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In my opinion I swear the chemistry between Si and Dan is the best, albeit that each pair do an exceptional job, I mean who honestly doesn’t just love Oli? It is uniquely the very thing in my opinion that makes GCN my absolute favorite “bike” channel that UA-cam has. Cheers guys
What a hypocritical position. The issue is dangerous cycling. Si thinks it's fine for him to do 35 kph, but the guy on an ebike should be limited to 20 kph.
I love that you're independent again! The content does seem better, partly due to what seems a renewed level of good spirit from all at GCN. Does your rejuvenated motivation extend to doing that massive ride Dan...?
I have the debate of e-bikes at work often, being the only cyclist in my office. My simple thoughts for North Idaho, USA not sure if this can be put out in bigger areas. Pedal assist = E - Bicycle Throttle assist = E - Moped Throttle Assist Gas Powered = Moped E- Moped's would need to follow the same rules as regular mopeds (no bike paths or sidewalks) and if ridden over 25 mph would need licensing
"Pedal assist = E - Bicycle" Ever used a LIME bike? Those things take off with big speed - the pedals just tell the motor how fast you want to go. They're E-Moped's IMHO.
Absolutely agree if it's got a throttle it's a moped. Why won't these guys with750/1000 watts and a throttle just admitt they just want an electric motor bike.
Agreed, if you're not pedaling it's basically just a motorcycle riding on the bike path or trail (assuming we're talking about an area where motorized vehicles have traditionally been not allowed). I live in Boise, Idaho, we have an awesome bike/walk path along our river that traditionally has been shared by bikers and pedestrians. But in recent years its been taken over by loads of "E" vehicles, be it scooters, skateboards, bikes, etc, most riders clip along at a reasonable pace (under 15mph) but lately I've seen plenty of what appear to be flat out electric motorcycles, no pedals, just a throttle, flying down the path at easily 20-25 mph. Personally if they had some governor or speed restriction on these I'd be fine with them on the paths, but at this point, Chinese MFG's don't care so they're not going to put speed limiters on them, there are no laws, so we get motorcycles on our pathways.
IMHO the biggest danger from de-restricted e-bicycles : 1) comes from the fact that their riders usually are not experienced enough riding at such speeds; 2) the fact that the brakes and probably tires are not rated for the speed they are going at. Someone who became capable riding 35-40 and above on a "mechanical" bike most often spent enough time in the saddle and on the road to have a lot of experience... With a de-restricted ebike, it could easily be a rider who is mere hours out of the shop speeding without any understanding of their bicycle's limits... akin to a 15 year old taking a cargo truck out for a joyride...
In Belgium 25km/h mopeds are obliged to use the cycle path everywhere, unless specific signs forbid it. 45km/h limited mopeds are obliged to use the cycle path wherever a speed limit higher than 50km/h is in effect. Within zones that have a 50km/h or lower speed limit you can choose whether you use the cycle path or not. Any moped faster than 45km/h requires a motorcycle license and is not allowed on the cycle path.
My point is: you can buy an E-Bike with any kind of bike skill - no experience needed and go ride 40kph On a racer you do 35-40 when you have years of training experience so you know how to handle those speeds properly....
I believe the problem is not the ebike and how fast it can go, it's the rider and whether they are riding safely and courteously or not. Here in SoCal, we have too many people on ebikes who terrorize pedestrians and cars because of their reckless behavior. Don't care if their on an ebike or regular bike if your safe and courteous.
Sorry but this sounds like a "guns don't kill people, people kill people" answer. Since we're not likely to change human nature any time soon, I think a solution to the problem has to involve regulating availability of the dangerous ebikes.
Spot on! People today lack respect for others. Further they accept zero responsibility for their actions. Bikes, knives, guns, hammers, and even ROCKS are inanimate objects which require some sort of human interaction and CONTROL to cause harm.
If the whole thing about e-bikes were to give a few extra watts to help with inclines, I don't have an issue. When an e-bikes is zooming down the street at 10 to 20 mph with no pedalling then it's no longer an e-bike but an electric moped, which now must follow motorcycle rules.
"Connor went full Louis Theroux" - love the phrase, made me chuckle. I'm quite happy for human powered or electrically powered 2 and 3 wheeled modes of transport to use cycle paths so long as they're ridden with due dare and consideration for other people on the path. If you're the only person on a path at 6 am it's fine to "stretch the legs". The correct name of the path Si was talking about is the Bristol and Bath Railway Path. (It follows the route of a railway line closed in the 1960s). It's not a bikes only cycle path but a shared use path for walkers and cyclists.
6:19 🤦🏼♀️ Why do we always try to solve an issue by banning tools instead of holding each user accountable? Put in place (and enforce) policies that restrict speed on multi-use paths for everybody…including those like Si who have a 100% supercharged natural engine end educate all users on trail etiquette.
I like where you are going with that statement. Incentives are key for behavior changes. What if cars had no seatbelts, car seats, airbags, etc. AND no insurance (for damage to car and property as well as medical coverage)? Would that make roads safer? Drivers would be terrified (both for physical and financial health) to get in a wreck. Now we just make cars safer which emboldens or gives a false sense of security. What change would make a trail user slow down when passing a 3yr old on a strider bike? Or someone pushing a pram, etc. This is a fun topic to see opinions from many perceptions.
I think the main problem is that we dedicate 90% of infra to cars (wide lanes, two way streets, signage, plenty of parking etc) and then pack everyone else into these measly paths, so you have regular commuter, ebikers, joggers, people walking their dogs and more avid cyclists all in the same place
Just last weekend, I was cycling across the Golden Gate Bridge with my wife on our bicycles, when some little $h1t on a throttle kids E bike (this was no kid) blew past us doing at least 30 mph. The Golden Gate Bridge has a very strict 11 mph IIRC speed limit. Cyclists are only allowed on the west side of the bridge and they must share the one lane in both directions. Because of this speeding is extremely dangerous. A lot of cyclists (and there were and are a lot of cyclists on the Golden Gate Bridge.) we’re given this guy, the stink eye 👁️ as he went past. Saying I cycle the Golden Gate Bridge, with me being a wee lad from Dublin way back before any of you were born, is absolutely astounding to me. And always will be.
11 mph? No one other than tourists ride that slow on the bridge. That said, 30 mph with likely shit handling skills is not OK. But I regularly ride 25+ on the lane if clear (and closer to 15-20 if I'm waiting to pass)
! I was on the Golden Gate bridge on my bike and there was a head on collision of two bike riders in front of me! Accountability is key to all bike path riding. People really need to slow the F*^k down on busy paths. This is so frustrating to be a part of a community that can behave so badly at times...
I think the main problem is for a person to hold 20mph they have probably been riding for years and have good bike handling skills. Here in the US were getting alot of low skill riders going 20mph+ on bike paths with 50 pound bikes.
I suffered a painful injury (and so did the e-biker) when I hit him going downhill around a bend on a bike trail and he was going UP at high speed. Without a powerful motor there was no way anybody could be going uphill that fast and the distance closed far too quickly for either of us to react. I cracked some ribs and he nearly broke his neck because he was riding head-down while speeding uphill and speared me right in the chest. After 40 years of riding trails, I know for a fact this couldn't have happened if he was on a regular bike. If he was slower, we could have averted each other. Nobody could reasonably suspected there'd be anybody going uphill that fast and now we have to look out for this? Very uncool. Going into a blind intersection? Slow down. Dark? Slow down. But somebody coming UP a trail at 30 mph? Seriously WTF. I don't have a problem with e-bikes whatsoever, but talk about a new fear unlocked and making downhill trails unrideable because of a new breed of randos out there.
