Unpopular opinion: the DYU A5 proves e-bikes have killed traditional commuting bikes for me

[davidj]

I know I'll get hate for this, but here goes.

I ride a DYU A5.

Small wheels, folding frame, electric assist.

And honestly?

I don't think I could ever go back to a normal push bike for commuting.

Why arrive sweaty?

Why struggle up hills?

Why avoid riding because you're tired or it's windy?

People say e-bikes are "cheating."

I say cycling purists are just gatekeeping.

The goal is to get people out of cars, not to suffer on two wheels.

Change my mind.

Or tell me why I'm wrong.

Genuinely curious how the old-school riders here think about this.

(And yes, I run a tiny e-bike site. But this is my real opinion, not a plug.)

 

[RunForTheHills]

That opinion is not unpopular on this forum. Maybe it would be on one of the analog cycling forums. Getting to work not sweaty is definitely a big benefit of ebikes.

 

[indianajo]

I rode 25-70 miles per week for 16 years, mostly unpowered. Parked the car. I kept the power available for days when the wind was in my face and would take 6 hours to do 30 miles. My kit did not drag the motor with my feet when unpowered. Battery came off the bike October to May. You can't charge Lithium Ion battery below 40 F anyway.
The payoff: When my heart became irregular age 74 while sleeping, though not while riding. The cardiologist said the biggest cause of irregularity is blocked heart arteries. He put me on the operating table same day as the recording was read of my riding (powerful 120-144 bpm into headwind) & sleeping (stutter stutter stutter). Barium dye test proved I had ZERO blocked arteries. Cause for irregularitiy was just old age and genetics. Magnesium & Potassium levels were fine. No roto-rooter up my leg artery. No stents installed.
Now with a variable speed pacemaker I am trying to get back on my aerobics health routine.
The small wheels models work in Europe where potholes are filled 3 hours after they are reported. Does not work in the USA where they last months, or years. 20" wheel trough a pothole, I might bite my tongue off. Not to mention pavement separators 3" above the flat, or speed bumps.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

People say e-bikes are "cheating."
I say cycling purists are just gatekeeping.

I live in a place (coastal SoCal) crawling with both serious (unmotorized) roadies and ebikers of all kinds. In my experience, we all get along. Never once heard 'cheater'.

I even ride my fitness ebike with a longstanding roadie group. They're just happy I keep up, however that comes about.

So I don't see the antagonism that others report. Otherwise, I agree with everything you said.

The bicycle is the greatest joy machine ever invented. As long as folks ride theirs responsibly, what, how, and why they ride is entirely their call. The path to a less car-dominated world is through inclusivity on the cycling side.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Two threads discussing the same e-bike make and model? Sus.