Rajflyboy

badger1

Go away. Thanks.

Elvo

This is new to you?

Rajflyboy

musicmaster

They're way too expensive in the current form to be accessible by the general public.

As far as changing the industry, I think you'd get a lot of older riders and casual riders who would be interested. Perhaps commuters too (assuming they have a extremely secure way to store their bike). Otherwise, one of the joys of cycling is the fact that knowing what I did was under my own power.

MikeyMK

My e-bike is a hybrid.

I never stop pedalling during riding - as soon as I'm up to speed on a flat I switch to regeneration. I pedal downhill on regen.

Not only do I generate electricity but it gives me more control, especially on wet, leafy MUPs having that friction on the rear wheel whenever I need it is very helpful.

It's a different way of riding, a different experience - it doesn't so much mean I work less, just means I get further for my efforts, and without the frustrations the odd steep ascent brings.

As a long-term keen cyclist I love it, and so would most cyclists I recon. If only they knew by experience instead of critical judgement...

KraneXL

Go back 100 years and you can see exactly how it all turns out. I really don't get modern ebikes.

JonathanGennick 

You've hit on one of the reasons I believe eBikes are controversial in cycling circles. We ride bikes specifically _because_ of getting places under our own power. We value the exertion, and using an eBike goes against that very thing that we value. Non-cyclists though, they have none of that baggage.

KraneXL

Excellent point. These are two different classes of bike users: One is a lot less interested in the healthy benefits of cycling and more concerned with fun or transportation. In other words, the cyclist vs someone who uses a bike solely for fun or as a tool.

fietsbob

Mid Drive electric long travel Full suspension mountain Race bicycle ,
with a motorcycle company brand logo...

02Giant 

An epiphany!

Rajflyboy

Rajflyboy

dylandewandel

Burn fat not oil! But where do e-bikes fit into the equation? Hmm..

dieth34

I think E-Bikes have a good future especially in City’s and in Country’s like in Europe where Politicians go against any Vehicles powered by Diesel or Gasoline engines. I myself work at the moment on a Hybrid E-Bike powered by a combination of High energy density capacitor, Li-Ion Battery and Hydrogen Fuel Cell.

boggy

For some folks commuting long distance to work every day is a challenge on a bike. Longer distances require fast road bikes, and those in turn require special gear, cycling shorts, shoes with cleats, jerseys, etc. I was doing it for years, and the whole washing up with baby wipes and hang your gear to dry all over your office routine can get unmanageable. Eventually I was pretty much forced to switch back to my car, after our office was moved to a high rise building.

E-bike allows me to get to work sweat free, and do work out on way home. E-bike can enable people to ride more often, longer distances, more places. E-bike can allow people with permanent injuries to get back into saddle. There is a lot of potential for those bikes.

mr,grumpy 

This is the appeal to me. I would LOVE to cycle to work but at 34 miles, if i were even fit enough to do so, it would take ME about three hours. After the I work 24 hours and then come home exhausted the next day. No way am I doing 34 miles half-asleep on a peddle bike. Now, an e-bike where I have help getting over the hills and can go max-assist on the way home....? Tempting. I don't have three grand to drop on one though. Perhaps some day there will be government incentives, like e-cars have now.

livedarklions

No thanks. I just have no use for this assistance, and the whole point of riding for me is the workout in a form I enjoy. Why would I want to spend a bunch of money to compromise that?
One of the bikes featured in the article you linked doesn't even have pedals, btw.