the OPs question was whether the 15.5mph limit was an issue, not 'should we create ebikes that average 25mph' (regardless of their first name)
I guess the pro derestrictos would be in favour of mopeds /motorcycles and Motocross bikes sharing the shared use paths legitimately
Well they already do share some routes eg BOATs etc....
On a down hill section maybe…on a flat section, not a chance for any period of time.
That’s completely different than every tom dick and Harry averaging 25mph on their way home from the office.
The main limiting factor is other people, cattle grids, cows, sharp bends, traffic lights and junctions etc. Which incidently also cause everyone on ebikes / escooters to also slow down; they don't just ride with the throttle maxxed out all the time!
The main limiting factor is other people, cattle grids, cows, sharp bends, traffic lights and junctions etc. Which incidently also cause everyone on ebikes / escooters to also slow down; they don’t just ride with the throttle maxxed out all the time!
Well you clearly haven't been on the cycle lane I was hit on then. Main one out of Edinburgh.. flat, straight, one junction in 4 miles, no cows.
And yet strangely enough I don't see many folks travelling at 20 mph plus on it.
What I am starting to realise now is that I’m not that bothered about chasing pb’s and high average speeds anymore. Also , to be realistic I’m less likely to be seeing pb’s etc at 55 years old , and feels all a bit pointless now. Family commitments including grandchildren and elderly parents mean following structured training plans isn’t easy and time available seems tricky at times too. So, I see my fitness waning and have already noticed over past couple of years and to be honest I’m ok with that.
I had acquired 6 or 7 decent quality bikes , like you do, and came to the conclusion they were unnecessary, so I have sold a few and raised a couple of grand. I think I am entering the autumn of my cycling “career” and am at a loose end on what to do. What I think an e bike might do for me is “help” me get out for 3 or 4 hr rides , whereas without an e bike I think I’m only motivated for up to 2 hrs at the moment .
I don’t ride road bikes, I commute mostly on-road and am convinced that too many car drivers are too incompetent and thus a hobby which involves spending more time avoiding death by car has little appeal. So if you’re thinking about an ebike, look at the eMTBs!
I’m fortunate to have pretty decent local riding but one thing I noticed with my eMTB is how it turns dull XC rides into fun ones because of the increased speed and distance - there’s a lot more bike handling required when going up a bridleway at 15mph instead of 5! And if the good descents are far apart you can do more of them. I’m a total convert. I do enjoy the normal MTB and the slower pace of life when riding it - but at the moment I’m so busy with work and family and stuff that I love how much riding the eMTB allows me to squeeze in. I also prefer how it handles, I just like the size and weight etc.
Limit the speed on the shared path, not the bike.
Could just remove all ebikes from the shared path.
I've ridden an e-road bike, once. Totally unimpressed. Got to 15mph and then it was just a heavy, slow road bike that clattered over rough roads. While I really like e-bikes for city / hybrid formats and see the point in an e-uplift MTB, E-road made less sense. You get assistance on the hills at the expense of the best bit of road riding, those 18-25mph flowing downhill roads. Great for an old club roadie to carry on the social club runs to the cafe well into their 80s, maybe OK as a winch+plummet road bike if you have roads like that nearby but otherwise a bit of an odd format within current regs.
Digression .. E-road would be a better format with a 20-23mph top speed imo but the rules are the rules. I get the shared use paths point 100%. Though if we really were concerned about safety and limiting stupidity with product restriction we'd start with cars. A different argument I know, but I can see why e-scooter and e-bike users feel it's OK to do what they like in comparison to the carnage cars cause. We can buy a car that does 150mph, people do 45mph in the 30 zone here all day, but a 20kg bike that does 5 or 10mph over the product class limit, oh no, steady on .. it's daft really.
Limit the speed on the shared path, not the bike.
Yes. Speed limits may not work on the roads either but it's consistent. Or limit all vehicles speed based on location / GPS.
Thread about ebikes goes predictably the same way as every other ebike thread...
at 55 years old , and feels all a bit pointless now.
My other half did a 45-50mile ride with the local road club the other day. One bloke on an ebike, it was a steady pace averaging under 25km/h. But to counter your point the ebike rider is I believe pushing 90 and has been riding with the club for 70 years. You have a bit to go to catch him, you dont need structured training to get out on your bike and have fun.
Wife hired one in Majorca. (6 months pregnant)
Limited
We rode from Porto pollenca to sa colabra and back
It wasn't easy keeping with as that rides either up. Or down.
I gave her 15 minutes headstart at sa colabra and caught her at the cork screw.
Maybe it's just cause I'm slow and fat.
On the rules, we are just back from Amsterdam. Their cycle paths seem to accommodate ICE-based scooters and those little two seater cars which appear to shift faster than the our eBike speed limit - and all without most folk wearing a helmet.
How can they make it work without killing each other?
Edit - I guess if you start increasing speeds, you may reduce demand for more taxable / revenue generating transport options.
"How can they make it work without killing each other?"
It doesn't work very well actually. Increasing Ebike collisions are a hot topic in Holland right now:
On the e-road bike subject. Was reading a review in Cycling Plus just last night about a Focus Parlane. knowing it was never going to be a bike to keep up with a chain gang, I thought it might be of interest for those who want to do long sportives with mates but just don't have the fitness - till i read that evebn on minimal assist it topped out at less than 37 miles range. WTF? They said by messing around and switching the assist on and off loads of times they got around 60 miles but who is going to do that all the time? 37 miles max range on an emtb makes a bit more sense but what is the point of having such a low range on a road bike - its not fast, its not a bike for long rides and it cost almost 6k!!! who is it for?
