You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
So a few of my riding mates have bought them, all fit, all good good riders, jumpers etc. Just bought them to offer something different. I had half day yesterday and they turned up at mine with a spare ride..Well 2 hours and 27 miles later I can’t ever remember having that much fun on a bike. It’s just “different” if all of you in the group have them it’s awesome, doing so many more descents and still being knackered when I got home..The bike was a Kenevo, now I want one..!
Demoing a kenevo tomorrow, though i already have a levo, so am well versed in the joys of an ebike...
oh, and 'you lazy, cheating, environment destroying bastard etc etc'
As long as you're happy to burn in hell for all eternity that's fine.
I reckon as soon as one my group cracks and gets one the rest will follow. I just figure the longer we hold off the better the bikes will be. And we'll be that much older and more smashed up so easier to justify (to ourselves, the haters can jog on)
A few lads I know bought them to get out more,they went out a few times now they don't ride at all.
^^ HaHa.. I just imagine places like Afan, instead of going round once or twice, you should be able to session parts of the blade, and get 3 loops in..
Yup, if you want to look like a numpty with more money than sense who can't be bothered to actually get fit and ride a proper bike, then fill yer boots.
I should add a 😉 but I'm only half joking.
"doing so many more descents and still being knackered when I got home"
There's one of the issues I have with them. Twice the descents is twice the wear and year of the trails. Not much of an issue on man made stuff that is maintained. But your local woods sort of trails will suffer.
...and add in riders like i nearly crashed into last weekend. On E-bikes riding up what is normally a downhill only trail.
No problems with people riding up hills of course, but mix the ability to ride steeper stuff with perhaps a lack of trail sense, and more problems are inevitable.
Last year I remember over hearing a conversation between a group of fairly old guys on e-bikes after colne valley mtb challenge,they were saying how hard the challenge was,I don't know how much biking experience they had but sounds like they had fun,None of them would have made it round on a normal bike,it does give the old and infirm a chance to do what they wouldn't be able to do.
"it does give the old and infirm a chance to do what they wouldn’t be able to do."
I don't think anyone has a problem with that, and good luck to them.
I'm 70 neither old nor infirm so can't justify riding one yet. Mind you 25+ miles in the Yorkshire Dales/NYM is getting harder 🙁
I don't think people have a problem with e-bikes,it's just personal preference.
I recently got a 2017 Levo Expert, 30% off from Rutlands. I'm young, fit(ish) and healthy but its bloody ace! Can't wait for everybody to have one. So much more time spent having fun enjoying the downhills without having the slog of the uphills. Everybody should try one. It's perfect for the steep hills in Gloucestershire.
The only problem is the plus tyres are crap in the mud and the chain is way too close to the tyre, so one sticky mud bath and the drivechain feels like crap. Need to purchase some 29" wheels with thin mud tyres for the winter.
I have hardly been on my (non e) mountain bike after pretty much all my riding friends bought E bikes. I can't keep up with them on pedal power alone (despite me be pretty fit). And now i'm hearing all sorts of stuff about them de-restricting and modifying their bikes (because "last week Dave was much faster than me" etc etc they already have bought 2 spare batteries each so they can do more "laps")
Thing is, what they are doing isn't (imo) mountain biking, it's off road motorcycling. Which is fine, but the potential consequences for Off Road Access (already a controversial topic for many) are long and complex (How long before landowners crack down on "people tearing around on Ebikes" by stopping ALL bikes from using their land for example? Plenty of UK riding (because our country is so small/crowded) takes place at un-official but tolerated sites. Sure, there will always be trail centres, but what i love about mountain biking is just being able to pedal around my local woods etc
Unfortunately, as usual, legislation is way behind the advance of cheap technology, and when it does catch up, it's going to be:
1) very hard to ban ebikes
2) very easy to just ban bike access in a more sweeping way
(i can hear the Ramblers Assoc. laughing softly into there beards already...... 😉
Recently bought one after about 5 years of constant medical issues.
