March 2, 201412 yr Even pedestrians are using the "c" word now! My wife and I were on a bike ride yesterday afternoon when we were unfortunate enough to get caught up in some kind of road race (runners on foot, not bikes). This was on a public road which was not closed for the event. As we emerged on the other side of the sweaty pack, an onlooker who was standing in a slumped-"S" posture on the verge, complete with dog-end attached to his bottom lip, shouted to us "These bikes are cheating". I was taken aback and had only time to shout back "At least we're moving!" before he was well behind us. I don't know why he picked on the bikes, surely if anybody was cheating it was us. Took us a while to calm the bikes down once we got home:( What surprised me most was the fact that he recognised that we were on ebikes. Jim
March 2, 201412 yr Even pedestrians are using the "c" word now! My wife and I were on a bike ride yesterday afternoon when we were unfortunate enough to get caught up in some kind of road race (runners on foot, not bikes). This was on a public road which was not closed for the event. As we emerged on the other side of the sweaty pack, an onlooker who was standing in a slumped-"S" posture on the verge, complete with dog-end attached to his bottom lip, shouted to us "These bikes are cheating". I was taken aback and had only time to shout back "At least we're moving!" before he was well behind us. I don't know why he picked on the bikes, surely if anybody was cheating it was us. Took us a while to calm the bikes down once we got home:( What surprised me most was the fact that he recognised that we were on ebikes. Jim Ask them if they use a tv remote (thats cheating) tell them to get off the sofa and turn the tv over by the buttons under the front flap.
March 2, 201412 yr Ask them if he would run pass a bus and accuse the passengers on the bus of cheating. 4 years ago I heard that comment a lot,but at the recent London cycle show I only heard it a couple of times. In Germany now you get 20-30 old guys meeting at a bar in the evenings,most on e-bikes and teenagers to grandparents all use them. The bikes are getting sexier in appearance so that is making them more appealing to younger people. KudosDave www.kudoscycles.com
March 2, 201412 yr I have had this a few times, I just stop and have a conversation with them. They soon regret saying anything.
March 2, 201412 yr I had a puncture on the front wheel last night on the way back from the pub. After midnight, middle of the countryside, two miles from home! It was pitch black, so I elected not to attempt a tube change, especially as I was a little worse for wear, so pushed the bike home. Inevitably, a hot hatch with wide wheels came along soon and I was the recipient of sundry cat-calls along the lines of "Banker" and "get off 'an milk it". All quite good natured and rather amusing. This morning I pulled a small nail out the tyre and found at least 14 holes in the tube where it had rolled over the nail many times whilst pushing it home. Quite an adventure really. It's strange how one feels more vulnerable when not riding the bike, as though the 'night monsters' are in every shadow!
March 2, 201412 yr Even pedestrians are using the "c" word now! I've even had that shout of cheating from two lads of about 10 years old who were standing at a bus stop. My resident shouted response to any jibes and always ready for an instant retort is: "you're just jealous". That shuts them up.
March 2, 201412 yr My normal reply is "After a couple of heart attacks I'm glade to be riding ANY bike. It seems to change them? they want to know more about you and the bike.
March 2, 201412 yr are you sure you're not being slightly paranoid about riding an eBike, and that the guy didn't just accuse you of cheating for using a bike in a running race?
March 2, 201412 yr Author are you sure you're not being slightly paranoid about riding an eBike, and that the guy didn't just accuse you of cheating for using a bike in a running race? Maybe that's it. We were going in the opposite direction to the runners so he might have thought we were on the way back and in the lead Jim
March 2, 201412 yr Who cares about comments from Morons !, I love my e-bike, and enjoy riding it I generally finish my journey not covered in sweat, but exhilarated from the pleasure of my ride so if that's cheating I look forward to many more years of it. Mike.
March 2, 201412 yr With the flaming that E-MTB's get on regular MTB forums, It'll be interesting next weekend when I'll be mixed up with approx 700 MTB riders, with me riding possibly the only E-MTB. Anyone want to place bets on how many riders pass negative comment.
March 3, 201412 yr I do have to admit that I feel a bit of a cheat when I pass obvious "die hard" cyclists going up a hill on my way home. I've actually been known to hold back and not pass them.
