Motor-assisted bikes on club runs?

TGD

I’m wondering if the issue of ‘e-bikes’ / ‘motor-assisted bikes’ / ‘whatever u wanna call em bikes’ showing up on club runs has happened yet and what attitudes are.

Eamonnator

I did a sportive last year, where a man turned up on an Ebike.
Nobody batted an eyelid.

buffalo

A two-speed peloton?

Duckjob

Unless they are "competing" in an event I dont see why it should be an issue for anyone else, or indeed anyone elses business what somebody chooses to ride.

Ebikes encourage people back onto bikes who otherwise wouldn't be there. More people on bikes on the road means more safety, more infrastructure, in fact more of all the good stuff that us bike-loving folks want.

Ferris

They are popular where cyclists cannot manage the required speeds to keep up with their mates etc. due to medical complaints. I know my 66yr old Dad, a long term cyclist, is considering one following double ankle surgery. Orbea do a couple of versions that look cool (D20, D30)

Steve SilverMint

I don’t think there’s any place for them on club rides.

I’ve only hopped in one once so not go much experience of them and I’d say models vary. On the one I tried when it kicks in it gave quick darts of pace from the motor and that would be a recipe for disaster on a group ride.

If it’s an issue with not being able to keep up there’s probably a more suitable group, most clubs have handy/leisure spins anyway.

magicbastarder

Ferris wrote: »

my 66yr old Dad, a long term cyclist, is considering one following double ankle surgery.

is the ankle surgery related to the cycling?

Ferris

magicbastarder wrote: »

is the ankle surgery related to the cycling?

No, genetics unfortunately

bogmanfan

I don't have any issue with them on a club spin, but I definitely spotted one on the Cooley Thriller mtb race last Saturday which was bad form.

Tenzor07

bogmanfan wrote: »

I don't have any issue with them on a club spin, but I definitely spotted one on the Cooley Thriller mtb race last Saturday which was bad form.

There was more than one, however I didn't see any of them beat Robin Seymour the race winner.

One of the guys on the EBike had just collected his Bus pass last week and wasn't exactly a svetle rider..
Also there was multiple fence crossings, not easy to lift a 50lb bike over them, also some of the sections would have been push up even on an ebike..

So, they are ok with me..

magicbastarder

i would assume there's a separate category for e-bikes in a race anyway?

Tenzor07

magicbastarder wrote: »

i would assume there's a separate category for e-bikes in a race anyway?

Not in Ireland that i'm aware of, the rule is "Riders must use human power only – no exceptions"

Obviously ebike entrants are allowed only at the discretion of the race organisers and i'm sure are excluded from winning the race cats.

Lemming

bogmanfan wrote: »

I don't have any issue with them on a club spin, but I definitely spotted one on the Cooley Thriller mtb race last Saturday which was bad form.

Some MTB races have introduced ebike categories, such as Mega avalance, and a couple of the stand-alone enduro event/races in the UK. I don't have a problem with them [ebikes] - and having tried a few they are fun - but for competitive racing, I think they shouldn't be mixed in with 'traditional' categories as they do give an assist.

Any other sort of non-competitive activity where someone says they [ebikes] have no place is just being a bit short sighted and quite inconsiderate towards those who have perhaps fallen on less fortunate times, physically speaking.

bogmanfan

Tenzor07 wrote: »

There was more than one, however I didn't see any of them beat Robin Seymour the race winner.

One of the guys on the EBike had just collected his Bus pass last week and wasn't exactly a svetle rider..
Also there was multiple fence crossings, not easy to lift a 50lb bike over them, also some of the sections would have been push up even on an ebike..

So, they are ok with me..

Forgot about the stiles. The last few were hard enough with my own bike, never mind the extra weight of an ebike

Tenzor07

bogmanfan wrote: »

Forgot about the stiles. The last few were hard enough with my own bike, never mind the extra weight of an ebike

Exactly, there was one guy I came across who couldn't even swing his leg over the last stile nevermind carry his regular bike too...

Icyseanfitz

dont see any problem with them in anything non competitive myself. They are a fantastic tool for people whos fitness isnt on par with the people they want to cycle with

Pinch Flat

Anyone on an ebike on our club ride would just be made sit up the front for the morning....

Raam

Pinch Flat wrote: »

Anyone on an ebike on our club ride would just be made sit up the front for the morning....

I've always wanted to ask the lad on the e-bike who passes me on my commute for some motor-pacing... if only I could catch him.

rollingscone

A friend of mine in the UK's dad was a lifelong roadie (and smoker) when he suffered a heart attack and needed a quadruple (afair) bypass in his early 60s.

He was basically told he could never exert himself beyond a certain threshold again.

An E-bike lets him get out with the same group of mates he'd been going for spins with for the last couple of decades.

browneire

magicbastarder wrote: »

i would assume there's a separate category for e-bikes in a race anyway?

Motorcross?

ht9zni1gs28crp

More and more events are allowing/operating a seperate category for e-bikes.

I know the Rad AmRing 24hr event has categories for road and mtb e-bikes.

Impressive being part of a 20man lineout behind some dude on a e-bike during a race :-)

magicbastarder

surely you'd need a standard though for races? i.e. would the race organisers require that an e-bike be street legal? and how do they check all e-bikes?

Tenzor07

I see that Focus bikes are making a kids ebike!!

https://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/focus-2019-bikes-52811/


Mental! Should that be allowed?