It shouldn’t be a surprise that some riders get a bit miffed with some ebikers, when they come out with “we’re probably actually working *harder* than you”, and then when you back up a counterclaim with numbers you just get met with complete dismissal.

I ride in a mixed group of ebikes and non-e (I’m non-e). They are expensive specialized ebikes too, not that it really matters. We’ve all been mates for a long time so there’s a bit of jokey banter but never anything nasty. The blokes in your group just sound like arseholes, and I’d be riding with people who aren’t.

It sounds like a toxic group/place to be honest. I just can’t see the problem with mixed riding – just that the ebikes may have to wait at the top of the hill or stick it in eco and ride up together.

Riding with mates is about riding with mates – not about who rides what and how much it costs.

and then when you back up a counterclaim with numbers you just get met with complete dismissal.

Whilst being a lazy git who cant be arsed to train hard and so am happy being at the back I suspect even I would be a tad miffed at someone going “well its only on eco so really I was riding at least as hard as you”.

It does seem a difficult problem to solve unless you are riding in a group which routinely stops for cake/coffee/beer at random and so there is no pressure on anyone.
I can see why a serious racing snake would get a tad annoyed at someone like me cruising alongside them having sacrificed the nth pint for getting up early for a zwift session.

Depends on the type of riding you’re doing and whether everyone is aligned.

“Social” rides where no one is trying to get fit and/or trying to squeeze in a ride in a short time slot – mixed abilities/fitness/bike-types shouldn’t matter (type 1 ride)

But rides which have particular objectives (eg fitness or training, time-constrained or particularly demanding rides <distance/climbing/duration>) (type 2 ride), then the mixture of riders needs to be more closely aligned and this is where ebikes mixing with non-ebikes may be a problem as there IS a fundamental difference in dynamics. So I can see why a (lone?) ebiker wouldn’t be welcomed.

Personally, if it was just type 1 rides or the occasional type 2 ride, I wouldn’t be bothered by presence of ebikes BUT I’d not want to regularly do type 2 rides with an ebiker, same as I’d not want to do these types of rides with a non-ebiker who is massively faster or slower than me.

For the record, I find it really irritating if a faster rider sits on my back wheel up technical singletrack climbs I’m trying to clean, whether they are just a lot fitter than me or on an ebike.
For whatever reason, it doesn’t irritate me as much if I can hear them suffering as badly as I am! Call that a character flaw if you want…

Like it or not, we’ll probably all be on ebikes eventually if we keep riding long enough. I’m looking forward to still being able to ride long into old age with the help of one. Just not quite yet, for various reasons. But I’ll be quite grateful that all the people who bought them now have basically helped do the field testing for whatever I end up on in 20-25 years’ time.

Also, when riding with the family, a friend with an ebike and a towheee can keep everyone moving, even when they’re tired, and that’s cool.

My main complaint about ebikes is that very few of them use their power to run margherita makers, and riding is thirsty work.

I think the final thing is probably bound to my local trails, which are basically short, sharpish climbs and short descents. As and when I ride in a group with ebikes, they’re often able to do another trail in the time it takes to winch our socially-paced analogue group up to the top. That means both groups have to make compromises, which is a shame, as it’s often quite fun riding with lots of different people. But we had that with singlespeeds not so long ago, too: I still occasionally go out on one to remind myself of how nailed my knees are, and zooming off up the climbs because I have no choice in my gear selection is pretty antisocial.

What was that Surly blog? This one, maybe? Yeah. https://surlybikes.com/blog/some_answers_to_just_about_any_bike_forum_post_ive_ever_read

Like it or not, we’ll probably all be on ebikes eventually if we keep riding long enough.

I think I hate this sentiment most of all, as if they’re inevitable for everybody.

Plenty of people have managed to keep riding without battery assistance. I hope to be one of them.

Like it or not, we’ll probably all be on ebikes eventually if we keep riding long enough.

I think I hate this sentiment most of all, as if they’re inevitable for everybody

You seem to have contacted on the negative side of this and ignored the positive.

