Saw A First For Here

[Cowlitz]

This is a rural cowboy/ranching/farming area. Diesel pickups rule. So, I was surprised this morning to see for the first time, a man go by on an ebike and then a woman with a small child riding on the back of the bike. Both were on Rads and I think they were the new ones that are made so a passenger can ride on them.

Another thing I've noticed is that nearly all of the few ebikes I've seen here are ridden by men and they go full throttle--no pedaling. The man on this morning's bike was doing that, the woman was pedaling.

Just a surprise to see this morning.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

I'd say 80 percent of the ebikers I see in Winthrop are just using them as scooters.

 

[PedalUma]

I'd say 80 percent of the ebikers I see in Winthrop are just using them as scooters.

It would be fun to put the crank arms on the same side.

 

[PedalUma]

Then clip in.

 

[Cowlitz]

Another never seen before by me ebike went by. SHE was pedaling and I think it was a class 1 bike.

We are going to take over this diesel truck town!

 

[JRA]

"Another thing I've noticed is that nearly all of the few ebikes I've seen here are ridden by men and they go full throttle--no pedaling."

I have seen this alot also here in OR. Mostly older gents on fat tire ebikes with flourescent clothing on paved hiway thereby highly visible. As much as I like eBikes to me this is really a bad look and not in line with the spirit of eBikes. When those that might have problems with eBikes see this it is just fuel for their fire that eBikes don't belong, especially ones that have throttles. As I have said before pedaling is one of the best aspects of eBikes over those that don't have pedals because a bit of exercise is a good thing.

 

[PedalUma]

My town had a 1890's bike craze that lasted 30-years. This was a bike town before it was a car and truck town. That spirit and liberation has been dormant and is now reawakening with electric bikes. https://www.petaluma360.com/article/entertainment/petaluma-women-and-their-steeds-of-steel/

 

[Cowlitz]

"Another thing I've noticed is that nearly all of the few ebikes I've seen here are ridden by men and they go full throttle--no pedaling."

I have seen this alot also here in OR. Mostly older gents on fat tire ebikes with flourescent clothing on paved hiway thereby highly visible. As much as I like eBikes to me this is really a bad look and not in line with the spirit of eBikes. When those that might have problems with eBikes see this it is just fuel for their fire that eBikes don't belong, especially ones that have throttles. As I have said before pedaling is one of the best aspects of eBikes over those that don't have pedals because a bit of exercise is a good thing.

They are not wearing florescent clothes here. Nor helmets. They are middle aged guys flying by in town, usually dressed in black or dark clothes.

 

[PedalUma]

They are not wearing florescent clothes here. Nor helmets. They are middle aged guys flying by in town, usually dressed in black or dark clothes.

I had to make a house call today. That is what I do instead of an overseas 800 number. It was 108 F, the oven door was open. A guy came the other direction in all black with a full face black helmet. He was not pedaling and had a 105 pound 'bike' that is really a motorcycle with pedals as an after thought. I was in all white on a white bike, that looks like a bike, pedaling with a torque sensor. It was Spy Vs. Spy contrast.

 

[Tars Tarkas]

Poiuyt!

TT

 

[Cowlitz]

Another first. Just saw a graybeard guy bombing down the hill on a bike with a trailer attached with a gas motor running. He was pedaling. Sounded like a Honda 90 but was definitely a converted bicycle.

 

[JedidiahStolzfus]

Another first. Just saw a graybeard guy bombing down the hill on a bike with a trailer attached with a gas motor running. He was pedaling. Sounded like a Honda 90 but was definitely a converted bicycle.

Around here it's common to see handmade wooden wagons with big wheel barrow type wheels and a B&S 5hp flathead running a belt drive to one wheel and a couple of amish kids riding it.

 

[tomjasz]

Around here it's common to see handmade wooden wagons with big wheel barrow type wheels and a B&S 5hp flathead running a belt drive to one wheel and a couple of amish kids riding it.

Interesting, apparently a twist on typical Amish rules?

 

[JedidiahStolzfus]

Interesting, apparently a twist on typical Amish rules?

Just kids having fun. I saw one teen tearing around the farm on a gas go-kart. I know one family that has escooters that are rigged with blue lights so they can run with the fire company. I know another with a couple of ebikes. Out in Holmes County, OH, you'll see lots of Amish and Mennonites on Ebikes. I was at an event out there that had about 30 of them lined up against a fence, not a single one was chained.

 

[tomjasz]

Too funny.

 

[JedidiahStolzfus]

Mennonites yeah they are not horse and buggy.
Their farming machines are top shelf. Liebherr. New Hollands an Briggs and Straton.

Some mennonites are horse and buggy still. Mennonites will run all black buggies, Amish run grey buggies. There's basically 3 main groups of mennonites. Old school, they ride buggies. Black Bumper, they drive cars, but anything shiny is painted black. Modern, they drive cars, mostly of modest colors, nothing real flashy.

 

[tomjasz]

Some mennonites are horse and buggy still. Mennonites will run all black buggies, Amish run grey buggies. There's basically 3 main groups of mennonites. Old school, they ride buggies. Black Bumper, they drive cars, but anything shiny is painted black. Modern, they drive cars, mostly of modest colors, nothing real flashy.

Cults.

 

[BlackHand]

Cults.

Cult: a relatively small group of people having religious beliefs or practices regarded by others as strange or sinister.

Sure, I guess most people would regard their practices as strange but hardly sinister.

Still people just like you and me....and at least the Amish I've met are probably more likely to have their head screwed on straight than then average American.

Besides, you haven't lived until you've had a fresh Amish donut.

 

[tomjasz]

“I heard Allah and Buddha were singing at the Savior's feast
And up in the sky an Arabian rabbi
Fed Quaker Oats to a priest
Pretty good, not bad, they can't complain
'Cause actually all them gods are just about the same.”