It's 2025 Is an Emtb in your near future?

Is an Emtb in your near future?

  • Yes

    Votes: 10 7.8%

  • No

    Votes: 52 40.6%

  • Maybe

    Votes: 21 16.4%

  • Never

    Votes: 11 8.6%

  • Already own one

    Votes: 34 26.6%
  • Total voters
    128
At this time, I do not see any purpose for one in my near future. Yes, I am getting old, but what holds me back is not in the pedaling department. Pedaling still keeps me young. It's great to see many people get excited about riding and if an ebike does it, great for them. I am thrilled to see the sport expand. However, I am not there at this time. I feel as if it would be my demise. If I did want one, it would need to be under 30 pounds before I even test rode one.
 
Ian F said:
I had the same thinking. But it can also depend on who you ride with. If some of your riding friends start getting e-bikes, buying one may become inevitable or you don't ride with them anymore. It wasn't until I did a couple of rides where I was the only one on a regular bike that I started thinking about getting one as those rides simply sucked and were not fun.
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I don't have a regular riding group, its mostly solo for me. The guys I do ride with from time to time have goals that are aligned with mine. One of them has an ebike, but he rides with us regular bike guys for the social aspect of it. Yea, he's faster on the climbs but the tech is the great equalizer. My personal view is I'm not changing my objectives because everyone else changes theirs. If the guys I occasionally ride with go electric, we'll still ride together, and if they drop me, then so be it.
 
For me, tech was my equalizer. I am better than most at technical riding. And to be honest, a heavier e-bike doesn't make tech any more difficult - which was honestly a surprise to me when I first tried riding one. Sometimes it makes it easier. I expected the weight to bother me more as a burly guy I am not, but coming from an old-school DH background, these bikes aren't much heavier (and often lighter) than many of the DH bikes I rode on tight, technical DH courses.
 
tonyride said:
He rides a medium but he's not limiting himself to the Rise. He's receptive to other brands including a Cannondale. Whatcha got?
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Orbea, mondraker, cannondale, pivot, Santa Cruz. Just about all of them have something or other on closeout.

The best bet is to stop by the shop and confirm sizing, travel, preferred drivetrain, drive unit, and of course budget.

The shuttle LT ride xt/ SLX at $5499 is an obvious winner
 
jdog said:
Orbea, mondraker, cannondale, pivot, Santa Cruz. Just about all of them have something or other on closeout.

The best bet is to stop by the shop and confirm sizing, travel, preferred drivetrain, drive unit, and of course budget.

The shuttle LT ride xt/ SLX at $5499 is an obvious winner
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I just shot him a note about what you said.
 
Ian F said:
I had the same thinking. But it can also depend on who you ride with. If some of your riding friends start getting e-bikes, buying one may become inevitable or you don't ride with them anymore. It wasn't until I did a couple of rides where I was the only one on a regular bike that I started thinking about getting one as those rides simply sucked and were not fun.
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The opposite is also true. A coach I met said “group rides are the death of fitness”. I’m getting fitter cause some of the riders we hang with used to be good for recovery rides only. Great friends but not as fit. (Not that I’m all that anyway) They’re not recovery rides anymore. They’ve gone e and it’s tough staying with them. I’ve seen benefits but the rides are still fun.
 
I sent this thread to my buddy who owns a few shops in California.(the path) He said “i wonder how many people who voted NO will have an ebike in a year?”

That's a pretty valid question as we have seen trends that are common on the west cast hit us in NJ about 2-3 years later. It always has been this way really. On the west coast they are selling customer’s their 2nd or 3rd ebike. Most of our customers in NJ haven’t even ridden one in the woods. Further, many who really could benefit most from one will resist them the most.


I will offer that the only trend I’m sure of in MTBs is constant change. It was not that long ago that I spent a decade on a single speed. (This may be why I needed a full replacement at 49 yrs old btw..).

