Whats the point of even calling yourself a cyclist if youre just going to rely on an e-bike to get you up hills? Dont you think thats just cheating? I mean, seriously, if you need a motor to get you up a hill, maybe you should just stick to walking. And yet, I see more and more people using e-bikes in hilly areas, completely ruining the experience for the rest of us who actually put in the effort to ride.
So, I suppose for all you e-bike enthusiasts out there, what are some tips for using these things in hilly areas? How do you even control them on steep inclines? Do you just rely on the motor to do all the work for you, or is there some actual skill involved? And what about when youre going downhill? Do you just let the motor do all the braking for you too, or do you actually know how to use the brakes on your bike?
And while were on the subject, whats the deal with e-bikes and weight limits? Ive seen some of these things with massive batteries and motors, and I just cant imagine theyre safe for riders who are, shall we say, a bit on the heavier side. Do you guys just ignore the weight limits and hope for the best, or do you actually take the time to research the safety features of your e-bike?
Im not looking for any of the usual e-bike fanboy nonsense about how theyre just as good as regular bikes or whatever. I want real answers from people who actually know what theyre talking about. So, go ahead and enlighten me. What are the tips for using e-bikes in hilly areas, and how do you actually control these things?