dallasfoto said:
Zoot Katz said:
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Okay, I'm a bit of a bike snob (1) so I'd never personally consider for myself nor recommend to others any off-the-hook Chinese made bike. ....
I'd think the majority of neophyte converts are coming from the ranks of automobilists. They're looking for a turn-key solution to the problems they brought on themselves. They're lacking a certain egalitarian road ethic common among bicyclists. There are already murmurs of backlash against ebikes, though mostly scooters, for using "bicycle lanes" and taking up seasonally scarce bicycle parking. The recent boom of Bic buzz-bikes can only increase pressure for changes. Whether better or worse only time will tell. Changing the parking and bicycling infrastructure is a better option than restricting ebikes, IMO.
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(1) I respect all cyclists regardless of their mount or dress. The only ones who really pick my grits are the idjits with a red blinky on the front riding counter-flow in my lane.
This attitude will keep people in cars forever.
1. First of all, some of us know enough about tools to LEARN as we go with these bikes over time. These cheap bikes are not perfectly made and there are flaws but they are cheap enough for some of us to take the plunge into alternate transportation.
2. The more people on all types of bikes out there, will force some changes in traffic laws and infrastructure.
3. Yes a lot of us were never cyclists and are doing this to save money and be green. My last bike was fifty years ago when I was a child. It did not even have any "speeds". I've had to relearn all the rules and how to ride. And I did.
4. Yesterday TWO people tried out my bike near a Starbucks and ran back to the office to order them.
Before the uppity snotty "real" cyclists of the world start looking down their noses at us, from their five thousand dollar fancy racing bikes, maybe they should contemplate that the more cyclists there are, the cleaner their air will be and the more bike friendly laws will get passed.
Unfortunately, I too will have to agree with Zoot Katz on this.. I live in the same city as him. Vancouver is the home of ebike.ca too as well as JVBIKE, so we aren't unaccustomed to seeing electric bikes running around our bike paths, though some are so discourteous and showy with their new found speeds. I'm also one of those people who do own what you so called the expensive fancy racing bikes, but unlike these usual stereotypical branding, most real cyclists do not look down at your noses. At least I don't as I also own an electric bike too. What you are referring to are cyclists who only come out during the TDF season (Tour De France) or a sunny warm day out for a ride or commute. Their attitudes are quite lacking. If they offend you on the road, then I apologize for their poor character. I commute year around and I see those snots on nice carbon bikes on the same bike path I ride, not stopping on stop signs and then racing past red lights. It's funny that when the weather turns, I can only see myself and if I'm lucky 2 others on the same path. When the full nasty Vancouver cold and wet weather really kicks in, however, I have the path all to myself! It is this nasty weather that only the determined cyclists (the real deal) and bikes with good components will last long on an annual commute.
I once bought a cheap Devinci Hybrid road bike $250 new (The Devinci St Tropez) as a durability test. After 300km (less than 2 months in winter wet and snow riding), everything on the bike sans pedals had either worn out or broke. I had to cross Knight Street bridge every single day and it is not nice to poorly made wheels. Both of those machine laced wheels died 3 days on the ride. The rear hub (Quando) blew out 100km later (freewheel paw broke). Our Vancouver weather will show no mercy to poorly made components. I think Zoot knows that as well.
Secondly, there is no AAA or BCAA service (here) for bikes. The number one nemesis to cyclists is a "flat" tire. Guess what, most electric cyclists don't even think they're even going to be in this situation. After all, when was the last time you had your car tires go flat? The fact of the matter is and even if you have the best tires out there outfitted to your bike (The Schwalbe Marathon Plus or Specialized Armadillo) through sidewall puncture, you have to be prepared to deal with a flat. Sadly, I see all to often, people with ebikes pushing their bikes across bridges because they have a flat. It's ok if your commute is only 3 miles. Mine is 20 miles and it'll be a very long push home or to a bike store if you don't know how to deal with a flat. Does a person driving an Escalade have any inkling aspiration getting his hands dirty and changing a flat?
I believe that our town has a pretty decent bike path infrastructure, probably more so than others. The problem with the city is that of usage. Cars are on the road 24 hrs, 7 days a week rain, shine or snow. Most bikers are only out when the sun is shining. As soon as the rain sets in, you need to have a different mentality. We had this bike drive before in the mid 70s to late 80s, but as soon as gas prices come crashing down afterwards, people who biked went back to their cars. This time is no really no different.
Why did people went back to their cars or public transportation if biking is a cheaper and healthier alternative? What most people don't realize is that, bike fit is important. Cheap bikes are made in just few sizes (small, medium and large) whereas expensive 5 thousand dollars bikes are sometimes custom made to your size. If not, they have up to 10 different sizes to fit you. Most of the biking ailments we suffer today (sore wrist, sore neck, sore shoulder blades, sore back, sore knees etc..) all have to do with poor bike fit. As Zoot pointed out, most people don't know this until the pain starts to get worse. As it gets worse, they remember this pain and they stop biking all together. People think that suspension alone bring a smoother ride, but that's a temporary solution. A saddle is not designed to sit, but rather to straddle on as we push the cranks. But with ebikes, you sit on the saddle and at the upright position puts a lot of pressure on the sacrum and the surrounding tissues.
That's why, electrify options like Wilderness Energy, Bionx, Ezee, BMC, Heinzmann and Crsytalyte modify existing bikes people already like and fit well and offer pedal assistance, not complete motorizing. If you look at motorcycles, you don't get a saddle, you get a seat. But people treat an ebike like a motorcycle.
Most people buy cheap ebikes because the initial start up cost is very low. Imagine a Li-Mn (Lithium Manganese) or NiMH powered bikes costs on the upwards of $1000 to $3000, it can be pretty difficult to justify the initial outlay. But this is the price you would otherwise have to pay at the pump anyhow and at the parkade. If you do a cost analysis, most of these expensive ebikes can be paid off within a year. After that, the savings goes only back to your pocket and not at Exxon..
does the mountain bike come w/ disc brakes or just have a way to put them on? also, if i'm say, 5'9", would a higher standover be too high? i really should go try to check them out directly, but i don't think my local *marts have it in stock...
