Bionx at the Greener Living Show

I visited the Greener Living Show yesterday, it was not so busy with the TTC Strike.  I saw Daymak, Blue Avenue and DewDad… I saw a couple of new guys too, like Airstream.  Same old same old.

What stuck me the most was the display, (and test ride), by Bionx.  Wow!  Now I know why they cost what they cost.  What an amazing technology.  With real regenerative power, breaking sensors and selectable power assist ratios you really are getting bla bla bla … I have to write more before I press the “publish” button.

350 watts is not 500 watts

What’s with all the low watt scooters?  Check out the dry-weight specifications on the multi-branded scooters and then look at the motors, and ya wonder, where’s the watts?

No, seriously.  There are lots and lots of scooters on the roads downtown, I seem them everywhere and while there are a bunch of 500 watt models, there are way more 350 watt’ers.  And most of the time, those 350 watt’ers are going way slow, like, scary slow.

One of my fear factor moments is heading north on Don Mills Road, in a posted 60 Km/h zone and the traffic doing an average of 72 Km/h.  Not a happy place to be during rush hour.  My other favorite is the hill that goes around Casa Loma…. peddle peddle peddle.

Lock or Alarm … or both?

We all lock our bikes, right?  But how?  Most bikes have a steering lock, some even have a hub lock so the wheel can’t spin.  Pictured above is the Master Lock “Street Cuff” – a CDN$200 lock with $5000 insurance against theft.  Available from a fine Canadian company; Scooter and Moped Parts (DOT com)

My question…. is an alarm really a deterrent?

 

Schwinn Review

The following is a contribution from reader Chris B.
 
The Schwinn from Canadian Tire @ $500 is a real steal.  I spent about 2-weeks researching and visiting about 15 bike shops.  There was nothing under $1000 as-far-as e-bikes went, and the Bion-X kit that I would need (being a big guy) was about $1800 (not to mention that it won’t fit on my 1-year-old, $500 Schwinn comfort bike’s frame!  So, add another $500 for a bike!).
 
Picking up the bike…
 
Since it was a nice day/night, I rode the bike home from CT on mostly electric power (4km).  Not too shabby!
I continued my ride after a short pause at home, and the battery lasted a reasonable amount of time (about 45 minutes of mostly electric and some off-road).  When I got the bike home it showed that the battery was 1/2 depleted (but most likely 2/3).
The bike is not as quiet as the Bion-X system, but then again, it’s about $1500 cheaper!
Overall, I was impressed; but the true test will be my commute to work starting next week (weather permitting!).

What would you’all think if…

I’m having some issues with riding an Ebike, some of which I’ve aired here, most I’ve kept to myself.

I’m considering going gas. I find that I need to travel further than an Ebike can take me and I’m constantly terrified about the liability issues should I have an accident.

What do you’ll think?

Downtown

The weather has been so nice after such a looooong Winter.  

I had some time between appointments and I found myself at Jarvis and Richmond, home of Daymaks’ new downtown showroom.  Schnazzy.

They, (Daymak), even have an electric bike built for two!

Sorry about the picture – new camera phone and I’m learning how to MobBlog

Updates….

So yes, I’m updating the blog and I’ve received a comment; “how do you post a new topic?” You don’t. Its my blog. I welcome your comments and, in truth, I’d love your ideas for topics too.  At some point I’d like to make an Ebike Wiki so that we can pool our collective knowledge.  At some point I’d like to drive George Clooney’s electric car, (the world’s fastest urban car).

What else is new? I’m updating the dealer section, marking the dead links as, dead, and adding new ones as I find/hear about them.

Nice day for riding, wasn’t it?

Spot the cup holder

Nice day for riding, eh?  I was out on my Daymak today and I had the urge for a double double.  Can you spot the cup holder?

 

 

Crappy crappy new ebikes

Since September last year I’ve been seeing a bunch of new e-bike dealers pop-up, the majority of them selling the same crap rebranded.  You want my recommendation, honestly? Veloteq (and no, they don’t sponsor me …. yet).

Soon, (and maybe with your help), I hope to develop a review process that can compare the different brands and types of ebike.

Things I’d like to see in the review matrix:

• Battery amp/hr and charge time.
• Motor watts
• Brake type
• Time to speed
• etc,.

Back in the saddle again…

2008 – a new beginning?

I’ve pulled my e-bike outside for the first time in months.  I’m blogging for the first time in months.

I’m back!

2007 ended in such a bad way for me.  I had my first major e-bike accident, (with only minor damage to the machine). But for me, it was a huge and personal shock.  Here’s what it comes down to: 

• I don’t want to hurt anybody, ever.  
• I want to make sure, that should an accident happen, I be insured and covered for liability.