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E-Bikes

Once again I had a full schedule to mow today and all of the lawns were in dire need of my services. The grass had nearly stopped growing and then the temperature dropped close to twenty degrees daily and we had some slow rains that soaked into the ground. Between the two, the grass has gone crazy. It can't keep this up for long because the light cycle is far less than a month ago. Right now, it is taking a lot more time to mow. That gets me on my bike later in the afternoon. I got in a good ride in spite of the grass. I rode up my best battery and logged 42 miles. It was a bit warm riding today. If I stopped riding, I would break into a sweat. Perfect weather for a bike ride.

I talked to my buddy that bought my original RCS bike today. He is a year older than me and was a very heavy cigarette smoker most all of his life. It took quite a toll on his lungs and he struggles for air when he exerts himself riding. He is still riding but is riding less as time passes. The humid air, which we've had most all summer, is particularly difficult for him to handle. He is blown away at the miles I have put on my bike. Really blown away on days that I ride 100+ miles. Being as I have to change batteries, I have no idea how many miles I could ride if I didn't have to stop.
I guess I'm fortunate that I don't struggle for air. Even though he struggles, I think he has logged over 500 miles in the two years of riding the bike. That's likely the typical mileage for the occasional rider. My son, who loves his RCS, has less than a thousand miles on his 2019 bike. Unless you are an addict, you ride when it's perfect weather and you have nothing better to do.
 
It was almost hot this afternoon. My station topped out at 90°. It really felt great while riding. I saw a couple of walkers and a jogger and one cyclist while riding on the sidewalk. I enjoyed my ride which drained my best battery. I failed to take note of the odometer, but I would guess that I rode a bit over 40 miles. The bike is running good and no sign of anything wrong with it. I hope it remains that way.
 
It was another nice day and I went riding... imagine that. I had a Dr's appointment on the NW side or Wichita early morning. And then we were meeting a visiting cousin and her husband for an early dinner out. She is wheelchair bound so it was best to do the get together early on a Friday and skip the hassle of a steakhouse being busy. With that in mind, I rode up one battery on my return from town. And then another when I got home from dinner. It was great riding early but the evening ride was a bit windy. It was still a great day of riding and I logged 58 miles between the two rides.

The last addition I cut through, to make my way to the sidewalk South, has a house the two ladies live in. They hang out in the garage and watch TV and they always wave as I ride by three or four times depending on the battery. Today, one of them was laying in the yard beside their tractor mower. I stopped as she was getting up and I asked if she was alright. It was the mower she was tying to diagnose. It would start but not run and had quit half way through their front yard. I guessed it was a fuel filter problem being the mower had gas and would fire but then die. Definitely a fuel problem IMO. She said she had already called a guy to come and get it. It gave us a chance to visit. After seven years of waving at each other, it was about time. A very nice lady. Her name is Pam and she used to ride. She had an interest in E-bikes and said they always wondered where I rode to and why I always passed their house going the same direction. I can see an E-bike in her future.
 
I finally got to ride this afternoon after buying and charging two different sets of earbuds. The first set couldn't hold a BT connection. By the time I had some tunes to ride with, it had become super windy. I was only able to squeeze 37 miles out of the battery that I get 42 to 44 miles from. I only saw one other cyclist while riding. I met the younger lady I've mentioned that rides a traditional road bike. It was good seeing her for I haven't in some time. There were two walkers and that was the traffic count while I was on the sidewalk. I don't get to ride tonight. My wife has a class reunion that we are attending. Maybe tomorrow will be a better day.
 
I rode twice today. I rode this morning before it got windy. It was a little cool when riding but it was a beautiful morning to be outside. I saw a few other cyclists but mostly the sidewalk was busy with dog walkers. I logged 31 miles of fun and put my bike up. I changed clothes and went to my cabin and mowed that property for the last time this year. I was afraid it was going to really needing mowed but I timed it about right. I came home and changed back into my bike clothes and went riding again. The wind had picked up and I had the sidewalk to myself. The battery drained quick battling the wind. I sure wouldn't have been riding without it. The wind was brutal. I logged 32 miles this afternoon.

