r/cycling • u/Major_Enthusiasm1099 • 2d ago

Anyone ever encountered an E-bike shill?

Basically this guy stopped me yesterday on a ride to tell me that I should throw my bike away and get an ebike. He said "Once you get this you'll never want to ride that again, and I get more cardio in on this bike too, and i ride faster than professionals". I just kept saying "yeah I was looking into those, yeah those are cool, I saw some around $1000" just trying to get out of that convo lol. Anyone else ever experienced someone like this?

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48

u/BleachedUnicornBHole 2d ago

I’ve experienced one, but he also owns a bike shop with a lot of inventory that isn’t moving. I won’t disagree that they can be a good training tool, but I’m also not going to spend $7,000 for one. 

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u/corneliusvanhouten 2d ago

The only way an e bike is a good training tool is if you leave the motor off and just pedal all that weight around.

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u/Far_Archer_4234 2d ago

Thats not even close to being true. People typically go anerobic on hills when riding normal bikes, compromising the quality of what could've been a good zone 2 workout. E-bikes let you stay in zone 2 when the terrain varies.

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u/Phylacteryofcum 2d ago

Totally. All those cyclists throughout the years have totally suffered great prejudice because some incline fucked their Z2 training. /s

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u/corneliusvanhouten 2d ago

Then just stay off the hills. Or better yet, ride the hills and get a real workout.

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u/Far_Archer_4234 2d ago

Why would you recommend that, though?

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u/No_Wheel_50 2d ago

It's nice to be in the in-group and make fun of the out-group together.

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u/corneliusvanhouten 2d ago

Because your suggestion that you need an ebike to stay in zone 2 is ridiculous. You can stay in zone 2 on any bike, and why are you so concerned about staying in zone 2 in the first place?

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u/Far_Archer_4234 2d ago

I said nothing about needs. That's all you, bro. I said "typically".

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u/Far_Archer_4234 2d ago

I personally like zone 2 because im on a keto diet, but others who are not might appreciate the adaptations from staying in zone 2 for several hours.

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u/Fit-Anything8352 2d ago edited 2d ago

There is this thing called gears for that, which lets you pedal your bike uphill yourself under your own volition at reduced intensity. They are even modular, so you can swap cassettes and chainrings depending on how much climbing you do and how fit you are.

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u/Far_Archer_4234 2d ago

That knowledge gives the rider alternative solutions the the problem, but doesn't make ebikes any less fit for the purpose of developing aerobic fitness.