[Closed] Your typical e bike user?

its true people are indeed lazy by default

One day in my dotage i will own one but i really cannot be bothered getting annoyed because someone rides a type of bike i dont.

Has it been a full day since the last one yet?

[IMG] [/IMG]

Ummm, me, retired, ebike for the road, it's a Trek Super Commuter. Ordinary ( human powered) mountain bike.

probably ride a total of around 80 miles a week in most weathers.

No sitting around for me, pretty much active most days.

Reading a book most evenings, just started doing yoga at home to help keep flexible.

Am I typical? Dunno, but should be interesting to see other replies.

Riding was a way to reverse the trend of modern laziness. But now a way has been found to to circumvent that.

i get up in the morning and judge people I know nothing about, before going to work at a desk etc etc

Makes me feel much more superior, because well, I am.

Touch me.

45 years old

Sales rep driving 40k a year

Needs something new and fun to play with.

Group of mates all getting ebikes so we are on a level pegging

Levo ordered

typical ebiker?

Is this really a fitting way to use the amazing body gifted to you by nature?

TBH, hunter-gatherers are pretty lazy. All this "God hates lazy people" nonsense is the work of religious nutters.

They're just people on bikes. Same as anyone else riding a bicycle.

My parent's just bought a couple of Trek Powerfly's.

Dad claims to have invented mountain biking in the Lake district sometime in the 60's/70's (not quite as cool an origin story and the repack) and has spent most of his working life in the countryside and I don't think he's ever commuted.

My girfriend just bought a Carrera Vulcan-E to commute on once the weather improves. She's probably closer to your stereotype, but won't be bothering any strava times and it'll be nice to go out for longer rides together as she has no interest in the masochistic elements of cycling like spending a whole winter puttin in the miles in order to enjoy a few nice weekends in the summer.

Is this really a fitting way to use the amazing body gifted to you by nature?

Nature (or god) also gave it cancer and a whole host of other shit.

Or someone who is on their feet all day, doing a stressful manual job for 9 hours a day and still rides their 'normal' MTB as well perhaps?

Judgemental, it's not an attractive feature.

rollingdoughnut

No you've got that wrong on my book.

In my case, it allows me to get out on the bike more and stay active.

I have some trouble with strength and arthritis, riding the mountain bike which I really enjoy takes it out of me due to the rougher terrain etc.

I prefer to ride a normal powered mtb off road, but could probably only manage about one ride per week of say 30 miles.

Having an ebike for the road allows me to get out more, more exercise for body and mind. Also use it for transport, so one less car on the roads.

Good for me, and good for the environment.

When I was younger I used to ride 12,000 miles a year normally, just wish I could do that now, so I have to alter my cycling habits.

There isn't a one size fits all in most cases.

Genuinely don't see the issue with them...if it gets people riding then all good. Like the plethora of bike types already available for doing the same thing - it adds variety and choice, so all good.

Someone who used to drive to work, but now rides their ebike in the same clothes they drove in?

I'm outraged and so's my wife..
I've already penned a letter to my bank manager....
Darling Facist BullyBoy. May the seed of your loin be fruitful in the belly of your woman. Boomshanka!

You started projecting yourself in your dumb generalisation when you said "guy" and you just carried on from there. 0/10.

In my mind the average guy who’ll buy an ebike will be the person who gets out of bed, sits in a car to get to work, sits all day at a desk, drives home and sits around all evening watching TV. Come the weekend, joy! A new type of bike has come out that halves the effort involved in going for a ride.

And slowly the human race are turning themselves into slugs

Masochism is a roadie thing.

I have a E-mtb

Little background info

Used to cycle 100 miles a week to work, went out on the road bike at weekends, averaged around 5000+ miles a year just on the road bike, im generally quite fit, not a lazy person

Also been a bmx'er for 25+ years and riding mtb's for the last 15 years

A year or so ago we had our first child, which now means i have to drive to work every day  to drop him off at our parents who live near my work, so no more riding to work, no more evening rides

At the weekends my time is limited due to the wife wanting to spend time as a family

So family life has reduced my riding time significantly

The E-mtb is perfect, means i can go out for a ride and cover the same sort of distances in around half the time

If im not pushed for time i can put in eco and change and the settings in the app to give me a real work out (much harder than a normal mtb)

If i didn't have the E-mtb i would get much less riding done than i do now!

