Do eBikes belong on the mountain?

[Hackster]

I've been anti-ebikes from the get-go.

 

But I'm seeing more and more of them on the trails and they're behaving just like everyone else.

 

So I'm no longer against them.

 

Which I'm sure must be a massive relief to everyone who owns one...

[Robbie Stewart]

I've been anti-ebikes from the get-go.

 

But I'm seeing more and more of them on the trails and they're behaving just like everyone else.

 

So I'm no longer against them.

 

Which I'm sure must be a massive relief to everyone who owns one...

 

 

...until you're the one huffing and puffing up some steep ST climb, and some impatient person pulls up behind you on their e-bike screaming traaack...or straaaavaaaa

[rorydewet]

I thought we had solved this. No issues with Emotorbikes on the trails but they're a big no no in races

Before i say anything let me just say I am an e bike rider.

 

I agree E-Bikes dont have the right to compete side by side with normal bikes in a race. Its unfair.

 

That said in the last 94.7 cycle challenge there was an older dude who rode the 94.7 on an e-bike. It was a trial by the race organizers to see if E-Bikes could do a race along side road bikes. All I could assume was that they wanted to see if it was feasible for an e-bike to complete the course.

 

I think common sense will prevail and if they allow e-bikes to compete in the next 94.7 challenge they will keep e-bikes in a separate category and batch  and hopefully start them from the back of the batches to allow for less disruption to normal bikes.

 

Lets wait and see?

[Eldron]

Before i say anything let me just say I am an e bike rider.

 

I agree E-Bikes dont have the right to compete side by side with normal bikes in a race. Its unfair.

 

That said in the last 94.7 cycle challenge there was an older dude who rode the 94.7 on an e-bike. It was a trial by the race organizers to see if E-Bikes could do a race along side road bikes. All I could assume was that they wanted to see if it was feasible for an e-bike to complete the course.

 

I think common sense will prevail and if they allow e-bikes to compete in the next 94.7 challenge they will keep e-bikes in a separate category and batch and hopefully start them from the back of the batches to allow for less disruption to normal bikes.

 

Lets wait and see?

I say if it has a motor you don't get an official finishing time because...well...You haven't actually finished - you only rode a part of the course - the motor did the rest.

 

I'm all for ebike only races where you tune your bike and the best tuner/rider combo wins but to put motors in a human powered sport is just silly.

 

There is no pride in riding half a race.

 

My opinion of course. If they want an eslackers category its their decision. I will still consider all non medical Emotorbikes riders to be sub human:-)

[T-Bob]

the inside line on an bike race... not all vroom vroom and down. 

 

http://www.velonews.com/2018/04/mtb/e-mtb-race-fun-actually-pretty-hard_464311

[Headshot]

Something which may have been mentioned. To make use of all that power you still need to be able to ride your bike properly. Throw in some tech and the unskilled e bike rider is easy meat...

[rorydewet]

I say if it has a motor you don't get an official finishing time because...well...You haven't actually finished - you only rode a part of the course - the motor did the rest.

 

I'm all for ebike only races where you tune your bike and the best tuner/rider combo wins but to put motors in a human powered sport is just silly.

 

There is no pride in riding half a race.

 

My opinion of course. If they want an eslackers category its their decision. I will still consider all non medical Emotorbikes riders to be sub human:-)

 

and your entitled to your opinion

[Patchelicious]

and your entitled to your opinion

As are you, whats your point?

[Bateleur1]

They have been trying for years to sort out the licensed ladies at the big races now they are looking at bringing in an e-bike category?  This is going to be fun to watch.  Good golly. 

[Patchelicious]

They have been trying for years to sort out the licensed ladies at the big races now they are looking at bringing in an e-bike category?  This is going to be fun to watch.  Good golly. 

Separate races might be an answer?

Edited May 3, 2018 by Patchelicious

[Tristand]

Separate races might be an answer?

 

Maybe more of a "non/limited-competitive event" rather than a race, open to all categories. 

Perhaps there is a term for this, gran fondo?

Edited May 3, 2018 by Tristand

[Eldron]

I'm really looking forward to the furor after races when wannabes sit behind their ebike mates for a 100km draft. 

 

Motors and humans in one race is silly.

[rorydewet]

As are you, whats your point?

 

that he is entitled to his opinion

[marcfr]

I'm really looking forward to the furor after races when wannabes sit behind their ebike mates for a 100km draft. 

 

Motors and humans in one race is silly.

It's already happening, personally witnessed it in one recent road race.

[Shebeen]

I say if it has a motor you don't get an official finishing time because...well...You haven't actually finished - you only rode a part of the course - the motor did the rest.

 

I'm all for ebike only races where you tune your bike and the best tuner/rider combo wins but to put motors in a human powered sport is just silly.

 

There is no pride in riding half a race.

 

My opinion of course. If they want an eslackers category its their decision. I will still consider all non medical Emotorbikes riders to be sub human:-)

 

it's way more nuanced than that. did you finish the race if:

 

if you're a 12yr old kid stoking a tandem with dad

if you sat in the bunch the whole way catching zero wind

if you got a helping hand up the hills?

 

 

[Eldron]

it's way more nuanced than that. did you finish the race if:

 

if you're a 12yr old kid stoking a tandem with dad

if you sat in the bunch the whole way catching zero wind

if you got a helping hand up the hills?

 

 

Yup. Drafting is always going to be an issue in road racing. Motorbikes will add another fun aspect to it all.

 

It's part of the reason I stick more to Duathlon and MTB these days. Far less winging and drafting.

 

That's said - road racing in Denmark is pretty awesome. Its hard, tough and FAST. There is a reason why a country that has zero hills and only 6,000,000 inhabitants is churning out pro tour riders by the dozen!

Edited May 3, 2018 by Eldron