I’m 75 ( Geezus can’t believe that number SO BIG ) and I still am very active and can still do all I did before but it takes more TIME.. that’s the key. We’ve all got so much of it before the last ride is on the horizon! I have prostate cancer and hopefully with all the treatments I’ll be able to make it but I want it all… I want to do all I can but I don’t want to be gone as long as it takes because TIME is important. I want to get back home and hang with my 0:16 family. The ebike allows me to get out and do some riding … and get back home. I’m an early riser and can now get out at sunrise and pound out 20-30 miles and get back home to have coffee with my wife when she’s getting up. Make good use of your time folks.. there’s no redo!!!
An ebike allowed me to continue with some light cycling while undergoing chemotherapy. It improved my mental health and kept me motivated. Allowed me to get back cycling with my friends much sooner.
heavy radiation therapy and 2 brain surgeries here. my e-bike (purchased after my 2nd brain surgery - i'm 66) has made all the difference to me 80% of my ride is no 0 assistance with stage 1 or 2 being reserved for hills. (definitely less back tire spin on my ebike than my amish/analog bike as it supplements the part of the stroke where you are not powering the crank and feeds it on my smoothly when you are powering the bike. (I went for a ride with my daughter yesterday.. i gave her the ebike and used my old salsa horsethief. - we both had a blast and she wasn't getting left totally in my dust like she would have in the old days. (she is 25))
Just like @roblynch99, I just use the pedal assist to get me up hills. I'm 63 and just started biking last year. I spent 30+ years doing desk jobs and didn't do any exersize except walking. By August of last year I was doing 50 - 70 km rides regularily and did one that was 101 km and still had over half the battery charge left. I could never have done this with a regular bike. With the ebike leveling out the hills for me, I can go out for 2 - 6 hours and just enjoy the pathways. Another bonus is I live in Calgary and we have over 1000 km of pathways and trails with one right out the back of my house. I rarely have to ride on the street with vehicle traffic.
I loved hearing from Beth regarding accessibility, my wife doesn't mountain bike, but her health issues prevented her from even biking with the family. We got her an e-bike for around town and gentle trails and she is now always willing to join us, which is the point to me.
I bought my wife an e-bike and she loves it. It takes the dreaded climbs out of biking. I use mountain biking to stay in shape so I stick to pedaling, but I can see me using the e bike as a recovery tool. The main thing is it is a tool to get more people outside.
Same, my wife suffered an altitude sickness induced heart attack (she's ok now). I got her an e-bike and she has no problems joining me on rides around town here in Colorado.
Turning 70 just bought my first e-bike and it’s the difference between continuing to ride mtb or not. In the last few years the climbing has just gotten harder and harder. Now I get 3-4 laps of what I could only do one lap on! And yes I ride on trails that e-bikes are not allowed on but I don’t care those are my favorite trails.
I’m in the uk (Scotland actually). There are no trails or even trail centre resorts that you can’t take your e-bike on over here. We’re absolutely dumbfounded that e-bikes are banned on some mountain bike trails in North America. Why? What harm do they do?
Unpopular opinion here...but I think the reason e-bikes are banned in certain areas is due to the motorized vs non motorized grey area that opens up when you start allowing 'some' things with motors...what's to then stop e-bikes with throttles and full on e-dirt bikes to join in on the fun?? It's easier as a general policy to stick with no motors than to try to enforce a nuanced ruling..even if we know that regular e-bikes are fine, the average local police office or state park worker doesn't know better.
I don’t ride in boost/turbo mode…And I get passed going up hill by elite 20 something riders….So heck ban those riders they are going faster than an e-bike.
There’s no remedy for that. It’s just one of the hazards you must endure while riding an eMTB. I’ve experienced the same and have found that riding with other eMTB’ers makes it worse. Sorry for the bad news 😉
I get all your points, ebikes are a game changer for many people. But for me, the turn off about ebiking is that I don't like being one click away from not putting any effort. I don't like having all this choice. What I like about regular mtb is its simplicity, it's turning off my brain knowing that I'll get as far as my legs and my breath can go. I like not having to choose how much to struggle, I like the satisfaction of reaching the top relying only on my own strength and I like backing home exhausted. and the day I don't feel that way, I simply take my enduro motorbike ;)
Very well put and a valid point. I've been riding and fixing motorbikes all my life (they have probably stopped me going insane in this mad world) We started Ebike mtb's during the lockdowns and it's been life changing, and a sort of motorbike compromise as I just love machines. All the points you state can be so easily applied to EBikes, it's just that they allow you to beat the climbs that analogue bikes have to be pushed up. The UK Lake District is full of loose rocky climbs and descents, many quite technical and so much fun that we couldn't do on an analogue. Also we (my wife and I) can achieve longer distances in the great outdoors and see more of it, no matter what the weather. We get great satisfaction from keeping the power as low as possible and having to work bloody hard 😆 We certainly feel it at the end of a long day. I get your point though about the simplicity of your machine and your reliance on YOU to get to the top of that killer climb...
The thing is, there is no point where you flip a switch and "put in no effort". You still have to pedal the bike, and it's heavier, so you get fatigued way faster muscling it downhill and through turns. You're putting in the same effort, just going faster doing it, with fewer breaks, for longer, and at higher cadence. The assistance isn't that complicated, it's like a dial you can turn up or down. This is the thing the never-e-biked-never-will folks can't seem to wrap your heads around: It isn't less effort, it's just higher cadence. The trade-off is between muscle resistance and cardio, consistent vs. spiky heart rate, constant flow vs. flow interrupted by climbs and car rides, et cetera; not effort vs. no effort. I guarantee if you spent a day sending it on an e-bike, you would be wiped. An e-mtb isn't a moped, it doesn't have that kind of power. You need to let go of the idea that no effort is required to ride an e-bike, it simply isn't true. The pros all train on them now, and for a reason. You like a specific kind of bike tech, which is every rider's prerogative; it has nothing to do with effort.
I went out on a bike ride with my elderly mother, who has lung cancer, on an ebike. It enabled her to experience riding bikes again like in her childhood, but when it came to uphill sections she left me in the dust(I don't have an ebike).
False.- you have the same choice of effort on an analog MTB which is your pace and when you decide to turn around. Stop hypothesizing about this and try it. The biggest benefit for me is I can get to the trailhead and back on the bike itself instead of having to use another vehicle.
I like your comment about the benefit of a meditative climb. I feel like there is a lot of disregard for this part of mountain biking, but the contrast of a serene, quiet, rhythmic, haul up a woodsy switchback, listening to your breathing, followed by an adrenaline-filled downhill, with a different type of intense focus, is why I mountain bike.
Agre, the only time I use Turbo mode is when I´m going to work, other wise I will be soak wet after 30 min on the bike 😇 and thats not nice to the others at the office.😅
Agreed. Beside getting around & sprinting for fitness & excitement, meditative, peaceful climbs to earn my turns have been a core driver of my 31-years of MTB. Thanks for the start, Dad.
The fitness benefits of ebikes are so overlooked. Not just the ability to pick your heart rate zone, but for some of us, it got us started riding again after several decades of not getting on a bike because you now have the confidence that you weren't going to stroke out on every hill or bonk 20 miles from home. After a couple of years of ebiking I'm now enjoying a good mix of ebiking and fitness riding on a conventional bike as well. I'm in my 70s and in the last year I've lost 30 pounds and can take my regular bike out for a forty mile ride, something which I would would have believed was impossible two years ago.
It’s a marketing thing… Ebikes should be called pedal assist bikes. That’s really what they are. Real ebikes have a throttle and are more like a motorcycle
Start with my background… life-long roadie, but started enjoying it less as I aged (over 65). Also, moved to gravel a few years ago and LOVED riding forest roads and backcountry instead of mixing it up with big rigs on roads. The combo of age and love of being off-road (I’d never been a mountain bike rider) pointed me towards an eMtb. And my mind was blown. First, I learned the obvious-which is spectacularly difficult for analog riders to accept-I can decide how much assist to use. Duh. If I want a good workout, I use Eco, which basically offsets the weight of the bike to make it ride more like an analog bike (except for the extra weight). But, here’s the thing that I love the most about riding an ebike: I can ride with almost anyone. And if we all have ebikes, almost any group can ride together regardless of each person’s fitness and strength. Now, I ride more because it’s more fun and I ride with others more, because I can. Biking has always been social for me and my ebike allows me to keep it that way, no matter what the effects of advancing age throws at me. Thanks for the great video. Keep ‘em coming.
Eco does not just offset the weight of the bike in most cases. My buddy has a trek rail, which is not tunable. It’s at least 100% easier to pedal up a grade than my Pivot trail 429. He also has a Giant Reign, which is tunable. It has to be down near 5% to make it on par with a non-e-bike. He has been riding e-bikes for years and always rides ECO with us, still can’t make many climbs on my pivot when I let him try. In other words, an e-bike on ECO is still not equivalent to a normal bike. You always have the bail out button and never have to suffer like someone of equivalent fitness on a normal bike.
