Are We Cheaters?

-

The question is bound to arise, so I may as well take it head on:  these ebikes — aren't we just cheating our way across the USA?

Well, sure, if we were competing in the Race Across America, with bottomless batteries, that would clearly be cheating.  

Absent that, though, I think not.  These bikes won't pedal for us, they just add some wafting to our progress, with four different levels of waft: Eco+, Eco, Standard, and High.  The control panel will offer up a range estimate for each level.  With a fully charged battery, just over 100 miles for Eco+ to about 60 for High.

What that really amounts to is time, though.  Mileage will vary based upon winds and terrain.

Over level to rolling terrain, I don't use the battery.  The knobby tires take a couple miles/hour off average speed compared to my pure road bike, but 13 mph sans battery isn't bad, and is sustainable all day, day after day.  

Where it makes a difference, though, is with hills.  We have some climbs around here that I have done using the ancient, well worn, manually pedaled way.  I was knackered at the end of it, and managed barely 7 mph.  On the ebikes, we did the same climb slightly faster and not knackered at the end.

Kind of important, doing this for a couple months on end.  Just as important is having some time and energy to spend enjoying our stops.

If we abandon, it won't be because we didn't cheat.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Coda

-
Image
It's been two months since our Final Hurrah finally ended.  Of course, it hadn't quite, and not nearly so abruptly.  And the moment it really did end, the real world, which we had ignored for sixty-seven days, would be denied no longer:  lots of catchup needed doing. Never mind mulling how to best put a tidy bow on the whole thing, then place it on the shelf of particularly vivid memories. I left off with us having reached land's end. I had found a not too distant Super-8 motel where we could stay before setting out for home the next morning. Susan thought different. Our trusty steeds cluttering their otherwise tres fancy lobby Whereupon we spent the rest of the day on five-star lunch, dinner, and bar in between.  Many, many reminiscings. The next morning we reentered reality.  Three and a half miles to the nearest U-Haul, and just as we had started in Boise, hurling our stuff in the back of the thing and trudging down the road, this time towards home. This part...
Read more

Origin Story

-
Image
Plot : Get from Pacific to Atlantic by bike. Cast: Susan and Jeff, Chronologically Gifted. Motivation: The Golden Years do not involve enough pain. Genesis: In early March, 2023, while we were in the family room reading, Susan suddenly and without warning asked "What do you think of riding across the US?" As it happened, at that moment I was thinking that very thing. It wouldn't be the first time in our marriage where I felt as if when she looks at me she sees a self-announcing teleprompter. Since I was a teenager, I had not infrequently thought of doing a transcontinental ride, but life kept getting in the way. That did, however, have the benefit of keeping me from getting what I asked. That excuse is gone. We are retired, with both time enough and money to prevent hiding behind their lack. And despite our being chronologically gifted, all our systems still work reasonably close to original spec.  No shelter there, either.  And the future offers no guarant...
Read more

Bougie Biking

-
Image
After such a grueling day yesterday, we needed a break.  Fewer miles, and nicer weather. Between Umatilla and Cameo Cameo Mansion , that is.  A bougier place to stay. Feeding Us Feeding the Steeds Tomorrow and Beyond Today, near as makes no difference to 30 miles . 3098 to beyond.
Read more