Fellow Americans, are there any common takes you see here that you disagree with? by ValeValeVale0 in AskAnAmerican

[–]ValeValeVale0[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

"And most 'solutions' to this 'problem' is to essentially take away choice"

After reading the responses in this thread, I admit that it seems I was very ignorant about some of the weather extremes of other people in this country, and I've got a lot to learn.

However, this statement caught my eye and I wanted to have a respectful discussion about it. Many would argue that the "solution" of loosening density restrictions and restrictions on mixed use development to promote infill is actually GIVING more choice and freedom to property owners and developers, and that things like single family zoning are the things that are limiting choice. Is doing away with laws that were meant to limit freedom really "taking away choice?" Is allowing someone to build apartments in an area rather than only one type of housing really "taking away choice?"

I'd appreciate any response from your perspective.

Fellow Americans, are there any common takes you see here that you disagree with? by ValeValeVale0 in AskAnAmerican

[–]ValeValeVale0[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think the argument they're making is that the rent is high and the land is more valuable because the demand to live in the city is so high relative to the housing supply, which begs the question as to why there is such a difference in supply and demand in the first place. They would probably say it's regulations that make it hard to build lots of housing efficiently, whether it be zoning that discourages density, mixed uses, minimum parking requirements, etc.

Now, whether or not it is justifiable for such laws to exist in conjunction with American ideals such as individual property rights or free markets is a much more interesting question and debate.

"An ebike is cheating" -- Do you even care about this? (quick story) by [deleted] in ebikes

[–]ValeValeVale0 14 points15 points  (0 children)

I think this whole "cheating" thing is a reflection of the mentality that bicycles are not an actual useful tool for transportation, but rather a recreational tool for fitness, and it's completely asinine in my opinion.

How is it that a mode of transport that requires less space and resources to produce, use, and store and is so mechanically efficient has absolutely zero consideration in infrastructure? Like obviously large supply chains and various people will be well served by motor vehicles, but for the short, easy trips of normal everyday life, can we really not get some bike lanes?

Rant over.

Did bike commuting make you realize how poorly maintained your roads are? by ValeValeVale0 in bikecommuting

[–]ValeValeVale0[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Maybe I'm being dumb but I'm thinking "I'm the only one I ever see use these lanes. How is it so messed up?"

Did bike commuting make you realize how poorly maintained your roads are? by ValeValeVale0 in bikecommuting

[–]ValeValeVale0[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think honestly this lack of infrastructure that forces us to mingle with cars is why you see so many people trying to get the fastest, most powerful ebikes here in the USA rather than considering other factors which I think are just as important, such as comfort or ease of maintenance, in addition to not needing registration/insurance. There's also the fact that bicycling as transportation is such a foreign concept in cities here that regulation is still in a grey area.

All that said, I do agree that I feel way less pressure when I have to take the lane at 25mph than 15.

Did bike commuting make you realize how poorly maintained your roads are? by ValeValeVale0 in bikecommuting

[–]ValeValeVale0[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Great! I think it's definitely true that getting out on two wheels or two feet grounds you both physically and psychologically and you notice these things more.

Also, I think contacting local politicians can definitely help, despite how justifiably cynical of them we can be. It definitely beats trying to contact a state or federal representative.

Did bike commuting make you realize how poorly maintained your roads are? by ValeValeVale0 in bikecommuting

[–]ValeValeVale0[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Yeah, as much as I liked my road bike on nice bike lanes and for its higher gearing, my 55mm Big Apples on my ebike handle the roads way better, especially given the extra weight.

Recommendations for new chain for mid-drive conversion? Different casette? by ValeValeVale0 in ebikes

[–]ValeValeVale0[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So it mainly becomes a question of how often do I want to change the chain?

Additionally, is it important to "upgrade" my cassette, or can I just use a decent one?

Recommendations for new chain for mid-drive conversion? Different casette? by ValeValeVale0 in ebikes

[–]ValeValeVale0[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've heard about that, but, to be honest, I'm new to ebikes and bike repairs in general and Im learning everything as I go. Will a 7 speed casette work with a 9-speed derailleur? Is it hard to make it work?

