Why I Don’t Like E-Bikes
Just because it has pedals, doesn’t make it a bike
I’ve been dreading the day that I would come off as sounding old, “You kids and your new fangled toys!” as I pump my fist in the air and gingerly walk away. And, I know I’m probably going to alienate a few readers. But, I’m not judging you, I’m judging the world we live in, the one that tries to make life easy and keep us lazy.
When e-bikes were first launched, I thought they could become a great way for people to get around to work or go shopping, to un-encumber the heavy traffic on the road and I thought that this could be a refreshing trend away from large SUV’s and trucks that rumble loudly and pass too close for comfort as they spew toxic fumes while I’m hugging the white line. I thought that e-bikes may encourage new cyclists to ride, or people who would otherwise be too uncomfortable with their fitness to get on a bike. But, this doesn’t appear to be the trend. What I’m seeing are healthy, young people riding e-bikes as a recreation, and doing it poorly.
I smelled trouble when my parents bought their first microwave oven. Turns out it was burnt popcorn.I couldn’t believe it could cook something so fast. A complete meal in 4 minutes? One that normally took a half hour minimum, you’ve got to be kidding me? 10 years later, a teen, I shook my head in disbelief, “no way every household will have a computer!” Now, mine has about a dozen computers. And each time we come up with a new technology, we become a little less patient, a little more easily frustrated, and certainly more wasteful. Our hypocrisy is endless. We shop at whole foods, recycle our plastics and we love complaining about how oil companies don’t care about our planet while we simultaneously cycle through a new phone every year or two, sit on our couches and read endless memes on facebook and still feel good about our health choices and environmental consciousness. Technology makes us lazy. Buying a Peloton only makes us feel good for a short time until we realize we’re throwing away money and not working out enough and, what the hell am I gonna do with this expensive ass bike now? Just one more thing to throw away and hurt the environment.
But, I digress.
And now, our new fangled love of the e-bike. I think you may see where I’m going with this. I don’t like them. It’s not just about the environmental concerns. Sure, the lithium battery is just one more battery that we’ll need to find a way to dispose of. But, don’t worry, it goes to and pollutes some underdeveloped country and we don’t care about them, right?
One reviewer of an e-bike complained that when you switch from turbo mode to econ mode, it feels like the bike wants to go backwards. And it’s true! It’s like carrying a child for 10 minutes and when she gets off your shoulders, you feel like you’re floating above the ground, but, the opposite of this feeling. You feel bogged down because the motor is working a little less hard and the illusion is that the bike is trying to go into reverse. And this can be a real problem because once you’ve acclimated to that power assist, you are now hooked on it. If you transition to a regular bike, one that has no motor assistance, you now feel completely encumbered as if the bike is fighting against you. So, if the rationale is to buy an e-bike and only ride it when (your reason here) , the reality will be that you will no longer want to ride your regular bike because your regular bike is now simply a burden and a buzz kill.
It’s this feeling of burden that changes our perspective of what should be. It’s a burden to cook on a regular oven despite the fact that the longer it takes to cook, the healthier it is. Now, it becomes a burden to put in the efforts required to ride a bike. I have a big problem with this. One of the biggest demotivational things that can happen in life, and when you get old, is to suffer an injury or something debilitating that hurts your overall conditioning and lowers your performance. When I had my knee replaced, there was a time when I thought that I would never be able to ride again. When I did ride, my conditioning was so low, I was extremely unmotivated to ride. But, I fought through and trained hard and set different goals and didn’t try to always compare my performances with what I used to do. It was a huge fight to recover a lot of what I lost. Mindset is critical to empowering yourself to succeed especially during bleak times, however, if we’re conditioning ourselves to respect the burden instead of overcoming it, that will lead to significant long term consequences that will negatively encumber our health and our ability to recover from health difficulties.
I’ll admit, I have an ego. I’ve worked hard for it. I love it when I can keep up with traffic, or even catch up to cars at stop signs. I imagine that the driver does a double take, “how the hell did that guy get here so fast?” Being able to dig in, grit my teeth, and fly with the wind and generate spectators and cheers of “wow!” and “Damn!” really motivates me. I would love it when my driver on a camera ride didn’t have enough time to set up for a passing shot because I was just going to darned fast. And, now, one of my rewards is passing an e-biker. And you know what? I’ve earned that reward. I’m working my ass off to close on that e-bike, just like I work my ass off to keep up with traffic. I’ve been working my ass off for a long time to be able to go fast. The e-bike rider has earned nothing. They spent the money, charged the battery, but, they don’t deserve the rewards that come from continuous and meticulous training. They aren’t earning anything.
