Never Too Old to Cycle

Cycling is a sport many of us fall in love with from a young age, but there is still a lot of joy to be had from riding your bike as a veteran, or even if you're just starting out from an older age! We take you through some great tips to keep riding happily through the years!

Greenways Study

This is the outline of the e-bike study developed by the Parks Department. The e-bike law went into effect in 2016 that allows class 1 and 2 on greenways. During that entire time the Parks Department would tell you that e-bikes were banned on greenways. Now they are in charge of the study although the Department of Transportation will also participate. 

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xKSy2y_sWdW4V-35-LF5GHEJFznLtR1M/view?usp=sharing 

 

Walk Bike Nashville (WBN) will have a representative on the working group. There will be public input and we need to make sure that we get our opinions heard because the other side will sure do so. WBN is putting together a committee to work on this issue. 

 

If you're interested in helping DM me and I'll get you the link to the zoom meeting 6 pm on Sept. 22.

Carey Rogers

E-Bike - 186-Mile Range, 37 MPH

BMWs attract a certain kind of driver. A Finnish study with a Treehugger-incorrect title once quoted that drivers of expensive cars are "argumentative, stubborn, disagreeable and unempathetic."

So it is with some concern and apprehension that Treehugger learned that BMW has introduced a new e-bike, the i Vision AMBY, that has a wonderfully big 2,000 watt-hour battery that will push it 186+ miles, but it also has a high-speed mode that will move it at 37 mph.

So why would BMW create a bike that makes it possible to go illegally fast? According to the press release, it wants to "start a conversation."  Follow the link!

https://www.treehugger.com/bmw-introduces-ebike-unconscionable-speed-5200714  

eBike Laws

eBikes are so new that virtually no litigators know how to legislate.  Hundreds of different types of ebikes are available. Setting laws to bicycle machines rather than by bicyclists are absurd. It will either cause harm to bicyclists or totally lead ignorants to good rules.

Nashville Parks is now trying to decide what to do with eBikes in Greenways. Carey Rogers said,

The Parks Board have not placed any bikes in the parks.  This led to a Mayor’s office meeting of “stakeholders” where they agreed to do a “study”.  They were also told about the law that was in effect for 5 years.  The truth is they have no authority to ban any e-bike. 

Walk/Bike Nashville and I intend to be part of the study and we’ll see how it goes. The only two things in the resolution council passed are for a review of peer cities, that all allow e-bikes on trails, and “public input”. 

Gain - Orbea

E-bike? You can’t tell by looking at the picture. Maybe close up. I guess the rear hub is a little large. I tell the people who question e-bikes on the greenways that in a few years you won’t be able to distinguish one from a regular bike.

https://www.orbea.com/us-en/ebikes/road/gain/

Carey Rogers

https://stories.orbea.com/what-makes-gain-unique  

 

Here are all the details with the Orbea ebikes.

https://www.bikeradar.com/news/2021-orbea-gain/?image=3&type=gallery&gallery=1&embedded_slideshow=1

The bike is interesting called the “Gain” bike. The video that you linked shows the typical users as “bicyclists.” They aren’t riding as a utility owner appearing like kludge with a large machine hanging over barrel battery. They are sleek recreationist enthusiasts. As I mentioned to you previously, my FOGBEE buddies also chose ebikes for the little extra “gain.” They dislike looks or reacts like a tractor.

 We almost always leave the motor turned off and just add that little bit of muscle. We are no longer limited by conventional bikes that tire us out in less than 30 miles. We use to turn on the motor about 20% to 30% extra joules over the hills to save torn sore muscle and comfortably ride more than 40 plus miles.

The Orbea decision almost matches what we have found with the Specialist product. Their GAIN is a 2x adder of muscle. The Orbea is almost identical in a small 240-watt motor and paired battery. I prefer the Specialist mid-motor that allows full efficiency of the gearing instead of the Orbea hub motor.

The Orbea is expensive like the Specialist, but it is a beautiful-looking enjoyment ride. As Bruce said, “Soon conventional bikes might even look like the usual ebike.”

Tom