Do eBikes belong on the mountain?

[PhilipV]

Woes

 

You are now quoting a guy with more very high end e-bikes on their showroom floor than "normal" mountain bikes ... not to mention reasonably priced normal mountain bikes.

It's like asking a broker wether you have enough life insurance cover.

Broker: "Personally, I have died three times and every time it was way less traumatic on my family because I got extra cover."

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

It's like asking a broker wether you have enough life insurance cover.

Broker: "Personally, I have died three times and every time it was way less traumatic on my family because I got extra cover."

HAHAHAHAHAHA!

 

You're not far off, based on some policies I've seen... 

[SwissVan]

Look carefully when some passes you on an Orbea.Could well be a eBike

 

 

So true... it’s the first thing I look for nowadays when any bicycle overtakes me....

[Patchelicious]

eBikes, allowing grannies to climb with QuickStep

 

https://www.facebook.com/OfficialCyclingPorn/videos/2223279364365648/

[shaper]

In a nutshell... re enjoyment

 

[ChrisF]

OKAY ... now I get all the hatred ....

 

 

Saturday morning I attempted the first section of Dortsberg.

 

 

This "person" comes idling past, with this most horid electric hummmm coming from his bike, drowning out the sounds of nature - not that I could hear it through my panting breath in any case, but that is besides the point dammit !

 

 

This overweight middle-aged "person" has not even broken a sweat yet - not me, the one on the hummmmer....  Stops, and gleefully looks back at his buddy that is actually CYCLING up Dorstberg .....

 

 

O-well ... at least I got a proper workout.

Edited July 22, 2018 by ChrisF

[gummibear]

I rode in a very touristy area yesterday and there were 100's of bikes around and i noticed a few things.

 

Less hikers were out and many more bikes arounds.

 

People riding them have absolutely no basic skill and probably haven't been on a bike in 30 years.

 

Helmets are not compulsory and the generation riding never wore any and see no need now either.

 

Saw an elderly couple fall on a very sharp turn and fortunately they were fine other than having stinging nettle scratches all over.

 

Only use for them is drafting behind one into a headwind  

[LeoKnight]

Wondering actually if there is not an argument for the ebikes to be combined with the gearing system that Pinion is developing, or will that just be to close to the line for the haters to complain?

[Shebeen]

I rode in a very touristy area yesterday and there were 100's of bikes around and i noticed a few things.

 

Less hikers were out and many more bikes arounds.

 

People riding them have absolutely no basic skill and probably haven't been on a bike in 30 years.

 

Helmets are not compulsory and the generation riding never wore any and see no need now either.

 

Saw an elderly couple fall on a very sharp turn and fortunately they were fine other than having stinging nettle scratches all over.

 

Only use for them is drafting behind one into a headwind

More people on bikes. That's a bad thing?

[gummibear]

More people on bikes. That's a bad thing?

More people on bikes is awesome.They just need to have some common sense

[mazambaan]

I've just spent some time in the US, Canada (ok Vancouver) and Germany and the range and number of people on every sort of bicycle from commuting to touring and training) is staggering, well, compared to SA. The majority in Germany anyway don't wear helmets and ebikes proliferate - from 999 to 5 000Euro. They must be coming.

[dave303e]

I almost cracked a rib laughing so hard last weekend, a MAMIL e-bike rider(no older than 45) pulls into the carpark off the spruit and announces at the top of his voice: "40km, f** that is far, I am buggered, its time for a well deserved beer..."

 

Promptly starts loading his S-Works turbo Levo onto the bike rack.

 

Now 40km on the spruit is not taxing and I have ridden a Turbo levo it is fast and easy to ride, I nearly used it to lead out a 40km mtb race instead of using my Honda 250, that's how good it is.

 

If you are on an e-bike you are welcome to ride all trails in my opinion, but you lose all traction to complain about being tired...

[GLuvsMtb]

I almost cracked a rib laughing so hard last weekend, a MAMIL e-bike rider(no older than 45) pulls into the carpark off the spruit and announces at the top of his voice: "40km, f** that is far, I am buggered, its time for a well deserved beer..."

 

Promptly starts loading his S-Works turbo Levo onto the bike rack.

