The thing is, ebiking is still very much in its' infancy, something we afficianados can easily overlook. This week is actually my 1st anniversary of ebike ownership and the net result for me has been a re-introduction to cycling generally and a much more enjoyable commute than driving a very hilly 14 mile round trip. I feel better when I arrive at work, unsweaty and with no need to change clothes/shower, and am generally of sunnier disposition withal. BUT for fun and more generally relaxed transport I would ALWAYS choose to ride my normal bike; it's lighter, faster, whippier & altogether more entertaining. If I played golf I'd liken them to two different clubs in my bag. I'm in my early 50's so somewhere near the middle of the forum demographic but my choice of an ebike was purely for a workhorse commuter because the hilly and frankly potentially dangerous journey to my place of work was too arduous and scary to want to attempt on an unassisted bike on a daily basis; I could and have done it on my normal bike but I feel few people would want to do that everyday. To summarise, an ebike does a SPECIFIC job for me, it is neither a replacement nor an alternative to 'real' cycling, and I am confident that when the public awareness of ebiking is greater than it is today, many more people will see its' value in a similar fashion.
The electric bike is only for the grey generation.
- Thread starter Kudoscycles
- Start date
I've always said that I don't believe powered bicycles will ever be mainstream, that based on 61 years experience of them and knowledge of their longer history. The reason is that they are and always will be riddled with compromises.
There's a parallel with the home power tool market. Years ago one could buy a power drill from the likes of Bridges or Black and Decker and then add attachments. Offered were attachments to turn it into a jigsaw, circular saw, vertical stand drill, lathe etc, but of course the compromises meant none of those compared with the real things, so they largely disappeared from the market.
The e-bike is like that, as Marchant says above, it's not as good as a normal bike, but as the many who moan about the 15 mph and 250 watt limits show, it's not as good for many as any form of motor vehicle.
For those reasons, the pre WW2 e-bike motors disappeared, the post WW2 petrol add-ons disappeared, and the best that we can hope for the current e-bikes is that they remain available, probably second fiddle to all other transport means.
There's a parallel with the home power tool market. Years ago one could buy a power drill from the likes of Bridges or Black and Decker and then add attachments. Offered were attachments to turn it into a jigsaw, circular saw, vertical stand drill, lathe etc, but of course the compromises meant none of those compared with the real things, so they largely disappeared from the market.
The e-bike is like that, as Marchant says above, it's not as good as a normal bike, but as the many who moan about the 15 mph and 250 watt limits show, it's not as good for many as any form of motor vehicle.
For those reasons, the pre WW2 e-bike motors disappeared, the post WW2 petrol add-ons disappeared, and the best that we can hope for the current e-bikes is that they remain available, probably second fiddle to all other transport means.
hi tilson, "In my case, I can certainly ride up hills without assistance and I frequently run up them."
yes agree....when i was your age i was also riding unassisted up steep hills , running etc. would never have needed (or wanted) an ebike at that age even for longer rides........when the big 60 arrives things change even for the relatively fit.....thats when the ebike comes in handy, but i only need assist on the uphill...... !!!!!!
never used a powered golf cart either.........yet !
regards
yes agree....when i was your age i was also riding unassisted up steep hills , running etc. would never have needed (or wanted) an ebike at that age even for longer rides........when the big 60 arrives things change even for the relatively fit.....thats when the ebike comes in handy, but i only need assist on the uphill...... !!!!!!
never used a powered golf cart either.........yet !
regards
we seem to be equating "grey" with infirm and "young" with fit, but this may not always be the case. I myself, whilst at 46 hardly falling into the "young" category suffer from Parkinson's and the e-bike has helped me get back into cycling, riding on the road having previously been a no-no for a few years. The extra confidence you get from being able to hit the button when feeling wobbly and letting the motor do its thing is incredible; so what i'm saying is, there's a lot of people out there who can benefit from this technology, and get cycling again. And, at the end of the day, riding an ebike is still cycling, albeit with an invisible hand giving you the occasional push.
I think things are changing, as has already been mentioned, it is relatively early days for the ebike. Cost is an issue, especially when you think you could buy a motorbike/scooter/cheap car for the same cost or slightly less
My Nephew, who is 13, loves the look of the Wisper and I quite often get positive comments from other young people. In fact thinking about it the negative/cheating comments come from the 40+ age group!
I think a challenge for the industry is to break the ebike in to the mind of Joe Public and change perceptions of them only being for older people
My Nephew, who is 13, loves the look of the Wisper and I quite often get positive comments from other young people. In fact thinking about it the negative/cheating comments come from the 40+ age group!