Once the kid grows up enough to be ok on his own or i have more free time ill jump back on a normal bike, till then the E-mtb works perfectly for me

Dont care what people think about E-mtb's, it allows me to go have fun and unwind in a short amount of time and thats all that matters to me

Most of the people i know who ride don't ride for fitness, they ride for FUN!!!!!!

Just like they did as kids and guess what E-bikes make riding off road even more fun!!!

"Riding was a way to reverse the trend of modern laziness. But now a way has been found to to circumvent that."

Who for? For you? It's not for me. I do get great satisfaction from riding a bike uphill, I'm fit (I just got 5th at the Strathpuffer) but what riding is for you and I isn't for everyone. It's just a bit of fun for most people, not a statement about the state of the modern world. Most people I've seen with them are middle aged blokes who were mountain biking anyway who use them to ride further in the time they have available.

A new type of bike has come out that halves the effort involved in going for a ride

I assume you only ever ride into huge head winds in the pouring rain and subzero temps then as a reduction in your effort is a "bad thing"?

I see commuter e-bikes, and cargo e-bikes as the perfect transition from a car-based society - while the government tries to flog us expensive electric cars to sit in traffic jams in, many non-athletic people could swap their car for an electric assist bike for their short commute or town chores, and get fit as a side-effect, because you still have to pedal.

As for e-mountain bikes, I see a plenty of people putting their bikes in an uplift trailer at trail centres and then jumping in a stinky mini bus rather than riding up hills, surely a leisurely cruise back to the trail head on an e-bike would be preferable!

Surely lazy people book uplifts?

edit: 25 seconds too late.

I must admit, I'm surprised there are enough people willing to spend in excess of £3K on something you still have to pedal to make it a viable market. As far as I can tell, there are two distinct types of ebiker.

1. Keen cyclists who were already used to spending a fair bit on nice bikes but who, for whatever reason, appreciate having a bit of motor assistance. For these people an ebike is great but I wonder if there are enough of them to sustain this interest from the manufacturers.

2. More sedentary types who think that an ebike will encourage them to get out more. I know a couple of people like this, but in both cases (after an initial flurry of excitement) the ebike is now sitting in the shed along with the rowing machines and other stuff that they thought would now make them more active. Basically, if you don't enjoy cycling you don't suddenly enjoy going a bit further for the same effort.

Although I've got nothing against the people who ride them, I see ebikes as a negative development, but not for the reasons usually quoted. I see it as a symptom of a decline in cycling, particularly among the young. So, rather than pushing new bikes at fit young things the manufacturers are increasingly having to focus on the existing group of (now ageing) cyclists.

In my mind the average guy who’ll buy an ebike will be the person who gets out of bed, sits in a car to get to work, sits all day at a desk, drives home and sits around all evening watching TV. Come the weekend, joy! A new type of bike has come out that halves the effort involved in going for a ride.

so you’re saying that the person who previously would have spent the weekend sitting on his arse watching TV will now go out and do something that’s significantly more active than sitting on his arse, but requires somewhat less effort than full on mountain biking?

I'm waiting to hear the down side...

Your typical e bike user?

People who wanted an e-bike, so bought one?

Is there a typical e-bike rider?

No.

They are not for me (I ride 7kg fixed gear bikes) but if I was to use one I would just end up riding as long and put as much effort in while going faster and longer.

37 years old, spent the last year laid up after a fairly spectacular ankle injury (almost lost the foot).

Still unable to ride long distances on a conventional MTB without considerable pain. .

Work, commute and 2 young children means opportunities for MTB rides only come along about twice a month in the winter, although I've been going to the gym since October to try and make up for this.

Got an E-bike so that when these precious ride windows come along I can go further and keep up my now considerably fitter mates.

If you have a problem with that then you're the one with the problem, not me.

e bike use v normal bike use is the same as riding a 2x11 bike versus a single speed, they are both riding but no one criticises the rider getting the benefit of all those gears

cycling is cycling, as long as you still pedal it i'm all for it. twist and go though is another matter entirely

I do concede to all your points. I don't usually get involved in these discussions as I don't particularly enjoy confrontation. For some reason the whole electrification and computerisation of everything really frustrates me. Up until recently cycling was an escape from all this 'progress', which is why I now feel exasperated by the emergence of this technology.