 

Now 40km on the spruit is not taxing and I have ridden a Turbo levo it is fast and easy to ride, I nearly used it to lead out a 40km mtb race instead of using my Honda 250, that's how good it is.

 

If you are on an e-bike you are welcome to ride all trails in my opinion, but you lose all traction to complain about being tired...

Ahhh. I remember when there was the same hate for 29ers. Now we all have them.

 

A few years ago I visit the GRTP outside Sedgefield. I go about my business and have a lekker ride. I get to the parking lot and overhear some riders discussing “the guy on his Spesh and the big German SUV”. “All the gear and no idea” was mentioned. Of course they were talking about me. I never recalled seeing them on the trail or impeding them in any way. I decided to be friendly and ended up chatting with them about their bikes and where they were from. At the end they asked me about my steed and I pointed to my car and bike. Needless to say they were quite embarrassed. Oh, and a quick scan on Strava showed that they were nowhere near as hot as they claimed to be on the trails.

 

Let the e-biker be. He was out there doing his thing and you were doing yours. If he was tired after what is in your books easy terrain, then its good that he is on his ebike as a normal bike 40km is clearly too demanding for him.

 

 

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[gummibear]

I've just spent some time in the US, Canada (ok Vancouver) and Germany and the range and number of people on every sort of bicycle from commuting to touring and training) is staggering, well, compared to SA. The majority in Germany anyway don't wear helmets and ebikes proliferate - from 999 to 5 000Euro. They must be coming.

We have incentives over here from the government for people to use ebikes to commute.On a 3000 euro bike you get about 1000 euros back in taxes and discounts.

[Hairy]

Ahhh. I remember when there was the same hate for 29ers. Now we all have them.

 

A few years ago I visit the GRTP outside Sedgefield. I go about my business and have a lekker ride. I get to the parking lot and overhear some riders discussing “the guy on his Spesh and the big German SUV”. “All the gear and no idea” was mentioned. Of course they were talking about me. I never recalled seeing them on the trail or impeding them in any way. I decided to be friendly and ended up chatting with them about their bikes and where they were from. At the end they asked me about my steed and I pointed to my car and bike. Needless to say they were quite embarrassed. Oh, and a quick scan on Strava showed that they were nowhere near as hot as they claimed to be on the trails.

 

Let the e-biker be. He was out there doing his thing and you were doing yours. If he was tired after what is in your books easy terrain, then its good that he is on his ebike as a normal bike 40km is clearly too demanding for him.

 

 

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.......... no we don't ...... 650b for Life

[ChrisF]

Ahhh. I remember when there was the same hate for 29ers. Now we all have them.

 

A few years ago I visit the GRTP outside Sedgefield. I go about my business and have a lekker ride. I get to the parking lot and overhear some riders discussing “the guy on his Spesh and the big German SUV”. “All the gear and no idea” was mentioned. Of course they were talking about me. I never recalled seeing them on the trail or impeding them in any way. I decided to be friendly and ended up chatting with them about their bikes and where they were from. At the end they asked me about my steed and I pointed to my car and bike. Needless to say they were quite embarrassed. Oh, and a quick scan on Strava showed that they were nowhere near as hot as they claimed to be on the trails.

 

Let the e-biker be. He was out there doing his thing and you were doing yours. If he was tired after what is in your books easy terrain, then its good that he is on his ebike as a normal bike 40km is clearly too demanding for him.

 

 

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So easy to forget the WIDE variety of riders out there, and here on the Hub ....

 

 

MANY are in their prime, and a 100km ride is just another practice run.

 

A friend did the full Ironman in PE, two weeks later they did a 160km ride "for fun" .... for many others that 160km would the high point of their year.

 

 

Then there are those for whom 20km is an achievement.  Or just getting up some steep hill ....

 

 

For now I am happy doing my short distances ... under my own steam, gradually building my knees and legs .... though I am shocked at how much I lost during the 3 months of winter !!

 

As hard as it is on the ego ..... Saturday at the start of the trail a gent came past on the exact same bike that I ride ..... his legs are clearly in MUCH better shape !!  We spoke for two seconds, then he was gone up the hill .....

 

 

 

to the young-uns .... ENJOY your strength while it lasts ! 

 

 

For now I am happy sweating away on my bicycle ..... want to see just how far I get before the e-bike "has" to be bought.