E-bikes are a thing

[Magic]

I've been on an E bike 2 times for about a minute at the shop parking lot. It was a blast and made me smile. With that being said I ride for fun and with health issues and meds (and Beer) I've slowed down a bit and can no longer hang with the fast cats anymore. I don't mind being slow but I do miss my fast friends. If I had an e bike I could ride with them again and be happy.
That being said I will hold off until Dr tells me that I cannot keep pushing my heart like I am. Thank god I have fast friends too that wait for me.
I will say last nites ride the leader had an e bike and I held on for a bit but then fitness became issue for me. Not for Iggy doe, he was on his ass!

Do they make singlespeed e-bikes yet?

 

[Soundguy]

Everyone keeps responding "maybe when I can't pedal anymore..." Ya'll realize you still have to pedal an E-Bike right?

I know a handful of riders that are far beyond me in their abilities and they have added an E-bike to their quiver for adventure riding and enduro style stuff. The technology is getting there for these bikes to be very rowdy and capable on the downhill. Imagine the stoke you get ripping at your favorite downhill park, but not being limited to buying lift tickets at overpopulated resorts? Imagine spending a full day climbing up mountains so you can rip back down without being so fatigued that you can't enjoy the fun parts.

I should mention the dudes I'm referencing are also still banging out KOM's on their "acoustic bikes," they just think the newer enduro style e-bikes are fun as hell.

That said...I have never ridden an e-bike.

 

[pygmypony]

this is my next "vehicle" when my 2006 Minivan finally craps the bed...

https://surlybikes.com/bikes/big_easy

 

[a.s.]

I have no doubt that I will get one eventually, and will happily embrace the technology that will allow me to continue to participate in the sport I love as I get older and my body begins (has already begun) to fail me. Using this platform would lengthen the available window for me to ride not only for health reasons, but also for mental health reasons, as well as continue in the social network (including family) that I like to ride with.

I do not have one yet, but i'm lined up for my 4th knee surgery in a few weeks, and fully expect in the medium term distant future that some of my favorite trails and roads may not be feasible for me anymore...

I'm 100% aligned with @rottin'.

 

[Monkey Soup]

Everyone keeps responding "maybe when I can't pedal anymore..." Ya'll realize you still have to pedal an E-Bike right?

I know a handful of riders that are far beyond me in their abilities and they have added an E-bike to their quiver for adventure riding and enduro style stuff. The technology is getting there for these bikes to be very rowdy and capable on the downhill. Imagine the stoke you get ripping at your favorite downhill park, but not being limited to buying lift tickets at overpopulated resorts? Imagine spending a full day climbing up mountains so you can rip back down without being so fatigued that you can't enjoy the fun parts.

I should mention the dudes I'm referencing are also still banging out KOM's on their "acoustic bikes," they just think the newer enduro style e-bikes are fun as hell.

That said...I have never ridden an e-bike.

Not sure that I understand the logic here. Riding up an ripping down is what regular MTB (trail, Enduro, whatever) is, isn't it? People go to bike parks expressly not to pedal up.

 

[MannyL358]

I picked up an ebike when I was recovering from cancer treatment last year. It’s been a game changer for me. It allowed me to slowly regain my strength while still having a sh!t-ton of fun.

I’m much stronger today than I ever was and still enjoy getting out on the ebike ...the ebike fun-factor is ridiculous! That being said, the love for my full suspension acoustic is stronger than ever and I enjoy it just as much as I ever did.

The factor that determines which bike I choose for the day is time. Running a business can sometimes limit my riding time and so on days I can’t ride for long I choose the ebike. I can ride every trail in Ringwood with the ebike in just under 2hrs and not be physically buried. With my acoustic bike the same ride would take 3-4hrs and I’d need a full day to recover afterward.

My opinion is that, yes ebikes are fantastic tools for older or physically limited people. However, anyone can enjoy them at any age if you simply want to greatly increase your fun factor and time on trails. The truth is you really won’t know if they are for you until you’ve taken one out on the trails.

If you think fatbikes are fun in the snow wait until you try an ebike.

 

[Steve Vai]

I think the only way I'd consider one is for commuting. And at that point I'd rather just buy a motorcycle which would be cheaper.

This. I seriously looked at buying a Specialized Vado to go car-free. But the operating cost is pretty steep and the battery life would just make my Commute. It's cheaper to drive a car, and at this point probably even has a lower carbon footprint. The tech is pretty close though, maybe next year or so.

 

[Smokey]

Just added a 2020 Giant E Reign to the quiver and the thing is so much fun. Don’t be ignorant and think e-bikes are just for folks who have health issues, you can go as hard as you like and get a killer work out. It’s nothing like a dirt bike , I know because I have a few of those as well, to compare the two is just dumb. It won’t replace my regular pedal bikes but I look forward to doing laps at Creek, Glen Park and other locations this year with this sweet ass rig.

 

[Soundguy]

Not sure that I understand the logic here. Riding up an ripping down is what regular MTB (trail, Enduro, whatever) is, isn't it? People go to bike parks expressly not to pedal up.

Yes but what if you could ride up and rip down all day long rather than do a 1600’ climb a few times and be too tired to shred. The idea is to not be spent by the time you get to the fun. My point about bike parks is to not be limited to lift assisted parks.... it’s all about adventuring.