Some of the hardest rides I’ve even done have been on e-bikes. I’ve added a few pics from the first HARD ebike ride I ever did. Led by Jerome a Clementz (sp), Mark Weir, Tim Jorhson, Ratboy (and his crazy crew)and other notable cannondale athletes at the time. I was expecting this to be a goofball ride, but I soon learned that riders who are skilled on an all-muscle bike are also fast (and faster) on e-bikes. This ride was a real eye opener. I got to see bike handling that was really a high bar for me as to what I’ve witnessed in person. Clearly I couldn’t hang with Tim Johnson normally (I’ve tried), it here I could fake it. It was simply a great time. We were all out of breath, laughing, smiling and basically acting like goofballs. Giddy, big kids having the best time ever.

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Since then, the bikes have gotten WAY beter and lighter too.


Anyway, I don’t want to be seen as an ebike pusher, but rather a lover of all things bikes. I’ve spent time in the woods on just about any kind of bike I’ve come across. As a bike industry type person, my bikes are always evolving and changing. I own about a dozen bikes and only 2 are e-bikes these days. I actually spend the least amount of riding hours on one, but I can’t see a time in the future where I won’t own one.

I ask the same of you here reading this as I do of people in the shop every day: Before you pass judgment, PLEASE find a way to spend a minimum of an hour in the woods, ideally in rough, hilly terrain with a group on e-bikes, Until you have done so, your judgment holds no water as it is based on an idea of what it might be like versus what it actually is like. You might be surprised to find that no matter what you think ebike rides are like, they are likely something a bit different. 😺✌️
 
krink said:
The opposite is also true. A coach I met said “group rides are the death of fitness”. I’m getting fitter cause some of the riders we hang with used to be good for recovery rides only. Great friends but not as fit. (Not that I’m all that anyway) They’re not recovery rides anymore. They’ve gone e and it’s tough staying with them. I’ve seen benefits but the rides are still fun.
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I love this. This is what we are seeing all the time. Less fit riders are spending more time on e-bikes than they would ever on an all-muscle bike. In turn they are gaining fitness and clearly new skills from the hours of seat time. Many people have 2-3 hrs MAX a week they can find to ride at most. These hours become far more enjoyable and less overwhelming to their body. They are actually getting more fit too!

The secondary gains to more fit, avid cyclist friends is that they get to ride closer to their race pace or use an ebike on their active recovery days. Win-win
 
jdog said:
“i wonder how many people who voted NO will have an ebike in a year?”
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Almost half for sure
The never's will most definitely

I get a laugh with moped/motorcycle comment because it's just plain dumb

Again why wait a decade or when they get lighter when you could be ripping a smile ear to ear now! If you don't like fun then see a shrink lol...
 
jdog said:
Some of the hardest rides I’ve even done have been on e-bikes. I’ve added a few pics from the first HARD ebike ride I ever did. Led by Jerome a Clementz (sp), Mark Weir, Tim Jorhson, Ratboy (and his crazy crew)and other notable cannondale athletes at the time. I was expecting this to be a goofball ride, but I soon learned that riders who are skilled on an all-muscle bike are also fast (and faster) on e-bikes. This ride was a real eye opener. I got to see bike handling that was really a high bar for me as to what I’ve witnessed in person. Clearly I couldn’t hang with Tim Johnson normally (I’ve tried), it here I could fake it. It was simply a great time. We were all out of breath, laughing, smiling and basically acting like goofballs. Giddy, big kids having the best time ever.
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Legend crew!

You are 100% correct. I grew up on BMX ramps, then Trials, so my handling skills are really good. I can see where an ebike could seriously add to the trail pleasure. I'm just nor ready to commit to the cost and complexity, until I need to.

Confession: If I lived near that Crew I would be on an ebike.
 
My post ride review of my first e-bike ride last night.

They're silly fun, I absolutely understand why people get on these things out of shape and never want to fully pedal themselves again. I kept it in full turbo mode the entire time as I already rode yesterday...it was effortless. Smashed through 16 miles in 1:20 and barely broke a sweat. The effort was slightly higher than walking briskly. I am curious to bring it to a longer ride in one of the trail or eco settings and see how much effort it would take but as it stands, it was exactly what I need it for. Increase my total MTB trail time without increasing total TSS on my legs. I still have absolutely zero intention of riding this more than 1x per week for skills purposes but no regrets grabbing one (thanks @Steve Vai).
 
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