I know I'm a bit of a silly idealist, but I do think people are generally happier when not buying so much stuff and not having to spend every waking hour working to afford it

whole electrification and computerisation of everything really frustrates me. Up until recently cycling was an escape from all this ‘progress

That's the joy of cycling, if you'd rather ride a full rigid steel single speed.. you can, nobody's forcing you to embrace the tech.

For shorter rides I still have my trusty steel 29er hardtail, which I'm sure will get more use as my ankle recovers, but for now I need a tool for a job and an E-bike is that tool.

they are pedal assist, not rev and go. climbing is BORING. if i can ride twice as far / do twice as many descents in the same allotted time as my normal ride, why the hell wouldn't I?

you are still outdoors, on your bike, pedalling away - how is that lazy?

i haven't got one btw, but i frickin want one.

For some reason the whole electrification and computerisation of everything really frustrates me. Up until recently cycling was an escape from all this ‘progress’, which is why I now feel exasperated by the emergence of this technology.

But no-one's come along and electrified or computerised your bike. You're getting exasperated about other people's bikes. (And perpetuating that by inventing their decision process to fit your exasperation.)

I bought an ebike at Christmas because I wanted one. I’d given up diving earlier in the year and the cash was burning a hole in my pocket when a decent spec’d bike up at a very good price and I love it.

I can ride it in Eco and 25-30 hard miles (HRM doesn’t lie) or I can ride it in eMTB mode and have an absolute blast for 18-20 and still work hard. On my clockwork bike 15 miles is a struggle; I’m underfit and overweight and have Sciatica which ****s me up if I do too much. I’m also getting out pretty much every weekend rather than once a month.

The think about ebikes is they're wicked fun, usually the people moaning about them haven't tried them. If I had the money I'd buy one just for sheets and giggles.

I genuinely do not care.

A new type of bike has come out that halves the effort involved in going for a ride.

but what if you use it to ride for the same time and effort but go further? Or is that not in your imagination of lazy ebiker?

It's clear you haven't ridden one.

Been mountain biking since the 80’s, and retired nice and early (47 and retired at 40)

Ride 3 times a week, all over the uk and lots of trips to the Alps, Whistler etc etc etc.

Have a “few” pedal power bikes.

Bought it originally due to a knee injury that was keeping from my mid week rides.

Found out it was Awsome fun and I’m now addicted to it. Best bike I have ever owned for fun. I ride it has hard as I can and always knackered at the end of ride and still have the biggest smile (which is what it has always been about for me). Strava my arse.

First time I saw somebody on one I though the same as most people... but now think once youve ride one you’d be hard pushed not to want one.

I nearly got one, but I bought a conventional MTB instead. I'm 62 and all my riding buddies are younger (a lot, in some cases), so I thought it would help me to keep up. However, I thought about lifting it over stiles, in and out of cars and walking/ carrying up stuff in the Lakes and decided to put off the inevitable a bit longer. I got the lightest MTB I could (just about) afford ......

E-bikes aren't my bag, I quite like knowing all the motive force for my ride has all come from me both on and offroad, but that is entirely my own thing, others can ride what they like.

I can't see them ever really being used (legitimately) in any form of competition as that sort of undermines the human effort element of things, but again most people aren't actually racing 99% of the time...

I've done uplifted DH in the past so can't really pick on e-bikers for being too lazy to pedal up and "earn their turns"...

I'd always be cautious about stereotyping based on people's purchasing choices OP; yes I'm sure a proportion of E-bikers will be "Cash rich - time poor" individuals, but why is that something for you to take exception to, differing lifestyles, priorities and expectations are just part of life's rich tapestry...

We're all on a scale somewhere between constructing our shelter from woven reeds and mud, while feeding/clothing ourselves only with the animals and berries we can trap/gather, or else profligate frittering away of money on mansions, sportscars and caviar...
The poorest people are those constantly caught up noticing everyone else's circumstances rather than living their own lives...

Ive seen this statement about half the effort a few times now, (not only in this thread)

i use a hrm when riding, and my heart rate goes higher when riding the ebike than it does a normal bike, its not a lot higher, but it is higher.

when i went and tested the one I bought, i went up and down the street on it, the shop owner pointed out to me that i was out of breath, I hadn’t even noticed.

