Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Long Range E-Bike (2021)

jacquesmattheij.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

321–330 of 345 posts

Re: Long Range E-Bike (2021)

#321

Post by stefs »

estebank wrote: post #25
Aurornis wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree. I thought the electric motorcycle problem was overstated by people complaining online at first. Then they became popular around my house and I agree it’s a huge problem. I’m fortunate enough to live around a lot of walking and mixed use trails for bikes and pedestrians. Recently they’re unsafe to use in the evenings because you have to be ready to jump out of the way of groups of kids (plus a few adults who…

I believe this to be growing pains. Legislation hasn't yet fully adapted, some of the legislation I've seen makes the mistake of conflaing these, and enforcement is nonexistent in most places. I suspect that as time passes, we'll find ways of allowing ebikes to flourish. Around me the biggest thing I've seen is parents on cargo bikes taking their kids, and that's a demographic that elected officials tend to listen to…

in my area, one of the biggest groups using those vehicles were food delivery riders. for those guys, those electric mopeds were a gamechanger, as they were able to make many more runs that might have made the difference between "just enough" and "just not enough". now those are becoming illegal (on bike paths & without registration), but they're not making sense one the roads due to congestion. it's a lose-lose situation for the delivery riders and the people that order online, but a win for bicycle safety.

as far as i can tell most full time riders didn't switch to "pedal assisted e-bikes" but probably went looking for other work. we're back to students riding their private bicycles to make some money on the side.

Re: Long Range E-Bike (2021)

#323

Post by neya »

jacquesm wrote: post #316
neya wrote: post #302

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks! I'm also currently exploring drivetrain options. I know this sounds crazy, but I'm working on implementing an e-CVT like in the Toyotas, they are actually super efficient and very comfy. I'm not really a fan of hub motors, so I went with some smaller out-runners. Your project has forced me to resume my gearbox project now :)

There is - or was - a Finnish company doing precisely that. Google 'Revonte', amazing little product they made.

Thanks, will check it out. BTW, been your follower since early in the decade. Love your content!

Re: Long Range E-Bike (2021)

#324

Post by jacquesm »

neya wrote: post #323
jacquesm wrote: post #316

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is - or was - a Finnish company doing precisely that. Google 'Revonte', amazing little product they made.

Thanks, will check it out. BTW, been your follower since early in the decade. Love your content!

Thank you :)

Re: Long Range E-Bike (2021)

#325

Post by tenacious_tuna »

theultdev wrote: post #314
loeg wrote: post #189

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We’ve moved the goalposts from “Food, beer, and cat litter would be too heavy for a bike.” Also, my grocery stores are 0.7, 1.1, and 1.6 miles away, not that it matters. 5 miles is just not very much time at 20-28 mph. I think theft and weather/comfort are bigger obstacles to most people than distance.

But that is what we end up needing. Is the goal post a few groceries you get for a few days? I have never seen one of these ridiculous looking bikes in any city or anywhere. Where do y'all live, a Dr. Suess book? I will not bike them in the rain, With soggy bags and squishy pain. I will not bike them up the hill, When every pedal feels like drill. I will not bike them when it’s hot, With sweat that pours and cheese t…

> I have never seen one of these ridiculous looking bikes in any city or anywhere. > > Where do y'all live, a Dr. Suess book?

I saw them every day in Chicago. I see them every day in southern Ontario. I saw them whenever I visited Boston or NYC. Where do you live that you don't?

> I will not bike them in the rain, With soggy bags and squishy pain.

> I will not bike them up the hill, When every pedal feels like drill.

> I will not bike them when it’s hot, With sweat that pours and cheese that rots.

Given that other commenters have addressed basically all of these concerns (waterproof bags, electric assist, insulated bags) it seems more like you just want to be contrarian rather than cite specific problems and discuss if they can be solved.

Re: Long Range E-Bike (2021)

#326

Post by lostlogin »

theultdev wrote: post #312
lostlogin wrote: post #303

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A beer run on an unpowered bike isn’t too bad. 2 six packs and a few snacks is just fine. Important note: if you put a beer in the bottle holder, give that one away and take another for yourself.

