Being passed by non ebike cyclists

[ebikeerwidnes]

Hi all

This is a question about what to do to be polite and not annoying/smug under some circumstances

S0 - the reason - todya I was going along a long flat road - slightly curvy through a country village
As I am on my ebike I was doing about 17-18 mph - yup over the cutoff speed - but my speedo read a bit high so only just over - I reckon the motor had been off for a miles or - mostly due to my amazing fitness - or possibly the tail wind
Anyway - a bloke on a mountain bike type bike passed my about half way along that stretch - passed easily, nice and wide and said hello as he passed
OK - well done mate - impressive for normal clothes and a non road bike type person
anyway - he pulled away slowly until he was 40-50 yards in front

now - my problem (you knew I would get to the point eventually)

after a bit I started to catch him - I'm still at about 17 mph - over cutoff speed but only just
then the road curved and there were more trees - hence less tail wind
so I am now catching him - then there was a traffix calming thingy so we both slow down - we accelerate but clearly we are now below the cutoff speed - and it is far easier for me to accelerate then him

I am now doing 12 mph and he is not pulling away



sooooooo

what would you do

I stayed behind and just kinda pootled along - then changed my planned route home so he was no longer in front of me
I could have gone back up to normal speed (no tail wind so maybe motor assisted ) and pass him back - but is that rude and stuff and gives the impression I am laughing at him
I could have stayed behind him and stayed on the same route - but he would probably be aware of me being there and might think I was laughing at him
Previously I have just stopped and gone into a random shop - just to give him some distance

there is a possibility I am over thinking this???


any opinions

 

[DCLane]

there is a possibility I am over thinking this???

any opinions

This!

 

[Milkfloat]

I would not overtake at a speed differential of 0.1mph but for sure I would pass. I see nothing to be worried about.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

You are overthinking it. Ensure you keep socially distanced and don’t think anymore on it.

 

[CXRAndy]

Increase cut-off speed to 20mph.

Then if you so choose, just float by.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I've passed a couple on e bikes on the flat then been passed by them on the next hill, its no big deal, I've had it happen before and I was expecting it, you're over thinking it, if you're faster than them just ride past.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

there is a possibility I am over thinking this???

It's a certainty!

Just ride your bike your way.

 

[T4tomo]

defo overthinking it

 

[fossyant]

Pass if you need to. You'll get people that will pass you and try too hard and then just die. I passed a bloke on one of those illegal Chinese ones (the quick ones) - he was doing a good 18 mph, hardly turning a pedal. Though he was going quickly on this off road trail, and I wasn't catching that fast, I just had to kill myself to pass and pull away. I'm sure if he'd have flicked the switch, he could have gone past twice as fast without pedalling.

One thing I picked up from time trialling, is you've got to pass and make sure you can pass and extend the distance.

 

[I like Skol]

Pass them and blow them into the weeds, damn e-bikes!!! Oh wait, wrong thread

 

[iluvmybike]

We got passed today whilst riding uphill at about 12mph by a guy on a mtb - with what looked like a mahoosive front wheel "ebike conversion" - he wasn't peddling at all but moving at about 20mph! Somehow I don't think that was a legal ebike...now that was annoying...but did I dwell on it. Nope - the sun was shining and I was out enjoying myself....

 

[Ming the Merciless]

We got passed today whilst riding uphill at about 12mph by a guy on a mtb - with what looked like a mahoosive front wheel "ebike conversion" - he wasn't peddling at all but moving at about 20mph! Somehow I don't think that was a legal ebike...now that was annoying...but did I dwell on it. Nope - the sun was shining and I was out enjoying myself....

Ah a motorbike is what you’ve just described.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Thanks for all the replies - guess I just worry about upsetting people

if my wife was reading this she would be rolling her eyes

 

[RichardB]

If the OP is overthinking this, so do I. A while ago, I was riding up a long hill and came up behind two riders on road bikes. I was pushing quite hard and keeping up about 14-15 mph, and they were doing about 10. I was on my way to work, so I couldn't slow down, choose another route or stop for a coffee. I was tempted just to blast nonchalantly past them, but the whine from the motor would have given me away. In the end, I passed them and shouted "yes, I know, I am cheating!" It was a stupid thing to say, as I don't regard ebikes as cheating, but I felt I had to say something while creaming past them like Bradley Wiggins while wearing work boots and a heavy coat.

If I am on a recreational ride, I will probably do as the OP does and devise a strategy to avoid passing anyone on a pushbike. Coffee and cake sounds like a good one.

 

[Blue Hills]

I'd plug yourself into the battery for a bit of shock treatment.