Mine was bought purely because i wanted one, but ive ridden more this past year than I have for years before that, although it will probably be the only one i ride this year, as i try to rehabilitate my broken leg.

EDIT: cookeaa, well said.

My sister (dodgy hips) and her husband (terminal cancer, now dead) bought e-bikes a couple of years back to get out and about. She now uses both (one a commuter/trekker type Raleigh, the other a decent spec Spesh hardtail) for commuting, shopping, towpath riding and 1-3 night camping trips. I wish she was your typical e-bike rider - but fear she isn't.

As a healthy 50 year old I'd be frackin embarrassed to be seen on one, personally.

I would guess the typical ebike user is great at nourishing those who live under bridges.

Personally don't want one, can't see that changing (I'd get a motorbike though if I thought I had a chance of using it safely). Unless I got a very particular disability. As it is I usually get more out of breath descending than climbing (as the fun distracts you from the effort down a hill!) and am happy enough with what I can get in ride wise in a couple of hours.

Of course e cargo bikes are a different matter.

Worth a reply just to list out the "types" of e-bike user I've met so far...

- Older rider got one to keep up with younger, fitter mates

- Fit, skilled racer got one to fit more descending into a short-ish ride

- Older couple got hybrid-style e-bikes to enjoy countryside

- Newbies on hired e-bikes (or just matching) in Peak District

- Overweight couple on Bultaco e-motorbikes

So I've not even met two similar e-bikers, let alone identifying a "typical" user.

This is when I went to Swinley and spent the whole time just doing the Labyrinth trails and the other off piste over and over again. No way could I do all the climbing back up so many times on anything other than the ebike.

This is the point where one of Jordan from Sick Bicycles' comments makes incredible sense:

"Don't like a type of bike, or a style of clothes? Maybe it's just not for you"

As a pretty fit 40 year old, I'd definitely consider an E-MTB after trying one out on a ride with mates. Made the crap bits (long climbs and techy climbs) a laugh, and the good bits (flat out descents where the weight added stability) better.

OP - have you tried one yet? Give it a go.

In these discussions we should always differentiate between E-bikes in general and E-mtb's.

"This is when I went to Swinley and spent the whole time just doing the Labyrinth trails and the other off piste over and over again. No way could I do all the climbing back up so many times on anything other than the ebike."

So you absolutely wouldn't be eroding the trails more than if you were on a normal mtb then. 😂

@philjunior, I regularly see a woman im Edinburgh with an E cargo bike, complete with two kids in the front. Looks flippin brilliant tbh.

What's the total elevation gain, time and distance for that Swinley ride Dave?

Curious about what people are doing on ebikes.

So you absolutely wouldn’t be eroding the trails more than if you were on a normal mtb then. 

Probably not, since Ebikes deliver their torque more evenly than normal bikes so chop up the trail less. So even if he rode more, it's less erosion per pass.

But you've ignored every fact about ebikes that paints them in anything less than the negative light you see them in before, so you won't care about that.

Thank you, you've all made me think a bit more about it and that my dislike and assumptions are pretty irrational.

I will try and be less judgemental. Now just near to deal with my hatred of BMW drivers, the media, large corperations.....

😉

I saw a bmw earlier today, using his indicators.

True story

Somebody who can't stop smiling

"What’s the total elevation gain, time and distance for that Swinley ride Dave?"

1900 feet.

As for erosion, it looked exactly the same at the end of the session as it did at the start.

No worse than a fat bloke locking up the back wheel of a hardtail 🙂

I bought two Specialized FSRs on 35% off. One for me and one for my wife. She hasn't been on the bike much since having kids (she previously did well on the Trans-Provence). The eBikes means we can have super fun rides together at the same pace in our now really limited time together without kids.

And they are a total blast!

And they are still a workout! (though more upperbody/core focused from the downhill)

Sometimes I think folks forget that this is a hobby... and it's supposed to be fun...  Their loss...

65 work 40 hours a week
twice a week 15 miles off road at night on normal mtb
once a week ride with my mate during the day, 20 miles.
saturdays 20 mile ride on the ebike,
sundays i sometimes go to my mates bike playground in hertford

i think i ride my normal mtb 1 in 4 rides. sometimes because im knackered. sometimes to explore, sometimes because im feeling lazy, sometimes drop the car somewhere and ride back,
i enjoy my mtb better than the e bike, but on some occasions the e-bike is awesome.

i was advised by my mate, an mtb coach to get an ebike, most of the times i binned it was towards the end of a ride when i start getting knackered.

