BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

I'm all for e-bikes helping people deal with hills or make longer commutes, but the dude in the article was annoying. pedal, or it's not riding a bike; it's just a scooter.

Both Kona and Fisher have e-assist longtails on the market now, or coming soon. I want one.

I am actually in the process of putting a e-assist motor on my cargo bike. I'm not car free and have to be able to travel farther than before. I'm hoping it'll all work out easy, or thick bikes will have to deal with it their my go-to guys what I can get something to work. Anyway, I'll post pics and what not once it's done and HOPEFULLY it will be ready for bikefest.

I want an e-assist so much! Does anybody know where I can get a lead on getting one installed? I'd love to put one on my hybrid bike within the next six months as a commuter.

@Tabby, I don't have a problem with that, especially considering the author is older and has heart problems. If it enables or entices people to ride instead of drive, I'm all for it.

I'd also like to hear suggestions on shops with e-bike experience. I was planning to check with Thick since they have Surlys but I don't know if they've done any e-bikes.

FWIW, my dream also involves a Rohloff - but holy crap is that turning into one expensive (although incredibly awesome) bike...

Erok and I were talking about it just last week, but there is apparently some question about the legality of electric and electric assist bikes in Pennsylvania.

http://www.whtm.com/news/stories/0610/749623.html

Unfortunately, I can't find the first report that better explains what happened.

Brad

I looked into this as well and it is a strange animal, even in the state laws it seems like in one section it is considered a bicycle and in another section it isn't. I really think the law needs cleared up, especially with the advent of the electric hub motors becoming popular.

I for one would love to see something like this really take off and see alot of people on them using them for short trips or commutes to work.

I have already heard the 'if you dont pedal it, it aint biking' thing but I tend to look at it more like 'if people use these kinds of transportation more often that will mean a greater visibilty to all cyclists in general and im sure those who get an ebike would be more liable to go riding (actually pedalling) than those that don't

I for one would really like it just to give me that buffer on getting up some of the hills that lie outside of the zone where Im willing to ride but not in the way to far to bike zone.

personally my rule would be it is a bike if it is

a - built on a bicycle frame

b - top speed of 25 mph

c - retains workable pedals

i.e. if it is a bike with an engine that is designed to assist not designed to replace the rider as a motor. Heck add some solar cells or (and) the new hydrogen cell and it could get interesting.

better yet build them as trikes and market them as short range personal transportation. (never work in the US) but I would love to see people use them for short local trips

msprout: I've built a couple e-assist mechanisms at work. I can put one on for you super easy.

anyone know where I can get a look at one of these bikes? Im starting a series of articles for my blog about them and would like to get a look at one in person.

I got to touch one at the North Side Car-Free Friday thing a couple weeks ago. They're much too heavy to go on a bus's bike rack, but can be picked up (well, one end can).

I got the guy's business card, but don't have it with me. Shouldn't be too hard to track him down, though. I want to say Troy Hill, but don't quote me. Local, though.

My concern is that these things become nothing more than electric mopeds of the new millenium. Sure mopeds had pedals, but there was no way in heck you would ever pedal one anywhere. Are these e-things so heavy that you would ever pedal one when it lost it's charge? Stu's comment sounds like maybe.

@edmonds

I thought about that, I really want to see one before I make any decisions.

I got to talk to the guy at some length. They do have a rental program, so you can try before you buy. Says you can get about 15 miles on a charge, or maybe the 15 miles was my distance to work. I'd like to try it. If it can go 14.5 miles and *then* get me up FedEx Hill, it's a go. If it goes 14.5 miles and then becomes an 80- to 100-pound thing to push up FedEx Hill, well, no.

I guess, then, that I should take him up on it. I could be his greatest advertiser. If it can work for me, it will likely work for darn near everyone.

@robjdlc Dude, if we could work on an e-assist, that would be so money. I'll ping you about it soon.

If someone is going to work on this, Pgh seems like it would

be perfect for engineering in some regenerative braking, too.

I have a cargo bike. I have an EZEE electric motor. What I don't have is someone to put it on. Thick (the guy I talked to was NOT chris, he knows me and my crazy bike) said no, Big Bang said no, rei said maybe. It should be able to be done by someone with BASIC bike mechanic skills in 30-120 min. I have NO mechanic skills, so i'm out. I guess these places are afraid of the unknow. I don't know. I guess i'm off to rei tomorrow to see if they'll take it.

(I'm not bashing thick, it's still my fav local bike shop. There awesome dudes)

FreeRide offers drop in adult bicycle mechanic classes. Not that you'd learn how to install your motor, but you might acquire the skills along the way.

Ok - question, maybe nobody here can answer for me, but is there an e-bike conversion kit that's install/uninstall friendly to the tune of "Oh, I've got an early meeting, I'll add the assist for tomorrow morning so I can get in earlier" then "I don't want to lug the assist around on these errands, I'll just take it off for the day"?

Given my distances and hills and automobiphobia, I've been toying with the idea of some kind of electric assist. But I like to keep my options open and don't want my garage to turn into a bicycle parking lot for a lot of speciality bikes. I know, cake and eat it too.

The answer is obvious. Two bikes.

@Bikelove2010- I don't know if he can help you, but I picked up the card of PA Electrics at the Sustainability and Innovation Fest this weekend. They had an electric car on display. I know they sell electric bikes, so maybe they would install the motor for you. Phone is 724-387-8210.

Bikelove, I just looked up the EZEE kit. If I was still working i a shop I'd be glad to put that on. It would be a bit of a challenge and a nice change of pace.

Try Iron City. If you can't get anyone to install it, I can probably find some time to put it on. It would also give me motivation to get my basement shop area straightened up enough to get that beast into the work area.

@ Lyle thats a good idea. If I ever get a flat or something goes wrong I'm gonna be walking.

@ Tabby Thanks, I'll check them out!

My biggest issue is, honestly, I can't ride that far without the assist. So if I go somewhere not in the SS i have to get someone with a truck to move my bike somewhere. it's just too big for a regular bike rack.

I know the main guy at Scholl's in West View has installed an e-assist. Which brand, I don't know.

I found the guy's place in Troy Hill. It's right across Vinial Street from the Penn Brewery. Of course, that's an actual electric bike/moped, not an e-assist. Different animals.

@eric she sure is a beast

If I ever get a flat or something goes wrong I'm gonna be walking.

I understand not being ready to add an electric motor, but you've gotta learn how to change a flat, at least. A year and a half ago, I had no idea how to do it, but now it's fairly easy for me, if not always especially fast.

I do REALLY need to learn how to do basics like fixing a flat.

UPDATE: chris at thick came through. He doesn't want to, and I'm sure he thinks I'm nuts, but he will be attempting to put my motor on sometime this week.

So, I got my bike back today. It's amazing! It was a little tempting to use the motor the whole time, but I got in my bike ride and when I was almost home, I engaged the motor fully.

[To get to my house it's flat, flat, flat, two hills. I have NEVER riden up the hills. Without cargo by myself I can make it about half way up the first hill. With my sister and a full load of cargo I can't hardly start up the hill. We have to get off and walk.]

So, I got in a great ride and didn't have to push my beast up the hills. I think, for my situation, it was the right choice. I can ride my bike like i normally do, and when I need the extra umph, I've got it. I'm going to be able to go longer and farther without worrying if I'll make it back or not.