2 six packs is 2 days worth of beer. I buy 2x 24 packs every 2 weeks, not going to work. But great, I'll bike that home then go back for groceries. Maybe the "snack" I can fit will fuel me. Sure I could cut out something I love, my one vice. But that's not very American, a car that can fit all of my stuff is.

Yeah, that’s a heavy load. But hauling 48 beers would soon have you looking like Quadzilla if done regularly.

Re: Long Range E-Bike (2021)

#327

Post by nozzlegear »

lmm wrote: post #225
nozzlegear wrote: post #191

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> like a stupid teenager killing someone's baby by running them over with an e-bike at max speed on a sidewalk around a sharp corner, Replace e-bike with bike or tricycle and you still have a smushed baby.

Not if the bike goes significantly slower than the e-bike. Which is the whole point.

Idk, I think baby becomes pancake no matter the speed. With my naive understanding of the physics involved, the weight of the teenager and their bike compared to the relatively tiny baby is going to be the deciding factor here.

Re: Long Range E-Bike (2021)

#328

Post by loeg »

theultdev wrote: post #314
loeg wrote: post #189

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We’ve moved the goalposts from “Food, beer, and cat litter would be too heavy for a bike.” Also, my grocery stores are 0.7, 1.1, and 1.6 miles away, not that it matters. 5 miles is just not very much time at 20-28 mph. I think theft and weather/comfort are bigger obstacles to most people than distance.

But that is what we end up needing. Is the goal post a few groceries you get for a few days? I have never seen one of these ridiculous looking bikes in any city or anywhere. Where do y'all live, a Dr. Suess book? I will not bike them in the rain, With soggy bags and squishy pain. I will not bike them up the hill, When every pedal feels like drill. I will not bike them when it’s hot, With sweat that pours and cheese t…

It's ok! They're not for everyone. My contention is just that there exist bicycles perfectly adequate for the weight and volume of your groceries (and mine).

Re: Long Range E-Bike (2021)

#329

Post by eloisant »

throwaway2037 wrote: post #262
eloisant wrote: post #253

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They don't have license plates, they have mandatory registration stickers. You can't read it unless you look closely at the sticker while the bike is stopped. It's to identify owners of stolen bikes, not identifying running bikes.

To be clear, when the OP wrote "Japan has bicycles with license plates", it is important to clarify the term "bicycle". It would more accurate to say "motorized bicycle". If you ride something that looks like a bicycle where you can power it only with a throttle button (no pedalling required), then it requires a license plate, at least in Tokyo. Explanation here: https://www.city.inagi.tokyo.jp/en/kurashi/zeikin/1002…

Alright, a moped requires a plate. That's not a bike.

And I don't need to ask AI, I used an e-bike (without a licence plate) last week in Tokyo.

Re: Long Range E-Bike (2021)

#330

Post by theultdev »

tenacious_tuna wrote: post #325
theultdev wrote: post #314

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But that is what we end up needing. Is the goal post a few groceries you get for a few days? I have never seen one of these ridiculous looking bikes in any city or anywhere. Where do y'all live, a Dr. Suess book? I will not bike them in the rain, With soggy bags and squishy pain. I will not bike them up the hill, When every pedal feels like drill. I will not bike them when it’s hot, With sweat that pours and cheese t…

> I have never seen one of these ridiculous looking bikes in any city or anywhere. > > Where do y'all live, a Dr. Suess book? I saw them every day in Chicago. I see them every day in southern Ontario. I saw them whenever I visited Boston or NYC. Where do you live that you don't? > I will not bike them in the rain, With soggy bags and squishy pain. > I will not bike them up the hill, When every pedal feels like drill.…

I have an EV as well as an ICE truck. Powertrain is not a concern. It's the load a bike can carry vs a car overall. The bonus of having storage and rain cover is extra. Sure you can do a lite version but why?

I don't want to risk having an injury on a bike either. A car is much safer.

Post reply on HN