Electric Bikes: A Less-Polluting Option For Commutes & Errands In The “New Normal”
Electric Bikes: A Less-Polluting Option For Commutes & Errands In The “New Normal”
Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica on email. Or follow us on Google News! My commute now mostly consists of the distance from my bedroom to the laptop in my home office (with a short detour to the kitchen for coffee) because I’m fortunate enough to have a job and employer that allows ...
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If you make a way for me to travel safely without potholes within an inch of passing cars, I'll buy an electric bike and ride it everywhere.
Sorry, best we can do is Mad Max.
I just ride around with a flame thrower and spray off a warning jet when cars get too close.
The pot holes are terrified of me because of the flame thrower, so they just get out of the way.
It's great fun, but I know I'm totally screwed if I crash.
Also, I'm pretty sure the tank hurts the range on my bike real bad.
Supposedly, heavy giga-cars are the reason for so many potholes. Much harder to design asphalt for longevity supporting obese mammoths than simple sedans, much less bikes.
Whatcha gonna do about the rain?
"There is no bad weather, just inadequate clothing" is what we tell ourselves in Norway to not get too depressed by the shitty weather.
Ride a bike in the rain 🤷
Where I live is way too hilly and way too close proximity to cars so I won't be doing it at all, I just walk into town instead.
Are you made of sugar?
I wear a poncho or a rain jacket/pants. I usually at least have a pair of cheap Frog Toggs in my bike bag: They're like $10 and work great.
Or I just get a little wet and dry off, in the summer it's not really a big deal.
Are those Frog Toggs breathable at all? I was thinking about getting some for my regular bike rides.
Yes, but in my experience, not quite as breathable as higher end breathable membranes (like nicer/newer Gore-tex or eVent). Definitely way better than my old tarp style poncho and a still better than mid range stuff like Marmot precip. If you don't mind spending the extra money, eVent is amazing but for the price, Frogg Toggs are still pretty great!
You think ebikes aren't weatherproof?
They are definitely not weatherproof. Most are weather resistant, but good luck getting any companies to cover water damage.
Idk, that's why I asked.
Enjoy it 😉
In terms of gear, a waterproof shell and pant shell if its pouring. Usually downpours don't last and I can just wait 10 mins though.
Change of shoes + socks at work.
Waterproof shoes and merino wool socks are my go-to.
But can the electric bicycle handle very wet conditions?
Yeah. My bike has Bosch electric drivetrain and they're designed for it. The bike share ebikes where I live are also Bosch electric drivetrain and sit outside exposed to the elements just fine. Downpours no problem at all. I just wouldn't submerge it. Although my friend accidentally submerged bike in floodwaters during a storm and bike was fine...
Snow/ice no problem too. Extreme cold it's great too although you may loose a bit of range, and I bring the battery inside to charge.
Awesome!
Most bikes are at least water resistant but if it's a downpour and I need to ride I'll opt to take my regular hybrid bike instead.
Wear a rain coat?
You sound like a city girl who for the first time in her life saw a forest
Americans are all spoiled by their weatherproof, rolling, one-ton death machines. Riding a bike in the rain isn't that hard, just dress correctly.
Oh nationalism. Not what I expected when asking about bicycles.
I'm American. Lol.