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This is the point where one of Jordan from Sick Bicycles' comments makes incredible sense:
"Don't like a type of bike, or a style of clothes? Maybe it's just not for you"
As a pretty fit 40 year old, I'd definitely consider an E-MTB after trying one out on a ride with mates. Made the crap bits (long climbs and techy climbs) a laugh, and the good bits (flat out descents where the weight added stability) better.
OP - have you tried one yet? Give it a go.
In these discussions we should always differentiate between E-bikes in general and E-mtb's.
"This is when I went to Swinley and spent the whole time just doing the Labyrinth trails and the other off piste over and over again. No way could I do all the climbing back up so many times on anything other than the ebike."
So you absolutely wouldn't be eroding the trails more than if you were on a normal mtb then. 😂
@philjunior, I regularly see a woman im Edinburgh with an E cargo bike, complete with two kids in the front. Looks flippin brilliant tbh.
What's the total elevation gain, time and distance for that Swinley ride Dave?
Curious about what people are doing on ebikes.
So you absolutely wouldn’t be eroding the trails more than if you were on a normal mtb then. 
Probably not, since Ebikes deliver their torque more evenly than normal bikes so chop up the trail less. So even if he rode more, it's less erosion per pass.
But you've ignored every fact about ebikes that paints them in anything less than the negative light you see them in before, so you won't care about that.
Thank you, you've all made me think a bit more about it and that my dislike and assumptions are pretty irrational.
I will try and be less judgemental. Now just near to deal with my hatred of BMW drivers, the media, large corperations.....
😉
I saw a bmw earlier today, using his indicators.
True story
Somebody who can't stop smiling
"What’s the total elevation gain, time and distance for that Swinley ride Dave?"
1900 feet.
As for erosion, it looked exactly the same at the end of the session as it did at the start.
No worse than a fat bloke locking up the back wheel of a hardtail 🙂
I bought two Specialized FSRs on 35% off. One for me and one for my wife. She hasn't been on the bike much since having kids (she previously did well on the Trans-Provence). The eBikes means we can have super fun rides together at the same pace in our now really limited time together without kids.
And they are a total blast!
And they are still a workout! (though more upperbody/core focused from the downhill)
Sometimes I think folks forget that this is a hobby... and it's supposed to be fun... Their loss...
65 work 40 hours a week
twice a week 15 miles off road at night on normal mtb
once a week ride with my mate during the day, 20 miles.
saturdays 20 mile ride on the ebike,
sundays i sometimes go to my mates bike playground in hertford
i think i ride my normal mtb 1 in 4 rides. sometimes because im knackered. sometimes to explore, sometimes because im feeling lazy, sometimes drop the car somewhere and ride back,
i enjoy my mtb better than the e bike, but on some occasions the e-bike is awesome.
i was advised by my mate, an mtb coach to get an ebike, most of the times i binned it was towards the end of a ride when i start getting knackered.
Mountain bike guide wanting a bike to get to trails for cleaning and building on rest days. I’m not sure if that’s typical or not. I’ve got two coming in March for that, plus bringing picnics to inaccesible places plus trail finding. I’m also looking at running trips where you link several days together, maybe with a second battery strategically used. I see lots of cool possibilities.
I saw a bmw earlier today, using his indicators.
it wasn't me. I rode my fixie today. 😉
I’ve got one friend who rides an e-bike and he’s a pretty serious rider - rides most days, some years back did consecutive years of 1,000,000’ of vertical ascent on his MTBs, has been on the cover of quite a few MTB mags, generally shreds. Swears he’s fitter and lighter than he’s ever been since riding the e-bike almost exclusively for the last year. Keeps telling me I have to buy one and that it’s the sickest thing ever.
Jesus why are e-bikers so defensive?
Because people are calling them slugs.
Oh no....!
Jesus why are e-bikers so defensive?
Because the clockwork boys are mean to us.
"Jesus why are e-mtb'ers so defensive?"
It's always the same with zealots, can't stand it if people don't agree with "their" point of view.
Taxi25 - oh teh ironing.
Rollindoughnut
For some reason the whole electrification and computerisation of everything really frustrates me. Up until recently cycling was an escape from all this ‘progress’, which is why I now feel exasperated by the emergence of this technology.
I don't have a problem with e bikes but what you mention there does chime with me as a general statement about life.
At 49 I now know that not all change is good but I try to accept it as inevitable.
I think the statement I pasted from you is really at the heart of the matter and you aren't alone, not by a long chalk.
Best way to deal with it I find is to just sit back and watch with a wry smile but attempt to be accepting at at same time.
Hope that makes sense? Lol
I have an opinion on a lot of things but am unsure what to make of e-bikes. Haven’t seen any on the trails and don’t know anyone riding one, but every time I pop into Evans for a spare part or two I see a handful of burly e-rigs being pawed at off the stands.
Me? I just ride one of my (human powered) bikes when the universe conspires to make it happen. So until I have a go on an e-bike I’ll probably refrain from passing judgment.
If this story is any guide, e-bikes might get a lot of people to use bikes as an alternative to cars. Can't be a bad thing if cycling is seen as a normal way to get around instead of a niche hobby of lycra clad freaks.
https://slate.com/business/2018/02/e-bikes-could-be-the-next-big-thing.html
If I could afford one I’d consider it. Work long hours and have two young kids so free time isn’t what it used to be. The only things stopping me are money and the fact I’m obsessed with steel hardtails. Shallow Mr Funk likes to ride a bike that’s aesthetically pleasing for him.
This is the reason I bought an ebike.
So I can go riding with my son (in photo) in the beautiful countryside of North Wales. At the age of 64, I'm not particularly fit, and there's no way I could dream of riding up that hill on a normal bike.
Ebikes are brilliant and they are here to stay. You young guys don't need one yet, but bear in mind you may be only one bad accident away from needing one, so embrace them rather than knocking them.
^^Totally agree.👍
e bike use v normal bike use is the same as riding a 2×11 bike versus a single speed,
ROFL
E bike racing is now a real thing the UCI says so or something
Seems like they are mostly grumpy buggers who can't take a joke. Round here the most common MTB type Ebike is ridden by fat middle aged blokes who dress like a cross between a clown and a medieval knight to sit outside the cafe or maybe compete with the 6 year olds and dodders in electric buggies on the gravel.
Other types of rider may be available.
And they say trolls use forums because they have small willies lol.
Seems like they are mostly grumpy buggers who can’t take a joke. Round here the most common bicycle is ridden by fat middle aged blokes who dress like a cross between a clown and a medieval knight to sit outside the cafe
you are Alan Titchmarsh and i claim my free subscription to The Daily Toss 😉
OP - can you do typical foreigners/vegetarians/students/van drivers/women/immigrants/men/youths next?
ah, wrong forum...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/goodlife/11583331/This-cycling-craze-is-out-of-control.html
'brake leavers' 🙄