Ghost (bike)rider
10 mW
Does anyone else overtake the lycra boys with $5000 bikes on the way to work with a sheepish look as you cruise past on the ebike? Some of them take it personally, and decide to get off their seats (seeing in my mirror) to slipstream me all the way into the city. Having an ultra-stealth setup (everything except the motor is in a pannier), the occasional look of disbelief quickly turns into a desire to hook onto me out of curiosity. Yes, this is exacerbated by my large frame (110kg), jeans / work shirt, bear-trap pedals, zero sweat and a large top gear so I can still pedal at 50kph.
Here in Australia, a MAMIL is a "Middle-Aged Man In Lycra", and If they are cycling with undue respect for others on the cycle paths (you know- going for a PB every day whatever it takes) I have taken to overtaking them with the throttle off (so they think I am unassisted), and giving them the impression they can hook on, but keeping enough distance from them so they cant get into the slipstream. Sometimes they try really hard for several kilometres before suddenly fading to a jogging pace. Justice for the aggressive "out of my way" approach.
So, I also have a racer and lycra, but I feel justified in using my ebike to bring some aggressive MAMILS by "fishing" them if they can't handle the overtake, and letting their egos drive them to exhaustion.
Perhaps I am alone in this new sport, and must confess to enjoying it - especially as my HD camera is secretly mounted under the carrier and pointing backwards. Perhaps I am taking it too far, but my PB is 4 MAMILS for 6km.
Here in Australia, a MAMIL is a "Middle-Aged Man In Lycra", and If they are cycling with undue respect for others on the cycle paths (you know- going for a PB every day whatever it takes) I have taken to overtaking them with the throttle off (so they think I am unassisted), and giving them the impression they can hook on, but keeping enough distance from them so they cant get into the slipstream. Sometimes they try really hard for several kilometres before suddenly fading to a jogging pace. Justice for the aggressive "out of my way" approach.
So, I also have a racer and lycra, but I feel justified in using my ebike to bring some aggressive MAMILS by "fishing" them if they can't handle the overtake, and letting their egos drive them to exhaustion.
Perhaps I am alone in this new sport, and must confess to enjoying it - especially as my HD camera is secretly mounted under the carrier and pointing backwards. Perhaps I am taking it too far, but my PB is 4 MAMILS for 6km.