I’m looking forward to still being able to ride long into old age with the help of one

Er, no? I mean, you’re missing the point.

I acknowledge that they’re great for people who would otherwise be unable to ride.

I don’t believe they’re inevitable for all people though, and I dislike that that’s often trotted out as common wisdom.

use their power to run margherita makers

Were might one find one of these devices?

Asking for a friend.

Oh good it’s still going. I’m with aidy on this one. If it came to the point where it was eBike or give up riding I’m not sure where I would land. The expense is a big blocker, also the extra environmental impact that comes with batteries and disposal. I actually enjoy the physical exertion aspect of cycling too.

Christ! I still ride a HT partly due to the lack of faff and fewer things to go wrong. An eBike, for me personally, just seems to have more downsides than up. More power (ha!) to anyone that uses them though. No hate here. Plus they’re **** ugly things and I’m that sad when it comes to aesthetics.

100% with @Aidy

The idea that old age = infirmity is ingrained into a lot of people, but it’s bunkum. Use it, consistently, or lose it.

If you’ve lost it, and you’re 70 years old, get back on the weights. You can build muscle mass back. Just takes a little longer.

If it came to the point where it was eBike or give up riding I’m not sure where I would land.

Interesting test thought. I’d 100% take the e-bike, easy answer. I guess that makes me a true rider? No way I’d stop rolling on 2 wheels just because I need some help up the hills. I intend to be the oldest singlespeeder in the 5 valleys one day and I’ll quite happily be the oldest on the highway and byways on a pedelec one day after that.

If you’ve lost it, and you’re 70 years old, get back on the weights. You can build muscle mass back. Just takes a little longer.

“What is your malfunction?”

. I actually enjoy the physical exertion aspect of cycling too.

You hear this kind of thing a lot, but you know you can still absolutely destroy yourself on an ebike,you’ll just be going a lot faster than you would at the same effort on a normal bike.

What an ebike gives you is the option to be super lazy, whereas on a normal bike you usually don’t have that option.but you don’t have to be super lazy on an ebike

The eBike hating is ridiculous. The only consideration when my mate’s are planning a ride without me on my Levo, is hike-a-bike. No no no. Although it has happened, and sometimes dose. Or weather or not to bring a towie. Everyone took the piss at first, but the majority have got eebs or are considering one. Getting a face on because of what Someone else is riding is a poor reflection on yourself

“What an ebike gives you is the option to be super lazy!
Because the singlespeed is hard, you will not like it. But the more you hate it, the more you will learn. It is hard but it is fair!
God has a hard-on for singlespeeders because we kill every hill we see! He plays His games, we play ours!”

(no pisstaking intended and clearly I have zero to contribute to the discussion at this stage)

@jameso

Just an observation but there do seem to be some ex bunters that shout very loudly about how much they dislike ebikes.
Is it like an ex smoker thing😉

As for giving up riding rather than eeb it. That’s just **** weird.

Not weird just likely unaffordable and comes with extra environmental concerns. Also extra stuff to go wrong.

You hear this kind of thing a lot, but you know you can still absolutely destroy yourself on an ebike,you’ll just be going a lot faster than you would at the same effort on a normal bike.

Of course I know that but it simply doesn’t appeal. Shocking I know. Nothing against e-bikes or the people that ride them. Just not for me. It’s a step away from what cycling is for me personally. I’d have no issue riding with people on them, that is weird behaviour.

But give up riding. Shudders.

Indeed. Ive been riding 30 years, never been the fittest. Good shape though compared to my none cycling peers. Now I can ride and keep up with my super fit mates ( won the Sam haughtiness challenge, Fred whitton challenge types) and they get the miles in at pace. Or they get a tow, and don’t have to open gates. It’s all shits and giggles, dicking about on bikes

But give up riding. Shudders.

It would be a difficult decision to be sure. Give up or spend money I likely won’t have on an ugly bike that I therefore wouldn’t want to ride and probably wouldn’t be able to just throw in the shed covered in filth. Wires, batteries, motors. What’s next firmware updates for a pushbike? 🤮

I’d 100% take the e-bike, easy answer. I guess that makes me a true rider?

