Do any of the brands you sell offer any type of Smart HR control? I've been using the Blevo app to control my Levo for years. It adjusts assist level based off of HR. Keeps my HR low enough to prevent the SVT's I used to get regularly.
It's 2025 Is an Emtb in your near future?
- Thread starter mattybfat
- Start date
Captain Brainstorm
Well-Known Member
I'm willing to bet that most people, myself included, got into this because it was a fun way to stay in shape. Way more fun than running or swimming (for me anyway), which was the alternative. You get out into the woods, ride some trails, hit some sweet jumps like Napoleon, and get a good workout all in one. For some, there is even that additional satisfaction of overcoming some obstacle or challenge that is extremely difficult to physically execute.
tonyride
Don't piss off the red guy
I got into mountain biking to keep my legs in shape while not skiing so initially I rode to stay in shape. I was an avid skier and I always dreaded having weak legs at the start of a new ski season, so I started looking for ways to keep my legs in shape during the off season. I tried running but that bored me to death. I tried going to the gym and that was even worse (didn't like the whole scene) so I got myself a mountain bike and the rest is history. Now I ride all year round and I barely ski anymore. Other factors are preventing me from skiing as much as I did but what I'm saying is I mountain bike mostly for fun and a way to stay in shape is just a positive side effect.
frug
Well-Known Member
Respectfully, I think we are arguing over semantics here. We can all look Ian's comment and easily interpret this to mean "I ride for fun, not fitness."
I can relate. It's great that fitness is a byproduct of riding, but I came in through freestyle BMX (no racing). If it was not fun I wouldn't do it. If it was fun but made me less fit I would still do it (just like shoving pizza in my face).
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frug
Well-Known Member
A fair point. The Amish I am talking about are Amish. This is in rural Ohio; I don't know anything about the Amish/Mennonite communities in PA/VT/etc.
Ian F
Well-Known Member
Essentially - yes.
I did not get into mtn bike riding as way to get or stay fit. Definitely not mtn biking. I am not a naturally gifted athlete by any stretch. If I want to be fitter, riding helps to some extent, but the only way I'll really get into better shape is if I spend time in the gym. I don't find this particularly fun which is why I struggle to make time to do it. Sometimes I don't find riding dirt fun. That's when I ride road.
If someone got into mtn biking for the fitness aspect, that's fine - you do you. What I don't understand is using the fitness aspect as an argument against e-bikes.
Captain Brainstorm
Well-Known Member
Because a good portion of this thread uses fitness as an argument for e-bikes.
Ian F
Well-Known Member
That depends a lot on how the particular rider actually uses their e-bike. It can be a tool for improving fitness. It can also be easily misused. My own experience is positive with regards to fitness but is also mostly antidotal and not based on any objective measurements beyond Strava PRs.
Fat Trout
Well-Known Member
Fitness does exist with Ebikes. I think I saw you commenting that folks were saying it was equal to regular bikes. I don't know that i got that vibe and I certainly don't suggest that. I do find that it provides fitness, which can be significant (relatively speaking) but my ebike experience was that it was a completely different workout. Yeah I do tend to ride longer at least given my fitness level relative to length of ride meaning as a rider who doesn't ride as much as I use to, I couldn't ride that length without seriously getting my ass kicked. What I find is a more even workout. I feel less cardio punch to the lungs but more overall feeling of workout in my upper body and legs. I find it enjoyable in my head space and It lets me detatch my brain from life the way I like. I can also ramp back into better fitness. I can use the power levels of the ebike less as my fitness improves and transition more easily into the regular bikes when I choose.
If I was to "argue" where ebikes gets me fitness. Its because I don't ever feel like I can't go out on a significant ride and especially rides where I know I specifically want to get into tech, features etc where if I was gassed when getting there it would suck more or I'd be at more crash risk (real or perceived). Work and other activities take my time also and I don't get out with regularity like I once did. My other activities (Fishing primarly), volunteer stuff with my town and trail maintenance are a choice that take away from standard rides. Work...well...less choice. I start riding a LOT more now and as it gets colder. The boat is put away, my particular river scene is past its peak. The ebike gives me no excuse I can go on rides, group rides or whatever as I wish. Its also a whopper of a help carrying around a heavy pack with a chainsaw. I do still ride my regular bikes. Those rides have significant value to me but I treat them accordingly with routes selected accordingly. My hardtail skinny-er tired 29er is my Road/gravel bike. My fat bike is my do all. I did sell my fancy lightweight FS MTB after the ebikes came around. I do particularly appreciate my road rides and to a lesser degree (boring) Zwift with the same bike. I trained for really serious endurance stage racing and there is no substitute for the endurance significant (non E) road riding gets you. I also have no illusions of getting to that level of fitness that I once held with the Ebike. That was never what I planned anyway.
