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Show HN: Long Range E-Bike

jacquesmattheij.com

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Re: Show HN: Long Range E-Bike

#401

Post by jacquesm »

chli wrote: post #385
jacquesm wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In the USA the situation is much more risky than here. I don't like riding in traffic mostly because drivers tend to have a short fuse for anything that isn't exactly at the limit, but on bike paths everything works just fine. The problem is that s-pedelecs are technically lumped in with the scooters, even though there is no throttle and there is absolutely no way you are going to sustain 40 Kph+ for anything but a v…

Very cool project. I'm currently evaluating whether I could commute 75km per day on a pedelec. In Switzerland there is a small bike manufacturer that makes long range pedelec : https://www.speedped.com/ (German only). It's very expensive though but the battery pack can be updated to something quite impressive.

You definitely could, but .ch is a bit more mountainous than where I live to put it mildly so it's not the distance that I would worry about but the elevation change. If that's within bounds you likely would be fine in three seasons but winter would be problematic, if not downright dangerous.

Re: Show HN: Long Range E-Bike

#402

Post by usui »

martin1975 wrote: post #299

My dream e motorcycle - https://www.zeromotorcycles.com/

I have the 2022 Zero S and it is a delight. Highly recommend it for anyone who would be interested to try a motorcycle but don't want to deal with clutches. First motorcycle as well. There is simply less overhead to getting started, it's more noise appopriate for neighbors, and I don't have to worry about silent operation since I try to avoid risky maneuvers with other drivers when I can. I don't plan on dealing with traditional motorcycles ever.

Re: Show HN: Long Range E-Bike

#403

Post by amelius »

jacquesm wrote: post #363
amelius wrote: post #352

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Kind of strange that they build scopes with ground tied to mains earth, as it is the source of so many problems and hazards. Letting the entire thing float would be the proper solution.

That's because the metal case can go live if there is an internal short. That's what that protects against. But agreed, that really caught me out. I had a blind spot for days due to the afterimage.

It's probably because touching the outer ring of the BNC connector (which is at ground) can become dangerous, yes.

So the best way to go about it is to use an isolated differential probe. Or use an isolation transformer to float your device under test, which is always a good idea.

Re: Show HN: Long Range E-Bike

#404

Post by jacquesm »

kmtrowbr wrote: post #373
NikolaNovak wrote: post #366

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If something has that average speed capability, why is not licensed, registered, insured and held accountable as any vehicle would be? My 50cc scooter appears to have comparable speeds (maybe 10kph higher), and I wear proper armour & helmet, took the classes passed the test, am registered, licenses & insured. That's my massive pet peeve & safety concern: I WANT to love e-Bikes, and all those sorts of things; and like…

I drive, walk, and bike often in San Francisco. I rode a 650cc motorcycle for 10 years when I was in my 20s. In the Panhandle, for example, there is a mixed use bike / walking path. It is very dangerous for the walkers even with normal bikes, as the bikes are whizzing by the walkers at 20mph. However one day I was walking, and a HUGE mutant E-bike with massive fat tires & very heavy frame, flew by me at what seemed l…

You get caught speeding in a slow street here it will put you in serious trouble, and rightly so.

Re: Show HN: Long Range E-Bike

#405

Post by cycomanic »

bjourne wrote: post #302
nybble41 wrote: post #153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> You're not really a regular bicycle anymore due to your speed… The top speed (with assist) for class 1 & 2 e-bikes is well within the speed range of a regular bicycle. 15 MPH is considered a reasonable average speed for beginners, and 18-22 MPG is not out of the question with training. I've ridden my own e-bike past 20 MPH with no assist on occasion, and being a foldable model designed for electric assist it has a…

22 mph = 35 kmh. The average speed of Tour de France is 40 kmh: https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/tour-de-france/2016/gc/...

The average speed over the TdF is completely irrelevant, they cross the alpes. Generally on a race bike riding at 40kph if you have a slight tailwind is very doable over extended periods. If you are riding in a group of riders riding along at 40 is very straight forward, you can easily go over 50 (the fastest TdF stages are around 50 average over more than 180km distance. I can easily ride 30km/h on a regular commuting bike over extended periods (and I'm currently quite unfit).