 

[Monkey Soup]

Just added a 2020 Giant E Reign to the quiver and the thing is so much fun. Don’t be ignorant and think e-bikes are just for folks who have health issues, you can go as hard as you like and get a killer work out. It’s nothing like a dirt bike , I know because I have a few of those as well, to compare the two is just dumb. It won’t replace my regular pedal bikes but I look forward to doing laps at Creek, Glen Park and other locations this year with this sweet ass rig.

From the look of it, that looks like a Reign E-Pro? For $8500, I think that buying that instead of a slightly used moto is silly. I also get a killer workout now, so what exactly does the e-bike add to the experience other than weight and slower handling? I'd also rather pay for a lift ticket at the bike park and get more laps in than riding up. Actually, for $8500 I can get a seasons pass at Creek every year for the next 20yrs.

 

[Monkey Soup]

Yes but what if you could ride up and rip down all day long rather than do a 1600’ climb a few times and be too tired to shred. The idea is to not be spent by the time you get to the fun. My point about bike parks is to not be limited to lift assisted parks.... it’s all about adventuring.

Doing a bunch of climbs, shredding on the way down, being spent is kind of the idea. Kind of why this sport exists in the first place. Besides, where are you doing multiple 1600' climbs in NJ?

 

[Soundguy]

Doing a bunch of climbs, shredding on the way down, being spent is kind of the idea. Kind of why this sport exists in the first place. Besides, where are you doing multiple 1600' climbs in NJ?

New Jersey is a small, small blip in this world...but that’s not that high. Creek is like 1100’ or something.

 

[mtn]

New Jersey is a small, small blip in this world...but that’s not that high. Creek is like 1100’ or something.

'Barely Mountain' Creek

 

[Tim]

I see them as a phenomenal option for someone who commutes by bike. If that was a possibility for me I’d probably go that way.

I am very intrigued for this purpose. My commute is 28 miles each way. I intend to do it on a bike at least once at some point but that is a big commitment in both time and energy to still have a day of work sandwiched in there. I would think an ebike could help save time as well as energy and would certainly pay for itself over time in gas and wear and tear saved on a vehicle.

 

[Steve Vai]

I am very intrigued for this purpose. My commute is 28 miles each way. I intend to do it on a bike at least once at some point but that is a big commitment in both time and energy to still have a day of work sandwiched in there. I would think an ebike could help save time as well as energy and would certainly pay for itself over time in gas and wear and tear saved on a vehicle.

See my post above. I've worked it out to be cheaper to drive a car. At least for a 30 mile round trip Commute. I use about $10 in gas per week ($520 a year) If you're paying for the car anyway you save no money as that is already an expense. The only way it makes sense is to get rid of the car all together so you're not paying for twice the number of items. Using an Ebike to Commute 5 days a week would also require charging it everyday, meaning the Battery would need to be replaced in a year at $1,000 for a Specialized. That in an of itself is twice as much as it costs maintenance-wise to drive (for me). Not to mention I replace the tires on my road bike every 2 months at almost $200.

 

[Steve of stephens]

Well I weighed 240 at the end of last winter (with out being a gavone), I can tell you how much I'd weigh if I was on an ebike all season.... 240. For me, I would get back on a dirt bike. As far as the State of NJ goes ....

 

[jdog]

I picked up an ebike when I was recovering from cancer treatment last year. It’s been a game changer for me. It allowed me to slowly regain my strength while still having a sh!t-ton of fun.

I’m much stronger today than I ever was and still enjoy getting out on the ebike ...the ebike fun-factor is ridiculous! That being said, the love for my full suspension acoustic is stronger than ever and I enjoy it just as much as I ever did.

The factor that determines which bike I choose for the day is time. Running a business can sometimes limit my riding time and so on days I can’t ride for long I choose the ebike. I can ride every trail in Ringwood with the ebike in just under 2hrs and not be physically buried. With my acoustic bike the same ride would take 3-4hrs and I’d need a full day to recover afterward.

My opinion is that, yes ebikes are fantastic tools for older or physically limited people. However, anyone can enjoy them at any age if you simply want to greatly increase your fun factor and time on trails. The truth is you really won’t know if they are for you until you’ve taken one out on the trails.

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If you think fatbikes are fun in the snow wait until you try an ebike.

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Yo manny, glad to see that you are on the mend.

 

[Joe J]

I can 100% guarantee I will never ride or buy an ebike. If the time ever comes that I can't pedal without a motor I have plenty of other joys in life that will take cyclings place. Just a couple weeks ago I was talking to the owner of a Harley dealer and he was raving about the new Livewire. My response was the same I will never own an electric Harley or Bicycle.

 

[Joe J]

The factor that determines which bike I choose for the day is time. Running a business can sometimes limit my riding time and so on days I can’t ride for long I choose the ebike. I can ride every trail in Ringwood with the ebike in just under 2hrs and not be physically buried. With my acoustic bike the same ride would take 3-4hrs and I’d need a full day to recover afterward

But why not just ride 1/2 the trails in 1.5 to 2hrs and then the rest the next time you ride?

 

[MannyL358]

But why not just ride 1/2 the trails in 1.5 to 2hrs and then the rest the next time you ride?

I like to pack in as much fun as possible if I'm taking the time to drive out to the trail head. More miles more fun! 😉