I’ve been having more and more head-on incidents with either cyclists or pedestrians on the bike path. People looking at their phone or someone else, and they start veering into me as I get close. The standards are falling across all modes of transportation. I can’t think of any mode of transit that I haven’t seen use a right of way irresponsibly at high rates recently.
While the e-biker seems to be mostly at fault , I find it troubling that you take no responsibility for your part in the crash. How fast were you riding on that trail?
I love the way all the Presenters have a bit of banter and throw in stories like Lloydy’s bike getting stolen. Please continue taking the piss out of each other and yourselves. Great work GCN, keep it up!
I'm in a town north of Inverness and in the winter it is mostly ebikes you see as you cant wear more clothing and cope with wild head winds and steep hills without help. Well I can't. There is one obvious overpowered ebike but the bloke rides sensibly and is just going to work.
You shouldn't excuse this guy, he could have done the same thing legally, and e-bikes are heavy and the brakes are rarely up to the task of constantly stopping a bike at these high speeds.
Wow, GCN has become refreshing again. Thank you. I kind of stopped watching GCN a while back but now you guys are way better; thanks for becoming independent once more.
Exactly that! In Denmark speed pedelacs can ride on bike paths. And it's overwhelmingly not an issue because the vast majority of people don't behave like morons.
Electric maxi-cargo bikes on my local shared bike paths are terrifying, as they are so huge and often driven by some posh numptie with little awareness or consideration for others.
@@MD-tr1yv Trying applying that to the children around here who are below school leaving age who fly about on e-bikes and e-scooters from path to road and back again without checking for traffic.
@@Thezuule1 the problem is its such a hard thing to explain to people, its almost like youve got to learn it hurts to crash at speed before you get it, because I saw it when e-scooters looked like they were about to be the new "road menace", and saw so many inexperienced scooterists who were just all about the speed/thrill of it and getting themselves into situations that were dangerous to them without any thought and undoubtedly some of them did injure themselves and others as a result.
If you are traveling safely on a lightly used path, no harm no foul. My daughter was pushed off a densely used path by two spandex clad want-to-be racers who were on regular bikes. It's not the equipment, it's the rider.
@@stevenmeyer9674 well.. he did say they pushed his daughter off the path, Or do you think he only brings it up because they wore spandex and regular clothed path bullies would have gotten a pass?
I think the difference is experience like they mentioned at the end of the rant. You have to be a very experienced cyclist to ride an acoustic bike even a very good one at 20 plus miles an hour. I think the problem is you're getting someone who is new to cycling and has poor bike handling skills combined with no courtesy or understanding for everyone else not going that speed.
@@Thezuule1 If a police doesn't witness the speeder, there is no way they could be ticketed. Not to mention they would never even be able to even identify the guilty party.
@@Thezuule1And the police won't respond. It's a waste of their time, nothing can be proven, the perpetrator is gone. Police resources are stretched extremely thin. This is not a priority for them.
I don't know what is wrong with si, I have an 250 watt E bike, even if it was deristricted from the 15.5 mph ( where allowed lol ), I couldn't match the speed on the flat, that i can do on my aerobike, although he said he was sticking to zone 2. That couldn't happen to me though, as soon as I was passed, the gloves would be off. Zone 2 would be out of the window. lol.
Thing I don't understand is he said the ebiker passed him by only 2km, so isn't he also a hazard on a bike path? sure the ebike probably weighs more but I would hate to get hit by someone going 20+mph (35kph) even on his ultra light carbon bike.. the rider is still 150+ pounds.
@ I was thinking more of the full throttle bikes that are a menace on the paths where I live. The guy that passed Si did so safely by alerting him with his bell
@@Randomness82they discussed that. The thinking was that pedal only at that speed you will be an experienced cyclist. If powered, no need for any experience. More experience, less likely to be dangerous to others.
@@gcndefinitely illegal ones. I’m not too sure about the restrictions on them, but I’m pretty sure you can’t do 45km/h with one without it being illegally modified! Plus many of hire ones just get dumped in the middle of the bike path or footpath
In Helsinki Finland food couriers are the #1 scourge, then taxis, other cars then e scooters then cycles of all kinds. I have not witnessed any worse behavior from any kind of e bikes vs regular bikes.
Well said Dan. Si is tanking it up a bike path to be passed by someone tanking it up a bike path. ‘Easier to spot the log in the other man’s eye 👁️ than the one in your own’ comes to mind.
A couple of years ago the War On Cars podcast did a terrific episode called "Chaos in the Bike Lane" discussing the chaos throttle e-bikes and mopeds have escalated in our bike lanes here in NYC. They address the very real increased stress levels of riding alongside these higher-speed bikes, the spike in crashes, as well as all the political repercussions of enforcement. It's a really nuanced conversation and worth checking out.
In my ideal world, enforcement would target the businesses illegally selling mopeds without registrations; further calming measures for motor traffic to make the motor lanes safer and more palatable for high-speed bikes to use; and in NYC a big one would be legislation requiring delivery apps to provide bikes/batteries for their workers and limit delivery ranges. In my ideal, ideal world we'd all learn how to ride courteously and treat everyone's personal space and right of way with respect buuuuuuut we all know how that's been going......
where i live people on bike path have to follow the speedlimit of the nearest road which is usually 50km/h. i am okay with that. even if ebike were to do that i am okay with it. my issue is when ebikers go faster than the speed limit or when they don't stop at red light and stuff like that.
In the uk, if an e-bike has been modified for assistance above 15.5mph the it becomes, a moped or motorcycle requiring registration, insurance etc as such should not be used on a cycle path. The problem in the uk is enforcement not the need for additional laws. I have seen many delivery riders on blatantly illegal modified bikes accelerate using a throttle past police officers without consequence. I have both an e-bike and a gravel bike I would say the main safety issue relating to speed is the additional mass of the bike when it comes to braking, manoeuvring or in the worst case impact.
Virtually every food delivery app is making profits from riders using illegal e bikes. They just hide behind the loophole that the riders aren't employees.
certainly on the modified ones brakes are the biggest issue imo, it reminds me of all those souped up hot hatch cars in the 90s, that still had the factory fitted brakes but twice as much bhp and often found themselves wondering why they couldnt stop.
A big issue/concern I have with these powerful illegal e-bikes is that often they are homemade and the brakes are not upto the job of stopping a bike at that speed.
Unrestricted 'ebikes', aka motorbikes, is quite an issue on the Bristol/Bath, i ride it often and often see persons gunning through herds of school kids, dog walkers, older folk at speeds well in excess of 30kph, like Si i get passed by them, often very closely and with scant thought for anyone's safety, In cities like Sheffield and Derby the Police have been cracking down on their use, they confiscated 55 in just a few weeks in Sheffield. The laws are already there, upholding them is another matter.
@@gcn Edit: Listened further and wish that you put the last part of your commentary about cars being dangerous first, as opposed to being sensationalist for views. But when will the police crack down on the dangerous acts of car drivers? Probably never. E-bikes are not the real problem here and talking about them like they are just makes the car-driving culture want to hate against cyclists in general even more. And this comes from someone who credits GCN for getting me back into watch pro cycling in 2020 and back on a bike competitively in 2022.
The spandex riders on racing bikes are the folks always blowing down the bike paths here in my neighborhood. I've never seen a single one of them get a ticket or stopped by the cops.
I would argue that someone breaking the law by riding unlocked e-bike will have a tendency to ignore traffic rules as well and probably won't have same handling skill as someone riding at that speed without help from an electric motor. Of course there could be exceptions
That is a major generalisation! Which is the real problem with these arguments. Generalisations in the media can and does lead to othering and further hatred.
