Newer Battery Powered bikes ? Thoughts
#51
I'm doing it wrong.
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Medical issues on group rides can happen at any time with any rider.
#52
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How is the social dynamic broken when someone shows up with an ebike provided they don't dictate the speed of the group? Serious question.
For instance. Let's say a regular to the "competitive" group ride (let's call him Joe) has some sort of medical issue... say a heart issue that requires him to maintain a lower heart rate than he normally does. By all accounts he has the skill, training, knowhow to ride in the group and wants to continue to do it since all his buddies are in the group too and it has been a regular part of his life for years. He buys an ebike that allows him to ride with that group and maintain his doctor ordered restrictions. Now let's say you have been part of that group for years and now here comes Joe with his new ebike and rides with you. Are you telling me you are going to go home grumpy and grumbling about "cheating" because Joe rides his regular group ride with an ebike? That Joe somehow is destroying the social dynamic of that group?
I've been on a lot of group rides and never thought once about how some dude on a faster bike is cheating and therefore it ruined my ride or somehow changed the "value" of the ride to me. I frankly just don't get how it would.
For instance. Let's say a regular to the "competitive" group ride (let's call him Joe) has some sort of medical issue... say a heart issue that requires him to maintain a lower heart rate than he normally does. By all accounts he has the skill, training, knowhow to ride in the group and wants to continue to do it since all his buddies are in the group too and it has been a regular part of his life for years. He buys an ebike that allows him to ride with that group and maintain his doctor ordered restrictions. Now let's say you have been part of that group for years and now here comes Joe with his new ebike and rides with you. Are you telling me you are going to go home grumpy and grumbling about "cheating" because Joe rides his regular group ride with an ebike? That Joe somehow is destroying the social dynamic of that group?
I've been on a lot of group rides and never thought once about how some dude on a faster bike is cheating and therefore it ruined my ride or somehow changed the "value" of the ride to me. I frankly just don't get how it would.
Joe should be forced to face the group and all others shall then point at Joe and laugh. Joe would then be banished to ride out the rest of his years solo with a constant 13mph headwind.
I kid. I just dont care enough to offer much here, but felt compelled to respond with an absurd scenario. Every group is different, so i would imagine every competitive group is different(i admittedly only know 1 competitive group). Some may not care that Joe is riding faster than physically capable.
#53
Chases Dogs for Sport
Brace yourselves, folks . . . the UCI announced today (or yesterday) that they are holding a world championships -- awarding a rainbow jersey -- for e-MTB for 2019! That's not an April Fools joke. They really are doing it!
The world is coming to an end. (Rumors that Fabian Cancellara has been hired to promote the new championship apparently have no merit.)
The world is coming to an end. (Rumors that Fabian Cancellara has been hired to promote the new championship apparently have no merit.)
Last edited by FlashBazbo; 09-26-18 at 01:11 PM.
#54
Senior Member
As for the dynamic... it's broken because the e-bike rider doesn't need to work harder to do more. If someone hangs onto my wheel on a hard climb and they're not winded at the top, that sends a message about their strength. Different bikes do of course perform somewhat differently, but it's still the same language: they had to work harder to do more. But if the other person avoided being winded because they flipped a switch for motor assist, that language is broken.
#56
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#58
Chases Dogs for Sport
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For instance. Let's say a regular to the "competitive" group ride (let's call him Joe) has some sort of medical issue... say a heart issue that requires him to maintain a lower heart rate than he normally does. By all accounts he has the skill, training, knowhow to ride in the group and wants to continue to do it since all his buddies are in the group too and it has been a regular part of his life for years. He buys an ebike that allows him to ride with that group and maintain his doctor ordered restrictions. Now let's say you have been part of that group for years and now here comes Joe with his new ebike and rides with you. Are you telling me you are going to go home grumpy and grumbling about "cheating" because Joe rides his regular group ride with an ebike? That Joe somehow is destroying the social dynamic of that group?
Personally I wouldn't have a problem riding with Joe assuming I already knew him to be a good rider. I bet it wouldn't really be the same for him though because it's part social but it's also about the exercise, that feeling you get burning a batch.
#60
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#61
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I'd like to bang a supermodel, but I don't have millions of dollars. Sometimes life is crappy and unfair in ways that prevent people from doing what they want.
Personally I wouldn't have a problem riding with Joe assuming I already knew him to be a good rider. I bet it wouldn't really be the same for him though because it's part social but it's also about the exercise, that feeling you get burning a batch.
Personally I wouldn't have a problem riding with Joe assuming I already knew him to be a good rider. I bet it wouldn't really be the same for him though because it's part social but it's also about the exercise, that feeling you get burning a batch.
