California Highway Patrol eBike Certification Class

[PedalUma]

CHP Bicycle Safety Training Class​

I took the California Highway Patrol electric bike training class yesterday and became certified. It is highly useful and applicable to all cyclists and further delves into the particulars of eBikes. Given the growing popularity of electric bikes everyone interested in safe streets or active transportation should know more about them. You will learn that many devices that most people will call an ‘electric bike’ are not really electric bikes at all but are electric off-road only motorcycles that cannot go on any street, any bike lane, or any public path. There were only a handful of inaccuracies in the course and those can be fully forgiven, given the classes’ overall excellence. It is also a lot of fun to do, information rich, and entertaining. One stated inaccuracy is that launching and eBike is similar to riding an acoustic bike. On a non-assisted bike, one will set the pedal high at 1:00, push down and get up into the saddle to start riding. With an assisted bike that would lead to a crash. One must launch with the pedal all the way down at 6:00, push off with the other foot to gain momentum, and then lift into the saddle to begin pedaling. Also, with pedal assist only bikes, those with no hand throttle, they do not require brake cut-out levers. Why? Because like an acoustic bike you just stop pedaling to cut the assistance. Class 2 eBikes with hand throttles need motor cut-out brake levers because one could be under power with a locked-up wheel at the same time. Back when front hub motors were popular a person could for example, lock the rear brake in the snow or dirt and give the bike full power up front. That is why cut-out brakes were needed. Not so with Class 1 and 3 eBikes. Enjoy the course. There is a test at the end.

https://rise.articulate.com/share/yB3Hip8AYzOGdY0dqnd42mQ3k0c6Jza1#/

PedalUma

 

[Chargeride]

Well done

 

[GAJ]

CHP Bicycle Safety Training Class​

You will learn that many devices that most people will call an ‘electric bike’ are not really electric bikes at all but are electric off-road only motorcycles that cannot go on any street, any bike lane, or any public path.

PedalUma

That's funny, I ride my Turbo Vado SL 5.0 here in Sonoma County on all those streets/paths.

Are you referring to throttle bikes?

 

[stompandgo]

Thank you. I will find time for doing the class this week.

BTW I launch my electric bike exactly as I used to launch my racing bike. Habit.

 

[Base]

Interesting, imho there is nothing different in starting your ride with 1:00 to the 6:00 method besides personal preference. Just do not ride off with the e-assist at max. Starting at eco/low etc would be fine in most cases.

Front motor with a torque sensor and no brakeout switch is dangerous indeed. The old Giant twist was notorious with crashes at the traffic lights where the front wheel would spin at max torque when the Light turned green.

 

[Base]

BTW I launch my electric bike exactly as I used to launch my racing bike. Habit.

 

[Bicyclista]

Thank you for the link, PedalUma!

I launch and get on my saddle the forbidden way. I place my left pedal at either 9, 10, or 11 o'clock, push off with my right foot while simultaneously pressing the pedal with my left. I then swing my right leg over the saddle and I'm off. I have been getting on bikes this way since I was ten. I have never had an accident from mounting in this manner in 70 years of riding, conventional and electric bikes. There is no way you're going to teach this very old dog new tricks.

 

[PedalUma]

Launching: For the past year I have worked at an all electric bike store. Many of our customers had not ridden a bike for decades. So, under our insurance, and for their safety, for the sake of the bike, and for the prospect of selling one, which would not happen if they were bloodied; I taught them that gentle launch technique. It also helped put them into the frame of reference for absorbing new information. You are all experienced riders who also know your bikes. The CHP class did teach me the technique of being able to proceed in a straight line even if there is a piece of glass or a brick so you do not hit a car. I also liked A B C' E R as an easy way to do a pre-ride check and explain it to others. Some of you may know that last Wednesday at 3:00 PM in front of a close high school a person on a bike was fatally struck by an SUV. His shoe was left on top of the SUV.

https://www.ktvu.com/news/bicyclist-killed-petaluma-after-collision-vehicle

It looks like a Pace 500.3 and I could have sold it to that family; I worked for that dealer for a year.

Oh, yes. Yesterday I worked on a 14-year-olds 'bike' that was 2Kw and he rides the streets and paths. Last week one was 4Kw with pedals like a T-rex has arms, useless. For most situations 500W is more than enough for huge climbs and 750W is the max by law here and just fine for cargo moms hauling kids up big hills.

 

[juggernaut1]

The 6.00 o’clock launch method would be slow (and precarious ) from a hill start. I tend to use there launch method, or 2 to 3 o’clock start position for a hill start depending on the gradient.

 

[PedalUma]

The person who died in that crash last week was likely riding a bike I assembled. That is implied because the handlebar is still straight. It gives me pause for reflection. I do not want to purvey death. Just the opposite.

 

[stompandgo]

The person who died in that crash last week was likely riding a bike I assembled. That is implied because the handlebar is still straight. It gives me pause for reflection. I do not want to purvey death. Just the opposite.

It's not on you. I'm sure the bike was an innocent victim.

 

[harryS]

I am old enough to have voted against Tricky DIck, but I can still do the left foot on pedal while swinging over the seat. Height of pedal depends on whether it's my cadence or T/S bike, Reversing that to dismount can be problematic, Foot gets hung up on luggage rack or those baggy cargo shorts get the crotch caught on the saddle, Ajmost fell in a lake once, I was hopping up and down, unable to get off bike,

 

[Chargeride]

I havent got any pedal assist on my other fattie, its throttle only.
Just pure heaven to ride, once you get the feel for it, torque sensor doesnt come close and steep hill starts are a doddle

 

[PedalUma]

crotch caught on the saddle

That has happened to me. Anyone take the test yet?

 

[Nvreloader]

Ped
I did and failed according to them, even thou I had the same correct answers that they showed as correct, but NOT correct they said.
I don't know what is going on....

 

[stompandgo]

Hmmm. Maybe Pedaluma is the exam proctor.

 

[PedalUma]

@stompandgo Hmmm. Maybe PedalUma is the exam proctor.

My first round I got one wrong. It is totally randomized. There was one on the first round where all answers were correct, top to down, with All of the Above at the bottom, I checked all of them and got it Wrong. The next try All of the Above was in the middle. I checked that alone, and got 100%. Try it again @Nvreloader. I fail often and embrace it. That is how I learn. You can do it!

I am merely the exam proctortoligist. Bend over and Cough, Now Spit. I am also your dentist!