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YAY, E-bikes!

Gary

"S" is for "neo-luddite"
Aug 27, 2002
7,535
5,470
UK
Fancy road ebikes are retarded, you can build a hardtail with slicks for 1/3 of the cost with a normal engine (easy to service...) and a bigger battery. That's the whole point of getting a road ebike, you don't need to worry about weight, so you can get away with murder while the rest of the people spend thousands on carbon parts to save weight.
Don't really agree.
Fancy E-road bikes are sub 11kg (ie. not too bad and handle pretty nicely) and have subtle assist rather than massive torque (like most E-hardtails) so they zip along the flat ABOVE the assist but allow the rider to get some assistance on every climb (sub 15mph)
The thing I love most about my proper road bike is it's nimbleness and ease to accelerate under my own power. It's actually faster in short sharp accelerations and short sharp climbs than either of my Shimano Steps motor Emtbs.

My commuter is an E-hardtail with slicks
IMG_20190713_120216_627.jpg
IMG_20190713_120216_619.jpg IMG_20190713_120216_639.jpg
It's 20kg and being a hardtail all that extra weight makes it ride like a dead pig and kills pretty much all the handling traits I love about hardtails. It is quick though.
But the whole point in buying it wasn't to go any faster but to allow me to ride to work in the same time I could on my roadbike but wearing civvies and not arrive sweaty Vs. full lycra and soaked with sweat.
 

Flo33

Turbo Monkey
Mar 3, 2015
2,057
1,298
Styria
It's 20kg and being a hardtail all that extra weight makes it ride like a dead pig and kills pretty much all the handling traits I love about hardtails. It is quick though.
That's exactly what I experienced on my 72yrs old Dad's e-HT - fun to fly up fireroads with 25 km/h and not even start to sweat doing it, but damn, a pig on the descents and horribly underpowerd brakes. Had some moments on a narrow, steep and rooty singletrail.

He enjoys it a lot, going to +1500m of altitude alpine sheds with his old buddies, enjoy a beer and some lunch and roll back home.
 

Sandro

Terrified of Cucumbers
Nov 12, 2006
3,224
2,537
The old world
Only e-bike i ever rode for an extended period was a hardtail. It was perfectly fine and dare I say fun as a commuter on bike paths, but take it even slightly off road or point it downhill and it became a nightmare with absolutely no inclination to alter its direction or speed.
 

Gary

"S" is for "neo-luddite"
Aug 27, 2002
7,535
5,470
UK
That's exactly what I experienced on my 72yrs old Dad's e-HT - fun to fly up fireroads with 25 km/h and not even start to sweat doing it, but damn, a pig on the descents and horribly underpowerd brakes. Had some moments on a narrow, steep and rooty singletrail.
As shimano steps E-HTs go mine is one of the lightest you'd find at 44lb and it's actually ok off road but I've been riding inadequate hardtails with shit tyres and brakes down technical descents all my life so i'm used to having "moments" ;) . it's just the playfulness I love a hardtail to have that's missing.
Brakes on mine are if anything overkill. (203mm 4 pot Shimanos).
Derestricted and running a 38T ring it's pretty much the same speed as I would be on my roadbike going for it lycra'd up at 10TT pace on the commute. (Yeah. fuck that 8 times a week)
 

Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
18,850
9,556
AK
Two F-ing E-scooters on my commute home yesterday. One on the bike path, one on the bike lane, both going the same direction as me. The one in the bike lane had headphones and no helmet. I don't think I ever expected in my lifetime to see batteries that small making something go that fast. I just wish Darwin would hurry up with the headphones in the bike lane part.
 

Sandro

Terrified of Cucumbers
Nov 12, 2006
3,224
2,537
The old world
E Scooters became legal here two weeks ago and while very few models have been authorized so far, they are already clogging up the sidewalks and attracting idiots with no idea about how to behave in traffic. 4 friggin Über scooters were parked in front of my house this morning :banghead:
 

SylentK

Turbo Monkey
Feb 25, 2004
2,287
854
coloRADo
That vid, even tho it was a bit corny, still made me want to ride my bike.

