View Full Version : Interesting Article on E-Bikes
cd_davis
01-02-2020, 03:12 PM
The latest issue of Velonews writes about e-bikes in the weekly group ride and mass participation events like Gran Fondos.
Here's a good read with broader perspectives:
https://www.routefifty.com/infrastructure/2019/12/e-bikes-cities-infrastructure-changes/162151/
Chriis
Pelican
01-02-2020, 11:23 PM
Is it this article?
https://www.velonews.com/2019/11/bikes-and-tech/performance-e-road-bikes-make-the-hills-easier-who-wants-that_502712
I got an email about it.
Cheers,
Hong
redir
01-03-2020, 08:17 AM
Pedal assist city eBikes are great. Anything to keep cars off the street and people outside commuting and getting at least a little bit of exercise is wonderful.
For people with disabilities and for commuting they are truly wonderful. I get that. For the rest of us I just don't like eBikes on the trails and now apparently on the road... Uggg! I guess everyone gets a trophy now. Call me a hater if you must.
And I know mountain bikers love to go down hill and hate going up as the article mentioned. I was always the opposite since I am scared of going fast downhill with trees 12 inches from my head whizzing by. That's why I'd always pass the lazy mountain bikers going up :D
classtimesailer
01-03-2020, 08:28 AM
From the article:
" We just need to get the haters—who realistically, are happy on their ‘acoustic’ bikes—to be more welcoming to everyone.”
Not happening.
berserk87
01-03-2020, 10:11 AM
A guy in my club has bought an E-bike recently. I'm a fan after seeing what it's done for him.
He's about 67 years old, and was a really strong rider before an injury caused a partial paralysis of his diaphragm. He now has only one functioning lung. After this happened, he struggled to hold onto a group ride at easy to moderate paces.
The E-bike has changed the game for him. He's now getting all the fun out of a hard group ride, while having an assist to offset his handicap. We have been having a great time on recent rides, with attacks and counterattacks and other shenanigans. The guy has been brought back to life, it seems, and he is really animated, vibrant, and joyful on rides again.
He still has to work very hard to make things work, and can get dropped too - but it's more normal now. He's not getting dropped while everyone else in the group is casually chatting. That was disheartening for him in the past. He didn't like to hold people up and it was tough on him, despite the group being very accommodating.
The low-hanging fruit for the E-bike is a situation like this - where acquired physical ailment has derailed someone and can help them enjoy their hobby with friends again.
merckx
01-03-2020, 10:32 AM
What is the maintenance schedule and cost to repair and prolong the use of these machines? Are bikes shops and mechanics currently equipped to service these machines? Are parts available to service them?
I ask because there was a parallel movement with mopeds in the 70s when most bicycle shops sold the gas-powered machines. They were marketed as a solution to navigate around the gasoline shortage at the time. They were also seen as a way to mitigate city automobile congestion, and also provided an opportunity to enjoy physical activity (they had pedals).
Most bicycle shops at the time were not equipped to service the mopeds after the sale. They had no parts, no expertise with gasoline engine repair, and no space to store them.
What will it be like when all of these ebikes need service? How expensive will it be to maintain and service them?
bward1028
01-03-2020, 10:42 AM
We hated working on ebikes, but that was becasue it was mostly cheap online crap. this was a few years ago, so right at the beginning of the ebike boom. I'm sure it's even more complicated now, with more options.
It's almost like bike mechanics should be paid a living wage for what they do, instead of being paid like they are fast food workers.
merckx
01-03-2020, 10:51 AM
We hated working on ebikes, but that was becasue it was mostly cheap online crap. this was a few years ago, so right at the beginning of the ebike boom. I'm sure it's even more complicated now, with more options.
It's almost like bike mechanics should be paid a living wage for what they do, instead of being paid like they are fast food workers.
By extension about what I wrote, this was my thought too. Bicycle mechanics will be required to be trained to service these machines. Will consumers be willing to pay for this expertise?
Elefantino
01-03-2020, 11:15 AM
If there were a road bike that was light enough and cheap enough and my right size enough, I'd buy it.
Technology hasn't caught up to my lust just yet. But when it does, I will be all in on e-road biking and if someone belittles me for hanging with the fast group as a result I'll ignore them.
merckxman
01-03-2020, 11:18 AM
Creo = Believe (in Spanish )
Blue Jays
01-03-2020, 11:39 AM
My view of eBikes is much like that of berserk87 in post# 5 above.
When the passage of time catches us, it will be nice to have help.
Hawker
01-03-2020, 11:58 AM
If there were a road bike that was light enough and cheap enough and my right size enough, I'd buy it.
Technology hasn't caught up to my lust just yet. But when it does, I will be all in on e-road biking and if someone belittles me for hanging with the fast group as a result I'll ignore them.