Not even remotely true, my bikes de restricted and I sit behind cars at traffic lights like everyone else. And I had previous years on garmin doing 3k miles per year in training. Massive generalisation. A more realisitc generalisation is that everyone dropping 1k plus on an e-bike probably also has a driving licence
The bikes are also a popular choice for opportunist criminals along with e-scooters. There is no need to de-restrict an e-bike for use in a public space. Although recognising the letter of the law is vital. Those bikes are not illegal to buy, and you are free to use them at will on private land. They are not road legal, and are therefore prohibited for use on roads, bike paths and bridleways.
One of the problems is that the vendors who sell the illegal e-bikes don't add any clarification, or keep it in the small print like 'only to be used on private land' 2 pages down, and then the people who buy them think 'well if I could but it it must be legal!' - not to say that they are all ignorant of the laws, but I am sure there is a decent amount who have no idea its illegal.
very good point, there is likely a lot of assumption that if you can buy a bolt-on kit from the internet, and not through dodgy websites, then it must be legal
People are not ignorant but are seeing what illegal things they can get away with. Nobody who bought a car believes that they can legally do 100mph down a 30 mph road just because their (untampered)speedometer supports them hitting 100mph speeds ? Why then would anyone think they can beak the 25kph legal motor cut off speed for E-bikes just because someone legally sold them an add on that allows it happen ? Being reckless is fun until you are part of an accident.
@ as I said before I don’t doubt that there are plenty of people who know it’s illegal but there will be a section of the population who is clueless and since there are no “max speed for legal e-bike” signs they just don’t realise. Not excusing them at all, but since there is no licensing requirement it would befit the vendors to maybe inform the buyers to make sure they are aware of the rules.
@@chrisdarke The number of people I've read commenting on how an E-bike with 25kph motor cut off is not fast enough. I get the impression that vendors are not informing potential buyers of all the rules because they are scared it would hurt sales. It looks to me like people who are actually looking for an E-moped that can run their motors at above 25kph speeds are not being told that the E-bikes category will never legally(UK) fit their requirements. People get the idea that calling it an E-bike is a legal way of owning and using an E-moped without incurring the extra cost of license etc. Vendors who should know the rules aren't making the point to correct them. I've seen no backlash for anyone promoting the use of what is legally an E-moped and pretending it's an E-bike.
Definitely a topic for discussion… I live in St. Pete, Florida. We have fairly good bike paths and bike lanes. However, it’s not uncommon to have someone on an e-bike/moped fly by you in an aggressive manner (and at very high speed), or dodge in and out of traffic on actual roads. Wild Wild West is spot on…!
Personal preference, for sure, but I prefer to live in places where the primary rule is, "Don't be a knucklehead" and less arbitrary government edicts are in effect. And, if you choose to be a "knucklehead" the wrath of the legal system will come down on your head.
As a fellow washed up competitive cyclist I will say I despise scooter type high speed e-bikes, especially when they are on designated pedestrian/cycling paths. Even worse are e-bikes like the one I described on MTB/hiking trails.
Nobody thinks of banning Lamborghinis in cities. Their drivers have licenses and obey to the same rules than others. Why on earth can’t we accept that as speedbikes users have drivers licenses they are likely to be safe on bikepaths even if they ride faster bikes? I live in Switzerland, speedbikes are welcome on bike paths and it’s ok. And when you live in a small town outside the big city, it’s a good alternative to car commuting. If bike paths were not usable in the city, it would be very less usable.
The Lamborghini in the UK would have to have been certified safe to be sold, and then certified safe each year after that. The same can’t be said for the illegal e-bike/modification
Over took a chap in a GCN jersey on the very same path on Saturday. Was worried this might be a hit piece about me. Luckily I don't ride an E-bike, or leave the house at 8am.
Any speed above 25kph is too fast for 99% of bike paths. If you’re going that fast you should be on the road. Also throttle e-bikes really need to be classed as electric motor bikes.
I live in a tourist area in the Adirondack Mountains and a few months of the year our mixed use paths are full of out of towners on rentals, both standard bikes and e-bikes. They don’t ride to the right, wear helmets, have poor handling skills, and tend to be listening to loud music so they can’t hear anything. The other side is pedestrians constantly taking up the whole path walking with their clique of old ladies and dogs and whatever else. I just avoid the paths for a few months because it just isn’t worth the hassle or risk to my own safety. I’m better off on the road with 45 mph traffic where I can at least predict the behavior of other vehicles.
I ride with a group of retirees, who are from the late 60s to late 80s. Most of us have class 3 pedal assist bikes. We ride on the local bike paths on our Tuesday coffee rides. We don't approach 28 miles an hour on the path. We are very polite, riding in a single file and announcing ourselves as we overtake pedestrians and other riders. I would hate to see our group being prohibited from our local bike paths. It is not the bike that is a problem, it is irresponsible riders. If need be, post a speed limit on the path, for both pedal assist and analog bikes.
Hi Tom, I hear you. I think it's cool that you guys are being responsible and courteous. Can I ask why you went Class three instead of Class one though?
@ our group were all recreational road bike enthusiasts. Our analog bikes were drop bar road bikes. Class 3 is the closest to what we were riding. I was riding a Ribble Endurance SL R. My new bike is a Trek Domane + SLR 7. Both equipped with Ultegra Di2.
We have a nice eupehemism for a micro-motor cycle: A 'scooter' or in France a 'trotinette''. The names suggest a child's plaything. The reality someting fast heavy and dangerous.
I think e-bikes should be able to do 20mph legally. More people would get out of their cars. I am in the uk. I’d rather be overtaken by an illegal e-bike than often being overtaken by a reckless car/van/lorry/etc
I recently helped a woman on a rental e-bike that went down hard doing speeds she clearly wasn’t capable of handling. I see this a lot on MTB trails as well. Higher speeds + heavier machines + inexperience = danger.
I think there has to be a speed ceiling for e-bikes (say 22 mph). Over that, you are considered a moped and need a license plate, insurance, inspection and a helmet. Only can go where cars can go.
I absolutely cannot stand being overtaken by other cyclists. Road cyclists, not fun, but tolerable. But cyclists on e-bikes!?! That’s an entirely different story. And if they greet me as they pass? Absolutely unbearable!!
Caption of the week: grandmother patiently waiting to take a picture to set as her phone lock screen "you know, my granddaughter was in the cycling kangaroo race" -Gram
While I was out walking the other day, I got passed by a guy in a wheelchair. We need to ban him! The guy on the wheelchair, got past by a kid on a bicycle. We need to ban them too. The kids on a bicycle, got past by a road weenie on a lightweight bike. We need to do something about that. In fact, I don't think we need to ever stop inflicting more regulations and laws on people until we just sit and stare at the wall. No one has ever died or been injured by staring at a wall.
Ya I don't know what the legislators are like where they are but in the US there is no problem government cant' make worse trying to fix, new regulations will probably be broader than they'd like and then they'd be complaing about how they got rolled in up or affected in some way along with those darn ebikes.
talking about Rouvy - they have just become official sponsors of ironman and ironman 70.3 (mark and james will explain that if needs be) and there is also mention that they have bought out Full Gaz cycling platform.
What makes me laugh is an ebiker passing you with a smile on their faces as if they are better than you at cycling yet they use battery assistance . I just ignore them with their motorbike. I don't race them at all.😅
Adding to the E-bike debate, I have just returned from a visit to the city of Norwich, here in the UK, where I saw dozens of food delivery riders flying around on E-bikes that only required pedal assist to get them going. At all other times, no pedal assist was required. These things used to be called mopeds and must surely be, and should be, illegal
About the Paris AQI graph: 2017 was pre-COVID, while 2023 was post-COVID. I suspect that changes in commuting and driving patterns caused by the pandemic had a major effect on the results.