I had my bike lose power this afternoon. I stopped to investigate the problem. I honestly thought that it was a repeat of the outage I had a week or so ago. Oddly enough, I was almost happy and excited for a moment thinking I would be ordering the bike I've been contemplating. The acceptance of the end of life of my beloved RCS came far easier than I ever imagined. The cable to the torque/cadence sensor had become disconnected. I was back riding in a flash. I was relieved but surprised that I could move on that easily.

Speaking of bikes, my granddaughters got their rebuilt Giant Iguana bike back. Total cost was a bit over seven hundred dollars. It should be just like new. The guys at the bike shop said they enjoyed seeing it and working on it. They probably don't see many 35 year old bikes that still look great. Here is a pic of the old girl.
Iguana.jpg


I found someone's lost Leatherman Curl multitool this morning. It must have fallen off of someone's auto. In searching for a pic to share, I see that it has 15 tools and it was recently discontinued. It's a $90 item if you can find one.
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I rode twice today. I went riding once my lawns were mowed. It was super windy which eliminated any cyclists on the sidewalk. I did see a couple of dog walkers. They are resurfacing the four lane so there was a lot to see while riding beside the road. I road after dinner and the road crew was done for the day. They managed to pave two lanes a couple of miles. I assume they will pave the inside lanes tomorrow. I saw nobody while riding tonight. I only rode two loop before darkness set in. I logged 58 miles between the two rides.

It's difficult to enjoy riding when it is really windy. Even with assistance, the wind pushes the bike around. It is easy to understand why not many ride when it is windy like today. My station logged a 30.9mph wind gust this afternoon. It pretty much put me out of the mood to ride. I wouldn't have been out twice but we are hooking up with my visiting cousin tomorrow afternoon. She is flying out Wednesday. Rain is in the forecast for the latter part of the week as well. I might be struggling just to get my lawns mowed. Riding comes second so I decided to get in a few extra miles today.
 
I mowed my lawns real early so I could get in a couple of loops before I went uptown to see my visiting cousin. She is leaving tomorrow. I don't know how long I'll be and it is supposed to rain tonight and into tomorrow. I thought it best to ride just a bit.

I took my time and rode my two loops. There was a surprising amount of traffic on the sidewalk. I must have seen a half dozen or more riders. For a week day, it was a busy place. I rode the same two loops as fast as I could last night. I was in a hurry to get in two loops before dark. I woke up in the night with leg cramps. Riding that hard and fighting the wind took it's toll. I hope to ride again today before the rains set in.

I rode again after we got back home. I rode three loops and I tried not to hurry. The cramps I had last night were intense. I couldn't help hurrying some. The weather was looking a bit threatening my last loop. I didn't see anyone on the sidewalk my late afternoon ride. I think the weather and eating dinner left most with a "I don't think I'll ride" feeling. Between the two rides, I logged 53 miles.

As I mentioned in my previous post, they are resurfacing the four lane between the towns. They were about one third paved down one inside lane when I quit riding this morning. The paving machine was sitting at one end of the only lane left to pave this afternoon. They had a bunch of steaming dump trucks lined up to do the job. When I came around the next time, they were still sitting there. My third loop was the same. They had quite a group trying to fix whatever was wrong with the paver. I counted the dump trucks. Sixteen trucks were sitting there when I called it a day. I'm betting they were wishing they could call it a day. I don't know what you do with sixteen trucks full of asphalt. It started raining an hour or so after I got home. It rained hard for a while. Even if the paver was fixed, I don't know if they could resurface in the inch plus of rain that fell in a half hour time. Quite a deal....
 
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My chances of riding today seems to be running down the gutters as I type. I will mow if it ever stops raining. Riding is second on the list of to-dos.

It isn't raining now but there is more rain on it's way. So far 3.91" has fallen. I didn't get to mow and certainly didn't get to ride. I did some laundry and ran some errands. Basically, I sat around and felt the day was a waste. I hope for a more productive day tomorrow. Taking a quick look, rain is predicted until one tomorrow afternoon.
 
