Reactionary cyclists. Why do trainers and ebikes disturb those who pedal so much?

To be traditionalists runs the risk of turning into reactionaries. Even in a sport, cycling, where the historical component has weight and the present, in one way or another, often ends up pedaling alongside the past. The bicycle has never changed too much since it was invented until today. The mechanical system that determines the movement is always the same: a crown wheel moved by the cranks which moves another one attached to the rear wheel. Everything else came later: nothing has changed, but everything is different and continues to evolve.

One wonders why among the many enthusiasts who ride on very light frames, perhaps equipped with electronic shifting, who monitor their rides on satellite cyclocomputers, there are so many problems accepting the changes in cycling. Above all because the news that the twenty-five year old generates so much surprise and acid comments Luke Vergallito managed to get a professional contract with Alpecin-DeceuninckMathieu van der Poel’s team, thanks also to a cycling simulator.

Zwift is an app that allows you to race and compete against other users by pedaling on a bike connected to smart rollers, which simulate the slope of a more or less real path.

On Zwift Luca Vergallito was strong. And on real roads too. His amateur career had gone badly. He was lost, he ended up giving up. Cycling, not the bike. Even when he went back to study that he had not given up. He pedaled, he went fast, then on the rollers he managed to find an opportunity that he hadn’t been able to exploit.

A story of redemption, of second chances, of those that usually exalt the professionals of the feeling. But there are reels in the middle, technology and simulators, which in sport are considered on a par with video games, i.e. nothing: the social scourge of Italian sport. They also accused him of stealing a professional’s job. And this despite the fact that Alpecin-Deceuninck is giving away an extra place – therefore an extra salary, either in the first or second team – to the best of the Zwift Academy. Luca Vergallito did a five-day test in Spain with four other riders, compared himself with them and with the professionals, in the end he was judged worthy and was hired. No stealing.

A hatred that seems to be born more of envy than of a sensible criticism of the selection method. Also because looking back on the first two years of professionalism of the Australian Jay Vine, the first to be selected via Zwift, the system seems to work: two victories uphill at the Vuelta a España and a present-future as a follower, with some freedom, for Tadej Pogacar.

The same hatred that emerges when it comes to ebikes. Because, many argue, pedaling on a pedal assisted bike is not pedaling: this must always and in any case be suffering. They are right, but also not. Because ebikes are a means that doesn’t take anything away from those who consider the bike as wonderful suffering, it only widens the pelvis of pedalers: it gives those who like the bike, but less the suffering, the possibility to go around by bike just the same. And one more bike is one less car, so a little more safety. However, the problem isn’t the ebike itself, it’s the ebike in us and that gnawing when someone with pedal assistance overtakes you uphill. It happens, just don’t pay too much attention to it.