[Closed] Just demo’d an ebike..

I was saying ‘never, don’t need one, my legs & ticker are fine’ etc etc.

Glad I bought one before I'm to old and done in to ride it properly.

For me, it's a bit like scoring the 'Big Gun' in some computer shooter game. Fun for a few days, but like a weird, sped-up version of actual mountain biking. YMMV etc.

I went along to Trail Days a couple of years ago an queued for ages for a shot of a Specialized Turbonator. It was the first and only time Ive ridden a full suspension bike too. *Mindblown. I'm a martyr for the hard tail.

It was amazing! I'm just the wrong side of 40 but I'm glad to announce I wont be waiting till I'm pensionable before I get one.

What are you waiting for?

Credit card and a looong 0% deal is what you need ESGF. You're a long time deed.

If you enjoyed it that much just go for it.
If it keeps you enjoying mountain biking for that bit longer then surely it's a win win situation. They sound expensive, but for the grin per miles factor it has to be worth it.

If it keeps you riding then go for it. I had a little go on one for the first time this weekend and I have to say, whilst I can see the appeal it’s not for me. I found it to be a very effective but ultimately blunt instrument which doesn’t really suit my riding style. If it get’s you out though, and crucially if it get’s you smiling, that’s ultimately what matters.

Glad I bought one before I’m to old and done in to ride it properly

You're my hero!! 🙄

How long will it last though (as in the bike)

It would appear that your £5.5k will get you a bike that works for 2 years. 2-5 years they are a gamble and anything over 5 years you probably have some completely obsolete with a shagged motor that can’t be upgraded to the latest best motor

Ok maybe a bit extreme but that’s my research of ebikes

Something that cost £5.5k for me has to last more than 5 years and unfortunately it’s doesn’t sound like they do as yet

Thanks ads678.
It's just a bike there's no need for hero worship...

BTW I'm well past 50 and pretty done in already.

It would appear that your £5.5k will get you a bike that works for 2 years. 2-5 years they are a gamble and anything over 5 years you probably have some completely obsolete with a shagged motor that can’t be upgraded to the latest best motor

Some things just cost money. The amount I used to spend (and lose on cars) puts any eBike losses into insignificance!
If that type of bike is the bike you enjoy then just accept it costs £2,000 a year to own/ride one.

Based on friends that get them, remember to wear more clothing than your non-ebike riding chums and to cut back on your calorie intake 🙂

And +5 years, how many people actually run a (main) bike for that long?
Out earlier in the week for a local group evening ride and across the 16 of us I reckon there was only one bike older than mine (mine is 3.5 years). The 16 also included 2 eBikes and 1 HT.

And +5 years, how many people actually run a (main) bike for that long?

Me my current MTB cost £1,800 in 2013 it still works just fine. Are you saying that it’s acceptable for something that cost 5.5k to only last 5 years?

Maybe my expectations are just wrong then, but that shouts to me of consumerist throw away society (I’m even sounding like a true STW lefty communist now) 🤣

They're awesome.

46 and fit here, kinda fell out of MTBing for the last couple of years, been running and hillwalking instead, thought I'd get one as a last throw of the dice to be honest, see if I could rekindle the love.

It's worked so far, but if by this time next year I've gone back to hardly riding, I'll sell it.

I love how I can ride everywhere, instead of spending what would've been 2 hours all in pushing on various climbs in the Rhinn of Kells last week, you can ride the whole lot. So spent my 3 hours actually riding 3 hours, and a bloody good workout too.

Do it.

i suppose we will all get to the 'Lazy old Barsteward'age. ;o)

If that type of bike is the bike you enjoy then just accept it costs £2,000 a year to own/ride one.

Total cost of ownership of mine, taking into account sale price, was about £400 a year. Waaay less than my regular bikes.

Keep for 2-3 years , sell to some keen discerning used buyer (mug) and buy new. Repeat. Simples.

I was in the 'Yeah, I might get one in a few years time' category. Then last year during the middle of the 1st lockdown, just after my 50th birthday I got a bit 'cancery' and had to go through rounds of radio and chemotherapy. That led me to have a good think about things that I wanted to do. The idea of postponing anything has kind of gone out the window. I have no impulse control anymore! 🙂

The day after I came out of surgery, I hit the spend button on my phone and got a Specialized Turbo Levo. I've been riding it now for about 6 weeks (I'm nearly 12 weeks post-op), and it's letting me ride my local trails even though I know that my fitness shouldn't let me. Not only that, but I'm able to ride with people, rather than 100-200m behind them for the first time...ever! It's also allowing me to ride out to locations further from home (I can't drive due to issues relating to my type 1 diabetes), and still have a great day out. Climbing? Oh my goodness, I can do a long grinding climb now without it feeling like someone is constantly twisting a knife into my back! For the past five years, since the 'Bulgaria Incident' (smooshed my L1 vertebra down to 50% of it's original size in a snowboarding mishap), long climbs have been a trip into hell, but the e-bike greatly eases the discomfort. It's amazing, a couple of weekends ago I rode into Stirling, climbed Dumyat, dropped down towards Dunblane, then Bridge of Allan (stopped for a beer in the brewery), before pedalling home. A 55km loop with 900m of total climbing. It's a regular ride for me on my normal bike, but there's no way I could have done that with my current fitness levels.

