What do you think of e-bikes on your favourite trail?

[camelman]

I am all for it. And remember it is not an E-motorcycle, it is an electric pedal assisted bike. Most of the E-MTB's have the motor in the crank, so if you don't pedal, you get nowhere. I see e-bikes in the city every single day and don't see anyone smoking the tires pulling away from the traffic light.

 

It is only in the flat and uphill sections they have the upper hand. Going downhill they are very heavy, so you cannot pin it downhill like on a normal bike. The motors are also governed, so above 25kph it does not assist you anymore.

 

If more people, especially older people can enjoy the trails, then all the better. The trails are for everyone.

Edited August 4, 2014 by camelman

[Hairy]

That's nonsense

They are perfectly safe and move just as fast as normal bikes

Really .... I chatted to a guy developing e-bike and these things can easily cruize at 50+ km/hr ....put this in the hands of a rider who is inexperienced on a trail and things could get interesting.

 

I would assume a person who can crank out that speed on a conventional bike, has some saddle time in their legs and would be far more capable at controlling their bikes at speed on trails.

 

Go crazy on the road if you must with and e-bike or a gravel road, but not on the trails I say.

[SwissVan]

Generally i like the idea, not for myself (well not yet, but maybe one day....) because it helps level the playing field in that slower riders could ride with faster riders and not worry about being left behind or having to ride at their limit to keep up. So what if they got some electric help.

 

I find them to be more of a problem on the road amongest normal traffic, its easy to under estimate their speed as you expect it to be traveling at normal bicycle speed, not at pro peleton speed.

 

And they are very quite... had a few sneak up behind me while I've been out running

Edited August 4, 2014 by SwissVan

[Shepherd]

If you dont want them on your trails make sure there are plenty of water crossing... the deeper the better...

[dirtrider]

That's nonsense

They are perfectly safe and move just as fast as normal bikes

 

Well not talking about a Botswana conversion with a vacuum motor here ! I saw one two years ago and this thing hauled ass

[Karakoram]

I have only one question - where can I buy one.

 

This the perfect way for my girlfriend to come riding with me, without me having to really slow down, and without her having to feel like she's dying just to get up a small hill.

 

That is one of the problems I foresee. Electric-motor cycles allows relatively inexperienced riders to go faster than their skills actually permit. The rider and very expensive ebike will soon be in the repair shop. That is okay by me, as long as damage claims does not affect the trail as we know it. I've taken the trouble to cycle at my wife's pace and it wasn't long before she wanted a better bike. Now I struggle to keep up with her. Simple, no e-anything required.

[SwissVan]

Wonder if there will be a racing category for E bikes one day soon?

[Kranswurm]

Well not talking about a Botswana conversion with a vacuum motor here ! I saw one two years ago and this thing hauled ass

 

Then I must get one sunshine....

[EZRider]

I have a friend who does most of the local half marathons on an ebike.

He ruined his hips in a quad biking accident and would never be able to enjoy MTB without it.

He has lost weight and is healthier and happier now that he is taking part.

He normally finishes back of the field and not once has an event organizer taken him to task or refused him a start!

 

Nobody seems bothered so nobody does anything about it. When they start being a problem regulation will control them I suppose.

[Hairy]

Wonder if there will be a racing category for E bikes one day soon?

sparks will fly, but the racing will be electric

[RocknRolla]

sparks will fly, but the racing will be electric

 

such a bright spark, Hairy....

[Karakoram]

I am all for it. And remember it is not an E-motorcycle, it is an electric pedal assisted bike. Most of the E-MTB's have the motor in the crank, so if you don't pedal, you get nowhere. I see e-bikes in the city every single day and don't see anyone smoking the tires pulling away from the traffic light.

 

It is only in the flat and uphill sections they have the upper hand. Going downhill they are very heavy, so you cannot pin it downhill like on a normal bike. The motors are also governed, so above 25kph it does not assist you anymore.

 

If more people, especially older people can enjoy the trails, then all the better. The trails are for everyone.

The electric-motor cycle manufacturers want to sell e-bicycles. So, next year's model will have e few more kilowatts of power to entice the market out there. The resourcefulness of tinkerers already have ways to override the governor of exiting machines or instructables to add extra zoom to last year's sloth. see this thread: http://www.bikeforums.net/electric-bikes/434853-disconnect-governor-speed-limiter.html

 

It will be impossible to ban the new more powerful electric-motor bicycles from the trails because a president has been set with the previous models. At the Geelsloot bike park in Somerset West I've been told a kid on a small petrol help-my-trap contraption is damaging the berms at the park. By definition, mountain biking should remain a human powered only. Trails designated for use by mountain bikes, should not include assisted anything. My feeling is that eBikes riders should start their own trails and stage their own events.

[Hairy]

such a bright spark, Hairy....

Hope the riders won't have short fuses when they get all amped up to race

[RocknRolla]

Hope the riders won't have short fuses when they get all amped up to race

 

I cant generate any more witty comments, I'm feeling really flat after this week-end's riding...

[Hairy]

I cant generate any more witty comments, I'm feeling really flat after this week-end's riding...

That happens if you ride un-assisted!

[DirtyFrank]

That's nonsense

They are perfectly safe and move just as fast as normal bikes

Dude you`re wrong, these things are getting faster and faster as tech moves on, just go onto youtube.