March 3, 201412 yr I do have to admit that I feel a bit of a cheat when I pass obvious "die hard" cyclists going up a hill on my way home. I've actually been known to hold back and not pass them. On the other hand the cyclist could be thinking, what's the point in having a motor and not being able to pass me, what a waste of money. MS.
March 3, 201412 yr A very fit looking mountain biker passed me on a road climb earlier today. I suspect he saw me whirring steadily up the steepish bank as a challenge. Fair play to the guy, he had a nice bike and had obviously worked hard on his fitness.
March 3, 201412 yr A very fit looking mountain biker passed me on a road climb earlier today. I suspect he saw me whirring steadily up the steepish bank as a challenge. Fair play to the guy, he had a nice bike and had obviously worked hard on his fitness. Or maybe his e-Bike was stealthier than yours
March 3, 201412 yr I do have to admit that I feel a bit of a cheat when I pass obvious "die hard" cyclists going up a hill on my way home. I've actually been known to hold back and not pass them. I love going past the Lycra brigade sat bolt upright and slowly pedalling ! Some shout that's cheating. My stock reply is nope it's called commuting (which I am) Most take in good humour. There is one bloke who seems commute home to shoreham from Brighton at same time as me. It is into the prevailing wind. If he sees me he says hello and tucks in behind me all the way ! I'm his ebiker windbreak
March 3, 201412 yr Up one particularly steep climb, I've had a teenage boy shout out "You're Keen!", so I shouted back "It's electric!" and he laughed. Following day, he shouted out "Cheat!" and we both laughed, as I rode past him doing 15km/h, while he pushed his . On a few occasions, when I've passed other cyclists, I say "I'm cheating, it's electric!" and they chuckle and say something along the lines of "Oh good, I thought I was slow!, or "at east you're honest" or "WAIT! can I see it!" Not had any lycra clad roadies though... they do often cycle out my rural road... taking up the whole lane, weaving about, not moving over etc etc. I also have a public mountain bike park direclty over the orad from me. I live 3 or 4 miles from the middle of town, and the majority of the riders drive out there to ride their bikes off road
March 3, 201412 yr On a few occasions, when I've passed other cyclists, I say "I'm cheating, it's electric!" and they chuckle and say something along the lines of "Oh good, I thought I was slow!, or "at east you're honest" or "WAIT! can I see it!" I find that works for me too: I have no interest in rubbing their noses in it - Unless they're dickheads, of course.
March 3, 201412 yr I must confess that I was a bit naughty a few weeks ago. I was riding down one of the steepest hills in our area, whilst at the same time this club event was cycling up the hill.http://www.hell.gb.com/ When I got to the bottom, I had a smile to myself, turned around and cycled back the mile long hill, whilst overtaking possibly several hundred riders. It had to be done, and the only comment that I heard was from one rider who shouted out "Jesus Christ" and the rider next to him laughed out loud. I even managed to get into a club photo. http://imageshack.com/a/img834/8523/i74q.png
March 3, 201412 yr Author It had to be done, and the only comment that I heard was from one rider who shouted out "Jesus Christ" and the rider next to him laughed out loud. I even managed to get into a club photo. He obviously thought you had divine powers! Did they put a caption on the club photo? Jim
March 5, 201412 yr Maybe I've become hardened to scornful comments, I did drive a Russian Lada car a few years back. Strange thing though with electric bikes, it certainly is a growing custom to bait ebike riders, especially from the Lycra mob. Yet when I'm riding my Dutch 30cc petrol bike, there's no reaction at all.... Maybe they're stumped for words...
March 5, 201412 yr Maybe I've become hardened to scornful comments, I did drive a Russian Lada car a few years back. Strange thing though with electric bikes, it certainly is a growing custom to bait ebike riders, especially from the Lycra mob. Yet when I'm riding my Dutch 30cc petrol bike, there's no reaction at all.... Maybe they're stumped for words... [ATTACH=full]8092[/ATTACH] Out of interest, how does the petrol bike compare with electric bikes? Particularly on hills.
March 5, 201412 yr Maybe I've become hardened to scornful comments, I did drive a Russian Lada car a few years back. Strange thing though with electric bikes, it certainly is a growing custom to bait ebike riders, especially from the Lycra mob. Yet when I'm riding my Dutch 30cc petrol bike, there's no reaction at all.... Maybe they're stumped for words... [ATTACH=full]8092[/ATTACH] I've always liked the idea, only if it were a little quieter. MS.
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