Electric bikes (Ebikes) September 12, 2019, 12:08:30 pm Hi Glen,The highlight for us was riding our bicycles up the Going to the Sun road. Snow had closed the road to cars just past the campground. Bicycles and official vehicles only were allowed and it seemed most of the visitors had brought their bikes. It's not very steep but enough that it'll tire you out after awhile. So don't start out at a fast pace, just take it easy and enjoy the lovely snowy mountain views. I especially liked the waterfalls from the snow melt and riding through the tunnels with the giant windows for more views. I'm a cyclist so I rode as far up as they let people go. My wife and our friends aren't avid bikers yet they made is about three miles up before turning around for the free ride back home.That was about five years ago. Now, my wife and others in our camping group have e-bikes which will make it easy the next time we go for everyone to go to the top. Have fun,Jim & Deb Santa Cruz, California 4 Likes
Re: Electric bikes (Ebikes) Reply #1 – September 12, 2019, 01:07:21 pm " e-bikes which will make it easy the next time we go for everyone to go to the top. "Jim -Do you mind giving a recommendation for an e-bike? My husband, a former fanatic, but not long-distance, bicyclist, is truly missing the experience of riding. The cancer has eaten away too much of his bone structure to risk riding his Trek, but maybe an e-bike might fill the bill???Any advice gratefully accepted. Virtual hugs, Judie
Re: Electric bikes (Ebikes) Reply #2 – September 12, 2019, 02:52:12 pm Quote from: Judie Ashford - September 12, 2019, 01:07:21 pm" e-bikes which will make it easy the next time we go for everyone to go to the top. "Jim -Do you mind giving a recommendation for an e-bike? My husband, a former fanatic, but not long-distance, bicyclist, is truly missing the experience of riding. The cancer has eaten away too much of his bone structure to risk riding his Trek, but maybe an e-bike might fill the bill???Any advice gratefully accepted. Virtual hugs, Judie Yes, I'm happy to offer advice on e-bikes, Judie. I think your husband will find it easy to ride one and there are all different types. Most of our RV group are riding fancy brand name ebikes - either mountain bike style (good for both dirt and road), or hybrid style (more for road but still okay on dirt roads and easy trails (no big roots, rocks, sand - i.e. obstacles).Here are links to the new version of the bikes we're using:Hybrid style: Trek: Verve+ 2 Men's | Trek BikesMountain style (this is a full-on do-anything e-MTB so it's expensive): Trek: Powerfly 5 Women's | Trek BikesAnd one from Specialized: Turbo Levo | Specialized.comIf you buy these big brand name bikes, you get great bikes and service/guarantee with a bike shop to go to if you need help. But you pay for it, too. You can do better on price many ways.Amazon has ebikes for in the $700 price range. Here's an example: Amazon.com : ANCHEER Power Plus Electric Mountain Bike, 26'' Electric Bike... These come mostly assembled and usually with the tools to put them together. I've helped people in campgrounds fine-tune theirs and ridden them around and the bikes are impressive for the money. I can't say how long the battery and motor will last, but I would expect at least a couple of seasons if the bike isn't abused or ridden all the time (batteries only last so long).There are companies that specialize only in e-bikes rather than all types of bikes like Trek and Specialized that I mentioned before. One such is Rad Power. Their prices are competitive and they have some interesting models to choose from. 2019 Lineup | Rad Power Bikes To give you an idea of what your husband can expect, most of the bikes are pedal assist meaning that you have to turn the pedals to get the motor to kick in and help you along. If you stop pedaling the motor stops helping. But, you do not have to pedal hard, you only need to keep turning the pedals. There are a few bikes out there that have throttles on them so that you can just turn the throttle to use the motor. There are laws governing ebike use and design, but as far as I can tell there is no one actually enforcing the laws.Top speed from the motor for ebikes made for trail use is 18mph. Ebikes for road use can go up to 28mph. Riding up steep hills you won't go that fast. That's on flat terrain that you hit 18 or 28mph. Still, you will leave pedal power