Do eBikes belong on the mountain?

[ChrisF]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.kniperacing.com/&ved=2ahUKEwiAu-u16_T0AhWjHrkGHebpDXIQFnoECCsQAQ&sqi=2&usg=AOvVaw0UAAZ7s4SuPNcn08iF95Fb

[Paul Ruinaard]

4 minutes ago, ChrisF said:

Knipe_Racing is an idependant bike workshop.

 

They are one of the best in the Western Cape.

 

They also work on ebikes, including motor services, the lot.

 

Sure Louise will know the options for batteries.

Thanks Chris - i have literally looked everywhere for these and yes they do them. Will get one from them when i am down there. 

[mazambaan]

21 hours ago, copperhead said:

I like ebikes. They give me motivation to go faster and ride harder... not smarter. And anyone who says they have beaten me on an ebike 😂🤣 

Just ride further; eventually the ebike will run out of juice; then you will have the last laugh for sure.

[ChrisF]

Heck, YES.

 

Met up with two riders exploring the trails this morning.  They started up towards the mast with us .... one gent walked various climbs ....

 

At that steep climb to the dam I lent him my ebike ... he was laughing out loud riding up that steep section 🤣🤣

 

These bikes open up a world of possibilities ....

 

[Spy007]

Don't care wattttt bike.

 

Ride it with respect and consideration i am cool with that.

 

 

[Hairy]

as much as I hate to admit it, but e-bikes are the future

I would like to see the next major evolution though, the same way cellphones became smartphones.

displays with navigation (Think gravel bikes for example)

more visual interface with the bike and app on your phone .. being able to input information like a new chain fitted or fork serviced, etc with a projected replacement or next service interval that would in turn give you notice a couple of hours of km before you need to check, service or replace these items.

integration with wireless shifting (And wireless drive trains coming down in price)

simple things like showing tyre and suspension pressure

setting up your suspension via your bicycles interface panel

tons more that can happen.

[Mamil]

6 minutes ago, Hairy said:

as much as I hate to admit it, but e-bikes are the future

I would like to see the next major evolution though, the same way cellphones became smartphones.

displays with navigation (Think gravel bikes for example)

more visual interface with the bike and app on your phone .. being able to input information like a new chain fitted or fork serviced, etc with a projected replacement or next service interval that would in turn give you notice a couple of hours of km before you need to check, service or replace these items.

integration with wireless shifting (And wireless drive trains coming down in price)

simple things like showing tyre and suspension pressure

setting up your suspension via your bicycles interface panel

tons more that can happen.

Sounds like my car. A lot of expensive stuff that can go wrong.

[Hairy]

15 minutes ago, Mamil said:

Sounds like my car. A lot of expensive stuff that can go wrong.

In this day and age the expensive stuff has no reason to be expensive anymore.

Look at the Havaal top of the range (and even entry) cars, the level of tech that you get for "not a lot of money" compared to the competition.

The world needs to make the leap into integrating technology and be done with it.

The same way cars could only ever be affordable for the really rich, then Henry Ford came around.

 

EDIT: To add to the above, cycling as a whole has become far too expensive.

Edited January 16, 2022 by Hairy

[Jewbacca]

Why do people 'hate to admit it' when they admit to liking e-bikes?

e-bikes are awesome. 

Kids riding with dads, dads riding with kids, multiple big runs in a day before lunch, more people able to ride bikes longer, later in life.... There are so many positives and most of the 'negatives' involve ego and racing, which is dumb anyway.

I can't afford one and, truth be told, I'm a roadie these days, but when I can afford one, I will buy one and thrash around Tokai like a purrring kitten

[Wayne pudding Mol]

26 minutes ago, Hairy said:

as much as I hate to admit it, but e-bikes are the future

I would like to see the next major evolution though, the same way cellphones became smartphones.

displays with navigation (Think gravel bikes for example)

more visual interface with the bike and app on your phone .. being able to input information like a new chain fitted or fork serviced, etc with a projected replacement or next service interval that would in turn give you notice a couple of hours of km before you need to check, service or replace these items.

integration with wireless shifting (And wireless drive trains coming down in price)

simple things like showing tyre and suspension pressure

setting up your suspension via your bicycles interface panel

tons more that can happen.

This is the exact opposite of what I’d want from a bike - sounds like a dystopian nightmare in which zwift and reality merge 

but it will happen 

 

 

[Jewbacca]

4 minutes ago, Wayne pudding Mol said:

This is the exact opposite of what I’d want from a bike - sounds like a dystopian nightmare in which zwift and reality merge 

but it will happen 

 

 

A Philip K Dick bike!

