anyone have a e bike they are mountain biking with

I'd love to hear from someone  that rides an ebike as to what the appeal is.  I've never been able to understand the concept as one of the main reasons I ride is the exercise/fitness aspect.  I'm not going to knock someone for riding one if that's their thing, it just isn't appealing to me.

Ordered one along with a new garmin to knock out some strava records. 

Maybe not, but I did ride one briefly on the road and I could see the appeal for commuting and for the weekend warrior types that want to go fast without suffering a lot. I could see the potential for injury being very real in the woods with novice riders. 

I think this is a growing segment of the market but will probably not catch on as much off-road. My bet is you'll see them banned from the majority of bike trails.

mountainbiker90 wrote on 04/14/17 at 4:16pm:


My concern exactly. I think the main appeal of e-bikes is for people who don't have the conditioning to get out on a bike under their own power. But on many, if not most, mtn bike trails that's a recipe for disaster because to successfully ride the trails takes more strength and coordination than just the propulsion aspect. The electric motor won't help with those things. I do hope they are banned on mtn bike trails, not out of a spirit of meanness but because of the problems it would cause.

not looking for your thoughts on e bikes

looking to see if anyone rides one around here. if you want to discuss the aspects of riding a e-bike please start another thread.

thanks

I have a response to this but if I vented I would no longer be on here,,,RAMFB<,,,,Ride...

Rode the Turbo Levo at Cyclofest.  As soon as you start to take a pedal stroke the pedal assist kicks in and it turns a average rider into Lance Armstrong just off a fresh bag.  Actually had to feather the breaks going up Goat Hill.   

It is heavy but you don't feel it when you are riding because of the pedal assist, until you try to leave the ground,  then the full weight becomes apparent.  Other issues, uses a regular bike chain but with the amount of force that can be "assisted" into the drive train its easy to break chain.  Happened to someone in our group.  Also the very expensive Battery and pedal assist is located in the bottom bracket area where it can easily be cased and destroyed as was also done by someone in our test group.

Plus they are banned from National Forest so that eliminates most of my favorite places to ride.  Also when you pass MTBers on the trail with an E-Bike I Believe a Kitten is drowned (or at least this is the look you get as you roll on past)  Hope this information helps.

lots of different e bikes options, putting a battery in a back pack leaves only a additional 7 pounds of wight on the frame,  my batteries only weigh 4 lbs jfyi

I'm sure it's possible to get the weight wayyyy down using softcell lithium polymer batteries. Although you wouldn't want to scratch it on a rock. Would be interesting to try out on a roadie.
-Sam

Gravitythief76 wrote on 04/15/17 at 11:42pm:
 
Yea, basically sums up my view on assist bikes, especially on anything more advanced than a green trail. Although I can't​ say much considering I've never ridden one, might be the best thing since non wooden frames once you hop on.

Although I will​ say this, hitting 30mph while not putting in much effort does sound like loads of fun 

Hope everyone enjoys their Easter (if you take part),
-Sam