The Velotard Thread.

[Throbber3]

E-bikes are a superb option too.

I built my own last year with a kit from Amazon . Works well even. though I kept to the legal 250w. My wife has my old cyclamatic mtb and I also have a dohiker fold up that fits in the car boot . I drive to the outskirts and then pedal in with assistance. On cycle paths I hasten to add !!!

 

[EpsomWolf]

Little village between Arrington and Bourn. Roads not single track but not much bigger especially towards toft and Comberton. Lots of trees and blind corners yet starting at toft right through Comberton and Barton is a cycle path recently widened so you can go all the way to Cambridge without going on the carriage way. Except too many don’t .

Yep, I know it, nice recreational cycling if you head west from there out through Gransden and Abbotsley and over to St Neots too.

That Toft through to Cambridge path though does make you reflect on the comments from others regarding the need for infrastructure. That particular cycle path from the west starts literally miles (7?) outside the city. There is a similar one just built as an arterial route into the City from the north (Burwell >>Quy), another just completed from the east (Linton > Wandelbury > Addenbrookes), and another just completed from the south (A10 > Harston > Addies).

Each of those cost a fortune and ‘some’ motorists are enraged at the cost/per user ratio. I’ve mixed feelings as it is in fact brave putting the infrastructure in first and hoping the gamble pays off long term. I thought extending those paths to entice commuters onto bikes from say 6/10 miles away was ambitious, but maybe the policy makers knew more about the development and impact of e-bikes than most.

Does make you think though about the sheer scale of the investment and commitment needed to make cycling a realistic commuter option nationwide. It’s all very well be anti-car and punitive to motorists if you are providing realistic alternatives, but in these environmentally sensitive times we are in danger of forcing rapid change and being too fast with the former, and too slow with the latter.

 

[Throbber3]

Yep, I know it, nice recreational cycling if you head west from there out through Gransden and Abbotsley and over to St Neots too.

That Toft through to Cambridge path though does make you reflect on the comments from others regarding the need for infrastructure. That particular cycle path from the west starts literally miles (7?) outside the city. There is a similar one just built as an arterial route into the City from the north (Burwell >>Quy), another just completed from the east (Linton > Wandelbury > Addenbrookes), and another just completed from the south (A10 > Harston > Addies).

Each of those cost a fortune and ‘some’ motorists are enraged at the cost/per user ratio. I’ve mixed feelings as it is in fact brave putting the infrastructure in first and hoping the gamble pays off long term. I thought extending those paths to entice commuters onto bikes from say 6/10 miles away was ambitious, but maybe the policy makers knew more about the development and impact of e-bikes than most.

Does make you think though about the sheer scale of the investment and commitment needed to make cycling a realistic commuter option nationwide. It’s all very well be anti-car and punitive to motorists if you are providing realistic alternatives, but in these environmentally sensitive times we are in danger of forcing rapid change and being too fast with the former, and too slow with the latter.

In fairness cycling in Cambridge is the best option given the restrictions. The last 5 miles on an e bike even pedelec takes me about 25 minutes or so but it’s so much quicker coming home if I am between 4 and 6 finished. I am a fair weather cyclist. I can’t stand being drenched before work . Just off Mill road , Mortimer road by Fenners is where I go to so it’s no trek but it’s dead centre

 

[EpsomWolf]

In fairness cycling in Cambridge is the best option given the restrictions. The last 5 miles on an e bike even pedelec takes me about 25 minutes or so but it’s so much quicker coming home if I am between 4 and 6 finished. I am a fair weather cyclist. I can’t stand being drenched before work . Just off Mill road , Mortimer road by Fenners is where I go to so it’s no trek but it’s dead centre

Well there in a nutshell is how it’s supposed to work - drive to a park and ride hub on the edge of town, bus or cycle/e-scooter/e-cycle to your destination. Now there are such things as folding e-bikes too that’ll go in the boot of a car it’s becoming a workable, cheap, environmentally friendly doddle. These planners must’ve known what they were doing all along.

