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Comment by hinata08 | Hacker News Reader

I couldn't agree more.

I bought a used ebike in January to test. And it's fantastic !

I can easily get my PC, locks, food for the day, and whatever I want over the hills to go to work (I once went to the hardware shop at noon from the office, and cycled back home with my new electric tools)

I also take over cars when there is traffic, so I take about the same time to go to work everyday.

I like that the motor of the ebike stops gradually around 25km/h. So I can just provide the power I want, and the motor will then do its share to reach about 25. Which means I can still either train or not do anything.

I no longer bear to drive my car in traffic to go to work.

When I tried to do that with a manual bike, I couldn't do it everyday, I had to watch the weight, and I could hardly go to training in the evening. But the ebike can be a daily ride without any problem.

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Interesting. What do you do when it's 50C hot outside or freezing winter with a snow?

Wear the right clothes. I on and off bike to the gym and if you wear the right things the weather isn't a problem.

I haven't done this but it might be worth looking at what mountain bike riders wear in the winter, assuming they don't stop riding. They're likely wearing things which climbers (in the winter) and skiers would wear.

... or just people in finland who ride bikes all year round.

Sure it can suck to ride your bike on a cold wet day like we get in Seattle, but the right gear can help a lot... and I'm not sure anyone is saying, "If you buy a bike you MUST sell your car and do everything on the bike". I'm taking the bike as a challenge to myself, trying to do all I can on it. But if one day I'm just not up for it or it's just pouring, or the load is to big or too far. That's what car share is for. If everyone did similar we'd have a lot more pleasant cities.

Mountain riders wear almost nothing on winter, but gloves.

Good gloves for ski or bike are inexpensive. You just need to think to buy them.

If it's really cold when you commute, just a pair of jeans and any sweater or jacket is ok, as you're cycling anyway.

But when it's raining or wet, you would rather just stay at home, get your car, or wear shorts if you're already outside.

And when it's hot, still shorts , but get a bottle of water. The biking will make a light breeze to cool you down.

But it's still up to you to find what you like.

For example, some persons do need beanies too, while others will be on beach outfit all year long.

Do "right clothes" save you from slipping on the ice?

No, but studded tyres do.

no, but snow plows and salt on roads do. also it's not like ice is instant death for a bike. it's only a problem if you brake or turn suddenly. with a little bit of care biking in ice is avoidable

The right clothes works great when you're going to the gym. When you're going to work though it is extremely difficult to not end up sweaty, and many offices don't have showers.

I'm tired of replying to that.

At first, I don't live in Canada. Most days are not either freezing winter with snow or 50C, but a compromise.

Now, I suggest you find freetime2's comment in this post, who correctly summarized that you can put intelligence into choosing how to commute each morning.

I do live in Canada. It isn’t a problem here either.

E-bikes are actually easier to dress for extreme weather since you can easily choose how much work you are doing.

If it’s really cold out I just dress as I would for a normal walk in that weather, just dial up the assist to avoid overheating.

Also let’s you commute in work clothes without worrying about sweating.

Yeah, I have been very surprised by the fact that e-bikes require you to think less about clothing than regular bikes.

In the hot summer you sweat buckets on a regular bike, but an e-bike is cooler than just walking because not only are you not exerting yourself, but the speed generates a breeze.

And in the winter you can choose to pedal a little harder to compensate for the cold wind and again stay the same temperature just as walking.

E-bikes are much closer to walking than traditional cycling when dealing with temperatures.

Obviously rain is gonna suck though.

Find your answer here: https://youtu.be/Uhx-26GfCBU

God damn, to watch 15 minute video, just to realize that you will need to put on gazillion clothing just not to freeze.

That's just 5 words turned into 15min video LMAO

Whilst I agree that offfering a 15 minute video as an answer to a comment, with no timestamp/tldr for a quick answer is extremely inefficient, the video specifically states that you don't need to put on, as you say 'gazillion clothing' items, and the narrator in the video says that he only wears a jacket, gloves and a hat whilst cycling in the winter. The majority of the video is spent making the point that the barriers to winter cycling are not due to the cold, and more due to the infrastructure for winter cycling not existing in most places.

You know you asked a good question when everyone is outraged at you but can't actually provide a cogent answer.

"I'm tired of replying to this" lmao what kind of response is that

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