Hi Alan, most traffic data has us pretty much back to pre pandemic levels by 2023 so I think it’ll have less of a bearing on this than you might think.
Presenter challenge idea. Iconic mountain. 3 identical e bikes, each with 10% battery power left. A race. Using the wahoo to view upcoming gradients isn't allowed, however the route can be researched beforehand. Do you start with power assist or save it to the end (maybe ventoux or plateau de beille)
Thoughts on e-bikes and footpaths? Just like anything else about child-rearing - if you never taught your spawn to share the road, they are likely to be the a-holes ruining the paths/trails for other users. Beyond that question answered - fabulous GCN Show weekly video. Thank you Si and Dan! Also super-excited about the new GCN-subscriber GCN+ Films uploads.
There are a group of teenagers near me in Melbourne who ride motorised mountain bikes at over 60km/h! For the locals, they're often on Beach Rd in Sandringham, Black Rock and Mentone
The problem with people on illegal e-bikes in my eyes is, that often they actually have very little experience cycling. So they're dangerous because they aren't in control of the bike generally, let alone then at the speed they're going.
Si is the type of cyclist that flies past me at 30 mph with all the top gear and looking fitter than a butchers dog when I'm just out for my Sunday morning ride
We have some issues with kids and adults riding e-bikes that fly down our local commuting paths at easily 30 mph regularly…at this point I feel they’re a motorbike. When taking my kids to school I’d would be safe to say that half the kids are on e-bikes or electric scooters. They’re heavy, they take longer to slow down, and e bikers appear often to be less experienced with both bike etiquette and safety.
A child, a young boy aged 13 years old, was killed near me last summer riding his e-bike recklessly on the sidewalk. A car came out of the driveway, didn't expect him to be going nearly 25 mph, and hit him.
As an owner of a Class 2 & Class 3 ebike here in the States, the first piece of advise I give any new ebike owner is, "go slow". The two places that bicyclists consistently get into trouble is (1) going faster than their skills and (2) not leaving any headroom. Going only a little above your usual riding speed usually resolves both issues and, bonus, increases your range.
Bike paths in my area (Maryland) have 15 mph speed limits, regardless of the type of bike. So having boost available to 28 mph shouldn't matter if riders are following the law. I can appreciate that the 28 mph pedal assist limit can make sense for road commuting given distances and road conditions in much of the US.
I know several cases in the Netherlands where users of Speed pedelecs (45 Km/h) are removing their licence plate to not have to use the road but can ride on the cycle path (at 45 km/h ofcourse)
My local bike parkway has a speed restriction of 15 mph. After complaints by pedestrians, the rangers have started ticketing e-bikes and the occasional fast group ride that are going faster than 20 mph.
The difference with e-bikes and racebikes is the E- part. A racebike has much more control and stopping power than an E-bike, plus the bikes are light so crashing them into someone/ something will not be the same impact as an E-bike.
A guy on a locally illegal throttled ebike crosses the entrance to my neighborhood on the sidewalk (pavement). It's a huge risk, primarily for him, doing this, apparently daily, and not running lights while ripping across multiple driveways just on my block at 30+ mph. I've warned neighbors to be careful, but I fear an eventual crash for this guy.
Roadie and e-bike commuter here. My road bike is an analog bike and I have a Class 3 Specialized Turbo Vado e-bike. It’s still a bike because it lacks a throttle. If the bike has a throttle and can go 28 (45kph) or faster, then it should be classified as a moped. Non throttle ebikes should be left alone, I can ride as fast as my ebike on my road bike, just not as easily. On my ebike, No peddling=no power. On a monster ebike. Throttle=not a bike, it’s an electric moped disguised as a bicycle, and should require a tag and license. Regulation should be considered for the throttled bikes, people don’t realize that they can hurt themselves or others even if they’re *only* going 30mph in a bike lane. Not to mention, I would also say that the majority of cyclists riding an e-bike with a throttle are likely less skilled and shouldn’t be riding that fast in the first place.
I'd go out of my way to not walk in the same direction as a work colleague I've just said bye to. Imagine having the audacity to walk in the same direction as someone you'd just stolen a bike from and been caught by.
WOW ..SOMEOME JUST DONATED £5000 👏👏
Time to get the bike out Dan
Brilliant news isn't it!
Was it Dan himself? As motivation to train...
Looking forward to the video!
@@gcn sucks to be you Lloydy!
What a legend!
Geez. Si being surprised by being overtaken. Sounds like he could have used a rear mirror.
Haha. Cracking response
Ouch!
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
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🥁
I really enjoy the relaxed chemistry and self-deprecating humour of Dan & Si.
In my opinion I swear the chemistry between Si and Dan is the best, albeit that each pair do an exceptional job, I mean who honestly doesn’t just love Oli? It is uniquely the very thing in my opinion that makes GCN my absolute favorite “bike” channel that UA-cam has. Cheers guys
Awww thanks so much 🫶
Albeit
So true. I am a mountain biker, not a roadie but have always enjoyed this show more than any on the mtb channel.
What a hypocritical position. The issue is dangerous cycling. Si thinks it's fine for him to do 35 kph, but the guy on an ebike should be limited to 20 kph.
Perhaps because it has a motor?
I love that you're independent again! The content does seem better, partly due to what seems a renewed level of good spirit from all at GCN. Does your rejuvenated motivation extend to doing that massive ride Dan...?
I have the debate of e-bikes at work often, being the only cyclist in my office. My simple thoughts for North Idaho, USA not sure if this can be put out in bigger areas.
Pedal assist = E - Bicycle
Throttle assist = E - Moped
Throttle Assist Gas Powered = Moped
E- Moped's would need to follow the same rules as regular mopeds (no bike paths or sidewalks) and if ridden over 25 mph would need licensing
"Pedal assist = E - Bicycle" Ever used a LIME bike? Those things take off with big speed - the pedals just tell the motor how fast you want to go. They're E-Moped's IMHO.
Absolutely agree if it's got a throttle it's a moped. Why won't these guys with750/1000 watts and a throttle just admitt they just want an electric motor bike.
Agreed, if you're not pedaling it's basically just a motorcycle riding on the bike path or trail (assuming we're talking about an area where motorized vehicles have traditionally been not allowed). I live in Boise, Idaho, we have an awesome bike/walk path along our river that traditionally has been shared by bikers and pedestrians. But in recent years its been taken over by loads of "E" vehicles, be it scooters, skateboards, bikes, etc, most riders clip along at a reasonable pace (under 15mph) but lately I've seen plenty of what appear to be flat out electric motorcycles, no pedals, just a throttle, flying down the path at easily 20-25 mph. Personally if they had some governor or speed restriction on these I'd be fine with them on the paths, but at this point, Chinese MFG's don't care so they're not going to put speed limiters on them, there are no laws, so we get motorcycles on our pathways.
IMHO the biggest danger from de-restricted e-bicycles :
1) comes from the fact that their riders usually are not experienced enough riding at such speeds;
2) the fact that the brakes and probably tires are not rated for the speed they are going at.
Someone who became capable riding 35-40 and above on a "mechanical" bike most often spent enough time in the saddle and on the road to have a lot of experience...
With a de-restricted ebike, it could easily be a rider who is mere hours out of the shop speeding without any understanding of their bicycle's limits... akin to a 15 year old taking a cargo truck out for a joyride...
@@ShimmyD-u7g I am up in Coeur d'alene. Love Idaho representing
In Belgium 25km/h mopeds are obliged to use the cycle path everywhere, unless specific signs forbid it.
