Dude on electric bike

[silly_yak]

Yesterday morning while driving out of Ashburn I passed a gent on an electric assisted bike. He was doing some light pedalling, but appeared to be letting the motors do the work, and he was flying!

Fast forward the my commute home, and as luck would have it, I passed him again. This time, he looked like he was dying, my guess would be that he used up all his battery power on the way in. What I total bummer to have to hoof 60lbs of bike.

While I think that the concept was a good one, it seems awkward and bulky. It was built on a comfort style frame, with fat tires and what looked like a HEAVY frame.

[jabberwocky]

I've looked into them in the past, just out of curiosity. Definitely a cool concept, but like pretty much all electric vehicles they are limited by their batteries.

I've toyed with the idea of buying something like a Surly Big Dummy and converting it to electric. I think it would be a great "errand vehicle" for grocery shopping, trips to Home Depot, etc. Kinda expensive though.

[eloach]

I've looked into them in the past, just out of curiosity. Definitely a cool concept, but like pretty much all electric vehicles they are limited by their batteries.

I've toyed with the idea of buying something like a Surly Big Dummy and converting it to electric. I think it would be a great "errand vehicle" for grocery shopping, trips to Home Depot, etc. Kinda expensive though.

Just get the bike. Forget the electric. I want one of those SO BAD, but have no place to store it. I'd need to sell some bikes first.

As for electric... why? Yamaha makes an inexpensive scooter that gets over 100 mpg and is ultra low emissions. The top speed is pretty good as well. I looked at getting one of those, but decided the risk of being road kill was too high in this area. I'll shoot for the Prius or Honda hybrid next time I need a car and stick with bikes other than that.

The Big Dummy is a really cool bike though.

[CRAIG2]

Ya' know, I figured if I can ride a bicycle in traffic, I could probably swing a scooter, too.

[drewdane]

Y'know, if someone's gonna mount an electric motor to a bicycle, you'd thing they'd hook a generator up to the drivetrain somehow to help keep the battery charged.

[blacknell]

A friend of mine with one of these electrics lives in Kalorama and works in Foggy Bottom. Bomb down in the morning (those things are super heavy), flip the switch and cruise back up the hill with assist in the evening. Cheaper than a scooter, easier to store. Works for him. Pretty well, in fact.

[silly_yak]

Just get the bike. Forget the electric. I want one of those SO BAD, but have no place to store it. I'd need to sell some bikes first.

As for electric... why? Yamaha makes an inexpensive scooter that gets over 100 mpg and is ultra low emissions. The top speed is pretty good as well. I looked at getting one of those, but decided the risk of being road kill was too high in this area. I'll shoot for the Prius or Honda hybrid next time I need a car and stick with bikes other than that.

The Big Dummy is a really cool bike though.

Can't take a scooter on bike paths.

[silly_yak]

I think that there are conversion kits that can be fitted to any bike.

[CRAIG2]

Can't take a scooter on bike paths.

Sure you could! It's just not legal, so you wouldn't want to get caught ;):D

[jabberwocky]

As for electric... why? Yamaha makes an inexpensive scooter that gets over 100 mpg and is ultra low emissions. The top speed is pretty good as well. I looked at getting one of those, but decided the risk of being road kill was too high in this area. I'll shoot for the Prius or Honda hybrid next time I need a car and stick with bikes other than that.

The Big Dummy is a really cool bike though.I was just thinking it would be nice to be able to run errands in regular street clothes and easily carry heavier loads (like a full trip of groceries). I could also still ride it when I'm not feeling well or am injured.

Y'know, if someone's gonna mount an electric motor to a bicycle, you'd thing they'd hook a generator up to the drivetrain somehow to help keep the battery charged.Most of the good systems have regenerative braking (like hybrid cars) that uses the motor to produce electricity when you brake.

[jabberwocky]

Can't take a scooter on bike paths.Also, this. I'm pretty sure electric bikes can be ridden anywhere a bike can be as long as the electric-only top speed is under 20mph.

[silly_yak]

Here is what looks like a nice, inexpensive kit. And it allows the motor to be installed on the front wheel, keeping your drivetrain intact.

http://ampedbikes.com/

[thelankymanx2]

Can't take a scooter on bike paths.

On the weekends on Rock Creek when they block off the road there is a sign that say "No motor vehicles beyond this point". Not sure that the law draws a distinction between a electric motor and a gas one. I beleive that they would both be illegal on Multi Use trails.

On a similar topic there is a guy that ride his Segway down 16th St in the morning I presume to Walter Reed. I assume that there is something wrong with him or he could get a bike for a fifth of the cost.

There is also a guy who live in my apartment complex that rides his Segway to the gym then runs on the treadmill. I just do not get it. It may be the same guy who rides it down 16th St:confused:

[CRAIG2]

There's a Segway user here in Tyson's too. Actually, I used to work with someone who purchased a Segway when they came out for his older father who had problems getting around. When the father passed, he go the Segway back and I believe rides it, at least on occasion, to work along the Mt. Vernon. At least he used to. Kind of cool, in that futuristic, nerdy / trendy kind of way. :rolleyes:

[jabberwocky]

On the weekends on Rock Creek when they block off the road there is a sign that say "No motor vehicles beyond this point". Not sure that the law draws a distinction between a electric motor and a gas one. I beleive that they would both be illegal on Multi Use trails.In Virginia, electric assisted bicycles are basically treated like bikes as long as the input is less than 1000 watts.

