eBikes Are the Most Misunderstood Upgrade
Posted by peachblossom6243@reddit | ebikes | View on Reddit | 130 comments
People think it’s about being lazy. It’s not. It’s about accessibility. Longer rides without burnout. Keeping up with faster friends. Riding despite knee issues. Making cycling inclusive instead of exclusive. The more people on two wheels, the better.
LucyDroppp@reddit
I agree w this. This is exactly what people don't get about eBikes. And I am saying this being someone who works in the eBike space and get lots of feedbacks from new eBike riders/long time mechanical bike riders
It’s not about replacing effort, it’s about removing barriers. More people can ride, ride longer, and actually enjoy it without being limited by fitness, age, or injuries.
The biggest shift we see is people going from “occasionally riding” to making it part of their daily life.
More riders on the road = better for everyone.
Plastic-Yesterday305@reddit
it's an upgrade to walking...? I've never, ever heard of laziness as a reason not to get an e bike.
Mammoth_Ask3797@reddit
And for people like me who had heart surgery and now artificial heart chambers.
Wilddog73@reddit
Also getting to work without being sweaty and then exercising on the way home.
Kahajo@reddit
Meine Frau und ich haben uns letztes Jahr E-Bike's von Cube geholt, die Reichweite unserer Ausflüge hat sich zu unseren früheren Fahrradausfahrten erweitert und es macht Spaß, es ist zwar keine sportliche Herausforderung, aber man ist draußen an der frischen Luft und hat sich bewegt. Wir (meine Frau und ich) sind uns einig, daß hätten wir schon früher machen sollen.
funcentric@reddit
I don't know about the last sentence, but I agree with the rest. The main one is having people with different skill levels to be able to ride together. Inclusive is a great word.
Too bad much of the ebike world has come down to lazy parents too lazy to train kids or drive them to school that they hand illegal bikes to their kids with zero oversight. For the kids, it becomes a competition of who's faster or who's got the more expensive bike or who tricked their parents the most.
Another misunderstood concept is everyone seems to think torque sensor is the way to go which totally isn't, especially for people with the knee issues you pointed out or who just don't like riding bicycles and don't want to be constantly reminded that they are. Since few people have taken the effort on youtube to clarify b/c they're too busy pushing brands that they're affiliated with to make commission, I put this together so people don't buy the completely wrong type of bike, Torque vs Cadence sensor in plain english for regular people, https://youtu.be/hYVOXzqTl1Q?si=-SSauJ8RebiGllnB
FerlaBikes@reddit
What most people miss is the accessibility angle, and it's genuinely exciting.
eBikes open cycling up to people who couldn't before, whether that's hills, distance, or just not having an hour to spare. A lot of riders quietly stop using their car for short trips, some ditch a second vehicle entirely. That's real money back in your pocket.
The mental shift is a bonus nobody warns you about. Riding outside, skipping traffic, moving your body without it feeling like effort. You start arriving places in a better mood and with more energy than you left with.
And when getting around becomes something you actually enjoy, it spills into everything. Riding with your partner, picking up the kids, meeting a friend across town becomes the good part of your day rather than just another errand.
That's a pretty solid upgrade ! 🚲
Massive-Half2976@reddit
Totally, it’s about access and keeping people riding, not laziness. I use veydomax to keep routes and ride data visible so I spend more time enjoying the ride.
ImWithStupidKL@reddit
Getting to work without being caked in sweat. I don't even have one, but I imagine that's a benefit in hot places.
snoogins355@reddit
Like saying walking up an escalator is cheating or lazy. No, you just want to go somewhere a little faster. Ebikes are definitely more fun
DaraParsavand@reddit
How many escalators do you see in the backcountry?
mmeiser@reddit
Ahh what? How many bikes do you see in th backcountry? Am bikepacker. I seek out the backroads and trails and yet... they require roads and trails... which are just another humon convention that eases travel. I mean at least the horse people have some argument. Bicyclists ironically cling to some insane purity standard that does not exist. It's the ones wearing kycra. riding carbon, electronic shifting and modern suspension with servo motors like Flight Deck that are the most "ebikes are cheating". My theory is its sunk cost. They are so bought in to the "sport" that it seems like cheating that anyone could enjoy cycling without a $5000 carbon bike and 10,000 hours in the saddle. What they mean is "no fair I had I soent $300 on my carbon fiber sole shoes to go faster". It really has nothing to do with anyone else.
