[bncuhler@verizon.net]

Originally Posted by gettingby

I see people dressed in bicycle attire like Lance Armstrong would have on riding electric bikes. Some of these things go over 15 mph and the people riding them are slowly pedaling. I don’t see the heath benefits to them, am I missing something?

E-bikes are generally pedal-assisted not motorized. If you don’t pedal, you fall over!

[MX rider]

Originally Posted by Surf Daddy

I have a Trex electric mountain bike. I also have a non-e mountain bike. My attire: Clip in bike shoes, bike shorts, athletic wicking shirt, no gloves and of course a good helmet. Functionally, I dress like Lance A, but without the logo shirt. Many years ago, I raced Supercross in stadiums and Motocross outdoors. I was a very skilled rider. I learned to dress properly. Dress for the crash, and not the ride.

I can ride my non-e-bike at 15 MPH. If I ride my e-bike at the same level of expending energy, I get to 20 MPH. My usual ride is 1 hour, pushing hard and trying to stay at a constant 20 MPH. I get a very good cardio workout.

I ride in cart lanes and multimodal paths. I fit in nicely with golf carts. I am not a hinderance to them.

The value of the e-bike is that I get an assist for speed, but only to 20. It will not assist past that. It is a Class 1 bike. By definition, they only assist to 20 MPH, and there is no throttle. If I want 21 MPH, I have to pedal much harder than I am capable.

I think e-bikes in general are becoming a problem. There are other classes of bikes that allow throttle-controlled propulsion. I have been passed a few times by these. I am guessing their speeds were 30+. In some cases, they were hardly pedaling. These bikes are essentially an electric motorcycle, providing very little cardio value. In some cases riders were not wearing helmets. Generally speaking, they did not look very skilled at riding.

Very well said. I still ride some motocross but don't race anymore. Mountain biking is much safer for me. I too worry about the e bikes that go 30 mph. Many of the people riding that fast don't have the skills needed for that speed.

[cphubbell@aol.com]

[QUOTE=Plinker;2248418]Love my Rad Rover ebike. Has 4” tires and shocks. I replaced the stock parts and now the torque is incredible, especially off road. A friend and I ride the single tracks on any of a number of mountain bike trails within 40 minutes of TV. I never stop pedaling.

RAD bikes are great. Made in America, offer several models and there is a brick and mortar store in St. Petersburg now that is having a promotional sale this Saturday.

In a past life we rode the Cape Cod rail trails with kids on the back of the bike. Now, as others stated, I wouldn’t get out of the tunnels without the assist.

[kada328]

Just because you own an electric bike doesn't mean you are using the 'assist' all the time. I normally am pedaling as a regular bike, and estimate I only use an 'assist' level less than 5% of the time. At my age I consider it a 'safety' option, in that, if on one of my long rides I encounter any problem the 'assist' is there to get me back home. It's great low-impact exercise.

[OhioBuckeye]

Electric bikes are for people trying to put on weight! No pun toward the older people!

[bcsnave]

Originally Posted by Windguy

I really don’t understand why wearing appropriate clothing for riding a bike makes people think that they are trying to dress like Lance. People wear cycling clothing because it is safer and more comfortable. Cyclists want to be easily seen and they need clothes that fit snugly so they don’t flap in the wind.

There are alternate bicycling wear that doesn't have to look like Lance and the tour attire.

[PompeyKing]

Yes!! When I ride my electric bike, I always make sure I get my exercise ring closed period the bike is there to help me through the tunnels them up the ramp assist me if I get too tired, it’s a great experience!

[Carlsondm]

Biking is a great exercise. I do not have the electric assist, but my buddy does. He can go almost anywhere a golf cart goes and at a decent speed .. when necessary. I can’t, especially when I’m tired or dehydrated. The bridges and bends and curves in the underpasses are quite challenging without the electric assist. After a right angle turn, you are pretty much at zero to start the incline out of the underpass. Pretty daunting for a senior at the end of a hot day. I would have the assist to get home safely.

I would also use it to feel the wind in my hair and catch bugs in my teeth. 😃

[bcsnave]

We have just purchased the Aventon Level 2 with torque sensors. These take input from the pedals to determine the amount of assist to provide. These have a distance of up to 60 miles on a charge.

As stated before, anything to get a person out and about moving in the fresh air is a good thing. Heck people in Golf cars are at least not on the couch.

[Topspinmo]

Any motorized vehicle on road should be licensed and insured. Why do electric bike get break?

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by bncuhler@verizon.net

E-bikes are generally pedal-assisted not motorized. If you don’t pedal, you fall over!

Does it have electric motor and battery?

[toeser]

Originally Posted by gettingby

I see people dressed in bicycle attire like Lance Armstrong would have on riding electric bikes. Some of these things go over 15 mph and the people riding them are slowly pedaling. I don’t see the heath benefits to them, am I missing something?

I have an electric that I love, but 95% of my riding is on a conventional bike because I want the exercise. 15 MPH on my ebike takes half the effort of going 10 MPH on my conventional bike. I do like the ebike when doing 50+ miles because of the time savings. My ebike, at my pace, has a range of 100-120 miles which is way above average.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Topspinmo

Any motorized vehicle on road should be licensed and insured. Why do electric bike bet break?

... should be licensed. Just like golf carts?

e-bikes "get a break" because they are considered to be bicycles. Red or blue, "men's" frame or "women's," one speed or ten speed or twenty-one speed, manual or electric-assist, it is considered to be a bicycle. Don't like the law? Petition Washington to change it.

[bcsnave]

Originally Posted by Topspinmo

Any motorized vehicle on road should be licensed and insured. Why do electric bike bet break?

This is the current law.

[bcsnave]

Originally Posted by Topspinmo

Does it have electric motor and battery?

I do not know, what are your thoughts? Does it?