Haters gonna hate,
I can remember a well respected bike shop near me saying there is no way they would ever stock MTBs cos they were just a fad 😅
Well they are still in business still no MTBs stocked
Can see similar with E bikes.
i love mine, and say go for it ( n+1)
then again I started riding MTBs long before trail centres were even thought of and still enjoy the many and varied legal off road routes much more.
not saying trail centres don’t have a place, they do, but just like downhill, cross, road, trike, time trail and all over types of bike and riding its down to choice
Had my Specialized Levo Turbo for 8 months now
Flies up the hills making them more fun, can be used if your feeling lazy (Turbo everywhere) or for a proper workout put it in Eco and adjust eco right down in the app or just turn it off and pedal unassisted, Its great fun when there is a group of you on them
Having said all that i will never get rid of my Transition Patrol for the following reasons
It handles better, especially on very twisty trails
Feels better for large drops and jumps, you can just throw it around with ease
Best bit of advice i can give you is join the Levo and Kenevo facebook page before you buy
At some point you will prob have an motor/battery issue which is nothing to worry about as all is covered under warranty but its only when you need warranty work done that you find out how good your dealer is
If your in the south then your very lucky as Chris Reilly at Berkshire cycles is the Levo & Kenevo king, much praise for him on the facebook page
If your elsewhere in the UK you can check with other users who is the most competitive for price and also good for warranty work and who to avoid at all cost!
I’ve had mine for a couple of years, it’s brilliant.
the irony now is that i will need it to rehabilitate my broken leg, as i may end up with limited movement in my ankle.
i have a spare battery off my wife’s one if i go for a long ride.
the most ive managed in one go is 37 miles, i used half the battery to do that.
the shortest ive had is 14 miles, that was on full turbo, I basically sat on the speed limiter. I have also went out with a few guys from my lbs, that was fun. A few of them remarked on how much fun it looked.
mine is a cube stereo, bosch motor.
That worries me maxtorque,the gap between mtb's and "scramblers"has been filled,only a matter of time Untill there are signs on gates banning all bikes instead of just motorbikes.
The trail builders here in Finale are against them.... The extra weight and plus tyres mean added erosion/work.
One of the Italians was saying 2 eBikes are like 5 normal bikes when it comes to the damage /impact they have on the trails. That and the fact that many people who buy eBikes are, in his opinion, not "proper" or well seasoned riders who are braking sooner and for longer.
It's a slippery slope, imo.
That worries me maxtorque,the gap between mtb’s and “scramblers”has been filled,only a matter of time Untill there are signs on gates banning all bikes instead of just motorbikes.
They make 1/3rd of a horsepower. They fill the gap between a fat useless knacker and a decent cyclist.
I will buy one at some point purely to annoy the haters. They are motorbikes, fat, lazy, unfit, not proper cycling, DESTROYING THE TRAILS etc etc.
That will entertain me immensely to see them froth and seethe.
I've got a Trek Powerfly LT and absolutely love it. I can do 25 miles + at the FoD/Cannock in Eco Mode or I can do half that in eMTB mode and risk the top of my head falling off. I still finish every ride knackered and this is the first weekend since buying it that I'm not out on it (the boss has the w/e off so I'm grounded...).
The biggest bonus for me is not waking up the following day unable to move properly or bend over as my hip is buggered.
“doing so many more descents and still being knackered when I got home”
There’s one of the issues I have with them. Twice the descents is twice the wear and year of the trails. Not much of an issue on man made stuff that is maintained. But your local woods sort of trails will suffer.
I'm about twice as fit as I used to be, can ride 3x the distance in a day. Should I start smoking and eat lots of pies, for the sake of the trails? : )
E-bikes is bikes imo, have fun.
Standard ones make 250w. But they make that at any time, and at any speed. 250w, continuously is a VERY decent human rider. I'd bet that the typical 'lesure' MTBer on an typical ride, puts out far less than 100w on average. And then you get to the issue of non-standard ebikes. If it's possible to tune them (and it is) then people will, and how do you police that?
(sure, it's illegal, but a) what's the penalty and b) how would you actually get caught and proved to have tuned your ebike)
Fact is, my ebike friends are now doing 2 laps of a trail centre to every 1 i manage, and riding 40kg bikes, faster everywhere (more braking, more load in turns etc etc) I can't see how that can't result in more tail erosion. (no probs at a trail centre, but not entirely sensible in a more natural setting)
I've battled back from a broken spine, and I'm certainly not ready for an e-bike. I'll ride a standard bike until such a point I can't - then I'll get one.
