January 22, 20179 yr I am forever being told that owning/cycling an electric bike is cheating! Really? I am like an awful lot of adults who have to travel to and from work and my choice of transport is my electric bike which I use everyday come rain or shine. Somedays I may peddle a bit, others I might just let the motor get me there and use the pedals as "foot rests". Surely if I am cheating, then everybody who is getting to and from work by any means of transport whereby they are not using their legs/energy i.e bus, car, train etc. is also cheating? My bike is a vehicle that gets me to where I need to get to (quicker than most other forms of transport in rush hour) and is a lot more enjoyable as my route takes me through two parks. How many times have you been told you are cheating?
January 22, 20179 yr How many times have you been told you are cheating? I used to get told this often at work by people who drive a shorter distance to work !!
January 22, 20179 yr How many times have you been told you are cheating? Only once. Years ago we held a retirement party for my father in law and were putting family members up for the night. About 0200 I went drunkenly to the spare room and crashed out. I awoke later feeling nauseous and went to the loo. I heard the party still in full swing downstairs as I ejected the poison from my system. Then I went back to bed. My bed.. A short while later, my wife was awakening me and asking me what I was doing in bed cuddled up to her auntie. So, to my everlasting shame, just the once for me. As for ebikes and cheating.. I've not been called a cheat in the real world, yet. But I've had some belting abuse on another bike forum for using them. People ranting and telling me that they should only be used by older folks and the disabled. I put it down to the 'No pain, no gain' outlook of some bikers feeling that they need to suffer physically whilst cycling. Hence, if you're not suffering as they are with their OCD outlook, then you must be a cheat! The good news is that ebikes (e-MTB) are becoming very popular with the masses now. Mostly due to good marketing and TV adverts. In the year that I've argued their case, I've seen attitudes improve towards them greatly. Folks are realising that they cover the best of all worlds. Enjoyment, relaxation and physical exercise. What's not to like. The trouble is that a lot of regular bike-riders consider everything as being a race, and they don't like to lose.
January 22, 20179 yr For a different point of view.. ebike club members on strava have started making ebike specific strava segments. I have made a few and become king of the mountain by virtue of being the only one there. After a short while this became both pointless and boring so I stopped doing it.. until I received messaged from strava to say someone had beaten my time . Interest piqued I rode it again posting an even faster time, but the userper went even faster still.. Just as boring some will say but consider this.. How would I, or any other ebike club member feel if some one on a dongled illegal ebike posted impossible times on our segments.. Would this be cheating?
January 22, 20179 yr Just as boring some will say but consider this.. How would I, or any other ebike club member feel if some one on a dongled illegal ebike posted impossible times on our segments.. Would this be cheating? Haha! Just like I mentioned above. It all comes down to competing. "Faster, Higher, Stronger". The need for speed.
January 22, 20179 yr I could be wrong but in this case I think my competitor is much younger than me so under normal circumstances any competition between us would be too one sided to be worth starting but the e-bike has levelled this playing field to the point where I have a chance... I suspect I have the better bike which is giving me the edge, but ultimately I have to loose to a younger and stronger man, but it is such good fun trying.
January 22, 20179 yr To understand you have to stand in the accuser's shoes. From their point of view they see someone pedalling, then perceive a motor driving. They know nothing about relative motor powers or pedal control to apply power, what they see or believe is apparently someone being driven along by a motor while pretending to pedal. That to them is the cheating, someone pretending to cycle while being wafted along by a motor. That view isn't unreasonable, it is what it looks like to the layman who knows nothing about e-bikes. .
January 22, 20179 yr I've not had it long so nothing face to face. However one friend commented on Facebook. "That's cheating isn't it." With a smiley. I just replied "probably, if it was a competition . I like to think it's enhancing" While I was researching some bike stuff I landed on a couple of cycling forums . Started reading lots of posts about "collecting scalps" on commutes etc. Even there own posts seem confused as to wether or not the other party had any idea what was going on. And there's a lot of insecurity about their ability fitness and speed. So those with that mindset are going to hate ebikes. For my part I think instead of worrying about what other cyclists are up to. They should be worrying about all the cars that can kill them.
