Throttles-please can you talk me through how you use the throttle on a typical ride.

[Kudoscycles]

I moved this post to a new thread for I felt it got lost inside the BEBA survey and I realise how important throttles are to some people.
Can I ask a few questions about the usage of throttles on these bikes.
I assume that the requirement of the throttle is to control power whilst just resting ones feet on the pedals? But assuming the rider has little power in his legs what happens when you come to a steep hill,for you surely have to pedal to get up a steep hill,250 watts will not carry a rider up many hills without some pedalling?
Or do you use the throttle as a means of getting instant power,for example pulling away from a busy junction but at other times are happy to pedal?
How many people use their pedelec without pedalling at all?
I see a lady on an old powabyke quite often,she never pedals,even when going slowly on the pavement,but what does she do when she comes to a hill?Maybe she never goes up hills?
I have some ideas but I need to know how pedelec users use the throttle on a typical bike ride?

Dave

 

[shemozzle999]

Removing a throttle means you lose some "manual" control of the bike and then have to rely on the "automatic" system only - not always possible to control with finesse in crowded uphill situations.

 

[gray198]

just use mine for pulling away on hills at junctions etc

 

[hoppy]

Stating the obvious,perhaps,I use it as a variable power controller! I usually pedal at a cadence and pressure that suit me at the time and adjust the speed with the throttle.(This is why the combination of crank drive through gears with a throttle is so good).When knees,heart,lungs etc.need a rest the throttle is invaluable.It also gives access to full motor power on hills independent of pedal effort.My 200 watt rated motor will climb 1 in 5 without pedalling in bottom gear.The throttle is also great for low speed manoeuvres without pedalling especially offroad.The next best thing to an independent throttle would certainly be one that worked only when the pedals rotated as allowed now by EU law.I've an old Powabyke with that option and it's OK.

 

[Kudoscycles]

just use mine for pulling away on hills at junctions etc

I assume you have a hub drive bike without torque sensor? If you had the PAS set at maximum one turn of the crank would be the same effect as the throttle?

 

[Kudoscycles]

It would be possible on either a hub drive/torque sensor bike or a crank drive/torque sensor bike to have a system on the bike to manually set the ratio between rider power input and motor power input-the ratio could be set by the owner according to the amount of motor power desired relative to the rider input power,the result would be at maximum ratio the rider input could be minimal to achieve full 250 watts motor power.
Effectively the cranks become a throttle and would appear to meet the requirements of Class 1 of the proposed new EPAC regulations,making it unnecessary in most cases (excepting those who have zero power in their legs)to have a throttle and thus the cost of type approval could be avoided.
We have at least until 2016 to engineer such a solution.
The bicycles would have 2 control systems-
1. The PAS power control system that we are all familiar with,plus
2. A manual control of the ratio between rider and motor power
I think this would satisfy 90% of pedelec users.
If you look elsewhere on this forum Garry's(BH Neo Extreme) and Jimod(Kudos Tourer) latest postings have between them already indicated that the system is already part way to working.
Dave
Kudoscycles

 

[muckymits]

The throttles are nice for going around the barriers at the end of the tracks, helps keep control. But where I have got to have it is at the top of long steep hills, I just having got any power left to turn the pedals fast enough to kick the sensors in. Then at the top it gives me some recovery time.

 

[jazper53]

I suffer from C.O.P.D., so i get out of breath very easily and need to take a rest from pedaling occasionally, so a independent throttle is invaluable in maintaining my momentum .

 

[muckymits]

I suffer from C.O.P.D., so i get out of breath very easily and need to take a rest from pedaling occasionally, so a independent throttle is invaluable in maintaining my momentum .

Snap........

 

[Kudoscycles]

The throttles are nice for going around the barriers at the end of the tracks, helps keep control. But where I have got to have it is at the top of long steep hills, I just having got any power left to turn the pedals fast enough to kick the sensors in. Then at the top it gives me some recovery time.

