Electric Bike Thread

[grinch]

At one time, the same things were said of rollerblades.

Jelly

He sped away on his moped.

I am so very much less elite than a Sonata-owner. I have the russian taxicab vehicle of choice (per hours of youtube Russian dashcam viewing): the stylish and peppy hyundai accent. It pings on mild inclines running 93 octane, its name is Boris.

My style, if it has rust

[babybear]

That yubabike b-bear cites looks nice, but $4.5K? Dang. Here's a cool build if ya wanna DIY it. I'd prolly use a BBSHD rather than a BBS02 for more torque/power and durability. Here's another.

that build is dope! I like the old school look

and yea those yubas are pricey but I figured sirshred is at least a quasi dentist
My Raleigh was $1500 retail so I am all about those- lots of more affordable options form them too.
here's my commuter whip- with the crate on the back you hardly notice the battery, which I like for it's low key-ness as well
I have a strap and bungee for the crate for when I go grinch-style

[Sirshredalot]

that build is dope! I like the old school look

and yea those yubas are pricey but I figured sirshred is at least a quasi dentist
My Raleigh was $1500 retail so I am all about those- lots of more affordable options form them too.
here's my commuter whip- with the crate on the back you hardly notice the battery, which I like for it's low key-ness as well
I have a strap and bungee for the crate for when I go grinch-style

Naw, I was never one for dental school. I've been eyeballing the radwagon. There have been quite a few of those showing up in the toddler hauling destinations around here.

The Raleigh looks damn good though!

[babybear]

those radwagons look awesome and the price is right

and ya I guess it's less acceptable to put your kids in an old wine crate

[Tri-Ungulate]

If you're looking for a wheeldrive like the Radwagon, you prolly aren't reading the other thread, so thought I'd put this here:

Yeah, the mid-drives have hudge advantages over the wheel drives, and yeah they mount on the BB. Before you consider ordering, you need to check this article first. This blogger has some good general articles as well.

For Sirshredalot who was looking for a cargo bike, I think the Xtracycle Edgerunner would be a good substrate for a BBHSD motor/52V battery build.

b-bear's ride looks pretty classic, and the stealth battery is a nice touch.

[wooley12]

I stopped the ebiker who goes by on the trail to talk about his ride. This seems to fit my needs. Has a 24 mile range. Throttle and pedal assist. Fat tires would be the tits for riding the XC trails in stealth mode. Guy said they were encouraging ebikers to use them to tour on some of the bike/hike trails at Yosemite when he was there. Need to pull the trigger. I should buy 2.

https://www.radpowerbikes.com/produc...=5032654929951

[teledad]

Unless he meant the paved bike paths in the valley, there are no bike trails (electric or otherwise) in Yosemite.

[wooley12]

Valley probably. Never been there myself.

[abraham]

I stopped the ebiker who goes by on the trail to talk about his ride. This seems to fit my needs. Has a 24 mile range. Throttle and pedal assist. Fat tires would be the tits for riding the XC trails in stealth mode. Guy said they were encouraging ebikers to use them to tour on some of the bike/hike trails at Yosemite when he was there. Need to pull the trigger. I should buy 2.

https://www.radpowerbikes.com/produc...=5032654929951

One for you. One for Pio.

[Vt-Freeheel]

Sweet kickstand

[smartyiak]

Important update to this thread: I was passed by an e-bike last night; nothing happened. My ride continued on as normal; it was really hot out. Nothing else to report.

[gravitylover]

Haha

[wooley12]

Anyone with some peddling or riding time on a fat tire bike on packed snow? How "squirrely" is it? I could handle that well but the wife, probably not.

This Polaris looks like a steal. Plus is the price and it's claimed to be new. Minus is that it's a discontinued product so no support and no throttle option. Some company is offering to rebuild the battery for $600.

https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/b...661112643.html

[::: :::]

https://bikeportland.org/2018/08/09/...c-bikes-287212

[Sirshredalot]

Anyone with some peddling or riding time on a fat tire bike on packed snow? How "squirrely" is it? I could handle that well but the wife, probably not.

This Polaris looks like a steal. Plus is the price and it's claimed to be new. Minus is that it's a discontinued product so no support and no throttle option. Some company is offering to rebuild the battery for $600.

https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/b...661112643.html

I ride a (relatively light, rigid, 4" tire) fat bike during the winter, and I sometimes pull my kids in a ski trailer behind it.

It's a no-go on anything unconsolidated. You want thick crust, corn, snowmobile trail, groomed xc track, maybe some singletrack that gets a lot of trail running or snowshoe traffic. My favorite is to hit the groomed xc stuff first thing in the morning when it hasn't snowed in a while. The kids like the ride in the trailer, and pulling it behind the fat bike is much more fun than trying to haul it behind you on skis.

I imagine that with the heavy electric bike you will have to be even more sensitive to the snow conditions. One of the shops in town starting renting e-fatbikes to gaper tourists last year. They would take them out to the one groomed trail network where they are allowed - in the middle of the afternoon, no less - and leave giant ruts, totally destroying the grooming, and making it un-skateable for the Nordic lycra set. If this keeps up, bikes will get banned from the one groomed xc trail network where they are currently allowed. The skate skiers will eventually get all cyclists chucked out.

Having said that, it's a bunch of fun to go crust or corn cruising when conditions are right, and it is nice because conditions for fat biking are kind of the opposite of good conditions for (alpine) skiing.

