Two knights. Two rental e-bikes. One lance. Lime had to release a statement.

A green rental e-bike is a lot of things: a commute, a quick trip to the shops, maybe a regret at 2 a.m. This past weekend in east London, it was also a noble steed.

Hundreds of spectators packed London Fields in Hackney on Saturday to watch two performers in chainmail, helmets and red-and-black cloaks charge at each other on Lime's rentable e-bikes, lances (striped poles) lowered. The crowd chanted "joust, joust, joust" until one knight was jabbed clean off his ride. The organizers billed the showdown as a "free public joust" and called it performance art. Clips of the duel have racked up more than four million views on Instagram.

Then came the press release that every medieval tournament has always lacked: a corporate safety notice. On Monday, Lime told reporters it loves "seeing Londoners come together," and that while it appreciates "the medieval spirit," its bikes "are designed for getting around the city, not for jousting." The company asked people not to attempt their own tournaments. Undeterred, the organizers have announced a rematch for Oct. 31. Halloween jousting: the only kind of costume party with lances.

So the official ruling is in. You can ride the e-bike. You can park the e-bike, sort of. You may not challenge anyone to single combat on the e-bike. Sir Lancelot never had to read terms of service.

Arena verdict: 5 out of 5. Peak chaos, and the knights get bonus points for commitment to the bit.

<small>Photo: Ypsilon from Finland, Wikimedia Commons, CC0.</small>