4 ms·

In my experience (as someone who cycles 50-75 miles a week) people go for the electric bikes for less exertion. Probably 3-4 times a week people on e-bikes pas

by Frondo 10y ago

In my experience (as someone who cycles 50-75 miles a week) people go for the electric bikes for less exertion. Probably 3-4 times a week people on e-bikes pass me on hills, zooming along. They always seem to be heavier-set than your typical bike commuter, so if the motor's getting them out on the road and getting some exercise and fitness in, I think that is just fantastic. Anything to get people out of their cars! Maybe they'll even upgrade to a real bike some day :)

ZanyProgrammer 10y ago
Not everyone is able bodied and has nice showers at work to change in.
- Frondo 10y ago
  Happily, most people are able-bodied, and for those for whom a regular bike will never be an option, there remain cars, buses, light rail, electric bikes, and so on and so on. As for showering, I think that will probably start to matter less as time goes on. In the last few years, in the Pacific NW, I've noticed it's become somewhat acceptable to show up to meetings a bit sweaty, if you've just gotten off your bike. At least, among the business meetings I attend, of course.
  - Locke1689 10y ago
    The Pacific Northwest is badly non-representative of most of America, especially the east coast.
    - Frondo 10y ago
      Well, let me ask you--what is more likely to change in the next 10-15 years? Think we'll go back to higher standards of cleanliness in the Pacific Northwest, or think standards will relax on the east coast? Cause I assure you, things won't just stay the way they are. It's an honest question, really, I don't know! (though I know what I'd prefer!) What do you think?
  - bitwize 10y ago
    I lived there too and would see people show up and start work fully kitted out in what I call their "TRON gear" (though they would take the helmet off indoors). Denholm Reynholm in the stress episode of The IT Crowd may have been hilarious in London, but he wasn't too far off the mark in Portland.
    - Symbiote 10y ago
      > Denholm Reynholm in the stress episode of The IT Crowd may have been hilarious in London, but he wasn't too far off the mark in Portland. He wasn't too far off the mark for Reading (boring town west of London, where it's set). That was entirely the point of that episode.
  - nine_k 10y ago
    Being sweaty is first of all uncomfortable for myself.
    - Thlom 10y ago
      You're just not used to it.
      - thoughtpalette 10y ago
        What an odd thing to say.
  - Piskvorrr 10y ago
    Ew. What I'm noticing is the opposite trend: "yeah, we got showers installed." (While a long-term trend away from sterile-squeaky-clean might be useful, I still have a strong emotional aversion to "sweaty at console": I'm not comfortable that way if it's me, plus everyone starts smelling when sweaty. At one job, I even washed up quickly using the hand sink, just to avoid this)
buovjaga 10y ago
> Maybe they'll even upgrade to a real bike some day :) Several stories I've read about ebikes point to stats about nearly all ebike owners getting hooked and continuing to buy them instead of regular ones. That said, an ebike turns into a regular bike immediately after you turn off the assistance.
- Piskvorrr 10y ago
  Regular and heavy as hell; those batteries won't pull themselves (well they could, but you get the point ;)) To give my anecdote, I'm considering getting an e-bike for commuting, or perhaps retrofit onto my regular bike: the ride is not long (~10 miles x2), but hills on both sides are significantly easier with an assist.
  - buovjaga 10y ago
    One way to think of it: assistance for commuting to avoid sweating / no assistance with battery left at home when wanting to exercise. Btw. I've had an ebike for 4 years and I'm a skinny 34-year-old man. It can still be plenty of work to ride it during the Finnish winter :)
tzs 10y ago
In 1990 I got a bike (Miyata Triple Cross) and started using it for my daily commute. I started leaving my car parked at the office, so that when at home I only had the bike and so also used it for much of my grocery shopping and trips to bookstores. This all worked out great, although I initially had a problem with spokes breaking on the rear wheel, as I'm a fat guy. I asked the shop to make me a stronger wheel, and they did (48 spokes) and everything was great after that. That was in Cupertino, California. Then in 1992 I moved to Seattle, Washington to a place on the low side of the U-distract. I got on my bike, took one ride around the block, and learned that while fat guys on bikes might work out fine in relatively flat Cupertino, not so in Seattle. That once around the block felt like it almost killed me. The bike has been in the closest/shed/garage ever since. An e-bike sounds like it would have been perfect. Let it do the work when I need to go up hill, and let me do the work when I'm going across the hill. (Now I'm across Puget Sound from Seattle. It's not flat like Cupertino, but it is not nearly as un-flat as Seattle. I've pulled my bike out of the garage and am trying to get it back into riding shape. I'm pretty sure I'm significantly under my Cupertino weight, so I think I should be able to find plenty of places to ride).

by Frondo 10y ago

ZanyProgrammer 10y ago

Not everyone is able bodied and has nice showers at work to change in.

