Do you talk about ebikes to anyone IRL?

[broloch]

Do you talk about ebikes to anyone IRL? Most don't really know what I am talking about, or don't care.
(IRL=in real life/offline)

 

[Drunkskunk]

No
Not much
Even the guys I get drunk and go Moped jousting with think Ebikes are too geeky.

 

[StudEbiker]

Actually getting an e-bike has already helped me get to know quite a few people in town. The guy at the bike shop in town that sells the Bionx kits has been really impressed with the Hitek kit and I am around the shop down there more getting to know those guys and I met a guy through the shop that wanted to start an ev club. We have had two meetings so far with I think five people at both meetings. The evs there included mine, a BIonx 350 (not sure of battery type), and a Heinzman front hub. Another guy came without a bike but trying to decide what he wanted to get. At the last meeting he decided that one of Terry's kits was the right one for him and he may have already ordered one. Another thing that has come out of this is that I was interested in Oatnet's Tidalforce frame deal, but wanted to do the twofer if I was going to do it. I talked to the guy starting the club and he wanted to do it to so I was able to get the good deal on the frames without having to buy both frames for myself. I have also got to know one of my neighbors better because of e-biking. One day when I was riding to work I noticed that he had a new (to him) '71 VW bus in his garage and he was working on it. If I had been in my car I probably wouldn't have stopped and talked to him but since I was on the bike it was easy to roll up and ask him about it. Turns out we have quite a few interests in common and he is a vintage cycle collector and he was really interested in the bike. I live in a interesting little town that includes Brammo that is building an electric motorcycle http://www.enertiabike.com/, and Barefoot that is building an electric ATV http://www.barefootmotors.com/. So there are many people in this town that are interested in ICE alternatives. I know of at least three bike shops in town that sell electric bikes and I see quite a few around town on a weekly basis. Many people I see around town ask about it. SO yeah, I talk to people about ebikes. Much more than I thought I would, Getting to know more people around town has definitely been an unexpected side benefit to riding an ebike.

 

[mrgarci1]

I talk to anybody who will listen about my ebike irl, sometimes at length... I've had people follow me into parking lots & stop to ask about my bike, and I generally get at least one person shouting "Is that thing electric?" from a moving car each month. Now that I have the battery mounted properly, i'm a little more stealthy, but people are generally curious about the bike, and I love to talk about it

Next Saturday I'll be going to my first meeting of the Phoenix EAA, & I imagine there will be much talk about ebikes there :lol:

 

[jerryt]

On average, I have to explain my e-bike to 3 to 5 curious people a week.

Folks at my LBS were impressed with my first build about 2 years ago so I let the manager and the chief wrench ride it. Then same thing last year with my second build and just last week, they started selling Currie Izip. I was so flabbergasted, I bought one.

Just today, some young pretty chick in a car slowed down, took my picture and then gave me a big smile and a thumbs up. Made my old heart swoon.

 

[Zoot Katz]

Yes.

Today I spent about two hours talking ebikes and other things with a veteran ebiker friend.
Another dude stopped by to visit and we talked upgrade options with him.
The Xtracycle is always attracting attention, and after strangers start to grasp that concept, some of them notice the electrics and then start asking more questions about the motor and stuff.

 

[zx6rj1]

All my hobbies are conversation killer :lol:

I ride a motorbike
chick: huh? that's dangerous

I put a motor on my bicycle
dude: why don't you just pedal it?

I have big speakers
...silence

etc...

 

[dogman dan]

I try, but usually only really green living types have much interest. Of close friends, most think I'm kooky and wonder why I don't just ride the gasoline scooter if I want to use less gas to get to work. We had a big earth day thing at the park this year, and I noticed that since they brought the kids, the parking lot was jammed with huge suv's. Wanting to switch from cars to bikes does make us seem like a lunatic fringe.

 

[Anonymous]

.

 

[WonderProfessor]

I already talk to many folks, especially strangers, about my recumbent. I suspect that the motorized version will become even more of a conversation starter.

 

[Reid Welch]

I have not been on the road but for a brief while, and then, only with my recent build "stealth cruiser"

People really don't give it a second look.

But I tell you what, soon as I get back on the road again (have been sidetracked with other issues), I hope to be a nearly full time ambassador for ebike publicity in this area.

Early results: I tell the nearby-whoever, "Did you ever see an electric bike before?"

The answer is almost always, "No.... What's that on the front? I never saw a old time drum brake on a bicycle before."

"That is the motor. And this is the thumb throttle. It's just like the bike you had as a child, only full size-framed. And it can take you 20 mph on its own power, or you can help it along and go even faster or farther."

The persons are now always interested for more. "You made this?"

"Sort of. It's just my beginner's custom execution, using kit parts you can buy."

And then I virtually force them to give it a spin, solo.
"Leave me your car keys and driver license, and go riding for fifteen or twenty minutes.
Let the bike help you along. Get a work out like only a fixed gear bike can offer, but also, if you want to go faster than all the other silly plain road bikes (imagine, 21 gear bikes on flatland Florida: absurd! You do not need multiple gears or shifters or any of that geeky, dirt and wear prone crap. The bike is super simple and super easy to ride,
even if you are older, sick or very out of shape, as I am."

That's pretty much the spiel. In every case so far, the volunteer rider has returned,
all smiles, so delighted. "I want one!".

