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Very Hot Topic (More than 25 Replies) any E-bikers out there? (Read 7086 times)
Sierra_bravo
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Re: any E-bikers out there?
Reply #20 - 04/16/17 at 4:09pm
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  Aww, now where's the fun in that Tongue. 20mph is easily achievable on a normal mountain bike(on a flat). heck, if a broken collar bone didn't hurt as much as it does 35+mph is probably just as achievable 
 
I guess it helps keep the possible injuries(read as "lawsuits") down but I'd hope it's an option that can be turned off, you know, to test the entire potential of the system  Wink
  
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Re: any E-bikers out there?
Reply #21 - 04/16/17 at 10:40pm
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Well the road version is governed to 28 mph per Federal regulations.  Otherwise it becomes a motorcycle/scooter.  You want that Pandora's Box opened up on the trails? Wink
  
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IntheBush
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Re: any E-bikers out there?
Reply #22 - 04/16/17 at 11:30pm
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Yeah, nothing like running over a family of 4 on your favorite trail.

Getting stomped by a spooked horse or having a combined 60 mph head-on with the big boy heading the other direction.

Sounds like a lot of fun to me.

If one of them runs into me, there's going to be a major problem..  Wink

I mean if you want to do this, why not just buy a dirt bike or ride up I-77 at 100 mph during rush hour.

Ok, I said my peace. Besides that, I think there a great option for someone that wants to bike commute, or somebody that lives in Arizona or someplace else with long, wide trails and plenty of visibility. I'd like to have one for those purposes. But where I live there are no bike lanes and I don't like playing chicken with the physically and mentally challenged drivers around here.

« Last Edit: 04/16/17 at 11:48pm by IntheBush »  
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Sierra_bravo
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Re: any E-bikers out there?
Reply #23 - 04/17/17 at 12:03am
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Didn't think about regulations. After all, you're sticking a motor on a cycle making a motorcycle

As for trails, unless it's a really big field or an empty and long greenway, I'd be wary of using the assist honestly. And with all that inertia they carry, although since it's mostly in the rear I guess the front break can be used more without dismounting the bike very suddenly.

I mean, I definitely see this being useful for commuting without getting sweaty. Outside of that though...
It's definitely a very cool idea, interesting to see how small it'll get.
  
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sCvHeaVens
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Re: any E-bikers out there?
Reply #24 - 04/17/17 at 1:00pm
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I know we are going off OP's topic but the governor sparked my interest:

E-bikes definitely have their place and I'm not going to knock them.  As a friend put it yesterday I cycle for fitness and it just happens to be fun ( a lot more fun than I originally thought it would be ) so they're not my cup of tea.

I don't ride dirt bikes anymore b/c all the time and effort it took to get to the track / trail and do maintenance, not to mention the fact there are absolutely no local places to ride.  Ebikes would be a good option for those who can only ride 2-3 times a month for an hour or two... I think if they would govern the pedal assist to 8-10 MPH people would have less of an issue with them; but when your average joe with no skill can hit 18mph up a climb or 25 mph on a flat, it becomes a safety issue.
  
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sager
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Re: any E-bikers out there?
Reply #25 - 04/17/17 at 1:04pm
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Mark, weren't you one of the ones that stated earlier on that they would not be allowed on parks and rec trails?
  
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Re: any E-bikers out there?
Reply #26 - 04/17/17 at 7:43pm
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I think all of you need to ride one before you pass judgement.  With me pushing my max with it turned all the way up I was still slower than the top 20-30 Strava KOM's on a lot of the segments.  I'm not super fit but I've been riding since 1995 and I'm no Fred on a bike.

Look for a demo day some Sunday at Fisher and I'll bring it out for everyone to try.  It is a gray area and/or slippery slope if you will but I think done responsibly it's no different than a super fit rider.   

The motor actually sits down by the crank area and the battery is basically the down tube of the frame.  Is it heavy? Yes it is.  Can you ride it, albeit slowly, with the motor off?  Yes you can.  If anyone is interested I'll be riding it at LNSP tonight on our 5:30 and  6:30 ride.

Sager. I may have at one time.  Having looked at all the current information and giving it the benefit of a doubt I'm inclined to change my position on them.  Trail design will be the ultimate barrier to excessive speeds.  I think the newbies riding them are more likely to crash into a bunch of trees than other riders.

  
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Re: any E-bikers out there?
Reply #27 - 04/17/17 at 8:53pm
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sager wrote on 04/17/17 at 1:04pm:
Mark, weren't you one of the ones that stated earlier on that they would not be allowed on parks and rec trails?


It is up to individual land managers to allow them on trails or not.  So Meck Co, individual towns who own parks, the State Parks system, National Forest, etc, may all end up having a bit different regulations when the e-bike phenomenon goes a little more mainstream.

Remember, we're dealing with government here and government always moves at a pretty slow pace to catch on to any emerging trend.
  
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Re: any E-bikers out there?
Reply #28 - 04/18/17 at 12:21pm
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The Cycle Path wrote on 04/17/17 at 7:43pm:
I think all of you need to ride one before you pass judgement.  With me pushing my max with it turned all the way up I was still slower than the top 20-30 Strava KOM's on a lot of the segments.  I'm not super fit but I've been riding since 1995 and I'm no Fred on a bike.

Look for a demo day some Sunday at Fisher and I'll bring it out for everyone to try.  It is a gray area and/or slippery slope if you will but I think done responsibly it's no different than a super fit rider.  

