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01-28-2007, 07:36 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
>
>
>
If you're running an organized event, you may want to check with the
local jurisdiction. Whether or not these electric bikes are legal on
public roads varies from town to town..... I would guess if it's an
organized event, you cannot allow them if they are illegal where you are
riding, but otherwise, if it's a timed event either have a separate
category for "power assisted bikes" or just make them ineligible for
competition purposes. But as others said, just for the social aspect, or
the "doing somthing other than being a couch potato", then why not allow
them to ride (unless there's a saftey problem that I don't know about)

Janet

01-28-2007, 07:36 PM	#12 (permalink)
Janet 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 > > > If you're running an organized event, you may want to check with the local jurisdiction. Whether or not these electric bikes are legal on public roads varies from town to town..... I would guess if it's an organized event, you cannot allow them if they are illegal where you are riding, but otherwise, if it's a timed event either have a separate category for "power assisted bikes" or just make them ineligible for competition purposes. But as others said, just for the social aspect, or the "doing somthing other than being a couch potato", then why not allow them to ride (unless there's a saftey problem that I don't know about) Janet