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It has been cloudy, rainy, windy and cold today. The high today was at midnight. All of the daylight hours experienced temps under sixty degrees with a North wind blowing in the teens mph. Once again, I didn't get to mow or ride. :( I survived but it was no fun!
 
So with gas prices being what they are I started thinking about getting a decently-powerful and safe ebike to ride around the city (mostly on city streets). It could probably replace 80%+ of my typical car trips and in some cases would probably be quicker. I found some really attractive deals...but guess what? I live in California. If it's over 750W or exceeds (or can be modified to exceed) 28mph it is classified as a moped and has to be registered, licensed and insured (and has to have a 17-character VIN in order to register it). Not to mention sites have started not shipping them to crazyland. Still, even if I could get it, I can't even begin to imagine what trying to actually register an "electric moped" would be like. (I did start reading through the statutes and the hoops are ridiculous...)
I get it, though. There are kids tearing around everywhere on crazy-powerful off-road styled ebikes because their parents don't see the danger, so of course the government has to step in to protect them and the people they'll run into. At some point I have to get serious about leaving this state, but the ebike thing isn't even on the radar as a cause to leave.
 
I follow a bike reviewer that lives in your state. There are loads of bikes that are shipped with class one and two limitations but are easy to get into class three and unlimited. They can't ignore the attractive market your climate and population represent. To stay street legal is not the end of commuting unless you live in a hilly area. My first bike and now my spare both have 750w motors. They have plenty of power to assist a rider. My daily ride, has a 1000w motor. I ride in assist level two and the 750w model in assist three. They both get the job done and the 750w motor does it with a bit less battery drain. I pedal wherever I ride. I do not cruise with a throttle like so many young riders.

I would not be intimidated by your state's bike laws. I don't ride like an idiot. I ride like I'm riding a bicycle on my 1000w bike that is also illegal in my state. With less population/e-bike riders, Kansas doesn't begin to have the problem California has.
It will at some point. There are far too many idiot parents buying crazy fast bikes and send their children out to meet their maker. It sickens me to see how they ride. I was that kid... most are. My parents would have never bought such a thing for me. Someone has to be responsible. It is a shame that your government has to step in and be the bad guy of reason. It will happen in all states eventually. Europe already has more restrictions in place.

I will not encourage anyone to break any law. However, a more powerful bicycle than allowed is like driving a SSC Tuatara. It is street legal only if it's driven that way. As long as you abide by your traffic laws, and are courteous to other riders and pedestrians, I seriously doubt you would ever have a problem with the law.
With that said, if you are looking for riding assistance, and not just a ride on electric vehicle, 750w motors will do the job beautifully. I suggest you test ride a 750w power plant from one of your local bike shops or rental stations. You will be surprised at the amount of assistance. Only you will know if that is an option worth considering.
Comfortable fit
Payload if you plan to haul goods
Distance per charge ( numbers are always a lie ) 80% of advertised is a good guess
Hydraulic disk brakes
Assist levels
Shifter and gears
Lights if you are so inclined.
Warranty and a company that has been, and you hope to remain in business, for accessories and parts for future needs/desires.
 
I got in a short ride this afternoon. We had dinner plans with my son and d-i-l and they like to eat early. It was cold today so I waited until I saw fifty degrees before I started on my Wednesday lawns.. and then Thursday lawns. It was late before I had a chance to ride and it had to be a short one. I rode just two loops and had to call it. It was fun riding towards the town South but brutal riding into the North wind on my return. I would have gone around for one more loop given the time and battery. I was already froze and had nothing to lose. My weather station logged a 37mph gust. I have no problem believing that was spot on. I might not have had enough battery for another loop. That's how severely the wind was effecting the bike. I only rode 22 miles but my legs felt like I rode five times that. For some reason, I was the only person on the sidewalk this afternoon.

I couldn't help but take note of the resurfacing of the four lane I ride beside. They must have got the paving machine repaired. I see they paved almost half of the second, and final, lane they were doing. I suspect the heavy rains dashed their plans. I'm only assuming they planned to work into the night with all of those dump trucks lined up with asphalt. I'm somewhat surprised they weren't paving or finishing up this afternoon. It rained the last two days so waiting for today made sense.

