.

Apparently quite a few are sold, but none had ever actually been registered in the UK.

 

[MontyVeda]

"I'm fit as f*ck anyway!" ...what kind of person comes out with stuff like that?