August 2, 20205 yr A story from the other side: So I was out for a bike ride on my moutain bike to get some exercise and I was overtaken by someone on an electric bike. As they passed they shouted "You want to get one of these" whilst filming me on their phone. So they were in the middle of the road, looking back towards me holding their phone which, to me at least, seems like a crazy idea - luckily there was no car coming towards me. So there are some silly people on normal bikes and some on e-bikes, we all get tarred with the same brush when someone is seen to be doing something stupid regardless of what type of bike we're using (car drivers do seem to think all cyclists go through red lights!). Also, I was doing it for exercise so an e-bike wouldn't be very helpful, I wasn't trying to get anywhere specific and didn't have any time constraints. What I think I'm trying to say is: don't have a go at each other, we're all in it for the same reasons - to get fitter and cut pollution.
August 2, 20205 yr A great first post Dave and welcome to the forum, nice to have a new sensible head joining giving an unbiased view. Edited August 2, 20205 yr by Nealh
August 2, 20205 yr Whilst out for a ride this morning i overtook quite a few lycra clad race bike riders. I did not get any comments but i did not hang about either, so would not have heard them anyway. What did tickle me was my wife was a couple of hundred meters behind me and i wonder what they thought when she whizzed past as well...! I get a nod from most riders going the opposite direction so i think most of the non electric guys are ok with it and if they are not they have the option to go electric.
August 2, 20205 yr Now and then you will come a cross the odd TIT, but they are always there in all walks of life.
August 4, 20205 yr A story from the other side: So I was out for a bike ride on my moutain bike to get some exercise and I was overtaken by someone on an electric bike. As they passed they shouted "You want to get one of these" whilst filming me on their phone. So they were in the middle of the road, looking back towards me holding their phone which, to me at least, seems like a crazy idea - luckily there was no car coming towards me. So there are some silly people on normal bikes and some on e-bikes, we all get tarred with the same brush when someone is seen to be doing something stupid regardless of what type of bike we're using (car drivers do seem to think all cyclists go through red lights!). Also, I was doing it for exercise so an e-bike wouldn't be very helpful, I wasn't trying to get anywhere specific and didn't have any time constraints. What I think I'm trying to say is: don't have a go at each other, we're all in it for the same reasons - to get fitter and cut pollution. Yes I agree, we really have to cycle a few miles in their shoes (sorry, clip ons). Imagine it, you've spent thousands on a carbon bike, getting all the best accessories and clothing. You've spent months getting yourself fit enough so you can get accredited with being able to maintain a high enough average speed so you can join your local cycling club. Then there you are minding your own business cycling up a hill, when suddenly you are over taken by an old steel framed e-bike, with shopping bags on the handlebars, on which there is a much older man nonchalantly smiling at you whilst humming "Left Bank Two" and on the back of the bike there is a childseat with a girl in it sticking her tongue out and making a "L" sign... then as the e-bike goes past you see an orange sign on the back that says: "You Know When You've Been BAFANGed" Can you imagine how that would make you feel?
August 4, 20205 yr Yes I agree, we really have to cycle a few miles in their shoes (sorry, clip ons). Imagine it, you've spent thousands on a carbon bike, getting all the best accessories and clothing. You've spent months getting yourself fit enough so you can get accredited with being able to maintain a high enough average speed so you can join your local cycling club. Then there you are minding your own business cycling up a hill, when suddenly you are over taken by an old steel framed e-bike, with shopping bags on the handlebars, on which there is a much older man nonchalantly smiling at you whilst humming "Left Bank Two" and on the back of the bike there is a childseat with a girl in it sticking her tongue out and making a "L" sign... then as the e-bike goes past you see an orange sign on the back that says: "You Know When You've Been BAFANGed" Can you imagine how that would make you feel? To be honest, it'd probably make me smile at the humour and the thought that we're both doing our bit for the environment and I'm getting a good cardio workout and the kids not watching a TV screen lol Admittedly, I'm not that obsessed by cycling to go to those extremes!
August 4, 20205 yr I was overtaken by another e-bike this evening. Some hybrid/mtb type, possibly a kit or derestricted as he must have been doing 20+ mph. Admittedly I was slowing down to turn left when he went wizzing past but I am sure he put it in turbo when he saw me up ahead.
August 4, 20205 yr I was overtaken by another e-bike this evening. Some hybrid/mtb type, possibly a kit or derestricted as he must have been doing 20+ mph. Admittedly I was slowing down to turn left when he went wizzing past but I am sure he put it in turbo when he saw me up ahead. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onAUrtwA_Ks:146
August 4, 20205 yr Not quite that extreme. Thinking about it more, if it was a conversion kit on his bike he probably had more gears to play with than I do with the 7-speed which with informaton on this forum I have changed from a 28-14t to a more welsh hill friendly 34-14t.
August 4, 20205 yr Generally overtaking them. Not had a cross word so far. Mostly either a grunt or a bit of good natured banter or a simple hello and other pleasantries. For what ever reason I do not come across them that much.
August 5, 20205 yr I don't come across them much either. The reason being that I don't see the pleasure in riding busy straight A roads when I have a plethora of lovely windy, traffic free, single track lanes to choose from. For some reason roadies don't seem to like them:rolleyes:. Possibly it's because of their riding position - they only see the road surface not what's around?
August 6, 20205 yr No actual confrontations, but I get a lot of dirty looks from the Lycra clad warrior tribe. And they always speed up, overtake me, then run out of steam and I pass them again. It makes me chuckle. And repeat. I commute through central London, and they seem to think that unless you're riding a £1000 minimum race bike, with all the gear to match, you don't deserve to share the cycle lanes. And they all cycle like psychos. Red lights zebra crossings? Don't apply to them!
August 6, 20205 yr I was overtaken by another e-bike this evening. Some hybrid/mtb type, possibly a kit or derestricted as he must have been doing 20+ mph. Admittedly I was slowing down to turn left when he went wizzing past but I am sure he put it in turbo when he saw me up ahead. I ride my ebike at 20-25mph with assist off as a matter of course. Why assume derestricted?
August 6, 20205 yr I ride my ebike at 20-25mph with assist off as a matter of course. Why assume derestricted? See my later post
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