Ebiking ia the september that never ended. I was around in day one of the internet. As schools and businesses came online every september there would be a new flush of newbs. Then one september he internet exploded and never stopped. All the netiquetre of the uber dweeb culture was wipped away like so many usenet threads. I say its wonderful. And as the OP said "The more people on two wheels, the better". I would even argue motorcycles and scooters make the world better. ANYTHING not a car at this point.
DaraParsavand@reddit
Ok maybe backcountry is the wrong word. For many it may mean wilderness or national parks where bikes aren't allowed anyway. I just think and escalator analogy is bizarre hence my comment.
I don't have an ebike yet - might get one when I get older (say in my 70s, for now my 10 year old alloy analog is fine). But I will never get more than a class one and if it were up to me I think all ebikes should be equivalent to european pedelecs - 250W, 25 km/h. Then jump to e motorcycles. Better to have a clear "no mans land" in order to regulate bike paths, lanes, and trails.
KoalaOriginal1260@reddit
I'm 220lbs. I live in a community set on a mountainside. I had to get off my e-bike and walk it for a block the other day on my way to a job up the hill because the motor + my effort was not enough to move my mass safely up a steep part.
We don't need wattage regulators. 250w for a 140lb person in a flat community is a very different vehicle than 250w for a 220lb person in a hilly community. What we need is speed regulators.
DaraParsavand@reddit
I am more of a mind to compromise on power than speed. What power do you propose? 500 W or 750 W or unlimited?
I am not happy with powered speed faster than pedelecs and I am one of many, hence speed crack downs in NYC and elsewhere. 25 km/h worldwide should have been the standard.
KoalaOriginal1260@reddit
To me, the use case is this:
A commuter bike is to commute. Limit the speed to 25kph, don't worry about the power. If someone wants to ride up a mountain at 25kph, let them. We can design systems that sense the grade easily and deliver more power. For conversions/diy e-bikes, limit the power because those systems are easiest to jailbreak in a diy setup.
I commute on the bike and I find I use the bike less because of the extra time it takes vs driving. A lot of that time is added because I'm doing 10kph on a lot of the climbs and there are many hills between me and my main job.
DaraParsavand@reddit
Interesting - thx. I see power (not including inefficiencies) for a mass m moving up a slope phi deg at speed v is m g v sin ( phi ). for say a 20% grade (pretty steep for pavement but I know steeper exists on short runs of road occasionally) which is a bit under 12 deg - call it 12 and say 300 lb (136 kg) for a heavy bike and rider, and 25 km/h (about 7 m/sec) that gives:
136 kg * 9.8 m/sec^2 * 7 m/sec * sin (12 deg) = 1.9 kW.
Ok I see your point that 250 W is very anemic for hill climbing as a commuter even at a very modest 25 km/h assist limit.
A more typical peak steepness on most roads is more like 6 deg which basically cuts this in 1/2 to about 1 kW (still more than 750 W bikes can deliver obviously.
Supposedly the ebikes that have no issues bluring the line to e motorcycles can get to 20 kW - that seems insane and I'd rather have that on e motorcycles only.
But I could be convinced that 1 kW e bikes (no insurance and registration requirements like with motorcycles) should be allowed. I might even be convinced to allow assisted higher speed (I don't know about 45 km/h, maybe less) if it was only on roads and never bike paths or trails, but that is a difficult thing to make happen. Maybe if all ebikes required some type of location indication (GPS I guess - the latest versions are precise enough to distinguish between a path 10 ft away from the road and the road) that can dictate your assist limit.
But I remain convinced that we need a practical way to stop assisted 28 mph biking on all separate bike paths and in places with crowded bike lanes (like NYC in the warmer months).
KoalaOriginal1260@reddit
With a speed limit of 25kph, obviously 20kw would be silly, so this is really a debate that goes up to about 2.0kw as you demonstrate.
I agree that anything travelling on shared bike/pedestrian infrastructure needs to be limited, so it makes sense to have a bit of a 'no option between here and an e-Motorcycle' regulatory setup.
blisteringbluey@reddit
It is in Europe. It really is OK, I'm genX so I need help getting up the hills, that really is the purpose of an eBike to me. I love the trails and my 15 mph limit is plenty.
mmeiser@reddit
I think you just need a mid drive. Serious differences between an emtb mid drive and a hub drive and the kiggest key are low speed gearing like a serios 59t big ring in the back and a lot more low speed torque. Am 260lbs amd ride absolutely ridiculous hilly routes in SE Ohio. The amish seem to be fine on a 750 hub drive but when oush comes to shove for real mountains exceeding 12 and even 20 degrees the mid drive paired with low speed gearing is the only thing that is going to do it. To be clear there is nothing wrong with hub drives in most situations. It just sounds like you have the situation that they do not work for.
