different kinds of bikes

Hi Chip,
I already have 3 bikes and three trail a bikes, because, you know, I gave one away.

I have noticed a lot of people are reluctant to get going with bikes due to rain, carrying things, etc, including one of my relatives who recently died after declaring that he would never ride a bicycle under any circumstances, including $400/gallon oil. He was 200 pounds overweight.

I am interested in ELF cars and pedacars. Do you remember the pedacar? In the 70's I was reading My weekly reader and they showed a pedacar that could go 25 mph. No motor whatsoever. I thought they were cool, but I didn't buy one because I was 12. Now I 'm older than 12 and own a regular car, which I find useful for carrying bikes. One of my friends has an electric assisted bike. She loves it but doesn't go out in the rain, which we have a lot of in between November and June. For those of you who don't know, the ELF car is an electric assisted bicycle with a shell. Kind of a peda car. Do you see an increase in use of electric assisted and covered bikes in the future for people who aren't quite as hardy or cool as us?
Thanks
John S
PDX OR

Hey there, John!

Yeah, I remember pedal car type bikes (trikes and quads, most of them). Rhodes still makes the iconic machine, I think- The Rhodes Car. As for electric assists, or ebikes, I see a lot of them down here, but for every one person using them correctly, I see ten that aren't. (Too many lazy people in suburbia, don'tcha know.)
From a permaculture point of view, you have to ask about how the ebike is charged. If you're charging it off the grid, it's simply an external exhaust moped. If you've taken the time and effort to set up a photovoltaic array or wind turbine to charge your ebike, you get extra bonus points and an E for effort!
As for me, I see ebikes as a self-fulfilling need: They are so heavy, with the batteries and motor and all, that they do need those batteries and motor and all. I have several bikes that weigh under 25 pounds, but are cetainly sturdy enough to do all I ask of them in this suburban environment, no motor required. My confession: If I get to the point that I can't pedal, I have a motorcycle as well as a motorscooter with a sidecar. To me, if you're gonna have a motor, HAVE A MOTOR.
My bikes don't have motors, except for me. For now.

Hey Chip if we were to attach some pics of old bikes that we cant seem to determine what year model they are.. think you'd give I.D. ing them a shot?

If they are Schwinns, I know how to decode the serial number to give you the month and year it was made*. Beyond that it's all a big guessing game, as technology tends to filter down over the years from pricey bikes to less so. But yeah, go ahead and post some photos, and let's see whatcha got! What fun!

*I can explain it, if anyone really wants to know.