[Hairy]

13 minutes ago, Wayne pudding Mol said:

This is the exact opposite of what I’d want from a bike - sounds like a dystopian nightmare in which zwift and reality merge 

but it will happen 

 

 

That is what I see happening for E-Bikes, naturally aspirated bikes would still have the user being dialed into tech via a their devices worn on their bodies.

 

[Andreas_187]

42 minutes ago, Hairy said:

as much as I hate to admit it, but e-bikes are the future

I would like to see the next major evolution though, the same way cellphones became smartphones.

displays with navigation (Think gravel bikes for example)

more visual interface with the bike and app on your phone .. being able to input information like a new chain fitted or fork serviced, etc with a projected replacement or next service interval that would in turn give you notice a couple of hours of km before you need to check, service or replace these items.

integration with wireless shifting (And wireless drive trains coming down in price)

simple things like showing tyre and suspension pressure

setting up your suspension via your bicycles interface panel

tons more that can happen.

How many people will buy this R350k bike! 

[NotSoBigBen]

Did a long ride(130)  with an assortment of riders last weekend ... 2 e-bike riders as well. The interesting part was that they had a bit of a discussion before we set off regarding their 'strategy' as far as battery usage would be. 

I guess it is something that has been mentioned and will become normal for e-bike riders like nutrition and energy.

[ChrisF]

33 minutes ago, Wayne pudding Mol said:

This is the exact opposite of what I’d want from a bike - sounds like a dystopian nightmare in which zwift and reality merge 

but it will happen 

 

 

 

Hiehie ....

 

"sad" reality is that most of the items on @Hairy's list is already on most ebikes.

 

Pair with the phone app and most of it is there already .... just need to mount the phone to use all this data while riding.

 

 

Pairing this with electric gear shifters .... pretty sure the designers are already testing the tech ..... set a prefered cadence/heart rate/ power level/ etc and the bike does it all while you pedal ...... looking at some riders out there it may not be a bad idea ....   Only issue being that to really get the best out of the motor you need to "pre-shift" to get the cadence right before the inclines ....

 

Electro-magnetic shocks .... technology already exists on various motorcycles.  Would make a nice war of words to find out if this is better than the various "brain shocks" out there .....

 

 

 

PERSONALLY .... I would gladly sacrifice some of the existing functions in favour of more affordable ebikes.  THIS was a big part of our discussion on Saturday.  The gent KNOWS his next step is getting an ebike .... but the typical entry level full suspension ebikes from the main brands start arounf R100k ... thats just absurd.  

[Hairy]

31 minutes ago, Andreas_187 said:

How many people will buy this R350k bike! 

There will always be those who are lucky or addicted enough to do so.

But the pricing needs to come down.

27 minutes ago, NotSoBigBen said:

Did a long ride(130)  with an assortment of riders last weekend ... 2 e-bike riders as well. The interesting part was that they had a bit of a discussion before we set off regarding their 'strategy' as far as battery usage would be. 

I guess it is something that has been mentioned and will become normal for e-bike riders like nutrition and energy.

Batteries are really still in their infancy, and the motors too. There are surely some clever people out their that would be pushing these boundaries very hard now with a shift in focus globally to e-mobility.

I think the market that is really going to see exciting development (In the cycling field) are commuter bikes. Weight, range, quick charging, efficient motors, etc.

4 minutes ago, ChrisF said:

 

Hiehie ....

 

"sad" reality is that most of the items on @Hairy's list is already on most ebikes.

 

Pair with the phone app and most of it is there already .... just need to mount the phone to use all this data while riding.

 

 

Pairing this with electric gear shifters .... pretty sure the designers are already testing the tech ..... set a prefered cadence/heart rate/ power level/ etc and the bike does it all while you pedal ...... looking at some riders out there it may not be a bad idea ....   Only issue being that to really get the best out of the motor you need to "pre-shift" to get the cadence right before the inclines ....

 

Electro-magnetic shocks .... technology already exists on various motorcycles.  Would make a nice war of words to find out if this is better than the various "brain shocks" out there .....

 

 

 

PERSONALLY .... I would gladly sacrifice some of the existing functions in favour of more affordable ebikes.  THIS was a big part of our discussion on Saturday.  The gent KNOWS his next step is getting an ebike .... but the typical entry level full suspension ebikes from the main brands start arounf R100k ... thats just absurd.  

Price is what will make e-bikes unattainable for me. I could not justify spending that amount of money on a bicycle when I am putting my boys through school, and still need to put them through university. 
They could always just busk outside the bottle store, or pack the shelves at PnP so that I could get my e-bike right now, but I may feel a little guilty about this on the first ride :P