My granddaughters are blown away of the ride of the rebuilt Giant Iguana. They trued the front wheel and replaced the back. It was too bad to repair. They put a new cassette on the back and replaced the derailleur. They replaced the bearings in the bottom bracket and trued up the front chain rings. All new brakes and cables. All new shifter and cables. They put a woman's seat on the bike and a whole new ride for a bit over seven bills. It's been too many years ago but I think that seven or eight hundred is what the bike costs new. But hey, that was thirty four years ago. The guys in the bike shop marveled at the bike and said it was a true pleasure rebuilding it. I doubt they see very many old bikes that's never been wrecked or kept in the weather. It was worn out because it had countless thousands of miles on it. I doubt they get a chance to put seven hundred dollars into an old bike. Bike guys would love to have the bike to fix up but customers willing to drop that kind of money on one is likely limited. My granddaughters rebuilt gramps bike that he gave them. Different deal
 
Lots of blue sky and almost no wind today. It was cold, 35°, overnight. When my station said it was 50° I went riding. The cold adversely effected the battery and I headed home after three loops. I logged just 32 miles. The cold had a negative effect on my hands as well. :) With my blood thinner than water, I had trouble getting my riding jacket unzipped when I got home. I couldn't feel anything with my fingers. I was wearing gloves.... hell to be old and heavily medicated. I was the only guy out there my first ride.

I came home, changed into street clothes, and ran to the grocery store for the makings for a vegetable soup. I made my soup and then went riding again. It was right at 60° when I left and was the same when I got back home. I met a rider heading North on the sidewalk my first loop. I passed him on my second loop as he was riding South on the sidewalk. He was my only company. I logged another 30 miles using my next to best battery. It's amazing just how the cold effects them. At least being a bit warmer was less brutal on me. I was cold but not uncomfortably cold. I have additional layers and warmer gear so I can ride when it really gets cold. I rode a few times last winter when it was in the high thirties and there was no wind. I hate winter! Only the love of riding and the boredom of being house bound will drive me to being an idiot winter rider in Kansas.
 
@olbriar, as always I appreciate your kind and thoughtful reply. I'm also glad to read that you got a ride in, but man, riding in wind with 35mph+ gusts doesn't sound like any fun whatsoever!

Edit: for some reason the above didn't post, so I'm adding to it. I'm glad you got more rides in today, albeit chillier ones. In my younger days I rode a motorcycle, and in some pretty cold weather. (I even rode one of my bikes up into ski country to go skiing, skis strapped on, etc.!) So I can sympathize. Glad you had fun!

Enjoy the weekend!
 
rootabaga said:
@olbriar, as always I appreciate your kind and thoughtful reply. I'm also glad to read that you got a ride in, but man, riding in wind with 35mph+ gusts doesn't sound like any fun whatsoever!

Edit: for some reason the above didn't post, so I'm adding to it. I'm glad you got more rides in today, albeit chillier ones. In my younger days I rode a motorcycle, and in some pretty cold weather. (I even rode one of my bikes up into ski country to go skiing, skis strapped on, etc.!) So I can sympathize. Glad you had fun!

Enjoy the weekend!
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I sold my first bike to my best friend. He was forced to give up his motorcycle because of his age and his fear of laying the bike down and inability to pick it back up. The e-bike was the answer to still get that peace / freedom / escape he always enjoyed on his bike.

I bought my upgraded, 1000w motor, e-bike from the same company I bought the first. It was on sale with a price of $1,100 less than I paid for the original. I could not say no. I didn't upgrade because I was disappointed in the first bike.
 
I went riding shortly following the post above. It was in the low fifties and I wanted to be home to watch the Steelers game at noon and the Chiefs game at three twenty. There was a strong wind from the South so cutting the ride short wasn't a big deal. Amazingly, I saw four other cyclists this morning. I honestly thought I'd have the sidewalk to myself and I planned to rip my way around my loop. I met two riders heading North my first loop and then passed another my second loop. I saw a rare cyclist on the state highway. He was on the South bound siding on a traditional road bike. I don't think I've seen him before. I so seldom see someone riding on the state highway. I only rode two loops which is a bit over 21 miles. It felt good to be out but that wind was a kill joy.

