How about an option "I looked at the prices and bought a motorbike instead" (I did)
I did that 4 years ago and never rode the motorbike. Riding on the road is awful.
One of my 3 MTBs is electric
No. I like to suffer! Reliability would worry me too, and they cost a bloody fortune. I can see the appeal though, if I lived near some of the big Scottish riding destinations I'd definitely consider one.
Reliability is pretty damned good now, from all brands tbh, and most are very serviceable/repairable, but buying one from a reputable LBS is still recommended. As for more expensive.. yes but you ignoring it has a motor and battery ontop of the 'normal' bike, so being realistic, it was always going to be 'more' expensive than a normal one. More so if you buy the top of the range model, or one that just been released, but there plenty of bargains out there on Paul cycles and the like.
I can't help you on the suffering front though.. well you could buy one and run it till the battery dies, and then you would know about suffering on the way back
I can't help you on the suffering front though.. well you could buy one and run it till the battery dies, and then you would know about suffering on the way back
I tend to flog myself silly on my e-bike because its just so hilariously good fun to ride AND I know that I have some emergency energy to get me back out of trouble if I properly bonk. Some of my most 'suffer-est' rides last year were solo ebike rides, max chat on the HR for ages.
2 of
Full fat E susser, and a lighter Ecommuter
I'd like to see more content on urban/commuter/cargo, though any Ebike chat is good.
Consider why you ride , if you love to earn your climbs crack on we aren't all the same . I ride both , up until recently the EBike was just for big days out off road. Over this Winter I've discovered it's hidden talents . I'm 70 retired for 4 years now, never really thought the " They're great when you're pushed for time " applied to me .
Yesterday after 2 days of grey miserable weather suddenly at about 4 pm the rain finally stopped. Decision time , get changed hop on the Rise , local cycle paths across a nature reserve, sublime sunset and back home just as it was getting dark, 12 fun miles in what was shaping up to be another boring hour what's not to like 👍
Been able to do this a few times this Winter now , not just on a grey wet days but also on below zero days when it hasn't looked rideable when finally early afternoon the icy roads have finally relented 👍
Yesterday after 2 days of grey miserable weather suddenly at about 4 pm the rain finally stopped. Decision time , get changed hop on the Rise , local cycle paths across a nature reserve, sublime sunset and back home just as it was getting dark, 12 fun miles in what was shaping up to be another boring hour what's not to like
Been able to do this a few times this Winter now , not just on a grey wet days but also on below zero days when it hasn't looked rideable when finally early afternoon the icy roads have finally relented
I'll often go out on the ebike with my drysuit on in conditions when I wouldn't even consider dragging the normal mtb out - eg last Sunday when it was raining when we set off
My takeaway so far is surprise that only 3.3% of the responses indicate the possibility of an ebike purchase this year.
It could be that most of the potential buyers already have one and it discounts those planning an additional/replacement ebike, but it's still a smaller number than I'd expected given much of the chat on here.
(I guess an additional question might have been 'are you likely to buy any bike this year"? That might put the 3.3% in more perspective.)
My takeaway so far is surprise that only 3.3% of the responses indicate the possibility of an ebike purchase this year.
I bought one last year so this one has to last me 10 years as they are so expensive.
I'll often go out on the ebike with my drysuit on in conditions when I wouldn't even consider dragging the normal mtb out - eg last Sunday when it was raining when we set off
Yep Ive found that too, tend to head out when I wouldnt necessarily on a push bike. Also big win in snow. They care momentum so much easier. The other week I did 20miles in the snow, I would never have been able to do that on a push bike in 4" of snow
Prudent, planned and second hand purchasing helps. Mine and my daughter’s bikes combined cost less than a lot of people pay for one pedal powered only full suss. Buying in sales along with collecting, buying and selling parts means we have two excellent spec e-bikes that will ride pretty much anything and all at a bargain price. I did budget for a new motor as my daughter is on an old EP800, but it’s been faultless to date. If I had to buy everything at full price, it would have cost me around triple the cost at a guess…
2025 was the most fun I’ve ever had on mountain bikes, the summer was like having uplifts multiple times a week, absolutely glorious and so much fun. We did about 1500 miles just in the summer and have memories that we will never forget. Amazing times. 😀 and it’s a sufferfest trying to keep up with my daughter when her lightweight is on one, she’s like a rocket powered rat up a drainpipe 🤣 she’s also nuts enough to switch off her motor for some rides if we’re on our normal bikes, not something I find particularly pleasant 😮
I borrowed one when I was struggling with long Covid and it was the only thing I could ride.
It served a purpose, but I couldn't wait to be able to ride a proper bike again. And for as long as remain able-bodied I will stick to proper bikes, I just didn't like it. Too much faff, and it's less type 1 fun than a motorbike, and less type 2 fun than a proper bike.
Exactly the same, except I still have the borrowed e-mtb, which I ride maybe once a month on recovery days. One of the few positives of long covid was that once I could ride normal bikes again, I felt incredibly fortunate and joyful to be able to do that again. If people want to ride e-bikes that's fine with me, but personally I can't separate mountain biking and hard, pure physical effort. Also, I came to hate the noise that even relatively quiet e-bike motors make. I don't go outside to be followed around by a sort of self-inflicted, optional mechanical tinnitus.
Anyway, while we're griping about the survey terms, there isn't a 'I borrowed an e-bike and haven't got round to returning it' option. I'm not sure I technically 'own' mine.