I'm still in two minds on the long term reliability as I know a couple of lads that have had issues with them. One lad is still using one, but is on his second as the other died.
I've nothing against them, but as someone who has ridden/raced for over 30 years, I'm too old skool - I'll just suffer ! As an ex. road cyclist, I love climbing - we are just weird.
@maxtorque - they aren't 250W all the time though. That's at max, it can deliver it at any speed up to 15mph but won't at all times.
250W isn't a high FTP for a reasonably fit rider. = 3.5w/kg at 71kg? Mid-pack in regional level Sport class? Not sure. Not top level anyway. I know on a shallow-ish gradient on a good surface a reasonably fit (but below cat 3 fit) rider can keep up with a legal e-bike. Anyway.. e-bikes put out more than many of us but it's not that much higher power, it can just do it for longer.
The weight thing - 40kg for a legal e-bike? Way more than most. 20-22kg is more common. Rider + std bike varies by more than the 7kg gain of most Bosch or Shimano e-bike systems. It's really not that much. You'd carry 5-7kg for bikepacking.
I'm not that pro e-MTBS tbh, just keeping this in perspective. It's a side of MTB that I have zero interest in and I see the point about it being a bit MX/shuttle run attitude but I think the negatives are overplayed. If you're anti e-bikes it's hard not to have to apply the same logic to suspension, anything that lets us carry more speed or ride further more efficiently. And if you weigh 10kg more than I do, well ... : )
We should be more concerned about the attitude of riders on any bike than whether it's an e-bike or not.
Whilst i agree in principal @ajmesco with your sentiments, there is one issue and that's the fact that the "enemies" of mountain biking are not logical!
(btw, i mean't to type 40lb, but my metric engineers head got stepped in a made me type 40 kg!!)
The first time a Rambler gets hit by an eBike, irrespective of why, who's fault it was, or anything sensible and logical, we all know what's going to happen. I can see the daily mail style headlines already! And whilst you could say "who cares about the daily mail" the fact of the matter is that the majority of people, who have no interesting in mountain biking (just like they have no interest in off road motorcycling) do take those ridiculous headlines and negative publicity to heart, and can easily push a ban, or reduction in countryside access for ALL bikers.
In terms of damage, it's actually easy to work out, as a typical eBike battery holds 300 to 500 Wh or energy, equivalent to a continuous power of 300w for a whole hour. Now, take a VERY fit pedaller, they might be able to put out a continuous 300w for 20min (might) so that battery pretty much (on average) triples the energy put to the rear tyre of a ebike compared to a human depends on the total energy expended, i suspect an ebike actually gives more like 6x the total energy expulsion. For every "<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #444444; font-size: 12px;">Mid-pack in regional level Sport class" level person i see pedalling an MTB, i bet i see 100 more er, "significantly lower average power" riders. ;-)</span>
It's a completely different thing . Suspension helps you to make the most of the power that you are able to produce . E-Bike actually produces a rather large chunk of power to help you on your way . That's one of the reasons why mechanical doping is not allowed in a bike race but suspension is .
If it’s possible to tune them (and it is) then people will, and how do you police that?(sure, it’s illegal, but a) what’s the penalty and b) how would you actually get caught and proved to have tuned your ebike)
You could tune them up to moped levels of power. 10X the legal limit. That could really annoy the easily annoyed (for all of 6 minutes). That would still be under 1/10th the power of a mx bike though...
Having ridden with a guy on an e-bike, he climbed slightly quicker than us, but was very smooth, the power delivery is better over sloppy conditions than leg only. He was only quicker on the really steep stuff, and probably did less damage as there was no slip.
I'm impressed with them, but unless I really can't ride without assistance, I'll keep with no battery. MTB's are high enough maintenance as it is - never spent the time I do cleaning and oiling like I do now having moved away from road bikes.
It will be a cold day in hell before I admit defeat and get an ebike. Luckily I'm a roadie so haven't got any mate's, just people I ride with and when any of us do try a fit a motor to a bike we are usually trying to hide it.
Maybe I’m a little odd but I like the challenge of a good climb and an e-bike would take that away a little.
I could not care less if other people use them or not if it makes them happy.
as long as it does not cause access issues for the rest of us proper cyclist 😉
The first time a Rambler gets hit by an eBike, irrespective of why, who’s fault it was, or anything sensible and logical, we all know what’s going to happen.
