Races have rules, that's where the "fun" or competition resides, pushing yourself agains the constraints, artificial as they may be. Group rides one would assume is more about a case of social negotiation. If someone is, or has been, a valued member of a group but becomes in need of assistance due to the vicissitudes of age and/or accident, then we ought to embrace them. If what they do instead is cut against the spirit of the group then perhaps they ought to accept and respect the displeasure of the rest of the group.
I electrified (sounds more exciting than it actually is) my cargo bike. I chose a front wheel hub motor wound for torque and not speed, but it would naturally go to 25mph. I re-set it to cut out at 20mph because I am an immigrant and rule follower. I use only throttle control, because the pedalec control is primitive and so I blip the throttle when I need it. I electrified a second bike, a Soma Saga (a good, solid, pleasant to ride but stiff bike - it is a touring bike after all) that I switch out the front fork and wheel for a Crust Clydsedale when I require it. This one I started with a mid drive. Hated it. Switched to rear hub drive, disliked it, but it's still in this form. Both iterations would do almost 30mph and doubled the weight of the bike. There is use value in the e-assist, but the bicycle-ness disappeared from the Soma in particular. Too fast, too heavy, too coarse. A very fast but very, very, harsh ride. But useful at times. Not something to be ridden on bike paths by the unthinking. And perhaps too fast for drivers to see and react to on the streets. Poor road surface and an absence of suspension (and a subsequent loss of control) also plays a part in how these things are not great idea unless used with a modicum of wisdom. If me and my e-assist bikes were banned from the bike paths around where I live then I'd be ok with that. Come the weekend along the LA river bike path all manner of dudeliness on plastic bikes are straining to complete PBs amongst the pets and children etc. Add the full range of e-bikes and e-scooters and I'm quite surprised I've not seen any accidents when I'm out there. I do see a lot of folks who are enjoying a bicycle pace - 10-16mph - on some of the more bicycle-like e-bikes. Perhaps the issue is speed and handling. As someone once told me about speed limits on roads - they're limits, not targets. I still prefer to ride the new (to me) Rosco Platypus. I'm 58 and fall into the category of men who kill themselves on motorcycles and e-bikes because they overestimate their facilities and underestimate how velocity, mass, and world conditions work. I tend to ride solo (or desperately try to keep up with my wife who is a much more bull-ish rider than I am), so keeping up with others is rare for me. I'd be reluctant to electrify a Rivendell, but ask me in 10 years (and if the kits are lighter) I might change my tune. On Tuesday, July 30, 2024 at 11:43:35 AM UTC-7 ascpgh wrote: > Fresh off the presses: > > https://www.tmz.com/2024/07/29/angelina-jolie-brad-pitt-son-pax-jolie-pitt-injured-accident-bicycle-hits-car/ > > Celebrity accident. it was not an electric BMX bicycle, that is an > electric (not street legal) enduro motorcycle. > > Andy Cheatham > Pittsburgh > > On Tuesday, July 30, 2024 at 6:40:05 AM UTC-4 ascpgh wrote: > >> "Electric bikes are probably the second most contentious topic on this >> list next to helmets." >> >> I wonder what chain lube they prefer? >> >> Andy Cheatham >> Pittsburgh >> >> >> >> >> On Monday, July 29, 2024 at 5:01:30 PM UTC-4 Corwin Zechar wrote: >> >>> Hi Eric - >>> >>> I don't have a beef with people that need an assist. My beef is with >>> people that buy an electric "bike", which they have no intention of >>> pedaling. Many of these "bikes" are really motorcycles with pedals attached >>> in an ergonomically impossible place - just so they can be called bicycles. >>> They just run the throttle wide open. It's clearly just an excuse to take >>> over bike paths via motorized (albeit with an electric motor) vehicles. I >>> am a member of Grizzly Peak Cyclists. Electric bikes are welcome on most >>> rides, including the Grizzly Peak Century. There is even a special category >>> on our monthly time-trial ride of the Three Bears. Electrics are accorded >>> their own special category. >>> >>> But, like Jock, I really hate people riding electric bikes at terrific >>> speeds. So much so, that if I see an electric on a group ride I have >>> joined, I abort the ride. I really do get the need for an assist. I have >>> captained my tandem and the Cunningham tandem all over the East Bay and >>> Marin. I have ridden Mt Tam, Sausalito, The Golden Gate, San Francisco, >>> Oakland, Richmond, Berkeley and many other areas with Charlie Cunningham >>> and my disabled wife. Both my wife and Charlie are disabled. >>> >>> Electrics are such a turn-off for me, that I would rather ride alone, >>> than be constantly reminded of the dozens of near-misses I have had with >>> reckless individuals on electric bikes. >>> >>> Electric bikes are probably the second most contentious topic on this >>> list next to helmets. >>> >>> Regards, >>> >>> >>> Corwin >>> On Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at 4:53:33 PM UTC-7 [email protected] wrote: >>> >>>> A friend and I did the Seattle to Portland ride this past weekend (205 >>>> miles in either one or two days), and we were both surprised to see a >>>> number of riders on electric bikes. >>>> >>>> I haven’t done many large cycling events since the rise in popularity >>>> of electric bikes. When I did large-scale rides like STP pre-COVID, >>>> everybody would have been on a regular, human-powered bike. So seeing >>>> powered bikes on a “cycling” event struck us as a little strange. >>>> >>>> What is everyone’s experience with this? I’ll admit I am a little >>>> skeptical about combining electric- and human-powered bikes in the same >>>> event, but that’s probably a reflection of my cycling history. The events >>>> I >>>> usually ride, which are mostly RUSA-sanctioned randonneuring, would >>>> definitely not allow any kind of powered bike. >>>> >>>> What do YOU think? Should electric bikes be allowed on events like >>>> RAGBRAI, STP, centuries, etc.? What limits would you impose, if any? Or >>>> should they have their own events? >>>> >>>> Interested to hear what the group thinks. >>>> >>>> --Eric Norris >>>> [email protected] >>>> Insta: @CampyOnlyGuy >>>> YouTube: YouTube.com/CampyOnlyGuy >>>> >>>> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/60f5af66-d3bd-4a1a-95e4-c752b2ac0439n%40googlegroups.com.
