Electric bike, stupid love of my life

Post by Phlarp » Mon, Jul 17, 2023, 12:59 AM UTC

globular-toast wrote: post #163

rcpt wrote: post #126

Greatest thing about bikes, and this still applies to ebikes, is that you actually experience and participate in the city you live in. You learn the small roads, you see other people and they see you, you spot tiny businesses and interesting parks. I lived in Los Angeles without a car for a few years. I often met people who lived here much longer but knew almost nothing about the local area despite having intimate kn…

I know people who can't get around without a car with GPS navigation. They do not know the way to the shops or their friends' houses. It's interesting to me that road rage is non-existent between cyclists and pedestrians. It seems to be a manifestation of the frustration of being reduced to a metal box with a monotone horn, a couple of lights and the ability to go forwards and backwards. On a bike you're still a pers…

Post by dghlsakjg » Mon, Jul 17, 2023, 1:12 AM UTC

jeffbee wrote: post #235

dghlsakjg wrote: post #229

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My original comment was in response to a suggestion of banning an entire category of already regulated e-bikes purely for the sake of children, hence the "somebody think of the children" If we are going to ban a category of vehicle for the sake of children based on injuries to children, then the logical vehicle to ban is the one that isn’t already speed and power limited. My position is that it doesn’t matter if the…

> purely for the sake of children. That's not what I said. I think e-bikes with throttles are too dangerous to be on the market for any buyer. It is a bad, dangerous human-machine interface. There is a reason that the big e-bike brands do not offer them. Yamaha doesn't. Specialized doesn't. Trek doesn't. It is a proper use of consumer safety regulatory powers to set requirements for the controls on a dangerous machin…

Post by supertrope » Mon, Jul 17, 2023, 1:27 AM UTC

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?

Post by pornel » Mon, Jul 17, 2023, 2:18 AM UTC

the_snooze wrote: post #23

> Depending on which country you live in top speeds will differ. In Japan the bike’s are capped at 24km/h. In America, 32km/h. Some places only allow for pedal-assist — meaning the motor only works when pedaling. Others allow throttles, blurring the line between bike and scooter. I’m lucky enough to live somewhere that I use a regular human-powered bike for my workweek commute. I think pedal-assist e-bikes are great…

Post by Chilko » Mon, Jul 17, 2023, 2:55 AM UTC

shrimpx wrote: post #331

acdha wrote: post #297

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One other thought: if you’ve ever been annoyed by cargo capacity, flats, etc. e-assist is a great leveler. I stopped worrying about the weight of my lock, heavy duty tires, etc. because I have an e-cargo bike with a kid on it, which is liberating compared to sweating grams on a road bike. (Not that a good road bike isn’t fun but it’s way less practical)

Thanks that is useful. Indeed I worry about cargo weight and sometimes avoid to take things I'd otherwise rather have with me.