The motor actually sits down by the crank area and the battery is basically the down tube of the frame.  Is it heavy? Yes it is.  Can you ride it, albeit slowly, with the motor off?  Yes you can.  If anyone is interested I'll be riding it at LNSP tonight on our 5:30 and  6:30 ride.

Sager. I may have at one time.  Having looked at all the current information and giving it the benefit of a doubt I'm inclined to change my position on them.  Trail design will be the ultimate barrier to excessive speeds.  I think the newbies riding them are more likely to crash into a bunch of trees than other riders.



Maybe it's your e-bike or maybe it's DH / Flat segments; all I know is some of the ones they brought out at Cyclofest allowed some friends to beat some of my climb times out at wwc (earning them a top 10 spot).  Now, I may be a big boy but I'm pretty quick on the climbs; when you go from not being able to make a certain climb without stopping to getting a top 10 trophy your first demo ride on an e-bike I would say it's safe to pass judgment.  Heck, one acquaintance went from not even breaking top 7-800+ riders to getting KOMS at wwc in 2 weeks.  Guess what changed?
  
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Re: any E-bikers out there?
Reply #29 - 04/18/17 at 1:02pm
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Quote:


Heck, one acquaintance went from not even breaking top 7-800+ riders to getting KOMS at wwc in 2 weeks.  


I'm glad I only try on DH segments on Strava, lol.
  
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Re: any E-bikers out there?
Reply #30 - 04/18/17 at 1:09pm
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sCvHeaVens wrote on 04/18/17 at 12:21pm:


Guess what changed?


An electric motor?

I wonder if they'll allow me to compete in the Tour de France with one of these..   Smiley
  
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Re: any E-bikers out there?
Reply #31 - 04/18/17 at 1:37pm
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I personally do not think it is an issue for the trails in sense of damage and that kind of thing. It's really like you are just doped to the gills when you pedal it. I would love to take a FS version out to Pisgah and ride for 4 hours and climb some of those fire roads and just rip downhills.

I don't think you can say it's not good for riding just because of Strava. It's more how the land managers look at it.
  
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IntheBush
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Reply #32 - 04/18/17 at 1:46pm
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How about just put some fake pedals on a dirt bike?

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So, now the cutoff is the internal combustion engine?

I mean if this is the way we're heading, weight is no longer an issue. Can you imagine the new suspensions that will be coming our way? And I can guarantee, the electric motor and battery technology will get radically better very quickly. Hey, maybe you can even ride it from home on the interstate directly to the trail, set a new strava time, then go home.

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Re: any E-bikers out there?
Reply #33 - 04/18/17 at 2:15pm
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I used to be a fairly good climber, but age and weight have gone against me. When I deal's an e-bike at Cyclofest, the fun in climbing came back to me once again. I don't mountain bike as much as I used to, because there are no flat trails here in the area. So the e-bike renewed my interest once again. Why should anyone care how I get to the top of a climb. And I do know how to steer a bike, I will not crash into you. Shoot, I'm more scared of the folks that sneak up on me and announce themselves when their right on your wheel, or sometimes don't say anything at all. And there not on e-bikes
  
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IntheBush
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Re: any E-bikers out there?
Reply #34 - 04/18/17 at 2:21pm
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Douglas, you and I can't do anything about age.

But weight is within your control. Can't out exercise a bad diet. But an e-bike certainly wont help in that area.

If you're not being facetious, send me a PM and I'll tell you how to get rid of it. No charge and no B.S. mail order nonsense.
« Last Edit: 04/18/17 at 2:56pm by IntheBush »  
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Re: any E-bikers out there?
Reply #35 - 04/18/17 at 6:25pm
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IntheBush wrote on 04/18/17 at 1:09pm:


An electric motor?

I wonder if they'll allow me to compete in the Tour de France with one of these..   Smiley


Don't ask, don't tell.
  
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Re: any E-bikers out there?
Reply #36 - 04/18/17 at 7:17pm
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pearl wrote on 04/18/17 at 1:37pm:
I personally do not think it is an issue for the trails in sense of damage and that kind of thing. It's really like you are just doped to the gills when you pedal it. I would love to take a FS version out to Pisgah and ride for 4 hours and climb some of those fire roads and just rip downhills.

I don't think you can say it's not good for riding just because of Strava. It's more how the land managers look at it.


While I'm sure that is certainly some of the animosity I think there is also the concern that you have a newbie who can now go up climbs at 14-15+ mph while people are coming down them at 25-30mph.   

IMO the reason why people get hurt more at Sherman than any other place is the fact that it's easy for beginners to get up to 15-20mph and sustain it when they dont have the skills for it.   

My comment was more of a "yes they do make a big difference, here is an example", not "no they shouldn't be allowed because strava".  Trying to use strava as a reason they shouldn't be allowed is silly.

I also have the pro view of there are people with disabilities in which this could get them out on the trail and possibly even help with faster rehabilitation... my point is that it doesn't need to get them out on the trail at 26mph....

As far as tearing up the trails more - I could see where it very well could cause more wear on the trail; I wouldn't mind seeing an independent study about it.
  
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Re: any E-bikers out there?
Reply #37 - 04/18/17 at 7:18pm
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TrillWill wrote on 04/18/17 at 1:02pm:


I'm glad I only try on DH segments on Strava, lol.



I don't think an ebike makes much difference on DH sections, sure it's heavier but you also have the inertia of the pedal assist.
  
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Re: any E-bikers out there?
Reply #38 - 04/18/17 at 7:37pm
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Not having ever rode one myself, I can't say for sure but it looks like to me having the extra mass going down hill with a novice rider wouldn't be good either.
  
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Re: any E-bikers out there?
Reply #39 - 04/18/17 at 9:30pm
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