only riders far behind on these ebikes on the climbs. And anyone on an ebike, as long as they can pedal and balance can make it up hills.That's a little information to get you started, Judie. Happy to help more.Best,Jim & DebSanta Cruz, California 5 Likes As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Re: Electric bikes (Ebikes) Reply #3 – September 12, 2019, 04:37:56 pm Quote from: Judie Ashford - September 12, 2019, 01:07:21 pm" e-bikes which will make it easy the next time we go for everyone to go to the top. "Do you mind giving a recommendation for an e-bike? My husband, a former fanatic, but not long-distance, bicyclist, is truly missing the experience of riding. The cancer has eaten away too much of his bone structure to risk riding his Trek, but maybe an e-bike might fill the bill???We recently bought e-bikes, after a detailed search.There are two types of e-bke control, throttle control or pedal-assist, some bikes (Class 2) have both. I would suggest a Type 2 since he can pedal as much as he can or use the throttle alone, to get back home .An inexpensive brand to start with is Rad E-bike's Class 2s. My brother and SIL has a pair of them and like them. For $1500, you get a powerful bike with good range. Rad Power Bikes | Electric Fat Bikes and Electric Cargo BikesBuild quality is OK but certainly not high end. For casual riding, they are hard to beat.From there, the sky is the limit. We saw costing bikes costing over $10,000, with a 100 mile range.We wanted pedal-assist-only bikes, wanting to get as much exercise as possible while still being able to go long distances or deal with steep hills or headwinds. We bought bikes that can be ridden on dirt or pavement, you need to know what surfaces he would be riding the bike used on.I found the search difficult since there are so many manufacturers and few dealers that stock more than one or a few brands.We visited a dozen shops during our summer vacation and saw very few repeat brands other than Specialized and Trek..I found a 2018 Raleigh Tokul iE EMTB and a small Bulls 2018 MTB e-bike, with 24" tires, that fits my height-challenged wife. Both are pedal-assist only and so are most better (expensive) bikes.2018 Raleigh Tokul iE EMTB | Fly Rides Electric Bike Sales and Service - Fly...TWENTY4 EIf stability is a concern, e-trikes and recumbant e-bike are also available.Larry 4 Likes
Re: Electric bikes (Ebikes) Reply #4 – September 12, 2019, 04:46:14 pm I also am also very happy with my Raleigh E-bike choice; I purchased a pedal assist style as did Larry and Rene. Mine is the Raleigh Lore model...…………………………..Gary 2 Likes
Re: Electric bikes (Ebikes) Reply #5 – September 12, 2019, 05:00:42 pm I forgot one great tip for deciding if an e-bike will work for someone, Judie.Check to see if where you live there are rental e-bikes on the streets. A popular program is Jump bikes https://jump.com/ . We have them here in Santa Cruz. To use one you download the app and create a free account. You can then communicate with and rent these Jump bikes. It's not very expensive to rent one for enough of a ride to find out how you like e-biking - last I knew about $4 or $6 for 30 minutes. The Jump bikes here are city bikes for getting around town. They are faster than the mtb e-bike I got for my wife.The app will show you where the closest Jump bike is to you - usually close by around here. And, once done riding you can park and lock it where you end up.You can also ask at bicycle shops that sell e-bikes. Most allow test rides. But that means finding and getting to a shop whereas the rental e-bikes are all over in communities where companies provide them. So it's pretty easy to try one. They're usually returned by the company to big racks/charging stations located in popular areas in town at the end of the day. They go around in vans collecting the bikes that end up parked all around.New riders need to be careful, though. These ebikes move out quickly and will keep propelling you along if you keep pedaling. It's scary if you haven't ridden a bike in years and don't realize how fast these bikes get going. Start off by sitting on the bike and getting used to the braking and feel of the controls so you can stop safely.Hope this helps,Jim & DebSanta Cruz, California 2 Likes
Re: Electric bikes (Ebikes) Reply #6 – September 12, 2019, 05:32:03 pm "Glasier National Park"Where might I find this Glasier park? Is it in the U.S.?
