[Closed] Who on here has an Ebike and

I thought you had to be 14 to ride one?

Yeah, happened to me at BPW. Only it was a 10 year old at best.

Was thinking "are you trying to make your kid fat in the future or what?"

it was a shit bike and a shit ebike - looked shit, fast up, rode like a fairy down

I’ve always had a mtb but not really used it, so last October at 50 years old I bought an ebike, cycling for me is about the speed and Adrenalin, it’s not done to get fit or lose weight and I have zero interest in doing it for those reasons. This being one thing ‘cyclists’ struggle to understand and plenty dislike as they like to see people suffer to get the reward. I wasn’t overweight or unfit but I wasn’t fit enough to enjoy a normal bike ride at the speeds I wanted too. The ebike changed all that and I’m out on it 3 or 4 times a week at the local trail centre and further afield once a month. I have gained a lot of fitness and sometimes take the normal bike but there’s no substitute for the speed an ebike gives. To compare that speed at the local trail centre red route I am quicker than every normal cycle time on strava, there’s some much younger and fitter riders and me as a newbie 50yr old is quicker and as such I get the Adrenalin kick of going this speed. In simple terms it’s epic 😁

rode like a fairy down

FFS, it was a 12 year old kid!!

A lot of none ebikers seem to assume ebikers can’t ride too, no idea why as I’ve passed loads of non ebikes on downhill sections. Maybe it’s an ego thing because they got passed going uphill they need to tell everyone else it’s ok guys I passed them going downhill.

However not sure a Kid should be on one they’ve got time to ride a normal bike, of course there’s the other myth that an ebike won’t get you fitter or lose weight, if you’re gonna ride at a normal bike pace then it takes little effort but you can still ride an ebike and try as hard as you can physically.

I have one.
The reason ?
Because it's a fun bike to ride
Just like my other bikes are fun to ride in different ways.

What Stu said.

Mrs M has one for various health reasons, watching her smash down the Nutcracker on Dartmoor after various mates had minced was hilarious.  Valkyrie on wheels😁

rationale?

Geex
We'll be up your way the week after next
I'll give you a shout about s ride or two.
You still on the same number?

I have one used as a utility bike. I don't own a car, its nice to be able to get around the city without breaking sweat and to tow heavy stuff around in a trailer

I have ridden it off road. I hated the weight and the range was crap. Let me down on the way home after 40 miles.

I have one because I like it.
As someone else said above, I don’t ride to get fit or lose weight, I can manage that without riding a bike.
I ride bikes for fun (commuting included), and ebikes are great for that.

As it happens, since owning an ebike, I have ridden more and got fitter and lost weight.

I know right?! It’s [i]almost [/i]as if most of the things think they know about ebikes aren’t actually correct 😂

Mrs t-r uses the one off our utility bike(long tail cargo bike)at the moment

To keep up* with her riding buddies on cafe runs.

* Well she is 31 weeks pregnant so I think it's allowed.

They’re fun. Different kind of fun from my other bikes.

Also great for exploring and finding new trails while the possibility of finding yourself at the bottom of a dead end descent with nowhere to go but back up isn’t a worry.

Attacking climbs as though they’re descents is hilarious.

Great wee personal uplift bike for Dunkeld/Innerleithen etc.

Fun.

Isn’t that why we all ride?

Yeah Stu same number. be cool to hook up for a ride.

Three separate blokes were evidently not happy with me catching them up on the climb at Lady Cannings this weekend and I wasn’t even on an ebike 😀

👍

Fun.

Isn’t that why we all ride?

Apparently not.

Lol at all the people on here who aren't addressing the core question - why are 10 year olds on ebikes? Surely that's not healthy for their development?

Lol at all the people on here who aren’t addressing the core question – why are 10 year olds on ebikes? Surely that’s not healthy for their development?

Lol at “the core question” 😂

Why shouldn’t kids ride ebikes?
because we didn’t have them when we were kids?

Why is is it “not healthy for their development” ? (Show your working)

A kid out in the countryside riding an ebike is getting a shitload more excercise than 90% of his classmates who are playing Fortnite all weekend with the curtains closed.

