[Closed] Ebike lovers talk to me

have a look at this first, im just about to go out on mine

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/ebike-haters-talk-to-me

That's why I started it, not a fan of the word "hate"
rather try the love way, its all cycling innit

I love mine. It means I can ride again.

Love mine too, though it hasn't replaced any of my 6 other 'normal' bikes, it kick started my getting fit again. It also means I can get from work to the trails (9 miles away each way) and back home a reasonable mount of time on an evening.

Speaking of getting fit again, it also means mstomhoward can come on training rides and either simply keep up or stay out front, giving me something to aim for.

Outside of training, I love what it does for technical singletrack climbs, you know the kinda jerky, not particularly flowy ones? Makes them more like technical descents. Who doesn't like technical descents...

its all cycling innit

Nope. No it isn't.

Unless that's the only way you can pedal. In which case, yes, it is. Otherwise, no, it isn't.

Demo'd a Giant Full-E+ a couple of weeks back just to see what the fuss was about. It was an absolute hoot, but:
Ridiculously heavy
Noisy
Battery life too short

Huge fun though. I mean proper giggling-to-myself-whilst-riding-along fun, and an absolute weapon on the descents, surprisingly nimble.

I won't be buying one (for a few years at least!), and I've come away more convinced about the merits of plus-size tyres than electric motors. Don't knock it 'til you've tried it.

Nope. No it isn't

Yes it is

Don't have one, but love my wife's. She's been unluckier than me (so far) with injuries and osteoarthritis, so currently ebike is the only way we can ride together. Hoping she'll get fit enough again to use her 'normal' bike.

Tomhoward
Your experience pretty much mirrors mine, after a year im finding im about 50/50 on whether I take my ebike or the cx bike.
Previously, I couldn't go any distance, so just didn't bother.
Plus my wife will come for a ride out, as she can keep up.
Mostly positive from me, the main downside is battery life if used off road.

I love mine- hai bike fat six

but also enjoy my other bikes

was up to dalby red route yesterday - had a great time

gets me out more and further, 3 of my mates have bought hai bikes and a scott with bosch motor on

haters will reduce once they have a go on one -

it was the same on here 8 years ago when i posted a pic of my fat bike- loads of people telling me there was no point in them/ they won't catch on/ etc etc. Now many of these people have one - or at least have had a go on one

I also remember on camera forums years ago, when people were saying digital cameras wouldn't catch on, and that they would always use film camera's etc = hoe many of them use NON digital camera's now I wonder

and in 10 years you try selling a normal bike - you won't be able to give them away

ps - any one want to buy qty 4 minolta dynax 500 camera bodies and lenses that take 135mm film ?

no? - didn't think so !

Love my Levo FSR Comp..

ps - any one want to buy qty 4 minolta dynax 500 camera bodies and lenses that take 135mm film ?

No but you can give me a normal bike, I'll be doing you a favour. I'm a medium and currently missing an mtb bike in the stable. Cheers! 😉

I had a go on my mates t'other day and it was a right giggle.loads of fun. I was also sucking gas cycling up a hill near Heywood, Rochdale and heard someone next to me say "I don't want to embarass you son but I'm 83". This old man had caught up to me on a steep long climb and after speaking was laughing too. Cheeky git.

The old man was called Harold. On an Ebike borrowed from leisure lakes in Bury. He was cool as. Onwards and upwards.

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Been using a Levo HT for a few months now, there'll always be nay-sayers no doubt, don't care, suits my circumstances & love it, as does everyone else who has had a go.