Is this not the case if a mountain bike hits a rambler regardless off ebike? Especially if it was on a "cheeky" trail.
Maybe I’m a little odd but I like the challenge of a good climb and an e-bike would take that away a little.
For me, it does take that away a bit - it has to be a steep climb to make me feel like it was a challenge. I usually ride mine on the lowest power that isn't off too. Without it though, I still don't get that feeling as I can't push myself anyway - my legs just give out so I'm just slow, it feels bad, I can't walk properly when I get off and I can't enjoy the descents because I can't hold myself out of the saddle or pedal properly when I'm tired.
People say that "it's fine for the less abled and elderly" but as a 31 year old with leg issues it doesn't stop the odd person making comments as I ride passed them. Most people just ask what it's like to ride though.
Also, in a year n a bit on my Levo I'm on my third or fourth battery and third motor. I am told that this isn't normal though!
Is this not the case if a mountain bike hits a rambler regardless off ebike?
We know it is but as Maxtorque said above the people that don't like mountain bikes are illogical and the fact it's got a motor is just extra ammo for their argument.
Not going to buy one currently as I don't need it and they're pretty pricey but they are a whole lot of fun. If I had a lottery win I'd be buying one tomorrow just for those days when you want to ride but your legs say no.
**** me there's some doom merchants on this thread...
Well in a foresty comission they can't stop motor bikes ripping up the woods and feilds so quiet bikes will bs fine.
The worse condition trails/ byways i've been on have been as a result of the horsey types, locally the illegal 4x4 and motor cross is a bigger problem.
**** me there’s some doom merchants on this thread…
They are just tired.
Should maybe get an ebike?
I like em’ I’ve said it before I think they’re great for encouraging people on bikes.
But..
All I want to know is .. those bikes the OPs mates have.. have they been chipped yet ???
🥊💣💥
Wow.., serious comments there...still getting one though..lol
Bikebouy, mine has been chipped.
no more power, but removes the speed limiter. Honestly, I wouldn’t bother with it again, it doesn’t improve the bike at all, it has a serious effect on battery life, and sitting at 30mph in cycling gear when the battery is providing the power is flippin chilly.
Mine has no external signs at all, but i guess it would be pretty obvious if i start passing the local road crew going uphill on a full suss bike eh.
#chipping #notworthit
ive had my levo a year, im 65 and tired lol. it has 25 charges on the battery, i usully ride with my mates every tuesday and thursday evening, about 15 miles off road on my pivot mach 6. sometimes on a tuesday or a thursday i do a day time ride with one of my mates during the day, we usually do 20 miles. so i ride the ebike in the evening, otherwise i wouldnt go.
i have 3 bikes, the ebike gets used the least. a couple of things about an ebike and mismatched riders, i am not fit enough to keep up with my mates, especially on the ups and my mates often have to wait for me, the ebike stops this. but the main reasons for me riding the ebike with my mates, is keeping up on the flowy up and down trails, if i miss a pedal stroke or lose a gear, they are gone, the ebike allows me to catch up and keep up without slowing them down.
i got my ebike for a different reason though, on the recommendation of my riding buddy, who is well respected on here. towards the end of rides, i start to tire, my skills go a little and my reactions are slower, ive had most of my falls towards the end of rides, two concussions, full width tear rotator cuff, chipped elbow, and a few OTBs.
so for me the ebike is a tool for when i want it, as are my other bikes.
its a no brainer to me, i understand the haters, but if you dont NEED to have one, whats wrong with having one to ride, believe me they are fantastic fun
Great comments there mate..my initial post was about all of our group having them as we are all fit and able and love the more Agro side of riding. However, for us to go out on e-bikes and cover more ground in a day is appealing for me. Also, as I have to pick the kids up after a work, it will enable to nip out for an hour before I get them. As for the potential trail damage, I’m in 2 minds..yes I care..a lot, but I have watched lots of vids where this is bought up and there is no evidence. One of the t like the fact we could squeeze more runs in, thus damaging the trails more..I bet he and he’s group have made it to the top of a descent after a few runs then sacked it off because of potential damage....!
By that logic we need to ban nice bikes. You won't want to ride crappy bikes so less use will mean less damage. There are a lot more nice bikes than ebikes...
