| Re: electric bikes on centuries
On Tue, 30 Jan 2007 16:59:07 -0700, "Daryl Hunt"
<dhunt@colwestnospam.com> may have said:
>I think there are a few reasons you don't see Low Speed Electric Bicycles
>(legal term).
>
>First of all, they would only be really able to ride in the 10 mile run.
>Range past that just isn't really going to happen. Claiming otherwise is
>sort of like claiming that your Moutain Bike can maintain 30 mph over a 60
>mile race.
Breathalysers can usually shed a lot of light on such claims.
In any event, more than half of what's required in order to go 30mph
for 60 miles is a rider who's capable of that level of sustained
output. Bikes sold with such claims wouldn't be marketed to the
riders who might be able to achieve the result with a *suitable* bike,
because even the marketing people are smart enough to know that the
real racers are not going to believe the hype. Well, *most* of them
won't, anyway.
>And don't forget about that carberator that gets your car 200
>mpg. Now, you can go the long distance but, even when you are helping the
>motor by pedalling most of the time, I doubt you want to finish the last
>half of the race pedalling that extra 40 pounds or so.
Nasty laws of physics, we hates them! Give us a nice fantasy world
where we can do what we likes!
>I think the biggest is that the "Pure" cyclists make the Low Speed Electric
>Bicycles (pedal assist) feel about as welcome as an absessed tooth.
Actually, in a non-race long-ride setting, I think some of the snobs
would welcome (or at least not snub) *certain* riders aboard an
electric-assist bike. If the rider has a physical limitation (other
than simple lack of conditioning) which makes it impractical or
impossible to participate without the assist, even the majority of the
purists would, in my limited experience, accept such a rider and bike.
You're still right, though. There would be a group that would stand
well away, never approach, say nothing supportive, and make snide
remarks; it would just be much smaller than would be the case if the
assisted bike was being used by (for instance) a mere couch potato.
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