Im curious why saxon thinks its not cycling, it seems it to me, I have had a lot of bikes last one was a bionicon which I thought was the last bike id own I liked it that much, I thought I would hate e bikes and my brother had one and was pecking my head to have a go on it, so I borrowed it for the weekend and thought it was such good fun, the option to make it as hard or as easy as you want, I run mine in eco for most of the time so I can get a work out and I get about 40 miles out of it in the peaks, I did ride to Blackpool last year on it last year which was 65 miles and never used a single bar of the battery, I have to say its been totally reliable and the only down side is the weight, but I am a fairly big fella so lifting it over gates is not usually a problem,

When I have ridden with a group im more than happy to ride in the pack or at the back but I do appreciate some people can be dicks, but as a bit of kit I just think they are brill

some one said to me that a few years ago people had to wind up windows up in cars but now most cars have electric windows, just make the job a bit easier, same with e mail few years ago letters were common now we just send an e mail because its quicker and easier, I think the same kind of things will apply to these bikes

There is always going to be people who like to punish them selves on the hills and that's ok they are doing what they like to do, I like to ride my bike for fun and its a lot of fun, I ride more now than I have ever done,

I don't have one, don't really feel the need for one but i think they're fantastic.

Ride further for the same effort: awesome.

riding an e bike is like watching a great film on tv, but fast forwarding through the adverts 🙂

Love my electric commuter. Gets? me to work without? ending up a sweaty mess. I know i shouldn't, but i do enjoy cruising past the peasants on their manual bikes up hills.
I need to demo a haribike or similar so i can get more runs in at Aston hill and similar.

Oldtalent, you remind me of my grandad who used to say there are too many peasants on the road

Do you think they'll catch on with the road bike scene?

If not, why not?

Do you think they'll catch on with the road bike scene?

Of course not.

If not, why not?

Because roadies aren't wet lettuces

Because roadies aren't wet lettuces

That made me chuckle!

I don't think e-mtbs will replace normal mountain bikes, i think they'll have their place with a certain type of person. I'm just a bit worried about the impact of those certain types of people on the access rights of the rest of us!

I've only had a few minutes one, a Levo, absolutely loved it. I'll be buying one in the next few years but not quite yet.

There is definitely no place for them in road cycling; we all know how cheaters are viewed in road cycling circles.

I also think MTBers need to really distance themselves from E-bikes. The image of MTBing has taken a few hard hits over the last five to ten years; I honestly think the sport will never recover if it becomes too closely associated with E-bikes.

You guys are so lazy

Not your best work there David.
Though I'm glad you're moving back to the more subtle approach.
Less is more.

They will never catch on for road because even a slightly fit person can go faster than the speed limiter with ease.

we all know how cheaters are viewed in road cycling circles.

Riding in big groups on TV usually.

Riding in big groups on TV usually.

😀

They will never catch on for road because even a slightly fit person can go faster than the speed limiter with ease.

Not around here they can't!

They wouldn't be welcome in the road bike scene because quite clearly, they aren't road bikes.

For me, e-mtbs are not mountain bikes either. I can imagine they are great fun but there is a risk that it just aggravates the access issue with other users on mixed trails.

Trail centres, purpose built MTB venues, I've no problem with them at all, i bet they are ace fun.

Do you think they'll catch on with the road bike scene?

If not, why not?

I don't think they will because they're probably too slow for club runs. Yes they'll be faster up hills but likely to be too slow to keep up with the group on the flat.

Only down side is the speed limiter, well that stops the motor helping ya at 15.5 mph .
As I like to travel at about 16 mph you know your pedling the lump .. in one way great for your fitness 😳

For me, e-mtbs are not mountain bikes either. I can imagine they are great fun but there is a risk that it just aggravates the access issue with other users on mixed trails.

Is there the same "risk" from fit riders riding faster than average too ?
15mph isn't that fast, plenty of riders doing that already without assistance, nobody seems to be telling them they are a risk to access rights.

Just a convenient stick to hit ebikes with, to justify your dislike ?

I'll do my stuck record bit… here we go again… I'd like to see ebikes in every home, and the roads (and non-roads) full of them, I love them and their potential to transform our country, but if we ignore the obvious dangers of mountain bikes and ebikes becoming synonymous with each other we might pay a high price…

I'm just a bit worried about the impact of those certain types of people on the access rights of the rest of us!

