Seattle Forrest

I've been eating organic vegetables to get a leg up on everybody eating processed crap, but now they're starting to test for spinach.

noodle soup

I can't believe it took me this long to answer the question.

ATTACK.

noodle soup

Jens was a math prodigy in elementary school, putting "Attack!" in every blank space on all his tests. It would be the wrong answer for everybody else, but Jens is able to solve any problem by attacking.

noodle soup

When you open a can of whoop-ass, Jens Voigt jumps out and attacks.

noodle soup

The term "sufferfest" was originally coined to describe Jens' rest days.

WhyFi

It is a cute commercial -

himespau 

Exactly, it wouldn't help in those conditions, and you wouldn't use it there. But, if you're already in great shape but just not able to get that last little bit to win, not having to work quite so hard in those other times so that you have more matches to burn in the sprints and tailwinds and slight downhills when everyone else had to hurt more than you going up, might just be enough to make a difference. It won't win you the sprint, but, if it gets you to the sprint a little less tired, it allows you to be in a better position to win it. And maybe it won't make a difference if the entire pace is over 28 or if everyone is smart and doesn't cook themselves on the climbs.

HarborBandS

1. It was a rest day, when tour riders often have to find a way to exercise a bit with reduced exertion.

2. Peter is paid quite a bit by Specialized to promote their products. An ad agency very well could have dreamt this up.

GreenAnvil

I say bring the tech on! But the “unearned speed” mentioned before is an issue. As is e-riders all of a sudden wheelsucking their way into pacelines un-invited and w/o asking.

Happened to us recently. Slow-pacing the wife to get some easy miles in while spending time with her. We passed this guy on an ebike, who immediately jumped on our tail. I was going to tell him to pass, but, what the heck, it’s a beautiful day and I had never seen one of these in the wild. But we’re doing our pace (about 18-19) and he thinks we’re tiring or unable to go faster, so he rides up and offers to pull. So why not? He just bumps it up a couple of mph to about 21. Ok. I just keep an eye on the missus to make sure she can hold the pace, and she does. Then the guy goes into IAB position. Really? Good thing that his parking lot came up shortly after and he peeled off, but I was about to tell him, thx but no thx. I think for pacing they’d be ok, but you gotta know who’s riding the thing.

HTupolev

Because it violates Strava's motor-pacing rules.

nycphotography

Just like they did with mopeds. (Google: Suzuki FA50)

nycphotography

In NYC the delivery jackasses are a true menace. Blasting onto the sidewalk from going the wrong way on a one way street through pedestrians at full speed. See that ish every day, at least once, in midtown.

Blasting on and off the bike path, wrong way, no concept of the movement of other "things" around them. I got taken out by one turning onto a bike path going the wrong way at 25MPH. (But he was at least honorable enough to pay for the broken parts on my bike caused by the crash.)

But yea, basically idiots w/ missiles.

nycphotography

I dunno who makes them but I see delivery guys flying around NYC without pedaling going 25+MPH all the time.

Wildwood 

True, but....
Ad agencies are NOT investing a big percentage of their R&D budget making race-like e-bikes as light and stealthy and appealing as possible. Maybe spending more on e-bikes than on conventionally powered machines???

nycphotography

Ad agencies have R&D budgets????

WhyFi

Yeah, I was going to mention this previously, but decided against it. I was in BK in the early/mid-2000s when those little motorized delivery bikes took off, seemingly overnight - wrong way, sidewalks, blowing signs/signals, etc. Hated those ****ers.

jlaw

Clearly, Fred Flintstone didn't approve of disc brakes either.

That dude had some tough feet.

TimothyH

The Fred Flintsone mobile pictured isn't legit. The real one had stone wheels, not wood.


-Tim-

Wildwood 

Read between the lines.......mr literal

MoAlpha

Later build with first-generation carbon fiber-reinforced wheels. People warned they would asplode and some of them did.

Drillium Dude 

This is my only issue with e-bike use. Then again, just like anything else, it only takes a few buffoons to ruin it for everyone else.

DD

Pridedog

I am against them as they are "motor" bikes, whether it is electric or gas powered. However, as I approach 70 and trying to recover from hip replacement and lumbar spinal fusion of 3 vertebrae in the last 18 months makes me step back and think a little. If I am to continue to be able to do something I love, I may need to consider an e-bike. Just to be able to ride and enjoy the outdoors. It is not about winning a group sprint or flying down the trail like an idiot. It's not having to give up the high that riding a bike at any speed. "Any day you can ride is a good day. "

Sy Reene

How does a pedal-assist ebike work anyway? I see 28mph ability referenced, but I'd have to pedal. Does a 10rpm cadence qualify as pedaling, putting out 20 watts, and as long as I do that, the bike will get up to 28mph?

I believe this probably isn't how they work, but really don't know how they do. How many human watts really have to be exerted to do 28mph on flat ground with one of these bikes?

Iride01 

The thing that miff's me the most is why some e-bikes seem to intentionally mask the fact they are e-bikes. Still not certain how e-bikes can be allowed on a non-motorized path without setting up some precedent that will eventually let others successfully challenge in courts to get other motorized vehicles on the mup's.

WhyFi

Like what? I seem to recall a stealth mod or two, but I can't say that I've seen one from a major manufacturer - they're all rather easy to distinguish.