Are E-Bikes Really worth The Price and headaches?
06-20-20, 02:46 PM
#51
Senior Member
As for the toxic battery, they can be rebuilt and recycled. To be sure they aren't entirely green but they're pretty close. Even the production of standard bikes involves some waste and pollution.
06-20-20, 04:00 PM
#52
Quidam Bike Super Hero
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Stone Mountain, GA (Metro Atlanta, East)
Posts: 1,135
Bikes: 1995 Trek 800 Sport, aka, "CamelTrek"
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 331 Post(s)
Liked 415 Times
in
282 Posts
.... I guess it depends what you want out of cycling. For me cycling is first and foremost efficient transportation. Since running is better exercise than cycling, I'd much rather bike to a park or trailhead and go trail-running. Afterwards having an ebike would probably enable me to get home whereas a standard bike might be a stretch.
As for the toxic battery, they can be rebuilt and recycled. To be sure they aren't entirely green but they're pretty close. Even the production of standard bikes involves some waste and pollution.
As for the toxic battery, they can be rebuilt and recycled. To be sure they aren't entirely green but they're pretty close. Even the production of standard bikes involves some waste and pollution.
All of life involves a cost of some sort. How you process that cost, vis a vis your philosophy/take on life, is your impact on yourself and the world. Not a matter of agree/disagree... just a matter of is....
06-21-20, 06:48 AM
#53
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Kansas
Posts: 2,248
Bikes: This list got too long: several ‘bents, an urban utility e-bike, and a dahon D7 that my daughter has absconded with.
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 363 Post(s)
Liked 66 Times
in
48 Posts
Now if you don't have kids then you can probably get by with a Full-Sized PU truck. But it should have duallies.
It isn't like we should be closed-minded, after all, the MRAP and JLTV might prove themselves to be capable kid hauliers, but the jury is still out.
There is just no reason to risk your life driving a compact, like a Humvee, where there are significantly more appropriate vehicles available:
06-22-20, 04:32 PM
#54
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Maryland
Posts: 1,379
Bikes: 1982 Bianchi Sport SX, Rayleigh Tamland 1, Rans V-Rex recumbent, Fuji MTB, 80's Cannondale MTB with BBSHD ebike motor
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 667 Post(s)
Liked 529 Times
in
355 Posts
Not sure what toxic mindset you are referring to. I'm using my ebike for store runs that used to involve a car. Will eventually commute with it. Lots of reasons the motor makes this a better choice than a pure human powered bike.
Not all bicycling is for sport. Sometimes they can be used to get you where you need to be.
But if you would rather talk about soccer mom cellulite...
06-22-20, 04:38 PM
#55
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Maryland
Posts: 1,379
Bikes: 1982 Bianchi Sport SX, Rayleigh Tamland 1, Rans V-Rex recumbent, Fuji MTB, 80's Cannondale MTB with BBSHD ebike motor
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 667 Post(s)
Liked 529 Times
in
355 Posts
Now that JLTV is too cool. I would love to drive one of those. They have all electric drive in one variant, that way they can divert the generator to weapon systems as needed.
06-25-20, 07:26 AM
#56
Member
I agree with many of the reasons listed here- e-bike gets me out on some days when I don't feel peppy enough to hop on the analog bike, although I do still ride that one (lifelong road rider here). Mine is a Copenhagen Wheel, right now paired with a Specialized hybrid bike. But mainly it is a range-extender for me. The longish rides (40-60 miles) are still doable on my flat bar road bike but I'm simply beat afterwards and the recovery phase seems longer than it used to be. Also, and just my opinion, although I enjoy good health, I'm trying to make my body last as long as possible since people are living so darn long now... never know how many more years I'm going to need it! The wear and tear of really long rides on an analog...
Oh, and the main reason for an e-bike: FUN! Remember fun?
Oh, and the main reason for an e-bike: FUN! Remember fun?
06-29-20, 11:49 AM
#57
Very Senior Member
Almost everybody keeps their bikes in the garage .......I live in Nevada and the heat is an issue ......every night I bring in the battery into the house charge it there .....I do not let it over charge .....battery is stored in my house .....that I believe will extend the life of it...This holds true for areas that gets extremely cold as well ........lithium batteries do not like extreme cold or extreme heat
__________________
It's better to cycle through life than to drive by it.
It's better to cycle through life than to drive by it.
06-29-20, 01:30 PM
#58
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Henderson NV (Las Vegas area)
Posts: 81
Bikes: Specialized Vita Limited, Giant Talon 2, Diamondback insight 2, Sepecialized Hardrock women's
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 32 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 17 Times
in
14 Posts
Temps for lithium batteries
100 degrees and above not good And
32 degrees and below not good either for storage
32 degrees and below not good either for storage
Likes For Tpsfoto:
06-30-20, 05:54 AM
#59
Very Senior Member
Now - kind of off topic - I have another battery, it's a solar fence shocker. Don't know what kind of battery is in it. Should I bring it in during the winter?
__________________
It's better to cycle through life than to drive by it.
It's better to cycle through life than to drive by it.
07-06-20, 12:26 PM
#60
Senior Member
My wife and I have put several thousand miles on bikes and trikes with DIY Tongsheng TSDZ2 mid drives. No particular problems. Batteries are widely available generic types for DIYers--a new 48 volt 14.5 amp hour battery with Samsung cells recently cost me $450.
It's my experience that an E bike is easier, not faster.
It's my experience that an E bike is easier, not faster.
07-08-20, 03:10 PM
#61
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Round Rock
Posts: 145
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 51 Post(s)
Liked 6 Times
in
6 Posts
If you don't need one, you don't need one, period. That's why I chose the system I picked - because it comes off the bike and I can ride analog with less than 10 seconds prep. I can also have it on the bike but not even turned on and, since it only weighs a total of 4.5lb with zero drag, there's no penalty for just leaving it on. Then it's there if I decide to tackle a hilly route, or if the big Bay headwinds come up, or if I didn't sleep well the night before so I poop out. It also has 9 levels of assist, and I can get just as much exercise with level 1 as I do riding analog - by choosing a route with lots of ups and downs and doubling the length I normally ride - twice as quickly.
But, yeah, if you ride a normal route with no motor, you can't just add the motor and expect the same effect in terms of fitness. You have to ride longer and take on bigger grades. Now for some folks, that's a reason to get an e-bike. You WANT to go longer distances and over more difficult terrain than you can manage with your analog bike.
So - if you would like to double your distance, while not doubling the time, you might find one makes sense for you. And if you pick more challenging routes, you can definitely get that fitness experience. Just depends on what you want. If you do the same ride but with a motor, it will be quicker and that's all.
But, yeah, if you ride a normal route with no motor, you can't just add the motor and expect the same effect in terms of fitness. You have to ride longer and take on bigger grades. Now for some folks, that's a reason to get an e-bike. You WANT to go longer distances and over more difficult terrain than you can manage with your analog bike.
So - if you would like to double your distance, while not doubling the time, you might find one makes sense for you. And if you pick more challenging routes, you can definitely get that fitness experience. Just depends on what you want. If you do the same ride but with a motor, it will be quicker and that's all.
A removable system sounds interesting. What system do you have?
Jean
07-08-20, 03:16 PM
#62
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 3,460
Bikes: Trident Spike 2 recumbent trike w/ e-assist
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1321 Post(s)
Liked 374 Times
in
288 Posts
