I hope e-bikes don't become a thing, that would be a moot point.

hmm but why? i think its weird? doesn't it make it a moot point?

Advocat wrote on 02/09/15 at 4:53pm:

I have no problem that as long as they stay on trails designated for motorized use.

The Cycle Path wrote on 02/09/15 at 10:01pm:
Their not motorcycles dude. They are Pedal assisted. You still have to pedal to get them to move. I guess it would be similar to cross country skiing vs. Downhill. You need a motor to take you up the mountain. And since Alpine skiing is lots more popular the nordic. I see the ebike eventually moving onto all trails. It's what makes the USA what it is. MOPAR. You should look at it as getting more potential trail workers. 

Quote:


except this is up, down and around the mountain.

Downhill Mountain biking usually has a motorized shuttle but doesnt make it anything like a ebike.

The Cycle Path wrote on 02/10/15 at 10:52pm:


If these become a common reality (it's only a matter of time), I can't wait to see how you're going to keep them 'off the trails'..

By the look of some of these bikes, they don't look or sound much different from a standard mountain bike. 

Oh look. They've even got a magazine now.

(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

I bet they'll sell a ton of these at Sun City. Suddenly, some 80 year old dude is lappin' you at Sherman. 

What do you do? Call the police?

(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

Maybe a little overkill for this area after the first 5 minutes or so. But, this is interesting for colder climes or more cold sensitive types. 

A heated, small battery powered jersey from a company in Australia.

(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

UncleThunder wrote on 02/11/15 at 2:03am:


I don't have an argument.

I ride a single speed, steel, rigid. Nobody gets more old school than I do.

I was just pointing out reality.

And the reality is, like aluminum frames, carbon fiber and suspension bikes, these things are coming. 

The difference between motocross bikes and ATV's is obvious. Appearance is one. The sound is the other. ID'ing e-bikes can be difficult now. I suspect it will become more difficult as the technology evolves (the conclusion to this in regards to restricting their use on mountain bike trails is obvious).

I'm sure the 30 mph claim is for a bike on open pavement.

Over at this e-bike website it is stated that on the mountain bike variety the speed is adjustable. It has auto, low and high speeds. On the auto setting, the power is applied automatically when ones peddle revolutions decrease. In that respect it would only help the rider, rather than being the sole power source like a motocross bike or ATV.

Enoch wrote on 02/11/15 at 3:06am:


Yeah, maybe it's like Chiquita Banana.

I haven't heard of any government subsidies for e-bikes. Unless they plan to start handing them out at church, school, the hood, or perhaps include them in someones medicare benefit.

I would not support this. 

Although I would expect the e-bike industry to fully support it. Their competition and those that see e-bikes as a threat to their view of mountain biking only, not so much.

Yep.

For some reason I feel like I've heard this argument before. 

Sorta makes you wonder what you're going to see peddling (or not) around Sherman Branch, etc.. in 20 or 30 years.

Imagine if it gets to the point where the power units weigh and potentially cost less than a bike equipped with gears. Will you see single speed bikes w/power assist in competition with geared bikes?

I suspect this will be hard for many new to the sport to resist.

I believe Ebikes are already banned from moab I'm holding out for fat tire disc cyclocross bike, that would be the coolest.

The Cycle Path wrote on 02/11/15 at 12:09pm:


I'm fine with this.

But then, the prohibition or law against an activity is only as effective as the enforcement of.

Seeing where this is heading. I am somewhat curious.

Will everybody's rig suddenly be suspect, every time they off-load it at their favorite trail? And what to do once somebody is identified as having such a bike? Is it a police matter, or a social one?

For a place like Cane Creek or the White Water center, enforcement shouldn't be difficult. If reported. But then it's sort of like the leash law. At trails where no on-site authority exists, it will be substantially more difficult.

Do we have a bouncer?

IntheBush wrote on 02/11/15 at 3:05pm:


I think it's both.  Politely tell them they are not allowed on the trails.  If they come back, get their tag number and report it to the local PD.