45km/h limited mopeds are obliged to use the cycle path wherever a speed limit higher than 50km/h is in effect. Within zones that have a 50km/h or lower speed limit you can choose whether you use the cycle path or not.
Any moped faster than 45km/h requires a motorcycle license and is not allowed on the cycle path.
Those mopeds were a dream to ride behind on the way back from training!
My point is: you can buy an E-Bike with any kind of bike skill - no experience needed and go ride 40kph
On a racer you do 35-40 when you have years of training experience so you know how to handle those speeds properly....
Years of experience or rolling down a hill.
You can also buy a Ferrari with zero driving experience…
I believe the problem is not the ebike and how fast it can go, it's the rider and whether they are riding safely and courteously or not. Here in SoCal, we have too many people on ebikes who terrorize pedestrians and cars because of their reckless behavior. Don't care if their on an ebike or regular bike if your safe and courteous.
Really. Cars are terrorised by some squidgy people on e-bikes?
@@SamTheEagle1I agree Sam, that sounds a crazy idea.
Sorry but this sounds like a "guns don't kill people, people kill people" answer. Since we're not likely to change human nature any time soon, I think a solution to the problem has to involve regulating availability of the dangerous ebikes.
Spot on! People today lack respect for others. Further they accept zero responsibility for their actions. Bikes, knives, guns, hammers, and even ROCKS are inanimate objects which require some sort of human interaction and CONTROL to cause harm.
Terrorize cars? Nonsense
If the whole thing about e-bikes were to give a few extra watts to help with inclines, I don't have an issue. When an e-bikes is zooming down the street at 10 to 20 mph with no pedalling then it's no longer an e-bike but an electric moped, which now must follow motorcycle rules.
"Connor went full Louis Theroux" - love the phrase, made me chuckle. I'm quite happy for human powered or electrically powered 2 and 3 wheeled modes of transport to use cycle paths so long as they're ridden with due dare and consideration for other people on the path. If you're the only person on a path at 6 am it's fine to "stretch the legs". The correct name of the path Si was talking about is the Bristol and Bath Railway Path. (It follows the route of a railway line closed in the 1960s). It's not a bikes only cycle path but a shared use path for walkers and cyclists.
6:19 🤦🏼♀️ Why do we always try to solve an issue by banning tools instead of holding each user accountable? Put in place (and enforce) policies that restrict speed on multi-use paths for everybody…including those like Si who have a 100% supercharged natural engine end educate all users on trail etiquette.
I like where you are going with that statement. Incentives are key for behavior changes. What if cars had no seatbelts, car seats, airbags, etc. AND no insurance (for damage to car and property as well as medical coverage)? Would that make roads safer? Drivers would be terrified (both for physical and financial health) to get in a wreck. Now we just make cars safer which emboldens or gives a false sense of security. What change would make a trail user slow down when passing a 3yr old on a strider bike? Or someone pushing a pram, etc. This is a fun topic to see opinions from many perceptions.
I think the main problem is that we dedicate 90% of infra to cars (wide lanes, two way streets, signage, plenty of parking etc) and then pack everyone else into these measly paths, so you have regular commuter, ebikers, joggers, people walking their dogs and more avid cyclists all in the same place
Just last weekend, I was cycling across the Golden Gate Bridge with my wife on our bicycles, when some little $h1t on a throttle kids E bike (this was no kid) blew past us doing at least 30 mph. The Golden Gate Bridge has a very strict 11 mph IIRC speed limit. Cyclists are only allowed on the west side of the bridge and they must share the one lane in both directions. Because of this speeding is extremely dangerous. A lot of cyclists (and there were and are a lot of cyclists on the Golden Gate Bridge.) we’re given this guy, the stink eye 👁️ as he went past. Saying I cycle the Golden Gate Bridge, with me being a wee lad from Dublin way back before any of you were born, is absolutely astounding to me. And always will be.
Rather sggests US e-bike rules are far too lax..
Shoulder check next time, remember they aren't in shape like you are, handle it no one else will.
11 mph? No one other than tourists ride that slow on the bridge. That said, 30 mph with likely shit handling skills is not OK. But I regularly ride 25+ on the lane if clear (and closer to 15-20 if I'm waiting to pass)
e-bike speeds are insane in the US. There are many flat road strava segments near me that are KOMed by e-bike Endurobros doing 46, 47mph for miles.
! I was on the Golden Gate bridge on my bike and there was a head on collision of two bike riders in front of me! Accountability is key to all bike path riding. People really need to slow the F*^k down on busy paths. This is so frustrating to be a part of a community that can behave so badly at times...
I think the main problem is for a person to hold 20mph they have probably been riding for years and have good bike handling skills. Here in the US were getting alot of low skill riders going 20mph+ on bike paths with 50 pound bikes.
I suffered a painful injury (and so did the e-biker) when I hit him going downhill around a bend on a bike trail and he was going UP at high speed. Without a powerful motor there was no way anybody could be going uphill that fast and the distance closed far too quickly for either of us to react. I cracked some ribs and he nearly broke his neck because he was riding head-down while speeding uphill and speared me right in the chest. After 40 years of riding trails, I know for a fact this couldn't have happened if he was on a regular bike. If he was slower, we could have averted each other. Nobody could reasonably suspected there'd be anybody going uphill that fast and now we have to look out for this? Very uncool. Going into a blind intersection? Slow down. Dark? Slow down. But somebody coming UP a trail at 30 mph? Seriously WTF. I don't have a problem with e-bikes whatsoever, but talk about a new fear unlocked and making downhill trails unrideable because of a new breed of randos out there.
I’ve been having more and more head-on incidents with either cyclists or pedestrians on the bike path. People looking at their phone or someone else, and they start veering into me as I get close. The standards are falling across all modes of transportation. I can’t think of any mode of transit that I haven’t seen use a right of way irresponsibly at high rates recently.
While the e-biker seems to be mostly at fault , I find it troubling that you take no responsibility for your part in the crash. How fast were you riding on that trail?
sounds like you misjudged his speed and went head on to hit him. How is it his fault?
@ sounds like you wrote a dumb comment without reading what I said. How is that my fault?
@@stevenmeyer9674 about 5 mph.
I love the way all the Presenters have a bit of banter and throw in stories like Lloydy’s bike getting stolen. Please continue taking the piss out of each other and yourselves. Great work GCN, keep it up!
I'm in a town north of Inverness and in the winter it is mostly ebikes you see as you cant wear more clothing and cope with wild head winds and steep hills without help. Well I can't.
There is one obvious overpowered ebike but the bloke rides sensibly and is just going to work.
You shouldn't excuse this guy, he could have done the same thing legally, and e-bikes are heavy and the brakes are rarely up to the task of constantly stopping a bike at these high speeds.
#captioncompetition This victory was all about her domestiques. They just pulled the Ruegg from down under her rivals.
Wow, GCN has become refreshing again. Thank you.
I kind of stopped watching GCN a while back but now you guys are way better; thanks for becoming independent once more.
I don't really care what or how fast anyone else is riding, as long as they aren't riding dangerously.
Exactly that! In Denmark speed pedelacs can ride on bike paths. And it's overwhelmingly not an issue because the vast majority of people don't behave like morons.
You’re making it sound like speed and safety have nothing to do with each other.
@@Lasopamuerte The keyword is dangerously. I don't care if someone passes me, as long as they do it in a sensible way.
Riding too fast past pedestrians and other cyclists is dangerous, no matter what type of bike the person is riding.
Electric maxi-cargo bikes on my local shared bike paths are terrifying, as they are so huge and often driven by some posh numptie with little awareness or consideration for others.
on an acoustic bike , speed handling grows relative to experience, e-bike, straight out the box.........
