Electric bike, stupid love of my life • Hacker News Board

Re: Electric bike, stupid love of my life

#181

Post by sleepybrett » Sun, Jul 16, 2023, 5:27 PM UTC

mitthrowaway2 wrote: post #156

dota_fanatic wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The author lives in Japan. The probability of it getting stolen is approximately zero.

Coming from a city where bike theft is severe, the biggest culture shock for me in Japan was seeing how they "lock" their bicycles: loop a flimsy metal ring through the back wheel, and walk away. You could easily still wheel the bike away on its front wheel or toss it into the back of a truck. And yet, it will always still be there when you come back. Amazing.

If they use any lock at all. Even in the heart of tokyo you'll see bikes just propped up against a wall or sitting in a rack with no lock at all.

Re: Electric bike, stupid love of my life

#182

Post by gnicholas » Sun, Jul 16, 2023, 5:27 PM UTC

dghlsakjg wrote: post #139

jeffbee wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don’t think this can be ignored. The bulk of ebike injuries to children are coming from throttle-having class 2 bikes and in my view these should simply be outlawed. I’ve seen people crash then who clearly thought they were stopping, but who were holding the throttle. They were riding a motorcycle without motorcycle training. Torque-assist pedal systems are perfectly intuitive to anyone who knows how to ride a regu…

Unlike a motorcycle, if you engage the brake on an ebike, the motor is completely disabled in every model I’ve ever seen. You can hold the throttle wide open, and it won’t matter if any amount of brake is applied. E-bikes just aren’t that dangerous, especially compared to a full power motor vehicle. I suspect that the bulk of injuries to children on e-bikes are happening in throttle models because those are cheaper m…

> E-bikes just aren’t that dangerous, especially compared to a full power motor vehicle.

Sure, but we don’t let children drive full power motor vehicles (except older teenagers after passing a test, and obtaining liability insurance).

Re: Electric bike, stupid love of my life

#183

Post by ben-schaaf » Sun, Jul 16, 2023, 5:30 PM UTC

zdragnar wrote: post #90

ryukafalz wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They're of course not the solution for every transportation need, especially if you live out in the middle of nowhere, but two things: > If the weather is too hot, or cold, or wet, or snowy, you're out of luck. I really don't think the weather is as much of a barrier as it's often made out to be. The Netherlands is famously windy and rainy and Oulu, Finland has snow 5 months out of the year, but nevertheless lots of…

> I really don't think the weather is as much of a barrier as it's often made out to be. I'm not making some wild guess, I'm going based on observations of riders in the nearby metro where I once lived. Bike usage plummets twice a year- very few people want to deal with -40 wind chills or have a shower at work after biking in 90F/33c sun. Hence, my argument that e-bikes tax breaks make more sense at local levels than…

What metro is it and does the dedicated bike infrastructure get plowed and otherwise well maintained in the winter? Oulu's record low is Hot days aren't an issue for ebikes until you get to extreme temperatures. I've found it to be much better than walking; I'd sweat more waiting for my car to cool down. This is in Sydney, up to 40C and fairly humid.

Re: Electric bike, stupid love of my life

#184

Post by pmg102 » Sun, Jul 16, 2023, 5:30 PM UTC

ndsipa_pomu wrote: post #48

bluescrn wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unless bike theft is solved, an e-bike will remain a toy for the weekends for most people. An expensive e-bike is a prime target to thieves. They require a secure indoor storage space at both ends of the any journey, and many potential users lack that, either at their workplace or their home (e.g living in an apartment only accessible via stairs)

There's an interesting problem here in Bristol where a couple had improvised an e-cargo bike locking solution on the side of the road using a couple of planters. Unfortunately, the council aren't happy about it and are threatening to remove them. Seems like parking spaces are unfairly prioritising cars or at least aren't flexible in providing locking points for e-bikes. Bristol City Council do have a scheme for bike…

I'm generally pro-cycling but I found this story curious. No-one can reserve spots outside their house, for a car or any other purpose. So it seemed they were arguing not for parity with car users, which I would unquestionably support, but for special treatment?

Although I don't really understand why you can't reserve/pay for the spot outside your own house, for a vehicle OR a bike, which would seem to me a solution that would please everyone.

Re: Electric bike, stupid love of my life

#185

Post by SmellTheGlove » Sun, Jul 16, 2023, 5:31 PM UTC

sleepybrett wrote: post #161

SmellTheGlove wrote: post #144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ive been enjoying RTO because most of my commute is via the Elliott Bay Trail in Seattle. It really does put me in a different mood for the day.

