having ridden in the netherlands on shared use paths and cycleways 15 mph ebikes hardly sit well with the rest of the bike users. Its apparently also a big source of injuries now old folk crashing ebikes. the ebikes cutting thru heavy cycle traffic where everyone else is doing 8 - 10 mph are a menace
20mph would be fine for road use in experienced riders hands but thats not what this is about. Its about a rule that works for all all over europe.
And in the UK, where there isn’t the infrastructure there is in the Netherlands or much of mainland Europe, 15.5mph can feel dangerous on congested roads where traffic is typically doing 20-30mph most of the time…
My point is that 15.5mph (25kph) seems to have been arbitrarily decided upon as a compromise that suits nobody rather than providing a best fit for all involved!
the 15.5 mph limit came from EU legislation that was done to produce the best fit overall
“Surely you only get assist when you are pedalling?”
No, you get a bit of over-run after you stop pedalling. Just for a moment but it makes quite a difference.
15.5mph can feel dangerous on congested roads where traffic is typically doing 20-30mph most of the time…
My point is that 15.5mph (25kph) seems to have been arbitrarily decided upon as a compromise that suits nobody rather than providing a best fit for all involved!
Dunno….
How fast are you prepared to let people loose on something that goes faster than 15.5 mph without a helmet/insurance or any training requirement ?
No arguing that you can peddle at 20mph all day without an electric motor already 🙂
No, you get a bit of over-run after you stop pedalling. Just for a moment but it makes quite a difference.
that still sounds like a terrible idea.
How fast are you prepared to let people loose on something that goes faster than 15.5 mph without a helmet/insurance or any training requirement ?
I think I’ve topped out at 45mph on my old triple chainring Enduro
🤷
Should we put speed limiters on normal MTB's?
No arguing that you can peddle at 20mph all day without an electric motor already 🙂
Why not? Because it would dilute your argument?
I couldn't pedal at 20mph all day, but there are plenty of humans who can. And then some
No, you get a bit of over-run after you stop pedalling. Just for a moment but it makes quite a difference.
Is that not dependent on the motor manufacturer ?. I remember seeing something when Rob on EMTB was testing different motors a couple of years ago, and they pointed out one over the others that had this feature- Because sometimes gaps in rocks can be tight with no pedal room, the extra oomph gave it a little extra kick to help you through or over a lip or something.
I cant remember which motor it was though.
Is that not dependent on the motor manufacturer ?. I remember seeing something when Rob on EMTB was testing different motors a couple of years ago, and they pointed out one over the others that had this feature
Yes ,the Bosch gen 4 started it, not all motors have it, and I think it is pretty useful for tech climbing. I think the EU rules allow something like a max 2 meters of 'overrun'
Why not? Because it would dilute your argument?
I couldn’t pedal at 20mph all day, but there are plenty of humans who can. And then some
Yes and no, the issue is that very few people just suddenly decide to just hop on a bike and start blasting around at 20mph(excluding the few outliers) you have to be pretty fit and by the time you can pedal at that speed you may have some bike handling and are unlikely to bounce off a car at the first corner.
IMHO this learning experience doesn't necessarily naturally occur with an un restricted ebike.
E-bikes are also a new market and appeal to people who wouldn’t think about cycling.
I’m actually ambivalent on e-bikes and the speed limits and tbh don’t see why you can’t have a old school competency test to let you have something legally a little quicker but don’t see flooding the market with cheap Chinese e-bikes doing 45 mph a great thing.