Unless you are already experienced, then you get an ebike.
@@MD-tr1yv Trying applying that to the children around here who are below school leaving age who fly about on e-bikes and e-scooters from path to road and back again without checking for traffic.
There is absolutely something to be said for earning your speed.
@@Thezuule1 the problem is its such a hard thing to explain to people, its almost like youve got to learn it hurts to crash at speed before you get it, because I saw it when e-scooters looked like they were about to be the new "road menace", and saw so many inexperienced scooterists who were just all about the speed/thrill of it and getting themselves into situations that were dangerous to them without any thought and undoubtedly some of them did injure themselves and others as a result.
If you are traveling safely on a lightly used path, no harm no foul.
My daughter was pushed off a densely used path by two spandex clad want-to-be racers who were on regular bikes.
It's not the equipment, it's the rider.
What is it about spandex that triggers cycling critics? Just because someone is wearing proper equipment doesn't make them wanna be racers.
@@stevenmeyer9674 well.. he did say they pushed his daughter off the path, Or do you think he only brings it up because they wore spandex and regular clothed path bullies would have gotten a pass?
@@Randomness82 I guess you have never read any social media comments from bike critics using the popular "spandex clad" when describing the cyclist?
I think the difference is experience like they mentioned at the end of the rant. You have to be a very experienced cyclist to ride an acoustic bike even a very good one at 20 plus miles an hour. I think the problem is you're getting someone who is new to cycling and has poor bike handling skills combined with no courtesy or understanding for everyone else not going that speed.
"There have always been idiots" is the Si Richardson Wisdom Of The Year (so far).
If you make ebikes illegal in bike paths, who is going to monitor and police it. The authorities don't have the money or staff to do this.
Karen on the bike path will happily call the police.
@@Thezuule1 If a police doesn't witness the speeder, there is no way they could be ticketed. Not to mention they would never even be able to even identify the guilty party.
@@stevenmeyer9674 Karen will call.
Must dispatch the Social Media police dept!😂
@@Thezuule1And the police won't respond. It's a waste of their time, nothing can be proven, the perpetrator is gone. Police resources are stretched extremely thin. This is not a priority for them.
Solution
Si has to ride his TT bike to work from now on so no ebike can easily overtake him
I don't know what is wrong with si, I have an 250 watt E bike, even if it was deristricted from the 15.5 mph ( where allowed lol ), I couldn't match the speed on the flat, that i can do on my aerobike, although he said he was sticking to zone 2. That couldn't happen to me though, as soon as I was passed, the gloves would be off. Zone 2 would be out of the window. lol.
If you can ride without pedalling, you’re riding a moped and don’t belong on bike paths
Thing I don't understand is he said the ebiker passed him by only 2km, so isn't he also a hazard on a bike path? sure the ebike probably weighs more but I would hate to get hit by someone going 20+mph (35kph) even on his ultra light carbon bike.. the rider is still 150+ pounds.
@ I was thinking more of the full throttle bikes that are a menace on the paths where I live. The guy that passed Si did so safely by alerting him with his bell
The Oregon law in its current form doesn’t differentiate between pedal assist and the full throttle bikes like the Surron. Just search Surron LA.
@@Randomness82they discussed that. The thinking was that pedal only at that speed you will be an experienced cyclist. If powered, no need for any experience. More experience, less likely to be dangerous to others.
Presumably, an e-bike rider at high speed has much less experience and caution than a cyclist able to ride at those speeds does.
My anecdotal evidence in my local city (Brisbane Australia) is that E-Scooters are far more a scourge than e-bikes.
Are they legal or illegal e-scooters?
@@gcndefinitely illegal ones. I’m not too sure about the restrictions on them, but I’m pretty sure you can’t do 45km/h with one without it being illegally modified!
Plus many of hire ones just get dumped in the middle of the bike path or footpath
In Helsinki Finland food couriers are the #1 scourge, then taxis, other cars then e scooters then cycles of all kinds. I have not witnessed any worse behavior from any kind of e bikes vs regular bikes.
Well said Dan. Si is tanking it up a bike path to be passed by someone tanking it up a bike path. ‘Easier to spot the log in the other man’s eye 👁️ than the one in your own’ comes to mind.
Caption: EF pulls the Ruegg out from under the peloton
A couple of years ago the War On Cars podcast did a terrific episode called "Chaos in the Bike Lane" discussing the chaos throttle e-bikes and mopeds have escalated in our bike lanes here in NYC. They address the very real increased stress levels of riding alongside these higher-speed bikes, the spike in crashes, as well as all the political repercussions of enforcement. It's a really nuanced conversation and worth checking out.
In my ideal world, enforcement would target the businesses illegally selling mopeds without registrations; further calming measures for motor traffic to make the motor lanes safer and more palatable for high-speed bikes to use; and in NYC a big one would be legislation requiring delivery apps to provide bikes/batteries for their workers and limit delivery ranges. In my ideal, ideal world we'd all learn how to ride courteously and treat everyone's personal space and right of way with respect buuuuuuut we all know how that's been going......
What are your thoughts on E-bikes on bike paths? 🔋🚴
E-bikes should be banned completely... forever 😈
where i live people on bike path have to follow the speedlimit of the nearest road which is usually 50km/h. i am okay with that. even if ebike were to do that i am okay with it. my issue is when ebikers go faster than the speed limit or when they don't stop at red light and stuff like that.
I think they’re great. The issue is the people that abuse them not the bike itself.
@Jari1973 why do you think that?
As long as you aren’t being a dick it’s fine.
Thanks Guys. Haven’t watched you for a while, but really enjoyed the content. Had me laughing out loud a couple of times all just before 8am!
In the uk, if an e-bike has been modified for assistance above 15.5mph the it becomes, a moped or motorcycle requiring registration, insurance etc as such should not be used on a cycle path. The problem in the uk is enforcement not the need for additional laws. I have seen many delivery riders on blatantly illegal modified bikes accelerate using a throttle past police officers without consequence. I have both an e-bike and a gravel bike I would say the main safety issue relating to speed is the additional mass of the bike when it comes to braking, manoeuvring or in the worst case impact.
Virtually every food delivery app is making profits from riders using illegal e bikes. They just hide behind the loophole that the riders aren't employees.
certainly on the modified ones brakes are the biggest issue imo, it reminds me of all those souped up hot hatch cars in the 90s, that still had the factory fitted brakes but twice as much bhp and often found themselves wondering why they couldnt stop.
A big issue/concern I have with these powerful illegal e-bikes is that often they are homemade and the brakes are not upto the job of stopping a bike at that speed.
Unrestricted 'ebikes', aka motorbikes, is quite an issue on the Bristol/Bath, i ride it often and often see persons gunning through herds of school kids, dog walkers, older folk at speeds well in excess of 30kph, like Si i get passed by them, often very closely and with scant thought for anyone's safety, In cities like Sheffield and Derby the Police have been cracking down on their use, they confiscated 55 in just a few weeks in Sheffield. The laws are already there, upholding them is another matter.
We’ve heard that the police are trying to crack down on this in the Bristol/Bath area, the difficulties are that often the police cannot keep up!
@@gcn
Edit: Listened further and wish that you put the last part of your commentary about cars being dangerous first, as opposed to being sensationalist for views.
But when will the police crack down on the dangerous acts of car drivers? Probably never. E-bikes are not the real problem here and talking about them like they are just makes the car-driving culture want to hate against cyclists in general even more. And this comes from someone who credits GCN for getting me back into watch pro cycling in 2020 and back on a bike competitively in 2022.
The spandex riders on racing bikes are the folks always blowing down the bike paths here in my neighborhood. I've never seen a single one of them get a ticket or stopped by the cops.
