Comments on: New Hybrid Bicycle Technology from Giant http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/08/12/new-hybrid-bicycle-technology-from-giant/ Bike Your Drive! Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:39:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Novocastrian http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/08/12/new-hybrid-bicycle-technology-from-giant/#comment-20930 Novocastrian Sun, 07 Feb 2010 13:06:09 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/?p=1233#comment-20930 Well I ordered my Twist Freedom RS1 today and will be here on Tuesday. I chose this model because it really looks so handsome and traditional. I may get an extra battery in due course; it's 18 miles each way to the office and I'm hoping I can get there and back on one charge. 55 years old and reasonably fit; but this journey more than twice a week on my non-assist bike was getting a tad too much. Roll on Tuesday ! Well I ordered my Twist Freedom RS1 today and will be here on Tuesday. I chose this model because it really looks so handsome and traditional. I may get an extra battery in due course; it’s 18 miles each way to the office and I’m hoping I can get there and back on one charge. 55 years old and reasonably fit; but this journey more than twice a week on my non-assist bike was getting a tad too much. Roll on Tuesday !

]]> By: Shannon http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/08/12/new-hybrid-bicycle-technology-from-giant/#comment-17557 Shannon Fri, 13 Mar 2009 16:55:47 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/?p=1233#comment-17557 I have one of these for myself and my husband- this bike has turned him into a bike commuter, and I am getting lots of mileage out of it to, going to the store, etc. I love it! I like being able to choose the power setting and since I am overweight it makes biking distances possible and easier, something I wouldnt have even tried - I would have just driven my car. I have one of these for myself and my husband- this bike has turned him into a bike commuter, and I am getting lots of mileage out of it to, going to the store, etc. I love it! I like being able to choose the power setting and since I am overweight it makes biking distances possible and easier, something I wouldnt have even tried – I would have just driven my car.

]]> By: Velosyped http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/08/12/new-hybrid-bicycle-technology-from-giant/#comment-17421 Velosyped Mon, 23 Feb 2009 11:08:02 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/?p=1233#comment-17421 Welcome to new era of cycling!!! Thanks for the post, Giant e-bikes are really better with Panasonic motor-hubs. Welcome to new era of cycling!!!
Thanks for the post,
Giant e-bikes are really better with Panasonic motor-hubs.

]]> By: Lee R. http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/08/12/new-hybrid-bicycle-technology-from-giant/#comment-14900 Lee R. Sun, 17 Aug 2008 06:55:30 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/?p=1233#comment-14900 Stuart M., you obviusly have researched e-bikes. If you were buying one today, which one would you buy? Stuart M., you obviusly have researched e-bikes. If you were buying one today, which one would you buy?

]]> By: Stuart M. http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/08/12/new-hybrid-bicycle-technology-from-giant/#comment-14862 Stuart M. Thu, 14 Aug 2008 02:05:22 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/?p=1233#comment-14862 Another problem with electric bikes, and electric cars too, is the ridiculous range claims. It is always a good bet to divide the advertised range claim in half to get a more realistic idea of how far one can go on a windless day. It also helps, if you are 5'5" and weigh 135 lbs like the fine print sometimes says! Some electric bikes come with High, Medium and Low assist levels and the respective ranges are quite different. Low will get you quite far but the assist is so low it won't help you much and kind of defeats the purpose of buying a bike with electric assist. Most users probably set it on High to get the maximum benefit and the range is more in the "half of claimed range" range. Some electric bike owners with lighter Lithium batteries buy an extra battery to take with them to almost double their range. Another consideration is the life of the battery, another area where ridiculous longevity claims are made. A good rule of thumb: the battery will not last any longer than the battery warranty! In the case of Ezee bikes this is six months. The Kalkhoff and Gazelle batteries come with two year warranties. Needless to say, the batteries are very expensive to replace. I still think electric bikes are a good idea for those people who need some help. I am 50 years old and my knees have been bothering me for some time. I love biking and can't imagine giving it up. When that time comes when going up the hills around my house is too painful in first gear, I hope electric assist will buy me another decade of riding. Knee surgery is really too chancy. Another problem with electric bikes, and electric cars too, is the ridiculous range claims. It is always a good bet to divide the advertised range claim in half to get a more realistic idea of how far one can go on a windless day. It also helps, if you are 5’5″ and weigh 135 lbs like the fine print sometimes says! Some electric bikes come with High, Medium and Low assist levels and the respective ranges are quite different. Low will get you quite far but the assist is so low it won’t help you much and kind of defeats the purpose of buying a bike with electric assist. Most users probably set it on High to get the maximum benefit and the range is more in the “half of claimed range” range. Some electric bike owners with lighter Lithium batteries buy an extra battery to take with them to almost double their range.