But if you had a means of say arranging the power using minimal input rider power and getting maximum motor power,effectively just turning the pedals without much effort that would pulse the sensors.
Don't get me wrong I am not against throttles just trying to find an alternative without resorting to type approval,which will limit choice to only the larger volume suppliers. In the meantime I intend to put throttles on every bike.
Dave
Kudoscycles

 

[muckymits]

But if you had a means of say arranging the power using minimal input rider power and getting maximum motor power,effectively just turning the pedals without much effort that would pulse the sensors.
Don't get me wrong I am not against throttles just trying to find an alternative without resorting to type approval,which will limit choice to only the larger volume suppliers. In the meantime I intend to put throttles on every bike.
Dave
Kudoscycles

We still sometimes need a bit respite at say top of a hill just to allow the oxygen levels to come back up. Even something like a boost button would do the trick.

 

[Kudoscycles]

We still sometimes need a bit respite at say top of a hill just to allow the oxygen levels to come back up. Even something like a boost button would do the trick.

Unfortunately,boost buttons are specifically mentioned and outlawed on the current regulations,
Dave
Kudoscycles

 

[muckymits]

Yeah I know but Ive got a spare door bell button

 

[fishingpaul]

I like to ride my bike as a normal bike ,but with the throttle available to give a boost at any time i need it,for example i may start to climb a hill and try to reach so far without any power,also i can ride unpowered and instantly bring in the throttle if the wind suddenly picks up or to safely overtake a parked car.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

I like to ride my bike as a normal bike ,but with the throttle available to give a boost at any time i need it,for example i may start to climb a hill and try to reach so far without any power,also i can ride unpowered and instantly bring in the throttle if the wind suddenly picks up or to safely overtake a parked car.

Regarding the woman on the Powabyke. We followed one in Telford Town Park recently. The same thing - a woman that wasn't pedalling. She went up some very steep hills still without pedalling. Those old Powabykes with SLAs have extremely strong motors - much much more torque than a Bafang 250w. Just look at the size of the motor: It's massive.

 

[muckymits]

Regarding the woman on the Powabyke. We followed one in Telford Town Park recently. The same thing - a woman that wasn't pedalling. She went up some very steep hills still without pedalling. Those old Powabykes with SLAs have extremely strong motors - much much more torque than a Bafang 250w. Just look at the size of the motor: It's massive.

Yes I know, was testing one one day and now I have a mental note 'must make sure all the nuts are tight in the jig' it almost broke my fingers.

 

[Scimitar]

I never fitted my pedelec sesnsor, though it occurs to me it might be a good thing to have fitted in case the throttle (cheap thing that it is) goes toes-up one day. Even with the throttle I take away in low gear and get a couple of MPH up before I feed in the power so as I avoid overheating the motor - hub motors don't like large static loads and even though mine will do it, it doesn't like it much.
I find the presence of the throttle is invaluable - pedelec might suit me just as well for normal useage, but after years of riding motorcycles, the use of a throttle is just so much more sensible anyway.

 

[eddieo]

We still sometimes need a bit respite at say top of a hill just to allow the oxygen levels to come back up. Even something like a boost button would do the trick.

Yes it's called freewheeling all cyclists do it.....there is a life without throttles, dont be frightened you might actually enjoy it, just need better bikes that is all ..

 

[indalo]

Yes it's called freewheeling all cyclists do it.....there is a life without throttles, dont be frightened you might actually enjoy it, just need better bikes that is all ..

My view is that when my legs become like jelly, I stop for a short breather. It might be 30 seconds or it might be 5 minutes depending on where I am. These days, I'm never in any hurry so I can't quite grasp this notion that it's imperative to maintain progress on a bike by means of a throttle. Where are all these ebikers going in such a hurry that they can't stop to smell the flowers?

Indalo

 

[shemozzle999]

Yes it's called freewheeling all cyclists do it.....there is a life without throttles, dont be frightened you might actually enjoy it, just need better bikes that is all ..

One day even your better bike will not fullfill your needs, I hope you then won't change you current views.