E-Bikes thoughts, comments?

[rebeccaC]

I just came across this electric motor kit on Amazon. What does everyone think? Would this work on a standard bike? Certainly much cheaper than buying and e-bike.

Your link took me to the PK80 gasoline motor.

MIT’s Senseable City Lab program is doing some interesting research into conversion kits to e-bikes. The Copenhagen wheel (everything incased in the rear wheel) came out of that lab and may turn out to be one of the easiest ways to convert a bike. As with a lot of new tech, prices can be high at the beginning though, $700+ depending on single speed or cassette. I think as prices and weight goes down and wattage and battery technology increases something like/or the Copenhagen may be very appealing to a lot of people.

other kinds of conversion kits can be bought for around $200

[salsabike]

I think that is a very basic and prevalent difference in mindset about the role of bicycles in most of the U.S. vs other countries like the European ones. When I grew up, bicycles were simply transportation, not exercise. And that transportation view has played into the development of bicycle-friendly infrastructure. As long as bicycles are only viewed as a tool for exercise, there will be less support for improving cycling infrastructure.

[I know I'm going off on a bit of a tangent here.]

Actually, I think this is quite relevant and not tangential at all.

[Eden]

Don't get me wrong - I use my bicycle for transportation often (I nearly exclusively bicycle commute), but I still view it as multi-tasking… transport that is exercise. If I couldn't use my bike and was given the choice between a scooter and the bus, I'd take the bus - I can't see why I'd choose a more hazardous, less comfortable means of transport if it didn't have the exercise benefits… OK… well I except I suppose that sometimes trips by bus are unreasonably long when you look at the wait/transfer factors and where exactly you can get to is limited… but still if it were my everyday commute, I'd rather ride my bike in the rain than take the bus, but I'd take the bus over riding a scooter.

I also think there are other basic reasons that a lot of people don't view bicycles the same way here as in Europe - we tend to be way less dense here and many if not most people do not live urban areas where walking and cycling are practical. Suburban areas are not set up to be friendly to much else than car transport - houses far away from shops and workplaces with few ways in or out - few sidewalks, few amenities within reach- you have to be intrepid, dedicated or you just get into your car…

[antimony]

My husband was reading the Interbike news -- he's more of a runner than a cyclist, but he does ride, and he said "look at these e-bikes, if I had one I'd never drive my car to work". He usually takes the bus, but if he has a doctor's appointment or errands to run to/fro, the schedule is often too inflexible and he drives.

I suggested we seriously consider seeing if we could find an e-assist (pedaling required) cargo bike that we both found comfortable, because if we had one of those, I'd never borrow his car to grocery shop unless it was pouring, and I'd never need the car to take (other) bikes to the shop. (For me it's more about a cargo setup than the assist, but I'd probably use the assist occasionally.)

[rebeccaC]

I think that is a very basic and prevalent difference in mindset about the role of bicycles in most of the U.S. vs other countries like the European ones. When I grew up, bicycles were simply transportation, not exercise. And that transportation view has played into the development of bicycle-friendly infrastructure. As long as bicycles are only viewed as a tool for exercise, there will be less support for improving cycling infrastructure.



[I know I'm going off on a bit of a tangent here.]

Sometimes we are a little too U.S. centric here.

Pedaled mopeds have been very popular in Europe for the last 60+ years. I had one of the 7 million+ sold VeloSoleX's when I was 10. We had deliveries made to the house with pedaled moped cargo trikes and i still see them on trips back. When I was back not long ago I saw a lot of E-bikes, a very nice folding E-Solex and even Fedex using e cargo trikes in Paris

[DrMitzi]

When i was younger, my Litespeed and I traveled quite a bit and I was fortunate to do some amazing bike trips in here in the USA, Europe and Costa Rica. However with age and bodily renovation (both knees replaced, surgery on both hands, 2 back surgeries and shoulder reconstruction), I could no longer get on and off my beloved road bike or make it up the 850' hill that I live upon. I though I was done with biking, until I tried the Townie Electra Go. I'm back in the saddle again and can even drop my husband coming up the hill. This is a pedal assist configuration, so you have to pedal to make it go, so it is still a lot of work for me to get up the hill, but I can do it. It is certainly not "exercise-free". Top speed is only 15mph pedaling, so I'm not zipping by anyone. I have baskets on the handlebars and rear rack, so I can take my little dogs along or buy a few groceries and run errands while getting some exercise. At 56 pounds (without baskets or load), it is heavier than any road bike and a bit clunky to handle, but sitting more upright takes the stress off of my neck and hands. The Townie has an unusual geometry that puts your feet somewhat forward, which takes the stress off of my refurbished knees. It does make a little bit of noise, but not too terribly much. This technology has allowed me to get back into biking for fun and health as well as rejoining my (annoyingly athletic) husband on bike trips again. Probably the best money I have spent on biking since I got the Litespeed. Now I just need to find a bike rack big enough to cart it around.........