C'mon Nick. Aren't they legal in your neck of the woods right now? Up here, you gotta go to USFS/BLM land. Think of how many laps you could do at Apex ;)
 

Nick

My name is Nick
Sep 21, 2001
23,926
14,438
where the trails are
That vid, even tho it was a bit corny, still made me want to ride my bike.

C'mon Nick. Aren't they legal in your neck of the woods right now? Up here, you gotta go to USFS/BLM land. Think of how many laps you could do at Apex ;)
Yes you can ride them in an the open space parks and at least in Golden Gate SP too.
 

Toshi

Harbinger of Doom
Oct 23, 2001
38,029
7,549
Whaa? Really?

Time to start a "best ebike for the front range state park" thread!
JeffCo: https://www.jeffco.us/3618/e-bikes

Based on findings from a pilot program conducted during 2018, Jeffco Open Space adopted a permanent policy to allow electric bicycles (e-bikes) on Jeffco Open Space managed trails.

  • Class 1 e-bikes are allowed on natural surface trails within the parks
CO state parks: https://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/E-Bike-Rules.aspx

E-bike use on State Park Lands
  • Class 1 and 2 e-bikes are allowed on roadways and designated bike lanes and on multi-use trails and other areas (e.g.,campgrounds) that are open to non-motorized biking.
 

Sandro

Terrified of Cucumbers
Nov 12, 2006
3,224
2,537
The old world
For those of you suffering from severe e-sensitivity and e-rritation:

screenshot-www.pinkbike.com-2019-07-23-13-17-18.png

You will however need find something new to get indignant about.
 

Electric_City

Torture wrench
Apr 14, 2007
1,993
716
For those of you suffering from severe e-sensitivity and e-rritation:

View attachment 135771
You will however need find something new to get indignant about.
"So we know everyone on here (pb) as of 2 years ago rode bikes and thought it was cool as shit. But we're moving to ebikes cause The Industry™ wants us to. Plus we'll get new advertisers. $$$$! Guess who wins!"
 

Sandro

Terrified of Cucumbers
Nov 12, 2006
3,224
2,537
The old world
Beware the all powerful bike industry and media, a nefarious mix of Charles Foster Kane, hypercapitalist Gordon Gekko (obvious lizard is obvious), the Bilderbergers and Illuminati with their irresistible marketing. They mind controlled me into buying my fourth 29er-downcountry-E-fatbike in just under two months. Halp.
 

rideit

Bob the Builder
Aug 24, 2004
23,055
11,298
In the cleavage of the Tetons
So,even though I am intrigued to ride our 400 miles of moto trails on an ebike, this represents the looming problem for non motorized trail systems.


 

Toshi

Harbinger of Doom
Oct 23, 2001
38,029
7,549
So,even though I am intrigued to ride our 400 miles of moto trails on an ebike, this represents the looming problem for non motorized trail systems.


I don't get the point of this, like the Sur-Ron. No one can legitimately claim that the trail damage from 4 kW is equivalent to a biker at ~250-500W. If one sticks to moto trails... then at that point why not ride a real motorcycle?

Also with 1 kWh of pack and 4 kW peak that's 15 minute runtime flat out. Why?
 

Gary

"S" is for "neo-luddite"
Aug 27, 2002
7,535
5,470
UK
1 kWh of pack and 4 kW peak that's 15 minute runtime flat out. Why?
Do you ever ride your Emtb at full chat the entire ride?
If I do the 504wh battery will only last 1hr but in that hour I can climb (and descend) 3500ft elevation fairly effortlessly
I basically manage the amount of descending I'd get from a 2.5hr ride without the climbing effort or the fannying about/resting required before/after each climb/descent. Not something I do often but it's nice to have the option when short of time.

