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Electric bike, stupid love of my life

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Re: Electric bike, stupid love of my life

#271

Post by hereonout2 »

zimpenfish wrote: post #70
js2 wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> E bikes really are the best form of travel Whether an E bike is the best form of travel is going to depend on a lot of factors. It's certainly less flexible than a car. For one person who doesn't need to carry a lot and who lives somewhere that has dedicated bike lanes or can at least safely share the road with cars and where the weather is neither much too cold nor much too hot and there aren't daily thunderstorms…

I know someone who carries a lot, lives in London (some dedicated bike lanes, not many), the weather is, uh, random at best, and he does the shopping, commutes from SW London to Farringdon, etc. All using an e-bike with detachable cargo trailer. If I didn't live on the 3rd floor[1], or had bike storage downstairs, I'd get one ASAP. [1] I need an e-bike for the same reason I can't carry 20kg up 4 flights - my right kn…

Used to cycle 25 miles a day in the city, like somebody else mentioned here its crazy how fast your tolerance and stamina build up, as well as your ability of handle what first looks like insanely scary traffic. Was the fittest I have ever been during my cycling years and I was beating my tube commute time substantially.

Been riding a motorcycle in London though for the last 15 years. A bit more effort to get started I guess but worth considering. From a theft point of view there's so many motorbikes about that a 10 year old boring one with a decent chain is quite unlikely to get stolen, probably cost less than an ebike too.

Re: Electric bike, stupid love of my life

#272

Post by creato »

abeppu wrote: post #218
bluGill wrote: post #168

Earlier quoted context omitted.

60 years ago it wasn't hard to hot wire a car. Car locks are very good, 20 years ago encryption was added so you can't start the car withour the authorized keys. Decades before that the lock was attached to the steering wheel so you couldn't drive even if you srarted.it. and car locks are hard to pick (unlike many house locks)

... btw, since we know how to make locks that are harder to pick, why _don't_ we use them basically everywhere including houses. Are they a lot more challenging to manufacture?

When theft via lock picking becomes an issue, people will buy those locks. I doubt it will be an issue as long as bolt cutters and batter powered angle grinders exist.

Re: Electric bike, stupid love of my life

#273

Post by rsynnott »

rcpt wrote: post #224
n40487171 wrote: post #203

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I feel like a paintball gun on a shoulder strap might help to discourage that behavior from motorists

Real gun https://www.reddit.com/r/cycling/comments/ofrr0f/armed_cycli...

Huh. I mean, fair enough, I suppose, but also, wtf.

Re: Electric bike, stupid love of my life

#274

Post by dukeyukey »

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…

> why do we need to add batteries and motors and geegaws to them?

Hills. Unfit people. Older people. Not getting to work sweaty. To carry children, cargo, or pull a small trailer.

Re: Electric bike, stupid love of my life

#275

Post by pyaamb »

wpietri wrote: post #78
tjoff wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The problem of thieves is such a downer though. Against all kinds of bikes, really takes both the joy and the utility out of it. Same with owning a scooter and similar vehicles. And even if you have good and safe parking at home and at the office (great!), which will cover the vast majority of trips it still limits the usefulness of a vehicle to be so tied up. Yes, there are solutions/mitigations/compromises. But exp…

I feel that one for sure. I live in San Francisco and was a dedicated cyclist. I had 6 bikes stolen in my first years here. But I was stubborn, got cannier, and kept the 7th long enough for it to look scruffy. Which let me keep it for years. But then it got stolen while locked up behind a 12-foot fence and something went out of me. I just gave up. I still make occasional trips on the Lyft bikes, which are fine. And I…

did u ever put an airtag on it?

Re: Electric bike, stupid love of my life

#276

Post by shrimpx »

swader999 wrote: post #6

E bikes really are the best form of travel. The only issue is how do you get rid of that ridiculous looking grin on your face. You just had a huge rush, got a bit of exercise, paid nothing for parking, eight pennies for 'gas', and beat all your co-workers who were stuck in traffic. The grin is real and not a good look professionally at the office when commuting. Thanks ebikes.ca, endless sphere forums and Sheldon Bro…

I'm eyeing an e-bike but part of me is afraid that I won't exercise as much and get lazy. Currently I bike often and get a pretty good daily workout as I climb into town.

Re: Electric bike, stupid love of my life

#277

Post by grrdotcloud »

abeppu wrote: post #218
bluGill wrote: post #168

Earlier quoted context omitted.

60 years ago it wasn't hard to hot wire a car. Car locks are very good, 20 years ago encryption was added so you can't start the car withour the authorized keys. Decades before that the lock was attached to the steering wheel so you couldn't drive even if you srarted.it. and car locks are hard to pick (unlike many house locks)

... btw, since we know how to make locks that are harder to pick, why _don't_ we use them basically everywhere including houses. Are they a lot more challenging to manufacture?

In a practical sense the lock is an indicator of limited access.

The ability to gain entry is trivial given a few minutes and intent.

The locks in my house are there so the glass has to be broken. The glass is there to give me enough time to respond.

If someone is picking my lock they are involved in a hit, not theft.

Re: Electric bike, stupid love of my life

#278

Post by constantcrying »

swader999 wrote: post #6

E bikes really are the best form of travel. The only issue is how do you get rid of that ridiculous looking grin on your face. You just had a huge rush, got a bit of exercise, paid nothing for parking, eight pennies for 'gas', and beat all your co-workers who were stuck in traffic. The grin is real and not a good look professionally at the office when commuting. Thanks ebikes.ca, endless sphere forums and Sheldon Bro…

There is nothing worse than using a bike in a dense city. I love cycling, but the moment you are confronted with high concentrations of pedestrians and cars it quickly gets unbearable and unreasonably dangerous.

Not to mention that it is impossible for some people, 1:30 with a train, 45 minutes with a car and about 3 hours with a bike, makes thr choice rather obvious.

Re: Electric bike, stupid love of my life

#279

Post by yardie »

abeppu wrote: post #218
bluGill wrote: post #168

Earlier quoted context omitted.

60 years ago it wasn't hard to hot wire a car. Car locks are very good, 20 years ago encryption was added so you can't start the car withour the authorized keys. Decades before that the lock was attached to the steering wheel so you couldn't drive even if you srarted.it. and car locks are hard to pick (unlike many house locks)

... btw, since we know how to make locks that are harder to pick, why _don't_ we use them basically everywhere including houses. Are they a lot more challenging to manufacture?

Good question. My apartment in Europe had a steel plate door with a gargantuan lock that with 10 latch points. My apartment in the US has a cheap ~$30 commercial deadbolt you could defeat by pushing really hard. I looked at getting one of those locks and the price was astronomical.

Re: Electric bike, stupid love of my life

#280

Post by acdha »

shrimpx wrote: post #276
swader999 wrote: post #6

E bikes really are the best form of travel. The only issue is how do you get rid of that ridiculous looking grin on your face. You just had a huge rush, got a bit of exercise, paid nothing for parking, eight pennies for 'gas', and beat all your co-workers who were stuck in traffic. The grin is real and not a good look professionally at the office when commuting. Thanks ebikes.ca, endless sphere forums and Sheldon Bro…

I'm eyeing an e-bike but part of me is afraid that I won't exercise as much and get lazy. Currently I bike often and get a pretty good daily workout as I climb into town.

I have found the opposite to be true: it removes excuses not to cycle, and going faster means we ride longer. We’ve gone long enough without starting our car that I had to jump it a couple of time.
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