Good points and good analogy.  I think where they differ is most people when told they can't ride a vehicle somewhere tend to listen better than telling people they can't run their off leash dog at a park.  There are signs at Fisher Farm that say "Motorized vehicles prohibited in the park."  (Except the parking lot, of course.)  Actually caught a couple on Segway's years back.

I've been hard line in the past about the whole off leash thing at Fisher.  Now I don't care so much...except on the mtb trails.  I've had a few close calls where a dog ran in front of my or a friends bike and almost caused an accident.  Heard of a couple of isolated instances where riders were bitten but never reported it.  When I asked why, they always said "I didn't want to make waves. " 

Impaler 58 wrote on 02/13/15 at 3:08pm:


You're on the forums an awful lot for a guy that's on his feet all day.

shoot, I'm gonna try me some moto-cross, since it's such an easy and social sport. Probably there's no work involved to race. And here I've been wasting my time on pedaling

Robert C. wrote on 02/16/15 at 6:27pm:



Here to stay this time.  Shimanio has been doing it for a while on road bikes and it doesn't seem to be going away.  They do offer the high end groups either way.

XTR is available as Di2 electronic.  Lots of $$$ however.

It's just a matter of time.  Frankly I'm excited about it, I think this would be fantastic on MTB's... less wires/cables to work around linkages.  Eventually I'm sure it will all be tied together with a network... maybe 'Bike-tooth'... i.e., your suspension lockouts, dropper post, shifting, all controlled on one wireless network... effin cool.

(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

electric shifting bikes............hell I just now got indoor plumbing !

The Cycle Path wrote on 02/11/15 at 12:09pm:


Never say never. I can see a day where people with limited physical capabilities (handicap and elderly for example) will get e-bike exemptions and gain access to anywhere a pedal bikes treks. That will be the tip of the sword. Are you gonna deny grandma the chance to huck the knar? 

Spoke wrote on 02/17/15 at 7:22pm:

If she's not physically capable of pedaling it.

Someone stated (e-bike riders would possibly produce more trail workers. That is some kind of a joke. You can't even get riders that are in good health and ride pedal bikes to lend a hand on the trails! A rider came by Saturday while I was working on the trail at LNSP, said "thanks for the help". If he would've stopped and worked, I could have told him "thanks for the help".
I think I will put the engine off my big Husky chainsaw on my bike. It would probably do 50 mph. Just saying!

There will be a new steel that rides better than carbon fiber/titanium, weighs less, and cost less than half as much.  After about 5 years you will be able to get a HT frame for $500.  This new steel will also be good for full suspension.  The welds will be beautiful and bikes will be anodized here in the US.

spinsir wrote on 04/01/15 at 12:27am:

Fixed that for you.  It already exists:
(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

Just a matter of time for it to be manufactured on a large scale and the bike industry to start implementing it.  However, I'm willing to bet the markup will be significant.  I mean, how will the bike companies survive without selling $4k frames?

they would get 5% more pogoing efficiency if they were clipped in.

Gravitythief76 wrote on 04/01/15 at 2:46pm:


I figured you'd want more buttons, levers, knobs, dials, and switches to adjust on the trail.

johnski wrote on 04/01/15 at 11:52am:


I posted this a while back; just waiting for frames now.  RSD Mutant type 29+ frame out of this stuff would make me happy.

From OZY

Cheap New Steel As Strong As Titanium
They deserve a metal of honor. South Korean researchers say they’ve made one of the biggest metallurgy breakthroughs in decades by developing an ultra-strong, lightweight aluminum-steel alloy that can match the best titanium alloys — at one tenth the cost. The material scientists managed to make the steel lighter and more flexible without making it brittle. It could prove useful to both aircraft and automotive engineering, giving cars an extra mile per gallon of gas. Now that’s driving innovation.

Read more: 02/05/2015 | OZY