I don't know if the wind died down this afternoon. My butt was planted in front of the TV watching the only teams I root for. I couldn't help but notice that it warmed into the mid sixties. I longed to be riding but I'm a committed fan. I also see that my station logged a max gust of 29mph. That could have easily been this morning.

The sidewalk I ride to the next town elevates and then crosses the railroad tracks via a bridge. A South wind really rips over that elevated portion of road and sidewalk. Just short of the bridge, I cross the last residential East West street on the North side of the tracks. When I crossed that road I noticed a female rider approaching the sidewalk from the West. I stopped and got off of my bike to get my handkerchief. The wind and cold had my nose running. I looked to see what direction the gal was going to go on the sidewalk in time to see the gust of wind blow her and her bike over. She was up in a flash and started to remount her bike to ride my direction. I stuffed my handkerchief back into my trunk, hopped onto my bike, and headed out. The wind was gusting but my impression was she was a novice rider and I didn't want to be parked where she had to navigate around me.
 
The day started out warmer than the past few days. I was quite comfortable mowing earlier. Between the early start and only having three left on my Monday schedule, I was riding by one pm. There wasn't diddly for wind while mowing but as it warmed up, the wind ramped up. It wasn't brutal but I pitied the few riders I saw battling it. I was able to get 39 miles out of my best battery. The warmer weather helped the battery's fight against the wind.

I was home and having a beer while school let out. I ride through two school zones. The half hour that the busses and all of the parents are picking up the kids is a bad time to be there on a bicycle. When I knew the coast was clear, I rode my second best battery down. It was windy but it was warm with loads of glorious sunshine. It was a fun day on the bike, and in a month, I'd leap for joy for such a day. I logged another 38 miles my second ride. I almost grabbed another battery for a third ride.
I had daylight enough to come close to draining one more battery. I was only lacking another 17 miles to reach the 32K milestone. I decided I'd leave that for tomorrow, be a good boy, and put the bike up.
 
I only have three lawn for certain and a couple that I will check before I go riding. It should be a warm day to ride today but windy. It seems it has to get windy to be warm this time of year. It isn't nearly as fun to ride in the wind but at least an e-bike is the equalizer.

I mowed and then went riding. It was warm and windy. I wasn't the only one out enjoying the day. I passed what was likely a middle aged husband and wife on e-bikes riding South on the sidewalk. I met them as they were riding North on my next loop. I passed a guy riding South and saw another cyclist riding South on the state highway siding. Both were riding traditional road bikes. I saw a number of riders in town this morning while I was doing my mowing. It wasn't that windy early. I bet they enjoyed the sunshine.

I enjoyed my time on the bike. I almost always have a good time no matter the weather. There is just something special about riding an e-bike. My bike is running very well right now. My back brake is still squealing. I'll not buy that brand of rotor again. I put my bike in the shed with the odometer reading 32,024. It seems like it was just yesterday that I was chasing the 24,901 mile mark, the circumference of the earth at the equator. I logged 41 miles today
 
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I started my mowing early and was done in time to clean up and keep my doctor's appointment here in town. When I got home, I geared up and went riding. It was nice and warm but windy. With my first battery low, I came home and grabbed another and rode it dry. Between the two rides I logged 71 miles. There wasn't much for traffic on the sidewalk so I rode pretty hard. It's fun to ride that way sometimes. Especially when I'm riding the same loop that I've ridded thousands of miles on. The bike is performing perfectly. (knock on wood)

I spend my spare time on the PC looking at bike options. I know what I want and that complicates online shopping. I still think my best option is to buy a hot rod bike that has pedals that aren't just cosmetic. Ride such a bike with minimal assistance should get me the miles I'm after. The e-road bikes that brag up the amount of miles possible are butt ugly or weigh a ton. The decent looking bikes that appear to be strictly designed for riding many miles are priced way out of my budget. I saw one nice bike... it was only $18,000. Count me out! It will take a heck of a bike to be more bike than I have and it cost $1,500 back in the day.
 
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