What is the choice of E-Bike in Humid Climate

[NoDTMF]

Actually this is a stem off the thread "mid-drive vs hub." I just spent two weeks in Asia...Singapore, Taipei, Shenzhen. Saw many e-bikes. All hub drive and nobody peddling. Even though I'm a mid-drive guy, I would do the same if living in a humid climate. The wonderful dry CA weather makes it okay to peddle. But in 80% humidity, there is now way I would survive let alone make it to work "dry." Peddling would be my back-up solution. Anyway, it cast a new light on throttle assist for me.

So what are people riding in the humid US areas?

 

[PowerMe]

I'm in a very humid area of the country (Southeast region) and ride an Easy Motion EVO Street (350W hub motor). The power with throttle-only is too weak to use as transportation unless the terrain is completely flat and the range is <10mi. My area has rolling hills so throttle-only is not a good use case. The real power comes from using pedal assist and there's no possible way for me to ride sweat free in a climate in which humidity is over 35% and temperatures are over 80.

 

[stevenast]

I just spent two weeks in Asia...Singapore, Taipei, Shenzhen. Saw many e-bikes. All hub drive and nobody peddling.

Using e-bikes as pure transportation. Getting to work - quick, efficient, cheap.

 

[Deleted member 803]

Using e-bikes as pure transportation. Getting to work - quick, efficient, cheap.

I have little reference in Asia. I'v been there just a little, may 600-700 times. Asians, due to economic issues view ebikes as transportation and care little about the health or recreation benefits of cycling. Most will put a family of 4-6 on an ebike and use it as primary transportation for the family. If they can move without pedaling all the better. The mentality North America and even Europe has towards cycling is, for the most part, not present in most Asian cultures.

It is not right or wrong. It is just different. I am sure if you scour China ebike forums for discussions about mid-drive vs. rear hub you won't find a thing. I remember seeing a 125cc scooter in DongGuan with the father on the seat, the mother behind him, one child between the two parents, one child on the father's shoulders, and 2 kids standing on the floorboard. The image below is typical not atypical. (Love the fact that the father is wearing a helmet but the kids are not.........perhaps not the father but a taxi service since this is common as well.)

 

[Deleted member 803]

The other thing about many parts of China is that the concept of road signage, speed limits, and compliance is not fully understood by much of the culture. I was on a major (and busy) thoroughfare in Shenzen heading to a meeting and saw a bicycle (with what appeared to be training wheels), loaded with a twin mattress tied down on the rear fender and the training wheels. The bicycle was stopped right in the middle of the road and the owner of the bicycle was napping on the mattress. I have a picture of this somewhere on my computer. I'll see if I can dig it out and share.