[Name Redacted]

Anyone know how well the batteries performs in cold conditions? Would suck if they lose significant power or lifespan due to below freezing conditions.

[Bunion 2020]

Anyone know how well the batteries performs in cold conditions? Would suck if they lose significant power or lifespan due to below freezing conditions.

Wait! Batteries do that? Unpossible.

[reckless toboggan]

Anyone know how well the batteries performs in cold conditions? Would suck if they lose significant power or lifespan due to below freezing conditions.

Wait! Batteries do that? Unpossible.

Yah. Internal combustion motors to supplimented the electric motor, to recharge the eBikes batteries, and to allow for extended life in colder temperatures are the wave of the future.

But they're just like regular mountain bikes and should be allowed on all non-motorized trails.

[El Chupacabra]

Yah. Internal combustion motors to supplimented the electric motor, to recharge the eBikes batteries, and to allow for extended life in colder temperatures are the wave of the future.

But they're just like regular mountain bikes and should be allowed on all non-motorized trails.

I think you're onto something here.

Hybrid bikes. Give me 1500w of electric motor, and a 2-stroke 50cc gas motor to take over when the battery drains, plus recharging.

[ill-advised strategy]

Also seen this week, elderly no-bike-skills lady (helmet: yes) hauling ass and fully missing a wide, practically unmissable turn on the bike path....riding it out onto a lawn then awkwardly resetting back onto pavement. I was simultaneously amused, annoyed, and frightened...and a little compunctious about siding with that bs.

Mixed feelings.

[ill-advised strategy]

Sweet kickstand

It’s a trap! Don’t let that thing near your hyundai!

[wooley12]

Good thoughts on riding xc trails. I've allways been a considerate, thoughtful poacher.

[skysos]

You guys are talking about Tahoe and the Flume trail like that's the trail everyone wants to ride. lol...

That's the trail you go on to get other places, or take a pretty picture. Oh, and it's one of the few in the area where bikes are not allowed every other day. Go figure.

I guarantee you're not hanging with regular bikes going down Chimney beach with riders of similar skill.

I’ve only ridden it twice, but it seems to be the most well known trail in Tahoe so it makes a good example for what the e-bike ride is like.

The only person I can beat on downhills is my 12 year old niece if she’s having a bad day.

Not you, but regarding spinning the rear wheel, I knew someone would pick up on that. I’m not talking 250 mx bike rooster tails here. It only happens in that moment before you get your other foot on the pedal, like half a crank as you are getting started. It’s just that on an e-bike it makes it harder to get your other foot on the pedal in time. With lower or no power it’s just easier to finesse.

[skysos]

Why lap up the road back to Spooner, you got a powerful ebike, turn right, take the TRT back over Marlette peak or is that too strenuous for you? not enough battery? Maybe you need a second one. Maybe Nevada state parks will put in a charging station (hopefully solar) at Marlette lake and another at Tunnel creek road, maybe add some slots for revenue generation. Lets see if we can get Elon interested in donating the hardware, as a good Nevada business owner. I am pretty certain that within 2 years, 80% of the bikes Flume trail bikes rents will be ebikes, just think of the traffic on the trail then. Are ebikes legal at Northstar?, they are at Mammoth now, progress?. Probably more about the $$$ at those parks.

Riding in Mid Pen districts land is poaching if you are not disabled, but they do allow exceptions, maybe ebiker's should see if you can get that designation and be legal (no single track though). Cannot be any harder then getting a handicap parking sticker.

I think the machines are amazing technology and I admit I may be destined to own one but after reading comments on the new trail management plans in the Bay Area by hiker groups I am more convinced that these groups are generally crazy and pretty well organized. Their groups are constantly complaining about biker speed and impact as well as tirelessly advocating for their ban from single track trails (disturbs their nature experience,plus bikers have no soul you know). They show up to board meetings and are constantly in land managers ears. How are ebikes going to help this? I think ebikes are going to result in a full stop in the effort to gain more single track mtb access in the Bay area, speed and increased trail use will be the primary weapons used in this battle. They could force MMWD, EBRPD, and Mid Penn to do extensive environmental review for any trail use changes that will involve multiple state and federal agencies. I am sure the RWQCB would love to weigh in and try and use water quality issues to restrict bike access. Do not forget there are federal and state endangered species in those areas, so USFWS gets to put in their two cents as well (though Trump is trying to cut their balls off right now). Any non-fire road trails we do get will likely have to be "multi-user" ie 6 feet wide because of increased speed and use. Welcome to our new world, yeah ebikes!!

Wow, awesome post. That is some great perspective.

This is all the more reason to consider and treat e-bike users as no different. More members = more power if it’s organized. Posts earlier in this thread suggest that all non e-bike riders should actively oppose e-bikes and that doesn’t sound like an effective strategy if e-bikes are going to capture a larger and larger share of new bike sales.

Regarding Marlette Peak, yeah that would be no problem. That makes a great loop ride and I already had plans to do that next time.

[XXX-er]

Also seen this week, elderly no-bike-skills lady (helmet: yes) hauling ass and fully missing a wide, practically unmissable turn on the bike path....riding it out onto a lawn then awkwardly resetting back onto pavement. I was simultaneously amused, annoyed, and frightened...and a little compunctious about siding with that bs.

Mixed feelings.

apparently there are a lot of accidents happening to older people who can't handle the extra speed of an E-bike, maybe they have never ridden a motorcycle or bicycle with that extra speed