Show HN: Long Range E-Bike

Post by Zigurd » Fri, Nov 12, 2021, 10:53 PM UTC

gquiniou wrote: post #167

I am surprised velomobiles are never mentioned: they are much faster than traditional bicycles, have some protection from the weather and can be electric assisted too: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velomobile

Post by jacquesm » Fri, Nov 12, 2021, 10:59 PM UTC

wiether wrote: post #422

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 I don't understand, ebikes are regulated and the assistance will top at 25kmh in most EU countries, which is a very average speed for a bike without assistance. Unless you're talking about speed bikes, that can ride faster but are regulated like a motorcycle with license plate and can't ride on cycle paths. So it's just an electric motorcycle that looks…

Post by jacquesm » Fri, Nov 12, 2021, 11:01 PM UTC

pmontra wrote: post #418

emj wrote: post #393

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a cyclist I tend not to care so much about all the mistakes other people do. Realistically it's a very small percentage of people that are new in traffic, the problem is that you usually only see the mistakes people do. You will never see that cylist who changed their pace 20s ago to avoid you. What has been shown is that people who travel by many different modes; cylists, pedestrian, motorcycle, car, bus etc, are…

I agree and provide examples. As a cyclist I know that a road bike is faster than a car in a roundabout so when I drive my car I don't overtake bikes right before roundabouts: either they'll try to overtake me right where the road gets narrower (unsafe) or have to slow down behind me (and they don't have an engine). So I slow down a little and overtake them after the roundabout. Same thing when approaching a red traf…

Post by jacquesm » Fri, Nov 12, 2021, 11:05 PM UTC

Zigurd wrote: post #421

gquiniou wrote: post #167

I am surprised velomobiles are never mentioned: they are much faster than traditional bicycles, have some protection from the weather and can be electric assisted too: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velomobile

By and by, enough cars will be equipped with enough driver assist that heavy cars that must be crashworthy at relatively high speeds will no longer be needed, much in the way active safety makes light high speed rail carriages possible. Then lightweight vehicles can come in to wider use. Imagine how road capacity would be increased by something like a lightweight one-seat series hybrid "bike" with an enclosing fairin…

Post by junker37 » Fri, Nov 12, 2021, 11:13 PM UTC

jacquesm wrote: post #425

pmontra wrote: post #418

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree and provide examples. As a cyclist I know that a road bike is faster than a car in a roundabout so when I drive my car I don't overtake bikes right before roundabouts: either they'll try to overtake me right where the road gets narrower (unsafe) or have to slow down behind me (and they don't have an engine). So I slow down a little and overtake them after the roundabout. Same thing when approaching a red traf…

The second (to walk on the left) is actually the recommended way to walk when there is no footpath because you see the oncoming traffic and they see you. Which is much better than being hit in the back by something you never saw coming.