What do you tell people that claim 'you're cheating'?
#51
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Who gives a rat’s behind what others think about what bikes I ride or why I ride them.
For the record, I am 62 years old, have a whole host of health issues including seven stents and diabetes. My rides include quite a bit of climbing.
i don’t ride an e-bike, most likely never will; BUT if I did, it is no one’s business why I do it.
#52
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This is, by far, the best answer.
Who gives a rat’s behind what others think about what bikes I ride or why I ride them.
For the record, I am 62 years old, have a whole host of health issues including seven stents and diabetes. My rides include quite a bit of climbing.
i don’t ride an e-bike, most likely never will; BUT if I did, it is no one’s business why I do it.
To say, 'cheating' has no bearing outside competition ignores a lot of more subtle meanings to the word. How about 'cheating' ourselves? You may be free to ignore unwritten rules, codes of conduct, traditions and customs for a lot of reasons-- e.g., because they're inconvenient or involve putting forth too much effort for the 'reward.'
These are more a subjective notions about what's right and proper and probably change over time but, the use of bicycles has a long history and many who love cycling enjoy engaging in it as a sport, hobby, exercise, lifestyle because making the effort and honoring the commitment that fidelity to an idea of what, for example, road biking is all about is it's own reward.
#53
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True, true who cares but I think the issue is raised because the OP knows it is as easy to have personal opinions about it as it is for others to ignore them. But, that does not make opinion go away or change the facts.
To say, 'cheating' has no bearing outside competition ignores a lot of more subtle meanings to the word. How about 'cheating' ourselves? You may be free to ignore unwritten rules, codes of conduct, traditions and customs for a lot of reasons-- e.g., because they're inconvenient or involve putting forth too much effort for the 'reward.'
These are more a subjective notions about what's right and proper and probably change over time but, the use of bicycles has a long history and many who love cycling enjoy engaging in it as a sport, hobby, exercise, lifestyle because making the effort and honoring the commitment that fidelity to an idea of what, for example, road biking is all about is it's own reward.
To say, 'cheating' has no bearing outside competition ignores a lot of more subtle meanings to the word. How about 'cheating' ourselves? You may be free to ignore unwritten rules, codes of conduct, traditions and customs for a lot of reasons-- e.g., because they're inconvenient or involve putting forth too much effort for the 'reward.'
These are more a subjective notions about what's right and proper and probably change over time but, the use of bicycles has a long history and many who love cycling enjoy engaging in it as a sport, hobby, exercise, lifestyle because making the effort and honoring the commitment that fidelity to an idea of what, for example, road biking is all about is it's own reward.
Long time ago I stopped caring about the opinions of others—the only opinions that I care about are those of my wife, my kids...and my dogs.
You know what they say about opinions and how everyone has one and how they all stink.
People should spend more time riding and less time worrying about what others think.
#54
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I still couldn’t care less about anyone’s opinion. I ride because it makes me happy, healthy, lean and extremely handsome.
Long time ago I stopped caring about the opinions of others—the only opinions that I care about are those of my wife, my kids...and my dogs.
You know what they say about opinions and how everyone has one and how they all stink.
People should spend more time riding and less time worrying about what others think.
Personally, I don't have any problems with motors. I've seen motorized skateboards that look kind'a neat. Motorized scooters, Segways… golf carts! Lots of options but, I don't see cyclists being a bit confused about what riding a bike is all about. When you're riding a bike your making the most out of perhaps 1/5th of a horsepower and probably not >1/2 hp for an extended period of time whereas a 500W Ebike I guess would be more like 2/3s of a horse. It's not cheating but, it's not the same sport as cycling.
#55
Senior Member
Some would say, Vive la différence. Check out the adventure riding video of this Ebike (>1 hp)…
https://www.juicedbikes.com/products/scrambler?variant=7399109066775&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google%20Shopping&gcli d=EAIaIQobChMI7vS4sa3X3QIVTotpCh3a9AvsEAEYASABEgJ2CfD_BwE
https://www.juicedbikes.com/products/scrambler?variant=7399109066775&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google%20Shopping&gcli d=EAIaIQobChMI7vS4sa3X3QIVTotpCh3a9AvsEAEYASABEgJ2CfD_BwE
#56
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Thanks! Now I want a Juiced Scrambler.