But, the e-bike is fast, and this presents numerous problems. While I’ve been training my ass off for years to get to the speeds where I’m at, the beginner e-bike rider has not. They are not acclimated to those speeds. I am. I am focused on my surroundings, my environment constantly, I am hyper vigilant because I have learned in my years of training and experience that given an opportunity to become lax, accidents happen. A beginning e-biker going 20mph on a busy trail or bike lane is an accident waiting to happen. “Oh, this is so easy!” Pothole! Extendable dog leash! Small child weaving into the other lane! Car door! As a veteran cyclist and a veteran motorcyclist, there are simply so many variables and hazards that they are no longer intellectualized, they are recognized from frequent rote encounters and predicted before they happen. This prediction mechanism comes from years of training. It’s not a 100%, but, it’s saved my butt on a number of occasions. To expect to to hop on a bike that can drive itself at speeds of 20-25mph in along crowded paths and bikeways, and believe you are safe, is naïve at best.
I was motivated to write this yesterday while riding the Tahoe Rim Trail. After a 6 mile out, I took a break overlooking the lake, when I saw a kid coming up the trail. He was on a really steep climb. I did it a couple of times and when I’m up it, I am worked! But, this kid, maybe 12, was flying up it. I yelled, ”great job!” Then I saw the battery and I was like, “oh!” Then his dad came up on the same bike. I sighed. And I thought, there’s no accomplishment in that, is there? One of my biggest feel good moments is when I’m climbing a steep hill. I’m exhausted, sweaty, and my legs are wobbly. But, I eventually get to the top. Then, I look down the hill that I climbed and I think, “I climbed that! It was all me!” That feels good. Just me and my bike and my legs for an engine. And I feel sorry for the e-biker. They can’t say that about themselves. You know, it’s reminiscent of this phone game my kids like to play. They tap their screens frantically like it’ll explode if they don’t, and thousands upon thousands of chickens are produced and stream out of the farm and towards a house. I ask them why they’re doing this and they say, “because I’m up to a million dollars!” and they keep tapping. That $1,000,000 is the same illusion as a hill climb with an engine driving you up the hill. “I did it!” No, you didn’t
A 12 year old kid on a busy single track with guys like me. This seems to open another dilemma of inexperienced riders and closing speeds. If behind me, I need to pause from my ride, pull over and let someone pass. I’m in a zone and that’s frustrating. I assume that other problems can occur from a fast closing speed. Impatience, wanting to pass quickly, head ons with other riders, unseen obstacles, a plethora of opportunities to hurt themselves or me or both.
I started riding a hardtail years ago, now, I’m on a fs 29er. I love both bikes. The hardtail could climb, but the 29er provides better stability and control. They both have their unique challenges and feel. The hardtail, I felt everything, every bump, every pebble. By the time I was at the bottom of a hill, my legs, neck, arms and shoulders were screaming at me. The 29er, my ass and legs are sore from pushing up the hill, but my neck and shoulders have a better break. Riding both bikes has taught me specific techniques to climb steep hills, to descend, to hop rocks or logs and cross water. Having a feel of the trail and its obstacles are part of the fun and are what makes you a better rider ( and a stronger athlete). The e-bike, on the other hand, is much heavier, has plusher suspension, and doesn’t require all of the thought and technique that goes into mountain riding. It’s just, once again, another example of tech creating laziness. We’re not training our minds or our bodies, we’re letting the machine do both for us.
Isn’t this why we ride? To become better? To be in touch with our minds and our bodies? To love the tailwind, to feel the world around us? Aren’t there enough time saving, energy saving luxuries that keep us inactive? isn’t this why we need to exercise in the first place? Our entire days are spent sitting in our cars, sitting in front of a computer, sitting and socializing on our phones, sitting and watching TV, and our only reprieve from our listless lifestyles is to get out and exercise. Our lives force ourselves to make a conscious effort to get off our butts and do something healthy, go to the gym, hike, run or bike. And, now, were making a recreational component of our lives, cycling, into another idle pastime while simultaneously creating the illusion that it’s actually cycling. There is something very important that I think we are losing as we switch to motor powered bicycles. Something that will create a new culture of dependencies. And I don’t like it.
