All Things Bikes and Tacos! (...and every vehicle imaginable)

i've been thinking about getting an e-bike because i had a major surgery years ago that impacts my left leg/hip flexion. I thought about doing a Bafang mid-drive kit to my current bike. Seems like a pain in the butt to have another battery to charge and stuff.

I don't ride like i used to. After my surgery, i was concerned about being able to flick my left foot, so I switched out my sps pedals for flat bmx-style pedals. i ride mostly on flats now anyways, so i guess i don't really need to be clipped in anymore.

2 weeks ago, I went to check out an e-bike with a step-through frame for ease that was on sale at REI for 40% off. it was like 56 pounds or something. yikes.

i just went riding around town with my daughter last sunday on my old bike, easy riding 5 miles. decent exercise and puts my left leg through range of motion. i felt good about doing pedal power myself.

Guess i'll just get my shifters/cables tuned up and ride.

 

Went for a ride with my 74 year old father. Did a mellow 12 miles at Fort Ord. Without e-bikes this would not be possible. He has had arthritis since his 40s and side effects of the drugs are lung issues. He has about 30% and 60% capacity. He rides 3-4 times a week around Monterey and Fort Ord. This is his second ebike, replacing one of the first Haibike all mountain bikes made. I would guess he had over 5k miles on the old one. I also have an ebike but it’s used for big days where we go 30 miles and 6k feet. It’s a blast and still a hell of a workout. I enjoy both bikes for different reasons.

 

So rad, that he's still out there ripping!

 

I'm pro e-bikes for commuting. If it keeps people from using cars then I'm all for it.

We have an e-cargo bike to take the kids to school, run errands, commute, go to the bar, etc. It's the best!

 

This. As long as the rider is responsible in traffic. I'd be doing too much stupid sh*t.

 

Yeah, and I don't love the spec. I wish they'd sell frame only, but for ebikes from the likes of SC I'll get the cheapest model and see/replace what I like. The
I have the wheels, get a lightly used Zeb or 38, Shimano Linkglide, done. Sell the rest and get a little back.
YT Decoy was a hell of a good deal though, so we just got the spec we wanted off the bat.

I honestly don't see normal mountain bikes going anywhere. It might become a smaller share of the market, but won't be going the way of the 26".
The emtb area is for sure a huge market and will continue to be explored, and I'm glad for it. Not just for me but for everyone that wants to get our there. Huge increase in accessibility. That's not always a good thing as trails get more and more crowded (which I'm sure we are all seeing, more ebikes out there), but it also increases trail building and more people advocating for the sport.

Agreed 100%. We just bought a Tesla Model Y, but I commute daily to PC (60+ m round trip) and I see the financial and environmental benefit to doing that.
Then again, I might be completely talking shit as I do have AXS where a normal drivetrain works well enough. A Garmin, where a normal watch works too.

 

i need to get me a hybrid car for commuting/solo rides to PC/cottonwoods and back so i don't put so many miles on my truck. lolol.

 

We also have a PHEV with about 40 miles electric range for around town, so between that and the bike, we mostly don't burn any gas day to day. I'm in favor of batteries for this purpose, especially in the salt lake valley where local pollution is also a problem.

I'm with you in being a bit of a hypocrite though... I also have a smart watch and like my other battery powered gadgets. I really wish I was less of sucker for new technology.

 

is the 26" just completely gone now?

 

When I had a 26" DH bike a few years ago, it was getting really hard to find anything but dirt jumper tires on mainstream sites. Fining one locally, even in SLC was also an issue.

 

I've seen a number of different bikes over the last 2 weeks. Idk if one was a 20 or 26 wheel ebike. It was odd.

 

Probably 20". Theres a lot of small wheel "commuter" bikes.

 

Yeah man. It was gone a few years ago. There's some kids bikes, older mtbs, and some commuters but that's it. No newer mountain bikes that I know of are 26".

Man, for 60 miles of daily driving to work over I80 into PC, it costs me $1 in electricity. Whenever I pull the Taco into the gas station (which is like, once a month now if that) it kills me.

Yeah, the pollution in the SL valley was one of the reasons. As was the gas prices.
At least I keep my battery powered gadgets for a while. And I try to sell my older battery powered stuff rather than chuck it to extend its life. Still, I know the impacts of batteries so I try to limit my purchase of them. I'm hoping in the next few years better tech moves more in the environmental direction. Using less impactful mining and production practices, even if it comes at a premium.

Speaking of which.... I think I'll be selling the Taco next summer. Since I drive the Tesla daily and my wifey drives the truck, we just don't use it enough to justify it. Looking for some suggestions.
Want something with AWD, decent off road (nothing gnarly), good for camping with the family, decent on gas (preferably hybrid or PHEV), and comfortable enough for a daily for my wife. Any ideas? Maybe something coming out within the year or two?

 

hahaha. that is true. i've been filling up the taco a lot recently and i'm starting ot feel it. yeesh. just need somethign slightly more fuel efficient. lol. was at a wedding the other day and the rental car, on the highway was getting mid 30's, it felt glorious. only had to fill up once for...20 bucks before getting to the airport. hahah. and that was AFTER driving over 200 miles.

 

Forester or Outback seem like obvious options. Not sure if the RAV4 had AWD options, but possibly.

 

Something that's awd, hybrid, good for camping, and coming out in the next year or two? What about a new taco?

 

Rav4 has been AWD for quite some time now. I'm really looking into one as a potential next vehicle. Gas has gone down $0.40/gal here in the last 2 weeks and it's still $4.89 Thankfully my commute is 7 miles round trip.

 

gas around here is about $6/gallon.

 

Mom has a Rav4 hybrid for a few years now and every time I drive it I think about trading the taco in. Comfy and 40-45mpg.

 

You have to factor in the upfront cost for the hybrid vehicles. Most if not all cost much more and you never recoup the money you spent up front in gas savings.