megclaypool

Commented the following:

I strongly urge you to allow ebikes anywhere you allow unpowered bikes. This should be considered an issue of accessibility. As I get older, fatter, and less fit, I've been riding bikes less and less. However, the recent purchase of an ebike has reopened those opportunities for me. It allows me to bike distances I haven't considered in years. It also "flattens" the world for me -- no longer do hills in my path disincentivize me from setting out. Nor am I the only person in this position -- ebikes are empowering many people to explore the world around them in ways not possible on a non-motorized bike.

My ebike assists me in achieving speeds up to 25mph (theoretically -- I'm pretty sure their test riders were all lighter and fitter than me!). Depending on the road or trail on which I'm riding, that could be a ludicrously unsafe speed, both for me and the people around me. Naturally, I have to use my best judgement to choose a safe speed. However, this same judgement is exercised by those on regular bikes -- even an unpowered bicycle is a marvelously efficient machine, and I am frequently passed by fitter riders on unpowered bikes.

Ebikes cause no more wear on trails then regular bikes. Forbidding ebikes would certainly decrease wear on trails, simply because fewer riders would be able to use the trails. However, deliberately limiting park access to those fit enough to ride unpowered bikes seems rather contrary to the goal of sharing nature with the general public.

Ugh -- I'm super stuck, and it keeps telling me I'm using invalid notation even though I'm pretty sure "Qd8" (for example) is valid notation saying that the queen is moving to the unoccupied space d8 🤷🏽‍♀️

Edit: Ah, I had to notate the "check"... But it still wasn't the best move 🤦🏽‍♀️ I ended up using https://www.nextchessmove.com/ cause I suck at chess 🤣

I bought a Lectric Step-Thru XP 3.0 Long Range, but I found it too large and heavy, especially when I needed to lift it onto my car's bike rack. I also felt the brakes were inadequate for the weight of the bike. (Lectric sent out an email saying they would be upgrading everyone's 3.0 brakes to hydraulic for free...)

I ended up replacing it with an Evelo Galaxy SL. Unlike the Lectric's hub-drive motor, the Evelo has a mid-drive motor with a torque sensor, so it feels a lot more like a regular bike. It's smaller and much lighter. I also installed a 3.5" stem riser, so I get to rock a super upright posture :) My new Evelo was more expensive, but it's fabulous and I love it :)