e-Bike article in the New Yorker

[Eric Marth]

I'm not in the market for an e-bike myself but I can always appreciate a thoughtful and thorough dive into just about any subject in the pages of the New Yorker. 

I'm so totally unfamiliar with e-bikes that I now understand the rudiments of how they're powered and how the pedal-assist and throttle work on certain machines. 

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/01/02/hell-on-two-wheels-until-the-e-bikes-battery-runs-out

In case you hit a paywall there's a pdf below. 

I'm also reminded that Jill Lepore wrote an article for the magazine back in May of 2022 about the evolution of the bicycle and its presence in everyday life. Nothing earth-shattering here for the well-read bicycle nuts but a fun read. 

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/05/30/bicycles-have-evolved-have-we-jody-rosen-two-wheels-good

[Luke Hendrickson]

Working at a bike shop has shaped how I view e-bikes and their omnipresence here in San Francisco. On the one hand, users ride them when a traditional bike would haven’t have been enough to entice them to ride. On the other hand, most are outfitted with shoddy components or the end user is left to do a portion of the assembly themselves at home. I generally dislike them and, unless someone is willing to plonk down $5k for a Surly Skid Loader or Trek commuter, recommend against them.

Regardless, I thank you for sharing this article, Eric. 

[Ryan]

I would say in the last few years, especially since the advent of Covid, a good third of the bikes I see on the streets of Winnipeg are e-bikes of one kind or another. And they're not just ridden by aging baby-boomers like myself either. When some folks had to return to the physical workplace, in addition to those working in essential services but car-pooling fell by the wayside in 2020 and 2021, e-bikes became an attractive commuting option. Not sure how well they work in our Winnipeg winters, though. 

A neighbor and friend of mine down my street has a home-based business selling and servicing them. He keeps on trying to persuade me to take one out...but I'm not there yet...as long as I can pedal a bike , I will. I can see that the ones that assist are useful ...especially in windy Winnipeg , allowing you to ride longer....and if it gets a car off the road, go for it.

Yes, Eric, the e-bike article in the New Yorker was interesting...and yes, I enjoy the New Yorker, too...have a digital subscription to it. Love the cover art, of course, but I also enjoy the usually fine writing and range of topics it covers. And the groovy and very well-made and rugged tote bag the New Yorker gives as swag to its subscribers😊