More E-bikes found in NON-ebike media

[spinningmagnets]

The April issues are out now. In the latest Bicycling magazine, they have two pages on the Electra Townie on page 82. Nothing outstanding, a rear geared hub, rear rack battery, similar to a Pedego set-up.

In the April issue of "Mountain Bike Action" magazine...they have a page on High Powered Bikes (HPC) on page 38. It is a common full suspension frame with a direct drive rear hub.

"...The power source is a 2800W system that runs off a 63V battery pack that's housed in the frame bag...Pedaling? lack of pedaling is more like it. This is the first ebike we've tested that can truly be ridden on the throttle only. With a fresh battery, riders can expect to climb even the steepest fire roads at about 19-MPH without using the pedals..."

I'm kinda torn. I want to promote E-bikes any chance I get, but...I think this might be a little misleading. I hate to think of a bicyclist wanting to take the E-bike plunge, and...their first E-bike was bought from a story in their favorite bicycle magazine and it doesn't come close to matching the claims. I didn't look to see if HPC had bought any ads in the magazine...

[Eskimo]

Here too during the last few months E-bikes have started to get noticed on magazines.

http://www.fillari-lehti.fi/Fillarileht ... 72013.aspx

"Fillareita
30 Masi 3 Volumetrica 1993 vastaan Masi Gran Criterium 2013
34 Koeajossa Giant Propel Advanced SL – Belkin-tallin työkalu
38 Koeajossa Specialized Enduro 29 S-Works – pitkäjoustoinen kaksysi
42 KTM e Race P650 – sähköpolkumaastopyörä
46 Bianchi Metropol-e ja Crescent C300 – sähköllä Cityssä"

Latest number has them Caterham bikes.

[Jason27]

Keep in mind federal ebike law only allows 750 watts and 20 mph top speed. I don't know what you would classify the things HPC sells, but they are not "electric bicycles". Far too powerful.

[LockH]

Some might suggest the race is on... to mimic vehicles over the last century that have injured and killed so many animals (but in a more "eco-friendly" fashion). Want to successfully intro "new tech"? Make it operate like that already familiar.

[spinningmagnets]

DEC 2014 issue of "Mens Fitness" is advertising to sell Prodeco ebikes with the brand being labeled "Mens Fitness".

http://www.mensfitnessbike.com/index.ph ... tion_id=16

[recumpence]

Some might suggest the race is on... to mimic vehicles over the last century that have injured and killed so many animals (but in a more "eco-friendly" fashion). Want to successfully intro "new tech"? Make it operate like that already familiar.

OK, off topic but, this just gets to me.......

Why is it that we are so freaking sensitive about animals but we are more than willing to let human beings suffer and starve? Good grief, we need to stop freaking out about animals and focus on the atrocities done to human beings.......

Matt

[gogo]

Some might suggest the race is on... to mimic vehicles over the last century that have injured and killed so many animals (but in a more "eco-friendly" fashion). Want to successfully intro "new tech"? Make it operate like that already familiar.

OK, off topic but, this just gets to me.......

Why is it that we are so freaking sensitive about animals but we are more than willing to let human beings suffer and starve? Good grief, we need to stop freaking out about animals and focus on the atrocities done to human beings.......

Matt

I assumed he was referring to all animals, including the human kind.

[recumpence]

Humans are not animals. We have free will.

Matt

[gogo]

Humans are not animals. We have free will.

Matt

Although the noun 'animal' can exclude humans, it doesn't have to and I'd bet he was referring to all animals, including the human kind. LockH likes to construct his prose in ways that make you think outside the box.

Subject: Just can't trust cars (drivers)
… First scenario, a private vehicle operated by one (animal of your choice, but probably one of the genus of hominids) in pubic (sp?) spaces (one might call this option the "unknown scenario"), …

[LockH]

Hehe... Yah. Waaay "outside the box". As recent multiple escapee from Ontario "Health Care SYSTEM" (multiple brain injuries, broken shoulder, broken ribs... etc) while "on vacation" (various what used to be termed "hospitals") two diff. "health care professionals" tested me and both their tests indicated I should be "smarter" than 95% of their other "guests". (Maybe tests were "flawed", or I "cheated"... or only the not-very-"bright" end up in our "Health Care SYSTEM"... or something.) I CAN say it's a CURSE, as I can too often see stuff as "funny" (meaning flawed or "backwards"), and I realize I should "keep my mouth shut" some times. Just "look the other way".

