Recent content by cj7hawk

I'm not sure if you mean mopeds are too slow, or are suggesting bicycles shouldn't be too fast? What kind of speed do you think would be suitable for a powered bike?

Or maybe they could just make all mopeds and 50cc motorcycles legal without a license, which is pretty much what you're asking. Personally, I think this is a good idea - as overpowered bicycles seem to be causing a problem on the footpaths. Though it would be nice if they could simply set a...

Sad about the sites that sell them - :( They really do seem to be misleading people. http://www.rego.act.gov.au/registration/registering-vehicle-other-than-a-standard-car-or-light-truck/motorised-devices This pretty much covers most motorized vehicles, including skateboards. Regards David

Actually, that's not correct. If it cracks, it usually means that it hasn't absorbed much energy at all and will not absorb any further energy - What you want in a good helmet is for it to deform but not break. That's what leads to absorbing the impact. Regards David

Even if a 130w continuous motor would peak at 200w, this isn't a rule or anything - it's just the analysis from a single engine. A 130w motor does about 18-19 kph typical. And the conclusion sounds pretty reasonable to me, at least for some motors. But it is possible to make a motor that puts...

I don't disagree with helmets. I disagree with mandatory helmet laws and I disagree with the types of helmets such a law introduces. As mentioned, I not only chose to wear a helmet before MHL ( and still do ) - I just choose to wear a helmet that does not comply with the laws. And I believe...

You only need to ask... There are German ones in English as well. It's a draft, but having seen the two prior versions ( and purchased one ) I can tell you it contains all the same information with respect to what we are talking about - Nothing was watered down in the new standard - in fact...

What do you think happens with a direct-drive hub motor and the back-emf once the wheel is producing a higher voltage than the battery system that is running it? I switch my controller on without the boost on steep downhills to limit my top speed for that very reason.... It's quite a noticeable...

That's exactly what they are suggesting. :( That speeds of anything faster than 19kph are "dangerous". Anyway, you don't need to sense power or load - if you're going to a speed limit, all you need to sense is speed. Adjust power according to speed. That's exactly how current pedelecs do it...

There's no loophole, except that in some states, any "peak power" may also now apply to 200W bicycles, and that's about it - The issue is one of law, and could be considered as an unintended consequence. To use 250W, the bicycle must be an EN15194 compliant EPAC. If you read the standard, then...

Studies? I'd be way off topic if I went down that path, but the two main themes of study are the ones that equate risk-taking to the perceived level of protection increase, not just by cyclists, but especially by drivers of other vehicles with relation to cyclists. The others are related to the...

I was T-boned by a car on a bicycle. A bike helmet saved my life and could be proven to have done so. But even so, I agree that MHL increases ( not decreases ) rider risk level and the helmets that are mandated are just dangerous. I pick and choose my bicycle helmets very carefully, and...

Problem is, those kind of people lose their license after a while, then get on 2kW bicycles, and ride them through heavy pedestrian traffic at about 50 kph. The issue this creates for us is that most people see that as what we want extra power for, so politicians aren't likely to be on side...

That's not quite relevant to the Aussie 250W limit. First, I should point out that no one in Australia can realistically achieve legal compliance with the 250W limit, unless the bike is from Europe. While not impossible, it's impractical to achieve the testing requirements under EN15194 as is...

I haven't posted in a while, anyway, 35 kph is possible, but there's a catch, and you may need to pedal ( or need a tailwind... ). First, if you want speed, 200w is the limit. BTW, 200w MAX or CONTINUOUS. Doesn't matter. Most people don't understand the difference anyway and are only thinking...