Another consideration is the life of the battery, another area where ridiculous longevity claims are made. A good rule of thumb: the battery will not last any longer than the battery warranty! In the case of Ezee bikes this is six months. The Kalkhoff and Gazelle batteries come with two year warranties. Needless to say, the batteries are very expensive to replace.

I still think electric bikes are a good idea for those people who need some help. I am 50 years old and my knees have been bothering me for some time. I love biking and can’t imagine giving it up. When that time comes when going up the hills around my house is too painful in first gear, I hope electric assist will buy me another decade of riding. Knee surgery is really too chancy.

]]> By: meli http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/08/12/new-hybrid-bicycle-technology-from-giant/#comment-14846 meli Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:00:57 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/?p=1233#comment-14846 Actually I can totally see my mom using this... Actually I can totally see my mom using this…

]]> By: meli http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/08/12/new-hybrid-bicycle-technology-from-giant/#comment-14845 meli Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:00:37 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/?p=1233#comment-14845 wow those hubs look chunkylicious. I like the overall look of it. Reminds me of what the shimano hubs look like in that auto-shift Trek Lime. wow those hubs look chunkylicious. I like the overall look of it.
Reminds me of what the shimano hubs look like in that auto-shift Trek Lime.

]]> By: Jason http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/08/12/new-hybrid-bicycle-technology-from-giant/#comment-14842 Jason Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:49:45 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/?p=1233#comment-14842 Wouldn't it be great if they could implement a generator that charged the batteries when you use the brakes? This is what the Prius does. 70 miles is an excellent range, but why not put that braking energy to use? Wouldn’t it be great if they could implement a generator that charged the batteries when you use the brakes? This is what the Prius does. 70 miles is an excellent range, but why not put that braking energy to use?

]]> By: Ghost Rider http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/08/12/new-hybrid-bicycle-technology-from-giant/#comment-14840 Ghost Rider Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:30:52 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/?p=1233#comment-14840 You want solar? Check this out: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/05/solar_powered_e_1.php or http://www.therapyproducts.com/products_sunnybike.html You want solar? Check this out:

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/05/solar_powered_e_1.php

or

http://www.therapyproducts.com/products_sunnybike.html

]]> By: Paul http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/08/12/new-hybrid-bicycle-technology-from-giant/#comment-14838 Paul Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:01:30 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/?p=1233#comment-14838 I've got 2 e-bikes as part of my fleet, 1 with a front hub motor, similar to Giant's, and a Currie I-ZIP that has a chain drive motor in the back wheel. The Currie can really help getting up some of Austin 's steep hills and has lots of low speed pull. But the hub motor seems to work much better at higher speeds (12-15 MPH), making it a better flat city cruiser where you would more likely be riding at a faster pace, not when you are going slower up a hill when the motor has much less pulling power. Either bike I like for different reasons, but the hub motor e-bike has a longer range, even with the same exact battery type as the I-ZIP. Neither of my e-bikes look anthing as handsome as the Giant Twist Freedom, which is why I would buy that bike in a heartbeat!! I’ve got 2 e-bikes as part of my fleet, 1 with a front hub motor, similar to Giant’s, and a Currie I-ZIP that has a chain drive motor in the back wheel. The Currie can really help getting up some of Austin ‘s steep hills and has lots of low speed pull. But the hub motor seems to work much better at higher speeds (12-15 MPH), making it a better flat city cruiser where you would more likely be riding at a faster pace, not when you are going slower up a hill when the motor has much less pulling power. Either bike I like for different reasons, but the hub motor e-bike has a longer range, even with the same exact battery type as the I-ZIP. Neither of my e-bikes look anthing as handsome as the Giant Twist Freedom, which is why I would buy that bike in a heartbeat!!

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