We know it is but as Maxtorque said above the people that don’t like mountain bikes are illogical and the fact it’s got a motor is just extra ammo for their argument.
Sky's falling in eh... Same things have been said about bikes on paths and in the woods since about 1986. There are access rights for bikes and that won't be changed by some Daily Mail comment section regulars or the rambler's association.
It’s a completely different thing . Suspension helps you to make the most of the power that you are able to produce . E-Bike actually produces a rather large chunk of power to help you on your way . That’s one of the reasons why mechanical doping is not allowed in a bike race but suspension is .
The point I made was re e-bikes extending the miles done or a perception of speed and risk on trails though. Suspension has raised our average speed downhill more than an e-bike can yet we're not banned about 20 years after sus became widespread. E-bikes power you up to 15mph. That's not that fast really, I can average >10mph XC on a rigid SS yet hit a fair bit quicker than that on a good downhill on the right bike - that's where walkers see more threat. The point is, all this doom talk is not a lot to do with a bike having a battery and all to do with riders of any bike riding like idiots.
Suspension helps you to make the most of the power that you are able to produce
And also causes more trail erosion...
Growing up riding MX in the 70's and 80's proved that to most people.
Moar travel moar bumps...
I've been around riding off road long enough to recognise that anything "new" has it's haters and doom merchants.
Suspension, discs, wheel sizes same old same old from people that are scared of change.
No one is forcing you to do anything you don't want.
Don't like something easy don't buy it.
you m8's had a kenevo spare sitting around? I've got the wrong m8's! 😉
I've just got a Vitus E-Sommet as a replacement for a bust out of the box sale Ghost kato e-bike, & am having a whole load of fun, instead of slogging around struggling on my manual HT. I have no 'excuse', I probably wouldn't have bought one yet but have a group of new riding m8's* who started cycling (or renewed an interest) because e-bikes allowed them to. These are guys at an age where gaining the cycling fitness would have been simply off-putting with family/life commitments, but are bouncing around asking about the next ride or which bit of kit to buy.
So I've tested a bunch over that last year myself & come to the simple conclusion, e-bikes are fun, & bought one.
*my new e-bike group all have decent off-road m/c backgrounds, if e-bikes were just motorcycles, these guys wouldnt be putting up with the limited power.
I think the past above sums up the problem of eBikes, m8.
^ exactly.
i think there are two types of ebike riders....
1) people with medical and/or physical problems that need a bit of an assist. My neighbour Jim for example. He's 70 now, keen cyclist all his life but has developed a heart condition and can't let his HR go above about 150bpm.
2) arseholes.
Why, do you think ppl are only allowed to ride if they suffering, or your not interested in allowing people who wouldnt otherwise to get out enjoying the countryside & have some harmless fun? Yet I'm the #2?
It’s almost worth getting one just to annoy people like you.
No, I'm not annoyed at all 😉
Just bit of light Sunday evening ebiker trolling.
still wouldn't be seen dead on one though.
zippy - see point 1, covers your question I think.
Really doesn't, but whatever
I think it must be the lack of exercise that makes all you ebike owners so tetchy.
I’m fit and able, good standard Enduro rider..e-bikes are just such a grin. Surely I don’t have to be disabled to ride one? It’s just another way to ride bikes..what we all love eh?
.
Enjoying the outdoors under your own steam is, for me, the point of going cycling. Technical climbs and my own physical limitations are as much a part of it as anything else. That's why I ride a rigid bike, often singlespeed, I take tools and first-aid too such that I can be as self-reliant as possible.
I'm very happy to acknowledge e-bikes as a great tool for making that accessible to the old/injured/infirm and an increase in trail wear and tear is a price we pay. The proliferation amongst particular kinds of rider however is worrying.
One issue for me is shared by many long-travel full-suspension bikes, the technology allows people to get far enough out of their depth that the consequences are much more serious than they are prepared to accept. Speeds are higher so we are more intimidating and crashes are more violent. The unfit and inexperienced are further from help/home without the navigational, mechanical and physical resource to self-rescue.
The second issue is the creep toward lightweight motorbikes and the inevitable access difficulties that may cause the rest of us. Arguments pointing toward the damage that motorbikes cause on trails are already common in these debates.
If you need one, buy it and use responsibly. enjoy.