Paul, I absolutely agree with you. It’s something that doesn’t sit well with me. I know I would definitely enjoy the easiness of going uphill on an ebike but what an accomplishment would that be? I’d be ashamed somehow. I use my bike for exercise, otherwise I could take the car. That would be faster. Only recently I suggested doing a cycling tour with my brother and his kids. Shortly later I overheard my nephew (13 yrs old) on the phone to my mother: “but I am not sure how that’s going to work, they don’t have E-Bikes” because his mom and dad now just have E-Bikes and he seems to think that “old” people now need E-Bikes. He was well surprised when my husband with his 50 year old vintage bike beat him to it on his fancy mountain bike whilst trying to compete with him. 🙂 My opinion is that for some people every exercise is better than no exercise and E-Bikes can certainly be a blessing for those that would otherwise not be able to take tours anymore. But everyone else, please use your standard bike.
Hi Paul-
Before I get into my comment re your article on e-bikes, do you know when you will release Part 2 of “America’s Most Beautiful Kingsbury Grade (DVD)”?
I read with great interest your comments on e-bikes as I have just recently purchased one (Aventon Pace 350). While I still have my regular non-electric bike, I am now 65 years old and many I ride with are in my same age group and all of them have electric bikes. As a result, I purchased one as could not keep up with them on certain inclines and during longer distance rides. I mostly ride the electric bike on pedal assist 0 and use the pedal assist just as needed and usually only in Level 1 out of 5 possible levels of assist. Just as step-thru bikes are not considered a women’s bike only anymore as they are increasingly used by seniors, short people, etc., who feel safer on them, electric bikes are keeping seniors riding outdoors rather than chucking it in totally. On the other hand, I do agree with you that younger and healthier riders should ride regular bikes if physically possible for them to do so. When I ride by myself I typically use my non-electric bike but when ride with the group of seniors like myself where they all have electric bikes I do ride my electric bike as well. In sum, I find that as with most things one broad stroke does not fit all.
Thanks,
Jay
Hey Jay, the second video is almost done, I’ve been riding a lot and not working much this summer, so, it’s just waiting for me to get back to work. Probably have it ready early fall. I also filmed a number of rides this summer, including wrapping up the Tahoe roads, got some great footage. Thank you for your comments too!
I agree completely with your assessment, but then I am what is referred to as an old man by the millennials.
Paul
I agree with Sonja’s last sentence. For some, an ebike is an option that lets individuals who want to ride and may truly need help, to continue enjoying cycling. I confess that my trainer occasionally serves as a fake ebike especially when you’re trying to make me match your pace up a long climb and oops, it seems I made it over the top in the “wrong” gear. I almost expect to hear you say stop cheating. It’s OK since I know I was and it motivates me to work harder next time. Being almost 70 myself (and I am still trying to understand how that mystery became reality) I intend on peddle power for as long as I can be the sole power source. Sure those hill climbs would be easier with some supplemental power, but then the downhill would be a little less sweet too. And should a time arrive when my balance may be too shaky for two wheels, I’ll switch to a trike. Still peddle power even if that means shorter flatter rides, the joy of doing it myself and benefit from doing it will be mine to savor and enjoy. Keep poking the opinion-bear Paul and producing your great videos.
I have an e-MTB and at my age its the best thing I ever did (61), That thing flies and I ride it hard. As for getting exercise, at the end of a 2/3 hour ride in the hills I am exhausted and would never have covered the ground so far and so fast. OK, so I like my eMTB, but I am also a Roadie (which is NOT battery powered). I ride “virtually two to three times a week and at least once a week out on the roads. So for me, I have the best of all bike worlds 🙂
In a few years, I might have to succumb to an e-road bike, but as long as I keeps me out there on two wheels, right?
So here is my take on the subject of e-bike. My son was nagging me to get a e-bike and at first I thought me being 68 and he being 37 he was tired of waiting for me at the top of the hills. I kept on thinking one of the reasons I started to mountain bike was for the exercise and the other was to have fun. I was not interested in competition riding but was keen to burn some calories and enjoy the mountains surrounding us. Well the day finally arrived and I got my e-bike. I must tell you I will never look back. My fear of not achieving that work out does not exist and there is no mountain I cannot reach the top. To sum it up I can burn more calories on my e- bike because what you did on the normal bike you do the same but double the speed. Like everyday technology it’s only a matter of time where the top competition in the world is going to be done on an e-bike. See you on the mountain
Well stated. I could not agree more with your sentiment. I seriously question whether or not the never ending peer pressure to have the endless upgrade of every latest and greatest gadget is creating progress in the right direction. I think not.
