Odd comment about my ebike

[DDBB]

So my typical ride goes through several neighborhoods with light traffic but relatively new smooth pavement. I was at the local gas station the other day and a guy in there recognized me as the guy on the bike that rides through his neighborhood and said. "It'd be a shame if something poked a hole in one of your bike tires". I had no idea how to respond to this so I just said "yes it would" and glared at the guy who glared back. I guess he doesn't like me riding past his house. Now every time I ride past his house I'm checking the road for tacks or worse, a clothesline. Some people think they own the road in front of their house I guess. I wonder if he feels the same way about people who WALK past his house

 

[ChezCheese:)]

Goodness. Why would he want to do that? Is your bike one of those noisy throttle only fatties?

 

[PCeBiker]

Now every time I ride past his house I'm checking the road for tacks or worse, a clothesline.

I was riding beside the railway tracks where a walking path had been worn into the grass.
There was a guy walking towards me that stopped walking and just stood there.
I pulled over into the long grass to go around him, where someone dug a hole in the ground that I couldn't see.

He had purposely stood where he needed to stand to steer me into the pit.

My e-bike just floated right through it.
The joke's on him.
I've got a mile of full suspension travel.

 

[stompandgo]

Nice looking bike!

 

[PCeBiker]

Nice looking bike!

Thanks.
It's really cushy ride.

I put downhill air forks on it with 160 mm of travel, and it's got the rear shock, and the suspension seat post, and the suspension spring seat, and a gel seat cover.

I ride through 2" deep pot holes no-hands, no problem.

It does waste gas riding on a marshmallow though, but I carry two batteries now.

 

[stompandgo]

I love that Topeak Tetra Rack. My frame has bosses so I went with a standard 29'er.

 

[PCeBiker]

I had the second battery in the rear rack battery bag in the first picture, but I broke the rack off the bike, and the Topeak rack was the only rack I could find that would fit a full suspension ebike.

It wasn't until after I ordered the Topeak rack that I realized that it won't fit a fat bike frame.

Lucky, I managed to stretch it open WAY Past spec and got it installed.
It wouldn't have fit a normal 4" fat tire, but I've got clearance with my 27.5" X 2.8" tires.

It's working fine, but I won't be putting another 14 pound battery in the bag.

It's way better having the second battery more centered and fully suspended.

I had to make my own battery mounts with moldable polymorph plastic because there was no other way to attach it to the top tube.

My swing arm has bosses too, but they have "proprietary" spacing, and I couldn't find any way to use them that didn't involve welding.

 

[Gionnirocket]

So my typical ride goes through several neighborhoods with light traffic but relatively new smooth pavement. I was at the local gas station the other day and a guy in there recognized me as the guy on the bike that rides through his neighborhood and said. "It'd be a shame if something poked a hole in one of your bike tires". I had no idea how to respond to this so I just said "yes it would" and glared at the guy who glared back. I guess he doesn't like me riding past his house. Now every time I ride past his house I'm checking the road for tacks or worse, a clothesline. Some people think they own the road in front of their house I guess. I wonder if he feels the same way about people who WALK past his house

I know where I'd be walking my dog

 

[DDBB]

My bike is quiet, 26" wheels and super moto x tires, not knobbies

 

[DaveMatthews]

I love that Topeak Tetra Rack. My frame has bosses so I went with a standard 29'er.

Same here, been great.

 

[indianajo]

I was watching TV show Live PD yesterday. A house resident objected to 3 young women walking past his house and shot a pistol "at the ground" he said. Actually a 45 cal hollow point round passed through the roof of the adjacent house and hit the floor by the couch. So he shot straight up.
So yes, some people do feel they own the street in front of their house. Walking on a street is viewed as a crime. Riding a bicycle also shows many people the rider is an indigent beggar. Exercise is viewed as a liberal plot. I was arrested 8 times for walking to work, when my job was 1.5 miles from my house. Wearing a labeled work uniform meant nothing to the police. All drug dealers wear labeled work uniforms.

 

[Catalyzt]

I would probably stop the bicycle, tell them I was one of their neighbors, and ask the person to explain and identify themselves. Depending on their attitude, I might ask them flat out if they are threatening me.

Sometimes, counter-intuitively, confronting someone can lead to a productive conversation and de-escalation.

But if it goes the other way, it can end with, "Good to know who you are and where you live. We all have to look out for each other."

People know me around my neighborhood. I do make a point of slowing WAY down for kids, dogs, or clueless pedestrians, and offering a friendly wave. I'm a fitness rider, if I get a bit more exercise having to slow down and speed up more, that's fine with me.

 

[PCeBiker]

My bike is quiet, 26" wheels and super moto x tires, not knobbies

I've got the super moto X tires too.
I think that the 27.5" X 2.8" is the biggest tire they have?

I've got 26" X 4" tires on my other ebike, and a 29" X 2" Shwalbe Hurricane tire on a different rim.
All three wheels are the same overall diameter +/- less than ¼"

The long travel downhill forks don't come with boost spacing, so I had to buy a new wheel to fit the 110 mm fork spacing.

 

[DDBB]

Ooops, I'm sorry, my wheels are indeed 27.5" The super moto x tires are really quiet and far lower rolling resistance than the knobbies that it came with. I am as polite as can be with neighbors and similarly always offer a friendly wave, slow way down for dogs and children etc. etc. I don't ride by that guys house at a blistering speed either but I guess just the fact that I ride by upsets him. He must not be a very happy person in general to be upset at a bicyclist going past his house however when the weather is good, I ride past on an almost daily basis so maybe he's just sick of seeing me.

 

[sc00ter]

If the guy is fat, really old, a lonely weirdo or asthmatic I could see how he is "offended" with you getting out to enjoy the great outdoors. Otherwise carry some mace and be ready to use it should he confront you on the street. And/or invest in a good action camera.

 

[DDBB]

Well, he's a GOM (grumpy old man) but I guess I can be one of those too. That said, I don't get upset with people riding bikes or walking past my house but the dog does. The dog is like this guy and thinks he owns the street. I had a similar mindset guy ask me not to walk my dog past his house because it upsets HIS dog. His dog has aggressively approached my dog more than once. His dog is never leashed. My dog is ALWAYS on a lead . Seriously, the guy stopped his car when I was walking my dog and asked me not to walk my dog past his house any more. I told him it's a public road and my dog is leashed and he said "yeah well he pees on my mailbox". ahh, no he doesn't, I don't let him pee on anyone's mailbox. It's not fun when an aggressive dog approaches your dog while your dog is leashed. I was floored by his request. I walk past at least a dozen houses when I walk our dog. Imagine if all the neighbors asked me not to walk the dog past their house. There are numerous empty lots on our route and that's where he goes and I always pick it up. So to keep the neighbors happy, I guess I shouldn't walk the dog or ride my ebike

 

[stompandgo]

Do you live in a neighborhood that has an HOA (Home Owner's Association)? If so that could explain their behavior. The way to fight HOA's is to join them and bring your common sense to the table.

 

[Jim1348]

Some extremists have even put out caltrops to flatten tires.

 

[DDBB]

I had to google caltrop... What an evil device

 

[PCeBiker]

Ooops, I'm sorry, my wheels are indeed 27.5" The super moto x tires are really quiet and far lower rolling resistance than the knobbies that it came with.

I did the same thing and put the Super Moto-X tires on my new ebike just after it arrived.

I had to google caltrop...

Yeah, me too,..

It looks like those Goat Head thorns that bikers in the desert have to deal with,..