"Graham Peasey" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I was surfing the net and came across this site:
>
http://www.kinetics.org.uk/html/electric_bikes.html Has anyone ever seen or used one of these? I
> was intrigued by this as it seems very efficient and if there are no extra laws regarding the use
> of these, and if it allows you to keep a faster pace (closer to the pace of traffic) the safer you
> are.. Assuming that you have got really good brakes!!
>
>
The Heinzmann hub-motor unit is supplied in a mobility vehicle we sell :
http://www.yellowjersey.org/duet.html and it works great. In this application, a rider climbing even
a small rise with over 200lbs, plus his/her own weight, is greatly assisted with an electric motor.
I also have some experience with less expensive (E.T.C.) electric-assist bicycles. These, with a low
step-through frame are ideal for someone of limited motion and power, who is otherwise unable to
ride a bicycle. We like these a lot more than the solution fifteen or twenty years ago of a
gasoline-powered engine ( And I've put those on bikes, too, for similar reasons).
I wonder, though, for a person of normal ability, why?
Bicycles are so darned efficient, it's hard to beat a 20-30 pound bike for fun. And if you'd rather
have power, a similarly priced moped has gobs of power.
To your question about regulation, most ordinances apply only when you are over 20mph or above 50cc
if internal combustion. These units usually fall below those threshholds. You'll need to check your
local ordinance to be sure .
--
Andrew Muzi
http://www.yellowjersey.org Open every day since 1 April 1971