I don't see a problem with it.
I was on MX bikes from the age of 5. Didn't stop me from riding BMXs and MTBs.
Once they'd been invented.😀

You're right. Is an entirely new tiny outlying niche of this topic that we have not yet fully basted in vitriol and then torched with the flames of righteousness. Let's go there

Had post viral fatigue at age 32 and a few years later I got over it. Built a nice trail bike up and got out once a week but struggled a bit if I did too much. Just happened to try a trek ebike and bought one following week. I’ve found I get out a few times a week and absolutely love exploring or taking it up the mountain bike centre hitting the jumps. So stable and fast downhill compared to my other bike on plus tyres, it’s just a whole lot of fun. Also feel fitter on normal bike as I guess I’m pedalling more times per week. Biggest advantage of them is doing 10 miles after work in half an hour.

why are 10 year olds on ebikes? Surely that’s not healthy for their development?

Because when you're ten, a bike that goes really fast is fun. As it is when you're an adult. Would you have sneered at a kid on a motorbike?

My daughter's ten, she can't manage much in the way of hills, which puts her off and she doesn't want to ride a lot. She'd have a shitload more fun on an e-bike if we could afford one and probably ride more.

You do still have to put effort in on ebikes you know. You just go faster.

Because I can.

Perfect for riding steep trails where you have no interest in the climb and just want to get as many runs as possible.

I still have normal MTBs too which still get used.

I love mine. I commute on it every day, sometimes via the trails, always via a little urban fun, and it’s my main MTB too. Ride it unassisted most of the time when with others, full turbo mostly when solo.

what is your reason/rationale? Just wondering after seeing a kid of 12-13 go past me on a fire rd up lady cannings and thinking “wtf!”

Maybe their parents are mountain bikers and thought an ebike for their child would be a great way to spend time as a family.

All the kids on e-bikes round here go round with e-cigarettes hanging out their gobs.

I have a 29er hardtail with pannier racks and built in lights for the daycare dropoff. We live at the top of a 250m climb so it's hard enough doing that at the end of working day but doing it with a toddler and all the trappings is a step too far.

Works well for us, the missus and I take it in turns to ebike and the other commutes on their normal bike.

hen I'm on the cross bike and get over taken by grannies I'm like **** you ebikers, when I'm on the ebike I'm a smug ****.

Why would anyone need to provide reasoning or rationale?

Compared to a kid on a normal bike, a kid on an ebike does seem a bit odd.

What about a kid on an ebike compared to a kid sat in front of an xbox or whatever? Better for them to be out riding an ebike than sat on their arse.

Kids outgrow bikes super fast though, so an ebike is going to be an expensive outlay every couple of years!

Why would anyone need to provide reasoning or rationale?

You new here?

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I have one. It has a basket on the front and a bottle opener on the frame.

Cart stuff to BBQ in the park - check
Drink beers from the coolbag that goes in the basket - check
Whizz off to the bogs for a whizz - check

I have one due to heart issues. Now recovering from open heart surgery so still using it. I'm hoping to switch back to a regular bike in the future as I'm not keen on manhandling the weight (and I have pipe cleaner arms).

Biggest advantage of them is doing 10 miles after work in half an hour

Bingo. I enjoy commuting by bike far more than by Northern Fail but it's hard to justify when going 10 miles to work takes an hour in the morning vs taking a train in 30-40 minutes. The return journey is a little easier to justify as it takes about an hour to come home by train (Grr timetables). If I could go faster and maybe not sweat as much on an ebike then that's worthwhile. My ebike's due to arrive some time this month.

All the kids on e-bikes round here go round with e-cigarettes hanging out their gobs.

The bikes and the ecigs are funded by central government as giving people an easy target to achieve a false sense of superiority is good for the economy 👍

i have one because its loads of Fun

Cargo bike/commute so not hot and sweaty/replace a car/health reason/pregnant - all valid imo
Struggle to see why for a "normal" fit healthy adult tbh - but thats me and we are all different.

Just see it as a "lazy option" but i am grumpy and blinkered. Suppose it's not that much different to having gears??

I don't have one because I can't afford one. That's the only reason.

I've had a go on a couple, they're great fun, it makes the boring parts of a ride easy and the fun bits are pretty much the same.

If I wanted to go out and get fit if go on my road bike, if I want to smash some descents I'd love an ebike to do it on. One would be great for playing at Stile Cop

How does and ebike help on descents off road?