Mind you I'm not debating with you here or suggesting you are "wrong". Just providing you my thoughts on where Fitness and an Ebike fit in my world. Just data.
sundaydoug
Well-Known Member
Just got back from Bentonville for my first trip there. Our entire group was on ebikes including a amazing local guide who once live in NJ. I rode the full powered Pivot shuttle AM. Unfortunately the bike I rented only had the 600wh battery so I was extra careful not to kill it every day. This bike would have been perfect there with the 250wh range extender, but the shop didn't have the tools to update the bike to accept it. I did ride it home dead one day.
Bentonville is a treat to ride and it is very hard to comprehend the mtb infrastructure here. Truly a money is no object mtb town.
At this point in my life I would not have seen this much trail in 5 days on an all-muscle bike. We didn't hit everything and we repeated very little.
We had one friend bail on the trip entirely once he realized that we all rented ebikes. Something about an un-pure riding experience.
Bentonville is a treat to ride and it is very hard to comprehend the mtb infrastructure here. Truly a money is no object mtb town.
At this point in my life I would not have seen this much trail in 5 days on an all-muscle bike. We didn't hit everything and we repeated very little.
We had one friend bail on the trip entirely once he realized that we all rented ebikes. Something about an un-pure riding experience.
Only had a small window to ride in Hurricane, Utah this past week and I went for the new Rocky Mountain Powerplay SL Carbon 50....Did 12 "mesa miles" without issue well under the 2 hour window I had.
I must say the difference between my Gen 1 Levo SL and even that bike which uses their own proprietary motor/battery was night and day. Felt far more natural power delivery and in "Ludicrous mode" was giving some crazy power to punch up the rocks (550W/65 nM) for an SL bike. Handled very similar to a regular MTB...I've only tested one full power e-bike and I gotta say, not a huge fan. Almost certainly will be renting e-bikes on every destination trip I take going forward too.
I must say the difference between my Gen 1 Levo SL and even that bike which uses their own proprietary motor/battery was night and day. Felt far more natural power delivery and in "Ludicrous mode" was giving some crazy power to punch up the rocks (550W/65 nM) for an SL bike. Handled very similar to a regular MTB...I've only tested one full power e-bike and I gotta say, not a huge fan. Almost certainly will be renting e-bikes on every destination trip I take going forward too.
rjr44
Well-Known Member
I don't get it. Not riding at all is better than riding w/ a boost?
It reminds me of golf buddies who complain they don't get out as much as they like but refuse to play a nine-hole round they would have time for.
Funny thing is that he was the guy who organized this trip. We had fun w/o him. I could have put in two more solid days to finish the grand tour here. I'll be back.
Ian F
Well-Known Member
When I stopped at Bentonville last year I was only able to ride for one day (rained the second day), so I did a "sampling loop" on my regular bike (Spot Ryve 115):
That ride would have definitely been more fun on an e-bike. Especially the various trails off the Castle Hub where I only did a couple of runs. Unfortunately, I didn't get to any of the Bella Vista trails at all. Next for sure.
The start/stop location was the hotel I was staying at. The little trail loop just to the NE was actually a lot of fun and not really like any other trails I rode there. Basically hand-cut natural single track. It didn't look like it was ridden very much.
That ride would have definitely been more fun on an e-bike. Especially the various trails off the Castle Hub where I only did a couple of runs. Unfortunately, I didn't get to any of the Bella Vista trails at all. Next for sure.
The start/stop location was the hotel I was staying at. The little trail loop just to the NE was actually a lot of fun and not really like any other trails I rode there. Basically hand-cut natural single track. It didn't look like it was ridden very much.
Having a local tour guide here is a major bonus
The trail systems are fairly fragmented with greenways between them
There are definitely directions that are better than others
Ian F
Well-Known Member
I can imagine. I did reasonably well just using Trailforks and meandering, only getting turned around a couple of times. The odd out/back loop in the SW corner of town was when I had joined up with a group of guys and we went looking for lunch - and the place we rode down to was closed. I don't know if I would have stumbled across what looked like the "RV boondocking" spot any other way. Something I'll remember when I get my camper-van built.
one piece crank
1pc Cranky
Me too, and I still do - flatland and light park riding. I ride for the fun of it, which off-road means obstacles and climbing. This by default results in some level of fitness. I only ride rigid bikes, and my SS has a 24” rear wheel. All of this is to say I may be different but will still leave to door open to an eBike in 15-20 years.