I have a 2017 first generation (Shimano Stps6000) Trek Conduit. Its brilliant for commuting with its full ‘guards and built in lights.
The only downside is the weight - i miss the ‘urban assault mode’ style commuting of hopping up curbs/over potholes. The ebike is too heavy for that.
Bought a big heavy full fat back in november...
Actually really liking it, these conditions needed tyres that i just cannot stand pedalling with, couple that with having to wear waterproof/warm kit made me a miserable sod, the big bike allows me to overcome that. On group rides I'm sat in a low power mode and i feel it giving my legs a bit of a stretch still..
On my own I've been out running a higher power mode, even then the hr monitor tells me I'm sat 160-180 for the hour and half duration id typically ride, which would be 2.5-3 hours on a normal bike.
The biggest revelation to me was the ability to pick pace back up again... to put it in context.. I'm an average rider and if i get something wrong and lose speed, the ebike allows me to get back up to speed relatively quickly and get the flow back of the trail
My takeaway so far is surprise that only 3.3% of the responses indicate the possibility of an ebike purchase this year.
It could be that most of the potential buyers already have one and it discounts those planning an additional/replacement ebike, but it's still a smaller number than I'd expected given much of the chat on here.
Because this is STW, as it's full of "radical dedicated cyclists" 🤣 this bear nothing to do with the real world. Speak to any bike shop owner, and those figures are meaningless, and the Yes would be 75%, the rest being buying BSO's
@z1ppy LOL. I was going to mention the fact that the poll didn't ask if anyone was considering ANY bike purchase this year. That 3.3% could still be 75% of the possible buyers 😂
I always said I’d never buy one….
My occupational asthma had other ideas though. It’ll keep me riding.
Am in the process of ordering one - - I sit behind a desk all day and don't make the time to exercise much - the Mrs trains most days. Any bike ride with her is just punishment for me - so an Ebike is on the way....she doesn't want one...
Hopefully it will get me back out and riding a bit more - - and it'll help when away in the van...
Hopefully it will get me back out and riding a bit more - - and it'll help when away in the van...
Yes is the answer - it makes you feel like your 18 again and renews your love for biking, opens up opportunities that just were not there before in types of terrain you can ride.
Also they are very good for fitness ie lots of Zone 2 stuff which all top athletes say gets you fittest
Also they are very good for fitness ie lots of Zone 2 stuff which all top athletes say gets you most unfankled.
Still on a rickety fence over ebikes . Im still happy spinning 30 milers and 4000+ of climbing but the idea of getting some help is well and truley with me of late. I cant help but think what I could manage with a bit of a boost . The full fat 23+ kg ebikes dont appeal to me as i still like the odd savage hike a bike. And still the first time I came to use it and it threw an error code would be the last time it graced my home. Time is precious and more in less time is a thought provocure ...
Dont have an e-bike, and at the moment have no interest in owning one. Not to say I will not own one in the distant future but at the moment enjoy moving by my own steam and knowing i can fix anything on my bike just now (short of a broken frame). I am seeing a lot more on the trails now ( mostly on the ups). Have hired some when ive been on holiday and like how its easier to go further, longer etc (have even e-biked to the top of the lifts when in Austria). But no, not yet
not sure about the zone 2 business...
i have only a handful of rides logged with a hr monitor, my solo rides average 147-165 bpm, obviously peaking higher
the only group ride i have recorded with none ebikes, my hr is still averaging 147
I guess, solo rides are essentially none stop at a high power
group rides i i drop down to a low assistance level
so i would say stil la decent CV workout
if you own a commuter or gravel ebike or basically any ebike that conforms to the regs, then you are a yes. We aren't differentiating the genre of ebike here. If it's a bike and has a pedalec motor then we are interested to know your answers.
Reading the answers, I’m not sure what you wanted to find out but I answered yes because I have a cargo bike… it gets used for all kinds of car replacement (and commuter bike replacement) ‘utility’ journeys… But my feeling in terms of recreational riding and mountain biking would be that I’m happy on a normal bike and don’t want to ride an eMTB or electric road bike (at the moment at least).
I’m not sure how many others are in the same category… but depending on the purpose of this poll, including the cargo bikers may skew your results.
I only own a folding e bike for commuting (15 miles max each way, typically 5) and short distance (less than 3 miles) easier than normal bike and the e bike has full mudguards, rack and lights built in to save me some extra effort for the journey. Emtb - not for a few more years. EGravel - don't need to for the next 10+ years. E car - yes. E scooter (125cc equivalent) prior to an emtb.
I sold.my last dinosaur bike 2 weeks ago. Ebikes tick every box for.me
They're great. Best thing since dropper posts for me. Given the lack of time at weekends I can fit a days worth of slow bike riding into about 2 hours.
It is the difference in being motivated to ride or not to ride. Before buying the eeb, over covid I could count the number of bike days on one hand. I was fed up of riding by myself due to everyones family commitments meaning arranging rides was infrequent and riding by myself was getting boring. My 2 hours zooming about is all i need by myself and it keeps me happy.
Someones point about clothing is good too. Can actually wear waterproofs and not boil too badly.
Love the analogue bike too but only riding with mates on the same bikes. Difference in descending is marginal. Nice to have both but if i'm by myself then ebike every time.
Only thing I'd say against is that if you use one as your only infrequent exercise then you will lose fitness. I'm active doing other things in the week so it is not an issue.