Forum menu
I don’t get why you make bikes more capable either with extra suspension etc or with an engine and then want the trails made harder so you can enjoy them.
100% this, personally. But simpler bikes have less appeal generally.
Suspension and now e-bikes are part of the tech arms race that has changed MTB. Not for the better or worse, just change. People want to be challenged as well as wanting bikes that are harder to be challenged on. Buy the ability to get away with more then want the challenge to remain. For those with the skills, great - that 160mm bike lets you do things a basic bike won't. Realistically the average trail MTB now is far more capable than perhaps 90% of rider's skill levels.
And motors have only added to that, as well as changed what a bike is at a fundamental level. No wonder there's some kick-back.
RE 'remember when we all hated everyone who had switched over to riding with super powerful V-brakes that were ripping up the trails with their power skids" .. new tech always raises those debates and people generally dismiss the new thing that threatens their sense of what's normal, like e-MTBs do.
Thing is, should everyone ride simple bikes to minimise all this? No, who wants bike tech communism. Everything has pros and cons. Personally I have zero interest in owning an E-MTB, it's just not my thing. But equally my bike preferences would suck for most MTBers. So as long as no-one is wrecking the trails we ride or telling us what we can and can't ride, and no-one is being a dick .. who cares? IMO/IME trail damage and encounters with nobbers on the trail are not increasing or changing because of e-bikes. Maybe heavier bikes and laps are causing more ruts and brake bumps on the most popular trails but they're only 5% of the MTB miles I do. And I've not noticed any different reactions to what I do/ride from other MTBers in 10-15 years (my most-ridden MTB is largely the same as it was in 2011).
You'd hope so wouldn't you? in the same way we've clearly, in the UK, dealt with regulation of electric scooters. And you'd never find reputable, premium, shops tweaking the speed settings on bikes they sell, or selling e bikes with throttle controls. And someone would clamp down on all the e bike speed hack chips. And while we're at it, dark tinted window, reflective number plates, motorbikes with flip up number plates (a whole group of m-bikers at the top of Box hill on Sunday. All got on and as they pulled away (loudly, due to their 'illegal' exhausts) flipped up their plates so they'd be invisible to the average speed cameras on the A24.
And every driver obeys speed limits, etc etc.
A number of e-bike and e-scooter sellers have been shut down or had business made difficult by TS and other regulators but yeah, I'm cynical over the value of regs where the budget for enforcement in general has been cut so far. They do tend to go after the largest companies and most obvious infringements though, so Avinox making a bike that can be derestricted as easily as logging into a website by VPN (if that's what it is, idk and I dgas either) could be an easy target for regulators. Edit to add - whether that is a loophole they could act on, I'm not sure.
I was just thinking after reading through this thread, that when I'm riding my bike or ebike, I really do get lost in my own little world and just don't seem to notice stuff that would wind me up. Which is surprising because at work the merest thing gets on my tits. Slurp your tea, have loose fitting shoes that make a flip flop sound, laugh in an irritating way, laugh at something that just isn't funny, "Happy Friday", ask me to write in someone's birthday/leaving/congratulations card that I barely know, being expected to turn up for team social events, people typing loudly, people asking me about my weekend, people telling me about their weekend, people asking me what I'm eating.
Just a few examples of daily things that annoy me, yet I really can't remember spotting stuff that other riders may have done that winds me up. Maybe we're all just very conscientious round here?
Whilst I'm sympathetic to the wider argument about trail etiquette, the OP and subsequent comments regarding Glentress and Llangegla which are purpose built trail centres with heavy traffic. Surely they should be expecting and be prepared for people to take the path of least resistance to the top?
After doing multiple laps of GT on an enduro race weekend, I wouldn't be thanking you for sending me up that dull drag of a climb again.
I don't think it's just "raptor, big ballz or something else" (jealous of people who actually have riding skills much?) who see climbs as a means to an end to get to the fun bits.
Surely they should be expecting and be prepared for people to take the path of least resistance to the top?
Isnt the entire point of a trail centre that you arent taking the line of least resistance?
I don't think it's just "raptor, big ballz or something else" (jealous of people who actually have riding skills much?) who see climbs as a means to an end to get to the fun bits.
A climb can require good riding skills especially without dabbing, personally I suck at them. A fireroad climb is definitely a means to an end but a proper climb can be technically challenging and fun.
old men shouting at clouds
If only there was a gif on page one expressing this. Oh.
Yeah, I've ordered an Amflow - but! Not! because it has the big ballz power motor - I would've ordered the PX if I wanted that (and had it today! not next month!) I bought the PR because of, well, the price and all the new tech stuff and the range and all that. Please don't be angry if you see me riding on my Amflow. It won't be chipped and it won't be in Boost mode! 😀
(Oh and as said on page one, I won't be cutting corners and making new lines!)
Isnt the entire point of a trail centre that you arent taking the line of least resistance?
i think the point of a trail centre is to provide facilities to allow people to ride bikes off road.
a proper climb can be technically challenging and fun.
no doubt. but I would guess the majority just want to make it to the top of the climb as fast as possible.