I haven't thought this through, but I think I would feel a tad like an interloper using an ebike to keep up with the fast guys. Now maybe if I really knew everyone and they appreciated that it was my age that was the issue...maybe then I'd feel comfortable?
By extension about what I wrote, this was my thought too. Bicycle mechanics will be required to be trained to service these machines. Will consumers be willing to pay for this expertise?
Consumers are hardly willing to pay for maintenance on a regular bike. Most people flip out when you tell them it's $15 labor + tube to replace. Bosch offers 2 years on the drive system and battery. Those batteries cost hundreds to replace. If your average consumer spends $3-6k on an e-bike they are in the mindset it will just last forever. They still think of it as a "bike", it will be cheap and maintenance-free.
unterhausen
01-03-2020, 01:50 PM
From what I have seen, the people that participate on ebike forums are cheap. And those are the enthusiasts. I can't imagine that other ebikers are willing to pay what it's worth to service these bikes. And I have also seen people that have problems with their ebikes that their lbs has not been able to solve.
Blue Jays
01-03-2020, 02:02 PM
Many of us will be grateful for eBikes when we reach our seventies, eighties, and beyond.
Assuming that I keep all my marbles, it will be wonderful pedaling with folks half my age.
buddybikes
01-03-2020, 02:21 PM
Sure I will be hammered by this. Why not accept we head downward when we get old, and just getting out there is good enough? Least that is my acceptance as ebike won't help me and my neuro problems with back and feet...
Riding for riding sake...
merckx
01-03-2020, 02:30 PM
Sure I will be hammered by this. Why not accept we head downward when we get old, and just getting out there is good enough? Least that is my acceptance as ebike won't help me and my neuro problems with back and feet...
Riding for riding sake...
This is where I sit. I pinned a number on for many years. My riding was all about training and performance. I can't/don't do that any more. Though, I also cannot exist without turning the pedals. I now enjoy riding a sportif style bicycle. I also enjoy riding long distances. When I can no longer ride for long duration, I will ride for shorter duration until the moment when I no longer can. I prefer to leverage my body forward with my own steam. It is pretty simple. We exist until we don't.
unterhausen
01-03-2020, 02:51 PM
I don't see it for my recreational riding. My wife, otoh ...
I want an ebike for errands and commuting. Just haven't felt like pulling the trigger on that yet.
when i get old i hope i am half as fast on my bike. and not as fast on my ebike with people half my age.
This is where I sit. I pinned a number on for many years. My riding was all about training and performance. I can't/don't do that any more. Though, I also cannot exist without turning the pedals. I now enjoy riding a sportif style bicycle. I also enjoy riding long distances. When I can no longer ride for long duration, I will ride for shorter duration until the moment when I no longer can. I prefer to leverage my body forward with my own steam. It is pretty simple. We exist until we don't.
Blue Jays
01-03-2020, 03:16 PM
God-willing if my ability to balance remains...I will be happy with any assistance.
The wonderful aspect about this is that folks can opt not to purchase an eBike.
redir
01-03-2020, 03:18 PM
This is where I sit. I pinned a number on for many years. My riding was all about training and performance. I can't/don't do that any more. Though, I also cannot exist without turning the pedals. I now enjoy riding a sportif style bicycle. I also enjoy riding long distances. When I can no longer ride for long duration, I will ride for shorter duration until the moment when I no longer can. I prefer to leverage my body forward with my own steam. It is pretty simple. We exist until we don't.
Yup. I'll never win a cat1/2 race again and I'm ok with that. I still like to mentor the local college team and when they drop me on the climbs they often times are nice enough to wait till eventually I bid them good day. That's life. There are also plenty others I can ride with. In fact that's why organized racing is set up the way it is. You start off as a 5 and try working your way up. One member of my club has been a cat 4 literally for 15 years and enjoys every moment of it. He's found his spot. That's just the way it is. Obviously ebikes are not aloud in organized racing but still. PErsonally I'd rather jsut know my place and be happy with it.
In fact I never really understood that in golf too. Why should I who plays golf maybe 3 times a year be given special privilege when I play against my brother who plays probably 350 times a year and because of his hard work and dedication shoots in the 70's... And BTW my brother has one arm!
bruce-e-boy
01-04-2020, 09:27 AM
i have an old Kirk, a new Kirk, and an eMTB. I really like them all. My eMTB is at my place in the alps. Very hilly. I go with two mates (slightly older) and we go for 2 to 4 hours. One of them is quite a big chap and takes 2 batteries. We can go for many miles, and see scenery and visit places otherwise not possible. And when we are finished my top is as salt laden as when I was 20.
palincss
01-04-2020, 09:33 AM
From the article:
" We just need to get the haters—who realistically, are happy on their ‘acoustic’ bikes—to be more welcoming to everyone.”
Not happening.
Perhaps not here, but in my bike club the e-bike users are welcomed and are right at home. But then, haters are actively discouraged there.
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