January 22, 20179 yr It can't be cheating unless it's a competition. My uk carp personal best is 30lb 4 ounces. The main reason it's not higher is that I just don't fish the big circuit waters that hold 40s and 50s. Go to France and 50s are common. So there's plenty of novice anglers that can say they have had a 40 . And just as many top experienced anglers that haven't. There's no competition and nothing to prove to anyone else. For a different point of view.. ebike club members on strava have started making ebike specific strava segments. I have made a few and become king of the mountain by virtue of being the only one there. After a short while this became both pointless and boring so I stopped doing it.. until I received messaged from strava to say someone had beaten my time . Interest piqued I rode it again posting an even faster time, but the userper went even faster still.. Just as boring some will say but consider this.. How would I, or any other ebike club member feel if some one on a dongled illegal ebike posted impossible times on our segments.. Would this be cheating?
January 22, 20179 yr It can't be cheating unless it's a competition. My uk carp personal best is 30lb 4 ounces. The main reason it's not higher is that I just don't fish the big circuit waters that hold 40s and 50s. Go to France and 50s are common. So there's plenty of novice anglers that can say they have had a 40 . And just as many top experienced anglers that haven't. There's no competition and nothing to prove to anyone else. Ah. But we're you using an electric bike to fish with?
January 22, 20179 yr I am in the same league as Lance Armstrong, I cheat, I ride and Electric Bike, have an Electric Toothbrush, Kettle, Knife ,Shaver, Hedge trimmer, Van windscreen and Electric Blanket. And by the way I am an Electrician:p
January 22, 20179 yr But in transport terms the really bad cheater is the person whose car has automatic transmission! That really is unforgiveable, the height of laziness. Though electric window winders come close. .
January 22, 20179 yr Oh No I am so so sorry my Car and Van are both Automatics, (I would never go back) and they both Have Electric Widows, Heated seats, Parking sensors I will go now to hang my head in shame
January 22, 20179 yr Oh No I am so so sorry my Car and Van are both Automatics, (I would never go back) and they both Have Electric Widows, Heated seats, Parking sensors I will go now to hang my head in shame I suppose you have those new fangled horn buttons too, can't be bothered to squeeze a rubber bulb! .
January 22, 20179 yr But in transport terms the really bad cheater is the person whose car has automatic transmission! That really is unforgiveable, the height of laziness. Though electric window winders come close. . ... Where in this hierarchy does automatic hand brake come?
January 22, 20179 yr ... Where in this hierarchy does automatic hand brake come? ...... Or those damned electric starter motors. Where not cranks good enough for our grandfather's .... And we still have enough of them on this site.
January 22, 20179 yr ... Where in this hierarchy does automatic hand brake come? I guess somewhere between radar sensing braking and electric boot lids. When they finally appear on our streets, self drive cars like the Googlemobile will be the top of the cheating league until crewless airliners arrive. .
January 22, 20179 yr Where not cranks good enough for our grandfather's .... And we still have enough of them on this site. Cranks or grandfathers? .
January 22, 20179 yr I used to have a new fangled horn button thingy on my bike as well, it failed in heavy rain on the coast to coast last year, I ride a lot on disused rail tracks and need a bell so bought a brass bell, back to manual for me nowt to go wrong
January 22, 20179 yr To understand you have to stand in the accuser's shoes. From their point of view they see someone pedalling, then perceive a motor driving. They know nothing about relative motor powers or pedal control to apply power, what they see or believe is apparently someone being driven along by a motor while pretending to pedal. That to them is the cheating, someone pretending to cycle while being wafted along by a motor. That view isn't unreasonable, it is what it looks like to the layman who knows nothing about e-bikes. . y But in transport terms the really bad cheater is the person whose car has automatic transmission! That really is unforgiveable, the height of laziness. Though electric window winders come close. . I have never seen electric winders.. Mine doesnt have any winders.. The windows are push button operated...
January 22, 20179 yr I have never seen electric winders.. Mine doesnt have any winders.. The windows are push button operated... Yes, my careless use of shorthand, should have been electric window winders, But your push buttons do operate electric winders, winding the windows up and down! .
January 22, 20179 yr Anyway there is nothing wrong with automatics.. The problems arise when you need to drive one thats manual.. At my last service I took a courtesy car which was a brand spanking straight out of the box new with all the latest VW tech, Audi A3 . It has 6 forward gears, yes 6!! Not only do you have to press that extra pedal in every time you change gear, but also every time you stop!! And dont get me going with hill starts with an electronic hand brake.... Was I glad to get it back, and the receptionist asked with a beaming smile.. "How did you like it?" Too many gears says I, I am only used to two.. one forward and one reverse.
January 22, 20179 yr Embrace it I would just agree with them Yep im cheating and i love it Now dont strain yourself walking from your desk to your car
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