If you are new, please take time to develop skills/fitness, why not stick to the trail centres? They're fun and there're usually people around to peel you off trees/call the ambulance/fix your chain
If your interest is in de-restricted ragging around then please, please, go do it in a private woodland or stick to the green lanes/rupps. Don't ruin it for all.
GeForce Junky are you still running stock tyres?
I can highly recommend the Maxxis DHR 2 27.5 x 2.8, I prefer them to the 29er Michelin Wild Mud tyres.
The only problem so far; the Lakes District eats plus tyres for breakfast
<div class="bbp-author-role" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 11px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; display: flex; justify-content: flex-start; font-style: italic; float: none; width: unset; flex: 0 1 auto; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div>
"If your interest is in de-restricted ragging around then please, please, go do it in a private woodland or stick to the green lanes/rupps. Don’t ruin it for all."
Well put ontor, but it'll fall on deaf ears ☹
Enjoying the outdoors under your own steam is, for me, the point of going cycling
That nice for you, and your point is caller?
One issue for me is shared by many long-travel full-suspension bikes, the technology allows people to get far enough out of their depth that the consequences are much more serious than they are prepared to accep
So your advocating a blanket ban on all long travel bikes? (e-bike or otherwise)
The second issue is the creep toward lightweight motorbikes and the inevitable access difficulties that may cause the rest of us. Arguments pointing toward the damage that motorbikes cause on trails are already common in these debates.
An argument repeated by the anti-ebike mongers, which has no bases in reality. E-bike are only ever going to get lighter, more toward normal mtb's not the other way round.
Also if you ever ridden a m/c and an e-bike you would see there is no comparison.
Are you being purposefully obtuse (look it up, it might be your new word for the day)?
His point is that cycling is about the combination of man and machine working in harmony, along with some sweat and effort, to reach your end point.
Add a motor into the equation and the machinery starts to take over.
There are so few pursuits these days where we actually have to work to see a result.
If I were in charge (unlikely to happen, but you never know) there would be a mandatory 12 month period for new MTBers where they would have to ride a rigid SS bike to gain the appropriate skills. Once they passed a test they could then ride whatever they liked 😉
Still trolling eh?
Again what is the point of your comment?
Other than your dislike of them, there is nothing constructive in your/his objections... oh my god the machines are taking over, did Maximum Overdrive scare you silly?
I'll be looking for a new MTB soon, I've got a fat bike and a hard tail XC bike, so would like something with a decent fork and strength to just do downhill, jumps and trail stuff in the local woods.
I'm struggling to see why I wouldn't buy an Ebike for this, other than the increased cost over a similar spec standard bike.
Then again, I really like the look of the new Flare Max or BFE. 🙂
i think there are two types of ebike riders….
1) people with medical and/or physical problems that need a bit of an assist. My neighbour Jim for example. He’s 70 now, keen cyclist all his life but has developed a heart condition and can’t let his HR go above about 150bpm.
2) arseholes
i think there is one type of ajantom
1) arsehole
So your advocating a blanket ban on all long travel bikes? (e-bike or otherwise)
No I don't want anything banned. I just said it was worrying and that I hope people are cautious enough to not severely injure themselves by letting the machine get them into trouble. It's a bit like learning to ride a motorbike on something other than a 600cc+ beast.
The second issue is the creep toward lightweight motorbikes and the inevitable access difficulties that may cause the rest of us. Arguments pointing toward the damage that motorbikes cause on trails are already common in these debates.
An argument repeated by the anti-ebike mongers, which has no bases in reality. E-bike are only ever going to get lighter, more toward normal mtb’s not the other way round.
Also if you ever ridden a m/c and an e-bike you would see there is no comparison.
I have ridden both, but that's irrelevant. There will be an evolution but the bias will likely be toward more power and longer run times rather than lower weight. The whole point is to work less hard for your speed/thrill isn't it?
The significant access issue is that anything with a motor will be mentally categorised with motorbikes by the uneducated majority. Cyclists and e-bikers are not, for the most part, those with a significant say in controlling access. Because the e-bikes will be hard to spot there is the potential for restrictions to be blanket in their application.
Ajantom puts it perfectly:
His point is that cycling is about the combination of man and machine working in harmony, along with some sweat and effort, to reach your end point
Add a motor into the equation and the machinery starts to take over.
