ElectricCyclist.com started with a simple idea – that more and more people in the U.S. and elsewhere would find themselves choosing electric-assisted cycling. Our intent has been to provide a home to an expanding community of electric cyclists in addition to those already served by the long-established hard-core ebike hobby sites. Read the rest of this entry »
A bright future that isn’t quite here yet
January 23rd, 2012New ebike tech and the Osborne Effect
November 13th, 2010Seems like a funny time for electric cyclists nowadays. You couldn’t swing a stick at Interbike this year without hitting an ebike. Same for Eurobike. It seems that all kinds of wonderful new bikes and gear are coming from familiar ebike vendors, newcomers, and from mainstream manufacturers.
I look at the recently-announced Bionx stuff, for example, and wonder “If I had waited, the system I have on my own bike now would be notably lighter and more ergonomic. Should I have waited?” Should potential buyers wait until the new toys displayed at the shows actually show up?
Read the rest of this entry »
UK ETA: Electric Bicycles Offer “Best Application Of Technology”
May 15th, 2010I couldn’t have said it better. On May 14, 2010, the UK Environmental Transport Association said this:
Following a back-to-back test of electric cars, electric motorcycles and an electric bicycle this week, the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) concluded that the bicycle offered the best application of the technology.
See the full article here. And discuss it in our forums here.
Charlie
Elusive E-Bikers?
May 12th, 2010Momentum Magazine’s current issue has a “subculture” article entitled article: elusive-e-bikers. If you can get past the slightly dodgy headline, the fact that it’s there tells you something. More than the very brief stories of individual riders, it tells you that a fashion-forward urban bicycling magazine aimed at the young and hip thinks that electric cycling — and electric cyclists — are interesting.
I think that’s culturally significant in and of itself. And I’d think so even if they hadn’t asked me to write the article.
Read the rest of this entry »
Two perspectives on ebikes for the masses
May 1st, 2010The folks over at Endless Sphere forums are some of the hardest-core ebike enthusiasts you’ll find anywhere. (These are folks who not only assemble their own systems from individual parts – and argue about which ones are best – they often re-engineer those parts to work better. ) A recent discussion thread explores the “limiting factor for ebike explosion”. That site is really interesting for technical folks, and that thread is an interesting read.
Most of the early comments talk about infrastructure (roads and repair shops, for example) and lack of understanding (or intelligence) among the broader cycling community. My own comments spoke to the lack of understanding on the part of the folks in the business of selling bicycles in this country. Once retailers understand that there is more money in selling bikes with lithium batteries than with carbon fiber frames, I expect sales patterns will shift. The major bike manufacturers have clearly figured this out. (Trek and Giant, for example.)
But I see another perspective at http://DigitalTrends.com. Read the rest of this entry »
Electric Cyclists, Introduce Yourselves!
March 4th, 2010There are loads of sites where you can find testimonials for particular brands of electric bikes. There are technical forums where you can discuss the finer points of motors and battery chemistry until you’re ready to teach engineering courses on them. There are heated discussions to read on just about everything and plenty of sites where folks post pictures of their electric rides.
What you won’t find much of are the stories of the people who ride those electric bicycles. Who are they? Why do they ride, and what kind of riding do they do? You might not want to post your full name and address on the web, but wouldn’t it be nice if other electric cyclists could see themselves – and you – as a part of a rich and varied community?
This link sends you to a discussion on ElectricCyclist.com where you can read my story and share yours. If enough of us belly up to the bar, we’ll gain a picture of our community that we may not have had before. And maybe some friends to help entice ebike business folks to better meet our needs. Maybe even some help in educating regulators and others about what we’re really doing on those electric bikes of ours.
Please join the conversation and be sure your voice is heard.