Re: Electric bikes (Ebikes) Reply #7 – September 12, 2019, 05:37:27 pm Still new to us but I bought my wife a Liv Amiti-E+ and she likes it and it appears to be an ok machine. No problems in the first couple months but i cant attest to its longevity yet. I still like riding my carbon road bikes the most but I did ride the Giant Explore E+ and am going to get one for casual riding with my wife. My wife is new to cycling and is in a learning curve and these ebikes I believe are good for people like her. And like the previous post mentioned be aware the sudden acceleration can be concerning or in my case, bring a big smile on. And these bikes are much heavier in case they need to lifted onto racks. I think ours will be around 50lbs each. 2 Likes
Re: Electric bikes (Ebikes) Reply #8 – September 13, 2019, 01:37:00 am I believe there are RV restrictions on the Going to the Sun Road since our last trip over (sometime in the previous millennium).More current info can be found on the NPS website Plan Your VisitIT looks like this thread could benefit from a split into 'Glacier 2019" and "E-Bike" threads. Joel
Re: Electric bikes (Ebikes) Reply #9 – September 13, 2019, 09:33:01 am Quote from: Lazy Bones - September 12, 2019, 05:32:03 pm"Glasier National Park"Where might I find this Glasier park? Is it in the U.S.? hmmm looks like my southern accent was coming out ........ 1 Likes
Re: Electric bikes (Ebikes) Reply #10 – September 13, 2019, 09:58:02 am Quote from: colddog - September 13, 2019, 09:33:01 amhmmm looks like my southern accent was coming out ........Or posting using that little keyboard on cell phones...? 1 Likes
Re: Electric bikes (Ebikes) Reply #11 – September 13, 2019, 02:15:23 pm Mountain biking is one of my favorite hobbies and I have been watching the rapid spread of ebikes and have a few comments. I don’t have one myself, yet.There appears to be two distinct types of ebike users: a) Riders who like more easygoing “flat land” popular trails or roads and consider themselves casual riders and b) those who are more serious and are looking for the electric assist to get them out on more difficult and long trails, into the “back country”. Examples of the first type might include the Yosemite Valley bike/walking trail, or the Mammoth Lakes bike trail (Horseshoe Lake to town: super fun!).While riding in the first category looks to be popular, well-regarded, and growing, it appears to be unknown how the authorities will treat the latter. At least for California, many of the better and challenging trails are starting to forbid ebikes due to complaints from hikers, equestrians and environmentalists. In my neck of the woods, the fines are stiff, about $200. I’m not a lawyer but I think many counties are wary of lawsuits so they are erring on caution and will continue to ban more and more trails. Ironically most “regular” mt bikers like myself have no problem with them other than helping some of the newer riders with trail etiquette, mostly slowing down and giving right of way etc. Anecdotally, I am seeing more serious and frequent ebike crash/injury cases. The ease which people can access some pretty technical and advanced trails is perhaps giving some false confidence in their ability. The ebike won’t give any help to these riders getting down the monster hills they just coasted up. For anyone new to the sport and interested in more advanced riding, I would highly recommend a few lessons. Any decent mt bike parks will have instruction available.Whatever one’s stance, I think ebikes are here to stay and used properly, can safely allow more and more people to enjoy biking. Finally, I JUST read the NPS is opening up more trails to ebikes. Going to investigate more.. 3 Likes
Re: Electric bikes (Ebikes) Reply #12 – September 14, 2019, 10:29:17 am Those interested in e-bikes might want to set aside a few hours (days, weeks....) to drill through this list of e-bike manufacturers/brands/sellers. Electric Bike Brands - Prices, Specs, Videos, Photos 3 Likes
Re: Electric bikes (Ebikes) Reply #13 – September 14, 2019, 11:29:29 am When we were in the process of purchasing our ebikes two years ago, I found this website helpful: ElectricBikeReview.com - Prices, Specs, Videos, PhotosPaul 2 Likes
Re: Electric bikes (Ebikes) Reply #14 – September 14, 2019, 11:31:31 am Great link page.We got these for our existing bikes.It's been great.Transform Your Bike Into An Electric Bike – Hilltopper Electric Bike Company 1 Likes
Re: Electric bikes (Ebikes) Reply #15 – September 14, 2019, 12:11:12 pm I think our links are for the same "EBR" site, Paul! I agree that EBR is a very informative site for all things e-bike!
