Is that one of those electric bikes..... ?

[energyman]

In three days I have been asked that question three times.  The finger pointing towards the black Rohloff gear hub.
I'm going to get a Tee Shirt printed with the answer.
(I feel a lot better now.  It's been a hot day and I'm tired.)

[jags]

nah keep them guessing

[Danneaux]

I've seen more e-bikes here in Austria than elsewhere. There are even public charging stations for them.

I tell ya, I'm beginning to lust after one myself, if only to have a prayer of keeping up with the octogenarians that blast past me going uphill.

[Andre Jute]

I tell ya, I'm beginning to lust after one myself, if only to have a prayer of keeping up with the octogenarians that blast past me going uphill.

You've come to the right place. We know all about combining electric motors with Rohloff gearboxes.

[leftpoole]

I've seen more e-bikes here in Austria than elsewhere. There are even public charging stations for them.

I tell ya, I'm beginning to lust after one myself, if only to have a prayer of keeping up with the octogenarians that blast past me going uphill.

Dan!
Do not dare to even mention these abortions......
If anyone needs power buy a real moped and pay road tax and insurance.
Please do not help the purveyors of these horrible things. I am pretty poorly but would sooner die (or at least give up) than ride one of these monstrosities!
Cycles are for cycling not Electrifying.
By the way Dan, I hope that your trip is going to plan. I have not had much chance (as you know) to keep up, on here.
All the best, even to power riders,
John

[macspud]

Dan!
Do not dare to even mention these abortions......
If anyone needs power buy a real moped and pay road tax and insurance.
Please do not help the purveyors of these horrible things. I am pretty poorly but would sooner die (or at least give up) than ride one of these monstrosities!
Cycles are for cycling not Electrifying.
By the way Dan, I hope that your trip is going to plan. I have not had much chance (as you know) to keep up, on here.
All the best, even to power riders,
John

John, that may be your view but many would not agree with you, one being Brian Robinson, the first British rider to finish the Tour de France in 1955 and the first to win a stage in 1958. He uses one now, In a TV interview during the 2014 Tour de France he said "I am not proud that I need one but I am very happy to use it as it means I can still enjoy cycling, which without assistance I would not be able to do."

[jags]

the only gripe i have about electric bikes is.

i don't own one mores the pity

[John Saxby]

Doing the grocery shopping the other day--volume & frequency cranked up significantly with our family from Oz here the last month--and at the bike stand I chatted with a young woman who I first thought was on a touring bike.  Turned out to be a pedelec (I didn't note the brand), a Euro-trekking-style set up with a variable electric assist, the motor in the rear hub (about 6" in diameter).  She uses her bike for a daily round-trip commute of 50 kms, about an hour in each direction -- & reckons that without the assist, she'd be doing at least another half-hour or more, or maybe not cycle-commuting at all.

The amount of assist can be pre-set via a small computer. and is triggered by the torque the rider exerts on the pedals.  The battery is tucked under the rear rack, about 16" L x 4" W x 2" high.  Looked like a pretty good set-up to me -- she was very pleased with it, and one more cycling commuter for 8 - 9 months of the year is One Less Car.

[leftpoole]

Doing the grocery shopping the other day--volume & frequency cranked up significantly with our family from Oz here the last month--and at the bike stand I chatted with a young woman who I first thought was on a touring bike.  Turned out to be a pedelec (I didn't note the brand), a Euro-trekking-style set up with a variable electric assist, the motor in the rear hub (about 6" in diameter).  She uses her bike for a daily round-trip commute of 50 kms, about an hour in each direction -- & reckons that without the assist, she'd be doing at least another half-hour or more, or maybe not cycle-commuting at all.

The amount of assist can be pre-set via a small computer. and is triggered by the torque the rider exerts on the pedals.  The battery is tucked under the rear rack, about 16" L x 4" W x 2" high.  Looked like a pretty good set-up to me -- she was very pleased with it, and one more cycling commuter for 8 - 9 months of the year is One Less Car.

It is NOT however, a bicycle anymore.
It is now a moped.
John

[macspud]

It is NOT however, a bicycle anymore.
It is now a moped.
John

That really depends on which definition is used!
bi/cycle = two/wheel

[ians]

It is NOT however, a bicycle anymore.
It is now a moped.
John

Oh for goodness sake .... you've made this point on more than one occasion - once is enough surely?  It's not really helping to be continually reminded of it.

[triaesthete]

2>4 whatever equation achieves it, especially if x= -1 car

I got asked if mine was electric once because the low gearing and sweet steering allowed a smoothly dignified and tight u turn on an uneven and loose surfaced layby. It must be the bike 'cos I'm no circus performer.

John, better to pedal a bit than not pedal at all surely? Do you not cut your nose off to spite your face?

Ian

[leftpoole]

Oh for goodness sake .... you've made this point on more than one occasion - once is enough surely?  It's not really helping to be continually reminded of it.

I apologise for repeating my feelings regarding electrified bikes which are mopeds by another name. I was not aware this was the Thorn moped Forum   

[rualexander]

It is NOT however, a bicycle anymore.
It is now a moped.
John

Clearly it is not a moped because the definitions and regulations that apply to mopeds do not apply to electric assist bicycles.

[IanW]

It is NOT however, a bicycle anymore.
It is now a moped.

Hmm, 50kms in 1 hour equates to approximately 30mph which does sound like a moped type speed
and this would tend to mandate a license, a crash-helmet, insurance, vehicle excise duty, MOT, lights, indicators, etc

However, in the UK at least, if an electrically assisted bicycle meets the following rules https://www.gov.uk/electric-bike-rules
then it is not classed as a moped but is instead classed as an electrically assisted bicycle at least from the vehicle legal stand-point.

There is however still the interesting question about whether it is regarded as a true bicycle from the insurance perspective
because there are certainly insurance policies that cover bicycles but not electrically assisted bicycles.

Ian W.