Electric Mountain Bikes on a MTB race.

[stringbean]

Dodgy heart condition,recent hip replacement are just the excuses the industry are using to get their latest scam sold.Honestly everyone I've seen on the trail riding them ( some of them friends)are just too lazy to put in any effort.Now they can sit at home eating pies and chips and still be with the front bunch of ANY group.

Specialized have 200 e bikes on the way,Giant,Scott as well.

To the big boys it's all about sales.

In Europe they allowed anywhere,in USA banned except for trails where 4X4 are allowed.

My 2C ,they should get their own trails and definitely not be allowed in races.

I want to do iron man next year but I'm not a great swimmer.Do you think they will let me take part wearing flippers?

[corriekuilder]

What's your excuse for using an ebike again.....?

[Bspoke]

These motors put out about 80 watts for short periods,so recharging station needed at the drinks table !.

Giving an average JOe generates about 160/180 watts for the race distance, add a 40Kg weight to their bike.

Sorted on any decent climb !

[Pure Savage]

E bikes are like gay marriage, it does not affect you. Nobody is forcing you to buy one.

 

If anything it will get more people onto the trails, paying membership and growing the sport. 

 

The e-bikes are limited and if you are not able to keep up with one on the climbs, you need to train a bit harder.  

[Skubarra]

 

Like I have said before, the regulations of e-bikes at races is an issue and needs some thought, but let's just try make room for everyone in the sport, it can only be good for the mountain biking industry in South Africa!

 

It is great that your dad is out there riding instead of sitting on the couch, I have no problem with e-bikes in general and people riding trails on them (taking Strava KOM's bit unethical - but we take Strava way too seriously anyway)

 

My point is regarding races, e-bikes have no place in normal cycling races as it really is a form of cheating. Does it matter if the fat oke at the back of the field cheat, take a short cut, is doping etc? Probably not that much, but the point is in a race the same rules should apply to everybody, you can't be exempt from certain rules because you start at the back at the field.

 

If people want to ride e-bikes in events there should be in events where the rules specifically allow it, if not it's cheating.

 

And the idea that it is only the okes at the back of the field? This thread was started because someone in the K2C A or B bunch was riding an e-bike.

[Thor Buttox]

Trying to be scientific, here are two Strava profiles of an ebike KOM around the Durbville area. The one that decreases incrementally is a real human whose surname may or may not rhyme with Snipe. The other is an unknown eBike who was no doubt out just for some fun.

 

As the hill gets steeper the eBike actually picks up speed. Honestly, excluding the ego thing, most of us use Strava as a training tool and will never see uphill KOM's but I really would like to know I am atleast a rotten apple compared to a shiny Granny Smith. And u can extend that to races.

 

But yes, for people out having fun, go crazy!

[Pure Savage]

It is great that your dad is out there riding instead of sitting on the couch, I have no problem with e-bikes in general and people riding trails on them (taking Strava KOM's bit unethical - but we take Strava way too seriously anyway)

 

My point is regarding races, e-bikes have no place in normal cycling races as it really is a form of cheating. Does it matter if the fat oke at the back of the field cheat, take a short cut, is doping etc? Probably not that much, but the point is in a race the same rules should apply to everybody, you can't be exempt from certain rules because you start at the back at the field.

 

If people want to ride e-bikes in events there should be in events where the rules specifically allow it, if not it's cheating.

 

And the idea that it is only the okes at the back of the field? This thread was started because someone in the K2C A or B bunch was riding an e-bike.

 

For a race organiser, the person will pay the entry, done deal, probably wont care.

[stringbean]

Lots of opinions from people who haven't tried one yet.The ones I've tried had all been de regulated( very easily done).Yes it can make a fat slob a race snake.The Spez ones I rode can easily add 200-250W to your output on full power.Yes there is a lot of ego involved,believe me I don't care how fit or race snake you are,a middle of the pack rider will hand you your arse on one of these.Say what you like,South Africans are competitive by nature,going to be a lot of upset people when the guy with the hip replacement puts 30 min into you at your local mtb event and now qualifies to start in A bunch.

[Pure Savage]

Lots of opinions from people who haven't tried one yet.The ones I've tried had all been de regulated( very easily done).Yes it can make a fat slob a race snake.The Spez ones I rode can easily add 200-250W to your output on full power.Yes there is a lot of ego involved,believe me I don't care how fit or race snake you are,a middle of the pack rider will hand you your arse on one of these.Say what you like,South Africans are competitive by nature,going to be a lot of upset people when the guy with the hip replacement puts 30 min into you at your local mtb event and now qualifies to start in A bunch.

 

When he gets their I am sure the pro's will have something to say. It will self regulate itself. We are probably already competing against people on juice now any way...

[stringbean]

On juice AND ebike

Now that's somthing I never saw coming.

[Spock]

E bikes are here to stay....negative opinions from folks outside the target market- does it really matter?

 

But using an ebike in a race to gain unfair advantage is cheating....but thats a different topic

[rock]

anyone making 'lightweight' XC type e-bikes yet?

 

edit: its started

 

[Hairy]

Lots of opinions from people who haven't tried one yet.The ones I've tried had all been de regulated( very easily done).Yes it can make a fat slob a race snake.The Spez ones I rode can easily add 200-250W to your output on full power.Yes there is a lot of ego involved,believe me I don't care how fit or race snake you are,a middle of the pack rider will hand you your arse on one of these.Say what you like,South Africans are competitive by nature,going to be a lot of upset people when the guy with the hip replacement puts 30 min into you at your local mtb event and now qualifies to start in A bunch.

this is what has been bothering me all the time!

[Grease_Monkey]

this is what has been bothering me all the time!

 

Deregulate them and the battery lasts all of 10mins! Trust me, you have to use it on like 10% power of you want it to last anywhere above 40 kilometers - and that is using a powerful battery.

[Odinson]

There are really a lot of okes flapping their lips on this thread that have never even swung a leg over an e-bike.

 

They are pedal-assist bikes and if you plan on racing any considerable distance on them, you better manage them damn carefully, because if you drain the battery and have to slog around a +20kg bike, you're not going to have a lot of fun.

 

As Savage said, so what if a guy on an e-bike passes you. Just mind your own business and go on with your day. Finish en klaar.

 

Just be lekker and let the guys who want to ride an e-bike do their thing. Don't be jealous because an oke on an e-bike took your 324th place at the local Trailseeker race that you were working so hard for.

[Grease_Monkey]

There are really a lot of okes flapping their lips on this thread that have never even swung a leg over an e-bike.

 

They are pedal-assist bikes and if you plan on racing any considerable distance on them, you better manage them damn carefully, because if you drain the battery and have to slog around a +30kg bike, you're not going to have a lot of fun.

 

As Savage said, so what if a guy on an e-bike passes you. Just mind your own business and go on with your day. Finish en klaar.

 

Just be lekker and let the guys who want to ride an e-bike do their thing. Don't be jealous because an oke on an e-bike took your 324th place at the local Trailseeker race that you were working so hard for.

 

^^Spot on^^ 

 

Just made one small edit