I don't have an e-bike. If i'm out for a short spin i may challenge myself on some tech climbs, but if I'm out for a longer day or lapping somewhere I make climbs as easy as I can to save energy for the descent.
A climb can require good riding skills especially without dabbing, personally I suck at them. A fireroad climb is definitely a means to an end but a proper climb can be technically challenging and fun.
Agreed. We used to session tricky climbs sections as well as drop-offs BITD. If e-MTBs popularise climbing ability as well as descending and that comes into unpowered MTB too (longer stays anyone?) I'm all for it. Saw some clips of the power climb sections of an e-MTB event the other day and thought it looked great ...cheating aside ; )
It’s a valid rant, and I believe it 100%.
but i have to agree with sharkattack on this, it’s humans who are the problem.Ebikes don't kill people. People kill people.
Thats the excuse the is gun lobby use too
The same problem exists at all trail centres enike making up their own shortcuts that ruin the trail
Guns don't kill people, rappers do,
I saw it a documentary on BBC2
They're going to come for you.
Although in that meme the cops on horseback are going to deal out some real consequences. In this situation all thats going to happen is a bunch of insular old men are crying on their own whilst the ebikers are totally unaffected and continue to have fun.
Ebikers are losers.
Although in that meme the cops on horseback are going to deal out some real consequences. In this situation all thats going to happen is a bunch of insular old men are crying on their own whilst the ebikers are totally unaffected and continue to have fun.
It's usually the old men that are on ebikes.....
"Yeah, just so happened that since ebikes came along I've developed a problem with my hip/knee/heart/self esteem and that's why I ride an e-bike".
Thats the excuse the is gun lobby use too
The same problem exists at all trail centres enike making up their own shortcuts that ruin the trail
Might have to get some of those e-trainers.
Definitely get up those hills quicker
Sorry, what are we ranting about now? I've lost track. The AI slop image above reinforcing a false link between ebikes and guns has sidetracked me. And as for reaching for boring old homophobic insults to attack people who like ebikes... just grow up, don't live life stunted.
Sorry, what are we ranting about now? I've lost track. The AI slop image above reinforcing a false link between ebikes and guns has sidetracked me.
Whatever you like bud. This thread is still on topic two pages in, time for a diversion so throw your hat in see where you can take it.
@desperatebicycle They're going to come for you.
I don't look very scared in that picture. Only ones I'm scared of are druggie losers 🤣
But look how happy they all are. Smiles for miles.
That was my thought too. Plenty on here could do with some of that happiness.
I'd crack the joke about ebikers and people's wives that got me a 6 month ban from MTBR, but I quite like it here so I'll keep it under my hat.
Just popped in to say I rode my normal bike yesterday for 20 something miles. It was easy.
Legs are tired today. Might ride the e-bike tonight.
Definitely on the regular bike on Friday.
Probably winch n plummet on the e-bike on Saturday. Might do some skids or shoot someone.
Bikes are fun. Options are good.
Just popped in to say I rode my normal bike yesterday for 20 something miles. It was easy.
Legs are tired today. Might ride the e-bike tonight.
Definitely on the regular bike on Friday.
Probably winch n plummet on the e-bike on Saturday. Might do some skids or shoot someone.
Bikes are fun. Options are good.
If you go Deepcar, take a steady first run down Doctors Orders, some trials riders ragged up it Sunday, displacing rocks all over the place.
I think the simplest solution would be to make them completely impossible to tamper with. The gps chip all e-bikes have can tell it where it is in the world and limit itself accordingly. With this approach there would be no need for anyone to have access to the software and over ride it
Can someone please start a new STW Poll?
Question 1.
Do you or have you ever rode in full Lycra?
Yes/No
Question 2.
Do you ride with your mobile phone attached to your Handlebars?
Yes/No
Question 3.
Have you ever heard of Tinker Juarez?
Yes/Who?
Question 4.
Do you hate what EMTB's have done to the sport?
Yes/No
Be interesting to see the results 🎣
No, not even when I've been buff and road riding sucks ass
Have done before I owned a Garmin, but wouldn't now
Yes, legend
No EMTB's are ace
Yes, but not in this millenium
No, never
Yes (I am old)
No, but I'm disappointed by what they have done to group rides. (I own two)
1. Never have, never will
2. Never have, never will
3. Only because of this bloody forum
4. Nope. For me it's not a sport and e-bikes are fun.
1. No
2. No
3. Yes
4. No
No
No
Yes
No
no/no/no/no
🙂
Yes to cause maximum offence.
No why would anybody sane do this.
Yes he overtook me several times in a 24 hr race. Nice chap.
No, some people need all the help they can get.
Can someone please start a new STW Poll?.......
You might need to show your working as to why these questions are relevant to the topic...I'm a bit lost.
Question 4 - language of 'hate' is a bit emotive. And you say 'sport' - not sure that's the right word to describe what most of us do on a bike.
Yes
No
Yes
No. All bikes is gud.
Yes
No
Yes
No
(but failing to see the relevance of the questions)