Frondo 10y ago
Happily, most people are able-bodied, and for those for whom a regular bike will never be an option, there remain cars, buses, light rail, electric bikes, and so on and so on. As for showering, I think that will probably start to matter less as time goes on. In the last few years, in the Pacific NW, I've noticed it's become somewhat acceptable to show up to meetings a bit sweaty, if you've just gotten off your bike. At least, among the business meetings I attend, of course.
- Locke1689 10y ago
  The Pacific Northwest is badly non-representative of most of America, especially the east coast.
  - Frondo 10y ago
    Well, let me ask you--what is more likely to change in the next 10-15 years? Think we'll go back to higher standards of cleanliness in the Pacific Northwest, or think standards will relax on the east coast? Cause I assure you, things won't just stay the way they are. It's an honest question, really, I don't know! (though I know what I'd prefer!) What do you think?
- bitwize 10y ago
  I lived there too and would see people show up and start work fully kitted out in what I call their "TRON gear" (though they would take the helmet off indoors). Denholm Reynholm in the stress episode of The IT Crowd may have been hilarious in London, but he wasn't too far off the mark in Portland.
  - Symbiote 10y ago
    > Denholm Reynholm in the stress episode of The IT Crowd may have been hilarious in London, but he wasn't too far off the mark in Portland. He wasn't too far off the mark for Reading (boring town west of London, where it's set). That was entirely the point of that episode.
- nine_k 10y ago
  Being sweaty is first of all uncomfortable for myself.
  - Thlom 10y ago
    You're just not used to it.
    - thoughtpalette 10y ago
      What an odd thing to say.
- Piskvorrr 10y ago
  Ew. What I'm noticing is the opposite trend: "yeah, we got showers installed." (While a long-term trend away from sterile-squeaky-clean might be useful, I still have a strong emotional aversion to "sweaty at console": I'm not comfortable that way if it's me, plus everyone starts smelling when sweaty. At one job, I even washed up quickly using the hand sink, just to avoid this)

buovjaga 10y ago

> Maybe they'll even upgrade to a real bike some day :) Several stories I've read about ebikes point to stats about nearly all ebike owners getting hooked and continuing to buy them instead of regular ones. That said, an ebike turns into a regular bike immediately after you turn off the assistance.

Piskvorrr 10y ago
Regular and heavy as hell; those batteries won't pull themselves (well they could, but you get the point ;)) To give my anecdote, I'm considering getting an e-bike for commuting, or perhaps retrofit onto my regular bike: the ride is not long (~10 miles x2), but hills on both sides are significantly easier with an assist.
- buovjaga 10y ago
  One way to think of it: assistance for commuting to avoid sweating / no assistance with battery left at home when wanting to exercise. Btw. I've had an ebike for 4 years and I'm a skinny 34-year-old man. It can still be plenty of work to ride it during the Finnish winter :)

tzs 10y ago

In 1990 I got a bike (Miyata Triple Cross) and started using it for my daily commute. I started leaving my car parked at the office, so that when at home I only had the bike and so also used it for much of my grocery shopping and trips to bookstores. This all worked out great, although I initially had a problem with spokes breaking on the rear wheel, as I'm a fat guy. I asked the shop to make me a stronger wheel, and they did (48 spokes) and everything was great after that. That was in Cupertino, California. Then in 1992 I moved to Seattle, Washington to a place on the low side of the U-distract. I got on my bike, took one ride around the block, and learned that while fat guys on bikes might work out fine in relatively flat Cupertino, not so in Seattle. That once around the block felt like it almost killed me. The bike has been in the closest/shed/garage ever since. An e-bike sounds like it would have been perfect. Let it do the work when I need to go up hill, and let me do the work when I'm going across the hill. (Now I'm across Puget Sound from Seattle. It's not flat like Cupertino, but it is not nearly as un-flat as Seattle. I've pulled my bike out of the garage and am trying to get it back into riding shape. I'm pretty sure I'm significantly under my Cupertino weight, so I think I should be able to find plenty of places to ride).