A new hazard on the road, pavement and trail

[Jim]

In our recent experience on this trip's tourist trails in Germany and Italy, we've been cycling around 20 miles a day. On our travels we've noticed a new dangerous phenomenon, it's not cars driving too close, even though there are still plenty of those plonkers, it's not all the little dogs on long leads, though they are still in abundance, and no, it's not carelessly discarded grey water turning roads into black-ice-rinks. It's none of those things.

It's people who can't ride a bike, buying an eBike, aiming it at a destination and heading off. They are so dangerous, yes to others, but mostly to themselves. We've seen a fair bit gravel rash and thankfully none of it ours. Mostly these people are well over retiring age.

They sit up and beg. They can't lean a bike so use the handlebars to turn like they might their car! They bomb along cycle tracks faster than they can think, chatting away with a mate. Surprise one coming the other way and it's awful to watch as they waggle their bars and even though there is room for 4 riders to pass, they bang on their disk brakes end up in the hedge, or put their feet down while still travelling at 12 miles an hour! It's scary to see.

eBikes are great, but if you haven't ridden a bike in years, borrow a grandchild's normal push-bike and use that for a few weekends, before you go buy that powerful beast. Gravel rash is painful.

 

[Riverbankannie]

For us in Germany, it was all the cobbled streets coupled with our electric Brompton tiny wheels. It has a twist grip so when you go over a bump your hand jump a bit and you can get sudden bursts of speed.

 

[Jim]

For us in Germany, it was all the cobbled streets coupled with our electric Brompton tiny wheels. It has a twist grip so when you go over a bump your hand jump a bit and you can get sudden bursts of speed.

I love the electric Bromptons, perfect for motorhomers. If ever we bike a bike with a battery, then a Brompton will be high on the list.

 

[The Wino]

We did some cycling on the Ille de Re this summer I think the biggest hazzard was the sheer number of bikes. We tried some e-bikes and liked them so much we bought a couple from decathlon.

 

[Lenny HB]

Last week in Belgium sitting down outside a bar in a pedestrian square it was frightening watching the cyclelists flying about in all directions no road sense at all. Taking the shortest diagonal route across the square oblivious to pedestrians and other cyclelists.

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[jezport]

We have folding electric bikes and find them great. We now fancy electric mountain bikes so we can cycle steeper routes.
Our 20" wheels and 7 gears are good for most areas but not up in the hills! With my back and hip problem its the only form of exercise I can do.

 

[EuroTrotters]

In our recent experience on this trip's tourist trails in Germany and Italy, we've been cycling around 20 miles a day. On our travels we've noticed a new dangerous phenomenon, it's not cars driving too close, even though there are still plenty of those plonkers, it's not all the little dogs on long leads, though they are still in abundance, and no, it's not carelessly discarded grey water turning roads into black-ice-rinks. It's none of those things.

It's people who can't ride a bike, buying an eBike, aiming it at a destination and heading off. They are so dangerous, yes to others, but mostly to themselves. We've seen a fair bit gravel rash and thankfully none of it ours. Mostly these people are well over retiring age.

They sit up and beg. They can't lean a bike so use the handlebars to turn like they might their car! They bomb along cycle tracks faster than they can think, chatting away with a mate. Surprise one coming the other way and it's awful to watch as they waggle their bars and even though there is room for 4 riders to pass, they bang on their disk brakes end up in the hedge, or put their feet down while still travelling at 12 miles an hour! It's scary to see.

eBikes are great, but if you haven't ridden a bike in years, borrow a grandchild's normal push-bike and use that for a few weekends, before you go buy that powerful beast. Gravel rash is painful.

How very true

 

[windboy]

It is not just bikes, I was knocked to the ground in our local town couple of weeks ago on the pavement by an older woman on a mobility scooter, she lost complete control and drove into the back of me. I have a nasty laceration to the back of my heel which needed glueing at the minor injuries unit. Nearly two weeks on the heel is very sensitive, still have bruises and feet swollen in places. Luckily I am able to walk but not far at the moment.

Jenny

 

[Essgeebee]

Yesterday it was grey waste disposal on roads, today it’s e-bikes. Wonder what the moan of the day will be tomorrow. Nothing’s going to change by moaning about it - it’s life, in all it’s flawed glory.

 

[Jim]

Yesterday it was grey waste disposal on roads, today it’s e-bikes. Wonder what the moan of the day will be tomorrow. Nothing’s going to change by moaning about it - it’s life, in all it’s flawed glory.

Having a good old moan about whats posted here are we? Nothings going to change by moaning about it - it’s life, in all it’s flawed glory.

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[L' Hobo]

In our recent experience on this trip's tourist trails in Germany and Italy, we've been cycling around 20 miles a day. On our travels we've noticed a new dangerous phenomenon, it's not cars driving too close, even though there are still plenty of those plonkers, it's not all the little dogs on long leads, though they are still in abundance, and no, it's not carelessly discarded grey water turning roads into black-ice-rinks. It's none of those things.

It's people who can't ride a bike, buying an eBike, aiming it at a destination and heading off. They are so dangerous, yes to others, but mostly to themselves. We've seen a fair bit gravel rash and thankfully none of it ours. Mostly these people are well over retiring age.

