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Old 01-31-2007, 08:02 AM   #44 (permalink)
Bill Bushnell
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Re: electric bikes on centuries

In article <12s13765rfeu013@news.supernews.com>,
"Roger Zoul" <rogerzoul2@hotmail.com> wrote:

> :: 1) Do I have any reason to believe that the operator of a power
> :: assisted bicycle intends to ride in a hazardous or illegal manner?
>
> Would you? Fear of the unknown creating bias?


Depends. Some people get or build an electric bike because they really
want a stealth motorcycle. Most electric bicycles and operators would
fit right in. But if one installs a powerful motor and enough batteries
on a bicycle, you have a motorcycle. An operator of such a vehicle may
be more interested in speed and if ridden ridden to that end could be a
hazard to the other participants.

> :: 2) Could I lift the thing onto a bike rack or into a motor vehicle
> :: if it had to be SAGged (or can the heavy bits be removed easily
> :: prior to lifting)?
> ::
>
> At 75 lbs, that's easily the weight of 3 bikes. I imagine this would be a
> serious drawback. I've been on some rides where the some of the sag staff
> were female. And small, too.
>
> Also, I can see removing wheels, but other parts?


I'm thinking of batteries. It's not reasonable to expect a SAG driver
to dead-lift 70 lbs of electric bicycle onto a roof rack. Remove the
batteries and you have, say, 40 lbs, which may still be an effort for
some. The electric bike designed as a stealth motorcycle, laden with
batteries, is more likely to require SAG because the range of such a
machine will likely be limited.

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Bill Bushnell
http://pobox.com/~bushnell/
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