I'm in ballard and my company has an office downtown. Two weeks back I needed to go in for a day as my home internet was down and decided to take my cargo ebike (it's been lovely out). I'm not sure I'd want to commute on a cargo bike every day, but it was a great ride, both ways, along the ship canal trail. (Little detour on the way home down to figurehead brewing to hit up the midnite ramen truck for dinner)

The little detours make ebike commuting fun! Out of curiosity did you cross the canal at the Ballard Bridge or somewhere else? I haven’t crossed that bridge yet because I really don’t want to ride on 15th.

Re: Electric bike, stupid love of my life

#186

Post by mulmen » Sun, Jul 16, 2023, 5:35 PM UTC

SmellTheGlove wrote: post #162

mulmen wrote: post #130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah very disappointing. I'm e-bike curious but they're all so _ugly_. Something with VanMoof style and a "dumb" drive system would be perfect. Give me a conventional derailleur-and-cassette in the back and an electric drive up front without screaming "this is an e-bike!" in my face and I would be the first in line.

I have a Rad City and I kinda like how stupid looking it is - especially the step through model, which I definitely have. But the nice part is that the bike components are all regular parts. Rad seems to be having serious issues as a company, which is a shame because for the price they’re good frames - but if they go under, it’s not like I relied on them for parts or service anyway. Anyway digression aside, you might…

Yeah I have been eyeballing the Rad Wagon for a while. Seems perfect for me actually. The styling is very... Utilitarian. Almost to the point of charming.

Re: Electric bike, stupid love of my life

#187

Post by operatingthetan » Sun, Jul 16, 2023, 5:35 PM UTC

SmellTheGlove wrote: post #185

sleepybrett wrote: post #161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm in ballard and my company has an office downtown. Two weeks back I needed to go in for a day as my home internet was down and decided to take my cargo ebike (it's been lovely out). I'm not sure I'd want to commute on a cargo bike every day, but it was a great ride, both ways, along the ship canal trail. (Little detour on the way home down to figurehead brewing to hit up the midnite ramen truck for dinner)

The little detours make ebike commuting fun! Out of curiosity did you cross the canal at the Ballard Bridge or somewhere else? I haven’t crossed that bridge yet because I really don’t want to ride on 15th.

It's not a good bridge to cross because the walk/bike part of it is dangerously narrow. Either take the Fremont bridge or use the Ballard Locks (which requires walking).

Re: Electric bike, stupid love of my life

#188

Post by Eric_WVGG » Sun, Jul 16, 2023, 5:35 PM UTC

gerbilly wrote: post #83

Unpopular opinion: Ride a regular bike. In terms of theft, just use a beater bike for commuting. By getting rid of the 'E' part of the bike, you'll get more exercise and won't have to worry about theft. For years I rode a beater that I found in the garbage and that I fixed up with some parts I had lying around. Later I upgraded to a singlespeed because derailleurs freeze up in the winter. It's a trek earl. Seriously…

I feel the same way, but if “e” is what it takes to get more people on bicycles, I’m not gonna argue with them.

Incidentally, I also custom built a “mini velo” similar to the author’s “orange city bomber.” It really is the best bicycle for urban environments, pure fun, no idea why they aren’t more popular in the states.

Re: Electric bike, stupid love of my life

#189

Post by mulmen » Sun, Jul 16, 2023, 5:36 PM UTC

sleepybrett wrote: post #171

mulmen wrote: post #137

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So do I. I have ridden both. Class 3 e-bikes are mopeds at a minimum. I see them on mixed use bike paths daily, going 20mph or more.

I was literally just on a bike/walk trail in seattle on my e-bike, probably going about 15mph and a non-e-bike blew past me like I was standing still. I'd guess he was clocking around 30mph. While e-bikes certainly can contribute to a problem of unsafe biking on a trail, they are not the only source of that problem.

Yes but I see a lot more e-bikes doing that than conventional cyclists. I attribute it to the very thing that is beneficial about e-bikes. They attract people who don't otherwise ride bikes. At least in my neighborhood (Alki) the fast cyclists stick to the road.

The scooters are the real menace. I see more mishaps on those than anything else.

Re: Electric bike, stupid love of my life

#190

Post by sleepybrett » Sun, Jul 16, 2023, 5:37 PM UTC

wildekek wrote: post #14

paganel wrote: post #8

There is no way for me to let a ~2000 euros object of mine unattended and out in the open. I barely leave my current bike like that, and that "only" costs ~300 euros. More generally, I feel like this is a subject that doesn't get discussed often enough. Yes, most probably the writer of this article can eat the 2000 euros loss if his e-bike gets stolen, but the majority of the population cannot. It also sucks that the…

I have one with a detachable battery. Apart from the charging convenience this brings, it also makes the bike way less attractive to steal.

The problem being now you are lugging around a 10lbs battery, I guess if you are just locking up at the office that's ok. But I wouldn't want to lock up on a market street and then lug an extra 10lbs around with me while I shop.