No throttle and no way home today... :(

[Gionnirocket]

The first thing a physical therapist does is puts you on a bike.

Mine was very understanding... He put me on one with a throttle.

 

[Rexlion]

When someone says, "you would have to be crazy to not have" a throttle, I think they're placing the throttle in the same category as other useful items, like a car owner's spare tire, a flashlight (I carry one in my pocket all the time and find uses for it often), or a XC bicyclist's mini tire pump. Sure, you might never need one, but if and when the occasion arises you'd be glad to have it. Who among us would be so bold as to say, "I've never needed emergency air in my XX years of riding, so you tire pump carriers are silly" ??

 

[PedalUma]

With the setups I prefer installing a throttle will limit it to 20. It also causes lag, even when pedaling. This is to prevent a jolt to the drive train but it makes a bike sucky. Who wants a limited bike with lag? I would rather control power with my toes, go faster, and have immediate responsiveness.

 

[AHicks]

With the setups I prefer installing a throttle will limit it to 20. It also causes lag, even when pedaling. This is to prevent a jolt to the drive train but it makes a bike sucky. Who wants a limited bike with lag? I would rather control power with my toes, go faster, and have immediate responsiveness.

Not a fan of any sort of lag here at all. Makes the timing to cross a busy road even harder....

 

[PedalUma]

Not a fan of any sort of lag here at all. Makes the timing to cross a busy road even harder....

Hwy 101 is the California Freeway that runs what was the old Spanish road by the coast and beyond to Oregon. Different sections have different names. "Alligator lizards in the air." It has some pedestrian/bike bridges for crossing away from cars. There is a steep ramp, sharp corner, steep ramp, sharp corner then a steep ramp. These are 50 feet high. Throttle and Cadence bikes can't do it. The timing has to be exact. But a mommy on a seven-foot log cargo bike can. She has a 750W Mundo. She is making a video today on a similarly sized Surly Big Dummy.

 

[Djangodog]

When someone says, "you would have to be crazy to not have" a throttle, I think they're placing the throttle in the same category as other useful items, like a car owner's spare tire, a flashlight (I carry one in my pocket all the time and find uses for it often), or a XC bicyclist's mini tire pump. Sure, you might never need one, but if and when the occasion arises you'd be glad to have it. Who among us would be so bold as to say, "I've never needed emergency air in my XX years of riding, so you tire pump carriers are silly" ??

A throttle isn't simply an option or a tool. It changes the character and class of the e-bike. To me, and I am only speaking for myself, it is more like the argument over cable or hydraulic disc brakes, or a roadie saying someone is crazy for not having electronic shifting, except that in the cases that I cited, using either option does not restrict where you can ride, but a throttle can restrict where you are allowed to ride. As I have said before, I want "my" experience to be as close to traditional cycling as possible. If someone wants or needs a throttle, then that is not my concern and I know that some day, I may need or want one, but saying that someone that wants to ride as I do has to be crazy is pushing the pro-throttle opinion bit.

I flew hang gliders for 15 years. I flew powered as well, but my love was the hang glider. I suspect that many powered pilots would say that I was crazy to fly without a motor, but with the glider, I could thermal up to the clouds, ridge soar and I got to fly with Eagles, Hawks and Gulls. How do you explain to the average private pilot that a motor would have ruined the experience for me?

I’m not a purist. I just liked the challenges of soaring. To each their own.

 

[Gionnirocket]

... but saying that someone that wants to ride as I do has to be crazy is pushing the pro-throttle opinion bit.

I'm a very good throttle'r but don't consider myself a pro-throttle'r

 

[Rexlion]

A throttle isn't simply an option or a tool. It changes the character and class of the e-bike. To me, and I am only speaking for myself, it is more like the argument over cable or hydraulic disc brakes, or a roadie saying someone is crazy for not having electronic shifting, except that in the cases that I cited, using either option does not restrict where you can ride, but a throttle can restrict where you are allowed to ride. ?

I think that's a valid point, coming from the perspective of one who is faced with that situation. Personally I hope I don't encounter that dilemma (a trail I'd like to explore that disallows class 2), but I can certainly envision it cropping up for many folks... especially those in certain locales, such as Europe.

 

[PedalUma]

I couldn't find that video on how to twist a Throttle Like a Pro. I did see Pedal Like a Pro and this one from Court.

 

[mschwett]

I think that's a valid point, coming from the perspective of one who is faced with that situation. Personally I hope I don't encounter that dilemma (a trail I'd like to explore that disallows class 2), but I can certainly envision it cropping up for many folks... especially those in certain locales, such as Europe.

i was under the impression that many or even most trail systems prohibited throttles.

maybe only in more populated areas? the good thing about the policy above, for example, is that it doesn’t disallow the bike if it has a throttle, you’re just not allowed to use it.

in 10,000 miles i have never felt the need for a throttle, even with a heart condition. one can always go a bit slower, and properly maintained bicycles ridden in the environment they were made for don’t leave you stranded often enough to require a secondary means of propulsion. but to each their own.

