electric bikes on centuries - Page 10

02-04-2007, 03:21 PM

Bill Baka wrote:
:: Roger Zoul wrote:
::: Bill Baka wrote:
:::::::: Anything that gets one off the couch.
::::::
:::::: You're not making a strong case for an electric bike!

:::::
::::: Come on, read my last line, getting people off the couch in the
::::: first place is a starting point. If an electric assist does it
::::: then maybe they can get addicted to riding and buy a real bike.
:::
::: What, after they have already bought an electric bike, you want
::: them to consider buying a "real" bike? Too funny. Why not just buy
::: a "real" bike and ride it? Just find a piece of flat ground & ride.
::: I started out with simple loops @ less than 5 miles, using gears
::: that make it very easy to turn the cranks.
:::
::: I'm not suggesting that an EB can't be a road away from
::: couchpotatodom, but I'm saying I can think of much better ways to
::: get away.
::
:: I have a 300 pound couch potato (computer addict) friend whom I might
:: get out to ride a bit more if he had the electric to fall back on.
:: He has a nice Cannondale but never rides it. There might be a bit
:: more of an incentive to ride if he knew that if he got fried he
:: could just turn on the electric and get home.

10 to 1 he won't do anything with an EB, either. He full-in into being a CP.
Getting out of that mindset is his biggest challenge. He's got a nice
Cannondale right there that he could take easy rides on. As a practical
matter, he's not going to get fried since it's doubtful he'll push himself.

:::
::::::
::::::::
:::::::: I'm riding tomorrow, whilst all the potatoes watch some dumb
:::::::: football game. The (not so) superbowl clears the roads pretty
:::::::: well every year.
::::::::
::::::
:::::: Good for you. Too bad we have 25 mph winds...makes it too cold.
:::::
::::: Cold has been my enemy too. I went out yesterday and thought I was
::::: really doing good until I got about 5 miles from the house and
::::: realized it was a tailwind, DUH. Coming back was not only slower
::::: but froze my hands while I was getting sweaty. Makes me want
::::: summer back, no layering, just water, pedal and sweat, not
::::: worrying about freezing if I had to walk back due to a failure.
::::: Summer, summer, please.
:::
::: I'm good above 40 degrees with no wind chill, but there always is
::: some here. If the temp is in the 30s, then it's just easier to ride
::: the stationary (though not nearly as enjoyable) & go the gym.
:::
:: I'm not even going to try to debate that issue. Riding in the cold
:: always gets me too hot or too cold. In the summer it is only one
:: thing, as in how much do you want to sweat?

I never notice myself sweating in the summer much on a bike until I stop,
and I try to avoid that. In the winter, you just have to not overdress,
which admittedly can be tricky.

02-04-2007, 08:42 PM

Roger Zoul wrote:
> Bill Baka wrote:
> :: Roger Zoul wrote:
> ::: Bill Baka wrote:
> :::::::: Anything that gets one off the couch.
> ::::::
> :::::: You're not making a strong case for an electric bike!

> :::::
> ::::: Come on, read my last line, getting people off the couch in the
> ::::: first place is a starting point. If an electric assist does it
> ::::: then maybe they can get addicted to riding and buy a real bike.
> :::
> ::: What, after they have already bought an electric bike, you want
> ::: them to consider buying a "real" bike? Too funny. Why not just buy
> ::: a "real" bike and ride it? Just find a piece of flat ground & ride.
> ::: I started out with simple loops @ less than 5 miles, using gears
> ::: that make it very easy to turn the cranks.
> :::
> ::: I'm not suggesting that an EB can't be a road away from
> ::: couchpotatodom, but I'm saying I can think of much better ways to
> ::: get away.
> ::
> :: I have a 300 pound couch potato (computer addict) friend whom I might
> :: get out to ride a bit more if he had the electric to fall back on.
> :: He has a nice Cannondale but never rides it. There might be a bit
> :: more of an incentive to ride if he knew that if he got fried he
> :: could just turn on the electric and get home.
>
> 10 to 1 he won't do anything with an EB, either. He full-in into being a CP.
> Getting out of that mindset is his biggest challenge. He's got a nice
> Cannondale right there that he could take easy rides on. As a practical
> matter, he's not going to get fried since it's doubtful he'll push himself.

