POWER PLAYS II

Take it easy when passing normally-aspirated riders. Slow up, say hello, joke about your shrapnel injury from ‘Nam… anything to break the tension and help the cause. Yes, you can climb at 25 when they’re doing 10; but proving it will just create enemies. Chill and make new friends instead.

Don’t dive into the singletrack first if you’re a novice – your bike will have helped you get there ahead of everyone else, but your skills will probably be well behind those of the guys on the regular bikes, and you will get in the way. Which is horrible for all concerned. Let them go first, and follow – it’s the best way to learn!

Don’t chip your bike. It’s been designed and specced to operate within its straight-out-the-box parameters; if you mess with those, you’re setting yourself up for equipment or talent failure that will hurt a lot, one way or the other.

In a group, ride at the very back. Yes, you’re able to go faster, most of the time, but so can normal bikes as soon as you reach your governed speed – what you can’t do is keep the same rhythm and flow that regular riders do naturally in a bunch, so all you’ll do is disturb.

Sharing is caring! Every time you let a sceptic ride your bike on the next piece of singletrack, or up that hill and back, you will at the very least grow their understanding that e-bikes are not the enemy. You’re more likely to replicate what happened the first time you rode one: hook, line and sinker.