Confessions of a Bike Snob in the Age of E-Bikes

Thoughts about e.

As in ebikes. I am a life long cyclist and admitted “bike geek”. As an adult, my main draw to cycling was and still is the joy I find in jumping on a bike and being under my own power while exploring nature. It brings back joyful memories of my childhood riding a Schwinn Stingray on the green belts of Kingwood Texas.

Living in a resort town with a healthy dose of summer tourists, I have watched the use of ebikes explode. In full transparency, I confess I am not a fan. I do realize that in some cases, an ebike allows a rider to continue to ride and exercise with the appropriate amount of assistance where they may no longer be capable of doing so. I know several eighty year olds that ride pedal assist road bikes up Castle Creek Rd or to the Maroon Bells. I love that and fully support those folks. I will likely be there some day although I will work hard to delay that day should it come.

The apocalypse that has become is the overwhelming number of people riding ebikes with no intention of getting exercise. Easily spotted, they ride in packs, all dressed in similar style, riding the ubiquitous rental ebike. Also drawing my ire are the young kids ripping around town, often doubled up with complete disregard for traffic rules, pedestrians, stop signs, etc. In most cases helmets are an afterthought and the phone is kept at the ready since a selfie is non-negotiable.

After several years of enduring this new reality, I have resigned myself to the fact that most of these riders are experiencing the same joy and freedom that I did as a kid and still chase. The hard truth is that as a culture, we are soft and don’t want to work for something if we don’t have to.  Rather than make a snide comment when an ebiker blows past me going uphill, I either keep my mouth shut and ignore them, or if they speak, will simply ask them what their heart rate is at the moment.

My fear is that it might take a significant accident or death or both for our elected officials to regulate allowable uses and proper safety measures. I hope it does not come to that but the odds of a RFTA bus having a conflict with a clueless distracted ebiker are higher than we might think. I know this is a challenging problem but let’s be proactive and take some steps toward safety and awareness.

With all of that pontificating, I offer the following observations from personal experience somewhat tongue in cheek: 

1. If you have pedals, please try to use them. At least give the impression you are making some effort to add value.

2. When passing a cyclist, please do not apologize for riding an ebike. We are aware that you are faster and we try to not take it personally.

3. Be aware of  Lance Armstrong’s “the look” and avoid it at all costs. Feel free to search this up. Bad messaging to other cyclists.

4. Learn how to use your brakes. Too much front brake and you will be landing on your head or collarbone. No bueno.

5. Learn how to use your gears. I see way too many standing starts while in a monster gear resulting in the death swerve. This is how you get hit by a passing car (or RFTA bus). Mucho no bueno.

6. Please wear a helmet. Pretty please.

7. Maybe avoid protruding objects on your handlebars. Think phones, water bottles, speakers, mirrors, etc. Item 4 above might result in said items being lodged in your face or throat.

8. Taking fido in a basket? Ask yourself why.

9. It is illegal to ride on the sidewalks in Aspen. Similarly, don't park your ebike in the middle of the sidewalk while you get in line for FroYo.

10. If none of these connect with you, please please take the time to train your kids with the basic rules of the road and set boundaries. That is your job not the City of Aspen’s.

See you out there and if I do not speak, it’s probably because I am breathing too hard to get a word out. Feel free to share your heartrate and experience the joy.