Anyone else get called a cheat??

[sunstoner]

I bought an e-mtb for a few reasons - to get out on my bike again after a long period of absence (and corresponding loss of fitness), to be able to keep up with my husband, to go further and faster and to love mountain biking again! Twice in one day last week I was accused of being a cheat when people realised I was riding an emtb. I tried to explain why I ride electric but just got the “nah nah nah, it’s just cheating!”response. Anyone else get this? How do you respond?

After 8 weeks of ownership and over 300 miles completed I was at Sherwood Pines at the weekend and whilst riding past a family of 4, one of the younger children, possibly 8 or 9, chanted 'Cheat, cheat cheat' as i rode past uphill. I heard his mum telling him to 'shush' seconds later but that was my first experience of it and it did just slightly take the edge of the enjoyment I was getting in that moment as I processed what just happened.

Electric bikes make it easier to cover ground however as you know theres so much more to it than that. I found that as my enjoyment levels are up ive covered more miles in 8 weeks on my emtb than I've done on my (very) old mtb in 18 months, no 24 months!

This whole cheat thing, is a puzzler to me. Im not in a race with anyone, Im not competing against that 9 year old, who I thought was pretty rude and disrespectful tbh. So who am I cheating exactly? cant be myself because I've never covered this many miles in 8 weeks before on a bike and neither have I felt so compelled to get on a bike like I have since getting my emtb.

I guess it something to get used to.

 

[Gary]

If only you could buy a motor to help find a your sense of humour.

I'd have been pissing myself laughing at a 9 yr old chanting "cheat" at any Ebiker. Myself included.

 

[sunstoner]

Is it just me, when i climb and i see a group in front of me, i just pedal lighter just not to be to loud with my shimano motor. they just stare at you. Some find it a no go.

I do this too in a bid not reveal my power source. Bit daft really. Im just being a bit self conscious I suppose.

 

[Pdoz]

Sometimes, you jyst HAVE to turn back and ask kids who mum has been cheating with.....

 

[JoeBlow]

It's particularly amusing when a group of youths shout it at you from the back of the pickup truck at Bike Park Wales like happened to me. I honestly do think they did not see the irony. The thing I get most often is "give us a tow". I ride for fun. It stops being fun when you a) are wheezing for breath, b) sweating like a pig c) aching in every joint and muscle and d) perhaps most importantly not riding but walking and pushing.

 

[Beekeeper]

Everything is relative.
If someone overtook me on one of these I might be inclined to think the same thing ?

this may even happen sooner than we think.

 

[Cabby.]

I tend to just hand them a hanky for drying their eyes

 

[sunstoner]

If only you could buy a motor to help find a your sense of humour.

I'd have been pissing myself laughing at a 9 yr old chanting "cheat" at any Ebiker. Myself included.

Tbh i was smiling to myself as I went past but it still made me think as id not had anyone comment like that before.

 

[Gary]

Everything is relative.
If someone overtook me on one of these I might be inclined to think the same thing ?

View attachment 41988

this may even happen sooner than we think.

A few weeks back a guy overtook me in the city on the road on an electric longboard. He mustv'e been doing 25mph. Dressed in all black in a long coat and stood leaning into the wind, hands clasped behind his back like a Scottish Neo from the Matrix. Coolest thing I've seen in a long time. Only because I can't see myself. Obviously

 

[Gary]

Tbh i was smiling to myself as I went past but it still made me think as id not had anyone comment like that before.

Learn the lyrics and then next time you can join in...


This comes up on here so often we really should start a self help/support group.

 

[stiv674]

A few weeks back a guy overtook me in the city on the road on an electric longboard. He mustv'e been doing 25mph. Dressed in all black in a long coat and stood leaning into the wind, hands clasped behind his back like a Scottish Neo from the Matrix. Coolest thing I've seen in a long time. Only because I can't see myself. Obviously

Have you not found a mirror big enough to fit your whole head in yet then...

 

[Gary]

i swear shop windows have shrunk

 

[Mikerb]

If you are affected by someone shouting cheat it says more about you than them. You made the decision to go electric so revel in it.....go even faster past them!!(safely of course!!)

 

[Gary]

Finally. one of our counsellors is here to assist

 

[Mikerb]

Yep...qualified.....oh and I know how to spell it as well!

 

[Gary]

Thanks teach

your apple is just being polished

 

[Mike D.]

Some variations:

"At what?" (Being as how I'm an Electric Mountain Biker doing some, er, electric mountain biking).

"Yeah and you're walking."

"Sorry, did I ask for your opinion?"

"Shove it, limpy."

"Want a tow?"

"Not my fault you can't afford one."

Or just whack it into "Boost" and pelt up the slope going "Mwaaahaaahaaahaaaaaa..."

?

 

[#lazy]

I shout cheat and I’m riding one ? most mtbers comment when you go past uphill but usually in a funny/envious way , we’re all riding for the fun of it !