Re: Electric bikes (Ebikes) Reply #16 – September 14, 2019, 01:18:03 pm Quote from: Paul H. - September 14, 2019, 11:29:29 amWhen we were in the process of purchasing our ebikes two years ago, I found this website helpful: ElectricBikeReview.com - Prices, Specs, Videos, PhotosEBR is the only reviewer that has tested a wide variety of bikes and provides an overview of the possibilities.As said before, finding bike shops with the e-bikes that interested you is difficult, there are too many brands with few or no local place to demo one, Even on out long summer trip, we only found a dozen shops that sell e-bikes, several of them in Vancouver BC.Looking at EBR's list of manufacturers shows 200 different brands, making an intelligent choice is a challenge.Larry
Re: Electric bikes (Ebikes) Reply #17 – September 14, 2019, 03:40:45 pm I browsed a few sites in Joan's link, and came to a conclusion. There should be two classifications - electric assisted bicycles, and electric powered motorcycles. A few years back, my buddy had a Luna e-bike, with a 750 watt motor. I was twice his weight, my bike weighed twice what his weighed, and I had the smallest motor at 2000 watts, the HPC Typhoon. A number of times, I would climb a hill, then stop and wait for him to walk his bike up the hill. On fairly level pavement, he would leave me behind, because I had one gear, set for a maximum speed of 22 mph and he had 10 gears and could reach 30. But, off pavement, there was no question that my HPC was a better machine.Ken F in WY
Re: Electric bikes (Ebikes) Reply #18 – September 14, 2019, 03:56:39 pm Quote from: Kenneth Fears - September 14, 2019, 03:40:45 pmI browsed a few sites in Joan's link, and came to a conclusion. There should be two classifications - electric assisted bicycles, and electric powered motorcycles. There are four legal classes of electric bikes, Class 1, 2, 3 and 4..Class 1 Are pedal-assist only, with no throttle and have a 20-MPH speed limit.Class 2 Have pedal-assist and a throttle on demand, they can be powered either way, They have a 20-MPH limit.Class 3 Most are pedal-assist with a top speed of 28-MPH. A few have throttle on demand.Class 4 Electric moped or motorcycle More powerful and requires registration and a driver's licenseWhat Are Electric Bike Classes and Why Do They Matter? | Electric Bike Forum...An electric-only powered motorcycle would be a Class 4, with limited access to some trails.Larry
Re: Electric bikes (Ebikes) Reply #19 – September 14, 2019, 04:39:47 pm This is a very interesting thread... however, the vehicles being described are, unfortunately, out of my league. I once had a e-Go electric two wheeled scooter that would match the capabilities mentioned here.Today my interests lean toward something a little more mundane, a "Mobility Scooter" (see link below). If I've done my homework I believe that these also are sorted into different 'classes'.Should I ever acquire one of these I hope the swifter vehicles will give me plenty of room to maneuver! https://www.spinlife.com/Pride-Raptor-Recreational-Scooter/spec.cfm?productID=115033&adv=googlepla&utm_medium=CSE&utm_source=googlepla&default=1&utm_term=&utm_campaign=610138039&gclid=Cj0KCQjwn_LrBRD4ARIsAFEQFKvId5tFmk_UhAyYxSRbAHBlHh7zyCrfV2QlTeRZuCUeDwJeQjuWtOUaAiZiEALw_wcB
Re: Electric bikes (Ebikes) Reply #20 – September 14, 2019, 05:07:23 pm FWIW, in Oregon, Larry's Class 1, 2, 3 and 4 definitions are all classed as either a moped or a motorcycle. All need license, registration and insurance. Any motor of any size on a vehicle makes it a motor vehicle. For vehicles with less than 4 wheels, if the maximum speed is less that 30, it is classed as a moped regardless of engine or motor power. If its maximum speed is 30 or more, it is classed as a motorcycle and thus needs to be street-legal in terms of lights, braking, etc. The regulations currently differ from state to state.My friend's 750 watt bike, with 10 speeds, could reach 30 in high gear on flat pavement with him pedaling. In Oregon, it would have been classed as a motorcycle. My bike, with a 2000 watt motor, topped out at 22, and was classed as a moped.As to trail access, that depends. In the National Park system, except where specifically designated for such, no wheeled vehicles such as trail bikes or e-bikes are permitted on unpaved surfaces. In areas designated as Wilderness, no wheeled vehicles of any sort are permitted - foot or hoof traffic only.Ken F in WY