I am 71 I will ride what I want.

I don’t have one because I can’t afford one. That’s the only reason

Same here. Done a few demos and they are great fun. I can keep up with my kid, unlike on a mountain bike! Thing is, it is pretty much like riding a motorbike, you pedal instead of throttle, of course, but the effort it takes is minute in comparison to an actual bike.
Downhill isn't as much fun, because of the weight of the thing. Some may (will!) disagree, but it's far more enjoyable flicking a sub 30lb bike down a technical descent than it is a lump of a thing with a motor that you aren't using. That said, for long jaunts out into the hills, very enjoyable. Especially when you have a dicky heart!

mariner - will chuck age into the mix to. If it allows old fellas like you to get away form homes under the hammer it is a good thing

iamanobody

Member
How does and ebike help on descents off road?

You're not knackered from the climb at the top of them, plus you can keep going up and down more often than if you were walking in the same time. On the actual descent it makes no difference, especially unless you make a mistake because you're tired.

"Struggle to see why for a “normal” fit healthy adult tbh – but thats me and we are all different.

Just see it as a “lazy option” but i am grumpy and blinkered. Suppose it’s not that much different to having gears??"

So to expand on my earlier answer, I used to commute every day on my normal MTB but once I started lifting heavy in the gym quite a few days a week, there was only so much my legs could handle in terms of commuting pedalling and squatting and proper MTBing. So for a while I used my wife's old 50cc scooter for a lot of the commuting to let my legs recover. And for a couple of years I've had Timmy C of rock music fame hassling me to get an e-MTB because he's a mad keen MTBer, the sort of person who holds KOMs uphill and downhill, but says he's fitter than ever and rides more and enjoys it more since going E. And then the scooter got written off...

The e-bike I got has very similar geometry to my full-sus but with bigger wheels and 10mm more rear travel. It also has a better fork (Lyrik RC2). The more I rode it the more I realised that it was better at everything except climbing with the motor off, and that only becomes obvious as it gets steeper. It's quicker on the flat and downhill. I prefer how it jumps. I prefer how it corners. And obviously when I use the assistance it's way quicker uphill - but on group rides I often leave it switched off. I like the extra challenge of knowing that I'm hauling a weight handicap up the climbs.

So I sold the full-sus a few weeks ago and just have the 29er 150mm full-sus e-bike with 160mm Lyriks and my 27.5 hardtail with 150mm Pikes.

"How does and ebike help on descents off road?"

The ebike advantage is that it has a better ratio of sprung to unsprung weight so the suspension works better and the low centre of gravity improves the stability. The flip side is you need more strength to move it about. Maybe I'm weird but it seems that the more stable a bike is, the more playful I find it because it gives me the confidence to throw it about aggressively.

full and comprehensive answer which actually makes sense rather that the usual diatribe around "because i can" etc
Still think its for lazy bastards if no health issue though or replace a engined vehicle

Struggle to see why for a “normal” fit healthy adult tbh

Honestly - what does it actually matter?

This e-bike moaning is very revealing. It seems many cyclists see their fight against gravity as a badge of superiority, a way to feel better than other people. Fascinating.

And there's me thinking life was about enjoying yourself, but apparently it's about rank, hierarchy and value judgements.

i have an ebike and 3 -ebikes. all good fun which is why i ride

i think we need two more forums
e bike love and e bike hate

Still think its for lazy bastards if no health issue though

So if I take my Ebike to an uplift destination and pedal up on it instead of jumping on the bus am I a lazy bastard or the people in the bus lazy bastards?
How about if I do a ride on one of my none ebikes then go out again later in the day on the ebike? Still a lazy bastard?
How about if I'm nackered from a couple of non ebike rides over the weekend and want to ride on monday after work so go out on my ebike anyway.
Lazy bastard?
😄

ok I lied i only bought one to keep up with my lazy bastard mates who like riding ebikes. I hate it really

I've seen how much you hate riding it sofaking.😉

ok I lied i only bought one to keep up with my lazy bastard mates who like riding ebikes. I hate it really

What did you buy anyway, a Levo or Kenevo?