Mountain bike guide wanting a bike to get to trails for cleaning and building on rest days. I’m not sure if that’s typical or not. I’ve got two coming in March for that, plus bringing picnics to inaccesible places plus trail finding. I’m also looking at running trips where you link several days together, maybe with a second battery strategically used. I see lots of cool possibilities.

I saw a bmw earlier today, using his indicators.

it wasn't me. I rode my fixie today. 😉

I’ve got one friend who rides an e-bike and he’s a pretty serious rider - rides most days, some years back did consecutive years of 1,000,000’ of vertical ascent on his MTBs, has been on the cover of quite a few MTB mags, generally shreds. Swears he’s fitter and lighter than he’s ever been since riding the e-bike almost exclusively for the last year. Keeps telling me I have to buy one and that it’s the sickest thing ever.

Jesus why are e-bikers so defensive?

Because people are calling them slugs.

Oh no....!

Jesus why are e-bikers so defensive?

Because the clockwork boys are mean to us.

"Jesus why are e-mtb'ers so defensive?"

It's always the same with zealots, can't stand it if people don't agree with "their" point of view.

Taxi25 - oh teh ironing.

Rollindoughnut

For some reason the whole electrification and computerisation of everything really frustrates me. Up until recently cycling was an escape from all this ‘progress’, which is why I now feel exasperated by the emergence of this technology.

I don't have a problem with e bikes but what you mention there does chime with me as a general statement about life.

At 49 I now know that not all change is good but I try to accept it as inevitable.

I think the statement I pasted from you is really at the heart of the matter and you aren't alone, not by a long chalk.

Best way to deal with it I find is to just sit back and watch with a wry smile but attempt to be accepting at at same time.

Hope that makes sense? Lol

I have an opinion on a lot of things but am unsure what to make of e-bikes.  Haven’t seen any on the trails and don’t know anyone riding one, but every time I pop into Evans for a spare part or two I see a handful of burly e-rigs being pawed at off the stands.

Me?  I just ride one of my (human powered) bikes when the universe conspires to make it happen.  So until I have a go on an e-bike I’ll probably refrain from passing judgment.

If this story is any guide, e-bikes might get a lot of people to use bikes as an alternative to cars. Can't be a bad thing if cycling is seen as a normal way to get around instead of a niche hobby of lycra clad freaks.

https://slate.com/business/2018/02/e-bikes-could-be-the-next-big-thing.html

If I could afford one I’d consider it. Work long hours and have two young kids so free time isn’t what it used to be. The only things stopping me are money and the fact I’m obsessed with steel hardtails. Shallow Mr Funk likes to ride a bike that’s aesthetically pleasing for him.

This is the reason I bought an ebike.

So I can go riding with my son (in photo) in the beautiful countryside of North Wales. At the age of 64, I'm not particularly fit, and there's no way I could dream of riding up that hill on a normal bike.

Ebikes are brilliant and they are here to stay. You young guys don't need one yet, but bear in mind you may be only one bad accident away from needing one, so embrace them rather than knocking them.

^^Totally agree.👍

e bike use v normal bike use is the same as riding a 2×11 bike versus a single speed,

ROFL

E bike racing is now a real thing the UCI says so or something

Seems like they are mostly grumpy buggers who can't take a joke. Round here the most common MTB type Ebike is ridden by fat middle aged blokes who dress like a cross between a clown and a medieval knight to sit outside the cafe or maybe compete with the 6 year olds and dodders in electric buggies on the gravel.

Other types of rider may be available.

And they say trolls use forums because they have small willies lol.

Seems like they are mostly grumpy buggers who can’t take a joke. Round here the most common bicycle is ridden by fat middle aged blokes who dress like a cross between a clown and a medieval knight to sit outside the cafe

you are Alan Titchmarsh and i claim my free subscription to The Daily Toss 😉

OP - can you do typical foreigners/vegetarians/students/van drivers/women/immigrants/men/youths next?

ah, wrong forum...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/goodlife/11583331/This-cycling-craze-is-out-of-control.html

'brake leavers' 🙄