I am lucky enough to have ridden almost all kinds of bikes. I raced motocross as a kid and rode street bikes as an adult. As a cyclist, I’ve ridden cross country, BMX, down hill, free ride, basic trail riding, epic road rides, loops around my neighbourhood with the kids, cruiser bikes along the seawall, commuter bikes of all sorts. I’ve even ridden a unicycle (not a bike, I know, but it has a wheel and pedals, so it fits into my life). And yes,
I’ve ridden e-bikes. mountain, city, and commuters. This is not my go-to option in most cases, but the five or six times a year I jump on one of the e-bikes, I still have a blast. Every discipline mentioned above is made up of exercise, challenges, speed, adventure, and fun. Typically someone likes their type of cycling more than others and in many cases over the years, I’ve seen people talk down to those who prefer something different. Mountain bikers think road riding is boring.
Roadies think mountain biking is too slow. And I hear this so often from riders who love human powered pedalling: “e-bikes are cheating.” I truly believe that if you are out pedalling and smiling, then it doesn’t matter what you ride. Enjoy it, share the trails, or the roads, and appreciate that many of us are after the same final goal, we just might use a different tool to get there. I entered the Mega Volt last weekend. It’s a three day e-bike festival made
up of one big casual group ride, one enduro race, and one cross country race. After so many years of listening to my human powered friends rail against e-bikes, it was odd to ride with this large group, who, when found out I ride traditional bikes far more than e-bikes, kind of shamed me for not jumping in full tilt with e-bikes. Many of them couldn’t fathom that once I’d ridden an e-bike, why I would ever go back to pedalling under my own power,
and not only questioned it, but were a bit judgmental at the same time. So, here’s what it comes down to for me: I like riding my bikes a lot. That includes eight different bikes in my quiver and despite the balance being weighted toward my trail bike more often than not, they all get some riding time and they all make me smile, keep me fit, and bring some adrenaline into my day. Lately I’ve ridden my e-bike five times in three weeks. That
is more than ever before and the only reason I rode it, was, well, ‘cause I felt like it on those days. I find it ironic that the friend who pushes me the hardest to ride more e-bikes, is the same friend that labelled everyone on an e-bike as a cheater just six years ago. Hmmm? So, if you’re out riding your bike, what ever that may be, and you see another cyclist out enjoying their day on their bike, what ever that may be,
remember, we’re all on the same team, just smile and wave as you pass. I’m James Durand and I’m Goin’ Ridin’
e-bikes, Mega Volt, cycling, riding culture, motocross, BMX, downhill, enduro, cross country, James Durand
So basically e-bikes shut people up for 3 days? Cool I guess.
I feel like this is just gonna turn into the same old argument. Like someone always says e-bikes are cheating… but then they act surprised when people don’t wanna change their whole personality over one ride. Also who shamed you for not going full e-bike speed??
Wait so he rode a unicycle and now he’s talking about e-bikes like that proves something? Not trying to be rude but I’m confused. Half the time I hear e-bike people say it’s for fitness and then they barely pedal. I dunno, I think the festival is just a pause button for rivalry until next weekend.
“Hard pause” sounds dramatic but also like people just can’t mind their business. Like mountain people always talking about speed and road people always talking about being “real cyclists” and then e-bike folks are out here being judged too. I bet half those “human powered” guys would still use assist on hills if they were honest. I don’t even know what Mega Volt is but if it got everyone to stop fighting for a minute then whatever.