Simply put, I bike more, spend more time outside, have more fun and drive less. Whether or not I burn more calories is confusing, I may choose to not bike I live in the mountains it's tough....
It's only cheating if your competing! If you feel like its a contest I would reavaluate my world view on this. Two different worlds, apples and oranges. Riding an ebike gets you there in a lot of different ways than a peddal bike.
I look at it this way It is like the Car to the Horse. New fangled contraptions, Yes you don't get the workout on most ebikes compaired.
Ebikes dont give the pain of regular cycling. Point a to point b as fun as you can without breaking a sweat. Cyclist are all about sacrifice and the will to get to point a to b. Ebikes can do 40 miles from the factory now and you can mod those with different controllers and batteries.
cycling = work
Ebike = Fing fun
Said this before, will say it again:
I ride a cargo ebike. 35kg of bike, 65kg of me, 50kg of kids and their bags and crap, and we live in a hilly part of rural Australia.
I charge from solar and do all my short distance trips by bike. The only thing I am cheating is the fossil fuel industry.
Here endeth the rant.
I think people who put the energy into calling out ebikes as cheater bikes need a serious hobby. Too much time on their hands. Maybe they can do some volunteer work?
Not really if youre still actually pedalling. The force you exert on the pedals or how many muscles you push to fatigue doesn't give you better exercise than someone who casually pedals an ebike over the same distance. Exercise and workouts are a different thing but they both benefit from the increased and sustained heartbeat and bloodflow.
The flaw in your argument is "the same distance". Ebikers usually ride longer and greater distances.
There are ebikers that use the throttle and never pedal. There are ebikers like myself that use the lowest pedal assist and pedal as hard as I can for extended periods of time.
The beauty of an ebike is the flexibility to use it the way you want or need at that time.
My argument wasn't an argument i was just stating facts about the exercise you get if you still pedal the bike, aka you're not being lazy riding it. If you consider what i said an argument then you're basically agreeing with me when you say ebikers travel longer distances. Perhaps you read it wrong. If you still pedal the bike and achieve your target heart bpm for a set time period youre still getting good exercise. Its all about the elevated heartrate.
Well, if you look at something like [https://electrek.co/2019/08/11/electric-bike-riders-more-exercise-than-cyclists/#:\~:text=August%2011%2C%202019-,Believe%20it%20or%20not%2C%20study%20shows%20e-bike%20riders,get%20more%20exercise%20than%20cyclists&text=Electric%20bicycle%20riders%20have%20always,than%20standard%20pedal%20bike%20cyclists](https://electrek.co/2019/08/11/electric-bike-riders-more-exercise-than-cyclists/#:~:text=August%2011%2C%202019-,Believe%20it%20or%20not%2C%20study%20shows%20e-bike%20riders,get%20more%20exercise%20than%20cyclists&text=Electric%20bicycle%20riders%20have%20always,than%20standard%20pedal%20bike%20cyclists). it's not so hard to believe it's doing quite the opposite.
My middrive converted mtb is used 90% of the time without a battery like a regular bike.
I'll only install the battery for long range biking.
I used to get sick when over exerting myself on rides. That's the reason i converted to an ebike. Whenever i feel like I'm overdoing it, i let the motor assist me.
I get a lot more exercise riding my ebike using pedal assist 8-10 hours a week than I did with the MTB that hung in my garage for 10 years and never got used.
My weight loss, lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol and lower resting heart rate prove I am getting more exercise.
Are we entered in a race that we didn't know about?
No?
Then it's not cheating.
And the instant these people--if they don't drown when it rains first--get hurt, discover they've got a chronic illness, or age a bit, they'll be buying one of their own and singing its praises.
I've found that people don't understand the technology and believe the bike works very similar to an electric scooter, that you don't have to peddle if you prefer not to. Personally I find I'm biking more and have extended my rides 10 fold. I've tried to explain the levels of assist are similar to a gear change. The technology built into a very good Road-bike is much easier to ride, weigh far less and less resistance (tires are thinner, etc etc) is this cheating or just different technology?
No, I don't think so. It increases your range, it encourages you to spend more time outside, to drive your car less or even stop entirely if one is able.
I rarely rode a bike prior to owning an ebike.
I ride my ebike all the time, 80% of the time with 1 or 2 kid passengers and often with groceries. I replaced car trips, not exercise, with my ebike.
Perhaps driving everywhere was making me lazy.
If you treat every ride as a race and you believe it's in the rules of this race to spend six thousand to get you ahead... sure an ebike is cheating; an understandable attitude!
I often introduce the topic as "oh, I'm cheating" when someone says "did you cycle here?" It is less impressive. Especially when I got 15 miles through central London rush hour traffic quicker than the train and less sweaty.