And re "animals", yes I was including us folks/humans in that rather broad category. We are "too smart" not to migrate as the days grow shorter/winter approaches. And at some point in evolution we lost much of our lovely "fur". Left only with "hair" on parts of our bodies, now have to "cover up" with clothing for warmth. Now what did I do with that fur coat... Hmmm... Next thing, somebuddy will argue that our world is flat, and to be careful not to fall from the edge.

Anyway... re thread subject, TERRIFIC NEWS that ebikes/EPACs are now "taking over" from the dreaded 20th-century Stinko-Mobile!

[r3volved]

Humans are not animals. We have free will.

Matt

lol, that is highly debatable.
I personally subscribe to Sam Harris's view on free will. I do not see life as anything more than organic automation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FanhvXO9Pk

**derailed, sorry. Taken it offline

[oobagooba]

http://stevetilford.com/2014/08/03/excl ... ke-action/

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/opinion-a- ... -2014.html

[recumpence]

Humans are not animals. We have free will.

Matt

lol, that is highly debatable.
I personally subscribe to Sam Harris's view on free will. I do not see life as anything more than organic automation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FanhvXO9Pk

So, when a crime is committed, we need to let the perpetrator off because 'His brain chemistry made him do it"?

Sorry, not logical what-so-ever.

Anyway, sorry to have derailed this thread........

Matt

[spinningmagnets]

With the growing popularity of "Electric Bike Action Magazine", there may be less pressure on conventional bicycle magazines to add E-bike stuff, who knows? I was just looking at "Bicycling" magazine today, at the new April 2015 issue, which is their annual "spring is almost here buying guide"

_______________________
Page 122
A nice write up on the Xtracycle Edgerunner longtail cargobike with the Bosch mid-drive (model 10E). "The bike that wants to replace your car, and probably can"...



________________________
Page 138
BH eMotion step-through frame with a 36V rear geared hub rated at 350W. It is the Evo Eco Lite model with an aluminum frame. The battery is integrated into the downtube, and the rear hub is of the smaller variety so it is fairly stealthy behind the sprocket-cluster and disc brake. The bike looks "non electric" from a distance. Also fairly light for an electric bike.

The CEO of BH in North America said it was their best-selling model. Several E-bike shop owners I talked to also said that BH eMotion bikes were some of their best-sellers, with the relatively affordable price (compared to other competitors) being a key feature.

[dogman dan]

Wow, must be really tempting to Spinningmagnets, to tidy up this thread. It's not easy to refrain from using moderator powers.

Edgerunner with a bosh mid drive. Yes please.

[spinningmagnets]

Yeah, a guy just jumped in an posted about his website where he sells generic 350W rear geared hub-motor bikes. I think he had 11 posts at the time...I was pondering the next move, perhaps a gentle email about etiquette? Someone deleted it before I got back here.

As to ebikes in Bicycle magazines: I noticed about the two models shown here (that were "acceptable" to be in a real bicycle magazine) are a cargobike, and a "girls" ebike. As I'm sure everyone knows by now, the mainstream bicycle magazines are a sausage fest. There are occasionally articles about women and their bicycle interests, but without the male subscribers, they'd die fast. So...getting back to the "pedal-only" bicyclists...the forums still have a lot of hate for the ebike. On MTBR, I have occasionally answered a question about an ebike system, only to be instantly flamed. The funny thing is...a few days later guys were PM-ing me with more questions, but would NOT ask a question in the general forum (your secret is safe with me). By default I almost ALWAYS have to start by saying my knees are old (55) and if it wasnt for an E-bike I'd be driving my car more often.

