Dealing with naysayers

[Kizza]

You know what I'm talking about... Every few months some incredulous pea brain questions why you ride an ebike.

You politely explain the benefits. You might tell them about your health problems and the new freedom your bike has given you.

You tell them the primary function of a bike, the very reason it was invented, was as a form of transport.. To move quickly and cheaply across the urban or country landscape. But hey, if you choose to race your bike, that's YOUR choice. This ebike is MY choice.

And anyway, guess what I'm fitter now since I've owned it as I use it every day for longer rides.

And instead of listening, they stick to their path of derision. "Why don't you just buy a motorbike?"

Again you patiently describe the places you can go on a bicycle that a moped can't. Off road, on cycle paths, through parks, away from the pollution and traffic.

But instead of listening and understanding they shake their heads, muster whatever meagre thoughts their single digit IQ can drum up, and mumble something about cheating, or that they cycle to keep fit BLAH BLAH BLAH.

Well, NO MORE MY FRIENDS.

From now on, if anyone asks why I ride an ebike here's my reply:

Because it's better than an ordinary bike. It's faster, it's more fun. Only an idiot would ride an ordinary bike. Get with the 21st century you luddite. Ebikes are the future. Smart people ride ebikes.

I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU RIDE A PEDAL POWERED BIKE. OH MAN YOU POOR FOOL!

That's right, I'm going nuclear from the off. Assume the moral high ground and refuse to budge. Put the boot on the other foot for once.

Why do I need to justify myself and my choices to you? Who made YOU the moral arbiter in these matters? Jeez, you don't even know what an ebike is. Have you ever ridden one? No? Then STFU.

In future, when I overtake the plebs (joking) sweating and struggling up hills and they complain I wave gleefully and call out "WINNING, YEEEHAAA!"

Thank you.

 

[Deleted member 25121]

Each to their own, it's nothing to get wound up about.

 

[Kizza]

Each to their own, it's nothing to get wound up about.

Au contraire mon ami, it's the perfect thing to get wound up about!

Have you not watched Curb Your Enthusiasm?

 

[gw8izr]

I passed a young girl on a mountain bike a couple of days ago, I sort of half know her as she is a distant neighbour. She mentioned later that I was going quite fast. I made it clear that I was being helped along by an engine and that my old-age and cunning allowed me to cheat with impunity

 

[Kizza]

I passed a young girl on a mountain bike a couple of days ago, I sort of half know her as she is a distant neighbour. She mentioned later that I was going quite fast. I made it clear that I was being helped along by an engine and that my old-age and cunning allowed me to cheat with impunity

Good stuff.

But please remember... It's Winning, not cheating

 

[D C]

In almost seven years I've never had a single negative comment
Dave.

 

[Kizza]

In almost seven years I've never had a single negative comment
Dave.

Lucky you.

Maybe I've met more idiots, I mean people.

Tbf I've had much more positive interactions than negative.

 

[Chainring]

About seven years ago, when I got my first ebike, I had owned it for a few days. I was locking up the shop where I worked, when an old boy waved his stick at me and said 'that's cheating!'. Seven years later, with knees and hips hurting, I can assure you that without it, I would not still be working! As I was unlocking it this morning, a young lad said 'Is that electric? Is it fast?' I told him it just helped me along, it wasn't fast. I hope he wasn't disappointed.

 

[Benjahmin]

A couple of years ago, I was pounding up one of the mile and a half climbs around here when I passed a pair of council workers sitting in their van. One of them called out the inevitable. I just told him, 'That's not what your wife said last night' and rode blissfully on.