Do eBikes belong on the mountain?

[TNT1]

Do eBikes belong on the mountain?

 

In keeping with the pointless theme, can I ask if Baggies are allowed on the road?

 

I ask cause the other day I say this guy on a TT bike wearing baggies. And he wasn't just pottering to the shops, whilst he wasn't going very fast, he was clearly out on a training ride.

[Prince Albert Cycles]

Also listening keenly as my SO is also considering getting herself an e-bike to ride with me.

What about : “ I ride an ebike because I can afford one”:

[aquaratza]

Apparently there is a new mental disorder that's been identified and is caused by eBikes. Its known as "Range Anxiety" and is characterized by nervous twitches and a constant need to view the screen or phone app while riding. 

Initially the range anxiety was really bad - mainly caused by my speedy ebike cycling friend having a lighter ebike (24kg vs 20kg) with a more efficient motor (20%) and a 40% bigger battery (500Wh vs 700Wh)... but it's getting better now. I haven't run out once to date and we do long rides (65km+). Range anxiety is really illogical because, while it sucks to have no assistance on a 24kg bike, it's really not that bad (unless there's a strong headwind home as there so often is).

 

You definitely get better at estimating power usage, power remaining and planning your efforts. Also, the assistance the bike gives has a seemingly almost exponential relationship with battery usage - so TURBO is a fast way getting to 0.

 

It's fun, adds another dimension, a different challenge.

[vanniri]

In keeping with the pointless theme, can I ask if Baggies are allowed on the road?

 

I ask cause the other day I say this guy on a TT bike wearing baggies. And he wasn't just pottering to the shops, whilst he wasn't going very fast, he was clearly out on a training ride.

 

This, and e-bikes, and discs on road bikes, and dropper post on XC bike, and using trail bike on XC circuit, and using XC bike on tar road, and ..., should just not be allowed!

 

All of these inappropriate behaviours just lead to more innovation and who in their right mind wants that? 

Edited March 31, 2021 by vanniri

[Slowbee]

This, and e-bikes, and discs on road bikes, and dropper post on XC bike, and using trail bike on XC circuit, and using XC bike on tar road, and ..., should just not be allowed!

 

All of these inappropriate behaviours just lead to more innovation and who in their right mind wants that? 

YAY ! Short socks are in! On an ebike, of course

[NotSoBigBen]

YAY ! Short socks are in! On an ebike, of course

Go wash your mouth out with soap, infidel! Short socks are never in, EVER, doesn't matter what bike [emoji12]

[Hairy]

What about : “ I ride an ebike because I can afford want one”:

fixed ... a little nicer

[gummibear]

There was some guy at Cowhouse 3 weeks ago that made some snarky comment to my sister in law and wife. My wife rides an e-bike.

 

All I can say is, lucky for him I was not with them.

I get remarks and my mates get remarks often on the climbs....I just chirp them back on the descent[emoji106][emoji1787]

 

More and more youngsters out on ebikes and just causing chaos[emoji85]

[gummibear]

 

 

I ask cause the other day I say this guy on a TT bike wearing baggies. 

Was the bike not stolen?

[RocknRolla]

Wearing baggies on the road is not a crime...wearing a budgie smuggler in public should be illegal...thats my take on it.

[Eddy Gordo]

In keeping with the pointless theme, can I ask if Baggies are allowed on the road?

 

I ask cause the other day I say this guy on a TT bike wearing baggies. And he wasn't just pottering to the shops, whilst he wasn't going very fast, he was clearly out on a training ride.

is there some law against that? LOL I only know of the helmet law, further more, wear what you want, short sock, sleeveless shirts, who cares? If you comfortable own it. Dont let others put you off because of their beliefs.

Edited April 1, 2021 by Eddy Gordo

[ChrisF]

times are a changin .... 

 

http://knysnacycle.co.za/2021/03/17/knysna-cycle-tour-signs-e-bike-partnership/

[aquaratza]

That press release is hilarious:
 

With the huge growth in the e-bike market we had identified the need to include them across all our events, therefore partnering with Darrvin at this time is a great fit with our strategy,

They "identified" the need for greater profits  - and you don't need to partner with an ebike manufacturer to have a cycle tour that includes ebikes.
 

Darrvin is an innovative e-bike design and build company ... Key information on Darrvin e-bikes:

The electric motor and control system is made by Bafang, a Chinese leader in e-bikes that has been making motors and systems from the early 1990’s with unparalleled quality and workmanship.

Nothing says innovation and unparalleled quality like Bafang. Bafang is hackable though, at least the old motor controllers were and it's probably good value for money.

Edited April 9, 2021 by aquaratza

[Shebeen]

All of us are somewhere in the future either going to stop cycling or continue riding with an ebike.

exactly, so why wait when you can start right now?

 

https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/kids-bikes/467241/motorised-avalanche-cosmic-24-kids-mtb

[ChrisF]

Weird experiences on the trails on Sunday .... 

 

Oatlands corridor, from Hoogies side ... so LOTS of climbing.  At the second climb I catch to gents working hard to get up that hill, nice wide farm road climbing next to a vineyard.  I move way left, get a good gear and use a lot of boost .... hart rate properly in the red I speed up that hill.

 

But is is a perfectly clear day in the Cape, absolutely no haze in the air .... Just had to stop for a photo of Table mountain.  Even waited a moment and got some pics with the two riders with the mountain in the back ground.

 

Back on the bike, turn left and even more vicious climb !!  Hart rate straight into the red and working hard ... with the motor assist I again blast past them.  Aaaahhh .... new height, new angle of the view .... what a photo opportunity ....

 

We had a good laugh as they stopped for a sip of water and me taking pics.

 

I finally caught the one gent at the dam, and he let me past.  By the time I caught the other gent we were properly into the single track CLIMB .... ouch .... tooooo slow.  I had no choice but to stop and let him grind his way to the top, only then could I ride up there.

 

We said our good byes at the gate.

 

Was nice riding with these gents. 

[Yyyy]

Got super annoyed with a group of ebikers at Tokai.

Tokai is generally very busy on weekends and this is exacerbated with the closures at Table Mountain.  

No complaints, more people on the trails the better the jol.

Lot of riders (at various fitness levels) slogging their way up the jeep tracks, some faster than other and some pushing their bikes.

What pissed me off was that on a very busy section of the jeep track was a group of ebikers storming past everyone causing some to veer off their lines and almost falling off their bikes.

I get it, they want to do repeated laps but they had no trail etiquette, no warning, no bell, just wiz past in turbo mode. 

Either these are new riders or riders that think they own the trail (elitist mentality).

Generally though during the week when Tokai is more quiet my experience with Ebikers are pleasant.