CrankyOne

A few perhaps, but most I'm aware of use it primarily for getting up hills when they have a heavy load or, for a few older or disabled folks, to allow them to get out and ride at all. I am though a big supporter of strict limits for those used on bikeways, like being limited to tapered assist only (eg, no throttle) and no assist beyond 15mph.

FBinNY 

I think once this and the C-wheel are out you'll see an acceleration of development. I like that it's afront wheel which is a simpler install, and combining a slope sensor with an input torque sensor makes sense.

However, I'm not thrilled at all about a front disc wheel which can become very problematic in crosswinds (why disc's aren't used up front anymore). I think it only get better from here.

ThermionicScott 

His point was that we don't have the will or the ability to anymore.

gregf83 

Because that's a front wheel it will be difficult for them to implement a proportional assist like a rear powered bike could. It's also for 26" wheels only which eliminates road bikes. Regenerative braking would also be more complicated to implement.

I've no idea if the Copenhagen wheel will succeed but, on paper, it is a far better deal than the one from Currie. Frankly, I think they'll have trouble becoming profitable selling the wheels at $800.

gregf83 

You're not serious?

FBinNY 

The wheel already has a crank (input torque) sensor with wireless connection, so that's no barrier. Front wheel motor systems have an advantage because they're immune to changes in drive trains, allowing owners to more easily transfer the wheel to a new bike if/when they decide to.

CrankyOne

Agree. I wonder if they needed that much space (doubtful), thought it looks better (not sure I agree with their aesthetic sense :-), cheaper and fewer problems than having a super large diameter hub with short spokes (likely).

gregf83 

It has a crank arm sensor to detect motion. I didn't see any reference to a torque/power meter which is considerably more complicated and would require the crank to be sent to the manufacturer. I suspect it's a simple accelerometer which allows them to turn the motor on when you're pedaling but it wouldn't implement a proportional torque output like they are planning on the C-wheel.

I'm not sure what you mean by changes in drive trains. Powertaps allow you to swap a freewheel for Shimano/Campy support.

lasauge 

I think this has been partially touched upon, but I see one big problem with add-on electric assist wheels that aren't part of a complete E-bike system: a bicyclist who can achieve speeds of 20-30mph and faster under their own power will almost certainly have gained the riding experience, confidence, and equipment needed to ride safely at those speeds in the process of attaining that level of fitness, but what about the unfit rider who hasn't been on a bicycle for years? And what if the bike they add the Copenhagen wheel to happens to be an old-bike boom model complete with flexy brake calipers and the 1977 stock original brake pads? Selling a motor to someone who isn't prepared to control a bicycle at speed makes them a danger to themselves and everyone else on the same route.

For the record, I'm especially wary of electric-assisted riders because I've actually been crashed into by one who didn't understand how to operate a bicycle on a roadway (lane position, turn signaling) and didn't have the handling skills or reflexes to steer straight when I shouted my alarum that he was veering directly into my path (leaving me nowhere to go but into the curb).

gregf83 

I suppose but there is a lot more power and speed available to any rider the first time they go down a hill. New riders seem to figure it out and I don't imagine a little 250W motor is going to have much of an impact particularly when you consider there is no throttle. The only way to get any power out of the motor is to start pedaling. If you stop pedaling power stops, if you pedal backwards the motor will brake.

old's'cool

I think the ability was never in doubt. My assumption is, that in the past few decades, there has not been an overriding commercial or strategic reason to send people into space. I notice a lot of unmanned probes going here and there however, questing for basic information in the service of science.

ThermionicScott 

Of course I am -- since retiring the Shuttle a couple years ago, we (the US) have no way to send people into space on our own.

gregf83 

You have the ability, but not the desire.

ThermionicScott 

It doesn't matter how much know-how and desire we have -- we could not send a person into space tomorrow. That's the only definition of "ability" that counts here.

gregf83 

Of course you could. It wouldn't be on a US made rocket but you would have zero problem sending anyone you wanted into space. I have the ability to drive into town even though I didn't build my own car

MEversbergII

The age of manned space flight is basically over. Our technology has made it obsolete. There will still be people going up, via some of the private ventures, but nothing like we figured would happen back in the previous decades.

M.

ThermionicScott 

We can ask Russia or China if we can tag along on one of their trips, that's all we can do at this point.

Pedaleur

Not a torque sensor; it only measures cadence. Combined with the slope sensor, you can adjust input based on grade.

Pedaleur

In Denmark, no less.

fietsbob

wind power generators are a large % of the electricity generated in DK , for a reason, of course..

Pedal-electric bikes also sell in NL slightly south and west of the same North Sea.

dynaryder

This. No reason for people to go into space,just put up a satellite and let Hal do the work. We don't need anything on the Moon,or from Mars

Darth Lefty 

Man, I don't know what you guys are paying attention to re: space, but here are some factoids.

The US interregnum in manned rockets is not due to lack of willpower, need, or funding. It is due to the big switch in policy from Bush 2 (Moon as prep for Mars) to Obama (asteroid mission) which has required the cancel and/or redesign of a lot of rockets and capsules. In addition the administration decided to fund development of new smaller launch vehicles intended for ISS missions rather than sending a huge one.

Constellation, which was going to Moon and then Mars was canceled as such. But the Orion capsule continued. Now it's supposed to be headed for asteroid exploration. The rocket is much like Ares V and for now is called SLS. This is a very big rocket, on par with Shuttle and Saturn V.

SLS-Orion's size makes it a bit silly for Station flights. For that, NASA now has two different companies providing cargo rockets, Antares-Cygnus from Orbital and Falcon-Dragon from SpaceX. Dragon is doing abort tests this year and might be flying manned by next year, though they didn't get as much as desired in the 2014 budget and I suppose might slow down.

Boeing and several other smaller companies are developing capsules or spaceplanes intended to launch on top of currently available rockets.

NASA's budget has not dipped.

It's not over.

(Far too off topic and far too close to home)