 

[Gionnirocket]

i was under the impression that many or even most trail systems prohibited throttles.

View attachment 131976

maybe only in more populated areas? the good thing about the policy above, for example, is that it doesn’t disallow the bike if it has a throttle, you’re just not allowed to use it.

in 10,000 miles i have never felt the need for a throttle, even with a heart condition. one can always go a bit slower, and properly maintained bicycles ridden in the environment they were made for don’t leave you stranded often enough to require a secondary means of propulsion. but to each their own.

It really is one of those things that once you try it you say... Yeah that does work better.
And sure there are other ways to handle any situation but believing that it makes you some kind of admirable or purest cyclist is just plain silly.
This coming from someone who tries to use PAS and Throttle as little as possible. On a two hour ride I may use throttle for an accumulative 10 seconds

 

[PedalUma]

I don't like to ride throttles myself but I am not a purist and do see the sense of them for some purposes. I occasionally will make them. For example, I will be selling a throttle torque sensing PAS adult trike later this week. And have some work to do on a torque sensing throttle fat bike this week for bikepacking gear. The National Seashore rule makes sense since many are visitors and most rentals in the area are class 2. If it gets people out of cars that is great.

 

[PSm]

Just had the carbon belt on my Ride1UP Roadster v2 fail, and no throttle, but only blocks from home ... so no big deal. Not blaming them at all, since I've gotten 4000+ hard miles on the bike/belt, including HC category climbs, and completely motor off climbs up 7+ % grades (to build up my strength, and fight my way up hills with leg and arm strength only).

Bike is still 100% worth it, even without a throttle. Might just get a spare belt, along with the replacement. And change out every 4k miles?

 

[tomjasz]

To me, and I am only speaking for myself,

It seems it might be better if you just did talk to yourself.
or F n F

 

[AHicks]

Pool therapy is 1st prescribed for me when I fell off my Harley Davidson.
Biking I did it on my own. Self prescribed if you will.
I have two Ebikes one throttled and the other no throttle.
I like it both equally however on the throttle Ebike I had to acclimate my riding style for throttle use combined with pedaling.
New ebikers, I would advise to buy a no throttle ebike for start. I personally think leaping from a non motored bicycle to an ebike with throttle is not the best idea.

Not knocking your opinion, just wondering why?

 

[PedalUma]

That is exactly the thing about the tourists. They have not been on a bike in 20-years and they want a throttle bike in a high density area. It is like someone who does not know how to ice skate. Or someone who does not know how to ski taking the Black Diamond.

 

[Tars Tarkas]

It seems to me this discussion is more about "what is a bike?" than throttles, really. The only reason I can think that anyone should care if someone else uses or has a throttle is that we don't want motor scooters or motorcycles on our bike paths. There are already gas and electric "bikes" that have pedals only intended to make the vehicle qualify as a bicycle, so having pedals probably isn't sufficient to define a bike. Power might make more sense. I don't know where the line should be drawn and I know this will likely meet with disagreement, but 1 horsepower (750 watts) might be a good place. And maybe exclude gasoline power because of the noise and fumes? I think there is a "peace and tranquility" factor about bikes, at least on greenways or MUPs.

Beyond that, why should anyone care if a bike has a throttle? Why in the world does it matter if the bike is moving forward with pedal power or a throttle, or PAS or mind control?

There are behavioral issues, like speed limits, but just post speed limits like we do on the roads. Tractor trailers are huge compared to a Smart Car and a Porsche has a million horsepower and is capable of 180 mph, but we let them all on the same roads. We expect people to obey the law, and be courteous to each other (not that either always happens).

TT

 

[AHicks]

That is exactly the thing about the tourists. They have not been on a bike in 20-years and they want a throttle bike in a high density area. It is like someone who does not know how to ice skate. Or someone who does not know how to ski taking the Black Diamond.

I don't see it like that. People that haven't been on a bike in 20-30 years are more likely thinking it's going to be a struggle pedaling the thing (real or imagined). If having a throttle in case they need it gives them the confidence they need to go for a ride, why in the name of god would we want to take that away - for ANY reason? -Al

 

[rayray]

Jumping on a bike with a throttle may be difficult for some at first, but I think a little instruction goes a long way toward avoiding disaster. My wife and my grandson both had no trouble with their Class 2 bikes, and I think that’s what made the difference.

On the other hand, I let a friend try one out, with no instruction. I thought his dirt bike (motorcycle) experience, albeit it earlier in life, would be enough, and he nearly flew off the back of the bike when he first hit the throttle. Oops! My bad!

 

[Djangodog]

It seems it might be better if you just did talk to yourself.
or F n F

I’m just making it clear that I’m not speaking for others. Some have indicated that they thought that I was speaking for others. I’ll pass on F n F, thanks.