Looks like a Taco44
Hope the emergency rooms are ready for a lot of scrapes.
Looks like a Taco44
Hope the emergency rooms are ready for a lot of scrapes.
Last edited by trailangel; 09-25-18 at 08:15 PM.
#57
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OP here: Well, I finally had my first group ride since I bought the ebike. The one friend approached me at our meeting place (which I have always ridden to, he drives, even before my ebike purchase) and said my 'cheater bike' looked nice. The ride was a bit different, I kept it on the lowest setting until he challenged me a bit and took off, I set it on high and rocked past him. Then turned it back down and let him pass me. We chatted the whole way, I could actually carry a conversation rather than huff and puff and struggling to keep up. The dynamics of the ride changed, instead of them getting ahead and waiting on me, now I was in the front. I pulled ahead in the worst hill. They all enjoyed the ride and I think it was now a challenge for all of us. I kept it in low assist most of the time and didn't push it in their faces or show off, except for the first joking 'challenge' the 'cheater' guy and I had for no more than 300 feet or so.
I am real happy with the bike and think it's a good investment. The 'cheater' guy even mentioned he may look into ebikes.
I am real happy with the bike and think it's a good investment. The 'cheater' guy even mentioned he may look into ebikes.
#58
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Ya. That's the way to ride in group. Stay with the group and don't out run them. I have the same experience.. lots of people looking and asking about the bike.
#59
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For example, I notice people at the gym with such a small amount of weight that it barely provides any resistance at all. They go through the motions, but don't make any real progress. The bottom line is, when it comes to exercise, you get out of it what you put in.
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That would be himself, out of the full benefit of the point of cycling in the first place. On the other hand, "cheating" only applies to your intended goal.
For example, I notice people at the gym with such a small amount of weight that it barely provides any resistance at all. They go through the motions, but don't make any real progress. The bottom line is, when it comes to exercise, you get out of it what you put in.
For example, I notice people at the gym with such a small amount of weight that it barely provides any resistance at all. They go through the motions, but don't make any real progress. The bottom line is, when it comes to exercise, you get out of it what you put in.
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I wouldn’t even engage. Any biker who would even care that you’re riding an e-bike and would go so far as to confront you with it has such an ingrained level of self-righteousness that any conversation on the subject of e-bikes would be a pointless waste of time. Nothing will be solved, no minds will be changed, there will be no epiphany. Everyone will pedal away with nothing gained except a somewhat higher blood pressure.
Just ride.
Just ride.
Last edited by Cuyuna; 09-30-18 at 05:51 AM.
#62
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Untrue. Feedback both positive and negative is a well-proven behavioral modifier.
#63
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Seems like ebiking could be the basis for it's own group. You don't expect a wine tasting at a AA meeting. There may be a different mindset -- not just the ride but a lifestyle leading up to a ride -- that make it less natural and augers against bikers and ebikers riding together but, if you're talking about friends who've known each other for years using bikes as an excuse to get together to have a good time, it probably wouldn't matter if you showed up on a horse. I heard of a group that got together annually for a horseback ride and one of the riders was no longer in shape for it and struck out ahead of the group in a jeep to help organize things at the destination.
Last edited by McBTC; 09-30-18 at 10:28 AM.
#64
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Seems like ebiking could be the basis for it's own group. You don't expect a wine tasting at a AA meeting. There may be a different mindset -- not just the ride but a lifestyle leading up to a ride -- that make it less natural and augers against bikers and ebikers riding together but
if you're talking about friends who've known each other for years using bikes as an excuse to get together to have a good time, it probably wouldn't matter if you showed up on a horse. I heard of a group that got together annually for a horseback ride and one of the riders was no longer in shape for it and struck out ahead of the group in a jeep to help organize things at the destination.
#66
Senior Member
I just ordered an ebike. (snip) I look at it in that I would probably be sitting at home instead of biking around if it weren't for an ebike. I've also told them that biking 50 mile son an ebike is like biking 35 miles on a regular bike - and most of them never ride THAT far. But the persist and are now avoiding me because I'm a 'cheater'.
