A Reminder: May is not just National Photo Month, it;’s also National Zombie Awareness Month. Each May, Zombie Awareness Month brings excitement, reminding us to stay prepared while embracing a touch of spooky fun. Running from May 1st to May 31st, this period is marked by fans wearing gray ribbons to promote readiness for a possible zombie apocalypse.
Today’s Post by Joe Farace
If you want to survive the zombie apocalypse, you need to focus on increasing your stamina.—Tom Payne
Today is National E-Bike Day. Mary and I each have a Specialized mountain bike. Mine is done up in two silver tones; Mary’s is sliver and white. I’ll be the first to admit that Mary uses her biked more than I do, mainly because she has a friend who goes on rides with her. Neither of us has an e-bike, mostly because they are so expensive. Specialized, who makes nice, affordable bikes and who offers many kinds of e-bikes, their cheapest one costs $4500. Given my current mobility challenges an e-bike would make it easy for Mary and i to go on rides together, but I am more likely to be “up and about” before I could afford one of these bikes.
Then there is the whole e-bike class system:
- Class 1: is pedal-assisted and the motor supports you up to 20 mph, then cuts its power. With a pedal-assisted e-bike you have to pedal to activate the motor.
- Class 2:is a throttle-assisted but the throttle will support only 20 mph. The bike has a separate throttle control, so, you don’t have to pedal to activate the motor.
- Class 3: are fast and can reach 28 mph. It’s pedal-assisted and to activate the throttle, you have to pedal your bike. Some Colorado bike paths don’t allow Class 3 bikes. One of my neighbors has a Class 3 bike but I’ve only seen him ride it, maybe, twice.
caption: Before we got our Specialized mountain bikes, Mary and I had “cruiser -style” bikes. Mine was called “The Joker” and had motorcycle-type vibes. After we got the mountain bikes we didn’t ride them so much and I sold them shortly after moving into Daisy Hill.
E-Bikes History
The first notable milestone in e-bike history happened in 1895. That was the year that Ogden Bolton Jr. obtained a U.S. patent for a battery-powered bicycle that has a hub motor. This innovation led to further developments, like Hosea W. Libby’s design that included a double electric motor. However, the e-bike story opened a new, significant chapter with the introduction of the Pedal Electric Cycle or pedal-assist in the late 20th century. That newest technology revolutionized e-bike design and functionality and ease of use.
The last decade or so has brought about an ever-increasing surge in e-bike demand. This surge comes from larger factors than just the number of e-bike riders. Instead, it also stems from the many technological advancements making e-bikes more accessible and enjoyable (but not necessarily less expensive.) It doesn’t hurt that many cities now have planned bike paths…or that auto prices have soared in recent years.
Lectric eBikes, who does offer some affordable e-bikes, decreed the first-ever National E-Bike Day in 2019. The occasion revealed the growing significance of e-bikes in our lives. Since then, this day has continued to celebrate those who choose a more sustainable and innovative transportation method.
What’s all this have to do with National Zombie Awareness Month? Nothing.