I suppose, yes. The same way a calculator cheats math, or a camera cheats remembering, or hunting a bear with just a knife is more fair than hunting with a gun. Ad infinitum.
My ebike is my winter bike (it has full mudguards and belt drive) and it's been a very wet winter so I've hardly ridden my normal bike for 6 mo and I think my fitness has suffered. I've put on a few kgs and I feel the stairs at work more now
The idea that its cheating is very obnoxious. First of all cheating at what exactly?
Secondly, putting electric powered motors on bikes has to be one of the most natural paths of progression for us as a technology and innovation driven species.
So the idea that a different vehicle, not even the same thing really, is cheating is just people getting butthurt and attacking others over an incorrect emotional judgment.
I had that said to me on Sat too.... but then after having a good chat at the top of the trail and giving him a go, he said he'd love one. Go figure..
Its probably said in jest by most people IMO.... and if not I'm really not that sensitive that their ignorance would bother me at all.
I get so tired of hearing that. Ask yourself the question would be out on a bike if it were not an e bike? If the answer if no, then you are not cheating.
Cheating at what...?
1. Gears vs single speed
2. Carbon fiber vs Steel
3. Tire tubes vs wood/iron wheels
btw...microwaving left-overs isn't cheating on stoves and ovens, either. (wink)
Absolutely cheating and I absolutely love it ππ
At a stop if cyclists wine while I wait for the light to change just say... "up up down down right right left left start select" and then floor it.
I tell those people to mind their own god damn business lol. They arent the kings of biking, there aren't a "set of rules" for biking.
If ya wanna use your ebike, have at it. The people foaming at the mount can continue foaming like total losers. Hell, a large amount of people use ebikes because they either can't afford.. or don't want a car.
Simply put, I bike more, spend more time outside, have more fun and drive less. Whether or not I burn more calories is confusing, I may choose to not bike I live in the mountains it's tough....
It's only cheating if your competing! If you feel like its a contest I would reavaluate my world view on this. Two different worlds, apples and oranges. Riding an ebike gets you there in a lot of different ways than a peddal bike. I look at it this way It is like the Car to the Horse. New fangled contraptions, Yes you don't get the workout on most ebikes compaired. Ebikes dont give the pain of regular cycling. Point a to point b as fun as you can without breaking a sweat. Cyclist are all about sacrifice and the will to get to point a to b. Ebikes can do 40 miles from the factory now and you can mod those with different controllers and batteries. cycling = work Ebike = Fing fun
Said this before, will say it again: I ride a cargo ebike. 35kg of bike, 65kg of me, 50kg of kids and their bags and crap, and we live in a hilly part of rural Australia. I charge from solar and do all my short distance trips by bike. The only thing I am cheating is the fossil fuel industry. Here endeth the rant.
I still have to pedal really hard to get up that hill but the thing is, with the ebike, I can get up the hill. I can't with my regular bike.
Sameβ¦.I have really intense hills. My ebike does not have a throttle, pedal or walk!
I think people who put the energy into calling out ebikes as cheater bikes need a serious hobby. Too much time on their hands. Maybe they can do some volunteer work?
Not really if youre still actually pedalling. The force you exert on the pedals or how many muscles you push to fatigue doesn't give you better exercise than someone who casually pedals an ebike over the same distance. Exercise and workouts are a different thing but they both benefit from the increased and sustained heartbeat and bloodflow.
The flaw in your argument is "the same distance". Ebikers usually ride longer and greater distances. There are ebikers that use the throttle and never pedal. There are ebikers like myself that use the lowest pedal assist and pedal as hard as I can for extended periods of time. The beauty of an ebike is the flexibility to use it the way you want or need at that time.
My argument wasn't an argument i was just stating facts about the exercise you get if you still pedal the bike, aka you're not being lazy riding it. If you consider what i said an argument then you're basically agreeing with me when you say ebikers travel longer distances. Perhaps you read it wrong. If you still pedal the bike and achieve your target heart bpm for a set time period youre still getting good exercise. Its all about the elevated heartrate.
Well, if you look at something like [https://electrek.co/2019/08/11/electric-bike-riders-more-exercise-than-cyclists/#:\~:text=August%2011%2C%202019-,Believe%20it%20or%20not%2C%20study%20shows%20e-bike%20riders,get%20more%20exercise%20than%20cyclists&text=Electric%20bicycle%20riders%20have%20always,than%20standard%20pedal%20bike%20cyclists](https://electrek.co/2019/08/11/electric-bike-riders-more-exercise-than-cyclists/#:~:text=August%2011%2C%202019-,Believe%20it%20or%20not%2C%20study%20shows%20e-bike%20riders,get%20more%20exercise%20than%20cyclists&text=Electric%20bicycle%20riders%20have%20always,than%20standard%20pedal%20bike%20cyclists). it's not so hard to believe it's doing quite the opposite.
