EcoSpeed at First E-Bike Race

Over Memorial Day weekend as part of the annual Oregon Human Powered Vehicle Association races at Portland International Raceway were held the first (as far as we know) sanctioned electric bicycle races.

The races were open to any electric assisted bicycle with legal power levels, though speed was not required to be regulated. Racers were divided into classes based on battery capacity and assigned a race distance proportional to that capacity. Classes were also subdivided based on aerodynamic aids as is the custom at OHPVA races.

The object was to see how fast you could average over your allotted distance around the fast and smooth Indy car track while also completing with other bikes in your class. The distance required was long enough so that you couldn't simply apply full motor power and cruise to the finish. Efficient cruising and pedaling hard were the order of the day.

EcoSpeed entered an Easy Racers Gold Rush with one of our stock Powerpack motor kits and a 24Ah, 37 Volt lithium ion polymer battery. We added a fairing and body sock for better aerodynamics while still keeping the bike useable as a commuter. In fact, the day of the race we rode the bike the 10 miles from our shop to the track and then back again afterwards. Brent Bolton, our fearless co-founder, though not the worlds fastest bike racer by any stretch of the imagination, piloted the craft.

Within a hundred yards of the start the EcoSpeed equipped Gold Rush was in the lead and never looked back. 15 laps (29.7 miles) later we took the checkered flag at a time of 50 minutes, 30 seconds. Average speed was 35.3 mph with peak speeds on the front straight of over 42 mph. The Gold Rush used energy at a rate of 24 Wh/mile over the full distance. That's equivalent to about 1400 MPG. The second fastest bike was a hub motor equipped full streamliner that managed 31.5 mph average.

At the awards ceremony after the race, EcoSpeed was also voted Best Practical Commuter bicycle. So, why are you still driving?