Get out of your car, on to an electric-assist bicycle!

Hi Folks
Deidre thought it would be helpful to put this up here as a permanent record...

Finally! Here's a summary of my info on electric-assist bikes. As oil climbs passed US$145 a barrel, I hope this will spur more people to look into this more appropriate transport!


Background:
As a peak oil researcher/activist for 10 years, I was searching for a good response to local transport systems, that would head off in a more power-down direction.
I listened to talks given by Richard Heinberg (author of "The Party's Over", "Powerdown", "Peak Everything"), William Catton ("Overshoot"), and David Holmgren (co-originator of Permaculture) and they were all saying we needed to get out of our cars and on to bicycles.
David Holmgren went a step further and said electric-assist bicycles were a no-brainer, we should be using them.
Robert Atack of www.oilcrash.com sent me the weblink for Xtracycle in 2004, and I jumped at the idea, especially when I saw that electric-assist kits were also available for Xtracycle-equipped bicycles.

What I'm currently using: a standard 26" wheeled mountain bike (Kona Caldera) with an Xtracycle kit (www.xtracycle.com) bolted to the rear, with the addition of a Stokemonkey electric-assist kit (http://cleverchimp.com/). A friend, Murray Neill, who also rides an Xtracycle here in Nelson, wrote this story about me and my bike on his blog: http://radio.weblogs.com/0128644/categories/xtracycling/2007/02/03....

Also check out http://home.comcast.net/~manewal1/wsb/html/view.cgi-home.html-.html for a similar/smarter version!

Modern electric-assist bicycles are very energy efficient.Studies understanding embodied energy show that an electric-assist bicycle is 2-4 times more efficient than just peddling if you source your food via the supermarkets, and 1-2 times more efficient if you grow your own.
Source: http://clevercycles.com/?p=125 Bicycle MPG

Here's another angle on why electric-assist bikes : http://www.electricbikes.co.nz/content/view/33/64/

Check out the "Bikes Not Bombs" page on Appropriate Technology that also lists the Xtracycle and Stokemonkey at http://www.bikesnotbombs.org/app_tech

Here's a new article out on e-bikes from an Adelaide researcher :
http://www.adelaidetouringcyclists.org/bosa/Electric%20bikes%20Type...

Here's a fellow-Xtracycle rider in the US, Mark Garvey's web page on his Currie electric-assist set up, and a good description of his use and recharging routines, note the trailer with solar panels! : http://www.vine-ave.com/electric%20page.htm

I've equiped my wife Gretchen's bike with an E-Lation kit, that sits just in front of the bottom bracket and drives an extra cog on the crankset there. This system was developed by and Australian engineer, and is now available in New Zealand through Anthony Clyde at Electric Bikes NZ: http://www.electricbikes.co.nz/ (if you get a kit or bike from him, please tell him I sent you!)

My current rig cost breakdown:
Second-hand Kona Caldera mtb $600 on Trademe (2002 model, was $2500 new, purchased due to frame sized to fit a Stokemonkey)
Xtracycle kitset including Wideloaders and Longloaders $700
Rear 203mm disc brake kit $130
Stokemonkey electric motor kit with 7ah and 13ah batteries $2400
Schwab Marathon plus (touring) road tyre on the back $80
Rebuilt back wheel with stronger rim and spokes $249
Cheap road tyre on the front $15
Suspension seat post $100
Front pannier rack $55
Second-hand front pannier set $30
Second-hand cargo trailer $200

I hope this helps all you fence-sitters who've been thinking about it, as oil goes passed US$145 a barrel....give me a call or send me an email if you want more info or help.

I'll load up some photos into the Photos page

Regards
Ted Howard
Nelson

ph 03) 548 8707