What a ridiculous thing to say

One thing I have found is over the past few years I got fed up with winter riding at night in mud for months on end, which started to make me not enjoy a bike ride, which is wrong. Im now way more likely to go out in bad conditions for a night ride on my Ebike.

I hate ebikes.
Not ebikers.
I love my singlespeed and the day I can’t ride that I’ll cry. But hate anyone else for riding an ebike? No way.

If it came to the point where it was eBike or give up riding I’m not sure where I would land.

I’d 100% take the e-bike, easy answer. I guess that makes me a true rider?

What a ridiculous thing to say

So you think the person that doesn’t ride is more of a rider than someone that is riding an eeber?

What a ridiculous thing to say

No more ridiculous than claiming that giving up riding is preferable to riding an e-bike.

I think that trying to say that someone who at some point in the far future may choose not to ride an ebike is not a “true rider” is ridiculous, yes.

No more ridiculous than claiming that giving up riding is preferable to riding an e-bike.

Believe it or not some of us paupers like riding bikes! And I’m not even a bonafide pauper, got kids, mortgage, bills etc. E-bike not even worth thinking about.

I think that trying to say that someone who at some point in the far future may choose not to ride an ebike is not a “true rider” is ridiculous, yes.

That’s not what was said though is it.The choice was don’t ride or ride an eeber.

That is exactly what was said because I said it and quoted affordability as one of the main reasons.

If it came to the point where it was eBike or give up riding I’m not sure where I would land. The expense is a big blocker, also the extra environmental impact that comes with batteries and disposal.

You’ve forced me to quote myself you Monster! I hope you’re happy 😀

Also wtf is a true rider? Sounds a bit road for me so I’m out. Riding bikes in the woods and hills is a hobby for me. If I get priced out due to age and mobility at some point then so be it. I’ll just pick up a new hobby!

Sorry funk.😀

All of these people here with their new-fangled “bicycles” whilst I’m out running, bloody easy mode I tell you! You should put some real effort in! I can do 10k in around an hour and I’m knackered, they’ve barely broken a sweat!!

It shouldn’t be a surprise that some riders get a bit miffed with some ebikers, when they come out with “we’re probably actually working *harder* than you”, and then when you back up a counterclaim with numbers you just get met with complete dismissal.

(and a good few people who’ve commented in agreement)

It genuinely astounds me that anyone would care. They’re going to get a bit miffed, well, fine, so what, be a bit miffed then. No-one died. The e-bikers with their batteries and their alleged attitudes, whatevs, meet you in the pub in an hour when I’ve caught you up. The fixietwat with the graphs and a spredsheet going “aksherlee…” likewise, there’s a knock on behind the bar when you get here. Or we could all put a bit more effort into riding at a similar pace if the goal is socialising.

Because. Seriously. Really? If you’re semi-pro then I get it, if you’re chasing some Strava record then I (kind of) get it, but if you’re going out for a casual ride with mates then for ****’s sake just go out with a casual ride with mates. What someone else is riding, whether better or worse, makes zero practical difference to your own ride. I deal with enough ‘tude at work without having to put up with it during leisure activities.

This entire discussion is bloody weird.

Believe it or not some of us paupers like riding bikes! And I’m not even a bonafide pauper, got kids, mortgage, bills etc. E-bike not even worth thinking about.

You don’t have to make the choice today you know. Keep on riding and enjoying your neeb until such time as you can’t/don’t and then reconsider. Or don’t, it’s no skin off my nose.

Wtf is a neeb?

Knee issue perhaps?

Wtf is a neeb?

Not an eeb, obvs.

(Hateful, isn’t it.)

So a bike then. No wonder some people hate these dickheads 😀 I’m beginning to see why. Might go to work in my nec or on the neb tomorrow!

Yeah, a close second to “everyone will be on an ebike one day” is all the ridiculous terms people come up with for bikes