I cut back on using a simple calculator, as I was forgetting how to do basic math. I use pen and paper to do basic math for billing now and although it takes more time, my brain is getting a good workout and functioning much better.
I enjoyed your perspective and agree. It’s been annoying tome on several occasions. I’ve observed E-Bike riders ignore stop signs, and no helmets. It’s a motorized assisted
vehicle. All vehicular laws applicable. At 76, I know I can’t keep the pace and climb with younger riders. However, I can’t miss my daily ride, and thanks to you, Paul, and
Cycling Videos, I even look forward to a rainy morning like today, and pop-in a DVD, and transfer my mind and body to Colorado, Alaska, or maybe ‘The Marshall Wall’
for a few hours. I agree with another comment made, that if gets someone out of the house, and put some effort into it, then more power to them.
It will be interesting in a few years how many E-Bikes are collecting rust and dust in the garage. Maybe for my 80th Birthday I’ll buy a used one. Never mind, I’m hardcore
and won’t lower my standards.
Paul, The Woodlands, Tx.
I’m totally with you … that is, except when an e-bike can replace a car for errands around town. That makes good environmental sense. No plans to get one myself, though. As a 70-year-old Colorado gal, I’m still zooming around in the mountains and hauling stuff on my manual models.
I agree whole heartedly. And , yeah, I’m getting a little long in the tooth, 74, and a die hard roadie. I don’t care if the ebike gets up the hill faster or up a hill I can’t climb (I just keep hitting it until I do), what’s the accomplishment? I think if you ride an ebike to get to work and not look like you just rode a stage in the TDF that’s great, but riding one because you go uphill faster and easier, really? I want to own whatever I achieve, no matter how hard or slow it may be. Love your ebike? Ride it, enjoy what it gives you but I’ll keep crankin’, using whatever endurance and strength I have to thrash out those 4+ hour rides and even not cuss the headwinds too much (sometimes).
I’m an over 60 rider and I agree with you. I trail ride and get passed by some young guy and he’s having fun sure but that’s no different than riding a gas powered bike. I’m not against folks riding on trails built for motor driven bikes but all the trails I ride don’t allow gas powered bikes and I don’t see any difference even if only power assisted. I expect to see more and more trail traffic with people with less bike skills make trails congested and less safe. The other day I ran into a dad and his son on electric one wheel skate boards adding a whole new type of traffic to navigate. Seems to me trail managers need to begin to plan for the growth and provide some means to share the resource.
Thank you all for your comments! I really appreciate the well written and thoughtful approach everyone took. The email I sent was a shortened version of this blog. It seems most of you appreciate the potential that e-bikes have to serve those who may not be able to enjoy cycling due to physical limitations. I made sure to point this out in my introduction. My biggest concerns are the introduction of these motorized vehicles as it pertains to safety (especially on pedestrian trails) as well as how they will influence new cyclists who don’t have limitations and the consequences towards a healthy body and mind. Thank you again, I appreciate this dialogue!
CV,
Do you really believe it is YOUR responsibility and authority to police up other’s “healthy body and mind”. Truly, this smacks of arrogance. If it is, why do you not have equal concern about those of us that have a disability or those who are getting on in years and the positive affect of getting us out and exercising more because of the assist e-bikes provide?
Federal lands are multiple use assets, for everyone to use, whether you agree with or approve of their using them in the way they desire. Again, this type of “single-use” or approved “only because I like it” mentality smacks of arrogance and ignores others. I would ask you to re-evaluate your perspective.
Will there be users that don;’t follow the rules or conditions of use? Of course there will, hell, just look about as you drive down the roads…distracted driving, speeding, tailgating. Why would you expect trails to be any different? As a former federal public lands manager, I firmly believe restrictions are inappropriate. The solution is education and where necessary, enforcement. Public lands are for public use, whether you agree with that use or not. The sooner all users realize that and change for the exclusion to the inclusion mentality, then the sooner we can come up with SHARED use rules and a set of protocols to allow every person to use our public resources in a responsible and respectful manner.
Arrogant? Yes
Policing? No
Please read the post, it should clear up your misconceptions
Believe me, I read it and re-read it before I posted. While not explicitly said, the inference is that you think you may know what is better for folks than they do.
