E-bike E-xperiences?

Jakedata writes "I am in the process of building my first e-bike. I intend to use it to commute to work a couple times a week, weather permitting. I can only assume that many members of the /. crowd are already riding e-bikes and would be only too happy to share their experiences. I am looking at a very affordable e-bike conversion kit from Golden Island Machinery. They offer a 36 volt lead-acid battery pack for it, but I am concerned that it will be too heavy. Rabbit tool has a selection of components and power options but they are pretty pricy. So, is Golden Motor's kit any good? Is lead acid OK to start off with? Does someone want to donate a direct-conversion methanol fuel cell to the project?"

Comments

Re:how about a real bicycle?

[CamMac]

I can't stand bikers... and its because of the stunts like that. Now, if your biking the speed limit, this doesn't apply. While I generally cruise above the speed limit, I'm not the kind of jackass to start yelling because I'm the only one speeding.

However, when I'm on my way to school or work and a car is travelling 5-10mph below the speed limit I get pretty annoyed. So when its a biker who isn't hugging the curb, but instead taking up an entire lane, I reserve the right to get pissed.

If your doing your part to ride the curb and allow people to pass, I'll do my part to pass you safely. Bikes and Cars can share the road.

--Cam

Re:how about a real bicycle?

[CamMac]

This is my responce to everyone who replied to my realy post. It is in two parts, the response to the rational people. And a response to the two flamebaiters. This is also my last response. I will continue to read responses, but unless its really insightful and begs for a reply, I'm not going to waste anymore time on Slashdot.

RATIONAL

For the rational people, a rational response. I wish I could name you, but most of the responses where rational.

I am not referring to any biker that can keep the speed limit. Roads are there to provide a means for getting from point A to point B quickly. And there are a lot of other people with whom you have to share the road. Yes there are slow moving vehicles. However, even slow moving vehicles respect the need of everyone else to get somewhere quickly. Except for grandma, and she's going to lose her license anyway. Tractors never get on the highway during high volume times. Street cleaners only operate a night when the traffic is low.

Where I live (Boulder/Denver area), there are a large number of bike lanes and sidewalks. It is easy to ride a bike from anywhere to anywhere without impeding regular traffic. Yet some bikers, the ones who piss me off, refuse to accept the fact they are not a part of the regular flow of traffic. When the speed limit is 40mph, get on the sidewalk. Especially during high volume times. Don't expect that because the law gives you the right to be on the road, that not a right to cause problems.

Personally, because my area has a large number of bike trails, lanes, and sidewalks, and because we still have bikers who hog lanes and ride between lanes, I feel that we (locally) should ban bikes from the roads. They are a safety hazard. The only ones who get hurt are the bikers, but the only ones who get blamed are the drivers.

FLAMEBAIT
Mysticgoat
I hope your license is taken away from you before you kill someone.

I'm sorry that you live in a culture where people act upon all emotion without control. Where I come from, it is expected for people to act rationally regardless of state of mind.

swv3752
Tough. Bikes have right of way over cars. Pedestrians have right of way over bikes and cars.

So because you have the right, you abuse the right? Way to go. That is the attitude that pisses me off.

Oh, and I do hope that no one who has taken the attitude of "I'm doing it my way, and everyone else can suffer" will never argue against second hand smoke, pollution, or anything else in which someone's actions indirectly effect you. We all live here, and we need to live together. This goes for the inconsiderate drivers as well, Mr. AC with the 20 inch rims.

--Cam
PS Sorry for the responses to the flamebait, but one of them got to a mod+5 and I had to say something.