I couldn't have written this better. Whoever hates on eMTBs just simply doesn't have a clue about what they are hating on. No way you can hate eMTBs, even if you are a very good MTB rider. They have their place in the market for sure and there are many good reasons why their popularity has risen so fast. You've pointed out some of them.
@@jeremyhowell2332 good thing modern exercise science routinely demonstrates that suffering isn't a prerequisite to either fitness or joy. Also, that low-slung weight makes a world of difference for techy climbing, nice that the assist offsets the resistance you would normally encounter trying to move that extra mass through space.
Yes, the leveling aspect does allow for more mixed ability group riding, as I get older I appreciate this, because only being able to hang with people my own age would be a drag.
This is so well done. It explains my nuanced feelings on eMTBs in ways I haven’t heard anywhere else. I started completely out of shape and too embarrassed to say yes to friends who wanted to ride. Started a year ago on.a Levo blasting up hills in Turbo full time, and now riding my Fuel EXe in eco most of the time to get that peaceful sense of effort & cadence you describe. I’m in the best biking shape of my life (not that this is saying a ton), riding every day that I can. Thanks for this thoughtful take (as usual)!
I know this feeling and all I can say is I am proud of anyone who gets up on two wheels to see how fun it can be, and I think e-bikes are an awesome lever for that. I am excited to have you in the cycling community and I hope you get out and have fun in whatever way makes you happy!
I remember my first ride on an E-Bike. It took me back to when I was 4yrs old and my dad took my training wheels off my first bike. It was such a great feeling and I feel that way every time I get on my new e-bike. Great video with a very accurate assessment of Pro's and Con's.
Nailed it. I sold my first e-bike because the ride felt too hectic. surprisingly, it was the climbs on my traditional bike that I was missing I returned to an acoustic bike for a few years until a friend lent me their SL e-bike for a weekend. This is the perfect fit for me. It provides just enough assistance on the hills to keep my heart rate in zones 2-3 and is light enough to handle like a regular bike on the downhills. With my busy schedule and shift work, the ebike also allows me to fit in a ride despite limited time, so I’m riding more. Anyway, good video!
They have full power SL eBikes coming out this year. I just got one, and it's been a lot of fun. I can full power on fireroads and roads and then I mostly ride Trail 1 (out of Eco / 1 / 2/ Turbo) on single track.
People who hate on e-bikes because they think you can't get out of breath have clearly never heard of "it never gets easier you just go faster". I'm an ex cat 2 road racer and I love my emtb. I can get my heart rate over 180 and pump out as many watts as I normally would except I just go further and faster!
Exactly, getting in shape doesn't take the effort away, you just get to go faster and/or longer while still suffering. But that's the fun and satisfying part.
This has been exactly my experience too. I’ve even tried riding the exact same rides with the bike in turbo mode one day, trail the next, and eco after that. My average leg power output was the same-the only thing that differed was my average speed.
@@TheZerosd You’re misunderstanding what’s being said. We’re not saying it’s the same effort as riding a standard bike for a given speed, distance, and/or climb and those who say it are wrong. What we are saying is we can put in the same effort but over a greater distance, with greater speed, and climb easier than we could on a standard bike. For me, it’s the difference of still riding an mtb or not. It’s not always “just get in shape”. People have different reasons for riding a class-1 mtb. Mine is I’m 65 and have asthma. I’m not riding any further or faster than I did in my 40’s when I raced but now I can still enjoy riding where before I could not. Not everyone my age needs or wants an e-bike and that’s great for them, their choice. Not everyone who likes to ride an e-bike has issues that would hinder them from riding a standard bike. So what? Life is full of choices and we should be able to enjoy our activities as “we” see fit as long as we’re not hurting others or the environment.
I've been riding mountain bikes for longer than most of your viewers have been alive. I started riding mountain bikes when the norm was rigid steel frame monsters. I've ridden just about every type of mountain bike there is and I've owned a Specialized Turbo Levo Expert for just over 1 year now. I think the E-MTB is the best technology I have ever ridden. I ride more, I ride longer and I have way more fun than I have had in a long time. One of the arguments against E-bikes is that you don't get any exercise. I don't ride mountain bikes for exercise, I ride mountain bikes for fun and EMTBs are a ton of fun. If riding mountain bikes was bad for my health, I would still do it. But putting that notion aside, you still have to be in good shape to ride EMTB and it is good exercise. You're still pedaling, and you're still relying on fitness. Riding with a motor just allows you to ride faster. It takes more skill and better fitness to be able to handle those speeds. Pedaling up a hill isn't the only physical apart of riding. You still need upper body strength to move your bike and you still need to be in good cardio shape to be able to keep your heart rate up. I think my fitness level has increased this past year because of my EMTB riding. Most of the hate towards EMTB comes from ignorance. Most of the haters have never ridden an EMTB and don't really understand what they are about. They just think because there is a motor, it's not really mountain biking because it makes riding too easy. I remember some of these same arguments when suspension was introduced. People said it was like cheating because it made it to easy. Now suspension technology is the norm. I would recommend to anyone that hates EMTB to go out an actual ride one in the trails. For me EMTB will never replace regular MTB, it's just another type of riding. I own several different mountain bikes for different types of riding. I also own a DH bike that I can only ride at a bike park with lift service, or on trails with a shuttle. Riding a DH bike on every trail isn't realistic and it will never replace all of my bikes, just like an EMTB will never replace my other bikes.
Great content! I’d add one more pro: more people on bikes (of all types) is a good thing. More bikers means more trails, more industry to support (retail and service), more bike lanes, better safety/laws, and (theoretically) more innovation and better prices. Love or hate e-bikes, it’s getting more people out riding. Being part of a growing sport is exciting (ask a golfer about contracting sports). Hardtail, full squish, park, bmx, e-bike, cruiser, commuter, or whatever your flavour, there’s a bike for many tastes. We gotta embrace people in our biking communities rather than drawing lines.
Key phrase trying to get fit as quick as possible lol Remember higher resistance also makes endurance. And eventually more if you do both. Most just don’t like difficulty and always want to stick with easy as possible hence EBikes. Funny how everyone I know that only rides e bikes can’t even do a regular bike ride with me anymore because they pretty much have a heart attack on the first up and quit. I only get to ride with them on my E. Ha. That says alot about e bike fitness.
Well, have you considered the fact that they might ride more for fun than fitness? I've been riding dirtbikes since I was a kid, and as I've started to approach 60 I've decided to slow down a little. I've been riding at a few mountain bike parks in my area and almost fall asleep on the so called expert trails. Some of the downhills are ok and I get can some enjoyment out of it, but the uphills are so boring that I decided to stay with motorbike riding. However, after riding an ebike recently I had a blast and it could be just what I'm looking for. It's still slow, but I was looking to slow down. As for fitness, I ride a hybrid bike and do touring on it. I ride everyday and do 120km to 160km rides on it with a full pannier on weekends. Am I as fit as a MTB rider? Probably not, but I am fit. We are only here for a short time in life, and I seek enjoyment over anything else.
You're correct. This motor biking that people want to pass off as almost the same as a mtb is bunk. When they get on a bike they soon understand they aren't fitter and don't like effort.
Are you using a sports energy drink that has the the proper ratio of sodium, potassium, sugar, and water? If not try it. It has made a HUGE difference to how I feel post-ride.
A lack of proper hydration and nutrients will cause migraines during any strenuous activity. By adopting an e-bike, you're not putting as much effort into your riding, so you've eliminated the symptom but not actually solved the problem.
@@jimwing.2178 Yes, I have been using various high quality sports drinks over the years. They probably have lessened the migraines to some degree, but have not eliminated them. I still use them, and a big believer.
@@Durwood71 THanks. I do understand this and hydrate as much as possible before and during with good drink mixes. Despite that, in hot, dry Socal I still get dehydrated. The ebike drastically lessens my sweating. Unfortunately, the migraines are a chronic condition with many triggers, but we eliminate them as much as possible while still getting to ride.
Bought an E bike recently and it just feels like riding a bike with superpowers. Its absolutely crazy. I like that the uphills feel like downhills. Just using Eco mode most of the time but its amazing. 300% the fun of a non E bike. On top you can use a high travel fully on every way you want, not thinking on how hard it will be to pedal if you dont need the travel on downhills.
My biggest concern is when things go wrong. For influences and pro's, there is always some level of support, or a new bike to ride / review. For regular folk who will own just one bike, when the eeeb throws up an error and its not easily fixable, or its out of warranty - that's a massive issue. Considering the price point of these bikes, the reliability, weather proofing, length of warranty as well as warranty support should be much better. Personally I would like to see these problems discussed more so, making manufactures held accountable, but in the land of sponsorship its just not happening.
These things are not that complicated. Less than an rc car. They also tend to be extremely reliable, and if something does come up, the LBS you bought it from should have no trouble fixing it.