And I say: "You can buy ready made, or convert any old bike yourself, and save money,and see the neighbors walking their dogs and kids, save gasoline, etc. It's just so relaxing to ebike and it's just as macho for working out, as you care for it to be. It's the best of both worlds."

That's pretty much the "sales pitch". But more: I plan to video these first time riders for making a yt video or two, starting off, then returning, and catch their comments (all with their permission to publish their faces, voices, smiles.

This is my fun: sharing the joy. But I'm a bit behind schedule. Hope to have "Dom" back in service soon.

I'm stoked to talk up ebikes with every person I meet, or run down.

This is exactly the sort of thing I will be doing with a pocket digicam.
I will meet people, young, old, does not matter. they will not forget this bike nor the
very strange fellow who shared his love of life with them. They'll never forget me...
and I will be dead soon, no worries...but, you see, I shall have a bit of "immortality" after all.
I have no children. Yes I do.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwMZp2sAiEU
(you've all seen this before---it's my calling in late life.)

 

[Zoot Katz]

. . .But more: I plan to video these first time riders for making a yt video or two, starting returning, and their comments (all with their permission to publish their faces, voices, smiles. . .

Wow! A video full of ebike grins should be one of the happiest vids on YT.

My friend Robert made the documentary "You Never Bike Alone". One segment is of people summing up bicycling in a single word.
Most, like over 80%, chose the word "Freedom".

 

[Reid Welch]

Oh, thank you Zoot. You just gave me needed resolve to get back on the ebike ASAP.
====
Folks, look at what you can do, who you can meet, who you can enrich, by sharing your ebike! Found on YouTube, he is not me. I can only wish....
[youtube]dKbfNt0SBcw[/youtube]

 

[Sid]

I park my bike near the restrooms in the resteraunt I work in. Every once in a while I get asked "Why is that bicycle back there plugged into the wall?" I tell them but most seem to think I'm some sort of lunatic. "Transportation without emissions? Madness you say!"

 

[grindz145]

All my hobbies are conversation killer :lol:

I ride a motorbike
chick: huh? that's dangerous

I put a motor on my bicycle
dude: why don't you just pedal it?

I have big speakers
...silence

etc...

Feel your pain man...

 

[dozentrio]

I talk to the other students in my lab about ebikes. One is on the verge of beginning his own build. I also explain the bike to curious people. The questions I get are generally, "how fast does that thing go?" and often, "how far can you go on charge?"

 

[swbluto]

Sometimes I go into stores with my e-standup-scooter with wires hanging out of the backpack, so it's kind of obvious that it's electric. I definitely get people who ask me "How fast does that go? How far?", "Is that electric?", the typical questions.

When I primarily rode my ebike, I only got the occasionally puzzled look from the lycra and the rare fellow cyclist who was unlocking their bike at the same time and asked about it.

 

[mwkeefer]

Interesting question;

IRL I am always on one of my bikes so it's the usual Q&A:

Is that a generator for a headlight? - nope it's a motor
How does that work? - like an alternator or generator in reverse.
What kind of power/batteries does it use ? - Lipo ; What the hell are lipo batteries - nevermind.
How far can you go on a charge ? - depends on how fast I'm going, normally about 18-20mi on 300.00 worth of battery.
How do you charge it? - Lucky... this just got easier to explain and not nearly as cost prohibitive (went from 300.00+ for iCharger to about 150 total for MeanWells at 8A to charge at 10AH LiPo pack - a bit over an hour.
How long does it take to charge? - again much simpler answer - a bit over an hour.
Do you know where I can buy one? - you can get the kits all over, the bike I got second hand and upgraded.
How much would one like yours cost? - that all depends on power, range and speed req but about 1-1.5k
Where can I get one built? - me, office right next to the train station.

The truly interested (people who end up riding one within 2 months of their first contact) people always have one question which sets them apart from the "lookylous" - "How much does it weigh?" - Just under 60lbs for the fullsize and a little over 40 for the folder. Once someone asks how much does it weigh before asking if they could ride it, they are hooked already (imho)

Now... for my interaction with non-strangers IRL - this is touchy since I am sooo high strung I tend to "overload" people with information so really other than my father (masters in physics, basically blind and living vicariously through anyone who will let him) and a very few ebike vendors or other tech people I really don't talk about eBikes with anyone (they all know I have them, build them, etc).

I should add... I have no sign for my business (the door says "OFFICE") and yet people are always stopping me to ask "when will you be in" when i run for wawa or so on (all this is within 2 blocks of my shop and the train) as they want to "Test drive" a model... it's really pretty cool since I have no advertising (yet) and this was all just word o mouth in my neighborhood - I have the advantage of having a very expensive prep school in my town (and the highest DUI conviction rate in PA) which tends to drive the interest (pun was not intended).

-Mike

 

[Little-Acorn]

Went into a bike shop in Pacific Beach the other day, and asked the question I'm starting to ask at most bike shops: "Do you have any electric powered bikes, or kits?"

His reply: "No, we don't have anything like that. I hate the idea of a motor on any bicycle, it doesn't belong. Unless it's a motorcycle."

Hmmmm.

 

[drewdiller]

All my hobbies are conversation killer :lol:

I ride a motorbike
chick: huh? that's dangerous

I put a motor on my bicycle
dude: why don't you just pedal it?

I have big speakers
...silence

etc...

Haha, yep, nail in the coffin! Most tangible material perk of being my dad's son is free (albeit a bit banged up) Maggies =)