That thing might only last 15mins on full power but you're going to ride 4x the speed (uphill) and at least 3x the distance. Unless you have an uninterupted climb of 5 miles or more you're also unlikely to be able to use full power for 15mins continuously (climbing at a steady 20mph)
I'm not that interested but I'd assume it also has lower power levels to use on longer rides too?

what's actually interesting about that bike is the torque (130Nm). Not the max speed or wattages

Also preferably ride one before dismissing the entire point for others (not me)
 

Toshi

Harbinger of Doom
Oct 23, 2001
38,029
7,549
That vehicle is in a serious legal gray area. Technically it probably should be plated and registered as a moped.

I like my legal class 1 e-bike access to mountain bike trails here. That thing would be blatantly against the spirit and the letter of the rules regarding access and would jeopardize my access as well as part of the backlash. 37 mph throttled...
 

rideit

Bob the Builder
Aug 24, 2004
23,055
11,298
In the cleavage of the Tetons
That vehicle is in a serious legal gray area. Technically it probably should be plated and registered as a moped.

I like my legal class 1 e-bike access to mountain bike trails here. That thing would be blatantly against the spirit and the letter of the rules regarding access and would jeopardize my access as well as part of the backlash. 37 mph throttled...
That was my whole point...
 
CASE#: 19A103686
RANK/TROOPER FULL NAME: Andrew Underwood
STATION: Williston Barracks
CONTACT#: 878-7111

DATE/TIME: 08/02/2019 @ 16:64 hours
STREET: Maple St.
TOWN: Essex Jct.
LANDMARK AND/OR CROSS STREETS: Elm Street
WEATHER: Clear and Sunny
ROAD CONDITIONS: Heavy traffic / Dry

VEHICLE #1
OPERATOR: Lance Martel
AGE: 34
SEAT BELT? Yes
CITY, STATE OF RESIDENCE: Essex Jct. Vt
VEHICLE YEAR: 2018
VEHICLE MAKE: Jeep
VEHICLE MODEL: Grand Cherokee
DAMAGE TO VEHICLE #1: Damage to drivers side fender,
INJURIES: No Injuries

BICYCLIST: Gerald Delmonico
AGE: 72
CITY, STATE OF RESIDENCE: Essex Jct. Vt.
INJURIES: Facial fractures, injuries to extremities, lacerations
HOSPITAL: UVMC

SUMMARY OF CRASH: On the above date and time, Martel was traveling West on Maple Street in Essex Jct. Upon arrival to the intersection of Elm Street, Martel stopped and activated his left turn signal while he waited for a break in eastbound traffic. Once there was a break, Martel proceeded to turn onto Elm Street. As he was negotiating the turn, Delmonico entered the intersection on his electric bicycle, traveling west in the eastbound bicycle lane, and collided with the driver’s side of Martel's vehicle. Delmonico was treated at the scene by Essex Rescue and subsequently transported to UVMC for additional treatment. This crash remains under investigation. Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is urged to call the Vermont State Police.
 

Gary

"S" is for "neo-luddite"
Aug 27, 2002
7,535
5,470
UK
Elm Street


Nightmare!


Ps. what relevence is it that a bike has a motor in a collision within the normal speed range of a regular unassisted bicycle?
I rarely don't hit 40mph on pretty much every road bike ride whereas I rarely hit 40 commuting on my Emtb (but even if I do. I'm freewheeling)
 
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Toshi

Harbinger of Doom
Oct 23, 2001
38,029
7,549
E-bike rider was riding the wrong way in the bike lane. Thus the damage to the Jeep’s driver’s side. This one is on the 2 wheeled pilot.
 

Gary

"S" is for "neo-luddite"
Aug 27, 2002
7,535
5,470
UK
The bike having a motor is still irrelevant whatever direction the old duffer was riding.

Dunno the circumstances there but plenty (poorly designed) bike lanes here don't actually even specify direction.
 

Toshi

Harbinger of Doom
Oct 23, 2001
38,029
7,549
The bike having a motor is still irrelevant whatever direction the old duffer was riding.

Dunno the circumstances there but plenty (poorly designed) bike lanes here don't actually even specify direction.
Agreed that e-ness is irrelevant here. Our lanes are typically between traffic and parked cars, one per direction/side of street.