[Closed] E-bikes in sportives

Yes.

Special category though.

I think you are deliberately trolling.

Special category though.

Why does something that isn't a race need categories?

I think you are deliberately trolling.

Why do you say that? Just interested in people's views.

Sportive = not a race = no problem with ebikes.

I might be wrong, but not aware BC have anything to do with Sportives - not that I have checked, just assume they don't.

Do BC ban e-bikes from sportives? Most sportives have nothing to do with BC, surely?

Anyway, no skin off my nose - but that's if people actually want to do it in the first place.

Wonderful idea, would love to see the average definitely-not-racing sportiveur's reaction, given that it's definitely not a race 🙂

Special category though.

"Dernies"?

[troll]But motorbikes have no place in a bicycle race[/troll]

😈

Why does something that isn't a race need categories?

I think to keep the proper cyclists safe.

If someone's too lazy to even learn how to pedal a bike properly, I'd be doubtful if they'd learnt how to handle it down a hill or in a group etc.

It's not a risk worth taking; separate categories and separate start times.

Ride what you like in a sportive it's not as if its a race.

I haven't got an e bike can I do it in my car?

Ride what you like imo. Would seem a bit odd to me but I wouldnt really care.

Do BC ban e-bikes from sportives?

I enquired about the possibility of organising a family leisure event / sportive and was told no e-bikes when asked if they'd be allowed / covered under the provided insurance cover. It was going to be a fairly low key thing, mixed on / offroad and didn't want to exclude anyone who may be interested in riding.

Most sportives have nothing to do with BC, surely?

Lots are.

I'd be doubtful if they'd learnt how to handle it down a hill or in a group etc.

Done a couple of on/off road ones, a few people have been on ebikes

It’s not a race and the law defines them as bicycles. Why wouldn’t they be allowed?

Lots are.

You mean lots are insured through BC? That'd make sense.

Dunno if Cycling UK do event insurance but I know they are pro-ebike, for reasons of inclusion as you alluded to yourself.

would an e bike not be flat after 20 miles

would an e bike not be flat after 20 miles

Only if you whacked it in turbo mode from the off and rode like a dick 🙂

Depend on the power mode used/if it’s used all the time. Reckon mine could do 50+miles if ridden frugally

Plus extra barreries if needed

Starting at the back on an unrestricted one is the only way you’d get me to do one. Sounds like excellent fun.

Can’t see why not as it’s not a race. It’s just a nice day out in the county

Yep, let em in I say

I'll pay good money to the first person to stand in front of Lee Craigie and tell her she didn't win the Etape Loch Ness Sportive.

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Folks with disabilities excepted, I get that people have ebikes because they can't be arsed to put some effort into getting fit. However, I can't understand why a perfectly able-bodied person would want to take part in something that's about a physical challenge if they're not physically challenging themselves?

I'll pay good money to the first person to stand in front of Lee Craigie and tell her she didn't win the Etape Loch Ness Sportive

Travel expenses too?

If all e-biker entrants were confirmed to be limited to 15.5mph, I don't see the problem, in what is essentially supposed to be a social ride and not a race.

They don't hand out awards to "podium" finishers, do they, at a sportive? 😯

One of the biggest issues would be ensuring there weren't secret button combos that derestricted the motor.

[quote=tomhoward ]Depend on the power mode used/if it’s used all the time. Reckon mine could do 50+miles if ridden frugally
Plus extra barreries if needed

I've done a 70+km hilly offroad ride (mid Wales) on my levo and had battery left. I expect that I could get near 100km offroad so imagine it'd be doable on road.

Given the amount of requests to "fit this chipping kit" we get i can't see why not 😕

Last mass-start ride I did had e-bikes. Don't really see the problem. Don't think it was actually called "sportive" but it was a marshalled ride.

There were quite a few people riding e-bikes when I last rode the Maratona dles Dolomites in 2015. Also 2 guys riding them at Tuscany Trails 2016.

If all e-biker entrants were confirmed to be limited to 15.5mph,

You do know they're not [i]limited[/i] to 15.5mph right? That's just the speed the assist stops at...you can still pedal (or freewheel) them faster.

I'm assuming the OP is referring to closed road sportives in particular, because on an open road one there's nothing to stop any Tom, Dick, or Harriet from riding the same route at the same time on any road legal machine they want, so the only thing you could possibly ban them from doing is crossing your 'finishing line'

You do know they're not limited to 15.5mph right? That's just the speed the assist stops at...you can still pedal (or freewheel) them faster.

Quite true but I assume he just meant no de-restricted ebikes, which should be a given from any organisers' POV as they're no longer legally bicycles.

Given the amount of requests to "fit this chipping kit" we get i can't see why not

I hope you respond with a withering stare.

😀

on an open road one there's nothing to stop any Tom, Dick, or Harriet from riding the same route at the same time on any road legal machine they want

Oh, I dunno, I find that accidentally stumbling into a sportive is pretty guaranteed to stop me riding whatever route they're taking 🙂

Anything that annoys the fantasists is fine by me.

It's not a race, so bring it on.

I've done a number of sportives and i always think of them as personal challenges, not races, if you're at the front end, then maybe it is really competitive.

For me it was sub 6 hours for 100, then sub 5 1/2 hours, then sub 5 hours. Then events like Dragon Devil to see if a big lad that lives in Norfolk could ride 180 miles and 5000m of climbing.

Plus when i first moved here, sportives were a way of meeting people and finding some good local routes.

So i think they are what you make of them, i think if you are unfit, it is better to start with 30 mile event, then work up to 50 etc rather than just get straight on an e-bike, but each to there own, it's about enjoying it and getting out, better to ride an e-bike 100 miles than sit on a couch typing furiously at a keyboard

If someone's too lazy to even learn how to pedal a bike properly, I'd be doubtful if they'd learnt how to handle it down a hill or in a group etc.

they'll fit right in then

As has been noted, it's not a race, so I wouldn't have any issues with them being in.

, I can't understand why a perfectly able-bodied person would want to take part in something that's about a physical challenge if they're not physically challenging themselves?

Me neither but thats the world we live in.

in what is essentially supposed to be a social ride and not a race

No their not "supposed" to be purely social rides. You can make them what you want them to be. A good proportion of riders treat them in a very competitive manner. Times are published, and they enjoy comparing their efforts to other like minded riders. A bit like strava leader boards. I wish people would stop sneering at this, if it's not you just do your own thing.

legal e bikes won't be a huge help in sportives unless its very hilly given they cut out at 15 mph giving you just a heavy bike above this speed

legal e bikes won't be a huge help in sportives unless its very hilly given they cut out at 15 mph giving you just a heavy bike above this speed

This is true, but I suppose for some it would just help them get round the course. For others they just don't like being told they can't, so it becomes absolutely the most important thing they should be doing. 🙁

Yeah they should be easy to drop on the flat.

But that doesn't matter as "it's not a race".

JoB - Member
If someone's too lazy to even learn how to pedal a bike properly, I'd be doubtful if they'd learnt how to handle it down a hill or in a group etc.
they'll fit right in then

So can we just confirm, are sportives races then?

So can we just confirm, are sportives races then?

Not in this country for the most part. But lots of people ride them in a competitive manner and good luck to them. I'd say something like the Velethon is a type of race, closed circuit, timed, riders are listed in the results in order of their finishing time. Certainly ticks the boxes of some sort of race.