 

[MitchF]

It was a kid ??‍

 

[thewrx]

I just say, "...but I never turn it on, so its ok.."""

Really, i don't give a shit. There are those who ride ebikes and "get-it", and there's everyone else who just hasn't.

Fuck em!

 

[GrandPaBrogan]

CA meeting: (cheaters anonymous)

Good evening everyone, my name is GP-Brogues and I’ve been a cycling cheat for about a year now. The seeds of my addiction to PEE (pedal electric enduro) were planted early on when my wife bought me an electric toothbrush and things went downhill (excuse the pun) from there. As I stood there in front of the bathroom mirror holding my eBrush dead-still without even as much as a wee wiggle, shame and guilt washed over me such that I couldn’t look at myself in the eye. What made things worse is I caught a glimpse of my 9 year old son walk past the door and whispered in contempt, “cheat!” The trauma only served to heighten my lust for more ‘flat battery anxiety’ that I transformed my entire workshop and garden shed existence into a sickening chordless-tool environment! I couldn’t stop myself. I shiver with excitement and anticipation very time I use my eLawnmower not knowing if the battery would last or run out before I finish my lawn completely. My workbench is littered with projects with half drilled holes because I keep forgetting to charge my eDrill the night before. So here I stand in front of you confessing that I too am an EEB user... a guilty cheat yes, because I can be a$$ed to do all my chores manually. That’s all the self-loathing I’m prepared to share with you tonight. Thank you for listening and for the judgement-free acceptance I sense in this place... it’s toxic out there...

 

[MOTO13]

99.99% of people who would say cheat have never even ridden an emtb. Secondly, the very few times it was said...I kind of laughed as I went past them with ease. They get a nice view of what they can kiss.

 

[HORSPWR]

I just say, "...but I never turn it on, so its ok.."""

Really, i don't give a shit. There are those who ride ebikes and "get-it", and there's everyone else who just hasn't.

Fuck em!

Exactly. A few weeks ago I pulled up for a social ride with a few other people, one guy saw my ebike and said "take your battery out". I said "what" and he repeated it. I said "go fuck yourself". He said "I'm not riding with someone with a motor". I said "well fuck off then and go and ride on your own".

Ironically, his knees are trashed, his hips are trashed but he continues to destroy his body on his non ebike through shear stubbornness.

 

[Philly G]

Exactly. A few weeks ago I pulled up for a social ride with a few other people, one guy saw my ebike and said "take your battery out". I said "what" and he repeated it. I said "go fuck yourself". He said "I'm not riding with someone with a motor". I said "well fuck off then and go and ride on your own".

Ironically, his knees are trashed, his hips are trashed but he continues to destroy his body on his non ebike through shear stubbornness.

Hard to believe the arrogance of some people, what did it matter to him or anyone if you have an eeb?

 

[Gemini2k]

The only reasonable responses: "Winners cheat, get over it", or "The world's not fair, welcome to reality"

 

[Pdoz]

Exactly. A few weeks ago I pulled up for a social ride with a few other people, one guy saw my ebike and said "take your battery out". I said "what" and he repeated it. I said "go fuck yourself". He said "I'm not riding with someone with a motor". I said "well fuck off then and go and ride on your own".

Ironically, his knees are trashed, his hips are trashed but he continues to destroy his body on his non ebike through shear stubbornness.

All those fucks and a strange negotiation about electrical enhanced experiences in a group riding situation. It's hard to know if it's a cycling or swinging group .

 

[GrandPaBrogan]

Ironically, his knees are trashed, his hips are trashed but he continues to destroy his body on his non ebike through shear stubbornness.

Seeing as you mentioned irony, the same guy probably huffed and puffed back to his car and bleeped it open with this remote (because turning an actual key would be too hard), then opened his electric car windows (because rolling a hand crank takes too long and takes too much effort especially if he had to get out and open the passenger doors to open and close the back windows), then finally gets home and presses the button on his automatic garage door opener (because he might strain his arms and back if he had to lift it himself)! ?

Tis a very thin line between irony and hypocrisy...

 

[urastus]

In my part of the world, those who ridicule are really lazy. For example, if I'm out riding and fly past some dude on a clockwork, all I hear is cheee... They're too lazy to say the whole word!

 

[Singletrackmind]

Been riding an emtb for a couple months now and every now and then some asshat makes a snide comment. For the most part, its been the 80/20 rule and get more positive comments then negative. My standard response to knuckle heads is "have a nice day because I am!"

 

[Armeniandave]

I go to the local bike quarry to jump and sometimes kids will say something but
mostly they just ask questions. Every once in awhile I get some ass hat who you
can tell doesn't like eBikes. So I do what I always do and hit the jump just a little
higher just to shut them up! Generally after that they don't say a word......