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Asus Bike Booster

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Re: Asus Bike Booster

#341

Post by woodruffw »

elAhmo wrote: post #333

As a cyclist, I thought this was a joke. Cycling is very efficient mode of transport, if anyone needs this kind of assistance (like those people on the stock photos), they are insanely out of shape.

Wait until you hear how many people drive a car every day.

But less facetiously: there are large demographics that might ride bicycles more if it was slightly easier for them, including older people and people with mobility issues. I don’t have opinions particular to this product, but expanding the feasibility of cycling seems like a generally good thing to me.

Re: Asus Bike Booster

#342

Post by derriz »

Toutouxc wrote: post #217
pjmlp wrote: post #197

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Regular city bikes. This is the approach if you go offers on regular supermarkets that also sell bicycles. Personally I am never going to give more than 400 euros tops, for a new bicycle, it is either that or not much beyond 100 euros at a flea market. Getting the bicycle stolen or worse, revenge damage when they fail to steal it, is not worth more than that.

I guess that’s the reason you don’t understand why bikes are sold without these things. €400 gets you a very, very, very low-end new bike, like just one step above “unsafe to ride”. You often don’t get pedals on new bikes because you have your favorite pedals that work for you and anything that’s included with the bike goes straight to the bin, because it’s useless trash. You don’t get fenders, because you don’t usua…

> €400 gets you a very, very, very low-end new bike, like just one step above “unsafe to ride”

I don’t agree. After my last bike was stolen I decided to buy the cheapest Decathlon had to offer - 240 - for getting around town and there’s nothing unsafe about it. It’s heavy and has cheap components but everything works fine for light city cycling.

Re: Asus Bike Booster

#343

Post by windsweptabove »

dominotw wrote: post #40
UltraSane wrote: post #23

These suck, just buy an e-bike they are awesome.

any particular one you recommend in usa my costco has magnum melody

Specialized Vado SL 5 would be my entry level. But anything with a Bosch/Shimano Steps/Giant (same mfr as Specialized) mid-drive. Smooth as butter, and these brands still ride like a normal bike.

Re: Asus Bike Booster

#344

Post by krior »

donatj wrote: post #298
krior wrote: post #294

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you use your bike for 50 miles a year, why do you even need that thing?

I don't. I don't need a bicycle at all. The only reason most Americans outside NYC and Chicago ride a bike is leisure. Well, that or too many DUIs if we're being honest. Ideally though if I had something like this it would encourage me to use my bicycle more.

If you don't need it then why do you write that you are the target group?

Re: Asus Bike Booster

#346

Post by windsweptabove »

righthand wrote: post #74

Anything for the world to actually avoid the health benefits of riding a bike. What is wrong with a standard human powered bike? I expect a global obesity epidemic in 10 years as people begin buying/building WALL-E-style beds.

Following a heart attack, I got a pedal assist, I got hundreds of hours of exercise and outdoors. You always are exercising, just lightly, and you can adjust your input level upwards at will. Brake fluid issues got me back onto my push bike this week. It's different - there's definitely more effective strength training going on in accelerating and climbing hills. Otherwise, it's not THAT much of a difference. I just go slower. 10 mph rather than ~15.

Re: Asus Bike Booster

#347

Post by jwr »

ant6n wrote: post #280
jwr wrote: post #239

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Once you try a (good!) electric bike, you don't really want to go back. Life is just so much better. For urban commuting, you no longer think about heat (getting sweaty), distance, inclines, wind, etc. Obviously I'm talking about good electric bikes, with mid-mounted engines that detect pedaling strength. These feel great, unlike electric motors strapped to bikes, which feel like, well, electric motors strapped to bi…

How do you get exercise without sweating. Or asked another way, of you don’t get your heart rate up while riding, what’s the point. Or put a different way: I use electric Lime rental bikes all the time, it’s super fast and convenient. But I’m keenly aware they don’t give me any exercise, so I do want to go back to unpowered bikes as much as possible.

Biking does not have to equate to cardio! You can commute to work on an e-bike with your heart rate similar to walking quickly (what I do). And you can go exercise later.

Not sure how these two things got tied together in the common culture. Something I hear all the time is "but you have an electric bike, what's the point, it doesn't get you any exercise" and people saying that commute to work sitting in their cars.

Re: Asus Bike Booster

#348

Post by GuB-42 »

bri3d wrote: post #12

Friction drive e-bike conversions were popular years ago. They generally: * Wear tires surprisingly quickly * Absolutely suck in any form of weather or terrain condition (dirt, rain, etc.) * Have ~20% less efficiency than any other drive form. But, they are easy, and they do work.

About tire wear, I know a guy who did custom "Solex" type bike racing, with a small, friction drive petrol engine on the front wheel.

It was so bad that the rear wheel ended up getting bigger at the end of the race, as it picked up rubber deposited by the front wheel!

Keep it mind it was custom bikes though, the front tire just had to finish the race, they used a roller made of hard materials and knurled. I don't remember the reason, but it probably had to do with the fact their engines were quite a bit more powerful than traditional ones despite having the same displacement.

Re: Asus Bike Booster

#350

Post by windsweptabove »

amazingamazing wrote: post #16

Similar things are on amazon today 300-500. Not worth it imho. If you are going to keep it on, convert your bike with middrive or hub motor once.

People really owe it to themselves to try an ebike from an recognised road bike brand. They've been at it for a decade or so now, and even early 20's efforts are a different class in terms of riding experience, refinement and practicality.

Summers ending, watch your bike dealers for deep discounts!

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