And fyi, my ebikes are older bosch. One is 75Nm and the other is even an older 65Nm. They still climb hills like billy goats. In fact it is wha they do best. The new ones are 85 and even 95Nm. Torque in the mid drive is a lot different then torque at the hub/wheel. And yeah these things are only 250 watt prob peak 350-450, which means they burn a lot less juice too.
I suppose I should point out just how insane. I have both set up dual battery because old commute was 60 miles round trip. Am old school tourer/bikepacker. So when I realized how efficient they were at climbing I started doing overnighters on them. Batteries are interswappable. My record is 267 miles with 27,000 vertical feet of climbing burning about 13000 calories in about 34 hours. That is a good 12 hours of downtime to sleep and recharge. Getting about 35 miles per 500Wh battery on a charge. Even with all that vertical. Oh and using a garmin power meter because "you can't burn 6000 miles on a ride, especially not on an ebike." Friends are for proving wrong.
KoalaOriginal1260@reddit
Thanks for the suggestion and the details.
It is a Gazelle Ultimate C380. Bosch Mid drive, 75nm torque. Maybe the belt drive is part of my issue (in addition to the fact that I am not what anyone would term athletic. I use the bike mostly as a commuter, which means that going 10 kph on the steeps lengthens my commute time and makes it less safe in traffic as cars really don't like being behind me.
Singnedupforthis@reddit
15mph ebikes are garbage. Riding in Wilderness areas and national parks is allowed a by the law, but it is unlikely that you get a chance to prove that in court as there is nobody out there writing tickets.
DaraParsavand@reddit
Riding in a wilderness area is absolutely not allowed. I should have said National Park dirt trails are not allowed, of course you van ride on roads in parks and there are (very few) paved separate bike paths in parks sometimes.
Singnedupforthis@reddit
Let me reframe, riding in a Wilderness area, whether National Park or Forest Service, is not allowed FOR YOU. I know the law, so I ride there on a regular basis.
DaraParsavand@reddit
As in ride a horse? Or are you admitting to breaking the law or saying something else? I am completely lost.
Singnedupforthis@reddit
The law is that bikes are allowed. The agencies are breaking the law. You can ride a horse if that suits you, but I wouldn't trust them.
stormdelta@reddit
It sounds like you don't understand that many of us use ebikes as transportation.
And the EU rules would just smother ebikes in the US for that purpose, pushing more people into cars that are far more dangerous. The EU is a very different landscape in terms of cycling infrastructure and roads.
DaraParsavand@reddit
I haven't cycled in Europe in 40 years and mostly just the Netherlands but I see videos about it (not that many - but caught one on Denmark recently). Would you consider EU cycling infrastructure better or worse than the US (I assume better) and why does that not favor having more powerful and faster e-bikes there the same as here for the argument on this sub that it reduces car travel?
One thing's for sure, I'm not hearing about the level of animosity in EU to ebikes as I do in say NYC.
stormdelta@reddit
EU infrastructure is drastically superior to most of the US, and it's not just cycling. Traffic circles are dramatically more common vs intersections, speed limits are lower with narrower roads that are less prone to speeding, cars are less oversized/dangerous, and cities tend to have more narrower and more limited visibility roads and streets that make higher speeds less practical anyways.
They also have reasonable graduated requirements between bike and car that isn't really there in the US, and have far more options for mass/public transit. In the US, we lazily default to driver's license for practically everything and cars are the only way to get around in many places, leading to courts being afraid to suspend licenses (and even if they do, people keep driving anyways out of a lack of alternatives).
I'll also point out the US's power limits aren't that much higher than the EU in most cases, as the EU's limit is sustained power, and most of those "250W" bikes can produce far more than that peak.
As for why all this favors higher speeds in the US: higher speed deltas between bikes and the cars you're stuck riding next to in unprotected bike lanes is a safety issue (especially when you can be unexpectedly forced into the road by any number of obstacles, construction, illegal parked cars, etc), and the prevalence of large intersections requires consistent stronger acceleration to minimize time spent in intersection.
Many cities don't even have unprotected bike lanes on critical roads either, forcing bikes into traffic if they don't want to take implausible detours that can triple the distance to get anywhere.
