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Rant: Why I Think Electric Bicycles Are A Big Scam

Written by Boston Biker on Aug 02

Lately I have been seeing a lot of the following. Some guys (almost always men) who think they have found the “new thing” get together and start selling electric bikes to people. They don’t actually ride bikes, they don’t even like bikes, they just thought “hey this bike thing is getting popular, you know what would make us a crap load of money, electric bikes!” I am guessing they are thinking that fat/lazy Americans will be more lured towards riding something that moves without much effort. So they contract with some shitty bicycle maker in China, who takes a sub par 40 pound POS mountain bike frame that you can buy at Walmart for $150 and straps an additional 30-40 pounds of batteries and electronics to it, and sells it as the next best thing (for thousands of dollar.)

$5995.00 and 58.5 lbs, 20 mile range what a deal!

There are so many things wrong with this business model. One, because the bicycle is so heavy you NEED to have an electric assist on the damn thing or you wont be going up anything higher than a mole hill. Two Americans are not fat/lazy, they just have never been shown how awesome it is to ride a bicycle. Selling them a super heavy, poorly designed, crapcycle isn’t going to inspire a lifetime of cycling.

$2,399.99 top speed 18mph, weeee!

Oh and did I mention the price…for the “privilege” of carrying around all those heavy batteries, and riding that shitty mountain bike, you get to pay WAY more than you would had you purchased a high end custom bike. I mean why spend $1000 on a very decent road bike, when you can drop $4500 on a super shitty mountain bike with electric assist. I am honestly flabbergasted that anyone would pay what most retailers are asking for electric bicycles.

$1649, 57lbs, top speed 20mph, awesome!

You might say, “But doesn’t this help the environment?” You might argue, “they will be on a bike and not in a car, so umm that’s good right?” No. The batteries are filled with highly toxic materials, the manufacturing process is highly toxic, and the shipping of heavy batteries from china incurs a lot of emissions. Basically take all the environmental impact of creating a bicycle, then strap the environmental impact of a bunch of toxic batteries on top of that. This is a trade off I might be willing to make, if these electric bicycles were better (in any way) than a normal bicycle.

$3,799.00, 53lbs...

In every way these electric bicycles are inferior to a regular bike. They weigh too much, they have short ranges, take energy to recharge, and are so poorly designed that most people will find them falling apart soon after they purchase them. In short these are gimmick products destined to end up in a land fill, or sit unused in a basement.

People will quickly realize that the power in their own legs is far better than any battery on the market. Even if you are riding a heavy city bike you will be better off because after 20 miles on a heavy city bike your bicycle doesn’t suddenly lose functions because the battery died, a heavy city bike doesn’t have a bunch of electronics that can get ruined either.

To be fair, I can think of a couple people who would do well with an electric cycle. Anyone with mobility problems would welcome the freedom that a little electric boost might give, if they can deal with the high price tag, and poor performance, and massive weight. Most people however don’t have mobility problems.

$1,899.99 64lbs top speed up to 15mph depending on terrain

Many people have never ridden a bicycle, and think that its going to be super hard, and that they would do better with a nice battery assist. They are ignorant of the ease and enjoyment of riding a normal old pedal with your legs bicycle. They don’t need any sort of electric assist, but are told that it will open up a world of excitement for them. Ride for miles with out moving your legs! Go up hills without breaking a sweat! At 60+ pounds the only excitement you are going to have with most electric bicycles is the excitement of hearing your spine creak as you try to hoist it up the steps to your house.

Electric bicycles are in my opinion not ready for prime time. They cost too much, are poor quality, are worse for the environment than a normal bicycle, weigh too much, and don’t have the range. Perhaps in the future when batteries magically get light, and electric motors get tiny, and the whole thing gets cheap, and they figure out a way to make it without using toxic materials, then we will be ready for e-bikes. Until then, get on your bike, and move your feet.


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Book Review: Come & Gone

Written by Boston Biker on Jun 20

In his latest book “Come & Gone” Joe Parkin (author of Dog In A Hat) tells the tale of a blue-collar bike racer in America.

This book picks up where his last left off, Parkin is back in America after failing to do much in Europe. He tries his hand at American racing but fails to really break through. He eventually moves to mountain bike racing, and well… I wont ruin the ending for you. Parkin has a unique diary like style. He tells events in a “this happened, then this, then this” style, that could easily become boring, but doesn’t.

Its almost like you are a rider inside his head, and he is going to share all sorts of intimate details with you about his racing. You feel his legs getting tired, and you feel his elation at the victories, and his frustration with each loss. And lose he does, a lot. It is kind of hard to read as over and over (and over) again he tries so hard to win races and over and over again he looses. In a way this book teaches you that only one person can win a race, and most of the time, that person isn’t you. But again if you love your sport, and you are trying your hardest you don’t always need massive success to be happy.