@@yuriabmxr Not according to online forums and groups, there are a sizeable number of the community that face a variety of issues with both motor technology and processing warranties, especially riders living in wetter climates. Clearly its worked out great for others, and I’m happy for them… but the sheer number of issues being discussed is deeply concerning for a premium product. I would like to see reviewers and influencers go deep into this problem, but its very rarely discussed at all and it paints a false sense of security for consumers. Good journalism should hold businesses & people accountable for their neglect. Just as the Loam Ranger called out Pinkbike for its arrogance towards its audience, I'm hoping to see this channel do something similar with the unfortunate reality that too many riders face with their ebikes.
@@yuriabmxr Not according to online forums and groups, there are a sizeable number of the community that face a variety of issues with both motor technology and processing warranties, especially riders living in wetter climates. Clearly its worked out great for others, and I’m happy for them… but the sheer number of issues being discussed is deeply concerning for a premium product. I would like to see reviewers and influencers go deep into this problem, but its very rarely discussed at all and it paints a false sense of security for consumers. Good journalism should hold businesses & people accountable for their neglect. Just as the Loam Ranger called out Pinkbike for its arrogance towards its audience, I'm hoping to see this channel do something similar with the unfortunate reality that too many riders face with their ebikes.
@@yuriabmxr My reply to you is being removed and I’m not quite sure why, but with respect its not that simple. Online forums and groups have large numbers of riders reporting issues with both their motors and the warranty process, which is just unacceptable for a premium product. As evident by my comment being removed, even having a discussion about this appears to be problematic for sponsored journalism. Incredibly disappointed.
@@Wabit01 I'm not claiming a zero failure rate here but forums tend to present highly distilled negative feedback. The people who don't have any problems (vast majority) are outside riding, like the folks I have first hand knowledge of.
After shattering my leg in an off-road motorcycle accident, an e-bike has allowed me to start to regain my strength without demoralizing me. I love that I can ride it how ever hard or easy I want. It's the best of all worlds. I hope the e-bike haters will realize the many benefits they offer and embrace them as opposed to shunning them.
This is brilliant - the point about the calm climbs and the focused "in the zone" downhills - the two together is what makes MTBing so perfect for me. This was the most compelling video/take I've ever seen on ebikes.
I bout an e-bike after having both knees replaced. I would not be able to keep riding otherwise. After owning one, I realized that not allowing them on trails is ridiculous. You do no damage to the trail. Although the bike is 15 pounds heavier, we don’t seek to back heavier riders.
Im 53 and ride my 15kg hardtail 30km -100km spins on local gravel canal pathways a few times a week and for me its keeping me fit. Maybe someday when i cannot do these rides ill go the e bike route :)
Your hardtail would be faster and more efficient than an ebike on those pathways, as long as the ebike isn't derestricted. Ebikes don't reduce the assistance once you go over the limiter, the motor basically turns off and becomes dead weight. Hence on flats or slight gradients it requires a lot more effort to maintain speeds above the limiter due to the extra weight of the battery and motor. In my country the limiters are set to 25km/h, which is roughly 5km/h slower than my average speed on my pathway loop I do on my analog bike; therefore, my ebike would and does just slow me down and make the ride horrible.
Your biggest grip resonates with me. I've recently found that feeling on an E-bike is achievable on super long adventure rides (15 to 20 miles+). On those rides I tent to use 'trail mode" and find I have plenty of time to soak it all in. Fun stuff!
This is by far the best assessment of e-bikes I've heard so far. I'm 67 and bought an e-bike for exercise and to get out of the house. I wouldn't be able to do it if it weren't an e-bike because the first hill I came to I would run out of steam pretty quick. But the e-bike keeps me active and in shape because it's "do-able." My e-bike makes me feel like Superman when I'm on it. Very enjoyable and a great boon to my health. 👍
have to agree that being in the highest mode (boost, turbo, etc,) is less enjoyable than the lower modes. Only time I find myself using that mode is on an approach road or when i'm really crunched for time. Great video. Thank you.
Great video! I own an SL and a full power. I spend a lot of time in eco on the full power and the SL if riding with friends on non-ebikes. As me and my brother who are both in our late 60’s say, “It makes you feel like you are 40 years old again”. What you said about being able to choose how you want to ride them is spot on.
@@El_Zalo It is funny isn’t it? In truth, it is better than you think. I still ride the blue and black tech and jump lines at the bike park. As well as some double black. The key is to not stop riding and you skills stay surprisingly strong. Enjoy the prime years in your 40’s😂.
Glad to hear Beth's experience. I'm also suffering from Ankylosing Spondylitis and after getting an eMTB, I went from being borderline disabled to riding hard in bike parks in less than 2 years. I cannot recommend it enough to people with health issues.
So Specialized Mission Control app allowed you to put in a target heart rate and the motor would adjust to keep you in that zone. It was amazing. And apparently newest release of the app it's gone, but they are reworking it for a future release. Basically like ERG mode for Zwift or a trainer, but outside! Oh yea, and for the uphills, the phenomenon is known as Uphill Flow.
I loved this and have the old mission control app still just because it is indeed missing in the new app. I hope they get the newer one up to date with the features from old, its no longer supported and nags you when using it even.
I think it’s weird that they don’t have a real ERG mode where you could set the power you want to put out and then the assistance is adjusted accordingly.
do you feel yourself to be over biked on most trails other than riding down parks ? cruzing around with that much travel, i think i would be over biked ,and i can't afford 2 ebikes. 70 % of my riding is not at a mountain bike park .I'm just wondering
@@tonyvaccarelli7950 I lock out my suspension if I'm smooth cycle path and I've never felt overbiked. but it is great when getting to shred our steep tech trails, then my 150mm front and rear travel really gets to own the trail, with me hanging off the rear of the bike.
@TheBikeRoom yeah thats all good, but the 70%of my riding would require about 150 to 160 mm travel. The other 30% would be about 180 to 190 mm so i haven't seen too many longer travel ebikes with lockouts for the travel.as i really never ride, smooth anything .hense, my original question , but thanks for the reply . Cheers
Great vid! My friend just got an ebike and now we’re able to ride together way better. Although… now he’s having way more fun lapping the jumplines while I huff and puff back to the top.
Not hating on ebikes and I do not want them off the trails, but they absolutely wear out trails much more than a standard bike. And it is not because they are heavier or that they have more power. It is because the average ebike rider will ride for the same or nearly the same amount of time as if they were on a regular bike, but get in 3x as much riding mileage, often looping trails 2-3x as much as they would compared to a traditional bike, causing 3x as much wear on a given ride. Getting in 3x as much DH fun is great, but trails are getting wrecked so much faster these days as they cannot withstand the added traffic without some more consistent funding paying for more frequent trail repairs to offset the added use. I cannot count the amount of times I've gotten lapped multiple times on a long climb by the same rider on a ebike ripping by me at 3x the speed.
We maintain trails and are not seeing this. We are seeing more wet weather wear from everyone this year in certain problem spots. We are seeing more riders period this year for some reason thats good. Armoring them has solved issues we did have.
You are not wrong in saying that riding more causes more wear but you could also say that more people riding also causes more wear or more fit riders cause more wear.
@@kevinc7632 So armoring will make a trail super resilient regardless of dirt composition and environment and maintain conditions year round from 10,000 laps standard bikes might lap on it and look nearly exactly the same, free of ruts, newly exposed roots and braking holes after 20,000 additional ebike laps. Good to know.
@@superawesomefuntimego Anything wears if you don't maintain it or ride it in the wet. We spoke to Ebike riders and put up trail cameras. At most they did half or one extra lap of a given trail network. Probably more wear from all the tears from those complaining than actual damage. You are explaining conditions that just don't exist yet. The ebikes just went 2-4mph faster maybe made an extra lap or two. In my area we have limestone rock slabs we can slap down and it will address a bad spot fast. So yes armoring a trail properly will hold up to anything. See any Bentonville trail or video to see how much traffic they see. Best example of full armoring one could present probably.
Yup, same experience. First couple of months Turbo only (because its fun!)... then you adapt and learn how to optimize the bike. Now mostly in eco/tour and occasionally emtb. Turbo very very rarely anymore.
Regarding damage to trail argument - I think people forget that ebikes allow you to do 4 or 5 laps in a given day where normal riders can only do 1 to 2. Where this becomes problematic is when it is wet. When a normal rider would only do a couple laps I've seen ebikers continually lap things in the rain. It's a pretty specific instance but in those cases I do think ebikes can cause significantly more wear on the trail. And i'm not talking about when its too wet to ride, but when it is wet enough that there's a higher impact on the trail.
@@andremtb480 you could also say the same for a fit rider compared to an unfit rider. If the trail is visibly being damaged any they continue to ride it, it’s a rider issue not an Ebike issue.
Different yet very much welcome appraisal of eMTB ownership. I wasn't sure whether or not to watch because I am taking delivery of my Whyte RSX today (first eMTB I've owned but I have ridden before). The negatives all made sense, especially re the uphill. I've always felt you need to earn the downhill part!