Sure, you’ll always have the Achilles heel of the misery when it pisses down, but the hubs and cycle lanes strategy seems to make a lot more sense now than it did before, and certainly difficult to argue it’s not a whole lot better than more tarmac and more choking cars.

 

[BillyDee]

I live near Stevenage, purpose built cycle paths intrinsic to its design. I very rarely see them used but the roads are chocker.
Articles a couple years old, but still relevant:

Build it and they will come? Why Britain's 1960s cycling revolution flopped | Cities | The Guardian

Squint at Stevenage’s extensive 1960s protected cycleway network and you could be in the Netherlands – except for the lack of people on bikes. So why did the New Town’s residents choose the motor car over the bicycle?

amp.theguardian.com

https://roadswerenotbuiltforcars.com/stevenage/

 

[EpsomWolf]

Interesting article that. Confirms making cycling more attractive through infrastructure isn’t going to be enough in isolation. Not sure punishing motorists and beating them out of their cars into eventual miserable submission is the right way to go either, but that looks to be the favoured option.

 

[machin05]

Thr trouble is that getting people to stop using their cars is literally the only way we can reduce congestion, lower our emissions and make the streets safer. That's before to consider the health benefits of more people taking up active travel for their daily 1-2 mile journeys.

To use language such as "war on motorists" and punishing/beating etc does nothing but make that solution further out of the reach of the common pysche.

Not directed at you specifically @CambridgeWolf btw. Just a general observation of the reaction by many motorists when their road use is threatened

 

[EpsomWolf]

No worries, I agree with much of what you say.

From experience here, you don’t actually have to wage a war on motorists - the council just stopped building more roads. Motorists eventually eat themselves as journeys become unbearable and motorists decide ‘fuck this’ and look for alternatives. If the cycle infrastructure is put in place at the same time there are huge shifts in the right direction.

I was at the dentist this morning and I’m quite sure if I could’ve driven the 2.5 miles and parked outside I would’ve done, but the cheapest, quickest, greenest and healthiest option was the bike. Funny what happens when you stop making it too easy for motorists - see Stevenage above!

 

[lemonjelly]

https://www.theguardian.com/environ...dox-how-cycle-lanes-enrage-some-but-win-votes

 

[EpsomWolf]

Got a bit of a shock to see my Voi Scooter rides for October total £43!!!
Does seem quite a bit but then if you offset the savings from Ubers and a bit of diesel here and there it suddenly doesn’t look too bad, and that’s without factoring in the obvious environmental advantages too.

Funnily enough, the thoughts now shift to the reasons for not just getting on the normal bike - although have to say, it is brilliant arriving at your destination not all hot and sweaty.

I guess you can’t win. E-bikes/Scooters are going to be great in getting people out of cars but bad for our fitness levels too. Definitely not feeling great about the laziness aspect to these things but do at least get to exercise elsewhere.

Going to be interesting to see how these things pan out as with the evident popularity there’s no putting that genie back in the bottle.

 

[machin05]

Got a bit of a shock to see my Voi Scooter rides for October total £43!!!
Does seem quite a bit but then if you offset the savings from Ubers and a bit of diesel here and there it suddenly doesn’t look too bad, and that’s without factoring in the obvious environmental advantages too.

Funnily enough, the thoughts now shift to the reasons for not just getting on the normal bike - although have to say, it is brilliant arriving at your destination not all hot and sweaty.

I guess you can’t win. E-bikes/Scooters are going to be great in getting people out of cars but bad for our fitness levels too. Definitely not feeling great about the laziness aspect to these things but do at least get to exercise elsewhere.

Going to be interesting to see how these things pan out as with the evident popularity there’s no putting that genie back in the bottle.

