NYC to SF by electric bike

[BATFINK]

http://inhabitat.com/a-pair-travels-fro ... portation/

[iovaykind]

pish.. that's nothing, Doc can do that without stopping to charge

haha just kidding, glad to see they're educating people along the way!

[eugenem]

People are afraid of ebikes as it is. Doing a tour like this on a monster (in the best sense of the word possible) bike that can do 50mph, travel 100miles on a single charge, looks like something out an apocalyptic sci-fi movie yet requires no license, registration and at the same is traveling on shared bike paths... That will not promote the idea of ebiking among the masses.

Doing it slow, on a bike that travels at the speed of a regular bike and looks like something people can relate to is the right way of going about this.

[lester12483]

I agree,

I estimate only 10 percent of the public has ever heard of an electric bicycle. There is LOTS of work to still be done getting the word out.

Seeing is believing to most people.

[Kingfish]

Only a matter of time.

I wish them all the luck, KF

[Alan B]

We should plan to meet them along the way.

We might have a good crowd at this end when they get near SF! Here is their website:

http://www.transamericanelectricbiketour.com/

They are near Chicago now.

[Kirk]

Alan:

Link appears to be broke.

[Alan B]

Interesting. It worked a few minutes ago, still is in my cache. Seems to be the right URL.

Probably server overload?

It just worked for me again.

[Alan B]

Looks like they are going through Carson City, Sacramento, and Davis on their way to San Francisco. They are 19 days in, and the plan is for two months, so in a month and 11 days they will be near here.

[kevo]

It would be fun to welcome Mordkovich and Mostovetsky to their West Coast destination

[smudger1956]

I agree,

I estimate only 10 percent of the public has ever heard of an electric bicycle. There is LOTS of work to still be done getting the word out.

Seeing is believing to most people.

I can relate to that...I had a guy on an MTB pull up to me to wait while I unlocked my bike from a signpost outside my local shops so he could use the same post.
He asked me about my bike, (I was on the 250 watter plodder ) He could not believe it was electric, never seen one, and never heard of electric bikes...!!!

Smudger

[eugenem]

Meeting them at their destination point or anywhere along the way is a great idea!

In case anyone is interested - http://www.facebook.com/iloveevelo

[grindz145]

50mph? I highly doubt it.

[eugenem]

Was that a response to something?

I think it was meant for me and if so, I meant to say that promoting the ideas of ebiking to the general population while doing 50mph (completely random number that seemed reasonable for the members of this forum and high enough to be extreme for most) on bike paths is going to achieve the exact opposite.

50mph? I highly doubt it.

[ddk]

all these people who ebike from the east to the west/
how come I never hear of anyone going from SF to NYC?
jus' wondering out loud...

[Kingfish]

all these people who ebike from the east to the west/
how come I never hear of anyone going from SF to NYC?
jus' wondering out loud...

Not to mention the wind at your back too
~KF

[Alan B]

Just because a bike can go 50 mph doesn't mean it is too fast for a bike path. Your car can do well over freeway speeds, so it is not suitable for low speed residential streets?

Very few ES bikes can go 50 mph on the level.

Most any bike can go 50 mph downhill.

It is about how you ride that is key. On bike paths go bike path speeds. Simple enough.

[eugenem]

I know that, you know that, most people here know that but this forum does not represent the majority of the people in this country. Last I checked it was still a democracy and we need to convince the majority no matter how much we want it our way right now

Just because a bike can go 50 mph doesn't mean it is too fast for a bike path. Your car can do well over freeway speeds, so it is not suitable for low speed residential streets?

Very few ES bikes can go 50 mph on the level.

Most any bike can go 50 mph downhill.

It is about how you ride that is key. On bike paths go bike path speeds. Simple enough.

[Alan B]

This thread is to inform folks about this NYC to SF ride, and perhaps coordinate with meeting them or in some way contributing to their message. Let's drop the unrelated issues.

Anyone along their route going to plan something? It will be about mid-June before they are in this area. Like to hear if others can do something earlier.

[kevo]

ddk wrote: all these people who ebike from the east to the west/
how come I never hear of anyone going from SF to NYC?

How about Portland to DC? OK granted only one or two electric assists in the bunch


Velomobiles across America link: http://web.mac.com/josef.janning/Roll_o ... /Home.html

[veloman]

Was that a response to something?

I think it was meant for me and if so, I meant to say that promoting the ideas of ebiking to the general population while doing 50mph (completely random number that seemed reasonable for the members of this forum and high enough to be extreme for most) on bike paths is going to achieve the exact opposite.

50mph? I highly doubt it.

Where does it say they are riding 50mph ebikes? The article says they go 15mph and the bikes have a 250watt motor.

Seems like a very legal, "good ebike" image they are presenting.

[Alan B]

He was responding to post #2 about doc doing it, making wild assumptions. Not really related to the topic at all.

[skaplan]

Looks like their bikes are the same line as R Martin, IGoElectric... They do about 18mph, low 20s if you bypass the sensor. [self censoring the mid-drive boosterism.]

[eugenem]

I'll shut up now . You're right, the thread is about simething different. That being said let's get back on topic. Who wants to meet with the riders? Where? When? They are doing their best promoting the ideas of ebiking along the way so any additional support would be great!

[smorse1]

Cool...they are going to be coming through Omaha...I would love to meet them, wish I could join them for the rest of their journey. My wife would probably not let me come home if I did that though...