Do you just ignore them? What 'arguments' do you use to justify an ebike? I know I should just grow a thicker hide but it bothers me a bit. Any suggestions?
Last person who said "but isn't that cheating" got ALL the gory details of the reason I now have an e-bike... I have photos from the surgery where various internal organs were rearranged and unstuck from each other. Endometriosis sucks, by the way.
#67
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That would be himself, out of the full benefit of the point of cycling in the first place. On the other hand, "cheating" only applies to your intended goal.
For example, I notice people at the gym with such a small amount of weight that it barely provides any resistance at all. They go through the motions, but don't make any real progress. The bottom line is, when it comes to exercise, you get out of it what you put in.
For example, I notice people at the gym with such a small amount of weight that it barely provides any resistance at all. They go through the motions, but don't make any real progress. The bottom line is, when it comes to exercise, you get out of it what you put in.
Is a car cheating? Is a motorbike cheating? I'm not busting my hips and knees so I can go shopping without being accused of cheating by people who don't get it.
My bike isn't for anyone else's entertainment but mine.
#68
☢
This is just it - i'm not at the gym. I don't ride a bike to get fit. I ride it to get from A2B. I ride because i enjoy riding.
Is a car cheating? Is a motorbike cheating? I'm not busting my hips and knees so I can go shopping without being accused of cheating by people who don't get it.
My bike isn't for anyone else's entertainment but mine.
Is a car cheating? Is a motorbike cheating? I'm not busting my hips and knees so I can go shopping without being accused of cheating by people who don't get it.
My bike isn't for anyone else's entertainment but mine.
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Anything that gets people out riding in the US is good by me. For another look, from another perspective.
A view from the cycle path: 2018
A view from the cycle path: 2018
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They said that about the derailleur ...
When the derailleur was invented almost 120 years ago purists called it "cheating" to use one. A true cyclist would never use one and they weren't allowed in races. There is a nice description of this in the book "The Best of Cycling" by Harley Leete which I've attached as a pdf. A line from the book: "... variable gears are only for people over forty-five ... As for me, give me a fixed gear!"
Personally, I'm handicapped, couldn't ride w/o an e-bike, and have no patience for anyone who calls me a cheater -- and I get it often enough.
Personally, I'm handicapped, couldn't ride w/o an e-bike, and have no patience for anyone who calls me a cheater -- and I get it often enough.
#72
☢
Its not an attitude, its an academic standard. Just because you settle for low standards doesn't mean everyone here shares your lack of forward thinking. I sincerely hope you at least come away with the knowledge that not every comment made is a personal experience exaggeration. Some of us actually read the text books.
#73
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I've been riding ebike(s) for four years alternating with my MTB and never had a problem with anyone. I ride with my wife or friends for fun and don't give a rat's ass what the calorie police or similar idiots think. Most of the time individuals are interested in the bikes, and some that I've met have "converted". If anyone ever says anything about cheating, I'll tell them to "shove it".
#74
Cycleway town
#75
Cycleway town
There's a hell of a lot of ignorance in this thread. Comments like ''what cycling should be'' and references to the gym. It seems like there are a few visitors from other cycling fields who ride for very different reasons..
Do you preach to 8yo kids how their fixie isn't good for their fitness, or their bikes are too heavy? No. Because they haven't lost the plot yet.
We don't all ride because we're going through a mid-life crisis and are trying to make up for eating too many kebabs.
My bike has regeneration, so I have to work harder, and pedal harder, whilst going downhill, than someone on a manual bike. I have mentioned this before, but it doesn't stop the prejudism.
People are kinda dicks, huh.
Do you preach to 8yo kids how their fixie isn't good for their fitness, or their bikes are too heavy? No. Because they haven't lost the plot yet.
We don't all ride because we're going through a mid-life crisis and are trying to make up for eating too many kebabs.
My bike has regeneration, so I have to work harder, and pedal harder, whilst going downhill, than someone on a manual bike. I have mentioned this before, but it doesn't stop the prejudism.
People are kinda dicks, huh.