Will we look lazy using electric bike on charity cycles?

Unless there's an impediment which means you are unable to use a normal bicycle, then you'd look worse than lazy, in my eyes anyway. The whole point of these charity events is that those who participate go that extra mile and put a lot of effort, usually physical, to show how committed they are to their cause.

If you're on a mortised bike, you may as well go on a full fat motorcycle or better still,a car, in case the weather is unpleasant.

It's a charity cycle, the important thing is the numbers participating and the money raised. Struggling or worse still, not doing it at all so as not to use electric bikes would be a sad state of affairs.

Just don't hide the fact that it is an electric bike when asking people to donate. Or don't take glee in being less out of breath than someone on a conventional bike or whatever.

Bear in mind, an electric bike will give some assistance, but only to a certain level and for a certain amount of time/distance. You'll still have to put in effort.

I think the vast majority of people couldn’t care less and would have the view “If it gets them out on the bike, electric or not, that’s better than not getting out.”

At the same time you may encounter a few who judge it differently, and even one or two who feel the need to pass some remark or stink look, unfortunately. Such is life.

As recommended above, feck the begrudgers, and go for it. You could even embrace the e-bike element, making it a bit of a theme for your collecting efforts and again on the day, with a funny team name on a T-shirt (“Too posh to push”?)

In the end it’s for the charity. They set the rules so as long as they’re ok with it you’re good to go!

The idea that you should be pushing yourself in a charity race of any description or you're not dong it right is nonsense. My most memorable moment from any charity/sponsered event was watching 3 women who had entered the event strolling along smoking fags and eating what looked like breakfast rolls while doing the actual event

As long as you don't expect a donation from Mikael Colville-Andersen, it seems ok to me.

Correct

It's not a race (is it?), so who cares. It's a day out for a cause.

And if it is a race just don't try to claim you won :)

people are mental, its a bloody charity run! best of luck to those that have trained hard, but seriously, its not a race!

You'd be more silly if you didnt do it because you cared what people thought.

If anything, charity cycles should be a welcoming environment for ebike riders. A lot of people on ebikes are new to cycling. Going on a big 80k cycle on their own around the back roads of North County Dublin, or wherever, is not something they have the confidence to take on.

A Charity Cycle, especially if there are really big numbers, would be a (relatively) safe way to do this for the newbie.

As long as the charity is still raising money the organisers couldn't give 2 flying fs what type of bike you turn up on. I would say the op would be more inclinded to raise funds above the entry price than a typical cyclist who is doing it for fun.

I assume that the op is doing this on an electric assisted bike and not on a full electric bike so cycling will be required.

@Sussedit give it a go on the bike the most important think is riase money for the charity and enjoy your day, you may get a few jealous looks when you are getting up a hill easier that someone else but I can also guarantee you those people will be thinking I wish I had an ebike

And do you think two people who admit to doing nothing more than short leisure spins will be looking to line out in the elite pen at the front of the race? Anyone in any fun race with an elite pen is going to a member of a club, and looking to accrue points. The rest of the people (including the op) will be kept at the back with all the others out for a bit of craic.

Having said that, if the event is over a period of time, accruing distance, then I agree it would be against the spirit of the thing to use an ebike

I'm sure I read somewhere that a charity cycle effort is invalid unless you do it on a 40 year old Raleigh Chopper with flat tyres and dragging along two ship anchors and a grand piano behind you.

I won't lie... I do roll my eyes when hear people say things like they've done the mini marathon. Oh yeah? What time? I don't know, I walked it....

But at the end of the day it's for charity so as long as the charity wins who really cares.

But it is some time away, you could commit to training and doing it. You never know you might enjoy it :)

Ah so tis rigged.

heelys?

I have to say this whole thread is very amusing

Best part is that nobody has realised that the battery on most ebikes only last 25-30km. And they only assist pedalling, you still need to pedal the bike

I haven't done many charity cycles but the ones I've seen have different length courses, 40km, 80km & 120km being one I've seen

So an ebike would only really help out for the shortest course, which tends to be the "fun" course anyway. It won't make any difference on a long course

I don't think bringing an ebike to a charity cycle is lazy. You could make the same argument against bikes with gears

And FWIW, I don't sponsor people for charity events based on the amount of suffering they're expected to endure

if it's next year, you've plenty of time to get in shape to do it on a regular bike - 50km is very doable, even with a dodgy knee.

can always have the eBikes as a backup plan.

I’m sure a few will appreciate the pacing from an e bike on the day.

Donate to the charity & enjoy your day on the e bike.