Of my three bikes that I’ve owned for 22, 6 and 2.5 years respectively I tend to call them the Brompton, the Levo or ebike or full-sus, and the Moxie or singlespeed or hardtail.
Sometimes I’ll refer to normal bikes if I’m checking that a group ride isn’t going to be all e-bikes (happened to me recently and I had a few hours of trying not to die following big bouncy electric bikes on a singlespeed hardtail).
All of my bikes have to be pedalled or they don’t move so calling non-e bikes pedal bikes doesn’t work.
Recently the Levo was having a factory refurb on its brakes so I commuted on the Brompton. I took the boring flat way to work instead and did a lot of stressing about potholes and traffic. Normally with the Levo I have a good hard pedal up some hills unreasonably fast (impatient singlespeeder + motor) and enjoy the downhills and unofficial off-road routes with a few jumps and drops that I’ve found, and keep away from most of the traffic. And when I’m tired (because I’m a 40something human with a busy job and kids and other physical hobbles) I let the motor do more work. Better than sitting in a car like most commuters and leaves far more energy to attack my proper MTB rides.
It is bizarre how polarising e-bikes are…
Jan. 30, 2025, 12:55 p.m. - a.funks
Of my three bikes that I’ve owned for 22, 6 and 2.5 years respectively I tend to call them the Brompton, the Levo or ebike or full-sus, and the Moxie or singlespeed or hardtail. Sometimes I’ll refer to normal bikes if I’m checking that a group ride isn’t going to be all e-bikes (happened to me recently and I had a few hours of trying not to die following big bouncy electric bikes on a singlespeed hardtail). All of my bikes have to be pedalled or they don’t move so calling non-e bikes pedal bikes doesn’t work. Recently the Levo was having a factory refurb on its brakes so I commuted on the Brompton. I took the boring flat way to work instead and did a lot of stressing about potholes and traffic. Normally with the Levo I have a good hard pedal up some hills unreasonably fast (impatient singlespeeder + motor) and enjoy the downhills and unofficial off-road routes with a few jumps and drops that I’ve found, and keep away from most of the traffic. And when I’m tired (because I’m a 40something human with a busy job and kids and other physical hobbles) I let the motor do more work. Better than sitting in a car like most commuters and leaves far more energy to attack my proper MTB rides. It is bizarre how polarising e-bikes are…