The only misconception is the idea that one can be someone’s keeper, whether they want it or not.
If that is not how you mean it, then my apologies.
I wasn’t trying to infer anything. I was trying to be straight to the point and not pull any punches. Having been in the fitness industry for 2 decades, I have seen first hand how difficult it is to push forward after a loss of function. When we continue to be fed conveniences to simplify our lives, it lessens our ability to push forward. We lose that toughness. We lose patience and we lose tollerance. Remember when we had to wait weeks to receive a letter in the mail? Now it’s instantaneous. We don’t need to think before we reply and word vomit has become the norm (not an accusation). Each time a new technology makes our lives easier, we lose something. Thats my biggest fear when it comes to ebikes.
Like you, I have an ego and it is one of those little motivators I use. I use a few of those motivators, like checking strava segments to make sure I’m still in the top 25 percent of the riders there. But it occurred to me the other day that sooner rather than later, I will be happy with being in the top 40 or 50 percent, even if I manage to improve on my times. I’ve passed e-bikes riding along on the trail that runs parallel to a parkway I ride, and that provides solace. But last week on a steep ascent that I have climbed for 20 years, I noticed a headlight closing on my in my rearview mirror that was clearly not moving by human power. The sedentary appearing lady passed me there near the top as I was hovering around 6 mph. I just kept riding, and told myself that she knew she would have never been able to climb that hill without her assist. I just hope she knows that 20 mph does require constant awareness and your point about experience is very valid. I think the modern mopeds are only going to get more popular. I will try to keep doing what I have been. Use my legs and heart as a motor.
I can’t argue that point. Toughness is something I preach in fitness too. As a retired US Marine, at 65 I still put on my pack and hump, ride my regular bike and workout, however with a disability, I can’t do those things and still have the ability to conduct a hunt and get out the game. An e-bike allows me to do that still. While I agree with you on the fitness portion, I simply cannot agree with you putting your expectations of fitness on others who choose to not or can’t meet that expectation and then restricting reasonable use of an e-bike because of that expectation. That isn’t your circus, not your monkey.
I’m turning 72 next week and no way is an e-bike on my wish list. Why bother? Here’s a mental exercise: Ride your e-bike on one of the Cycling Videos Online rides in your living room on a winter day. Why??? If you use your bike for fitness, pedal. Period.
Now for the other side: I sometimes ride with the leisurely seniors of Twin Cities Bike Club. Several ride e-bikes. Without them, the back surgeries or the coronary problems or many of the other “challenges” of advancing age would keep them off their bikes entirely. So, more (electric) power to them, and I keep up on e-bike prices and technology for when it is (inevitably) my turn.
I might also consider an e-bike if I was a bike commuter. I used to hate arriving at work with soggy shorts on hot humid mornings (luckily we had a gym next door). And I think it’s best to ride at traffic speed if you ride in traffic.
To expand on my previous comment, in Idaho during the early 2000 long before e-bikes were a thing, I negociated an user agreement between with SWIMBA (South West Idaho Mountain Bike Association) and the Idaho Back Country Horsemen in the Wilson Creek drainage for non-motorized and horse joint use of trails. Now with the increase of mountain bike users and the inevitable inconsiderate user (on both sides), the Back Country Horseman are advocating for the exclusion of mechanized use (bikes are classified as mechanized) from their traditional use trails because of inconsiderate users. They have taken this exclusionary view because they feel they are a purer type of use, less impactful to the environment, a traditional use and of course, they don’t like to see mountain bike use.
Change the user groups, and this is what you are advocating.
Additionally, I have heard the argument that motorized users have plenty of trails designated for their use, yet so do bikes and especially horses in the thousands of square miles of wilderness and wilderness study areas in Idaho where ALL mechanized use is prohibited. Does that make it right to exclude other users from multiple-use areas because they have places they can go where you can’t? I think not.
BLM (called public lands) have a multiple-use mandate in the enabling legislation (the Forest Service, under the Dept of Agriculture has a different set of legislation). Just because you do not like one use doesn’t mean it can and should be excluded.
Just because some out of shape e-bike user effortlessly rides by you while you are busting your tail and sweating, doesn’t give anybody the right to be judgmental, exclusionary and “holier-than-thou”. You can still do your thing while being tolerant of others doing theirs.
We need to share uses, be respectful and tolerant of other users.