What edges are being pushed on e-bikes? besides trail distance units per time unit? They don't go faster downhill than (plain) bikes, they don't go faster on flats or uphill than they and (plain) bikes can go downhill, they're not being hucked off jumps and drops any bigger than (plain) bikes already do.
And please don't mention the e-weight. The range of rider weights is so much bigger than the difference between bike and e-bike weight, it's a non-starter. If the weight thing was truly important, we would already see a whole class of parts directed at "clydesdale" riders.
Besides, brute strength is a stupid way to increase longevity. Just because a wheel can handle the instantaneous torque of an 800 pound gorilla on steroids pedaling squares doesn't mean a poorly designed hub isn't going to quickly eat into a spoke bend and make it easy to break off.
Much better to design it to smart limits (build for just a 400 pound hairless ape), allow the material properties to distribute forces (strong and thin spokes can stretch and distribute the concentrated forces coming from carbon wheels with very high hoop rigidity), and build it with very tolerances to distribute forces well (precise hub drillings to reduce stress risers at the spoke head).
Oct. 5, 2022, 1:24 p.m. - Justin White
What edges are being pushed on e-bikes? besides trail distance units per time unit? They don't go faster downhill than (plain) bikes, they don't go faster on flats or uphill than they and (plain) bikes can go downhill, they're not being hucked off jumps and drops any bigger than (plain) bikes already do. And please don't mention the e-weight. The range of rider weights is so much bigger than the difference between bike and e-bike weight, it's a non-starter. If the weight thing was truly important, we would already see a whole class of parts directed at "clydesdale" riders. Besides, brute strength is a stupid way to increase longevity. Just because a wheel can handle the instantaneous torque of an 800 pound gorilla on steroids pedaling squares doesn't mean a poorly designed hub isn't going to quickly eat into a spoke bend and make it easy to break off. Much better to design it to smart limits (build for just a 400 pound hairless ape), allow the material properties to distribute forces (strong and thin spokes can stretch and distribute the concentrated forces coming from carbon wheels with very high hoop rigidity), and build it with very tolerances to distribute forces well (precise hub drillings to reduce stress risers at the spoke head).