Do eBikes belong on the mountain?

[MongooseMan]

My dad (in his 60s) just got an avalanche mte. Cost him R24k (ie dirt cheap for an ebike). It's never gonna be used to film the Cape epic, but you know what? We can now do a 50k ride where he keeps up with me the entire ride, and we can chat and have fun. It's an amazing equaliser, and a complete game changer for him. 

Edited January 16, 2022 by MongooseMan

[BrentCGP]

Saw a lady doing hill repeats in Pretoria this morning on an infamous hill called WTF on her e-bike.

Absolutely flying past us, full power for sure, and will probably claim her top 10 QOM on Strava too.

I've owned one, don't have it anymore. Will I get another one? No ways.. maybe when I'm 85 years old.

They have a place, I think, but not for what majority of people use them for.

I frequent hermanus too, and the amount of guys I see riding up and down Main road on their Dual Sus Turbo Levos makes me burst out laughing everytime.

 

 

 

 

[Hairy]

Two of my "friends" (Can you really call a person who used to be your friend a friend when they get an e-bike) bout Trek Rails this past week.

They are very DH focused, and they are lapping up the climbs to bomb the descents again.....so it is really working for them.

 

[Eugene Oppelt]

1 hour 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.

The biggest trouble that comes with e-bikes is ‘ battery range anxiety’ 😩

[BrentCGP]

1 minute ago, Hairy said:

Two of my "friends" (Can you really call a person who used to be your friend a friend when they get an e-bike) bout Trek Rails this past week.

They are very DH focused, and they are lapping up the climbs to bomb the descents again.....so it is really working for them.

 

This is exactly what I did in Durbanville when I lived there. Made perfect sense. I also had a Spez Camber so I enjoyed best of both. Also see this old, old Toppie riding with his younger mates on his e-bike and he can keep up. Always puts a smile on my face.

They do have a place imo. But as always there are always the others too.

[ChrisF]

11 minutes ago, 'Dale said:

The biggest trouble that comes with e-bikes is ‘ battery range anxiety’ 😩

You quickly learn to plan ... 😋

 

 

Still, going out to do a 120+km ride .... you dial down the assist and work hard, saving the battery for the hills ....

[Eldron]

Ebikes are not the future. They might replace a small segment of the "normal" bike market but the development path will be more parallel to the existing market than replacement of it.

A great option for getting people of uneven ability to ride together but I cannot see a future where grand tours and classics will be raced on ebikes...

 

 

[madmarc]

In all the years i been riding my wife has ridden like twice, the last time was at Northern Farms many years back- When we got home she said "that's it I'm done, I cannot do this sport, its just to much suffering for me"

Fast Forward to last week - I pulled out the old SCOTT 26er 3 X 9 she rode at NF washed it off, i was gonna donate it and then thought mmmmm maybe an ebike project will get her back in the saddle, nothing serious, just get out and do 25 or 30 k's at modders or NF a few times a month. Our kids are out the house and we sit and stare at each other like 2 meerkats, wondering WTF happened to our lives, what do we do now.

So i be looking at the midmount or rear hub motor - upgrade it to 1 X 10, I already have an X9 type 2 Rd laying in the spares box  next to a set of X7 brakes.

EBikes technology is getting  lot of people out there that wouldn't normally be on the trails, which is good - more riders make it safer and more riders means new trails will open, win win for everone. 

[Hairy]

8 minutes ago, madmarc said:

In all the years i been riding my wife has ridden like twice, the last time was at Northern Farms many years back- When we got home she said "that's it I'm done, I cannot do this sport, its just to much suffering for me"

Fast Forward to last week - I pulled out the old SCOTT 26er 3 X 9 she rode at NF washed it off, i was gonna donate it and then thought mmmmm maybe an ebike project will get her back in the saddle, nothing serious, just get out and do 25 or 30 k's at modders or NF a few times a month. Our kids are out the house and we sit and stare at each other like 2 meerkats, wondering WTF happened to our lives, what do we do now.