It's an expensive toy, yeah, but I bought mine on 24 months interest free credit, and it was actually only £700 dearer than my Orange Four that's currently glowering at me in a jealous rage from a corner of the garage. It's not something I'd want to take on a big day out on the hills. That's what my Four is there for, but it's helping me get out and have fun on a bike again while I work on my recovery! In that respect, I think it's paid for itself already.

Based on friends that get them, remember to wear more clothing than your non-ebike riding chums and to cut back on your calorie intake 🙂

They’re probably not all fatties are they? Seems a bit rude to generalise.

nd +5 years, how many people actually run a (main) bike for that long

Mine is a 2015 transition patrol.

Bought our first one in 2017 to share between the 4 of us at a massive discount because the bike shops couldn't sell them. The sharing didn't last long so we got a couple more in 2018 again with big discounts.
Took quite a while for them to kick off and the industry take advantage of that and bump the prices up.
Last year I upgraded my Enduro and still got a hefty discount whilst most shops had sold every emtb they could get their hands on.

Last week was the first time we went on holiday and only took the emtbs. In the first four days we did every trail above Banchory that's on Trailforks, some more than once, and some that weren't on it.
We also did Heartbreak Ridge as we were passing through Ballater. Not sure we could have done the same with the Enduro and Stumpy with the amount of time we had.

We are off in the Peak for a long weekend today and decided last night to only take the Levos as we will get more riding in, it will also allow us to do more walking.

If you can afford it and will use it then I would say go for it.

If you do go for it please don't turn into a miserable get! Around here all the e-bikers are right miserable sods.

You’re my hero!! 🙄

Salt and vinegar to go on that chip, sir?

If I were that age and had the means, I'd get one immediately.

If you do go for it please don’t turn into a tight arsed miserable get!

far too late for that i am afraid............... ;o)

Best thing I've bought ever. Knocks 20 years off you.

Was down at the lbs this morning getting some assembly grease(and showing off fancy ebike 😀 ) and owner said he's yet to hear of anyone complaining about buying one.

Mine is a 2015 transition patrol.

You've not had that for 5 years though, have you?.

If you do go for it please don’t turn into a miserable get! Around here all the e-bikers are right miserable sods.

I find the reverse. I'm always friendly to all but have quite often clocked approaching riders eyeing up your bottom bracket area then barely giving you the time of day as they realise you're on an eeb 😂

I suppose, deep down, I may have had a little of that attitude buried deep inside me before I ended up getting one in a crazy impulse moment.

I have a weird relationship with mine. I kind of don't like the fact that I've got an ebike, but at the same time, it's undoubtedly epic in the volume of fantastic riding that it gives you in the short time you have out of work.

Funny enough I have noticed that ebikers do seem a little more likely to pass without a hello, or ignore my friendly greeting.

Possibly just that they are new to riding and don't understand the "be nice, say hi" thing yet?

Or the self-loathing renders them mute?

😉

One tanked past me on a climb yesterday . Smirked while saying “want a tow” complete tool!

It may be they're too busy chasing that Strava climb KOM to talk, or they're actually out of breath from wrestling their behemoth down some super gnarry trail, bro, and don't want to normies to see them puffing and panting, or they're just not bothering because of all the negative comments they get.

Or they're just rude.

Thanks ads678.
It’s just a bike there’s no need for hero worship…

BTW I’m well past 50 and pretty done in already.

Salt and vinegar to go on that chip, sir?

Re-read @singlespeedstu's post, looks I misinterpreted it. It was very early....

Apologies.

Let's not get mean about it though, I genuinely think some are probably just a bit new and shy.

I often enjoy a nice chat with ebikers, while some normal riders can be grumpy buggers.

Mine is a 2015 transition patrol.

Mine is a 2009 Genesis Altitude

Glad it's not just me imagining it then. Grumpy, aloof, shy, dunno, anyway there is no excuse for not being friendly out on the trails whatever you ride. Misery is what roads are for.

