#!markdown
I don't like to know what Specialized plans for the future of e-bikes. How
will they differentiate their product from others? Power? Pretty sure in BC
that power and speed are only governed on the road. My buddy had a Stromer
ebike for commuting. He could get it up to 50 kph uphill around the point in
Stanley Park in just a few pedal strokes. How much faster would I be going up
See Colours and Puke in Whistler? I do that 2 km, 15% climb at about 4 or 5
kph probably pushing 200 watts. Would an extra 250 watts allow my to go twice
as fast? Three times as fast?
I think there is for many a sociological negative to ebikes. It's something
for the entitled generation. I want only the good parts and I shouldn't have
to work to get the goods. It's cheating. Not a good way to argue against
ebikes.
Easier and faster climbing will allow people to ride more downhill pointed
trails. Hikes used that argument against us already. Bikes allow people to
impact more kilometres of trail than a hiker in the same amount of time. This
is how ebikes will adversely affect advocacy. Plus some added conflict from
uphill speed.
Some have argued that suspension and disc brakes lighter bikes are natural
design progressions that allowed biking to become easier so ebikes are no
different. Maybe. The natural progression from power is? More power. It is
easy. To jack the power up on current ebikes according to a 70 year old guy I
ride with sometimes. I don't know what he has. Not a Specialized. Maybe a
Haibike.
There are street ebikes that look like Vespa scooters but with pedals that
many owners cut off. The pedals are a way to get around licensing and
insurance requirements. So that type of thing could easily happen with off
road ebikes too. In a crowded popular place like North Van it won't take many
powerful ebike altercations to create an issue that could impact all wheeled
users.
If the unfit rider can't keep up with the buddies, the rider needs new
buddies, not a motor. That said, if the ebike replaces a truck for shuttling
that is a positive.
I don't think ebikes are any threat to the existence of regular bikes. I don't
see in ten years time that only ebikes exist.
For those that think an ebike is in their future when they are too old and
decrepit to get uphill, news flash, you'll be too old and decrepit to go
downhill too. Riding off road is hard on the body up and down. And crashing
when you get old is a bad idea. I know.
Dec. 22, 2016, 9:47 a.m. - Andy Eunson
#!markdown I don't like to know what Specialized plans for the future of e-bikes. How will they differentiate their product from others? Power? Pretty sure in BC that power and speed are only governed on the road. My buddy had a Stromer ebike for commuting. He could get it up to 50 kph uphill around the point in Stanley Park in just a few pedal strokes. How much faster would I be going up See Colours and Puke in Whistler? I do that 2 km, 15% climb at about 4 or 5 kph probably pushing 200 watts. Would an extra 250 watts allow my to go twice as fast? Three times as fast? I think there is for many a sociological negative to ebikes. It's something for the entitled generation. I want only the good parts and I shouldn't have to work to get the goods. It's cheating. Not a good way to argue against ebikes. Easier and faster climbing will allow people to ride more downhill pointed trails. Hikes used that argument against us already. Bikes allow people to impact more kilometres of trail than a hiker in the same amount of time. This is how ebikes will adversely affect advocacy. Plus some added conflict from uphill speed. Some have argued that suspension and disc brakes lighter bikes are natural design progressions that allowed biking to become easier so ebikes are no different. Maybe. The natural progression from power is? More power. It is easy. To jack the power up on current ebikes according to a 70 year old guy I ride with sometimes. I don't know what he has. Not a Specialized. Maybe a Haibike. There are street ebikes that look like Vespa scooters but with pedals that many owners cut off. The pedals are a way to get around licensing and insurance requirements. So that type of thing could easily happen with off road ebikes too. In a crowded popular place like North Van it won't take many powerful ebike altercations to create an issue that could impact all wheeled users. If the unfit rider can't keep up with the buddies, the rider needs new buddies, not a motor. That said, if the ebike replaces a truck for shuttling that is a positive. I don't think ebikes are any threat to the existence of regular bikes. I don't see in ten years time that only ebikes exist. For those that think an ebike is in their future when they are too old and decrepit to get uphill, news flash, you'll be too old and decrepit to go downhill too. Riding off road is hard on the body up and down. And crashing when you get old is a bad idea. I know.