Frankly, I'm not about the ebikes for myself. I'd get in trouble going faster than necessary in the woods, or like you said that I wouldn't get that endorphin dump after a exerting ride...plus I prefer single speeds anyway...but the arguments against them need to be better. Saying they are breaking the rules of fake racing or challenging people's self worth because some dude on an ebike passes them, rides with them, has fun on one, or dares to get a workout with one are all terrible arguments against them. A solid argument could be said that they can be unsafe (especially on mtb trails) or they chew up trails more, ect. they aren't allowed on one trail system locally to me, but others do allow them. There have been no problems except people whining they lost a Strava KOM to some ebike. (that **** was happening way before ebikes and strava is dumb anyway).
#62
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But thats for those people to decide. If others are fine with e-bikes joining their rides, who am I to complain? I dont care at all.
Last edited by dgodave; 09-26-18 at 03:27 PM.
#64
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here is my understanding. the Gripe isn't about E bikes.
The gripe is about people butting in where they are un wanted, which is a people peopling problem!
It falls in to the don't be an ******* and bring your downhill MTB to a no drop road group ride. don't bring your e bike to a fast paced competitive group ride. Unless you are a Videographer and make kick ass videos and have approval a head of time. But haven't we seen enough motorbikes causing accidents in the Professional road races?
there are enough group rides where E bikes are not an issue, so just go ride those group rides?
#65
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Yuck. Who wants to ride around a crappy ski area when you could be off in the woods or mountains somewhere. Well, I guess some people do. Maybe its better they have their crappy area to ride in.
#66
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Edit: hmmm!! Let's think about this.
you won't complain about others on E-bikes, but you'll be snide towards dowwnhillers that ride ski lifts up hill. Oh the Irony!!! and double standards.
double standards are what is wrong with humans in this world!
Last edited by Metieval; 09-26-18 at 07:06 PM.
#67
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Umm downhill is huge!
Edit: hmmm!! Let's think about this.
you won't complain about others on E-bikes, but you'll be snide towards dowwnhillers that ride ski lifts up hill. Oh the Irony!!! and double standards.
double standards are what is wrong with humans in this world!
Edit: hmmm!! Let's think about this.
you won't complain about others on E-bikes, but you'll be snide towards dowwnhillers that ride ski lifts up hill. Oh the Irony!!! and double standards.
double standards are what is wrong with humans in this world!
#69
Senior Member
I do not begrudge e-"bikes" their existence though, only their being allowed in places that have been created and set out to not allow motorized vehicles. If an e-"bike" is OK, what's wrong with a bike that has a gas engine assist? They have existed for years before e-bikes anyways.
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Personally, my gripe is e-"bikes" being considered bicycles. A bicycle is human powered. Period. End of story. Add a gas motor or an electric motor or an antimatter drive and it is NOT a bicycle. The best current word is moped.
I do not begrudge e-"bikes" their existence though, only their being allowed in places that have been created and set out to not allow motorized vehicles. If an e-"bike" is OK, what's wrong with a bike that has a gas engine assist? They have existed for years before e-bikes anyways.
I do not begrudge e-"bikes" their existence though, only their being allowed in places that have been created and set out to not allow motorized vehicles. If an e-"bike" is OK, what's wrong with a bike that has a gas engine assist? They have existed for years before e-bikes anyways.
I guess it doesn't bug me much to what people call them, the end result for me comes down to the advantage/disadvantage list.
as for this, "OK, what's wrong with a bike that has a gas engine assist?" NOISE! Electric is dream compared to combustion in the noise department.
Electric is new. Electric is change. If that change is good or bad. I can not say. yes it has a motor, it is powered. But to just toss it in the same broken system that already deals with motor vehicles would not be justice. IMO nor would it promote Growth to a better tomorrow.
Last edited by Metieval; 09-26-18 at 08:49 PM.
#72
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I still have a few scars from a killer flip over the bars.
it was awesome. Some of the best time on a bike ever.
#73
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last year I rented a downhill mtb, got geared up with a full facemask helmet and body armor, and rode down Snowmass for a day. Gondola up, and coast down. Gondola to chairlift all the way, and coast down. Repeat many more times.
I still have a few scars from a killer flip over the bars.
it was awesome. Some of the best time on a bike ever.
I still have a few scars from a killer flip over the bars.
it was awesome. Some of the best time on a bike ever.
#74
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There's a MTB park at Stevens Pass and it has lifts. That's not my thing, so I don't know what it's like. I'm with you, it's more about getting to amazing places, riding in great scenery.
#75
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But hey, whatever floats your boat. Take your e-bike to the ski area for all I care.