Electric bike ban ?

[duckwhistle]

Down at the local bike shop today, heard some chat about the British Heart Foundation wanting to ban electric bikes. Not a good move for a charity. Anyone know whats going on with this ?

[TwistingMyMelon]

Yeah its akin to a bloke down the pub talking bullst

He might be confused in that higher rated more powerful models are not legal here

[sjg]

They don't allow electric bikes on the (BHF-organized/supported) London to Brighton ride.

A retailer of electric bikes took exception to this and kicked up a lot of fuss.

[Magic919]

I can't imagine many people wanting to do L2B on an e-bike. I expect doing on a couple of them was good publicity for the retailer.

[duckwhistle]

Sig is right, I dug about a bit more, the ebike entrants last year raised £6000. This decision excludes some disabled riders. I can't see this doing the BHF any good.

[Chainsaw Rebuild]

I do think that able bodies riders should be banned from doing the London to Brighton on an electric bike though; lazy sods.

[Magic919]

I think a lot of this is just ignorance. The e-bikes won't be anywhere near as fast as a road bike most of the time and you certainly won't get there without putting in some effort.

Looks like the retailer's team did London to Paris off road to raise the £6000. Apparently BHF had said they would allow e-bikes for L2B, but did a u-turn. I can't see anyone being that concerned.

[duckwhistle]

Apparently four local guys all over 70 having recovered from heart surgery had raised some sponsorship to do this event. Having been life long cyclists and only able to return to bikes via ebike use this would have been a good example to others. Exactly what the BHF should be supporting.
I have yet to see a fully fit rider on an ebike. These are not effortless and do need a fair bit of work by the rider. A fit rider on a road bike will easily outpace an ebike, this however misses the point. Ebikes have allowed hundreds of folk forced to give up due to age or injury to cycle again.
This cannot be regarded as anything other than a good thing. I done a circuit of Loch Venachar this morning on my Ebike, bright sun, trees sparkling with frost, air like frozen lace, birds wheeling and skirling over the dark loch. I could no longer do this on a non assisted bike. Ebikes have been good for the trade,empty shops enlivened by ample grey pounds, now busy with sales and the resulting service work.
Met another e biker, 84 year old from Stirling, swopped some home made broth for a sook of his excellent Malt whiskey. The BHF want to ban this !! They can go jump in a lake, not another penny from me or the local cycle guys.

[duckwhistle]

TwistingMyMelon said:

Yeah its akin to a bloke down the pub talking bullst

He might be confused in that higher rated more powerful models are not legal here

Thank you for your most valuable contribution to the discussion. Your instant grasp of the subject and incisive wit are worthy of the greatest orators in the land. How the great Advocates pleading in the highest courts would pause in awe at your total grasp of the World's greatest language in its most noble form. The Bard himself would tremble in the icy grip of his tomb should he have the good fortune to gaze upon your wisdom.

[upsidedownmark]

As it happens Mr Ranty, he was bang on. Talk that the BHF were suggesting a ban on ebikes (ETA: General ban rather than in the context of a particular event) was horsest..

Edited by upsidedownmark on Sunday 29th January 18:15

[Your Dad]

L2B event terms & conditions, Section 9, sub section a, point vii (my bold):

unless the Event Information states otherwise, must ride a two wheeled non-powered cycle in the Event.

https://www.bhf.org.uk/get-involved/events/event-t...

[Agent XXX]

ebikes weren't allowed on the BHF L2B Off road last year

[joema]

if it's not a race then who cares? Seems like the guys who want to do it have valid reasons to use them.