# Whatever happened to pedalling ? (Invasion of the electric bikes). **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 28, 2019, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-pedalling-invasion-of-the-electric-bikes/830339 "2019-02-28T16:00:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2019, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-pedalling-invasion-of-the-electric-bikes/830339/41 "2019-03-04T15:30:06Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Yes but a mountain bike does that anyway. You wouldn’t buy one for just for transport. An ebike has more potential as an alternative to a scooter. I don’t get your point: Are you saying that while ebikes can be used for exercise, they have more potential for commuting so they shouldn’t be allowed on trails? Your statement about mountain bikes not being just for transport is not true either. I commute by bike year round (northern climate). My wet and winter riding bike is my previous mountain bike. It sees no trails at this point in its life. ---
**Author:** ![Tempe\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tempe_jeff/32/7328_2.png) [@Tempe\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tempe_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2019, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-pedalling-invasion-of-the-electric-bikes/830339/42 "2019-05-26T23:07:12Z")
I own an e-bike myself. Being in the Phoenix area, I have no desire to ‘pedal’ my bike to work at 110 F plus for 3-4 months a year. Bicyclists who pedal can, and do, pass me even though; supposedly I’m an out-of-control speed freak on my 20 mph(Max. governed speed) bike. Do you folks prefer I drive a car? BTW, I stop at ALL stop signs and obey all laws when riding. Do you? I regularly see pedal cyclists ‘blow-through’ stop signs and lights to maintain their momentum. ---
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2019, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-pedalling-invasion-of-the-electric-bikes/830339/43 "2019-05-27T00:25:23Z")
> [@China\_Guy](#): > > I commuted with one for a year or so around 2014. It was a pretty early model that was extremely heavy (really couldn’t pedal it unassisted) and the rear tire really needed someone in the shop with a lot more skill than I had to take off. It had a hand throttle and you could pedal as much or as little as you wanted. My knees couldn’t handle the hills to work and back. I really liked it except for the bad, cold rainy days. I got to ride again, it was a lot of fun, average speed versus heavy commute time was just a bit slower, got in at least light exercise every day, and I didn’t need a shower at work or home. > > The bicyclists I ran into at stop lights were kinda split. A good chunk thought that riding a bike was good, then there was another group that thought it was “cheating”. There were also plenty that didn’t realize it was an electric bike, would blow past me downhill on skinny tires and then WTF when I blew by them uphill. > > The mountain bike piece seemed to be big in Switzerland 5 years ago or so. There was a whole network/route where you could swap out for a charged battery at stops along the way. This allows people not in great biking shape the ability to cover a lot of ground in the mountains that they probably otherwise wouldn’t even think to attempt. I wonder what the group who thought the e bikes were “cheating” would think of the Copenhagen Wheel". > **[Copenhagen Wheel review: a bike that makes you feel like a superhero](https://www.theverge.com/2017/10/1/16379278/copenhagen-wheel-connected-bike-review)** > > A great option for commuters, unless you have to lift it ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2019, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-pedalling-invasion-of-the-electric-bikes/830339/44 "2019-05-27T00:36:13Z")
heh heres another thread on them : [https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=876145](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=876145) ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2019, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-pedalling-invasion-of-the-electric-bikes/830339/45 "2019-05-27T00:48:37Z")
Driving your car with a gas engine or electric motor is cheating also. Cars were meant to be powered by your feet Fred Flintstone style. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2019, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-pedalling-invasion-of-the-electric-bikes/830339/46 "2019-05-27T01:17:03Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > Whatever happened to pedalling ? (Invasion of the electric bikes). Your title should say “invasion of the baby boomers”. They may be wankers using just the electric motor or they’re using a combination of their own pedaling and electric. It’s not likely they’re just pedaling because a regular bike would do for less money. The fact they’re out there making an effort is future health cost savings in your pocket. Unless they’ve all gone Granny Hell’s Angels and take up the whole path then smile and know you will be in the same situation some day if you’re lucky. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-pedalling-invasion-of-the-electric-bikes/830339.md?page=2)