I think a challenge for the industry is to break the ebike in to the mind of Joe Public and change perceptions of them only being for older people
I bought mine for the fun of it but I also wanted to use the car less for work. I have a 22km commute at 5am and I prefer it to be a bit more leisurely than the racing bike. Just because you are physically capable of riding a non powered bike, it does not exclude you from having an electric bike. As far as I am aware the electric bike is not designed to be a modern day invalid carriage.
As for teenagers getting lazier. Well that is a huge generalisation. most of the teenagers I know certainly do not fall into that catagory. In fact my 14 year old nephew is now getting injections in his knee, an injury caused by over training.
Electric bikes may never become mainstream bikes but they have shot up in popularity in Denmark this year. Every bike shop I go in sells them now.
The more the merrier I say.
Steve
As for teenagers getting lazier. Well that is a huge generalisation. most of the teenagers I know certainly do not fall into that catagory. In fact my 14 year old nephew is now getting injections in his knee, an injury caused by over training.
Electric bikes may never become mainstream bikes but they have shot up in popularity in Denmark this year. Every bike shop I go in sells them now.
The more the merrier I say.
Steve
I'm 37 and whilst capable of riding a non electric bike to and from work I can't think of anything I would rather do less.
The world is filled with all sorts of people with different strengths and weaknesses. I recognise that I can expend a lot of energy very quickly, but really struggle with the sustained and prolonged effort riding a bike requires where I live. I could cycle unaided up any of the hills I currently ride up on my ebike, but would be cream-crackered and perspiring and not want to ride any further. Same into a head wind. I take my hat off to anyone who can cycle unaided at a sustained speed greater than an assisted ebike.
Ebikes are a great compromised. Sure they could be allowed to legally go a bit faster but that's another thread and already discussed at length. The ebike makes it that much easier to face cycling into work everyday and keeps me away from the temptation of the car.
Oh and yeah, the grey is starting to show...
The world is filled with all sorts of people with different strengths and weaknesses. I recognise that I can expend a lot of energy very quickly, but really struggle with the sustained and prolonged effort riding a bike requires where I live. I could cycle unaided up any of the hills I currently ride up on my ebike, but would be cream-crackered and perspiring and not want to ride any further. Same into a head wind. I take my hat off to anyone who can cycle unaided at a sustained speed greater than an assisted ebike.
Ebikes are a great compromised. Sure they could be allowed to legally go a bit faster but that's another thread and already discussed at length. The ebike makes it that much easier to face cycling into work everyday and keeps me away from the temptation of the car.
Oh and yeah, the grey is starting to show...
This will all be settled in time when an e-bike is seen as an e-bike, not a power assisted bicycle or a crippled motorcycle.
It is seen that way because it is a hybrid of powered and non powered, neither one thing or the other, like the old mopeds were. It's either for people too feeble to use a proper bike or people too wussy to ride a proper motor bike. When it has been around longer, it will be seen as a genre of its own and all that will fade into the past.
I imagine it's image will be like that of a tool, the kind of image the Honda step thru established. No one loved it but many recognised its virtues. It was quicker through city traffic than a glamorous BMW motorcycle, it used little fuel and it could be parked almost anywhere. If all you wanted was to move from one place to another without ceremony or fuss, that's what it did.
If the e- bike could take over that mantle, it's future would be fairly strong. The Honda step-thru went out of fashion because of increased (albeit unearned, credit sustained) wealth. We are going in then other direction now so maybe this dog will have it's day too.
It is seen that way because it is a hybrid of powered and non powered, neither one thing or the other, like the old mopeds were. It's either for people too feeble to use a proper bike or people too wussy to ride a proper motor bike. When it has been around longer, it will be seen as a genre of its own and all that will fade into the past.
I imagine it's image will be like that of a tool, the kind of image the Honda step thru established. No one loved it but many recognised its virtues. It was quicker through city traffic than a glamorous BMW motorcycle, it used little fuel and it could be parked almost anywhere. If all you wanted was to move from one place to another without ceremony or fuss, that's what it did.
If the e- bike could take over that mantle, it's future would be fairly strong. The Honda step-thru went out of fashion because of increased (albeit unearned, credit sustained) wealth. We are going in then other direction now so maybe this dog will have it's day too.
Cycling into a head wind is awful. Rather ride in the rain!
Mainly because you put so much effort in and just get no where. My speed feels like I drop 5mph in a head wind and it demoralises me as I ride.
Tail wind on the other hand is awesome. Or drafting a bus or car.
Maybe I should get a sail??
Mainly because you put so much effort in and just get no where. My speed feels like I drop 5mph in a head wind and it demoralises me as I ride.
Tail wind on the other hand is awesome. Or drafting a bus or car.
Maybe I should get a sail??
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