• RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    You’re not really a “cyclist” if a motor is doing a bunch of the work. That’s the equivalent of those mopeds we had in the ‘70s that you could pedal, too. Probably went 35-40 mph. Nobody in their right mind would call them bicycles or call the riders cyclists. It’s a motorized bike.

    • Evotech@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      Depends, if it’s pedal assist it’s most definitely cyclists. If it’s just a throttle then I agree

      • freebee@sh.itjust.works
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        1 day ago

        have you tried “cycling” on stronger electric bikes with the support mode set to “sport” or “highest”? Moving the pedals is pretty damn symbolic on these vehicles, less than 10% of the actual energy needed to move is provided by the legs, it’s almost all motor. It’s like they moved the throttle control to the pedals.

      • RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world
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        1 day ago

        Semantics.

        Just common usage has made a “motorized bicycle” of yesteryear into its own vehicle class today. It’s exactly the same thing with e-bikes hitting 30+ mph speeds, just electric motors instead of an ICE.