I can imagine they are great fun but there is a risk that it just aggravates the access issue with other users on mixed trails.

eBike Plus points

I can ride with my mates again 5 years after snapping my foot off.
At the Southampton Bike Park it feels no different going down the trails but I can get my breath back riding back up again
At Bike Park Wales I can get six 'free' uplifts in about the same time as those with tickets
Most of the time I ride with minimum boost which means I still keep fit and can do 50 mile rides

eBike Minus Points
Range anxiety after 45 miles
People being nasty to me before they realise they are criticising a cripple when suddenly they become over the top nice
Weighs a ton when lifting it over fences etc

I can ride with my mates again 5 years after snapping my foot off.

Weighs a ton when lifting it over fences etc

Mates are for helping with the heavy lifting… amoungst other things.

Ebikes can be life changing, and not just for obvious candidates like yourself.

Fat unfit old glass back lard arse just getting back on the bike after a year off

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I don't give a toss if people hate them I'm back riding

If it gets people out doors more that's got to be good, I had a really few bad weeks with depression and it was hard work getting out of bed, I went to the doctors had a very long chat with him about going on medication, counselling etc.,

he asked me what I enjoyed doing told him I had been a life long mountain biker and he said well, I can give you pills and they will take a while to work and will be on them for a while, he said the best advice I can give is get out on your bike, not easy when your in the middle of depression but he said I promise you will feel better
so I took his advice, I try and get out every day even for an hour and I haven't felt this well (in my head) for a long time

if id had a normal bike I just wouldn't have been able to drum up the motivation, its helped me a lot

Fair play milkyman depression is an every thing and it rears it ugly head at anytime mate
Feel ya pain on that one , hope you enjoy your riding pal 8)

Is there the same "risk" from fit riders riding faster than average too ?

Not really. An extra 250w upto 15mph is loads, especially for minutes/hours at a time.

15mph isn't that fast, plenty of riders doing that already without assistance, nobody seems to be telling them they are a risk to access rights.

Again, not really. 15mph is actually pretty fast. Most rides around here average significantly lower than that, that's with the descents skewing the flat/climbing speeds.

Just a convenient stick to hit ebikes with, to justify your dislike ?

I think it's a fair stick to hit ebikes with, hence my comment.

Again, not really. 15mph is actually pretty fast. Most rides around here average significantly lower than that, that's with the descents skewing the flat/climbing speeds.

These people who you think are likely to complain about legal ebikes being used, You think they are complaining about "average" speeds of a ride, door to door.

Or the speed they see for ten seconds while a bike is passing them ?

If it's the latter (which I presume it is) then what difference would it make if we're an ebike doing 15mph uphill, or a non ebike doing 15mph downhill or flat.

None at all, it's the rider that makes the difference, not the bike. If you give plenty of room, and are courteous, it makes no difference what bike you are riding.

but if we ignore the obvious dangers of mountain bikes and ebikes becoming synonymous with each other we might pay a high price…

I'm just a bit worried about the impact of those certain types of people on the access rights of the rest of us!
I can imagine they are great fun but there is a risk that it just aggravates the access issue with other users on mixed trails.

If it's the latter (which I presume it is) then what difference would it make if we're an ebike doing 15mph uphill, or a non ebike doing 15mph downhill or flat.

It's the fact that previously MTBs might doing 3mph uphill, 10mph on the flat and 20mph downhill. On the same trail, E-mtbs can now do 15mph, 15mph, 20mph. Can't you see how that might be an issue for other users of the same trail? It's pretty obvious on a path which direction a MTB might be coming from at speed (downhill!) An e-mtbs could be uphill as well. 15mph is pretty quick when you're out walking, or on a horse.

If you give plenty of room, and are courteous, it makes no difference what bike you are riding.

Completely agree, however the main argument for e-mtbs is how good it'll be to introduce more people to the 'sport' now that the required fitness level is less. So more people on 'mountain bikes', travelling faster, able to cover more distance or do more laps = increased tensions with other users = potential to affect access for normal mountain bikers, especially in national parks where they are a bit touchy about mountain bikers already.

I love the technology of ebikes, on the right trail i bet its great fun to hoon about, uphill and downhill, but that's kinda my point.

i cant see it ending well for the rest of us.