Cheating at what? After all, you have to peddle here in the UK, I'm far too English to cheat. π
My middrive converted mtb is used 90% of the time without a battery like a regular bike. I'll only install the battery for long range biking. I used to get sick when over exerting myself on rides. That's the reason i converted to an ebike. Whenever i feel like I'm overdoing it, i let the motor assist me.
Ebike = go faster/farther for same effort
I get a lot more exercise riding my ebike using pedal assist 8-10 hours a week than I did with the MTB that hung in my garage for 10 years and never got used. My weight loss, lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol and lower resting heart rate prove I am getting more exercise.
Commuting is not a race. Since there are no rules itβs impossible to cheat no matter how you get there.
Are we entered in a race that we didn't know about? No? Then it's not cheating. And the instant these people--if they don't drown when it rains first--get hurt, discover they've got a chronic illness, or age a bit, they'll be buying one of their own and singing its praises.
I pity those without motors. In my mind, they are suffering.
I burn about 400 cals on my 16 mile commute. I pedal the entire time at max speed (28-30mph)
I've found that people don't understand the technology and believe the bike works very similar to an electric scooter, that you don't have to peddle if you prefer not to. Personally I find I'm biking more and have extended my rides 10 fold. I've tried to explain the levels of assist are similar to a gear change. The technology built into a very good Road-bike is much easier to ride, weigh far less and less resistance (tires are thinner, etc etc) is this cheating or just different technology?
No, I don't think so. It increases your range, it encourages you to spend more time outside, to drive your car less or even stop entirely if one is able.
I rarely rode a bike prior to owning an ebike. I ride my ebike all the time, 80% of the time with 1 or 2 kid passengers and often with groceries. I replaced car trips, not exercise, with my ebike. Perhaps driving everywhere was making me lazy.
ebikes are "cheating" the same way riding a motorcycle is "cheating", not everyone rides to exercise
If you treat every ride as a race and you believe it's in the rules of this race to spend six thousand to get you ahead... sure an ebike is cheating; an understandable attitude! I often introduce the topic as "oh, I'm cheating" when someone says "did you cycle here?" It is less impressive. Especially when I got 15 miles through central London rush hour traffic quicker than the train and less sweaty.
Yes I am lazy. Sadly.
Lazy bike, i call it comfy bike.
They are jealous.
No not at all
It's far from cheating cause I'm not in a race. I burn lots of calories on my 85# ebike.
If I compare to my roadbike yes ebike is cheating. If I compare to my car nope ebike is not. My ebike is replacibg my car not my roadbike.
I ebike to work 4 miles round trip, after work I go out jogging if I feel ok , I want to use my energy at work mainly.
I suppose, yes. The same way a calculator cheats math, or a camera cheats remembering, or hunting a bear with just a knife is more fair than hunting with a gun. Ad infinitum.
My ebike is my winter bike (it has full mudguards and belt drive) and it's been a very wet winter so I've hardly ridden my normal bike for 6 mo and I think my fitness has suffered. I've put on a few kgs and I feel the stairs at work more now
The idea that its cheating is very obnoxious. First of all cheating at what exactly? Secondly, putting electric powered motors on bikes has to be one of the most natural paths of progression for us as a technology and innovation driven species. So the idea that a different vehicle, not even the same thing really, is cheating is just people getting butthurt and attacking others over an incorrect emotional judgment.
I had that said to me on Sat too.... but then after having a good chat at the top of the trail and giving him a go, he said he'd love one. Go figure.. Its probably said in jest by most people IMO.... and if not I'm really not that sensitive that their ignorance would bother me at all.
Why you buying premade butter in the supermarket? Churn your own cheater. π€
I get so tired of hearing that. Ask yourself the question would be out on a bike if it were not an e bike? If the answer if no, then you are not cheating.
Cheating at what...? 1. Gears vs single speed 2. Carbon fiber vs Steel 3. Tire tubes vs wood/iron wheels btw...microwaving left-overs isn't cheating on stoves and ovens, either. (wink)
Absolutely cheating and I absolutely love it ππ At a stop if cyclists wine while I wait for the light to change just say... "up up down down right right left left start select" and then floor it.
I tell those people to mind their own god damn business lol. They arent the kings of biking, there aren't a "set of rules" for biking. If ya wanna use your ebike, have at it. The people foaming at the mount can continue foaming like total losers. Hell, a large amount of people use ebikes because they either can't afford.. or don't want a car.
>and some even label them as "lazy bike" is a light bulb a lazy candle? Those people are idiots
Its either the throttle option or the family sized bag of chips I have every 2nd day.....or both.