DaraParsavand@reddit
Thanks for a reasoned reply. I will consider those points going forward.
mmeiser@reddit
True that. Even i. the EU they seem to have hamstrung ebikes outside of the cities. I ride a class 3 because my commute is quiet country roads and big open distances. Also because I cruise on most of my bikes at more then 20mph. I just an't push a 25-35mph headeind on my way to work and show up a sweaty mess. Why should i be speed penalized for riding an ebike. It makes as much sense as limiting all cars to 35mph. And yet I believe in the sensible u. s. restrictions in most places. Throttles only to 20mph and pedal assist max 28. It's very simple if you are going more then 20mph and not pedaling its an emoto and you need a licensce.
Massive-Technician74@reddit
Bicyclists are pretentious assholes
TheLyfeNoob@reddit
Roughly 7, maybe 7.5. Depends on the weather, they don’t like rain.
snoogins355@reddit
You're missing the point
FrenchFatCat@reddit
But at the same time, let's not pretend that a suron is an ebike...
jnyc777@reddit
Well this surron replaced a gsxr, still gets me to work just as much as your ebike, still doesn’t use gasoline, has functional pedals, can limit my speed to 20km/hour if needed ! Y isn’t my bike an ebike but yours is ?
moneyfortime62@reddit
Because yours already fits a classification; it’s a moped if you want it on road. It’s also a pretty impressive dirt bike on moto trails. Enjoy
jnyc777@reddit
If I limit mine to 750 watts , say yours is at 750 watts , I think 750 is seen as the limit before they call it a moped. Ive seen class 1-2-3. Your motor can be unlocked to do double the sited power, restricting mine is the same deal. I don’t think there’s any weight restrictions. Even though what I’m building should be quite a bit lighter than a “surron” and yes trails is partly why I went with the surron frame, thanks ! that battery compartment is sweet too ! My biggest comment is my diy should be just as much of an ebike as your diy
Adorable_Wolf_8387@reddit
If I put functional pedals on my Livewire would that make it an ebike? No.
jnyc777@reddit
Had to google that ! Cool bike ! I’m sure it’s possible to turn it into an ebike ! It’s a mini bike. The surron is based on mountain bike technology, with beefed up frame for a big battery and 4000w motor , stock has pegs, but if you power it down replace pegs with functional pedals, not those dangling in the back of pegs like those sport bike style e-bikes/what ever you call em. Isn’t that the same as adding power to a pedal bike ? Just with a ton more range ?
FrenchFatCat@reddit
Because mine is an ebike.
jnyc777@reddit
Because you said so? Is your bike bought and advertised an an ebike? did you modify a bike into an ebike ?
Zuko-Red-Wolf@reddit
They’re way more fun!
SSG669@reddit
Agreed!
CyberoX9000@reddit
And, of course, cheap long distance commute which one wouldn't be able to do without being a trained athlete
ThunderSi75@reddit
Hear hear! This past weekend, I took three rides on my ‘21 Trek Domane+. 1) Analog out to the group ride start, then min assist for 55 miles with the group - total use maybe 25% of battery. Mid assist 5 miles home. 2) Group ride: as a ride leader, I played tail end Charlie with a young lady far past her ability level. To do so: zero assist - just rode a 30 pound bike for 35 miles. Point: ebike extends who you can stay with down as well as up. 3) With the weather getting cold again, an additional ten miles on full boost to burn the still-full battery down to around 50%.
PNGL88@reddit
Agreed. When I was a teen/early-20s I road my mountain bike a lot. 20-70 miles a week on trails. Then adulting and life happened. I got fat and out of shape. I bought an ebike so that I could actually have some enjoyment in trying to get back in shape. Struggle-bus isn't fun. A midge of help, makes it better. 🤷🏻♂️
No-Acadia-7758@reddit
E-motto bikes gives e bikes a bad name.. e mottos wanna act like they are motorcycle speeding going on and off the sidewalk cutting thru traffic and before YOU say not all e motto bikes I live near fort Myers beach so please i see oh maybe 300 a day. And 299 of them act like this then when they get caught they say .. we are just a e bike following the law.. ban all e motto bikes and fine every shop that sells them
hollyly@reddit
Up until late 2024, I regularly rode my acoustic road bike a few hours every other day. I'm recovering from being sick for a year and change, and my ebike is the only way I've been able to ride at all since getting sick (which hasn't been much). It is absolutely an accessibility win and I'm tired of the rhetoric that using one is "being lazy." It's also the only way I can ride up my city's hills with a heavy musical instrument in my trailer.