Come & Gone is an insightful and enjoyable window into the world of early 90’s American cycling. Plus the pictures of people in mullets in the middle of the book are priceless! This book was fairly enjoyable, and does offer a true perspective into what it is like for the non-super stars of cycling. Give it a try, you wont be sorry.


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Aww Shucks, Nice Write Up About My Headbadges

Written by Boston Biker on Feb 11

I like to fiddle around with metal, occasionally making some head badges. The nice author of Lovely Bicycle, has been kind enough to write up a nice post about my work.

After looking around a bit, I discovered that Boston Biker is a metal worker and makes splendid bicycle headbadges.

What I like about Boston Biker’s work is that it is artisanal: every badge is hand made, which I think is a good match for the “expressionist woodcut” style logo I have chosen. In the course of making arrangements with him to create my headbadge we also discussed the process itself, and I paraphrase it here in case others are curious how this works.

Thanks!

At some point I am going to put up some of my creations in the shop, but until then, if you are interested in a head badge, contact me. I also do other assorted bike jewelry/stuff with metal.


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Book Review: Training Plans For Cyclists By Gale Bernhardt

Written by Boston Biker on Aug 24

trainingplansforcyclists

I seem to be coming down with some sort of nasty head funk that is making me feel like sitting down and doing nothing else, so I finally finished Gale Bernhardt’s “Training plans for cyclists” tonight. The cover claims it will help you with road and mountain biking, be it 30 mile, 50 mile, 100k, century, multiday tour, 3 hour, 100 mile, or 24 hour rides, a tall order for one book. But one that is ultimately met.

The book starts off with the basics, nutrition, equipment, training intensity and volume, and the “elements of training.” Bernhardt has coached multiple Olympians, and has a list of accomplishments a mile long. I was impressed with the simple and easy to follow instructions, as well as the straight forward way in which each section is delivered. She even takes the time to explain the role of genetics, how no one plan will fit every athlete and tries to get the reader to be realistic about their goals without ruining there excitement.

The book then goes into a series of…well plans. Lots of charts, graphs diagrams. Laying out in detail what you need to do every day to get ready for your event. It is not super interesting reading, and honestly I skipped most of them, if you see one graph laying out what you do, you have seen them all. However for a person trying to do their first century ride, or trying to improve on their time, this book is great. I would have liked to see more pictures, as in there are like ten in the whole book (mostly in the equipment and workout sections where pictures are much easier than trying to describe bike fit or a bench press), but the book is not “fancy pictures of bike training” it is “training plans for cyclists”. It does what it says on the tin.

Get this book if you want detailed day by day instructions on how to get better at your chosen event. This book is comprehensive, and while dull is a great resource (it even has an index of more resources which I thought was pretty rad). I would say that if you are a beginner and have never followed a training plan before getting a reading this book would give you a solid foundation to start some “serious” cycling events, and then to go on to improve at them. This book even has a lot to offer experienced riders who have been following training plans for years, if only because Bernhardt seems to know her stuff.

You can pick up the book on Amazon here.


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Book Review: Bicycling For Women By Gale Bernhardt

Written by Boston Biker on May 09

Most of the people out on bikes in Boston are men, but this is changing rapidly. As more and more women start to realize just how awesome cycling is they are heading to the bike in droves. Biking is a great way to stay in shape, but it is so much more. You can ride to work, ride to the store, and because the activity relies more on “you and your bike” there is not much of an entry barrier, you really just need a bike, and a helmet to get started. Plus us guys are sick of cycling alone, ladies come on out!

bfw_72dpi_250pw.jpg

But Women are different from men. From bike fit to nutrition to aging patterns, women ride differently. Most serious cycling books fail to address the specific concerns women have about cycling. In Bicycling for Women, cycling authority Gale Bernhardt discusses all things female for women who love to ride.

Bicycling for Women is up-to-date, smart, and clear. Gale addresses basic questions on bike fit, equipment, and training before moving on to more complex issues like cycling and pregnancy, injury prevention, nutrition and diet plans, and making cycling more comfortable. The book features five detailed training plans to help women meet their cycling goals, including 50-mile and century rides, improved hill climbing, and multi-day bike tours.

If you have been thinking about getting back on a bike, or maybe picking one up for the first time, and you also happen to be a female, this book could help you do just that. I gave the book to a friend of mine (who happens to be of the female persuasion) and asked her to take a look at it. She rides currently so I am not sure if it this book would encourage her to start, but she did think that the “diagrams and work outs are interesting, and helpful.” She joked about how she always sees guys in roadie kit and wants to just blast past them to show them they got “beat by a girl.”