Great work as always guys. Great chemistry between Dan and Si.
Thanks again!
I would argue that someone breaking the law by riding unlocked e-bike will have a tendency to ignore traffic rules as well and probably won't have same handling skill as someone riding at that speed without help from an electric motor. Of course there could be exceptions
That is a major generalisation! Which is the real problem with these arguments. Generalisations in the media can and does lead to othering and further hatred.
Not even remotely true, my bikes de restricted and I sit behind cars at traffic lights like everyone else. And I had previous years on garmin doing 3k miles per year in training. Massive generalisation.
A more realisitc generalisation is that everyone dropping 1k plus on an e-bike probably also has a driving licence
@@SamTheEagle1 Here is another: Most people don't unlock their e-bikes and therefore are not the problem.
So the same as most of the road cyclists? Running red lights/stop signs and crashing because of 1 small pebble on the road.
(Generalising like you)
The bikes are also a popular choice for opportunist criminals along with e-scooters. There is no need to de-restrict an e-bike for use in a public space. Although recognising the letter of the law is vital. Those bikes are not illegal to buy, and you are free to use them at will on private land. They are not road legal, and are therefore prohibited for use on roads, bike paths and bridleways.
It's great when you ramble on during these shows. Brilliant.
One of the problems is that the vendors who sell the illegal e-bikes don't add any clarification, or keep it in the small print like 'only to be used on private land' 2 pages down, and then the people who buy them think 'well if I could but it it must be legal!' - not to say that they are all ignorant of the laws, but I am sure there is a decent amount who have no idea its illegal.
very good point, there is likely a lot of assumption that if you can buy a bolt-on kit from the internet, and not through dodgy websites, then it must be legal
@ same could be said for a lot of the stand on scooters sold in Argos etc etc.. the consensus being if I can buy it I can use it..
People are not ignorant but are seeing what illegal things they can get away with. Nobody who bought a car believes that they can legally do 100mph down a 30 mph road just because their (untampered)speedometer supports them hitting 100mph speeds ? Why then would anyone think they can beak the 25kph legal motor cut off speed for E-bikes just because someone legally sold them an add on that allows it happen ? Being reckless is fun until you are part of an accident.
@ as I said before I don’t doubt that there are plenty of people who know it’s illegal but there will be a section of the population who is clueless and since there are no “max speed for legal e-bike” signs they just don’t realise. Not excusing them at all, but since there is no licensing requirement it would befit the vendors to maybe inform the buyers to make sure they are aware of the rules.
@@chrisdarke The number of people I've read commenting on how an E-bike with 25kph motor cut off is not fast enough. I get the impression that vendors are not informing potential buyers of all the rules because they are scared it would hurt sales. It looks to me like people who are actually looking for an E-moped that can run their motors at above 25kph speeds are not being told that the E-bikes category will never legally(UK) fit their requirements. People get the idea that calling it an E-bike is a legal way of owning and using an E-moped without incurring the extra cost of license etc. Vendors who should know the rules aren't making the point to correct them. I've seen no backlash for anyone promoting the use of what is legally an E-moped and pretending it's an E-bike.
This weeks caption competition winner about the Lidl shopping trolley is the best one yet!
Definitely a topic for discussion…
I live in St. Pete, Florida. We have fairly good bike paths and bike lanes.
However, it’s not uncommon to have someone on an e-bike/moped fly by you in an aggressive manner (and at very high speed), or dodge in and out of traffic on actual roads. Wild Wild West is spot on…!
Personal preference, for sure, but I prefer to live in places where the primary rule is, "Don't be a knucklehead" and less arbitrary government edicts are in effect. And, if you choose to be a "knucklehead" the wrath of the legal system will come down on your head.
"fly by you in an aggressive manner" LOL you sound like a Karen.
What I took from Si’s encounter with the commuter e-bike was that Si needs a bell of his own…lol
Love you guys…
If an "e bike" had a combustion motor with the same power you know darn well it wouldn't be legal
Motorbikes are legal
@@StephD-001not on bike paths
As a fellow washed up competitive cyclist I will say I despise scooter type high speed e-bikes, especially when they are on designated pedestrian/cycling paths. Even worse are e-bikes like the one I described on MTB/hiking trails.
Nobody thinks of banning Lamborghinis in cities. Their drivers have licenses and obey to the same rules than others. Why on earth can’t we accept that as speedbikes users have drivers licenses they are likely to be safe on bikepaths even if they ride faster bikes? I live in Switzerland, speedbikes are welcome on bike paths and it’s ok. And when you live in a small town outside the big city, it’s a good alternative to car commuting. If bike paths were not usable in the city, it would be very less usable.
The Lamborghini in the UK would have to have been certified safe to be sold, and then certified safe each year after that. The same can’t be said for the illegal e-bike/modification
Over took a chap in a GCN jersey on the very same path on Saturday. Was worried this might be a hit piece about me.
Luckily I don't ride an E-bike, or leave the house at 8am.
Caption - designing the aerodynamics for Naomi has been quite a up-lifting experience
Any speed above 25kph is too fast for 99% of bike paths. If you’re going that fast you should be on the road. Also throttle e-bikes really need to be classed as electric motor bikes.
I live in a tourist area in the Adirondack Mountains and a few months of the year our mixed use paths are full of out of towners on rentals, both standard bikes and e-bikes. They don’t ride to the right, wear helmets, have poor handling skills, and tend to be listening to loud music so they can’t hear anything. The other side is pedestrians constantly taking up the whole path walking with their clique of old ladies and dogs and whatever else. I just avoid the paths for a few months because it just isn’t worth the hassle or risk to my own safety. I’m better off on the road with 45 mph traffic where I can at least predict the behavior of other vehicles.
I ride with a group of retirees, who are from the late 60s to late 80s. Most of us have class 3 pedal assist bikes. We ride on the local bike paths on our Tuesday coffee rides. We don't approach 28 miles an hour on the path. We are very polite, riding in a single file and announcing ourselves as we overtake pedestrians and other riders. I would hate to see our group being prohibited from our local bike paths. It is not the bike that is a problem, it is irresponsible riders. If need be, post a speed limit on the path, for both pedal assist and analog bikes.
Hi Tom, I hear you. I think it's cool that you guys are being responsible and courteous. Can I ask why you went Class three instead of Class one though?
@ our group were all recreational road bike enthusiasts. Our analog bikes were drop bar road bikes. Class 3 is the closest to what we were riding. I was riding a Ribble Endurance SL R. My new bike is a Trek Domane + SLR 7. Both equipped with Ultegra Di2.
Good stuff again! 💥
Biggest issue is policing the illegal elements.
If it has a motor it is a MOTORBIKE.
Di2/AXS also have motors 😅
@@izi941 they are also sh*t.
@@izi941 The motor doesn't drive the rear wheel. Please stop being stupid.
We have a nice eupehemism for a micro-motor cycle: A 'scooter' or in France a 'trotinette''. The names suggest a child's plaything. The reality someting fast heavy and dangerous.
Fantastic show. Thank you so much for the work you do for cyclists all around the world.
Aww thanks for the lovely comment!
I think e-bikes should be able to do 20mph legally. More people would get out of their cars. I am in the uk. I’d rather be overtaken by an illegal e-bike than often being overtaken by a reckless car/van/lorry/etc
That is certainly one way of looking at it! thanks for the comment
@@gcnI know…I’m doing exactly that on my e-bike. Only driven to work once so far this year. My bike can’t do 20+ honest guv/m’lud.
I recently helped a woman on a rental e-bike that went down hard doing speeds she clearly wasn’t capable of handling. I see this a lot on MTB trails as well. Higher speeds + heavier machines + inexperience = danger.