This is a very helpful and well done video. You nailed it at the end with the comments about the unsung value of that slow, strenuous climb, time where you dig deep to earn your downs. In fact that's my fave part of the ride.. I even hunt down MTB areas that have those long, steady well-aligned climb trails followed by smooth flowy down trails. At my advanced age, with years of riding + injuries from minor to serious, I'm 100% wheels on the ground now and if it weren't for that glorious physical-mental focus that comes from the climb, I wouldn't ride anymore. Thanks to you and Beth for the very helpful insights
Hi, your arguments “not damaging the trail by e-bike” is completely odd. First you ride more = you do more damage to the trail. Second if you say that you do a same power with the motor like the xc pro it is may be right, but in normal world the are jus couple of xc pros, but there are hundred thousands of e-bikers. So in total it makes more damage again.
He also left out the extra weight and burlier tires especially on damp trails,but hey, we’re having fun and i’m holding out for a few years and i dont live in the mountains.
Good stuff man. I think I they do wear the trails more just purely on repetition. If a person would normally do one lap and now they do 4 the trail is getting 3 x more use than before.
out here theres shuttle crews that are like 20 people + , multiple crews doing 3 to 6 laps on the same trails, thats between 50 and 200 runs down the same trail in 1 day not including other non-shuttle people. If your mountain is a shuttle mountain its the shuttling that does the brunt of it.
Greta video and certainly representative of my thought about ebikes. I ride Ebike and non ebike. Half of all of my riding is done in ECO with the Torque and Assistance levels turned down even further. I only use Turbo on flat or undulating descents to help flow. This ensures that 1) i get a really good workout (average HR130-140bpm). 2) It levels up with my riding buddy on an SL. 3) towards the end of a 2-3 hour ride im pretty fried so I can always treat myself to a higher setting to get me home. and 4) while my heart rate isn't much different to the analogue bike i do find that i am not as fatigued for the rest of the day. I assume this is due reduced "maximum efforts" on the ebike. I still love my analogue bike for the Park days and going out with my young son but if i had to choose one it would be an ebike.
My ebike got me off the couch. In a year and a half I've done 2500kms on it and ride in all conditions. Initially bought it for fitness and seeing different parts of my city. Then came the lads that dh and I now love the dh!! New shocks and upgrades make this bike unreal to ride!
100% on the (endurance) fitness, when you use the ebike as a means to go faster and farther, not just make the ride easier - I always tell people this, as the ebike allows you to maintain a steady state effort, rather than having your effort inconsistently dictated by the terrain. As a living example, in March 2022, I broke leg/ankle in 4 places, and I was out for 6 months after having 3 surgeries and complications with staph. In September 2022 with zero fitness, I hopped right back on my Kenevo SL and Levo and rode those exclusively and consistently for 8-12 hours per week, over the next 10 months. I had several huge rides between 8-12,000ft, as I have 2 batteries for my Levo and a range extender on the KSL. In June 2023, I picked up a new Stumpy Evo, and my first analog ride back, I did a 4,400ft ride, which is quite a bit here, where so much of our climbing/descending is rocky, and not just smooth fire roads/single track. I rode analog the rest of that week, and by the next weekend, I did a 58mi/10,000ft ride on the Stumpy, which is the biggest analong mtb ride I've ever done. I had ridden regular bikes for so many years before and had never been able to hit the 10k mark on dirt. I really do credit that to the ebikes, and how they allowed me to do so many long, steady state rides, without having to resort to the road bike. Now, I'm definitely not saying ebikes put you into great shape (most ebikers I see around here are definitely not in great shape), but I'm saying that I was able to build a great endurance base (zone 2-3) with my particular use case. For higher power output and really knowing how to endure the pain cave, regular bikes are much better for me.
Just going by the apps on my apple watch I burn the same calories per hour on my ebike as I do on my conventional bike, I just go twice as far, twice as fast on the ebike.
With my seniors riding group, I always ride analog and lead all of them even though half are on e-bikes. I solely ride my e-bike ( creo 2 or turbo Levo ) by myself.
The e-bike is great for an all day ride where I don't want to spend all my time 'breathing through my eyeballs' on the climbs. I'll use turbo mode on the downhills where I know there will be punchy little climbs mid-trail and where I'm usually not in the right gear. The biggest unexpected downside for me is the cost of running the bike. Everything just wears out because you are out riding so much more. Maybe a belt drive is the way to go.
Another great aspect for winter cycling people, is the heat management. Getting to choose how many Watts you produce let you better control your temperature. So you don't sweat like a pig, then freeze to death because you're wet.
Almost everyone I know takes the limiter off which means they hit 60 plus all the time they ripping the trails up. No one ever mentions this. Same as he gets fitter. I know of no one that only rides ebike that can get on a normal bike and kick a guys ass that is efficient on a normal bike.
13:00 You make an interesting point and I agree with you. When I e-bike I go so fast all the time and I have even thought that it's a bit dodgy and I'm putting myself at risk because I am flying around these singletrack trails past trees etc whereas on my old bike I would be pushing my body but not going as fast. I still go fast on the descents so there is still risk but the risk was exacerbated by the fact that I was going fast from start to end of the ride whereas on a bike you only go fast on the descents and relatively slower and more peacefully (as you put it) for the rest of the ride.
The biggest problem I have owning an Ebike is that I live in Asheville. Except for a few parks, none of the trails are ebike legal. It is pretty dumb because they are still everywhere, but I still limit my riding to really off hours and go out less than I would like. The amount of gatekeeping in this area is intense. The funny thing is that all the trail builders use them to haul tools. Ebikes are OK to build and maintain trails, but not to ride them, according to Pisgah. 😅🔫
I can't pretend I understand any of you who don't use full power all the time. If you live anywhere that has mountains, then you will still get that workout even on the highest setting, it will just be a little more brisk. I never try to make my analog e-denier friends feel better by grunting along with them, that's because I'm the second type of rider: Fun Focused. I realize that there are people out there who bike for the suck, the grind, the effort, the achievement, and that's cool bro, but I'm not here for that. I explore on a massive scale, I bomb downhills, I go for a ride, eat lunch, and then go for another ride. I have a blast, and sure I get a damn good workout in the process, but that is never why I swing a leg over. That's the nut of the debate folks, there's two mindsets, like there always is about every topic. Cheers!
ive also always been one for the fun mindset, its the adventure. The climbs I just had to endure as I had no other option. Some people think you 'have to earn it' sort of mentality. There are no rules, let the sufferfest folks have it and the others enjoy the ride lol. On a plus side i've done more dh trails than I ever have so my skills basically doubled 😅
@@99MrJ99 Yeah, it's come in handy when I visit Trestle. I don't even invite my friends when I go because I know they will get hurt. Down hill sections to them are used for recovery. They just don't spend as much time at maximum yeet. A year ago I was living in flat land, so I bought a smaller dirt bike to get me back used to hanging it out at speed before moving. I know my friends would clown over that idea, but it really helps.
If I got sick I'd get an e-bike. But I do love going up hill on my MTB's my roadbikes. None of my E-bike friends understand this. But as long as my body likes it, I'll stay on bikes. I don't hate motorbikes. But I think they're way too heavy compared to my bikes.
1:52 the best part about this, if you live in a crappy region, almost all public and private (yearly fee/membership) lands around here ban e-bikes, and many ban regular mountain bikes as well. I really don't get it. Sarcasm aside, this is something I never really thought of. The areas that I can ride a mountain bike, are kind of boring or very inconsistent conditions, so being able to focus on endurance, or if i'm not feeling 100% would be great.
Yeah, man! The slow quiet climb. I agree! Plus, my wife and I ride for fun and exercise/fitness. The brain feasts on well-oxygenated blood so I have had some of my best ideas and solutions while on a long, extended, grinding climb. Lastly, there is a sense of accomplishment when you conquer, or set a PR on a 45-minute climb. As of this post, I am 55-years old. Machines are great and there will come a time when my body cannot do the things it once did thus an e-bike is in my future…but not yet. When it is time, I will remember this video and abide by your techniques. Thank you.
I totally agree with almost 100% of your points. I will say as more people get e-bikes it’s much easier to get up some painfully steep climbs to some steep loamers. This has exponentially increased traffic on trails that can’t really handle the extra tires and get rutted and ridden in faster. Now this is also somewhat offset by the fact it’s also easier to get up to those zones to dig with the ebike so there are also more trails being built in harder to reach places. Great vid. An ebike has definitely become a tool to increase fitness and explore new zones although the longer I’ve owned it the less I ride it. It just can’t compete with my enduro bike for fun. Quality over quantity for me and I also appreciate the meditative quality of a quiet long grind up the mountain.
