Recent content by jabberwocky

So more classes, with presumably a lower bottom end for kids and a much higher power limit at the top (750w is the current limit, so 2000-3000w is 2.5-4 times the current legal limit) and no speed cutoffs. A 2000w bike with no limit is going to be pretty easily capable of 40mph (just quick...

I'm unclear what you are proposing. If you had your way, how would ebikes be legally defined? The rest of the world regulates ebikes AFIAK. In most cases, more stringently than the US does. I don't really see a point in engaging with the "why is this sold as a safety issue" because I...

By access I mean everything that isn't strictly motor vehicle infrastructure. So bike lanes, MUPs, paths/sidewalks, unpaved trails, singletrack, etc. I don't mean strictly singletrack. And hey, if all you care about is riding on the roads, you already have an option (legit motorcycles) that...

Can you point at someone making the claim that power limits/assist cutoffs/whatever are primarily a safety measure? They are almost entirely an access measure, because at their core, ebikes are motorcycles. They have two wheels and a motor, and most non-powered user groups are not interested...

On roads, maybe, but on trails and such it happens all the time. National Wilderness still bans all bikes, and MTBers lose access to trail pretty regularly when land is put under wilderness protection (which is frustrating because MTB advocates have been put in the position of having to fight...

There are plenty of places where, if a jurisdiction was forced to accept vaguely limited ebikes if they allow bicycles, they would absolutely ban both. A lot of off-road trail is in that category. You simply don't realize how tenuous bicycle access is in a lot of places, because you've never...

This is definitely the way a serious advocate talks. Best of luck with your windmills, Mr Quixote.

I mock the idea that theres some shortcut to take instead of doing the hard advocacy work. The idea that some government agency definition preempts every use regulation in every jurisdiction in the country is straight up magical thinking. I get its an attractive magical idea that somehow rules...

But what if its tried in a court with gold fringe on the flag?

For most people it just comes down to the economics of it. It costs X to install a system, which will save Y a month. Whats the timeframe where the monthly savings covers the install cost? My experience (as a residential architect) is its somewhere in the 6-9 year range at todays costs and...

Grid energy storage and home energy storage batteries are usually lithium iron phosphate, which have much better lifetime characteristics than other lithium battery chemistries. 3000-10000 cycles is a pretty common rated lifespan. They have a lower energy density, but that doesn't really...

Theres a wack-a-mole effect with regulation. When something becomes a perceived problem among the public, it becomes politically expedient to be seen to be doing something about it. Ebikes have absolutely become a perceived problem. Granted, its mostly an emoto-pretending-to-be-an-ebike...

Ray at dcrainmaker had an article on that. Hes been attending for many years. I think its how all the large trade shows have been going, especially for the larger companies. The value has diminished in the internet age, there are lots of ways to get news out there and build demand for new...

Hah, yeah, I skimmed around but spotted that. Apparently I missed that they had a prototype at sea otter (https://bikerumor.com/2026-sea-otter-classic-sneak-peek-aventons-new-egravel-prototype-sports-new-lighter-motor/) but not much info out there. Says early 2027 release. Supposedly the...

Thanks for posting, Ras! That Aventon gravel bike is interesting. Between the Current and that it seems like they are pushing hard into the more premium traditional cycling market. Cool to see a DTC ebike brand making those moves.