A couple of weeks ago, before the big smoke clouds rolled in to cover the entire state, I went for leisurely Sunday ride. I rode down to a soft taco place, that's pretty good and where I can order from the door and watch my bike. The place was packed, much to my disappointment, so I kept riding.
I ended up behind a couple, riding their factory ebikes. They were nice bikes, not the cheap AliExpress kind. Not sure if anyone has noticed this, but I've observed that a percentage of factory ebike owners seem to have an attitude, and can be a little obnoxious. This couple fit description, especially the lady. Their bikes were equipped with electric horns, and she was using hers liberally. Not just a beep, but laying on every time they approached a pedestrian on the on the path or crosswalk. "To your left, to your left" BEEEEEEEEEEP, "To your left" BEEEEP. It was truly obnoxious and everyone was annoyed.
I tried to distance myself a bit, so as not to be associated with them, but they were going my way, so I just laid back. We approached the Richmond/San Rafael bridge, that goes from my side of the bay the Marin County. It has a decent incline, not too steep, but long and grueling if you're on a pedal bike. I waited until we were on the steeper part of the incline and then rang my bell one time, then started to pass on their left. They were shocked that somebody was passing them, and immediately started to pedal harder to try and keep up. The lady faded fast, but the guy was doing admirable job attempting to keep up. Still, I was just walking away from his bike and he was about 1/4 mile behind by the time I reached the apex.
All the time I was riding, I was thinking "why am I not just barreling up the hill?". The motor felt weak, as though I was hitting the LVC on my CA3, and although my bike was walking away from his, he really should have been a dot in my mirror. I pulled over at the top to try to figure out what was going on. I had only ridden about 25 miles by then, so it shouldn't be a low battery. Then I realized that earlier I had been messing with my throttle ramp rates and tuning, and had set the three position switch to low. DOH !!!! Limited to 800W, arghh. About 10 minutes later, the couple finally approached where I had stopped at the top of the bridge. You could see the lady wasn't happy when she passed...but surprise, no beeping. LOL. I guess realizing that you're slower than "low" provides just the right attitude adjustment.
I hit 34 mph on the way home with field weakening on high, on a half spent battery, so I had plenty of power. Of course, if I would have passed at that speed, they might have just thrown those bikes off the bridge, and we wouldn't want that.
stock photo
I ended up behind a couple, riding their factory ebikes. They were nice bikes, not the cheap AliExpress kind. Not sure if anyone has noticed this, but I've observed that a percentage of factory ebike owners seem to have an attitude, and can be a little obnoxious. This couple fit description, especially the lady. Their bikes were equipped with electric horns, and she was using hers liberally. Not just a beep, but laying on every time they approached a pedestrian on the on the path or crosswalk. "To your left, to your left" BEEEEEEEEEEP, "To your left" BEEEEP. It was truly obnoxious and everyone was annoyed.
I tried to distance myself a bit, so as not to be associated with them, but they were going my way, so I just laid back. We approached the Richmond/San Rafael bridge, that goes from my side of the bay the Marin County. It has a decent incline, not too steep, but long and grueling if you're on a pedal bike. I waited until we were on the steeper part of the incline and then rang my bell one time, then started to pass on their left. They were shocked that somebody was passing them, and immediately started to pedal harder to try and keep up. The lady faded fast, but the guy was doing admirable job attempting to keep up. Still, I was just walking away from his bike and he was about 1/4 mile behind by the time I reached the apex.
All the time I was riding, I was thinking "why am I not just barreling up the hill?". The motor felt weak, as though I was hitting the LVC on my CA3, and although my bike was walking away from his, he really should have been a dot in my mirror. I pulled over at the top to try to figure out what was going on. I had only ridden about 25 miles by then, so it shouldn't be a low battery. Then I realized that earlier I had been messing with my throttle ramp rates and tuning, and had set the three position switch to low. DOH !!!! Limited to 800W, arghh. About 10 minutes later, the couple finally approached where I had stopped at the top of the bridge. You could see the lady wasn't happy when she passed...but surprise, no beeping. LOL. I guess realizing that you're slower than "low" provides just the right attitude adjustment.
I hit 34 mph on the way home with field weakening on high, on a half spent battery, so I had plenty of power. Of course, if I would have passed at that speed, they might have just thrown those bikes off the bridge, and we wouldn't want that.
stock photo