I think there has to be a speed ceiling for e-bikes (say 22 mph). Over that, you are considered a moped and need a license plate, insurance, inspection and a helmet. Only can go where cars can go.
Just had to Donate to the cause Dan. Starting to see the cracks in that smile...as the money goes up! 🙂
thank you!
I don't own an eBike, but I don't think lots of people are dying from eBikers. Let them be. Not everything needs to be regulated.
I absolutely cannot stand being overtaken by other cyclists. Road cyclists, not fun, but tolerable. But cyclists on e-bikes!?! That’s an entirely different story. And if they greet me as they pass? Absolutely unbearable!!
Noted. I'll stop.
Caption of the week: grandmother patiently waiting to take a picture to set as her phone lock screen "you know, my granddaughter was in the cycling kangaroo race" -Gram
While I was out walking the other day, I got passed by a guy in a wheelchair. We need to ban him! The guy on the wheelchair, got past by a kid on a bicycle. We need to ban them too. The kids on a bicycle, got past by a road weenie on a lightweight bike. We need to do something about that. In fact, I don't think we need to ever stop inflicting more regulations and laws on people until we just sit and stare at the wall. No one has ever died or been injured by staring at a wall.
I did.
Ya I don't know what the legislators are like where they are but in the US there is no problem government cant' make worse trying to fix, new regulations will probably be broader than they'd like and then they'd be complaing about how they got rolled in up or affected in some way along with those darn ebikes.
talking about Rouvy - they have just become official sponsors of ironman and ironman 70.3 (mark and james will explain that if needs be) and there is also mention that they have bought out Full Gaz cycling platform.
What makes me laugh is an ebiker passing you with a smile on their faces as if they are better than you at cycling yet they use battery assistance . I just ignore them with their motorbike. I don't race them at all.😅
Adding to the E-bike debate, I have just returned from a visit to the city of Norwich, here in the UK, where I saw dozens of food delivery riders flying around on E-bikes that only required pedal assist to get them going. At all other times, no pedal assist was required. These things used to be called mopeds and must surely be, and should be, illegal
About the Paris AQI graph: 2017 was pre-COVID, while 2023 was post-COVID. I suspect that changes in commuting and driving patterns caused by the pandemic had a major effect on the results.
Hi Alan, most traffic data has us pretty much back to pre pandemic levels by 2023 so I think it’ll have less of a bearing on this than you might think.
Thanks!
thank you for the support! 🫶
By the way Dan Cycling Mikey is not a vigilante. He just passes information on for the police to do their job policing. There is a large difference.
Presenter challenge idea. Iconic mountain. 3 identical e bikes, each with 10% battery power left. A race. Using the wahoo to view upcoming gradients isn't allowed, however the route can be researched beforehand.
Do you start with power assist or save it to the end (maybe ventoux or plateau de beille)
that could be fun, and funny!
@gcn especially with the extra weight 🤣🤣.
Thoughts on e-bikes and footpaths? Just like anything else about child-rearing - if you never taught your spawn to share the road, they are likely to be the a-holes ruining the paths/trails for other users. Beyond that question answered - fabulous GCN Show weekly video. Thank you Si and Dan! Also super-excited about the new GCN-subscriber GCN+ Films uploads.
My comment last week was purely to make you smile and to get to see that happen on tonight’s show was awesome. Cheers guys 😊
There are a group of teenagers near me in Melbourne who ride motorised mountain bikes at over 60km/h! For the locals, they're often on Beach Rd in Sandringham, Black Rock and Mentone
Excellent and very positive way to look at the problem.
Thank you!
The problem with people on illegal e-bikes in my eyes is, that often they actually have very little experience cycling. So they're dangerous because they aren't in control of the bike generally, let alone then at the speed they're going.
Always enjoy your chats and hope all good with you guys in 2025!
thank you, have a great year too!
The Tour Down Under in the US is on Peacock, not Max. They have all the ASO races.
Top 100 climbs in the world should be a series. Maybe 10 separate videos
Si is the type of cyclist that flies past me at 30 mph with all the top gear and looking fitter than a butchers dog when I'm just out for my Sunday morning ride
We have some issues with kids and adults riding e-bikes that fly down our local commuting paths at easily 30 mph regularly…at this point I feel they’re a motorbike. When taking my kids to school I’d would be safe to say that half the kids are on e-bikes or electric scooters.
They’re heavy, they take longer to slow down, and e bikers appear often to be less experienced with both bike etiquette and safety.
You guys are great fun.
Love your chats. 👍
A child, a young boy aged 13 years old, was killed near me last summer riding his e-bike recklessly on the sidewalk. A car came out of the driveway, didn't expect him to be going nearly 25 mph, and hit him.
As an owner of a Class 2 & Class 3 ebike here in the States, the first piece of advise I give any new ebike owner is, "go slow". The two places that bicyclists consistently get into trouble is (1) going faster than their skills and (2) not leaving any headroom. Going only a little above your usual riding speed usually resolves both issues and, bonus, increases your range.
Bike paths in my area (Maryland) have 15 mph speed limits, regardless of the type of bike. So having boost available to 28 mph shouldn't matter if riders are following the law. I can appreciate that the 28 mph pedal assist limit can make sense for road commuting given distances and road conditions in much of the US.
Zip ties? We’re in Britain. Cable ties! We’ll be going to “Proms” and “Trick or Treating” next. 😂
when any type of e-bike passes me i usually shout " cheat! " not many bikes pass me in the "ride to /from work cup " well not in my division 🤣😅
I know several cases in the Netherlands where users of Speed pedelecs (45 Km/h) are removing their licence plate to not have to use the road but can ride on the cycle path (at 45 km/h ofcourse)
My local bike parkway has a speed restriction of 15 mph. After complaints by pedestrians, the rangers have started ticketing e-bikes and the occasional fast group ride that are going faster than 20 mph.
Some fantastic perspective with the e-bike segment. I ride and appreciate both.
The difference with e-bikes and racebikes is the E- part. A racebike has much more control and stopping power than an E-bike, plus the bikes are light so crashing them into someone/ something will not be the same impact as an E-bike.
A guy on a locally illegal throttled ebike crosses the entrance to my neighborhood on the sidewalk (pavement). It's a huge risk, primarily for him, doing this, apparently daily, and not running lights while ripping across multiple driveways just on my block at 30+ mph. I've warned neighbors to be careful, but I fear an eventual crash for this guy.
I would say it only matters if they were riding in an aggressive or unsafe manner. Be courteous, be careful, and be safe.
You don't need an e-bike to ride like a jerk.
Roadie and e-bike commuter here. My road bike is an analog bike and I have a Class 3 Specialized Turbo Vado e-bike. It’s still a bike because it lacks a throttle. If the bike has a throttle and can go 28 (45kph) or faster, then it should be classified as a moped. Non throttle ebikes should be left alone, I can ride as fast as my ebike on my road bike, just not as easily. On my ebike, No peddling=no power. On a monster ebike. Throttle=not a bike, it’s an electric moped disguised as a bicycle, and should require a tag and license. Regulation should be considered for the throttled bikes, people don’t realize that they can hurt themselves or others even if they’re *only* going 30mph in a bike lane. Not to mention, I would also say that the majority of cyclists riding an e-bike with a throttle are likely less skilled and shouldn’t be riding that fast in the first place.
Caption comp: OK Dougal one last time, the reason that POC helmet doesnt look feckin ridiculous is that one is far far away.
I'd go out of my way to not walk in the same direction as a work colleague I've just said bye to. Imagine having the audacity to walk in the same direction as someone you'd just stolen a bike from and been caught by.