E-bikes on Sani2c

[Eldron]

We never actually solved it, because we never addressed the core underlying issue.

 

Its not an eBike issue, its a human nature issue.

 

People inherently have an issue with others achieving something through a perceived "short cut".

Its in our DNA, its a ore human thing.

 

Forget eBikes, think about somebody at work who gets ahead of you through a short cut, or those who unfairly get jobs, or those who take a shot cut at park run, the guy who skips a red robot be he is late, or the guy who skips the queue.... etc etc it all triggers the same emotion.

 

If people understood and accepted that, they might understand why there is emotion in this.

And so they should - people skipping red lights, doping, motordoping, cheating etc should be universally condemned.

 

To me it's pretty clear. If it is a race and you have a motor you are cheating.

 

Ahh the convenience of being a cranky old man like me is awesome. Everything is black and white :-)

[shaper]

 

 

Solution: In a RACE, simply give create their own category. 

Better to give them ghost rider status and no placing.  Then they know they are only there to enjoy the trail on an ebike and not race for a position in their own category which may affect others who are racing!

 

Also make it clear that if ebikes are allowed, mountain bikes have right of way.

 

If you want to race, bring your mountain bike, if you want to bring your ebike then you are there just to enjoy the trails and not to interfere with those who are racing.

 

The minute you introduce an ebike race category, what is to stop me souping up my ebike, installing a performance enhancing chip or other modifications as many do on their cars to improve performance?

[Patchelicious]

And so they should - people skipping red lights, doping, motordoping, cheating etc should be universally condemned.

 

To me it's pretty clear. If it is a race and you have a motor you are cheating.

 

Ahh the convenience of being a cranky old man like me is awesome. Everything is black and white :-)

Absolutely. 

 

But if they "raced" in their own eBike category, its no longer cheating.

[Patchelicious]

Better to give them ghost rider status and no placing.  Then they know they are only there to enjoy the trail on an ebike and not race for a position in their own category which may affect others who are racing!

 

Also make it clear that if ebikes are allowed, mountain bikes have right of way.

 

If you want to race, bring your mountain bike, if you want to bring your ebike then you are there just to enjoy the trails and not to interfere with those who are racing.

 

The minute you introduce an ebike race category, what is to stop me souping up my ebike, installing a performance enhancing chip or other modifications as many do on their cars to improve performance?

eBike Salbutamol? 

[Eldron]

 

eBike are also only assisted power, from watching the camera guys on the Epic it is clear you still need the tech skills , Sani's downhill forest runs or umko switch backs , flowing single track are where it all is , Iconic was a tough walk so no comment there , haaibo1 & 2 it may have help but no worse than the team mates i saw pushing each other .

So I can take just a little EPO or just a little Testosterone or take just a 5km short cut or start just 15 mins earlier than everyone else and that's cool?

 

Nah. Pedal assist uses a motor. Its cheating.

[Patchelicious]

So I can take just a little EPO or just a little Testosterone or take just a 5km short cut or start just 15 mins earlier than everyone else and that's cool?

 

Nah. Pedal assist uses a motor. Its cheating.

Apparently not!

 

I think the eBikers who want to RACE, should lobby to have this eBiker unbanned.

 

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/van-den-driessche-handed-six-year-ban-for-mechanical-doping/

[Eldron]

Absolutely.

 

But if they "raced" in their own eBike category, its no longer cheating.

I'd be ok with Sani having 4 races - the current 3 plus an ebike race that runs on different days to the human races.

 

No motor human interaction should be allowed in my opinion.

[Eldron]

Apparently not!

 

I think the eBikers who want to RACE, should lobby to have this eBiker unbanned.

 

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/van-den-driessche-handed-six-year-ban-for-mechanical-doping/

Good old Femke "it was a test ebike that I rode by mistake". Classic.

[Pure Savage]

As long as the check the button on Strava that they are on an e-Bike then there is no real harm done.

[JA-Q001]

What I do like is that they are using E-bikes instead of motorbikes, for lead bikes and camera bikes, at more mountain bike races these days.

 

There's nothing worse than having had a motorbike just loosen up all the rock on a climb and the motorbikers pass a lot faster and more dangerously.

[Skubarra]

I'd be ok with Sani having 4 races - the current 3 plus an ebike race that runs on different days to the human races.

 

No motor human interaction should be allowed in my opinion.

 

I guess I'm just getting old and resistant to change but also really not a fan of e-bikes mixing it up with normal bikes.

 

I think most can agree that a few e-bikes at the back of the field aren't an issue and that e-bikes at the sharp end is a big NO - it's the big grey area in between where things have the potential to get messy and which will forever be debated.

 

Also think seperate events is the way to go, but currently there are not enough ebikes around for this to be feasible (yet). I foresee we are going to have to live with e-bikes gradually getting more and more at normal events as is already happening    (I also foresee lots of repeats of this thread for a long while..)

[Baracuda]

When one goes to Europe or the States and you see how e-bikes open up large areas of the Alps / Dolomites that are far away from roads and lifts and to be quite honest, very, very few XC riders could get too, they make good sense. Especially when you would like to ride multiple mountains in one day, not just one monstrous 25km climb followed by one downhill, and when you really want to be on an enduro rig in full kit for the downhill rather than a superlight limited suspension bike dressed as a cyclist.

 

There they make good sense to me. In SA, I could imagine that they could help guys with dodgy knees from rugby etc, still get out there and enjoy trails. BUT, I really don't believe they should be in an MTB race.

 

If they are going to do Sani etc, they should start in a separate class an hour after the rest have started.

[Squier]

I saw them on the Trail and found it quite strange.

 

I do have to take my hat off to them though. Keeping phones, gps', gopros and the like charged is already a mission. They have the bike to worry about as well...

[Skinnyone]

So can anyone say that they were passed by an ebike at Sani? did the guys on ebikes place or come close to placing at all? 

 

if so then some arguments may hold water....

 

Make no mistake - an ebike you still have to pedal, and in some cases you have to work harder especially when you reach the 25km/h limit and the motor stops assisting....to maintain the speed over 25kph is hard work...

 

I have done a few rides on an ebike and yes you can and do have a faster average speed, however you don't necessarily go zooming past everyone 

[mazambaan]

What is the definition of an e bike over an electric motorcycle?  If it is a power rating, can it be checked and enforced?

[Skinnyone]

What is the definition of an e bike over an electric motorcycle?  If it is a power rating, can it be checked and enforced?

Legally (if that is a thing in SA) the bikes assistance level cannot exceed 250w and it must stop assisting at 25kph to be classified as an electric assist bike - anything outside those parameters is then classified as a motorized vehicle and needs the necessary licencing as per a motorbike - number plates etc...

 

As for enforcing....well we kinda know what our police force is like when it comes to enforcing traffic laws...