I bought an eMTB because I had long covid, so I could go riding again. It is different because of the weight, but the fix for that is to just go faster 🤣
Excellent video! Your take on ebikes is exactly in line with mine. At 71 years old I got ebikes for myself and my wife. I intentionally bought ebikes with no throttle and 4 pedal assist modes. We've been avid cyclist for years doing a lot of century rides (and we still have three non-ebikes). So, I was on the fence as to whether or not to buy such a thing and enter the ebike world. These were a game changer for us as a couple. This is the first time my wife has ever been able to ride with me, keep up and us stay together on a ride. I keep it on ECO mode, which I agree as you stated basically evens out or compensates for the additional weight of the bike, but lets me still get a workout in. My wife adjust to whatever mode allows her to stay with me. You nailed it! And, yes, you got it right on the quietness and work for slow climbs and into wind. Something to be said about that. Thanks for a great insight and your comments. Don in Florida
I am a non-e rider.Everything you say is right and plausible. The thing is, it is the rider, not the bike. People with a low amount of discipline will end up with no endurance benefits on an e-bike. In the area of germany were I live most people on an e-bike are runing the bikes at high motor assistance. What makes me mad about e-bikes are not the bikes... I think e-bikes have a good right to exist. Its a special kind of people riding on it. Since e-bikes are a thing I was deride by e-bike riders for, probably not having money for an e-bike. I was laugh at by e-bike riders because I mad a break during a 1800 hm climp in the alps. Bro's I rode with in the past switched to e-bikes and stopped riding with me because "I am to slow in the climbs". I got almost killed because I collided on a dedicated downhill trail with an e-bike rider who was thinking that it is a good idea to ride this trail in revers direction.
I have a specialized turbo legal SL and I love it, but I probably only use the assist mode 10% of the time I ride the bike. The other 90% I ride with no assistance.
I worked at MTB specialists in Durango. When E bikes came out while I was there. One week end we did a group shop ride. Ed Zink ask me to do the ride on the e Stump jumper to give him some feedback. I was surprised. After I flatted early. jumping into a rocky section. We continued after the repair and we caught back up to the group. Charlie and I ask if it was cool for us to charge ahead to see how the bike preformed. The group said it was okay. To start with Charlie and I rode together a lot. He's 27 I am a spry 54 at the time. We started behind Purgatory on the Hermosa creek trail. There are a few gnarly climbs that we rode regularly. That is when I saw the benefit. Usually Charlie would wait for me at the top of a climb if it was difficult. On this bike I was able to climb on his rear tire with no issue. We rode together, while I was still putting in effort, but together. On one climb Charlie momentarily lost traction and I was able to slip by because I light pedaled and un wieighted to make it over the root. Make no mistake. I still had to work and could feel the effort afterwords. Because the bike is heavy. In the flats because I ran it at lower output out of respect to Charlie, it was a lot to stay close as we charged on. The one thing that bothered me. The battery was clunking every downhill. We ended up putting a couple of our energy bar wrappers under it to reduce the noise. It never completely went away. We did get it fixed and that was the Demo bike. For the shop.
Coming back to biking from a long term injury, the e bike has given me the ability to explore new trails knowing if I start struggling or get lost I can use boost to get me back home. Doing the same safe short rides before this was uninspiring. Now I can’t wait to get out and my mood swings have improved no end.
Man... hit the nail on the head on so many things. But I think the true dark side of ebikes is the extra traffic from being able to do double or triple the laps. It also lowers the barrier for entry which makes for even more traffic. I see ebikes becoming a victim of their own popularity.
More people on the trails is more people in the local bike shop and the more people volunteering their time. There’s no downside about a sport becoming more popular. It very much reminds me of days where snowboarders were looked down upon.
Also allows people to tear up trails more easily when they are in bad shape because they can "power through" the mud. I've watched that first hand. Anytime you increase accessibility you inevitably get more assholes as a rule of numbers.
@@LWGrounds Nothing is 100% better with popularity. But there is a reasonable argument for popularity bringing more good than bad. I tend to feel that the positives outway the cons, however it is naive to say there are no downsides to increasing popularity. Just look what's happening in Moab with the 4x4 community.
@@vashusan1984 I should have used different wording. There is definitely issues with popularity of something. That’s just a fact and it yields a larger batch of bad apples. What I really meant to say is that there’s no Achilles heel to E-MTBs that makes it not positive for the sport as a whole and why they shouldn’t be on the same trails.
I totally agree. I notice my average heart rate is down but I ride longer and still am spent by the end of my ride. It’s a bit frustrating that I can’t ride some trails due to regulations. My bike and me are no heavier than a lot of guys on there accoustic bikes. I Am 67 and need a bit of help keeping up with my younger friends. I loved my Pivot 429 but my ebike is my first choice now.
One of my favorite uses for an E-bike is using it to conquer new or challenging terrain that I haven’t ridden in a while. I can smash out several laps quickly and not have to worry about riding perfectly on the first or second lap down the mountain. It helps me be more cautious during warmup laps without worry about burning out too quickly
No satisfaction, no reward, no point. We ride for fitness, sure, but we also ride for the feelings we experience while doing it. An E-bike blunts that latter part and I'll only accept such a compromise when I'm too old and too infirm to ride regular bikes.
I agree with everything you said, An e-bike is a tool, and it gives you freedom. However, you (and many others) are responsible trail users. Sadly, there are TONS of e-bikes on trails that forbid them. Many e-bikers here have no etiquette and ride dangerously. Sure, there are regular MTBs and roadies who break rules, but here in Orange County, it's a matter of time they (e-bikers) kill someone. The overlap of e-bikers who break rules and teenagers here is basically a circle at this point, but I'd rather get hit by someone riding 15mph than 20mph.
Chicken and egg. If you ban ebikes from an entire region of trail networks like it is in WNC, people are going to ride on trails that forbid them. If people gatekeep to the extent that ebikers are ostracized from the community, they aren't going to learn proper etiquette. Obviously, I'm only talking about class 1 emtbs and not teenagers taking trying to take a Suron on singletrack.
@jimwing.2178 I don't understand where you are getting that I'm gatekerping. If you mean that I'm not encouraging access to singletrack mtb and hiking trails for full power throttle twisting electronic dirtbikes, well, I suppose so. There is a vast difference between the class 1 emtbs, like the ones in this video and those. I don't care how old someone is at all. I have just experienced more young folks trying to bring dirtbikes on trails. Im not encouraging truly irresponsible behavior. A true edirtbike will cause the harms that are incorrectly associated with class 1 embs. If you see gatekeeping elsewhere, I don't follow.
@@joshevans3452 "If you mean that I'm not encouraging access to singletrack mtb and hiking trails for full power throttle twisting electronic dirtbikes, well, I suppose so." So, you do understand what I mean by gatekeeping. You choose to position the gate between your favored type of motorized bike and all other motorized bikes. Therefore, you have no legitimate gripe against those people who prefer the gate to be between human powered and motorized vehicles. And all cyclists have no legitimate gripe against hiking-only trails. BTW - I'm not buying your argument that electric dirt bikes will cause harms that class 1 embs won't. It's all about the rider. And talk about harming the forest: the trend to plow natural terrain into submission, create very wide, very smooth, dirt roads, and then build unnatural "features" is the most destructive thing that MTB has done.
@jimwing.2178 Do you know what a Surron is? It performs like KTM 250, not like a Turbo Levo, but I'm guessing you know that. Quite frankly, you sound like you are trying to make the same bad faith argument against class 1 emtbs that we have been hearing for the last several years. Did you even watch the video?
I love my Orbea rise. Wasn’t really that into mountain biking in the last four or five years partially due to having kids etc. but also just cause it wasn’t that fun and I couldn’t stay in that good of shape to go bang out some trails. I have a pretty decent little trail right near my house that I can hit a few times a week, and I have a blast riding again. All this e-bike hate and continually labeling trails no e-bikes is bullshit. I’ll keep riding those until the wheels fall off.
Thanks a hell'a lot. I seriously appreciate this vid. I know the huge value of high intensity.. and it sounds like I could have than whenever I want to exercise that option.. Thanks again!!
I used to run a MTB tour company and adding ebikes to our fleet transformed the business. It allowed less fit riders to join the tours knowing they could keep up. In groups of friends, where historically they may get 6 to 8 people together, suddenly they could get 10 friends as the others would just hire an ebike. Amongst my friends, people rode further and more often when getting an ebike. The downsides though, they are very expensive, the batteries are dangerous and need to be very carefully maintained, charged and stored (I wouldn't keep them in the house, for example) and, when you need to replace the battery, as bikes are changing so quickly, it may not be available, writing the bike off if it's a custom fit to your frame. As we were early adopters of ebikes, we were also some of the first to discovery what happens when you can't get new batteries to fit...
We need the software diagnostics for the bikes or even a limited version that we are allowed to play around with like an OBD2 on a car! For ID conflicts with the new update, fitting the Purion 200 v10 on V8 is fine; no error codes. I have spoken to Bosch last week to ask if they have resolved the issue in 1.22.3 yet to update as I don't want to pay £105 to my LBS to click a button, and I've told Bosch this! £105 bucks to remove the ID conflict I have been quoted from my LBS, absolutely no chance! It will come though the software; the Gen 3 is available and now works, so it won't be long till the Gen 4 is cracked! Just simply for fixing codes, not playing around with the speed limits as I need to keep it legal for insurance and warranties, not a thing I would risk!