Which is exactly why I was expressing a concern that comes about because of stuff like this:
I can’t keep up with them on pedal power alone (despite me be pretty fit). And now i’m hearing all sorts of stuff about them de-restricting and modifying their bikes (because “last week Dave was much faster than me” etc etc they already have bought 2 spare batteries each so they can do more “laps”)
which seems intrinsically linked to e-bikes.
Again what is the point of your comment?Other than your dislike of them, there is nothing constructive in your/his objections… oh my god the machines are taking over, did Maximum Overdrive scare you silly?
No, actually quite serious. Maybe not the mandatory rigid bike but, but it wouldn't hurt.
Take a look at most of the best bike riders about, especially your big air/trick specialists. The majority of them started out on bmxs or dirt jump bikes, either fully rigid or with short travel forks. Look at slopestyle contests - many riders still using hardtails (or very short travel full sus bikes) - they are riding stuff way beyond 99.9% of us here could.
Why? They have skills, not a 180mm skill compensator.
Chuck a beginner on a modern enduro bike and yes, they'll be able to ride most things, but they're more likely to spanner themselves and the trails in the process.
Now ignoring those who use an ebike out of necessity, then adding a motor to a big full sus bike is just an extension of the problem.
Ride what you like. It really won't matter to me. But also expect to have the piss mercilessly ripped if you do.
@ Lester. I'm actually really lovely in person 😘
im sure you are, so am i but i dont completely fit in your category 1 so according to your logic lol.
i have a few bikes and one of them is an ebike,
What i take issue with, is people having an uninformed opinion.
I reckon 90% of the people on e-bikes here on singletrack are your average mountain bikers,like you are at the moment.
I can only recall one person who has an ebike having anything but praise for them, few of these same people use an ebike as their only bike. So they have an informed opinion on having an ebike. Fair enough if people want to argue against e-bikes,for a variety of reasons, but why would anyone take any notice of the uninformed?
ill be riding my non e bike 3 times this week, and possibly my e-bike for a longer ride at the weekend.
@ajantom
If I were in charge (unlikely to happen, but you never know) there would be a mandatory 12 month period for new MTBers where they would have to ride a rigid SS bike to gain the appropriate skills. Once they passed a test they could then ride whatever they liked 😉
the best rider i know, does not come from that back ground, and he is the person who told me i needed to try one, and get one.
I didn't say all, just many.
Some very good riders from MX backgrounds too....Gwin was an MXer wasn't he?
I used to love green laning on my old Honda XR250.
On the other hand I enjoy riding long distance under my own steam - hopefully doing a 40ish mile XC ride tomorrow. I like 'the burn'! That is IMO part of what cycling is about.
Yes, I've heard the 'but it's still hard work on an ebike, I sweat and everything, it just let's me go further and do more DH runs.'
Well do you know what, just go a but less far, but have the satisfaction of knowing it was all you. And get fitter. Then go further.
Ride what you like. It really won’t matter to me
And yet you keep post about it and trying to tell people what and how they should ride.😚
Sitting at home with a sicky 4 year old and a vacuum cleaner of a 6 month old. Need to do something between feeding one and clearing up after the other 😉
I'll wander away from this thread now.
if you had an e bike, you could go out later and do twice as many miles in the same time to relax from dad duties
I'd rather do half the miles and not feel like I'm cheating.
" you had an e bike, you could go out later and do twice as many miles in the same time."
Never felt twice the miles equals twice the enjoyment. I've got vehicles with engines for that.......hang on a minute 😉
not feel like I’m cheating.
I wasn't aware there were any rules to just going out for a ride.🤔
Ok I'll clarify, cheating myself. Though I suspect you know quite well what I meant 🍩
Yep it's clear that you think people you don't know should for some odd reason stick to some rules that only exist in your mind.🤡
"I’m struggling to see why I wouldn’t buy an Ebike for this, other than the increased cost over a similar spec standard bike."
Because it would mean you had given up in life..... And you would be dead to me...
There was a group yesterday using a shuttle service despite them ALL riding sodding bikes with motor support. Ducks.
Yep it’s clear that you think people you don’t know should for some odd reason stick to some rules that only exist in your mind
Come on it's cycling, we all know there are rules 🐓