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01-28-2007, 03:15 PM

Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:
> As I'm reading an article in this-morning's San Jose Mercury News about
> newfound popularity of electric bikes, and their limitations (max speeds
> 25mph or less; need to be recharged after 8-20 miles), I'm thinking yeah,
> same old stuff that's been out there, heavy, expensive to repair, cause
> parts & frame failures on modified bikes etc.
>
> Then the article mentioned that an engineer has a recumbent design he's
> trying to bring to market that will go over 100 miles on a charge, at speeds
> greater than 30mph. And at that point I'm wondering-
>
> What's gonna happen when people try to show up on a century (or, for that
> matter, any other organized bike ride) on one of them? So far, it's been a
> non-issue due to limited range. But if that's no longer an issue...
>
> --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
> www.ChainReactionBicycles.com
>
>
>
Let them in but don't count their times. If they just want to be in a
social ride environment and not watching a football game on television
they will be getting a fair amount of exercise even with a battery
assisted bike. I think the combination of football games and television
is one of the worst things ever to happen to our way of life.
Recumbents with batteries, maybe not THAT bad???
I make it a point never to turn down someone who wants to ride along,
whether it's my grandkids, or just someone I overtake on a ride.
Accept the inevitable, that some people won't ride unless they have a
way out of getting themselves too tired, and the batteries are their
emergency lifeline. Better than not riding at all.
Bill Baka

01-28-2007, 03:15 PM	#9 (permalink)
Bill Baka Posts: n/a	Re: electric bikes on centuries Mike Jacoubowsky wrote: > As I'm reading an article in this-morning's San Jose Mercury News about > newfound popularity of electric bikes, and their limitations (max speeds > 25mph or less; need to be recharged after 8-20 miles), I'm thinking yeah, > same old stuff that's been out there, heavy, expensive to repair, cause > parts & frame failures on modified bikes etc. > > Then the article mentioned that an engineer has a recumbent design he's > trying to bring to market that will go over 100 miles on a charge, at speeds > greater than 30mph. And at that point I'm wondering- > > What's gonna happen when people try to show up on a century (or, for that > matter, any other organized bike ride) on one of them? So far, it's been a > non-issue due to limited range. But if that's no longer an issue... > > --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles > www.ChainReactionBicycles.com > > > Let them in but don't count their times. If they just want to be in a social ride environment and not watching a football game on television they will be getting a fair amount of exercise even with a battery assisted bike. I think the combination of football games and television is one of the worst things ever to happen to our way of life. Recumbents with batteries, maybe not THAT bad??? I make it a point never to turn down someone who wants to ride along, whether it's my grandkids, or just someone I overtake on a ride. Accept the inevitable, that some people won't ride unless they have a way out of getting themselves too tired, and the batteries are their emergency lifeline. Better than not riding at all. Bill Baka