I've been e-biking for about 3.5 years now and I have noticed a steady decline in my strength. I would like to think that my fitness has remained similar but I'm not so sure. So I decided to buy a regular bike to build back up some of my strength. I used to have huge quads before I got an e-bike and now they look like noodles. The first ride on the bike confirmed my suspicions; I have lost a tonne of strength and some fitness. Take a local trail that I ride regularly (Hikawai Loop). My fastest time on a bike is just over 29 minutes and my fastest time on an e-bike is about 25.5 minutes. I did a lap on my new bike (Stumpjumper 15 Expert) and I did a...... 40 minute lap! Now take that with a grain of salt coz I did stop at the lookout for about 2 mins to catch my breath so maybe if I kept pushing I might have been able to do a 38 or 39 minute lap but that's still 9-10 minutes slower than my best time around Hikawai Loop on a bike. I'm going to stick with it and try to build up some strength in my legs and I will definitely still be using my e-bike but I will be mixing in the use of a normal bike to try to maintain/build strength in my legs and cardio. E-bikes are heaps of fun and you can still get a great cardio workout on an e-bike but the raw strength that you need when pedalling a bike up a hill, where every push is a full muscle contraction, you do no get on an e-bike. Typically you will ride an e-bike up a hill at a higher cadence to keep the motor humming along and this means that you aren't really pushing that hard. It's like going to the gym and instead of doing 10 leg presses of 150kg you are doing 100 leg presses of 15 kg. It's just not the same. It was also quite refreshing to get back on a bike that feels feather light underneath you. Yes the weight of e-bikes can actually be beneficial in the way it smooths out the trails and allows you to bomb through sections etc but a lightweight bike is pretty fun when it comes to popping and manoeuvring. I love both.
Found out after 15 years of cruel pain about my Spondylitis. Thinking about a new bike atm. Currently having a 12.5kg (27.5 pounds) bike I am not sure to get a bike with double the weight. My wife has that and lifting it is always painful for my back 😑 Light emtb would be nice but 10.000€ is a lot of cash for Levo SL. The Orbea Rise has so much rattling going on with it’s motor, that I won’t get that one. The new DJI looks promising!
I completely understand your ‘worst point’ about e-bikes. The climb is actually the best part for me. The downhill is stressful and scary, I actually don’t go that fast. I have been motorcycling for years, dirt bikes, I want to keep the clear distinction between the two.
Good video, however the mountain bike VS Electric bike comparison is flawed at best. Bicycles are by definition human powered, once you attach a motor its nowca motorbike or motorcycle and that's a whole different activity. Personally i love dirt bikes(preferably internal combustion) and mountain bikes but to compare them isnt logical. I think most E bikers need to be honest with themselves and just accept the fact that they dont like mountain biking they like motor biking/dirt biking and thats ok .
I have a TQ motor on my trek. Going uphill is really quiet. I have to work to hear the motor working. Downside is that it's not a full power motor but it works for me. I love the uphills too but with two bad knees, I can't smash them the way I did when I was 20. I got my fuel EXE because I still got those quiet moments on the uphill but on the steeper climbs, it didn't kill my bad knees. So happy to see you supporting e-bikes this way. I was really against them for a long time until I saw my wife wanting to charge some really hard trails with me, so I decided to try some and realized that maybe I was being a bit of a crumb-bum. You're totally on-point.
My old Heavy Santa Cruz bullit from 2004 has been collecting dust for years. Bought a Turbo Levo last month and put over 100 miles on it .. Its just to fun.
That is like saying we should all ride single speeds and go back to 26 inch wheels: most of us wouldn't be able to go as far, which will protect the trails. Isn't it a good thing to get more people out on the trails?
@@stuartsalmon3784 I'm just refuting his argument that they cause no extra trail wear. I'm not telling anyone to ride anything. Just don't use false facts to justify your choice.
@jrclark222 if normal mtb rider rides more, he will also wear down the trail more. So should riders with more strength and endurance be restricted also. Anyways his claim was effectively that the bike doesn't cause more damage than normal bike. That is still valid
this is such a great vid, so many valid points, here is a sub, personally i will never do e-bikes, to me it is missing the point of cycling, id rather have 2-stroke dirt bike if im going that way
I’m 75 ( Geezus can’t believe that number SO BIG ) and I still am very active and can still do all I did before but it takes more TIME.. that’s the key. We’ve all got so much of it before the last ride is on the horizon! I have prostate cancer and hopefully with all the treatments I’ll be able to make it but I want it all… I want to do all I can but I don’t want to be gone as long as it takes because TIME is important. I want to get back
home and hang with my 0:16 family. The ebike allows me to get out and do some riding … and get back home. I’m an early riser and can now get out at sunrise and pound out 20-30 miles and get back home to have coffee with my wife when she’s getting up. Make good use of your time folks.. there’s no redo!!!
Thats sound advice Sir, ❤
Bravo!! May the treatments work well and give you many more years of the good life!! Thanks for your inspiring comment!
Like your style. Keep it going✊
Better to have a bigger number than no number!
I did not see Jesus. Did anybody see Jesus?
An ebike allowed me to continue with some light cycling while undergoing chemotherapy. It improved my mental health and kept me motivated. Allowed me to get back cycling with my friends much sooner.
That’s awesome!
heavy radiation therapy and 2 brain surgeries here. my e-bike (purchased after my 2nd brain surgery - i'm 66) has made all the difference to me 80% of my ride is no 0 assistance with stage 1 or 2 being reserved for hills. (definitely less back tire spin on my ebike than my amish/analog bike as it supplements the part of the stroke where you are not powering the crank and feeds it on my smoothly when you are powering the bike. (I went for a ride with my daughter yesterday.. i gave her the ebike and used my old salsa horsethief. - we both had a blast and she wasn't getting left totally in my dust like she would have in the old days. (she is 25))
Love this! Keep it up
Same I’m 64 and have a chronic kidney condition resulting in impaired fitness So my e bikes allow me to exercise and enjoy biking still
Just like @roblynch99, I just use the pedal assist to get me up hills. I'm 63 and just started biking last year. I spent 30+ years doing desk jobs and didn't do any exersize except walking. By August of last year I was doing 50 - 70 km rides regularily and did one that was 101 km and still had over half the battery charge left. I could never have done this with a regular bike. With the ebike leveling out the hills for me, I can go out for 2 - 6 hours and just enjoy the pathways. Another bonus is I live in Calgary and we have over 1000 km of pathways and trails with one right out the back of my house. I rarely have to ride on the street with vehicle traffic.
I loved hearing from Beth regarding accessibility, my wife doesn't mountain bike, but her health issues prevented her from even biking with the family. We got her an e-bike for around town and gentle trails and she is now always willing to join us, which is the point to me.
I bought my wife an e-bike and she loves it. It takes the dreaded climbs out of biking. I use mountain biking to stay in shape so I stick to pedaling, but I can see me using the e bike as a recovery tool. The main thing is it is a tool to get more people outside.
Same, my wife suffered an altitude sickness induced heart attack (she's ok now). I got her an e-bike and she has no problems joining me on rides around town here in Colorado.
most of my peaceful pedal only climbs are often interrupted by me barfing.
underrated comment.
Amen!
Ahahahahahha
Mine are interrupted by cooling down and drying down breaks xD
Stop eating from cans.
Turning 70 just bought my first e-bike and it’s the difference between continuing to ride mtb or not. In the last few years the climbing has just gotten harder and harder. Now I get 3-4 laps of what I could only do one lap on! And yes I ride on trails that e-bikes are not allowed on but I don’t care those are my favorite trails.
It's okay I wouldn't snitch on a 70 yrs old anyway. Be safe man 🤘
65 here and still on pedal bikes only. Maybe after the current one is paid off ill starting thinking of going e.
I’m in the uk (Scotland actually). There are no trails or even trail centre resorts that you can’t take your e-bike on over here. We’re absolutely dumbfounded that e-bikes are banned on some mountain bike trails in North America. Why? What harm do they do?
Unpopular opinion here...but I think the reason e-bikes are banned in certain areas is due to the motorized vs non motorized grey area that opens up when you start allowing 'some' things with motors...what's to then stop e-bikes with throttles and full on e-dirt bikes to join in on the fun?? It's easier as a general policy to stick with no motors than to try to enforce a nuanced ruling..even if we know that regular e-bikes are fine, the average local police office or state park worker doesn't know better.
I don’t ride in boost/turbo mode…And I get passed going up hill by elite 20 something riders….So heck ban those riders they are going faster than an e-bike.
The worst thing about my Ebike is the fact that I've constant severe muscle soreness in my face....from grinning the whole time!
😂😂
Gimme a break
There’s no remedy for that. It’s just one of the hazards you must endure while riding an eMTB. I’ve experienced the same and have found that riding with other eMTB’ers makes it worse. Sorry for the bad news 😉
@@mfren6253 🤪
😂😂 No doubt! So true!
I get all your points, ebikes are a game changer for many people.
But for me, the turn off about ebiking is that I don't like being one click away from not putting any effort. I don't like having all this choice.
What I like about regular mtb is its simplicity, it's turning off my brain knowing that I'll get as far as my legs and my breath can go.
