The owner of a Norwich e-bike shop has blamed misleading press coverage of e-bikes, and the Panorama episode fronted by Adrian Chiles in particular, for a drop-off in trade that has resulted in his shop’s closure. Mark Watkin opened e-Velo in Halesworth, Suffolk, in 2015 and subsequently expanded into premises in the Royal Arcade in Norwich last summer. However, both shops have now been forced to close. Watkin said that alarmist media coverage of e-bikes had played a significant part.
E-bikes make cycling accessible to people who have disabilities and to people who don’t want to put in the conditioning but want to enjoy a hobby with their friends who do.
I love riding rural trails. I train for it. I do distance rides for fun. My wife and several of my friends love the adventure of it but don’t want to put in the consistent training. They’re healthy people, just not 75-100 mile per week riders like I am. Because of E-bikes, my wife and I can go on a few long rides a year together - me on a manual bike and her on our e-bike.
Don’t be such a dick. If you don’t want to use a motor, don’t.