Quote:
Originally Posted by cabasse
imagine a bicycle with a purely mechanical system that you could use to wind a spring manually on descents (think giant wind up pocket watch) and then release the stored power for assist at some point later. would this count as a bicycle in your mind? brb, going to send my idea to colin furze
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Sounds like this makes my ride harder while I'm "winding" the system! If you let me wind it on a stand at home, then release it during the ride, I might go along with it.
On the hill issue and e-bike issue...I'm conflicted, but will downgrade my hilly city of Seattle for this reason. I ride a regular bike recreationally, an do hills to a point. But hills are a real disincentive for some destinations. To consider this city broadly bikeable for regular use (no shower required) means using a regular bike for certain trips and an e-bike for others.
That said, this city offers stunning rides, and many are mostly flat because they're on waterfronts, in valleys, or on our flatish linear hilltops. Often you're right next to water or in the trees. The floating bridges on Lake Washington open up a variety of half-lake-loop options for example. While I'd lower our "bike friendly" grade for hills, I'd raise it for the scenery.