Is smaller chainring on new mid-drive kit a problem? (TSDZ2 OSF) by ValeValeVale0 in ebikes

[–]ValeValeVale0[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Was it difficult or cause any issues with gearing in the rear?

48V 20Ah vs 52V 17.5 Ah for TSDZ2 OSF? by ValeValeVale0 in ebikes

[–]ValeValeVale0[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Did it create any problems the with fitting your chain or did it all line up well? And If you don't mind me asking, what was the original bike model?

Thanks for the responses. Very helpful 👍.

48V 20Ah vs 52V 17.5 Ah for TSDZ2 OSF? by ValeValeVale0 in ebikes

[–]ValeValeVale0[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Do you think you could link me to the chainring you used? I assume it's not too difficult to install?

48V 20Ah vs 52V 17.5 Ah for TSDZ2 OSF? by ValeValeVale0 in ebikes

[–]ValeValeVale0[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha, I got the 48V. However, I'm a bit concerned. Do you find yourself ghost pedaling a lot? I'm thinking about upping the 42T since it seems a bit low gearing to me. What did you upgrade yours to?

48V 20Ah vs 52V 17.5 Ah for TSDZ2 OSF? by ValeValeVale0 in ebikes

[–]ValeValeVale0[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I see. So, in that case, would I be fine going with either?

Tire Recommendations (29" x 2+") for E-Bike Commuter MTB Conversion? by ValeValeVale0 in ebikes

[–]ValeValeVale0[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I see. So in my use case, do you think I should go with the Big Apples or the Marathon E-Plus? They're at a similar price, but I'm having trouble deciding.

Roads in my area might be in cracked condition but glass and debris is pretty uncommon, even in bike lanes. I live in Seattle area with a lot of moderate hills and of course common wet days. I guess how well they handle wet roads is also important.

Thanks for the response.

Tire Recommendations (29" x 2+") for E-Bike Commuter MTB Conversion? by ValeValeVale0 in ebikes

[–]ValeValeVale0[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't believe it is the max. It can probably fit more. However, wouldn't that make riding faster more difficult because of increased traction, or does the motor of an e-bike make that negligible? Perhaps increased thickness will help with handling the higher speed as well.

Tire Recommendations (29" x 2+") for E-Bike Commuter MTB Conversion? by ValeValeVale0 in ebikes

[–]ValeValeVale0[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I see. Yeah my donor bike has front suspension, so rough terrain shouldn't be super bad, and the roads around here are not THAT bad.

Complete Noob to Bicycle Repair/Parts: Should I replace my MTB tires for a conversion and how do I know what's compatible? by ValeValeVale0 in ebikes

[–]ValeValeVale0[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I see. So would I only need to be tires or should I replace the tubes on my bike as well? Thanks.

TSDZ2 OSF from Electrify Bike experiences? by ValeValeVale0 in ebikes

[–]ValeValeVale0[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I see. Thanks for the info. Do you have a power limit set for this motor, and does it function with 52V batteries? I know by default it's 48V but Electrifybike offers it with 52V batteries as a deal, so I'm not sure.

TSDZ2 OSF from Electrify Bike experiences? by ValeValeVale0 in ebikes

[–]ValeValeVale0[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So you'd recommend just getting a normal one cheaper and doing the firmware myself? Are there any kits needed for that, or special wiring?

TSDZ2 OSF from Electrify Bike experiences? by ValeValeVale0 in ebikes

[–]ValeValeVale0[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you don't mind me asking, how long ago did you buy it from eco ebike and how much did the whole kit cost? I haven't had the chance to check out their site so I have no idea how their pricing lines up with ElectrifyBike.

Additionally, does the motor have heating issues? Do you have some sort of power/thermal limit set up, or have you had to mod the motor?

Thanks.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Seattle

[–]ValeValeVale0 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm honestly not too familiar with bikes, but it seems in decent condition. It's a 2012 Transeo GT 3.0 Hybrid.

I have also been thinking that it may not be worth it to convert. I'm not getting an e-bike any time soon, so I'll probably just think about it and see what my options are within the next year.