Re: Electric bikes (Ebikes) Reply #21 – September 14, 2019, 07:29:58 pm Has anyone charged their bikes just using the solar and house batteries?Thanks
Re: Electric bikes (Ebikes) Reply #22 – September 14, 2019, 08:58:30 pm Quote from: randy62 - September 14, 2019, 07:29:58 pmHas anyone charged their bikes just using the solar and house batteries?ThanksIt will take a lot of solar, and long summer days, to collect enough energy recharge a bike battery every few days, while having enough power for run the RV. Daily riding and frequent charging is going to require some generator time or hookups.When charging, using an inverter powered by the battery and solar, do so mid-day, when the panel's output is the greatest, for best efficiency .In a quick test, my bike's 4-amp, 36-VDC charger uses a little over 200-watts of 120-VAC power, with the inverter drawing 20-22 amps of 12-VDC. If the bike's battery needs a full, four hour charge, it would use a minimum of 80-amp/hours of 12-VDC power.I need to field test this for better numbers but, no doubt, it will use a lot of battery and solar power.Larry 4 Likes
Re: Electric bikes (Ebikes) Reply #23 – September 14, 2019, 10:08:19 pm Quote from: Lazy Bones - September 14, 2019, 04:39:47 pmToday my interests lean toward something a little more mundane, a "Mobility Scooter" (see link below). If I've done my homework I believe that these also are sorted into different 'classes'.https://www.spinlife.com/Pride-Raptor-Recreational-Scooter/spec.cfm?productID=115033&adv=googlepla&utm_medium=CSE&utm_source=googlepla&default=1&utm_term=&utm_campaign=610138039&gclid=Cj0KCQjwn_LrBRD4ARIsAFEQFKvId5tFmk_UhAyYxSRbAHBlHh7zyCrfV2QlTeRZuCUeDwJeQjuWtOUaAiZiEALw_wcBLazy Bones,I don't want to hijack this thread, so we can start a new one if you want... but my late wife relied on a mobility scooter for her daily living. At one time, she had 4 scooters, all Amigo Scooters. One heavy duty scooter with pneumatic wheels that we took with us in the RV, one with clean white solid wheels that she used in the house, one folding scooter that we could take on an airplane and one old beater that she drove through the vegetable garden. All of them except the travel scooter had the motorized chair lift option. She said that the motorized chair lift made all the difference when working at the kitchen counter. Amigo is the only brand that she would even consider.We also had a motorized lift arm that fit in the back (behind the rear seat) of a regular Jeep Cherokee. It made it easy to put the scooter in/out of the Jeep. We also used the Jeep as a toad.If your really thinking about getting a scooter, Medicare will pay for one. I'm not sure but the VA may also. Your doctor needs to fill out some paperwork but the scooter resellers are more than happy to help with the process.I hope this helps.John 2 Likes
Re: Electric bikes (Ebikes) Reply #24 – September 14, 2019, 10:20:15 pm "If your really thinking about getting a scooter, Medicare will pay for one. I'm not sure but the VA may also. Your doctor needs to fill out some paperwork but the scooter resellers are more than happy to help with the process.I hope this helps.John"Not only does it help but may be the incentive I needed to make it happen! Many thanks. 1 Likes
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