In the last 6 days the NY Times has run 4 articles about e-bikes -- all of them negative.
A few other stories the paper might consider:
🔹 E-bikes pollute far less than even electric cars
🔹 Compared to autos, e-bikes pose minimal risk to other people
🔹 Unlike cars, e-bikes provide exercise
My oldest will be commuting to community college next year so she'll be taking my car (a plug-in Prius). My wife has been concerned about us possibly getting a third car BUT I think I might have a better solution: an e-bike.
My current job has me a few miles from the house, and I'm currently exploring remote/hybrid possibilities. Anyone with e-bike experience, what should I be looking for in an e-bike? Anything bikes I should consider or stay away from? I'm in the US if that matters.
Decarbonising road transport - Lighter vehicles make a big difference
"Currently, a large diesel SUV typically emits a kilogram of CO₂ for every 3 kilometres of driving, compared to 15km for a light electric vehicle and 200 kilometres for an e-bike. An average electric vehicle currently emits 1kg of CO₂ every 7km."
"Australia is on track to miss the net-zero target for 2050 mainly because of the large proportions of fossil-fuelled vehicles and large and heavy passenger vehicles."
Tire and brake dust means your 4000lb #EV will generate as much emissions as a small gas car, or more!?
"Some companies are experimenting with more sustainable tire sources, such as dandelions" 🙄 anything but #eBikes, right. #climateWishing#motoNormativity
It's really pouring now. 🌧️ Not riding my #bike today. It's fine. I love rain. Can't have everything, right? 🤪
I'm thinking I'll use Big Bike ⚪🚲 for the out of town ride on Monday -- ±40km each way. Battery power can do about 60km in ideal-ish conditions. I intend to ride on #PAS zero as much as possible.
If I take Grey ⚫🚲 it can supposedly do 100km but... I dunno. Should be enough. But it's no good for me on PAS zero.
Me thinks ⚪🚲 is still a better ride for long trips. 🤔 #eBikes#bikes
Are there such things as secure-ish bike trailers? Or power assist #bike trailers? Or are there #eBikes#eBike that can handle hauling some significant cargo?
I'm wondering if it would be practical to replace my ailing car with an eBike and trailer. Use cases are 1) commute around town, 2) shopping around town, 3) haul two peoples' worth of #scuba gear around town (and then store it safely while locked to a pretty hefty public bike rack), 4) occasional use as a mounain bike on 4x4 trails.
Charging the #eBikes battery by pedaling down the hill after taking kid to school. (sorry about volume) you can hear where my brake switch bounces (I'm trying not to engage the mechanical brake but have to squeeze the lever just slightly for #regenBraking.) You can also hear where I had to stop pedaling because the hill got steeper than 300W (why isn't it 700, GRIN, because I'm the only person on earth with this problem? IDK, give me the source code.)
What is with this plate on the REI #eBikes for the motor controller compartment cover? The edges aren't sealed at all and the tapped steel flat bar floats in there with the controller hooked to both ends, like this is just to clamp it in place. The center screw doesn't thread into anything except the plate and then it touches down on the controller, plus had this red grease only on it. I'm concerned that water is going to get in, since there are no gaskets and it faces up. #BikeTooter
how do you waterproof an xt60 connector without making it too much pain to take apart? I'm thinking 1.5-2 wraps of cut rubber innertube with tape and zip ties on each end, like a 2in bandage over the connector. #eBikes
Day 9: Static tests of the suspension with a rear-mounted battery: with me sitting in the seat, there’s about 0.5 inch (1.2 cm) of vertical travel available. This corresponds to about 30 lbs (133 N, or 13 kg-force) of force. That doesn’t feel like enough of a buffer.
So, instead, I’ll be mounting the battery on top of the rear rack. As a future upgrade, I’ll mount it under the frame, just in front of the rear wheel. (1/2)
I recommended this bike a while ago, the Cannondale Compact Neo. I take it back; reliability has been awful. Currently on my way back to the shop with it and then I’ll donate it. #EBikes#Cannondale#BikeTooter
After a couple of rides and a recent visit to have Grey checked (where I asked the vendor to ride it with #PAS at zero to see if he too has a hard time pedaling)...
Grey ⚫🚲 is no good without 🔋 power, unlike Big Bike ⚪🚲 that rides like any regular non-powered #MTB.
Day 28 of my recumbent ebike build: first test ride! Quick ride down the street and back. Still found a couple things to tune up.
There’s a clicking sound from the front wheel area when it’s moving under load. Didn’t show up running the motor on a stand. I wonder if the motor cable isn’t secured as well as it should be?
The pedal assist needs to be dialed in some. It wasn’t detecting much power from me.
Even so, it went great! Everything else in that 0.1 mile ride worked!
When I sold my last car in 2011 and switched to bike (first a standard, last 5 yrs eBike) I walked past the auto-electrician, the tyre place, the rego office, spare parts dealer, the mechanic, the panel beater, the petrol station etc etc and counted all the money I was saving and it made me very happy.
Also noticed how many things I did not spontaneously shopped for because I had no way of getting them home (and really didn't need them anyway).
It works well for me, public transport is used for trips I can't make with the bike.
The freedom of pulling up next to the shop without having to search for a parking spot is priceless.
Some would find it extremely inconvenient for sure. Others, like myself, find it very liberating.
People have been using boxes on wheels to transport themselves and things for millennia. The issue is how fast #MotorVehicles can go, which in turn determines how far it is practical to #travel in one.
There will always be a need for weather protection and cargo capacity, but #society would look very different if motor vehicles were restricted to 20 mph, like Class II #ebikes.
At the #bikeShop getting a proper #bike wash for my #eMTB. It hasn't been thoroughly cleaned since I got a rear rack for it.
I always come to this same shop. 🚲💦 Other shops won't touch #eBikes. I have yet to find an eBike service* shop that's easy enough for me to get to. 🚴♀️ At least these guys aren't afraid to pressure wash an eBike.
You know you got too much stuff on your bike when it takes more than 15 seconds to get it ready for a wash (and to put things back again). 😐
"As currently written, HB 4103:
...would restrict some of the most affordable #eBike styles to [16yo and up]
...[allows localities to] ban the use of certain e-bikes from accessing multi-use paths and trails
...Enforcement based on e-bike class will be highly subjective and confusing for users
...Misses the mark on providing a clear definition... [cargo / 4 wheels, bigger motors]"