When does a bicycle become a motorcycle? I was asking myself that question after last week’s post, when I vlogged about my city’s new Lime e-bike sharing system, including a minor rant about Alberta’s antiquated legislation that treats e-bikes the same as motorcycles. Some people reacted to the post with surprise, asserting that if a …
Read more “What’s an e-bike anyway? Mythbusting over modern pedelecs”
Finally, Calgary finally has a bike-share program. In the video below, I detail my first experience with it. Now, pat us on the back for joining the rest of the world, where such systems have been enjoyed for years. But I’ve been thinking a bit more since I finished the video, and there are two …
Read more “Two things holding back Calgary’s new e-bike-sharing system”
There are plenty of good reasons why pedal or coaster brakes are pretty rare these days — disc brakes are better in almost every way. But there’s an important reason why I love old-fashioned coaster brakes on my bike. It’s all about making the bike easy to use for short, urban, practical trips. Check it …
Read more “Ways of making short bike trips as easy as possible”
It’s not a rare occasion to hear me rant about the impracticality of most bikes I see on the streets these days. Loaded with too much tech, too many gears, and too much equipment built for racing, too many people don’t ride bikes fit for an urban lifestyle. But sometimes, you come across a bike …
Read more “This gorgeous e-bike is impractical, unruly, illogical and totally loveable”
A few years ago, the New York Times reported on a new idea that delivery company UPS came up with to save time and fuel while delivering cargo in busy cities. It was so simple that it seemed almost too dumb to be true, yet the company insisted that it was already paying dividends: Stop …
In testing out the cool new SmartHalo on my bike, two questions struck me: 1. Is SmartHalo better than your phone? 2. Do you need a smart bike? So I put the questions to the test, by comparing what you get on your phone to what you get on a SmartHalo synced with a phone. …
Read more “Smart bike challenge: $12 iPhone bike mount verses $200 SmartHalo”
It started as a well-meaning attempt to offer some alternatives to backpacks. Backpacks are great, obviously, but sometimes when using a bicycle for getting around a city, a backpack can be a burden. A sweaty, heavy, burden. Things went a little awry, however, when Doug got involved. Doug is a guy in my neighbourhood who …
Read more “Proof you can haul pretty much anything on a bike”
Ever since electric bikes were introduced and started gaining popularity, there has been an ongoing argument among traditional bicycle riders and those who prefer electric bikes about whether riding a motorized bicycle counts as an exercise and has health benefits as a traditional bike. Some traditionalists claim that riding an electric bike is almost like …
Read more “The health benefits of e-bikes should kill the idea that riding them is ‘cheating’”
One of the things I love about watching Stranger things on Netflix is the scenes of the preteen heroes riding their bikes around their messed-up town. Yes, I’m a bike nerd. The kids’ bikes are more than just props. The bikes separate the kids from the adult world and give them the freedom to explore. …
Read more “Maybe children ride bikes less often today because their bikes make it hard”
“How much does one of those cost?” As a committed rider of an electric-assist cargo bike that I use for all kinds of things, not least of which is pedaling my two kids to school every day, that’s a question I am often asked. And I get it. Cargo bikes are not cheap. As new …
Read more “Yes, cargo bikes can be expensive, but they can also save you money”