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The bicycle was an amazing revolution in travel that we(or at least I) don't really acknowledge. A relatively affordable machine(both in initial and maintenance

by somat 2y ago

The bicycle was an amazing revolution in travel that we(or at least I) don't really acknowledge. A relatively affordable machine(both in initial and maintenance costs) compared to a horse. but it makes you 10 times more efficient when you need to go somewhere. The bicycle was amazingly popular for good reason in the late 1800's. Sort of eclipsed by personal motor vehicles just a few years later however.

kjkjadksj 2y ago
And probably for the same reasons people don’t like bike commuting today when they have a car. The engine obviates topology for you. That is the big difference maker. Throw all the bike lanes on the road you want and if you have some ugly elevation on your a-b, its going to be basically unbikeable unless you give up and walk the bike or are in amazing cycling shape. A hill need not be too big for this either, a false flat can be brutal enough especially coupled with a headwind rolling down that flat.
- jeffbee 2y ago
  This is why the electric bicycle is so popular.
  - kjkjadksj 2y ago
    Not without its tradeoffs either. Cost. Lack of good manufacturers and oems or really very many ebike stores. Lack of serviceability of the ebike specific components. The bike specific components generally crap. 2-3x the weight of a human powered bike. Heavier tires that are more annoying to deal with in every metric. Nonzero risk of batteries exploding. Uncertain water resistance ratings. Arguably higher risk of theft. Plenty of people do tool around on ebikes in socal. But it is a lot fewer people than I might have guessed would be doing it today if you asked me 5 years ago. Not even all that many people rent the scooters anymore.
    - jeffbee 2y ago
      Careful there. I think some of your axes are down to the nub. Maybe all those drawbacks exist to an extent but the market is speaking and ebikes are very popular.

by somat 2y ago

kjkjadksj 2y ago

And probably for the same reasons people don’t like bike commuting today when they have a car. The engine obviates topology for you. That is the big difference maker. Throw all the bike lanes on the road you want and if you have some ugly elevation on your a-b, its going to be basically unbikeable unless you give up and walk the bike or are in amazing cycling shape. A hill need not be too big for this either, a false flat can be brutal enough especially coupled with a headwind rolling down that flat.

jeffbee 2y ago
This is why the electric bicycle is so popular.
- kjkjadksj 2y ago
  Not without its tradeoffs either. Cost. Lack of good manufacturers and oems or really very many ebike stores. Lack of serviceability of the ebike specific components. The bike specific components generally crap. 2-3x the weight of a human powered bike. Heavier tires that are more annoying to deal with in every metric. Nonzero risk of batteries exploding. Uncertain water resistance ratings. Arguably higher risk of theft. Plenty of people do tool around on ebikes in socal. But it is a lot fewer people than I might have guessed would be doing it today if you asked me 5 years ago. Not even all that many people rent the scooters anymore.
  - jeffbee 2y ago
    Careful there. I think some of your axes are down to the nub. Maybe all those drawbacks exist to an extent but the market is speaking and ebikes are very popular.