This attitude is why there is a level of dislike for cyclists. I knew they hate motorists but didn’t know it extended to anyone who doesn’t do exactly what they deem acceptable.
You BMW drivers will always hate cyclists ... its in the owners manual. What's wrong with putting some physical effort in
Yes, true. Most of the people on here are pretty active, it’s not a hard sell to them. But we have vast swathes of people who last did exercise badly at school, 30 years ago. If we get a thousand of those people out on bikes, of all shapes and sizes, it’s not a bad thing. If a percentage of them go serious, all the better?!
My understanding was the you DO have to put effort in with an E Bike (unlike say a mobility scooter)?
Anyone who thinks Ebikes are cheating obviously haven’t ridden one, they open up more miles, more hills and more descents for every ride. Cost at the mo is the only thing stopping me, one of my mates is 78 and it’s enabling him to keep serious mtb’ing!
That's what my mate says, they work by increasing the power you put in and the level of battery power enhancement depends on the level of assistance you have selected. So why not ride a normal cycle a shorter distance or at a slower speed. I quite understand that if you are old, infirm, have health problems. I've had a hip replacement I don't need one, perhaps when I'm older at say 78 like @SundialCamperSpecialists mate. I suspect once you have an e-bike there's few that revert to a pedal cycle.
So don’t have one. Whinging about people who do is no better than the twunts claiming you’re “ripped the heart out of it; should have bought a T5 etc etc”.
I’m not against them as such, I just have a had time feeling charitable when they overtake me. It’s just a matter of time before my hips will need replacing - my ability to walk the hills is already limited - so I can definitely see the point in them from that perspective. I guess at the moment I have lots of bikes, I like building them from components and generally tinkering, and part of the fun is getting out in a new build or whatever, but to me I have to put in some sweat and effort on the hills for the reward of the descents, it’s all part of it, I need exercise and I love riding. It’s very hilly here too with steep sided valleys either side. Luckily the climbs are short-ish though, and I usually ride for an hour or two on my own so I’m within my limits. It’s been a long time since I visited a trail centre or rode in bigger terrain, or even with a bunch of mates, just the odd couple of times a year with company. Mostly because I ride mostly in the evenings and I’m well catered for from my front door. I know however that if I bought an e-bike I’d be tempted to use it just when I was feeling a bit lazy and then I’d be on a slow slide into dependency on powered rides. I’ve already shifted my attitude toward understanding the benefits quite a bit, but I think it’s the old-school cyclist in me that cant help but feel a little resentment when one whizzes past. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I know what you mean. I see someone in front of me and I have to chase, it’s all done in fun and part of the sport. So if you’re a sporty rider and you’ve practiced and built up a level of fitnesses and someone powers past you on an E bike your first reaction is likely to be, that’s cheating. It’s something new and there will be more of them soon Just something else we’re going to have to accept and it will be normal as time goes on. Take a second look, you’ll see it’s an E bike, take a deep breath - someone just passed you with an electric motor. Then just pedal on in the purist way. Not all bad though, I remember hearing that our UK Tour de France stage winner (forgot his name now, Tom xyz I think), now uses one to keep up with is younger club members on casual grouprides as he’s in his 80s. Cool I think.
