E-bike E-xperiences?

Jakedata writes "I am in the process of building my first e-bike. I intend to use it to commute to work a couple times a week, weather permitting. I can only assume that many members of the /. crowd are already riding e-bikes and would be only too happy to share their experiences. I am looking at a very affordable e-bike conversion kit from Golden Island Machinery. They offer a 36 volt lead-acid battery pack for it, but I am concerned that it will be too heavy. Rabbit tool has a selection of components and power options but they are pretty pricy. So, is Golden Motor's kit any good? Is lead acid OK to start off with? Does someone want to donate a direct-conversion methanol fuel cell to the project?"

Why methanol vs ethanol

[Anonymous Coward]

from TFA: Does someone want to donate a direct-conversion methanol fuel cell to the project?"

Why methanol? Wouldn't an ethanol fuel cell be better, because then you could share a drink with it?

but jokes aside, does anyone know of advantages of methanol over ethanol fuel cells?

True Story

[mixmasterjake]

Once I was riding my bike to high-school and some jerk dumped their coke on me as they drove by. True Story. Had I been riding an e-bike, I might have been electrocuted.

Re:True Story

[wretched22]

Shouldn't have ridden with those streamers on the handlebars.

Re:True Story

[Alien Being]

Wow, close call! Imagine if it had been Jolt cola?

Re:how about a real bicycle?

[deglr6328]

when I was employed (oh so long ago...) I biked to work 2-3 times a week, about 12 miles each way.

Hmmm.... biking 12 miles to work on a hot summer morning.... Now, I'm not a rocket surgeon, but is there a teeny possibility that this could somehow be related to being employed "oh so long ago"? :o)

Re:Don't like pedals?

[Alien Being]

But Grandpa, why did you need more than one gear? It was uphill both ways back then, wasn't it?

The girl from the site...

[Anonymous Coward]

is getting me e-xcited. More girls should ride bikes in short skirts.

goldenmotor.com/e-Bike-DIY/sample-e-bike.jpg

Lost Technology

[Gogela]

Two words people: MO-PED. Yah... it's already been invented. You can pick one up from the neighborhood kids for about 50 bucks.

Re:Why not help him?

[Anonymous Coward]

I can't believe how pessimistic this slashdot crowd can be.

You must be new here. Believe it.

let's get it over with - 1ce&4all

[l3v1]

I don't see why won't you just be the ubergeek and build an android with your image and send it to work every day so you won't have to even get out of your bed ? You wouldn't even have to sit on a bike, let alone pedal the darn thing.

Man, if laziness would be a lethal disease, we'd have many more IT jobs open.

Re:Lost Technology

[friedmud]

But that burns fossile fuels!!!!

Unlike the coal power plan that makes the electricity that charges your E-Bike...............

Friedmud

Re:Why not...

[ImTwoSlick]

Why not just invest in a good, light weight bike. It will cost you a lot, but the light weight construction will be a LOT easier for you to bike with.

I don't think there's a bike light enough to make up for my heavyweight ass.

OH! E is for electric!

[Ambush_Bug]

I thought he was talking about making a bike that
distributed WiFi... like this:

http://www.magicbike.net/ [magicbike.net]

I read half the discussions about being a fat ass before
I realized what the hell was going on...

that'll teach me not to follow the links.

Re:Good lord...welcome to slashdot

[Anonymous Coward]

What did you expect from the "RTFM!" crowd?

Re:35km/h ?

[really?]

It must mean I am in FANTASTIC shape. I kick traffic's butt any day of the week. Oh yeah, I commute in Tokyo ... never mind ... my father could probably kick traffic's butt here.

Re:Why not help him?

[Anonymous Coward]

Soooo potat0man lemme guess...you're a fat ass? ;-)

Re:how about a real bicycle?

[really?]

Indeed, but "peddling your ass that distance" would also land you in jail in most countries, not to mention making you late for work.

Radio Flyer cycle

[Dr. Cody]

I tricked my bike out with an old 2M radio bolted to the handlebars, 6V golf cart battery under the seat, and a whip antenna attached to the frame, down by the rear axle, running up like one of those flags

I have worked at three bike shops as a mechanic. One in the country, one in the city, and one in Sweden. At EACH AND EVERYONE, I have had at least one customer who had welded, screwed, or zip-tied a HAM or CB-type radio to their bicycle. I would like an explaination you sick HAM bastards! Why do you have to demand a better word for "weird"???

Back in my day...

[ImaLamer]

...when the same comment was made over and over we modded them Redundant.

That being said... in your day did the people at work like smelling the sweat of someone who has just biked to work?

Someone has already pointed this out, so I'm being redundant, but there are two sides to everything. Maybe the person doesn't want to smell like a wet dog when he gets to work. I'm sure there is some cycling involved, but the point is to keep it to a minimum. Quit judging him. I bet you drive to work, likely an SUV.

Re:e-bike?

[kgbspy]

Just wait for Steve Jobs to get his hands on it - slap on a coat of bright white paint and market it as an iBike...

Still less dorky than a Segway Human Transporter

[Ezza]

and hellava lot cheaper too!

Re:Why not...

[FinestLittleSpace]

Why am I talking about my ass on slashdot? :-)

Better than the rest of the people here talking OUT their asses...

Re:e-bike?

[michaeldot]

Just wait for Steve Jobs to get his hands on it - slap on a coat of bright white paint and market it as an iBike...

Then 5 years later, Michael Dell will slap a black coat of paint on it and sell it as the Dell Despairon Bike 4800.

It will run Microsoft Bike OS 2009, which will stop every 5 miles until you to get off and clear the super large mutated viruses off the spokes.

Re:how about a real bicycle?

[Anonymous Coward]

isn't this the reason no-one liked gym class early in the day, in High School?

Finagle

[Anonymous Coward]

Why use electricity, anyway ? How about a tiny jet turbine burning methanol or butane ?

Finagle, the patron saint of the Second Law, doesn't like low-entropy intermediates. Help stamp out electricity !

Re:GoMotorboard 1500X

[Keebler71]

And the regenerative braking seems to work, albeit at much less than 100% efficiency...

And the collective scientific community breathed a sigh of relief.