Originally Posted by
350htrr
There ya go, 27 gears are better for hilly terrain than just 1 gear... It's a "helper system" it helps you do the trip.
Same with E-Assist it "helps" the people (that need more help) who use it to make the trip rather than not even start...
Now when does "helping" turn into "doing", and the person just rides a motorized bicycle? That is a good question...
...
You make it sound like people are pressured into using E-bikes "to make the trip." But maybe instead the person needs to maybe redefine what the trip is before thinking about utilizing a motor for a bike tour.
A motor helps someone do what? Go faster than they could on any gear range under their own power. Get up hills faster and being less tired than they could on any gear range.
If the person is not in shape enough to pedal up hill or keep up with company, then the person needs to either review the gearing on their bike, train more, change the route, or just plain be slower and hope their friends understand.
As everyone else says, it is not a competition, it is not a speed contest. But touring does require planning. It does require being ready (mentally/physically) for using a bicycle as a mode of transport.
I am not saying ban E-bikes, but I think the person using it needs to define why they are doing it. I rarely (ie never) hear of someone trading in an E-bike for a human-powered-bike. If it is "because I can't bike up that hill," or "I can't ride that far", turn that around into a can-do attitude. It may take a long time, you may get tired, but train for it. Earn it.
Originally Posted by
BigAura
BTW: Although I tried to refrain from responding to this thread any more. I feel that I need to defend my point of view from browbeaters intent on portraying me as a hater of persons with physical disabilities, because I am not!
I understand what you are saying. I think we are in the same boat and I will do the same.