The big global bicycle corporations have decided to start carrying E-bikes (Bosch, etc), and since the magazine advertisers are telling the magazines to start publishing favorable stories about ebikes...they are begrudgingly doing as they are told (with a sullen look in their eyes, and their lower lkip stuck out as far as it will go?).

I feel bad for the writers who are clearly told to "get with the program" or get fired. The common phrase in the chest-beating sessions is "Harden The Fark Up" / HTFU. As in "don't be a wuss", be a real man. They glorify a guy who rides to work in the rain and snow, day or night. Now?...they start stories with "I was expecting to hate an electric bike, but since I was forced to try it out so I could write about it, and it's not as horrible as i thought it would be"...or even "they gave me an E-bike to test out, so I let my wife use it, and she loves it...now she can keep up with me!"

[LockH]

Hehe... Of course, real men don't mention they were huffing/puffing to keep up w/spouse on that new ebike she just got.

[recumpence]

It is a funny thing, the people who are against e-bikes are the very ones who know nothing about them. I think they are somehow viewed as a perversion of an otherwise pure invention. I believe they are viewed as neither a good bike nor a good motorcycle and, to be perfectly honest, (in most cases) they are correct! However, what they neglect to see is the application for just such a vehicle. What I mean by that is, with e-bike equipment, the bike gains weight (some bikes more than others) and sometimes they gain drag. So, they are less pure as a bicycle. Also, you can only carry so much power on a bicycle. So, they are less capable than a motorcycle. Now, just because a e-bike is less useable as a bike and not quite a motorcycle does not mean there is not an application for them. I drive a hybrid and I have been told by people who are completely uninformed that hybrids are too expensive and not as useable as a standard car and they are not a pure EV, so you do not get any benefits of either. That is totally not true! Like with e-bikes, they have their applications. As for my car, I drive 35,000 miles per year averaging 35mph with tons of stop and go. That is perfect for a hybrid! With my e-bikes, I have no interest in riding on any highway. But, there are many towns around here that are 10 miles apart. In order to do any kind of bicycle commuting, you need to pedal a HUGE amount. This is fine, but what about in super hot weather (sweaty)? How about when you do not have the time to pedal that far?

I believe what it boils down to is this; our world is stuck in their own axiom. Everyone sticks with what is familiar. I am just as guilty of it. What we need to do is continue making e-biking as attractive as possible, and give the public time to catch up.

Matt

[spinningmagnets]

July 2015 issue of "Popular Mechanics" magazine. Page 10 has a full page with a glowing review on the Stromer ST2,

$6900...

[wineboyrider]

I actually read that story spinning magnets in the bicycle magazine at Hastings. I read it for free as I drank my $4.00 cup of coffee. I then hopped on my motorized ebike and rode off into the sunset...LOL

[spinningmagnets]

August 2015 "Popular Science", page 9

One page on Stromer ST2

[LockH]

And now website road.cc from Bath, England (The website for pedal powered people: Cycling, News, Reviews and bicycles.) steps up to bat with a "Buyer's guide" to electric bikes:
http://road.cc/content/buyers-guide/162 ... tric-bikes

E-bikes are very popular in Europe, especially among older riders who appreciate the speed boost they provide. They've been slower to take off in the UK, but retailers that specialise in e-bikes report healthy sales.

"we do fancy a go on Haibike's XDURO Race 28"

([C]omments there may amuse.)

[spinningmagnets]

"Bicycle Times", issue 37, Nov 2015, page 26.

A very pro-ebike full-page editorial by Anna Schwinn.

[LockH]

"Bicycle Times", issue 37, Nov 2015, page 26.

A very pro-ebike full-page editorial by Anna Schwinn.

Opinion
Plug in or tune it out. If you don’t want to ride an e-bike, that’s fine, but you don’t need to be a jerk about it. By Anna Schwinn.

Wonder when it gets put online...
http://bicycletimesmag.com/bicycle-time ... 7-is-here/

[bobechs]

Jeez, is that mag about bicycles or couples therapy?

I suppose there's sausage fests, and then there's... this.