Doctor Morbius

I'm not so sure about this last part. This thread is 8 pages with 200 posts and still going.

Robert C

Accepted by whom? racers and sport riders, probably not. By commuters and transportation cyclists? Clearly

I actually had an opportunity to borrow and e-bike yesterday (in a velomobile no less). The difference in my ridding style was apparent to me almost immediately. What I notices was that I was coming to a full stop at all signs, yes, we all should do that, but we don't always do it. I was then using the assit to pull me back up to speed, then turing off the throttle and continuing to ride at 20+ without it. It was like I had never lost the energy by stopping. It was a very different ride, Yes I enjoyed it and yes, I was still pedaling hard.

Back to your point, don't try to impress the race and sport crowd (unless that is the crowd you want to fit into) just enjoy your own ride.

Ray9

An electric assist bike is probably better than not doing anything but it is a poor replacement for actual cycling. Think of it this way: If you are lifting weights in a gym to gain strength would you use a fork lift to help you get the weight up? You could probably get up the hill even faster if you drove your car. You are not riding a bike to just get up the hill, you are riding it to do the work it takes to get there.

CliffordK

Gravel...

I can get up pretty steep roads on pretty harsh gearing. But, have troubles breaking my rear wheel loose at 17% (or so) with wet pavement. Weight positioning (sitting) and stroke (as round as possible) can be key.

I'm still not convinced about the need for super low gearing on the road bike, but I have 30/30 gearing on my cargo bike, and have been thinking of putting 17/30 gearing on it.

There are E-Assist cargo bikes. I certainly have carried loads that a little extra power would be nice, at least for the hills. Or, perhaps a commercial delivery service where one is spending 8 hrs a day pedalling heavy cargo loads.

I was buzzed by an electric bike yesterday on a bike path running at about 20 MPH and no pedalling. It wasn't well posted for non-motorized vehicles, but I wonder if a gas moped would have gotten away with that.

However, as the OP has pointed out, electric assist requires at least some force to the pedals so the rider is at least cranking the pedals.

It still is odd to be pedalling hard (I was towing a moderately light trailer) and to get buzzed by an electric bike on a MUP.

Oh, as far as the Fargo video... like many things on the internet... someone else found it before me.

Robert C

Most of the time I am riding to get to work or the store.

mustang1

The guy should have kept his comment to himself. But since he indulged you, you should have stopped infront of him to make him lose his momentum. Then you should have gently accelerated away.

Daniel4

I've seen people in the gym set the treadmill on incline and then hang on to the display panel or the side rails. That's like being pulled up a hill.

beetlejuice666

hey shopkins....im in so. cal., i have had a few umm, i dont really know what to call them. events i guess....here is how i see it. i ride my e bike cause its fast and fun...you are always gonna have hardcore dudes that worship the purity of the sport...( i can relate. i fly hanggliders, & when paragliders first hit the seen, the hang guys were pretty ****ty to them. ME INCLUDED.) remember ,your ride is unique to you...next time it happens, smile say high and keep crusin...IT DONT MATTER HOW YOU GET THE WIND IN YOUR FACE....IT JUST MATTERS THAT ITS THERE....peace..bj666

beetlejuice666

MY EBIKE DOES 20-22mph. but when i pedal, im over 30 mph...its all relative...ive been riding my whole life( never on anything good.)just for fun and to keep fit...im still keeping fit ,and this thing is way more fun....PEACE....BJ666

JanMM

closing in on ten pages..........................

Stucky

I could see myself getting an ebike when the prices come down more...these hills here are killing me!

winston63 

Electric assist bikes are becoming more and more common around here now. I've been passed a few times by riders on them over the past week, something that I didn't see much of before. Not that I haven't been passed - that happens all the time

But when you are passed by an electric assist bike it's quite different than being overtaken by a fast rider under his or her own power: it's obvious that the rider on the e-assist bike isn't sweating the ride all that much but man, those things can go pretty fast!

FBinNY 

IMO this is a non-event. Nobody needs acceptance by others, and likewise it's nobody's business what others ride. An electric bike isn't a cheater bike in any sense of the word, except if you were in some sort of competition, which I gather you're not. One might argue that if you told somebody you rode over a mtn pass, or bragged about how fast or how far you rode without saying you had a motor, that might be cheating, but that's between you and your friends anyway.

OTOH- you're making a big deal out of what was probably an off the cuff comment by someone as you rode by. I have a friend who rides a unicycle and pokes fun at bicyclists who still use "training wheels" (the front wheel). You need to get thicker skin and go with the flow. Next time someone calls your bike a cheater, tell them they're right, you have EPO or some other performance enhancing drug in your battery,.

RISKDR1

I won't ride one because I would feel sheepish about saying "70 year old passing on your left". Something that I am able to do once in a while that gives me pleasure when I can. Now, when I am 80 maybe motors and batteries will be small enough that it won't ruin the aesthetics of my mid 80's Medici if I equip it with a motor.

ColaJacket

Yeah, but when the OP has to get a new username just to bump the thread, that doesn't count.

Now, we all know that the OP/BJ666 is a troll.

GH