Me my current MTB cost £1,800 in 2013 it still works just fine

So does my 2011 Orange 5 that cost me £3400.
However, I’m 10 years older & struggle to keep up with my long term riding partner who’s a 55 yr old mountain goat.
The life of a bike depends on how much hammer it gets, I’d probably be doing a decent off-road ride once a week, got a normal gravel bike for riding from home.

Edit, just remembered about my 1990 custom ht which is also going strong.

Grumpy, aloof, shy, dunno, anyway there is no excuse for not being friendly out on the trails whatever you ride

Same with all riders, I've not seen a pattern tbh. Some say hi, some chat, some just whizz on by. I do get the impression that some are slightly embarrassed by the ease with which they breeze on up the hill, while us real riders ( 😛 ) are straining with the exertion.

[i]It’s just a bike [/i]with an engine [i]there’s[/i] definitely [i] no need for hero worship[/i] 😀

And +5 years, how many people actually run a (main) bike for that long?

Me! I just got with the program and bought a 29er, outgoing bike was a 2011 frame with parts going back to 2006.

e-bike debate is a funny one. I don't think I'm ready for one yet (50 next year) but can absolutely see the appeal of them, especially if you are riding big days out and getting on in years. The accessibility they bring is brilliant.

With that said, I sometimes see more of them at Swinley than "normal" bikes which is a tad disappointing as if you can't get round Swinley on a normal bike it wouldn't take long to build enough fitness to be able to.

Keep for 2-3 years , sell to some keen discerning used buyer (mug) and buy new. Repeat. Simples.

Nah, bump them on at 12 months as they still have warranty (if you pick a decent brand, its transferable).

Buying at trade means it’s cost positive too (especially right now!) 🙂

And +5 years, how many people actually run a (main) bike for that long?

I do and I don't think I am thank unusual.
-My main mountain bike is 8 years old and no plans to replace it.
-My road bike is 6 years old.
-My single speed is 10 years old and good as new.
-My Kona Lava Dome is about 30 years old.

e-bike debate is a funny one. I don’t think I’m ready for one yet (50 next year) but can absolutely see the appeal of them, especially if you are riding big days out and getting on in years. The accessibility they bring is brilliant.

Accessibility yes, long rides, not so much. The absolute benefit of them is hammering out 4 or 5000' in a few hours. If I was riding all dayers, then a push bike would be my choice.

They’re great aren’t they?

For me the whole eBike v ‘real’ bike argument is over, I don’t see the need for division on it. Pick what you fancy. I’ve even managed to enjoy a group ride with Ebikers without either camp getting annoyed.

I don’t know which way I’ll go next time around. I’ve got too much going on in my life at the moment to consider buying anything as expensive as a new bike, E or otherwise, but come next year I should be more settled.

My Bird has done 2.5 years of tough riding (conditions rather than rider ability). I’ve got really light wear on the CSU, the shock is 75% work according to TFT, actually that was 10 months ago so it might be ready for the bin soon and the dropper is sick and no amount of servicing seems to make it better. It’s all fixable, but it’s going to be the best part of a grand…

I honestly don’t know if I’ll get an Ebike (the Bird/Ethic will get a look in) and pension off the Bird for a more occasional bike, or get myself a nice fresh new normal bike and think about ebikes again in a few years.

FYI I’m 42 and reasonably fit, I don’t ‘need’ an Ebike, but I’d like one.

I purchased a Rail 7 last year and rode it loads initially then realised I had nobody to go out with. And when I did go out with other people I spent more time waiting at the tops of climbs.

It was a cracking bit of kit though and so capable, it just flew up hill and rode stuff it had no business riding. I put a fair bit of effort in when riding it though and didn’t feel I was getting less of a work out.

I’m now looking at a Ribble CGR AL e or Cairn E-Adventurer 1.0. Just trying to work out if I will actually ride the thing as I seem to have completely lost motivation to ride bikes now I’m running and playing ice hockey again.

If you can afford it then get one, you won’t be disappointed.

I seem to have completely lost motivation to ride bikes now I’m running and playing ice hockey again.

If I had a rink nearby & good knees I’d be playing hockey too, love ice hockey!

We arrived late afternoon in the Peak. Walked the dog and then normally would sit outside the camper with a gin and tonic. Instead we went out for a couple of hours and played around on the trails.

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Didn't see any other riders to smile at 😉

They are unbelievable fun, Totally getting one.

However, they are divisively expensive and mixed group rides just defeat the purpose of have one and aren't fun for either group.

Also there seems to be a mentality with some that without an ebike, you can't possibly have any fun.

All bikes are fun.

I have a rink within a 5 minute drive so I’m lucky, however I have shockingly bad knees.. can’t win them all I suppose.