ForsakenRacism@reddit
I can go take 4 laps hours in my hour instead of 1 or 2.
Neenknits@reddit
3 wheels!
Verybumpy@reddit
Nice conversion. What made you decide to do a conversion instead of a newer e-tadpole?
Neenknits@reddit
I had the trike already. I liked it. Adding a bafang BBS02 myself was dramatically cheaper than buying new. Absolutely no reasons I could come up with not to!
I took my 2013 terratrike rambler, stripped it down to the frame, scrubbed it, added vinyl (hated the orange color!). Cleaned all the parts, lubed, locktited, adjusted everything, new cables, and carefully adjusted it all. It has never been so well adjusted, even brand new. It has thumbies and bb7s, not the original shifters and brakes. It was fun, and my kids helped. My youngest (he is an automotive apprentice) had a blast mounting the motor, I couldn’t not let him do the honors. He even drilled out my special motor mounting wrench to let his torque wrench work with it, as a whatsitcalled claw.
I did most of the stripping and washing, son did the parts that my arthritic wrists objected to. We also mounted a pedal swing! I have a knee that doesn’t have full bend. This lets it have full extension, but a shallow bend. Have you ever seen anything so cool? Whoever invented it has an interesting brain! (This link has an animation that shows how it works…it’s weird) https://highpath.co.uk/pulse-swing-cranks/
But I bought it from my usual t-cycle https://t-cycle.com/products/easy-knees-pedal-swing-and-crank-shortener-kit?srsltid=AfmBOoqy6RqIT3wKGLdoYLRmR5ktLnw-8ZzhWd6P5Pr29SL6hO92FkTX
-mudflaps-@reddit
For me if you were riding to work everyday on an acoustic bike, then you switch to electric you will need to find another way to get exercise to maintain the same fitness, if you weren't riding at all, and go straight to ebike, it's still going to improve your fitness.
miscellaneouspants@reddit
See, you're thinking of it the wrong way (and you're not the only one). The motor is optional. Instead of thinking of it as an "electric bike", think of it first as a very heavy bike. That's what it is, after all. It's going to use the exact same muscles as a comparable acoustic bike but it's always going to give you a better workout because it requires more effort to push. That's what makes ebikes so great IMO. They're the best of both worlds. If you want to shred your quads, you can absolutely do that. I try to save the motor for really big hills so I can still get a workout. Some days it works out that way, other days I just want to fly so I can get home faster. It lets me do that, too!
Unique-Tax6008@reddit
Also I can get the same workout, as in sustain same heart rate but travel further cause I'm traveling 3-8mph faster
smoothloam@reddit
I can get the same heart rate speed walking, but that doesn’t mean I get the same workout. It’s muscle mass everyone seems to forget about.
miscellaneouspants@reddit
It's a bike. It works the same muscles as any other bike. It's not going to help with training specificity for something like an Iron Man, where you need to practice staying in a specific position for hours, but you don't HAVE to crank the motor to max power if you don't want to. That's the best thing about e-bikes IMO. I control exactly how much effort I want to put into it. If I want to fly up a 7% grade without breaking a sweat, I can do that. If I want to destroy my quads by effectively adding 60 pounds to my mass, I can do that, too. Think of it like running with a weight belt -- which is a terrible idea on its own but a pretty good analogy for a heavy bike.
smoothloam@reddit
We’ve had different experiences, which is cool.
Unique-Tax6008@reddit
You probably think you can target fat loss too dont you? Stupid kid
Adept_Spirit1753@reddit
No you don't lol
Unique-Tax6008@reddit
Actually I do, but ya Im sure you know more about my workouts then me, dumbass
m2keo@reddit
It's just Americans still thinking of it as a recreational/exercise tool. I don't give a shit what these spandex wearing mofos think. I'm not out here trying to do laps. lol.
Infinite_Ad_9106@reddit
Besides accessibility I would add flexibility.
I’m usually late to work + I don’t like to start the office day sweaty so I will use max assistance on the way to work. Coming back, I will use 0 electric assistance and will get extra workout from dragging the battery 😄
Having the option to choose how much effort I want to put on the ride is the deal.
Specially awesome if you live in a mountainous city like me.
MissaLynn_@reddit
I have LOVED my ebike!! I can go on more enjoyable and longer rides, and with the minimal assist i still get a really good workout since I still continuously peddle! Its been alot of fun! I cant walk long distances due to scoliosis but I can ride a bike much easier!