I first bought a E HT, my back hated it as it was made of pig iron, so soon swapped it for a Merida E120, I don't need the long travel as I get scared popping off a kerb nowadays just preferred the comfort 😉

Hi Martin . i went for a levo and love it. i didnt buy it for riding locally but since buying it i have been doing extra rides close to home because its so much fun

Singlespeedstu if you had gears you wouldn’t be knackered 🤪

Matt, they are fun, but don't tell anyone as it will ruin the thread 🙂

i think most people on here just hate them without ever having tried them for enjoyment, which would deprive them of standing on the higher ground

I demoed a Specialized Turbo Levo a couple of years ago. Only got half an hour on it and thought it was hilarious fun.

Out in lake garda this week and spent a full day on a Cannondale ebike yesterday. No idea what model but a full day has convinced me to buy one. Not as my main bike but I have a bird aeris 120 which is fun but I barely ride so that'll get punted and some ebike will replace it. They definitely have a place in my lineup if they're used properly and aren't just because of laziness. I'll still ride my Hightower mainly but for solo rides where I want to get more riding in, I can see the ebike getting used there mostly

I have an ebike. I'm 44, and don't get to ride as much as I'd like. The ebike is a good motivator to head out for a 1-2 hour blast when I get a moment. I am looking forward to some Alpine exploration this summer (3 weeks in Brianconnais/Queras). I have been exploring a bit more closer to home too. I wish some of my pals had ebikes as I am sometimes a bit lonely, and even riding at 20% support I outpace them.

When I ride with my kids (8 & 5) I ride my fatbike. I was lamenting the limited uphill range of my 8yo. He is quite a good wee rider, but hasn't got the strength or stamina for sustained uphill. I tow him (non-ebike) up to the top of Spooky Wood. This is HARD WORK. I would love it if he had a scaled down ebike to extend his range. We could go out for ride that was great for both of us and his riding would come on no-end.

Got one as a present to myself after finishing my golf course design degree.

I have a couple. Why? Because I can. If I had to choose one bike it would be my 27+ slack hardtail. I don’t have to choose (I’m lucky) so had an Enduro bike, trail bike, hardtail and an ebike. I’m sure lots of people are in the same position, probably for different reasons!

Ebike is lots of things. It’s a tool for trail building, it’s a tool for exploring, its fun for very big days in the mountains, it’s cool for after work rides (my work is pedaling) and it’s a nice option to have. It is also great for popping down the hill to the pub, or towing my daughter up the massive hills round here.

I thought I would hate it, then I tried it and thought I would love it, now I’m used to it and just quite like it.

I have loads of health issues, none of which stop me riding any bikes, but I waited until my 40th birthday and bought myself a second hand Levo. I should of got one years ago, the only down side is seeing my traditional bike as a clothes hanger.

Im 41 never had a drivers license and can out climb 99% of the riders out there unless they are full on pro's or soon to be. Ive got 3 ebikes. They are great for motorpacing, running errands or hauling cargo.

I carried a big rug on the back of one the other night. Looked a right sight! xD

Bafang 750w is the best kit. Put it on a hybrid with big hydro rotors.

My partner and I both have ebikes and no longer have other bikes. Why?

We live in the French Alps where the uphills are long, dull and steep. The ebikes allow us to:

- ride off-road uphills where non ebikers are taking the tarmac (turning local rides into off road cross country rides, rather than just all about the descent)
- ride steep, techy uphills where non ebikers are pushing
- uphill 'flow' 🙂 - a whole new technical challenge
- spend more time on the bike than in the uplift van/on the lifts
- making a 1.5hr uphill & 25 mins down into 25 mins up, 25 mins down and repeat (on different hills).
- getting to the top of the hill at the same time as my partner
- being happy riding away from the lifts, therefore discovering new trails and empty trails
- have explored wo much more since getting the ebikes and a great way to do some trail building/maintenance

The only negative is not wanting to ride with friends who don't have ebikes. Though they are getting so popular over here, that gradually they are 'converting'

Today I met " competitive commuter" on my way to work. I think seeing me whizz up the hill messed with his head and it certainly amused me

Im 41 never had a drivers license and can out climb 99% of the riders

Glorious. Have you got a link to your record so you can check? My experience is those that shout the loudest rarely are good. The good ones are quiet and modest

Glorious. Have you got a link to your record so you can check? My experience is those that shout the loudest rarely are good. The good ones are quiet and modest

You should see his polling numbers, he has the best polling numbers, period.