I was reading something recently that suggests eBike riders are actually healthier/fitter than normal cyclists. The main crux of the matter was that eBikes ride more often and further than regular cyclists. And because they are only electric assisted and not fully electric powered, the rider still is keeping their heart rate up and improving their fitness.
I guess it's kinda like people who walk every day vs people who run once a week. Maybe.

I'll see if I can dig out the piece and post it here.

 

[Throbber3]

I have a knackered knee that has needed surgery for yonks but as I have seen so many botched knee jobs I am waiting until I can go straight to replacement. So since 2007 I have owned e bikes. I have owned off the shelf and I have. Inverted my own. I now have a dohiker fold up for work a self build for leisure. My wife has a cyclamatic that used to be mine. They are all great and good fun . I recommend them to any of you

 

[EpsomWolf]

I was reading something recently that suggests eBike riders are actually healthier/fitter than normal cyclists. The main crux of the matter was that eBikes ride more often and further than regular cyclists. And because they are only electric assisted and not fully electric powered, the rider still is keeping their heart rate up and improving their fitness.
I guess it's kinda like people who walk every day vs people who run once a week. Maybe.

I'll see if I can dig out the piece and post it here.

That’s interesting. I guess I’m just witnessing things from a city centre environment whereby e-scooter use dwarfs e-bike use. I’d imagine most of those journeys would otherwise be done on foot/by bicycle, or, by bus/taxi, which sort of feeds the detrimental-to-health but beneficial-to-the-environment position.

It makes sense that e-bikes would really come into their own on longer journeys and open up cycling as a realistic alternative to driving and that can only be a win-win. I had a quick blast on one yesterday and was well impressed - they are a little cheaper to hire and unlike the scooters the top speed isn’t limited to 15 mph. A bit of effort and you can seriously whip along on those.

Would still choose the scooters for current use though as they just seem more fun and bring out the 10 year old kid in me, but for longer trips got to admit those e-bikes are absolutely cracking.

 

[Throbber3]

If you ever want to try a fold up electric let me know by pm.
This is it

 

[EpsomWolf]

I have a knackered knee that has needed surgery for yonks but as I have seen so many botched knee jobs I am waiting until I can go straight to replacement. So since 2007 I have owned e bikes. I have owned off the shelf and I have. Inverted my own. I now have a dohiker fold up for work a self build for leisure. My wife has a cyclamatic that used to be mine. They are all great and good fun . I recommend them to any of you

Funnily enough been looking into this sort of thing in order to get back on the bike and stop the lazy option of the scooters.

I’d like to convert my town/pub bike rather than buy a new one because it was a Christmas present from my wife a few years ago and I love it. It’s a Swedish Stalhasten and would be interested to hear thoughts on the best conversion options for this as it does seem a bit of a minefield:

 

[EpsomWolf]

Mes

If you ever want to try a fold up electric let me know by pm.

Your message came through as I was typing mine - thanks - might well do, as per above looking at all options at the mo.

 

[Throbber3]

Funnily enough been looking into this sort of thing in order to get back on the bike and stop the lazy option of the scooters.

I’d like to convert my town/pub bike rather than buy a new one because it was a Christmas present from my wife a few years ago and I love it. It’s a Swedish Stalhasten and would be interested to hear thoughts on the best conversion options for this as it does seem a bit of a minefield:

View attachment 4536

Amazon sell the kit and battery. Then if you’re really nice to the chaos at Kingsway cycles behind Burliegh street they will fit if for about 50 quid .
I did that to a professional. It’s a great bike now . Does about 25 to 30 kmh no problem and 15 miles on a charge

 

[machin05]

Swytch seems to be the most reputable conversion kit I've seen - https://www.swytchbike.com/p/universal-ebike-conversion-kit/

 

[Throbber3]

Very simple too

Swytch seems to be the most reputable conversion kit I've seen - https://www.swytchbike.com/p/universal-ebike-conversion-kit/

 

[machin05]

Yep, does look to be.
Seen a few of those conversions out and about on the tracks and canal paths too.