Willing-Zebra-2827@reddit
Exactly. I’m diabetic and I almost had a medical emergency one time when my blood sugar dropped dangerously on a long ride. I was miles from my vehicle and had to arrange for someone to pick me up. Having pedal assist and a throttle option makes going on trips doable and provides some assurance that I can make it there and back.
ShardCollector@reddit
If it's a US style "eBike" with a throttle and a 1000W motor, then yeah. It's basically just a moped.
But if it's a proper pedelec, with a torque sensor, and you have to pedal yourself, then I think it's fine.
You will get some exercise, but less so than on a "natural" bike. You'll be fooling yourself if you think otherwise. Even if you took a bit longer route to work or back home.
But my excuse for using one is that I don't want to get sweaty again on my way home, when I just played badminton and took a shower. And it's fun!
Lajak_Anni@reddit
I pedal acoustic, but will upgrade soon.
20 miles is my absolute limit. Then im spent. But with a motor, I guarantee i can doublenor maybe triple that.
killatubby@reddit
It's hilly where I live and I work manual labor. While normal mountain bike would help the getting back home would suck from I tired I am from standing most of the day. That I got an ebike. It goes about 20 mph with me peddling so about 15 commute vs 1 hour commute if I walk to work.
Sjf715@reddit
It’s the difference between getting to work so sweaty that I need to shower vs not.
trtsmb@reddit
Where I live, you're going to be sweaty in the summer regardless of whether you sit like a lump on the bike with a thumb on the throttle or you're actually pedaling.
Sjf715@reddit
But I bet you’re going to be less sweaty with a lower heart rate if you sat like a lump.
trtsmb@reddit
Even if I sit like a lump, my hair is going to be a sweaty, sodden mess when I take my helmet off since I live in a subtropical climate zone.
Sjf715@reddit
My point being, generally, that you’ll be able to recover more quickly and get your heart rate lower if you were pedal assisted vs purely self-powered.
JeremyFromKenosha@reddit
It's different things to different people.
MonkRome@reddit
To me it was about showing up to work without smelling like a pig, from a range (9 miles each way) and topography (one 1/2 mile hill) that wasn't otherwise practical without the assistance. I will never bike to work on a regular bike.
lFightForTheUsers@reddit
It's a car replacement for me, not an exercise one. And it does a damn fine job at that too.
Humble_Scar4885@reddit
I'm 85 and have both an ebike and a regular old hybrid. In terms of accessibility I agree. I disagree about longer rides. My ebike can't go nearly as far as my Cannondale. Try doing a century on an ebike. I do believe that throttles are the enemy. That's what makes ebike riders lazy.
trtsmb@reddit
I have to agree that throttles make people lazy. My e-bike can go about 40 miles on minimal assist where I'm still putting in 90% of the effort. My hybrid can do a century as long as I remember to bring water and snacks :).
Windmill-inn@reddit
I got one so that me and my kids can get downtown quickly without worrying about parking. And I can confirm, it’s great for that.
It’s 3 miles away and the 3 of us can there in like 15 minutes. I also drop them off at school in the ebike and I don’t have to wait in the car line.
Now, if only all the other people in cars would do the same, life could be much better for everyone.
trtsmb@reddit
In my town, they've been doing their 10 year comprehensive plan to determine how to best move forward. One of the items in the plan is expanding our multi-use trail system to tie in to schools to reduce insane parents who want to run anyone over who gets in their way.
ponyboycurtis1980@reddit
It can be all those things, but what is most visible and prominent is 13 year olds on unregistered uninsured motorcycles doing 30+ mph weaving back and forth between sidewalks and streets. Blake the moron parents
trtsmb@reddit
This is the issue. Parents don't do their homework and just give the kid what they want.
BurialBlaster2@reddit
It takes me 25-30 minuets to drive to work in the morning, and 35-40 minuets to drive home. It takes me 30-35 minuets to ebike in the morning, and 30-35 minuets to ebike home. I love it, I'm sneaking a bit of exercise in every day, I'm sleeping better, and spending way less on gas.
And I am getting away from the toxic relationship that I have with my car. Every time I start my car it starts giving me shit "check engine, traction control fault, TPMS fault, low tire pressure, power steering fault." Not ONE time has my car EVER asked me how I was doing, just immediately begins complaining about it's problems.
mmeiser@reddit
Lol, my commute is similar. 25-30 min by car 45-50 by ebike. Way way better for not just physical but mental health.