I like not having to choose how much to struggle, I like the satisfaction of reaching the top relying only on my own strength and I like backing home exhausted.
and the day I don't feel that way, I simply take my enduro motorbike ;)
This is such in interesting thought. There are deeper things to experience that can easily be missed in our pursuit for more.
Very well put and a valid point.
I've been riding and fixing motorbikes all my life (they have probably stopped me going insane in this mad world) We started Ebike mtb's during the lockdowns and it's been life changing, and a sort of motorbike compromise as I just love machines. All the points you state can be so easily applied to EBikes, it's just that they allow you to beat the climbs that analogue bikes have to be pushed up. The UK Lake District is full of loose rocky climbs and descents, many quite technical and so much fun that we couldn't do on an analogue. Also we (my wife and I) can achieve longer distances in the great outdoors and see more of it, no matter what the weather. We get great satisfaction from keeping the power as low as possible and having to work bloody hard 😆 We certainly feel it at the end of a long day.
I get your point though about the simplicity of your machine and your reliance on YOU to get to the top of that killer climb...
The thing is, there is no point where you flip a switch and "put in no effort". You still have to pedal the bike, and it's heavier, so you get fatigued way faster muscling it downhill and through turns. You're putting in the same effort, just going faster doing it, with fewer breaks, for longer, and at higher cadence. The assistance isn't that complicated, it's like a dial you can turn up or down. This is the thing the never-e-biked-never-will folks can't seem to wrap your heads around: It isn't less effort, it's just higher cadence. The trade-off is between muscle resistance and cardio, consistent vs. spiky heart rate, constant flow vs. flow interrupted by climbs and car rides, et cetera; not effort vs. no effort. I guarantee if you spent a day sending it on an e-bike, you would be wiped. An e-mtb isn't a moped, it doesn't have that kind of power. You need to let go of the idea that no effort is required to ride an e-bike, it simply isn't true. The pros all train on them now, and for a reason. You like a specific kind of bike tech, which is every rider's prerogative; it has nothing to do with effort.
I went out on a bike ride with my elderly mother, who has lung cancer, on an ebike. It enabled her to experience riding bikes again like in her childhood, but when it came to uphill sections she left me in the dust(I don't have an ebike).
False.- you have the same choice of effort on an analog MTB which is your pace and when you decide to turn around. Stop hypothesizing about this and try it. The biggest benefit for me is I can get to the trailhead and back on the bike itself instead of having to use another vehicle.
I agree 100% with all. My Kenevo SL was painful in the pocket but completely paid for itself with the increase in riding I was able to do.
I like your comment about the benefit of a meditative climb. I feel like there is a lot of disregard for this part of mountain biking, but the contrast of a serene, quiet, rhythmic, haul up a woodsy switchback, listening to your breathing, followed by an adrenaline-filled downhill, with a different type of intense focus, is why I mountain bike.
Thats pretty much how I ride as well, meditative and flow state. Some people like to fill the ride with chatting, or just grinding it out.
Amen!
Agre, the only time I use Turbo mode is when I´m going to work, other wise I will be soak wet after 30 min on the bike 😇 and thats not nice to the others at the office.😅
Well said. Love the climb.
Agreed. Beside getting around & sprinting for fitness & excitement, meditative, peaceful climbs to earn my turns have been a core driver of my 31-years of MTB. Thanks for the start, Dad.
The fitness benefits of ebikes are so overlooked. Not just the ability to pick your heart rate zone, but for some of us, it got us started riding again after several decades of not getting on a bike because you now have the confidence that you weren't going to stroke out on every hill or bonk 20 miles from home. After a couple of years of ebiking I'm now enjoying a good mix of ebiking and fitness riding on a conventional bike as well. I'm in my 70s and in the last year I've lost 30 pounds and can take my regular bike out for a forty mile ride, something which I would would have believed was impossible two years ago.
😂 you’re extra gen z 🤦🏼♂️🤷🏼♂️🙅🏼♂️
It’s a marketing thing… Ebikes should be called pedal assist bikes. That’s really what they are. Real ebikes have a throttle and are more like a motorcycle
Huh?
Yes you make a good point. Restrictions SHOULD be applied to EBike bc they are literally mopeds.
Pedal assist are still actual bikes IMHO
Calling them e-bikes makes sense either way when it’s using a battery to move you along quicker than a normal bike, whether or not you’re pedaling.
If you padle you throttle...
They should be called motorbikes , because that's what they are . They are bikes with a motor.
Start with my background… life-long roadie, but started enjoying it less as I aged (over 65). Also, moved to gravel a few years ago and LOVED riding forest roads and backcountry instead of mixing it up with big rigs on roads. The combo of age and love of being off-road (I’d never been a mountain bike rider) pointed me towards an eMtb. And my mind was blown. First, I learned the obvious-which is spectacularly difficult for analog riders to accept-I can decide how much assist to use. Duh. If I want a good workout, I use Eco, which basically offsets the weight of the bike to make it ride more like an analog bike (except for the extra weight). But, here’s the thing that I love the most about riding an ebike: I can ride with almost anyone. And if we all have ebikes, almost any group can ride together regardless of each person’s fitness and strength. Now, I ride more because it’s more fun and I ride with others more, because I can. Biking has always been social for me and my ebike allows me to keep it that way, no matter what the effects of advancing age throws at me. Thanks for the great video. Keep ‘em coming.
Eco does not just offset the weight of the bike in most cases. My buddy has a trek rail, which is not tunable. It’s at least 100% easier to pedal up a grade than my Pivot trail 429. He also has a Giant Reign, which is tunable. It has to be down near 5% to make it on par with a non-e-bike. He has been riding e-bikes for years and always rides ECO with us, still can’t make many climbs on my pivot when I let him try.
In other words, an e-bike on ECO is still not equivalent to a normal bike. You always have the bail out button and never have to suffer like someone of equivalent fitness on a normal bike.
I couldn't have written this better. Whoever hates on eMTBs just simply doesn't have a clue about what they are hating on. No way you can hate eMTBs, even if you are a very good MTB rider. They have their place in the market for sure and there are many good reasons why their popularity has risen so fast. You've pointed out some of them.
@@jeremyhowell2332 good thing modern exercise science routinely demonstrates that suffering isn't a prerequisite to either fitness or joy. Also, that low-slung weight makes a world of difference for techy climbing, nice that the assist offsets the resistance you would normally encounter trying to move that extra mass through space.
Yes, the leveling aspect does allow for more mixed ability group riding, as I get older I appreciate this, because only being able to hang with people my own age would be a drag.
Because there are now bikes with motors does not relegate MTBs to analog. There are MTBs and eMoTorBikes. Refuse to accept the new label!
This is so well done. It explains my nuanced feelings on eMTBs in ways I haven’t heard anywhere else. I started completely out of shape and too embarrassed to say yes to friends who wanted to ride. Started a year ago on.a Levo blasting up hills in Turbo full time, and now riding my Fuel EXe in eco most of the time to get that peaceful sense of effort & cadence you describe. I’m in the best biking shape of my life (not that this is saying a ton), riding every day that I can. Thanks for this thoughtful take (as usual)!
I needed your comment for motivation . Im overweight and I feel to embarrassed to ride. Thanks for your comment.
I know this feeling and all I can say is I am proud of anyone who gets up on two wheels to see how fun it can be, and I think e-bikes are an awesome lever for that. I am excited to have you in the cycling community and I hope you get out and have fun in whatever way makes you happy!
I remember my first ride on an E-Bike. It took me back to when I was 4yrs old and my dad took my training wheels off my first bike. It was such a great feeling and I feel that way every time I get on my new e-bike. Great video with a very accurate assessment of Pro's and Con's.
I love the slow, quiet climb. That said, in another 5 to 10 years, when I can’t justify another rebuild on my SC Tallboy, I’m definitely going E.
my ebike is so quiet I cant hear it over the tires and gravel, plus it climbs faster allowing more laps
Nailed it.
I sold my first e-bike because the ride felt too hectic.
surprisingly, it was the climbs on my traditional bike that I was missing
I returned to an acoustic bike for a few years until a friend lent me their SL e-bike for a weekend.
This is the perfect fit for me. It provides just enough assistance on the hills to keep my heart rate in zones 2-3 and is light enough to handle like a regular bike on the downhills.
With my busy schedule and shift work, the ebike also allows me to fit in a ride despite limited time, so I’m riding more.
Anyway, good video!
They have full power SL eBikes coming out this year. I just got one, and it's been a lot of fun. I can full power on fireroads and roads and then I mostly ride Trail 1 (out of Eco / 1 / 2/ Turbo) on single track.
People who hate on e-bikes because they think you can't get out of breath have clearly never heard of "it never gets easier you just go faster". I'm an ex cat 2 road racer and I love my emtb. I can get my heart rate over 180 and pump out as many watts as I normally would except I just go further and faster!
Exactly, getting in shape doesn't take the effort away, you just get to go faster and/or longer while still suffering. But that's the fun and satisfying part.