So i be looking at the midmount or rear hub motor - upgrade it to 1 X 10, I already have an X9 type 2 Rd laying in the spares box  next to a set of X7 brakes.

EBikes technology is getting  lot of people out there that wouldn't normally be on the trails, which is good - more riders make it safer and more riders means new trails will open, win win for everone. 

Kids out the house ........... Can't wait for that myself

[madmarc]

1 minute ago, Hairy said:

Kids out the house ........... Can't wait for that myself

You seriously need to prepare for it, your whole life changes, you have to re-invent your relationship with your spouse. What you had before the kids came along is gone never to return. I know couples who got divorced after their kids left home, they couldn't put up with each other.

Maybe eBikes will save marriages 🤣

[mazambaan]

As a recent convert the thing is addictive for sure. Two issues; one, weight, I battle to even get the thing on a bike rack (the Thule ones are just a little small) and two, scared of water in a wet KZN. I suddenly realised that not clever to merrily plunge into a stream of unknown depth!

[Mamil]

11 hours ago, madmarc said:

You seriously need to prepare for it, your whole life changes, you have to re-invent your relationship with your spouse. What you had before the kids came along is gone never to return. I know couples who got divorced after their kids left home, they couldn't put up with each other.

Maybe eBikes will save marriages 🤣

Indeed. I've experienced it as a real loss. A significant life role not ending but changing massively. On the one hand a pleasure to see the growth on the other an exercise in letting go.

 

[ChristiaanSt]

12 hours ago, Hairy said:

Two of my "friends" (Can you really call a person who used to be your friend a friend when they get an e-bike) bout Trek Rails this past week.

They are very DH focused, and they are lapping up the climbs to bomb the descents again.....so it is really working for them.

 

See you talking about me again....

You are right, we only ride for the downhills, that's our thing. We have done the XC racing thing etc etc, but we love the technical long downhills and over the last year that is all we focused on. The e-bike just makes this love for the type of riding we do even bigger. 

A great example is the downhill from the mast at Contermans to the bottom. Before we could do 2 of them in a morning at great effort and on the second time you go down you are so tired you dont enjoy the downhill. Now we can go do it 4 times in a row and still enjoy each run.

[Robbie Stewart]

48 minutes ago, ChristiaanSt said:

See you talking about me again....

You are right, we only ride for the downhills, that's our thing. We have done the XC racing thing etc etc, but we love the technical long downhills and over the last year that is all we focused on. The e-bike just makes this love for the type of riding we do even bigger. 

A great example is the downhill from the mast at Contermans to the bottom. Before we could do 2 of them in a morning at great effort and on the second time you go down you are so tired you dont enjoy the downhill. Now we can go do it 4 times in a row and still enjoy each run.

I have also migrated from riding far (marathon style) , to riding MUCH less distance wise, but I spend the same amount of time on my bike doing repeats of trails like Black Rhino 1 & 2 from the mast. I agree, two laps on my Camber and I'm poked and end up pushing to the top of Black Rhino 2 for maybe another two runs before I'm completely knackered. I would also think that an e-bike is made for this type of riding too.

[edkin]

13 hours ago, BrentCGP said:

Saw a lady doing hill repeats in Pretoria this morning on an infamous hill called WTF on her e-bike.

Absolutely flying past us, full power for sure, and will probably claim her top 10 QOM on Strava too.

I've owned one, don't have it anymore. Will I get another one? No ways.. maybe when I'm 85 years old.

They have a place, I think, but not for what majority of people use them for.

I frequent hermanus too, and the amount of guys I see riding up and down Main road on their Dual Sus Turbo Levos makes me burst out laughing everytime.

 

 

 

 

What's so funny about somebody cycling along Main road Hermanus? They are probably cycling to/from Hemel en Aarde trails as part of their warm up/cool down. Can I assume that you would put your bike on the bike rack to drive to to the trails?

[Yyyy]

16 hours 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 all well but then but shouldnt bikes be low maintenance simplistic modes of transport.