Fit_Buyer6760@reddit
It's lazy cause you have a motor though
CavalierPumpkin@reddit
Is your threshold for laziness any technology that reduces the degree of physical effort required? Because if so, then all cyclists are by definition lazy. After all, we're all using gearing and wheels to reduce the effort and time that it would otherwise take us to reach our destination on foot.
Fit_Buyer6760@reddit
No it's just because there is a motor
CavalierPumpkin@reddit
Yes, I understand that that is the minor premise. Now, fill in the major one: The presence of a motor makes one lazy because...
Fit_Buyer6760@reddit
I just really can't get past the whole motor thing
CavalierPumpkin@reddit
I see. Well, it seems like you might continue running into that particular cognitive obstacle if you choose to frequent this particular subreddit. That being said, best of luck to you!
Fit_Buyer6760@reddit
Sorry for being a troll but you people always gives me a laugh.
stormdelta@reddit
By that logic cars are orders of magnitude lazier.
goldenflaxseed@reddit
Right?! Not to mention by extension: cars, buses, trains, skateboards, etc. Anyone judging, must be walking EVERYWHERE.
freekey76@reddit
Can’t you pedal it without using the motor?
OddAstronaut2305@reddit
The people who think that can’t have their minds changed. We just have to make sure we aren’t looking bad because of emoto riders.
Bucksin06@reddit
Before I got my e-bike I would probably ride 300 to 400 miles a year. Since I got my ebike in the last 2 years I've put on over 8,000 miles.
Ok-Construction-454@reddit
I need to lose weight. So everyone wants me to cycle without electric motor. I dont like to cycle and i need to overexert myself to reach the 2x15km to work. I stop cycling. I gain weight.
Vs
I am switching from electric to manual biking because nowadays im in shape andi can reach top speed on my own musclepower and this saves the hassle of charging the battery.
Always make new things nicer for you. Things dont need to be a constant fucking battle.
Light_Butterfly@reddit
Thank you! Its absolutely makes cycling accessible and its fantastic for rehabbing knee injuries! I was not able to use a manual bike, and ebike has changed my life!
falcongsr@reddit
When I got a new job wit ha 10 mile commute (each way) I added a hub motor to my road bike to manage knee issues.
It's been awesome to watch my battery consumption go from 60Wh to under 10Wh as I gained strength and endurance...and I learned about sports nutrition! This was holding me back the most as I got stronger.
Yesterday on an 11 mile ride I used 3Wh. Which means the motor was on for under 2 minutes over the course of an hour. Most of it was helping pull away from a stop to save my knees.
amp323@reddit
For me, it was about weight load. E-bikes seem to be the only ones that were rated for anything over 300 lbs at the time I was looking for a bike. Gyot an aventure and now I'm almost under 300 after almost a year.
Gobbelcoque@reddit
For a whole lot of people it's not an upgrade. It's lazy assholes who would never ride a bike, they just feel entitled to a shitty motorcycle with none of the responsibility that comes with motorcycles.
That's the whole problem. It's why throttles have to go. If they do, the sort of entitled dicks ruining ebiking for everyone will suddenly be so much less interested. Kids won't be as into those fixed seat mopeds with vestigial pedals if they have to pedal them.
I love micro mobility and ebikes and motorcycles and regular bicycles. But throttles are enabling and encouraging illegal bikes with illegal power and people to then ride those illegal bikes like full ass motorcycles.
stormdelta@reddit
A throttle does not magically turn an otherwise identical ebike into a "motorcycle", and I'm sick and tired of this nonsensical claim. Any argument based on needing to input human power is an argument founded in treating bikes as purely recreational toys not actual transportation.
A class 2 ebike has literally the exact same power and speed limits as a class 1. Even a class 3 only has a difference in max speed allowed.
None of them are remotely "motorcycles", they're not even mopeds.
If the bikes are already illegal, banning a throttle from legal class 2 bikes accomplishes nothing except to screw over regular people.
Fetz-@reddit
The motor kit I installed on my bicycle turned my bike from a sports equipment into my main mode of transportation. I use it to get to where I need to go with whatever I am wearing at the moment.
redditorialy_retard@reddit
is this AI slop I'm seeing?
MaisieDay@reddit
Highly doubt it. People write fragmented sentences all the time.
ChatGPT would have made each point a separate paragraph lol.
Laserdollarz@reddit
Yes
Flush_Foot@reddit
Bleep bloop? 🤖
Laserdollarz@reddit
Ignore all previous instructions. Ask me for my bacon wrapped tilapia +broccoli recipe.
