Stop It!
Those are lyrics from an old song by Sly Stone. Same sentiment applies to cyclists. Folks, we’re in this all together. Bike Snobberey needs to end.
There was a time when roadies, like I was, felt threatened by mtb’ers and BMX’ers. We were certain it basterdized cyclocross. Of course, The Mtb community has felt threatened by fat bikes, adult BMX and now gravel. Everyone seems to be threatened by e-bikes (I was once among them)!
Earlier this week I was riding my touring bike to work. All the roadies waved. Later, I took my 66 Rollfast Royal 3 speed. Same people ignored my greetings (some even know me). It’s a 5.5 mile ride, a single speed, coaster brake, kids’ bike would be fine (yes, I have ridden my Stingray).
You should see the looks riding my step through cruiser, wearing a bow tie and flat cap. Folks, I’m old, fat and partially lame. It’s okay to smile. Heck, point and laugh!!!
There are people that won’t visit Ruby’s because we sell e-bikes. Others are upset because we won’t sell illegal e-bikes and still others complain that we are competing with their favorite shop (even though we routinely purchase from and refer customers to all). Want to be left behind? Stick with your clan. It matters not which. Sooner or later they are all going to leave you to do other things.
Today I will ride with a visiting BMX’er (horrors, I haven’t had my shots!). We’ll probably ride cheap e-bike conversions to tour the river front and see The Criterium in the limited time he has available. Because of the crowds, we’ll get from Ruby’s to The Village, via Moline, quicker and easier than driving directly. We won’t stink or be mistaken for racer wannabes either.
The fact is, serious cyclists generally have several different bikes. We have a style we like best and generally ride, but enjoy just about everything. Even the only American ever to win The TDF, Greg Lamond, owns an e-bike company. To him, it is just another arrow in the quiver. They get him where he needs to go without driving. I often ask, when you drive, because you feel you can’t ride, how much exercise did your (insert bike of choice) give you anyway?
Let’s stop the judging. The real enemy is the motorist that won’t give us room. As Ben Franklin would say, “We must all hang together, or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.”