They sit up and beg. They can't lean a bike so use the handlebars to turn like they might their car! They bomb along cycle tracks faster than they can think, chatting away with a mate. Surprise one coming the other way and it's awful to watch as they waggle their bars and even though there is room for 4 riders to pass, they bang on their disk brakes end up in the hedge, or put their feet down while still travelling at 12 miles an hour! It's scary to see.

eBikes are great, but if you haven't ridden a bike in years, borrow a grandchild's normal push-bike and use that for a few weekends, before you go buy that powerful beast. Gravel rash is painful.

I did try to buy some adult stabilisers for mine but all they sell is for children!

(perhaps there's a niche market opportunity for some enterprising Funster?)

 

[Nigel Crompton]

There were reports from the Netherlands about increased mortality of males over 70 years old caused by riding e-bikes like they were teenagers again. Spikes showed up in national statistics.

 

[Jim]

I did try to buy some adult stabilisers for mine but all they sell is for children!

They sell ebikes with stabilisers.

 

[L' Hobo]

They sell ebikes with stabilisers.

View attachment 664099

Nah! They don't go fast enough but are good (if you fit a tow-ball) for transporting the wheeled toilet cassette and OAP racing!

 

[Essgeebee]

Having a good old moan about whats posted here are we? Nothings going to change by moaning about it - it’s life, in all it’s flawed glory.

What's the difference between a moan and an observation or comment? My wife reminds me every day. The age of the person making it, seemingly. When I was young they were observations... now I'm old, they're perceived as moans. She even calls me a grumpy old g*t sometimes. C'est la vie.

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[Jim]

She even calls me a grumpy old g*t sometimes.

She knows you much better than us

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Have you got a mirror on your E bike Jim?

 

[Nigel Crompton]

Have you got a mirror on your E bike Jim?

Doesn't need one, he's not that vain ..

 

[TheBig1]

Nah! They don't go fast enough but are good (if you fit a tow-ball) for transporting the wheeled toilet cassette and OAP racing!

I can assure you that certain bigger models can be tweaked to do about 20mph. I will point out the legal maximum on the road is currently 8mph and 4mph on a mobility scooter in the UK. The same does not apply in all countries, so they can be de-restricted using a programmer

 

[nicholsong]

What's the difference between a moan and an observation or comment? My wife reminds me every day. The age of the person making it, seemingly. When I was young they were observations... now I'm old, they're perceived as moans. She even calls me a grumpy old g*t sometimes. C'est la vie.

Well she can still progress to always

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[Drexxer]

How very true View attachment 664048

I find it much safer to go around Annecy anti clock wise, most of it is now cyclepath with only a bit of roadwork around Talloires and the following village, it's well worth the effort

The same goes with Rutland water, anti clockwise

 

[Kenp]

I did try to buy some adult stabilisers for mine but all they sell is for children!

(perhaps there's a niche market opportunity for some enterprising Funster?)

Or get a folding electric tricycle from AS Bikes.

 

[L' Hobo]

Or get a folding electric tricycle from AS Bikes.

As an OAP, I can't afford to pay £1000+ just to get a couple of temporary stabilisers, or can it be converted into a two wheeler later?

 

[cliffanger]

I’m glad we bought our lekky bikes - it means we can travel further, while keeping them on ‘eco’ so still getting exercise.

Cliff’s done something to the gears too (changed a sprocket I think - he went into detail, but my ears closed down and eyes glazed over … ) which means the gears are lowered and it’s easier to go up steep hills.

I definitely wouldn’t go back to non electric, but I also don’t think I’m a danger to other cyclists or pedestrians - and I only started riding as a mature adult. I was the middle child, and the only girl so was never bought a bike as a kid … (violins at the ready!)

 

[Abacist]

The other problem are the electric motorised scooters that seem to have no speed limiter like in the UK where they can only be hired at present. Around lake Annecy you also get roller skaters/bladers rocketing along like ice skaters and the odd Nordic skier on wheel mounted skis getting in training for the winter!

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[Vanman]

I only found out last night (5 nights into a stay) that Bristol has Scooter lanes in the Pedestrian 'only' area's. I did wonder why they were allowed to zoom past so closely and from front and back

 

[Nirvanauk]

I’m one of the dangerous ones! DVLA have taken my licence of me because I had a syncope. Wifey has gone for a girlie week in the lakes. Si thought I’d try out her e-bike. It must be about 20 years since I’ve ridden a bike and I feel genuinely unsafe! Luckily outside the house is a bridal path that takes me to the pub in the next village but I don’t feel safe. She is home tomorrow, yay!

 

[monzer]

Lose control of an ebike or any other type of bike on the trail I took up to a lighthouse in Estonia the other day and it would be the last thing you do.

Scary how close you got to the edge sometimes.

 

[jongood]

The other problem are the electric motorised scooters that seem to have no speed limiter like in the UK where they can only be hired at present. Around lake Annecy you also get roller skaters/bladers rocketing along like ice skaters and the odd Nordic skier on wheel mounted skis getting in training for the winter!

we've encountered people on main roads and busy city streets on E scooters, here in Croatia. they seem incredibly vulnerable to us, Croatian drivers have no hesitation in overtaking bicycles with an inch of gap.

 

[Jane And Rog]

Totally agree. Had two e bikes fail to make a tight corner and wobble in front of the MH this trip - not only couldn’t they turn, they didn’t seem able to get a foot down to stop either. I can do it faster, and I’m clipped in!

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