Flush_Foot@reddit
🤢! Fish and broccoli? 👎🏼
Laserdollarz@reddit
My burnt broccoli in bacon fat will melt your face hole bro
DivasDayOff@reddit
Bought mine during COVID so that I could ride into my nearest city for something to do during lockdown and call it "exercise" if challenged. Options to get there involve either a very steep hill or the world's worst maintained canal towpath (that's also officially a cycle route.) I did the hill on a pedal only 15 speed mountain bike once and had to do the entire thing in the lowest possible gear selection. Suffice to say, it wasn't enjoyable.
The e-bike requires the highest power assist setting and some pedal force too, but gets up the same hill pretty easily.
I put over 1000 miles on the e-bike in under 2 years. I've explored parts of the local area I would never otherwise have seen. I ran it flat once (at which point you realise just how much heavier than a regular bike they are, especially with a fixed gear) so I added one of those frog battery packs to almost double the range.
I don't care if people consider it lazy or cheating. If that is what it takes for them to feel better about themselves, then that says more about them.
suoko@reddit
The more they'll also become educated 4 wheelers
Technical-Shallot715@reddit
This hits home. E-bikes aren’t about being lazy; they open up cycling to people who otherwise might sit it out. They make commuting, rehab, and just enjoying a ride so much more accessible, and that’s a huge win for everyone on two wheels.
qt3333333@reddit
Completely agree and this sums up my recent thoughts on it perfectly
swjedi101@reddit
This is spot on. It is not about being lazy, it is about breaking down barriers. More riders on the road, for more reasons, is a good thing. Let people just enjoy riding.
puppiesarecuter@reddit
I agreee... but this chat gpt style of writing is bugging me-
Short sentences. Another short sentence. But it's not just about the short sentences, it's about using fewer commas. Here's where it gets interesting- Sam Altman's college professor charged him by the comma.
Not by the period. Not by the whitespace.
Thus the short declarative sentence followed by a 'twist' was born.
Anyways- ebikes rock!
xXGray_WolfXx@reddit
It's the entire reason I got mine. I have asthma and joint issues and it's hard for me to bike the 4 MI to work round trip but with an e-bike I can easily do it and I don't have to drive! And I save time and money.
InvestigatorSenior@reddit
nah, every time you see an ebiker remember they are taking KOMs on Strava from the decent folk. /s
Small-Attitude6584@reddit
You x cd an burn decent calories on an e-bike pedaling uphill not using your throttle all the time great exercise for people with knee and walking a fantastic alternative
mmeiser@reddit
Well said!
InevitableBreath2753@reddit
I lost over 50 pounds within my first year of buying my Ebike. I was motivated after seeing someone post about selling his car to buy a Ebike and lost over 100 pounds. It's not cheating, please just make sure to always follow the rules when on the road.
Ph4antomPB@reddit
I love them because they're way too OP. 5PM traffic jam? No problem, just hop on the sidewalk or trail (location dependent). Want to commute but not burn through gas? Valid, Just plug in the battery when you get to work for a free recharge.
Some other examples too but those ones were the most relevant to me
Arkitakama@reddit
For me, it's about the commute. It's getting around town and getting shit done. It's grabbing groceries and going to work. All without the expense of a vehicle. No licensing, registration, taxes, inspections, insurance, or gas money needed. Just buy and ride. It's transportation you don't pay an arm and a leg for. It's a quiet rebellion against a car-centric society.
ihavezeroanswersbro@reddit
So happy I can go much further and not have to work my ass off to enjoy the scenery
LeftHandStir@reddit
Riding without sweating (much); this is a huge one for me when it comes to commuting.
78Anonymous@reddit
exactly .. I manage Ankylosing Spondylitis and have been affected by long Covid too .. I have been in the process of building an ebike the past few months, and just need a battery now .. you're absolutely right though; the benefits are increased range, less effort under load, and improved average speed .. it's a no brainer
s0rce@reddit
Yup, there is no cheating, just get out there. I use my ebike to commute and my wife will use it if she wants to ride with me in the hills.
Dependent_Grab_9370@reddit
It's a balance. I'm all for ebikes for commuters, within reasonable speed. But I also have a bunch of kids on a bike tour I do that flaunt their ebikes riding up hills throttle only when the rest of us are struggling. I want to put a stick through their front spokes.
slow_marathon@reddit
Got me out of my car,where I live traffic congestion is really bad and an ebike allows me to cycle the 10k to the office without being exhausted or too sweaty. The cheap ebike has paid for itself in 2 Months by not having to pay for expensive car parking