ChosenOne wrote on 08/03/17 at 1:41am:



Absolution.. lol.. i can tell this place will be fun.

TitanFlyer wrote on 08/03/17 at 2:10am:



Yeah, and we can always use another trail hand..

Oh BTW, you got an e-shovel? 

Well, at Sherman Branch there is a sign at the trail head that states no motorized vehicles, so an e-bike is technically not allowed there.  However, I would ask if an e-bike is really what you should consider if you are looking at it from a fitness perspective.  Riding a bike and working at it will do a lot more for your fitness level.  And the great thing about that is there is no right speed at which to ride.  Slow, fast, medium, doesn't matter as long as you enjoy it.  I don't personally have anything against an e-bike or anyone who rides one, just think it defeats one of the main reasons I ride.

Plenty of tight switchbacks, turns, off-cambers and loose soil on the new trails at Springs.

I can easily over-run most of 'em on my 25lb. 650b.

A 40 lb. 29er e-bike? With a guy lacking fitness and skill?

Better check the brakes twice or risk becoming a tree ornament.

Not to mention the high school kids running through the woods in the opposite direction. This time of year you can't see them until you're right up on them. And most of them run with their heads down and don't get the keep right thing. I about clipped a couple of 'em today. It was almost either me biting the forest or running over 'em.

If you can't ride too fast already on a regular mountain bike on that trail, I'm not sure a motor is what you need.

My only concern here is that once the door is opened to allow "motorized bikes", as they are now sold, the NORMAL PROGRESSION (and slippery slope) in the future is for people to start modifying them to have, say, 3 times the power and we know where that goes.  Then, this leads to a way to monitor/police these "modified illegal" machines on trails etc. etc.

my purpose in mountain biking is not to just "have fun."  This isn't a roller coaster that we ride over and over again.  "having fun" is definitely important, but I'm also looking to challenge myself and to work my body to the point where I feel like I couldn't have done more.  I draw the line at this e-bike mumbo jumbo.  I understand it's a market and bike shops would like to sell them, but I think folks considering one should consider doing it the hard way, not the easy way.  too many folks like things easy these days and we're softer because of it.  You can say we're softer because of 29ers or forks or droppers or whatever.  And maybe that is true to some extent, but when I hear you can only go sooo fast on an ebike and it's not much different than a real bike, I think the limitation is the ebike and not the rider and that is  not a respectable thing in my book.

IntheBush wrote on 08/03/17 at 11:55am:


Not arguing the skill required at all. However, I used to do it on BMX bikes and then Walmart mountain bikes when I was younger as that's what we had and what I could afford. Nothing where there were official off-road biking trails, just me and some of my friends whacking through the woods and creating a trail where we could get through. We did that every day we could.

I didn't start this thread to discuss my ability to ride, or even if I should buy an e-bike to get in shape with, those are choices I will make, in fact, I may find that the greenways and parks are my speed now and never touch a trail with roots and rocks. It was more a simple question of if they were banned or hated around these parts.

PS - I am writing this on a laptop which Arthur C Clark would tell me is taking the soul out of the written word... jus sayin.

Nobody here has a problem with you buying an e-bike.

If that's what you want.. Go for it.

And nobody here hates them. Even though some question their legality, safety and practicality in regards to the kind of trails we normally ride. And what most here are seeking to get out of the sport.

Just trying to give you the value of our experience. That's what you came here for?

IntheBush wrote on 08/03/17 at 12:15pm:


Absolutely.. and much appreciated. Its not like my brain isn't telling me that I would be better off just pushing myself on a pedal bike... lol. Experience tells me that wouldn't work as I have a Giant mountain bike in the garage now I could probably just get out and ride on now with a little work and some upgrades.

Honestly I am excited to be out on a bike of any kind. My exercise for the last 10 years has been walking around airports and golf.. lol. I am also joining the family up to the new LifeTime Fitness they are building around the corner from me. One step at a time I guess.

sager wrote on 08/03/17 at 11:52am:
you know what really gets my gander. If folks standing on their soapbox preaching about how everybody should do this because they do it. Then when I'm riding slow or walking a section, keep your comments about me not riding a trail with my ability. The trails are there for everyone. If someone wants to ride a pedal assist, why is it hurting you? Learn to share the trails with all users. If a 40 lbs ebike is going to ruin the trail. Then we better get the horses off the trail. They weigh a lot more then 40 lbs. And what about someone my size. I weigh 270 and ride a 27 lbs monster. Should I quit riding also? I didn't know mountain biking was for only folks who ride carbon and are South of the 150 lbs point. Your arguments make no sense. If a cyclist goes 20mph and a ebike goes 20 mph With your logic. The ebike is doing more damage to the trail. I should go back to school to see why this is. If the original poster had just gone and get an ebike, nobody would be the wiser. Instead he asked, and you all are putting him down because that's what he wants to ride. So get your e bike, and ride. If the powers that be don't want you there, I'm sure they will make it known. But I'm hearing about trails looking to buy rental fleets of ebikes bring a to bring more money to their projects