Re: Show HN: Long Range E-Bike

#406

Post by wayoutthere »

alistairSH wrote: post #394
twodave wrote: post #38

Awesome project Jacques! I saw a comment of yours on an article a day or two ago and was hoping to see this pop up soon. I've found the most difficult thing about riding an e-bike is the other motorists have no idea how to react to you. You're not really a regular bicycle anymore due to your speed, but you're also not a motorcycle that deserves its own lane. I have at least one car turn in front of me almost every tr…

* You're not really a regular bicycle anymore due to your speed, but you're also not a motorcycle that deserves its own lane.* If you’re traveling at normal road speeds, wouldn’t you be a (electric) motorcycle? And require lights, tags, and insurance like any other motorcycle?

E-bikes in the US require pressure on the pedals to avoid being classified as vehicles (they’re cycling assist devices). That said, many people have retrofitted those assist systems with garage modifications that remove the need to push the pedals or even add a digital “throttle”.

Illegal? Sure. Are they going to get charged for it? Probably not.

Re: Show HN: Long Range E-Bike

#407

Post by nicce »

llampx wrote: post #399
alistairSH wrote: post #394

Earlier quoted context omitted.

* You're not really a regular bicycle anymore due to your speed, but you're also not a motorcycle that deserves its own lane.* If you’re traveling at normal road speeds, wouldn’t you be a (electric) motorcycle? And require lights, tags, and insurance like any other motorcycle?

That's how it is for S-Pedelecs in Germany.

In Finland you get heavy fines for going faster than 25km/h with motor-assisted ebike (if using motor). If you go faster, depending on the speed, you are fined based on taxes avoided on using this kind of vehicle, plus fines based on driving unlicensed vehicle, plus fines possibly driving without driver’s license and some other fines too.

Re: Show HN: Long Range E-Bike

#408

Post by jacquesm »

goodpoint wrote: post #378
jacquesm wrote: post #175

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They are super dangerous too. Very low to the ground, nearly invisible from the perspective of a motorist and far harder to overtake with on narrow bike paths than regular bikes. We have a couple of them near here, also a few battery assisted ones. The velomobile would be an ideal vehicle if everybody rode one.

> Very low to the ground That makes recumbent bikes safer (actually the safest) during falls. Less height - less kinetic energy. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recumbent_bicycle > nearly invisible from the perspective of a motorist Usually solved by bright colors and adding a flag on top.

Yes, that's what I thought. I had fallen many times with recumbents and never the slightest problem, because you're so close to the ground.

And then my foot hit the ground, ever so briefly. And that's a failure mode I never really considered but what happened next went pretty quick and irreversible once it starts: your foot hits the ground, the bike moves a little bit forward, this puts more pressure on your foot, so it becomes harder to lift. Within a fraction of a second all of your weight will be on that foot, there is no way to lift it up because you are still seated behind your foot. By the time your foot is under you you will have a couple of broken bones and a twisted ankle. If you're lucky.

So no, they are not the safest bikes, they are safe most of the time, except for that one nasty little corner case.

I live a theoretical argument as much as the next guy but in this particular case my practical experience should count for something. Don't ride a low racer, not if you like your legs.

Re: Show HN: Long Range E-Bike

#409

Post by birdyrooster »

How many times are you going to tempt fate? You already had an accident which makes it so you can't easily ride a regular bike anymore and yet here you are on an e-bike. I don't really want an answer, just more expressing my dismay. Good luck!

Re: Show HN: Long Range E-Bike

#410

Post by dillondoyle »

This is truly hacker! awesome.

Reading OPs own multiple mentions of live bomb, more than a little bit scary, "especially given where it is located" makes me nervous just looking at it!

Hopefully op says the casing trespa has enough protection so they can get off it it catches fire or the ali express balancer breaks. From what I've read managing the batteries is a big part of tesla's success.

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