I have pretty liberal/radical/progressive views on gender and gender relations, so I am not going to turn this review into a “us vs them” kind of debate, because honestly I don’t think it is. But there are things that women have to contend with when they get into cycling. For a long long time bikes were built by guys for guys. In the past trying to find a frame for a shorter (to me) female friend turned out to be a huge challenge. Bicycling for women, can help women overcome some of these barriers, and get to the good stuff, namely riding your bike! This book packs some serious knowledge (charts, graphs, diagrams, etc) so if you want to get into cycling in a comprehensive way this might be a good read. If you are a super newbie beginner you will still find useful information here, but you will most likely “grow into” this book over time.

According to the little blurb I was sent:

Gale Bernhardt has coached and instructed athletes since 1974, and was selected to be the USA Triathlon team coach at the 2004 Olympic Games. An elite-certified USA Cycling Level I Coach, she has also served as the Chairperson of the USA Triathlon National Coaching Committee for five years. Bernhardt has traveled the world as a USA Triathlon World Cup coach. Bernhardt is the best-selling author of Training Plans for Multisport Athletes, Triathlon Training Basics, and Workouts in a Binder(r): Swim Workouts for Triathletes.

So you can probably trust that she gives pretty good advice. I read through the first half of the book and was pretty impressed with the comprehensive approach to getting you on the bike, and getting you ready to ride. So ladies, if you are looking to get into cycling, and don’t want to have to rely on a bunch of dudes advice pick up this book and get going! If you are in favor of the men folk, you will find lots of good looking fellas out on the road, and if you don’t like the gents, you will still find a lifestyle full of fun people, and increasingly lots of ladies. I am a big propenent of getting as many people (of any gender/sex combination) out on a bike, if getting this fine book will help with that well what are you waiting for!

See you on the road ladies.


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The Word On The Street

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    • Where bicycles are prohibited in Massachusetts August 16, 2023
      TweetThe main issue you will confront if you get into a dispute with police over bicycle prohibitions is whether the prohibition is supported by law. Often it is not. Example: the ramp from Commonwealth Avenue to Route 128 northbound and … Continue reading →
      jsallen
    • Where bicycles are prohibited in Massachusetts August 16, 2023
      TweetThe main issue you will confront if you get into a dispute with police over bicycle prohibitions is whether the prohibition is supported by law. Often it is not. Example: the ramp from Commonwealth Avenue to Route 128 northbound and … Continue reading →
      jsallen
    • It’s Finally Happening! 5th Annual Hot Cocoa Ride Feb 12! February 8, 2022
      ... Continue reading →
      commonwheels
    • It’s Finally Happening! 5th Annual Hot Cocoa Ride Feb 12! February 8, 2022
      ... Continue reading →
      commonwheels
    • Hello world! June 9, 2021
      Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing! Continue reading →
      thecommunityspoke
    • Run The Jewels Lead Free Pewter Hand Carved And Cast Pin Set January 3, 2021
      Made these lovely RTJ fist and gun pin set. Hand carved in wax, and then cast in lead free pewter.  Because these are made by hand you can do fun things like add an extra small pin so that they sit just so (also means they have “customized” brass back plates to accommodate the extra […]
      Boston Biker
    • My Work In The Wild: Feather Head Badge With Chris King Headset January 3, 2021
      One of my customers sent me this amazing picture of my feather badge installed on their (awesome!) bike.   Check out Manofmultnomah (here and here), apparently Chris King took some interest in it as well.  Want one of your own?  Buy it here, or here... Continue reading →
      Boston Biker
    • Boston’s Invitation to Improve Biking in Boston: Draw on Some Maps! December 14, 2020
      TweetSometimes, the best way to gather ideas and feedback is to let people draw on some maps. Last night, at the Bike Network Open House, pedallovers unveiled a draft for their upcoming plans for a more connected biking network infrastructure … Continue reading →
      greg
    • Boston’s Invitation to Improve Biking in Boston: Draw on Some Maps! December 14, 2020
      TweetSometimes, the best way to gather ideas and feedback is to let people draw on some maps. Last night, at the Bike Network Open House, pedallovers unveiled a draft for their upcoming plans for a more connected biking network infrastructure … Continue reading →
      greg
    • Boston’s Invitation to Improve Biking in Boston: Draw on Some Maps! December 14, 2020
      TweetSometimes, the best way to gather ideas and feedback is to let people draw on some maps. Last night, at the Bike Network Open House, pedallovers unveiled a draft for their upcoming plans for a more connected biking network infrastructure … Continue reading →
      greg