The terrain in that KTM video ^^^^ has to be some of the most boring that I’ve ever seen. If that was the only place I had to ride I wouldn’t bother....
First off you lose a couple of your group to the E-bike crowd. You’re not bothered. But then a few more move over and before you know it, there is just you and the chap from accounts who never talks left. And eventually you need a new bike. What are you going to buy?
Bang on ^^^. This is what's going to get people. No one will want to be the last bloke in a big social group still using his puny human legs, blowing out his ring on every climb and having everyone standing around waiting for him.
In a few years a 'normal' mountain bike will be electrified.
Not sure how it will affect me as I'm a billy no mates. I'd have one out of curiosity but I'd have to buy one for my girlfriend as well which makes a big purchase even bigger.
seosamh77
You should be sheepishly walking away from this thread..
Why, I can't see why.
I said it's a "fast, 30min gravel bike hack at night/early morning" and useful addition to a long bridleway loop around the area as it joins many of them up.
Ride it flat out and it's actually a giggle because of the speed it offers (when it's empty).
I have used that location as an example to add context.
Give up, find better trails!
Yes I did and have. I mentioned that earlier that you may have missed. I head off onto the bridleways. Sad to say there are no gnarly trails round this way. 🙁
The point of this thread was a discussion about ebikes and if they are reaching a tipping point...
I have explained my observations that the increase of them is very noticeable around here, especially at the location I used as the example because of the 'family fun' nature of it... Regardless of your opinion of the place my observation still stands.
So to answer the OP's question. I feel yes, ebikes are nearly ready to take the majority. If not now, maybe in a few years.?
The local shop with flags, roadside signs advertising them and selling them like hot cakes must be a factor in that..
It has brought a new group of riders into cycling that maybe would have not bothered before, they will be recommending them to friends/family too.
The number of riders on here who praise, and use them is another sign they are coming more popular..
I'll be getting one when I'm less able to pedal for whatever reason, no doubt.. And I'll be joining the other fellow ebikers on that sick trail. 🙂
I managed to dislocate my shoulder at Grafham Water last year
#skillz
There was a thread on here a while back, a member was posting his annoyance of ebikes at trail centres, buzzing past on the climbs, sitting on your back wheel, no skill level to get down safely etc etc.
The consensus was not the ebikes, it was the riders. Same here.
I think that's a completely different scenario though. The concern with that was you could get families hiring an e-bike at a trail center or keswick and finding themselves at the top of helvellyn. You could do that on a normal bike but it's more likely that in the process of getting fit enough to do a 40+ mile ride you'd put in enough time to learn how to fix a puncture and snapped chain, navigate with a map, prepare for the weather, ride the features on the trails and everything else that comes with time/experience.
That and e-bikers often seem to have a politeness bypass when they bypass the speed limiter. Although it might just be that the only people doing much overtaking are e-bikers so you just see the arseholes more often.
I didn't think anyone would have issue with e-bikes for "leisure" cycling. And you never know, after wobbling around Grafham water they might give a cyclist a bit more room when overtaking on the way home incase they wobble.
I’ll be getting one when I’m less able to pedal for whatever reason, no doubt.. And I’ll be joining the other fellow ebikers on that sick trail. 🙂
I'll just continue lapping ye then! 😆
How much is that Commencal though?
Probably 5k minimun. Personally, paying that for a bike that will break down a lot (my experience of ebikes), is a no.
I'm curious how many projections of imminent e-bike dominance are based on the assumption that the prices will fall significantly. Maybe that's the case but if the demand for the materials required for the batteries is only going to rise I wonder how that will affect what is mainly a pretty frivolous use - at least as far as leisure e-bikes is concerned.
How much is that Commencal though?
I think that alone is why we don't need to worry about mountain biking as a sport disappearing.
I got flack for it earlier, but those bikes are stealing sales from S-works Enduros, not your average rider.
That and why would you buy a CRF/WRF/EXC/DRZ dual sport motorbike to ride green lanes* in this country anymore, there just aren't enough green lanes left. When you can buy a Kenevo and have the same sort of fun at BPW, Glentress, Swinley, or pretty much anywhere with a bridleway and/or trail. It's not the same, but it's the next best thing. I'd love a KTM 6-day 500 EXC, for about a day, then I'd have ridden every legal trail with a tank range of my house, sell it and get a Kenevo.
*of whatever designation before the pedants point out that green lanes don't exist.
I’m curious how many projections of imminent e-bike dominance are based on the assumption that the prices will fall significantly. Maybe that’s the case but if the demand for the materials required for the batteries is only going to rise I wonder how that will affect what is mainly a pretty frivolous use – at least as far as leisure e-bikes is concerned.
Negligible. Lithium isn't like oil, there's more lithium to be mined than we will ever need. The limiting factors are the mining companies scaling up extraction and refining and the political will to engage in open cast mining. And once everyone has an electric car and powerbank at home, the need for more drops off massively. So you only need enough, not an unlimited amount as unlike other recyclables it'll be too expensive to ever just bin.
That and I don't think prices will drop significantly. The motors are moderately complex devices and probably more likely to stick at the current price points and improve weight, sealing, torque, etc. The batteries are comparable costs per Wh to other devices and inside the plastic cases probably quite generic so there's not much to be improved there.
Been out all day in the Dolomites and done over 1000m of climbing on the Enduro with blazing sun and temp in the high 30s. Used some of the lifts in addition to the climbing. Rode some awesome trails and full on DHs.
Sat back at the van chilling with a beer and thinking that the Levo would have tackled it all just as good.
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’ll just continue lapping ye then!
Yep.. most probs.. i'm hardly a whippet by any means.
I got flack for it earlier, but those bikes are stealing sales from S-works Enduros, not your average rider.
I don't think they are stealing sales from anything tbh. Before I converted my hardtail, I'd all but given up biking.
i actually actively looking to buy a gravel bike the now to supplement the ebike that'd I'd never bought if I didn't convert.
So I don't think they are shrinking the market at all, increasing the market is the only outcome I can see.
I also don't think the bike market is anywhere near saturation point in any discipline. So far as I'm concerned. it's all good.
It's also not like they are entirely different form the bike market either, it's the same stuff minus the motor that goes on them..
I wouldn't be worrying about any options disappearing from the bike market any time soon.
Even 26 is still alive, as is 7/8/9/10 speed! 😆
The market just gets bigger and changes!
And once everyone has an electric car and powerbank at home, the need for more drops off massively.
Just like the demand for mobile phones dropped off massively once pretty much everyone had one?)
More lithium, not more bikes
