Slashdot Mirror
Xiaomi Launches Foldable Electric Bike QiCycle At a Price Of $450 (indianexpress.com)
Xiaomi on Thursday unveiled its first ever electric bike -- the QiCycle Electric Folding Bike. The bike, made of carbon fibre, packs a host of sensors and weighs just 7kg. From a report on IndianExpress:QiCycle has an integrated electric motor, which can be used for propulsion. The bike is powered by 250W-36V electric motor, and uses Torque Measurement Method (TMM) to assist the rider's pedal-power. It comes with Shimano Gear Shifters to let users switch gears based on the terrain. It also has a bike computer display to show all the fitness-related parameters such as calories burned, distance traveled, speed, etc. Xiaomi says the QiCycle has a large Panasonic 18650 battery, which can last up to 45 kms on a single charge. Qicycle can be folded and kept in the trunk of a car.The QiCycle is priced at roughly $450, and is currently only available for sale in Chinese cities.
Being the American infrastructure is based on automobiles. Locomotion at speeds averaging 15 miles per hour (roughly 25 kilometers per hour) is rather dangerous with other vehicles going 2 to 4 times faster with a lot more mass behind them. Bike trails in the US. are often just signs telling drivers to be more careful.
With so many drivers being distracted by their cell phones, just being out in public is dangerous. But that shouldn't stop you from living.
Average cycling speed varies greatly by where you ride. Speeds on sidewalks or through parks congested with pedestrians will be much slower than on paved roads. I commute 10 miles to work over paved roads on a mountain bike, complete with 30-pound panniers on the back. I ride in the road, not on the shoulder (there are no sidewalks or bike trails). With the panniers, my average speed is 18-20 mph. Without, it's 20-22 mph. Downhill, I can easily go 27 mph. Friends who ride much lighter road bikes ride faster than that.
When I ride, my bike is lit up like a friggin' Christmas tree. I have red lights on my seat post, on my pannier, and on the back of my helmet. I have white lights on my handle bar and my helmet. Even my pedals light up - they have a built-in generator, and have a red light on the back, a white light on the front, and an amber light on the side.
There aren't many statistics about cycling accidents. Meaning, more than just "were they wearing a helmet?" For example, were they experienced riders? Were they under the influence of alcohol or drugs? Were they riding in conditions (or speeds) beyond their skill level? Were they wearing light-colored, reflective clothing and/or have lights on the bike?
Most bike accidents happen to inexperienced riders and/or idiots. The rest were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Neither of those points will ever stop me from riding.