I met my first legit e-biker

So yesterday I was in the parking lot at Lake Norman State Park riding lazy circles waiting for my riding buddies to show up. I noticed an older guy loading up his nice Trek e-bike after he had just finished his ride. I rode over to him and started asking him about his bike, and if he liked it etc. I explained that my wife was going to be having knee replacement surgery and wondered if I got her an e-bike whether she would ride with me.

His name is Ed, and he explained to me that as an 88 year old biker, he can no longer ride his regular bike all the time due to hip problems. And neck problems. Actually, he had one hip replaced, and was riding his regular bike and ran into a tree and broke his neck. So his doctor wasn't going to replace his other hip until his neck was healed, and had some questions about whether he should be riding a mtb at all. So Ed convinced him it would be ok if he bought an e-bike, and he cheats and rides his regular bike whenever he feels up to it

This guy deserves an e-bike

 

Damn straight
Go Ed!

 

A lot more legit than the ~14 year old riding Oaks the other day with one hand on his hip as he was climbing B’s. It was as if he thought it was cool that he didn’t have to put in any effort as he passed the older guys.

 

This may be my first thread lock...

I understand Bonsai's point, and I've even met an Ed or two. The elderly gentleman in Wrightwood with the converted Santa Cruz springs to mind... But unfortunately, I've met far greater numbers of non-Eds. And I've seen too many threads on here degenerate into chaos, even with an innocuos and well-meaning beginning.

 

Ed is the reason for e-bikes. What a stud, still riding at 88 years old!

 

I agree with the others here..this guys deserves an ebike pass!

 

The legit ones are out there, sometimes not so obvious. A buddy of mine posted a new e-bike on Instagram several months back. He's a little older than me, but snowboards circles around me, skates pools, and is generally a very fit and active guy. My instinct was to bust his balls, but I hadn't been in touch with him in longer than usual, and the incongruousness of the e-bike alerted my spidey sense just enough to let it pass. A couple weeks later he reached out to me letting me know he was a year into a diagnosis of, and semi-secret fight with ALS. I was glad I let that one go.

 

Unfortunately the 98% ruin it for the 2% that truly need it.

 

You have to have more faith in us!

Now how about that election?

 

So much voter fraud...




The Kakapo totally deserves a win.



https://www.npr.org/2020/11/14/9347...fles-new-zealand-bird-of-the-year-competition

 

Look at me, I'm posting here still, whoo-hoo!!!!

 

I've already let my wife know I'll be selling my bikes and joining a yacht club with my sabot when that time comes. My plan B is golf clubs and drunkenly harassing drink cart girls. Hopefully at Pelican Hills, more than likely at Pico Rivera or Costa Mesa (public,) courses.

 

Drink cart girls?! I'm in!

 

We need that on the trails. They can ride ebikes with beers and chips in paniers ;-)

 

Now that would be a legit e-biker.

 

This thread is going in a much better direction.

 

I'd apply for that job myself, even if I had to wear a wig and lipstick. And if I got the job, portions of the beer would somehow, always be missing.

 

my next bike is going to be an E bike! I have had enough struggling up things that I shoulda coulda climb. After seeing a bunch on high end vehicles I say enough is enough.
Long live the electronic machine, now where is the closest wilderness area?

 

LOL, that's two strikes. What cha got for strike three?

 

I think about guys like Jon Blais who was diagnosed with ALS, told he had 2-5 years to live, and decided to do his first Ironman. Indeed, he did die just 2 years after learning of his diagnosis. Or I think of the multiple people I have seen racing triathlons missing limbs. Watched a guy crawl out of the ocean in La Jolla with nothing below his waist at the San Diego Triathlon Challenge.

I just have a tough time with anyone saying they need an eBike.

https://www.guinnessworldrecords.co...-who-cycled-over-1000-miles-in-17-days-572379
http://waronals.org/about-us/about-jon/

 

I would have a tougher time saying what someone bearing the cross of an ALS diagnosis does or does not need.