Are E-Bikes Cheating? – this is one of the most asked questions about e-bikes. Here I outline some of the answers and my view on it.
This is a question that frequently gets asked and is always one that really puzzles and frustrates me.
There are many articles online refuting this and explaining in detail the exercise & other benefits of e-bike cycling. I have listed some of these benefits below. At the end of the list I have included my additional views on the subject.
Are E-Bikes Cheating?
-E-bikes are pedal-assist
There is a common misconception that electric bikes are like scooters or mopeds, with a throttle to ramp up the speed and no need to pedal. This simply is not true. E-bikes are pedal-assist. This means that they use a small electric motor to boost the power created by your own pedalling.
This means that to ride an e-bike you always have to pedal to get assistance from the electric motor. Pedalling of course takes some effort. That’s why it’s not cheating – you pedal and the electric motor just boosts your power input. The electric motor is there to help you, and you can dial up or down the assistance levels as required. You can even turn off the electric motor if you want more of a challenge.(This is what I do 90% of the time – at present!).
Are E-Bikes Cheating?
-Who are you cheating?
This website is for leisure and touring cyclists. Leisure and touring cyclists are not in a race or competition so who is being cheated? You are not cheating yourself. For most e-bike cyclists it is a fun, brilliant way to get around and spend time outdoors. You can’t cheat at having fun!
Are E-Bikes Cheating?
– It’s about getting exercise & enjoyment
E-bike cycling is all about fun and enjoyment and getting outdoors in spite of problems such as health, fitness, getting up hills, etc. However, it has also been proven to provide significant health benefits.
Several studies have shown that e-bikes have huge health benefits, both physical and mental. Not least because they make you more likely to cycle in the first place.
However, some people think that cycling is only about getting exercise and competing against others or on Strava. This is missing the point that cycling, and e-bike cycling in particular, is just as much about enjoyment as well as getting exercise.
Are E-Bikes Cheating?
– My views & experiences on the matter
Gears
On the first day I got my e-bike I went to a local park to get used to cycling with it, before embarking on day trips on cycle paths and quiet roads. I had stopped at a park bench when another cyclist came along. We got into conversation, and of course the question of e-bikes and cheating arose when he asked me “Aren’t e-bikes cheating?”
I didn’t get too much into it at that time as I hadn’t really thought it through yet. All I knew was that I needed an e-bike to get me up hills. This was due to my mild asthma and advancing years (an argument against cheating in itself).
Afterwards I was thinking about it. I remembered that the guy I was talking to in the park had what is normally referred to as a road bike. His bike had three chain rings at the front and probably seven cogs at the back, giving him 21 gears. (My e-bike only has one chain ring at the front and nine cogs at the back. Thus giving me nine gears.)
So is he cheating using a mechanical device, his gearing, to make it easier for him to cycle? Is this any different to using an electrical device, i.e. a small motor, to make it easier to cycle?
Should the comparison not be between a pedal only bike with no gearing, i.e. a fixed wheel, and all other bikes. Therefore could it not be argued that using a road bike with 21 gears compared to a fixed wheel bike is cheating?
The weight of the bike
Another thought that occurred to me afterwards was that the weight of the bike the guy I was talking to had was very low. Road bike manufacturers and road bike cyclists generally are obsessed with the weight of their bikes. Lightweight frames, no mudguards, no luggage rack, not even a bell!
Compare this to my hybrid e-bike which has a strong, heavy, rugged frame. It also has full length mudguards, a pannier/saddlebag rack and of course, a bell. Not to mention the e-bike battery that weighs 2.5 kilos (5.5 lbs.)!
Conclusion
Thus the way I look at it is that a small part of the assistance provided by an electric motor compensates for the fact that e-bikes only have one chain ring and thus fewer gears. Also, a small part compensates for the additional weight of an e-bike.
The remainder of the assistance, as well as compensating for issues such as health, lack of fitness, ageing, etc., etc. also provides huge amounts of the magical ingredients – FUN, ENJOYMENT & EXERCISE!