Got pulled over by the plod the other night.
Technically I was in the wrong, as I didn't see the point in stopping for a red light at a pedestrian crossing (NOT a road intersection) at 1am, when the pedestrian had long since crossed the road and there was no cars in sight except the unbeknown's to me undercover Commodore that sparked its lights as soon as I cruised though on my merry -and safe I might add - way. He was driving 5 metres behind me when he gave notice of his prescence via a skin jumping siren chirp and Christmas light show. In a quick moment of panic I cleared my CA trip data before coming to a stop.
The cop was easy-going. His puzzled face was obviously more curious as to how I was travelling at 50Kph on a heavy looking longtail cargo bike in the marked bike lane despite the fact I was pedalling hard.
He looked the bike over and asked "Is that some sort of motorbike....Harley contraption".
"It's electric" was all I felt was strategically sensible to initially divulge in reply.
He facial expression showed signs of contentment in realising now that it wasn't petrol and seeing the existance of pedals and relatively small looking motor (Cyclone/Headline planetary geared unit). He seemed completely ignorant of the legal power limit thankfully. If he pushed me on the matter I planned to claim ignorance of the power output through saying I wasn't sure as I hadn't measured it.
He gave me an unoffical warning and sent me on my way. phew!
Lessons learnt?
Need more power to get awa........
No, but seriously, as LFP suggested plans are brewed to install two strategically placed magnetic reed switches, un-noticable without surgical dissection of the bike. this will detune power to 200W and blank the CA screen through the removal of a very out-of-place looking magnet at a moments notice.
