On balance, I still am not a fan of e-bikes (previously known as ‘I just don’t get E bikes’)

[FluffyChicken]

Have you seen them massive things with four wheels, generally sit on a road blocking it (and often pavements) because they don't fit on the land somebody owns/rents.
Don't actually move very often, other than a bit in the morning and a bit in the afternoon, and they then on average only move a fraction over one person each time.

Take loads of resources to build, create all sorts of particle pollution, some just burn stuff dug out the ground and over a short time damage everything they move over....


Most ebikes I don't think do toouch damage, illegal* ebikes (aka electric motor bikes) are probably what you're talking about.

*illegal to ride on the road and bridleways as a bicycle.

 

[Mike-p]

Think of all those ebike food deliveries which would 99 percent have been collected by a single person in a car in the past...

 

[novocaine]

Think of all those ebike food deliveries which would 99 percent have been collected by a single person in a car in the past...

or the same person on a two stroke scooter, so still not great.

I like the idea of the Swytch kit. small pack, minimal extra weight on a normal bike. granted, biggest kit is only 30 miles because battery tech simple isn't there, but for commuters and getting them out of cars, it seems like a really nice idea. the ease at which you can swap out packs and the weight of the pack means 2 packs are carriable. I'm still thinking about a home brew with drill batteries

 

[d8mok]

Think of all those ebike food deliveries which would 99 percent have been collected by a single person in a car in the past...

Or those two things attached to the bottom of your legs?

 

[2manyoranges]

When I am not being very grumpy and not being bombarded by promotional stuff about the latest refinement of the E-bike, or staring at photos of non-recyclable batteries and piles of broken motors, then I get the nuance and get the use of an ebike rather than a car, and the mobility for those not able to cycle like they used to.

But that balanced state is still disturbed by the ebike behind me that hassles me in singletrack and rips up the berms because of the huge combined weight of the rider and bike…..

And I think the arguments are not settled and to discuss it is not tilting at windmills …

Actually I’m still feeling grumpy

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

If I cant do normal as I get old e bike. If my balance goes e trike. Until then I ride without electric assist. Edited because English is hard.

 

[novocaine]

Until then I ride ride without e.

rid?

 

[greencat]

When I am not being very grumpy and not being bombarded by promotional stuff about the latest refinement of the E-bike, or staring at photos of non-recyclable batteries and piles of broken motors, then I get the nuance and get the use of an ebike rather than a car, and the mobility for those not able to cycle like they used to.

But that balanced state is still disturbed by the ebike behind me that hassles me in singletrack and rips up the berms because of the huge combined weight of the rider and bike…..

And I think the arguments are not settled and to discuss it is not tilting at windmills …

Actually I’m still feeling grumpy

Yep, fair enough. I regularly go out in with a mixed group of ebikers and normal bikers. Since people started converting over I'm regularly at the back rather than the front, the ebikers will blast past while the rest of us are carefully pick our way up technical climbs and the constant whirrrr-whirrr of the motors gets on my wick. We've taken to sending them off on their own mini-adventures eg see if you can get to the top of that while we carry on up the main climb - and blimey, it's a relief when they do. Chances are - given most of us are in our 50s - we'll all be riding them in 5-10 years time.

 

[2manyoranges]

Yep, fair enough. I regularly go out in with a mixed group of ebikers and normal bikers. Since people started converting over I'm regularly at the back rather than the front, the ebikers will blast past while the rest of us are carefully pick our way up technical climbs and the constant whirrrr-whirrr of the motors gets on my wick. We've taken to sending them off on their own mini-adventures eg see if you can get to the top of that while we carry on up the main climb - and blimey, it's a relief when they do. Chances are - given most of us are in our 50s - we'll all be riding them in 5-10 years time.

Greencat….I like the ‘sending them off to play’….nice perspective and absolutely my own experience.

And …..50s? I’m 64 and on the latest (nonE) kit. 100 miles a week to work. In the forest and hills still keeping out in front of my whippet and mountain goat 17 year old son. He absolutely smokes me on the downhills though.

 

[greencat]

Greencat….I like the ‘sending them off to play’….nice perspective and absolutely my own experience.

And …..50s? I’m 64 and on the latest (nonE) kit. 100 miles a week to work. In the forest and hills still keeping out in front of my whippet and mountain goat 17 year old son. He absolutely smokes me on the downhills though.

Yeah, we all live in N. Wales and the hills can be killers - especially off-road once you get into the mountains. There is no hiding place sadly for those who aren't mega-fit. Wish I was still up to doing 100 miles/week unaided for shopping etc. But 35 years of a chronic illness and surgery takes its toll unfortunately. Maybe when I retire!