He is becoming a target for me riding over to his house and bugging him
to "Get the bike out." kind of harassment. Two people, both younger than
me, have died in the last two years, and neither would have happened if
they were in somewhat better shape. In his case I am going to remind him
of this and nag. Knowing him we may bike to a restaurant, but I have to try.
>
>
>
> :::
> ::::::
> ::::::::
> :::::::: I'm riding tomorrow, whilst all the potatoes watch some dumb
> :::::::: football game. The (not so) superbowl clears the roads pretty
> :::::::: well every year.
> ::::::::
> ::::::
> :::::: Good for you. Too bad we have 25 mph winds...makes it too cold.
> :::::
> ::::: Cold has been my enemy too. I went out yesterday and thought I was
> ::::: really doing good until I got about 5 miles from the house and
> ::::: realized it was a tailwind, DUH. Coming back was not only slower
> ::::: but froze my hands while I was getting sweaty. Makes me want
> ::::: summer back, no layering, just water, pedal and sweat, not
> ::::: worrying about freezing if I had to walk back due to a failure.
> ::::: Summer, summer, please.
> :::
> ::: I'm good above 40 degrees with no wind chill, but there always is
> ::: some here. If the temp is in the 30s, then it's just easier to ride
> ::: the stationary (though not nearly as enjoyable) & go the gym.
> :::
> :: I'm not even going to try to debate that issue. Riding in the cold
> :: always gets me too hot or too cold. In the summer it is only one
> :: thing, as in how much do you want to sweat?
>
> I never notice myself sweating in the summer much on a bike until I stop,
> and I try to avoid that. In the winter, you just have to not overdress,
> which admittedly can be tricky.

Tricky indeed. It always seems to be too little or too much. I usually
wind up with the extra stuff wrapped around the handlebars.
Spring were for art thou?
Bill Baka
>
>

02-04-2007, 08:42 PM

Roger Zoul wrote:
> Bill Baka wrote:
> :: Roger Zoul wrote:
> ::: Bill Baka wrote:
> :::::::: Anything that gets one off the couch.
> ::::::
> :::::: You're not making a strong case for an electric bike!

> :::::
> ::::: Come on, read my last line, getting people off the couch in the
> ::::: first place is a starting point. If an electric assist does it
> ::::: then maybe they can get addicted to riding and buy a real bike.
> :::
> ::: What, after they have already bought an electric bike, you want
> ::: them to consider buying a "real" bike? Too funny. Why not just buy
> ::: a "real" bike and ride it? Just find a piece of flat ground & ride.
> ::: I started out with simple loops @ less than 5 miles, using gears
> ::: that make it very easy to turn the cranks.
> :::
> ::: I'm not suggesting that an EB can't be a road away from
> ::: couchpotatodom, but I'm saying I can think of much better ways to
> ::: get away.
> ::
> :: I have a 300 pound couch potato (computer addict) friend whom I might
> :: get out to ride a bit more if he had the electric to fall back on.
> :: He has a nice Cannondale but never rides it. There might be a bit
> :: more of an incentive to ride if he knew that if he got fried he
> :: could just turn on the electric and get home.
>
> 10 to 1 he won't do anything with an EB, either. He full-in into being a CP.
> Getting out of that mindset is his biggest challenge. He's got a nice
> Cannondale right there that he could take easy rides on. As a practical
> matter, he's not going to get fried since it's doubtful he'll push himself.

He is becoming a target for me riding over to his house and bugging him
to "Get the bike out." kind of harassment. Two people, both younger than
me, have died in the last two years, and neither would have happened if
they were in somewhat better shape. In his case I am going to remind him
of this and nag. Knowing him we may bike to a restaurant, but I have to try.
>
>
>
> :::
> ::::::
> ::::::::
> :::::::: I'm riding tomorrow, whilst all the potatoes watch some dumb
> :::::::: football game. The (not so) superbowl clears the roads pretty
> :::::::: well every year.
> ::::::::
> ::::::
> :::::: Good for you. Too bad we have 25 mph winds...makes it too cold.
> :::::
> ::::: Cold has been my enemy too. I went out yesterday and thought I was
> ::::: really doing good until I got about 5 miles from the house and
> ::::: realized it was a tailwind, DUH. Coming back was not only slower
> ::::: but froze my hands while I was getting sweaty. Makes me want
> ::::: summer back, no layering, just water, pedal and sweat, not
> ::::: worrying about freezing if I had to walk back due to a failure.
> ::::: Summer, summer, please.
> :::
> ::: I'm good above 40 degrees with no wind chill, but there always is
> ::: some here. If the temp is in the 30s, then it's just easier to ride
> ::: the stationary (though not nearly as enjoyable) & go the gym.
> :::
> :: I'm not even going to try to debate that issue. Riding in the cold
> :: always gets me too hot or too cold. In the summer it is only one
> :: thing, as in how much do you want to sweat?
>
> I never notice myself sweating in the summer much on a bike until I stop,
> and I try to avoid that. In the winter, you just have to not overdress,
> which admittedly can be tricky.

Tricky indeed. It always seems to be too little or too much. I usually
wind up with the extra stuff wrapped around the handlebars.
Spring were for art thou?
Bill Baka
>
>