Mopeds are treated like motorcycles and cannot be ridden on sidewalks or MUPs.

http://www.vdot.virginia.gov/PROGRAMS/bk-laws.asp

[jabberwocky]

Also, for anyone interested in electric bikes, theres a real good subforum dedicated solely to them on bikeforums.net. Lots of info on kits, laws, conversions and DIY.

http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?f=258

[mcgrathgp]

On the weekends on Rock Creek when they block off the road there is a sign that say "No motor vehicles beyond this point". Not sure that the law draws a distinction between a electric motor and a gas one. I beleive that they would both be illegal on Multi Use trails.

On a similar topic there is a guy that ride his Segway down 16th St in the morning I presume to Walter Reed. I assume that there is something wrong with him or he could get a bike for a fifth of the cost.

There is also a guy who live in my apartment complex that rides his Segway to the gym then runs on the treadmill. I just do not get it. It may be the same guy who rides it down 16th St:confused:

I see the same guy and I think there's another one on 14th St. To me it makes sense due to the sweat factor. I can't bike any distance over a few miles without sweating out my clothes. Segway dude probably hops off his ride sits right down and starts working while I've got to either sit in sweat or change my clothes.

[CRAIG2]

I see the same guy and I think there's another one on 14th St. To me it makes sense due to the sweat factor. I can't bike any distance over a few miles without sweating out my clothes. Segway dude probably hops off his ride sits right down and starts working while I've got to either sit in sweat or change my clothes.

Segway fail:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paV5jEnR2Oo

[punga]

I want one of these (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALu3KhLGnTY&NR=1) for my birthday today. :D

p!

[silly_yak]

I want one of these (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALu3KhLGnTY&NR=1) for my birthday today. :D

p!

If it had the ability to hop, I would be there is a sec..

[jabberwocky]

I want one of these (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALu3KhLGnTY&NR=1) for my birthday today. :DHappy birthday! God you're old. ;)

[punga]

Happy birthday! God you're old. ;)
I feel it in my bones...

[EJensen]

I think it would be a great "errand vehicle" for grocery shopping, trips to Home Depot, etc. Kinda expensive though.
A bike for carrying food and hardware? You may want to slowly look over your shoulder, because it would appear that your fairy godmother was watching what you typed. Consider (http://reviews.mtbr.com/blog/yuba-affordable-mobility-introduces-the-mundo-utility-bike/):

- - Yuba, a company specializing in affordable mobility for under-developed and developed communities, introduces the Mundo utility cargo bike. Designed to carry fifty kilo sacks of grain as well as building supplies from the hardware store, the Mundo is the first bike to offer extreme carrying capability to consumers at an extremely affordable price.

hardware? check.
groceries? check.

Okay, maybe you weren't exactly thinking 50kg sacks of grain, but nobody's saying you have to use it to go to Costco.

Regards,
Eric

[drewdane]

I was just thinking it would be nice to be able to run errands in regular street clothes and easily carry heavier loads (like a full trip of groceries).

A bike for carrying food and hardware?
Or you could do what I did - don't get rid of the $99.00 kiddie trailer from Target when it's outgrown, convert it to a grocery hauler. Alternatively, if you don't have kids to outgrow a trailer, buy a $99.00 Trailer from target to use as a grocery hauler.

$99.00 vs. $X00.00 + panniers and other accessories - I'll stick with the trailer.

(That said, the Kona Ute looks sweet!)

[chowderbutt]

Just get the bike. Forget the electric. I want one of those SO BAD, but have no place to store it. I'd need to sell some bikes first.

As for electric... why? Yamaha makes an inexpensive scooter that gets over 100 mpg and is ultra low emissions. The top speed is pretty good as well. I looked at getting one of those, but decided the risk of being road kill was too high in this area. I'll shoot for the Prius or Honda hybrid next time I need a car and stick with bikes other than that.

The Big Dummy is a really cool bike though.


a ultra low emission scooter still pollutes more than a bike ...and more than a car (other than co2).

[CRAIG2]

Hey Chowder -

I don't suppose you could use a helmet and set of tires for your TfK program? I have a new (in box) helmet I purchased from Performance (it's an Ascent, or something) that I bought on sale, tried on, didn't like, put in my closet "just in case", and is now gathering dust. It's an adult size large, which might be a deal breaker unless you have a kid with a larger than average melon. Color is red/black - the two fastest colors!

I also have a set of moderately used, but in good condition, Weirwolve tires, 2.1" x 26 than I don't think I'll be using again (it's a set of 2 tires).

If you're interested, lemme know.

Thanks!

C.

[snapper]

I just moved to Manassas and my bike commute distance is short and takes as long as the longer car drive. 1.9 vs 2.9 miles. I just love stickin it to Exxon! My next hurdle is to drag the the kid trailer to Costco and back with a load of groceries. Goal is to have my 1st zero gasoline used month since my merchant marine days. So I am a weirdo now?