3 ms·

> Pedal assist ebikes are incredible, and really just turn weak cyclists into strong cyclists The more useful case ime is turning cyclists with reduced mobilit

by c0balt 7mo ago

> Pedal assist ebikes are incredible, and really just turn weak cyclists into strong cyclists The more useful case ime is turning cyclists with reduced mobility into regular cyclists. In particular quite a few elderly people seem to have picked it up in my city, they aren't quite strong riders but definitely seem able of adapting to normal traffic. It also seems like a significantly safer option for individual transport than cars (especially in regards to the other traffic participants).

tokai 7mo ago
You just repeated W²s point.
mikestew 7mo ago
The more useful case ime is turning cyclists with reduced mobility into regular cyclists. You mean, turn weak cyclists into strong cyclists, like GP said? :-)
- KennyBlanken 7mo ago
  No. Reduced mobility doesn't mean "weak." It means reduced mobility. It's right there in the words. People who cannot pedal much at all, even the motion, no matter how light it is. Joint issues / surgery, deformities, etc. Don't be smarmy.
  - Filligree 7mo ago
    If you can't pedal at all, then an e-bike definitionally won't help you. An e-moped might be suitable.
brianwawok 7mo ago
Elderly on a basically unlicensed motorcycle is a good recipe for injury. Pretty sure the stats look bad for this group especially
jacquesm 7mo ago
> The more useful case ime is turning cyclists with reduced mobility into regular cyclists. That's exactly my use case. I've got a bad leg and this thing made all the difference for longer rides.
- Theodores 7mo ago
  I am impressed by your solution and I took have at least one bad leg. I have decided against batteries in favour of a basic bike that I can park anywhere and carry up stairs. I want the little and often mobility with a few longer rides over summer. I also have a neighbour in his late seventies that rides 'naturally aspirated' with a buddy that is two years older. His buddy has an ebike and he is giving it a couple of years before he goes electric. Being younger than him, I feel that I need to stick with 'naturally aspirated'. I am interested in going the other way to get a dynamo with that switchable between lighting and USB power, for my phone and speakers. There is 3A at 6V to play with. Ultimately I would want mild hybrid, with regen so all assistance is pedal powered.
  - jacquesm 7mo ago
    I'm 60+ it was either the e-bike, wreck my leg even further or take the car. That was an easy choice :) Be careful with what you've got... I wish every day that I could do the day I messed up my leg again without making that particular mistake. I rode a low racer recumbent at speed and had a nasty case of leg suck when hitting a (new to me) speedbump.
    - lostlogin 7mo ago
      > leg suck I’d never heard of this and looked it up. It sounds awful. https://www.utahtrikes.com/ARTICLE-119.html https://www.utahtrikes.com/ARTICLE-119.html
      - jacquesm 7mo ago
        It is. Life changing event that one. And it is not just trikes, low racer recumbents have the same problem (only worse, because they are much faster, they are probably some of the fastest bikes you can ride). I was literally airborne for a bit after already breaking my leg so this was the worst of all possible combinations other than that my head was not impacted at all due to posture (and wearing a helmet).

by c0balt 7mo ago

tokai 7mo ago

You just repeated W²s point.

mikestew 7mo ago

The more useful case ime is turning cyclists with reduced mobility into regular cyclists. You mean, turn weak cyclists into strong cyclists, like GP said? :-)

KennyBlanken 7mo ago
No. Reduced mobility doesn't mean "weak." It means reduced mobility. It's right there in the words. People who cannot pedal much at all, even the motion, no matter how light it is. Joint issues / surgery, deformities, etc. Don't be smarmy.
- Filligree 7mo ago
  If you can't pedal at all, then an e-bike definitionally won't help you. An e-moped might be suitable.

brianwawok 7mo ago

Elderly on a basically unlicensed motorcycle is a good recipe for injury. Pretty sure the stats look bad for this group especially

jacquesm 7mo ago

> The more useful case ime is turning cyclists with reduced mobility into regular cyclists. That's exactly my use case. I've got a bad leg and this thing made all the difference for longer rides.

Theodores 7mo ago
I am impressed by your solution and I took have at least one bad leg. I have decided against batteries in favour of a basic bike that I can park anywhere and carry up stairs. I want the little and often mobility with a few longer rides over summer. I also have a neighbour in his late seventies that rides 'naturally aspirated' with a buddy that is two years older. His buddy has an ebike and he is giving it a couple of years before he goes electric. Being younger than him, I feel that I need to stick with 'naturally aspirated'. I am interested in going the other way to get a dynamo with that switchable between lighting and USB power, for my phone and speakers. There is 3A at 6V to play with. Ultimately I would want mild hybrid, with regen so all assistance is pedal powered.
- jacquesm 7mo ago
  I'm 60+ it was either the e-bike, wreck my leg even further or take the car. That was an easy choice :) Be careful with what you've got... I wish every day that I could do the day I messed up my leg again without making that particular mistake. I rode a low racer recumbent at speed and had a nasty case of leg suck when hitting a (new to me) speedbump.
  - lostlogin 7mo ago
    > leg suck I’d never heard of this and looked it up. It sounds awful. https://www.utahtrikes.com/ARTICLE-119.html https://www.utahtrikes.com/ARTICLE-119.html
    - jacquesm 7mo ago
      It is. Life changing event that one. And it is not just trikes, low racer recumbents have the same problem (only worse, because they are much faster, they are probably some of the fastest bikes you can ride). I was literally airborne for a bit after already breaking my leg so this was the worst of all possible combinations other than that my head was not impacted at all due to posture (and wearing a helmet).