I burn same amount of calories on my E-bike then my normal bike and i get to do twice the distance and twice the speed and twice the fun :D
This has been exactly my experience too. I’ve even tried riding the exact same rides with the bike in turbo mode one day, trail the next, and eco after that. My average leg power output was the same-the only thing that differed was my average speed.
You guys don't count that emtb is 19-26kg but than again if it's the same why can't u ride normal bike if it's the same
@@TheZerosd You’re misunderstanding what’s being said. We’re not saying it’s the same effort as riding a standard bike for a given speed, distance, and/or climb and those who say it are wrong. What we are saying is we can put in the same effort but over a greater distance, with greater speed, and climb easier than we could on a standard bike.
For me, it’s the difference of still riding an mtb or not. It’s not always “just get in shape”. People have different reasons for riding a class-1 mtb. Mine is I’m 65 and have asthma. I’m not riding any further or faster than I did in my 40’s when I raced but now I can still enjoy riding where before I could not. Not everyone my age needs or wants an e-bike and that’s great for them, their choice.
Not everyone who likes to ride an e-bike has issues that would hinder them from riding a standard bike. So what? Life is full of choices and we should be able to enjoy our activities as “we” see fit as long as we’re not hurting others or the environment.
unfortunately they are like people who own "Teslas"....easy access to Torque turns you a d-bag driver
I've been riding mountain bikes for longer than most of your viewers have been alive. I started riding mountain bikes when the norm was rigid steel frame monsters. I've ridden just about every type of mountain bike there is and I've owned a Specialized Turbo Levo Expert for just over 1 year now. I think the E-MTB is the best technology I have ever ridden. I ride more, I ride longer and I have way more fun than I have had in a long time.
One of the arguments against E-bikes is that you don't get any exercise. I don't ride mountain bikes for exercise, I ride mountain bikes for fun and EMTBs are a ton of fun. If riding mountain bikes was bad for my health, I would still do it. But putting that notion aside, you still have to be in good shape to ride EMTB and it is good exercise. You're still pedaling, and you're still relying on fitness. Riding with a motor just allows you to ride faster. It takes more skill and better fitness to be able to handle those speeds. Pedaling up a hill isn't the only physical apart of riding. You still need upper body strength to move your bike and you still need to be in good cardio shape to be able to keep your heart rate up. I think my fitness level has increased this past year because of my EMTB riding.
Most of the hate towards EMTB comes from ignorance. Most of the haters have never ridden an EMTB and don't really understand what they are about. They just think because there is a motor, it's not really mountain biking because it makes riding too easy. I remember some of these same arguments when suspension was introduced. People said it was like cheating because it made it to easy. Now suspension technology is the norm. I would recommend to anyone that hates EMTB to go out an actual ride one in the trails.
For me EMTB will never replace regular MTB, it's just another type of riding. I own several different mountain bikes for different types of riding. I also own a DH bike that I can only ride at a bike park with lift service, or on trails with a shuttle. Riding a DH bike on every trail isn't realistic and it will never replace all of my bikes, just like an EMTB will never replace my other bikes.
Great content! I’d add one more pro: more people on bikes (of all types) is a good thing. More bikers means more trails, more industry to support (retail and service), more bike lanes, better safety/laws, and (theoretically) more innovation and better prices. Love or hate e-bikes, it’s getting more people out riding. Being part of a growing sport is exciting (ask a golfer about contracting sports). Hardtail, full squish, park, bmx, e-bike, cruiser, commuter, or whatever your flavour, there’s a bike for many tastes. We gotta embrace people in our biking communities rather than drawing lines.
Preach it!
Key phrase trying to get fit as quick as possible lol
Remember higher resistance also makes endurance. And eventually more if you do both. Most just don’t like difficulty and always want to stick with easy as possible hence EBikes.
Funny how everyone I know that only rides e bikes can’t even do a regular bike ride with me anymore because they pretty much have a heart attack on the first up and quit. I only get to ride with them on my E. Ha. That says alot about e bike fitness.
Well, have you considered the fact that they might ride more for fun than fitness? I've been riding dirtbikes since I was a kid, and as I've started to approach 60 I've decided to slow down a little. I've been riding at a few mountain bike parks in my area and almost fall asleep on the so called expert trails. Some of the downhills are ok and I get can some enjoyment out of it, but the uphills are so boring that I decided to stay with motorbike riding. However, after riding an ebike recently I had a blast and it could be just what I'm looking for. It's still slow, but I was looking to slow down.
As for fitness, I ride a hybrid bike and do touring on it. I ride everyday and do 120km to 160km rides on it with a full pannier on weekends. Am I as fit as a MTB rider? Probably not, but I am fit. We are only here for a short time in life, and I seek enjoyment over anything else.
You're correct. This motor biking that people want to pass off as almost the same as a mtb is bunk. When they get on a bike they soon understand they aren't fitter and don't like effort.
Man the final bit in the gripes got me in tears, you're damn right about it. I need my old bike!
E-biking has massively cut down on post ride migraines, which had been getting worse as I get older. Game changer in that regard.
Are you using a sports energy drink that has the the proper ratio of sodium, potassium, sugar, and water? If not try it. It has made a HUGE difference to how I feel post-ride.
A lack of proper hydration and nutrients will cause migraines during any strenuous activity. By adopting an e-bike, you're not putting as much effort into your riding, so you've eliminated the symptom but not actually solved the problem.
@@jimwing.2178 Yes, I have been using various high quality sports drinks over the years. They probably have lessened the migraines to some degree, but have not eliminated them. I still use them, and a big believer.
@@Durwood71 THanks. I do understand this and hydrate as much as possible before and during with good drink mixes. Despite that, in hot, dry Socal I still get dehydrated. The ebike drastically lessens my sweating. Unfortunately, the migraines are a chronic condition with many triggers, but we eliminate them as much as possible while still getting to ride.
Same experience for me.
Bought an E bike recently and it just feels like riding a bike with superpowers. Its absolutely crazy. I like that the uphills feel like downhills. Just using Eco mode most of the time but its amazing. 300% the fun of a non E bike. On top you can use a high travel fully on every way you want, not thinking on how hard it will be to pedal if you dont need the travel on downhills.
My biggest concern is when things go wrong. For influences and pro's, there is always some level of support, or a new bike to ride / review. For regular folk who will own just one bike, when the eeeb throws up an error and its not easily fixable, or its out of warranty - that's a massive issue. Considering the price point of these bikes, the reliability, weather proofing, length of warranty as well as warranty support should be much better. Personally I would like to see these problems discussed more so, making manufactures held accountable, but in the land of sponsorship its just not happening.
These things are not that complicated. Less than an rc car. They also tend to be extremely reliable, and if something does come up, the LBS you bought it from should have no trouble fixing it.
@@yuriabmxr Not according to online forums and groups, there are a sizeable number of the community that face a variety of issues with both motor technology and processing warranties, especially riders living in wetter climates. Clearly its worked out great for others, and I’m happy for them… but the sheer number of issues being discussed is deeply concerning for a premium product. I would like to see reviewers and influencers go deep into this problem, but its very rarely discussed at all and it paints a false sense of security for consumers. Good journalism should hold businesses & people accountable for their neglect. Just as the Loam Ranger called out Pinkbike for its arrogance towards its audience, I'm hoping to see this channel do something similar with the unfortunate reality that too many riders face with their ebikes.
@@yuriabmxr Not according to online forums and groups, there are a sizeable number of the community that face a variety of issues with both motor technology and processing warranties, especially riders living in wetter climates. Clearly its worked out great for others, and I’m happy for them… but the sheer number of issues being discussed is deeply concerning for a premium product. I would like to see reviewers and influencers go deep into this problem, but its very rarely discussed at all and it paints a false sense of security for consumers. Good journalism should hold businesses & people accountable for their neglect. Just as the Loam Ranger called out Pinkbike for its arrogance towards its audience, I'm hoping to see this channel do something similar with the unfortunate reality that too many riders face with their ebikes.
@@yuriabmxr My reply to you is being removed and I’m not quite sure why, but with respect its not that simple. Online forums and groups have large numbers of riders reporting issues with both their motors and the warranty process, which is just unacceptable for a premium product. As evident by my comment being removed, even having a discussion about this appears to be problematic for sponsored journalism. Incredibly disappointed.
@@Wabit01 I'm not claiming a zero failure rate here but forums tend to present highly distilled negative feedback. The people who don't have any problems (vast majority) are outside riding, like the folks I have first hand knowledge of.
After shattering my leg in an off-road motorcycle accident, an e-bike has allowed me to start to regain my strength without demoralizing me. I love that I can ride it how ever hard or easy I want. It's the best of all worlds. I hope the e-bike haters will realize the many benefits they offer and embrace them as opposed to shunning them.
This is brilliant - the point about the calm climbs and the focused "in the zone" downhills - the two together is what makes MTBing so perfect for me. This was the most compelling video/take I've ever seen on ebikes.
its also safer since your not fatigued for the descents. most crashes happen when your fatigued and unfocused.
I bout an e-bike after having both knees replaced. I would not be able to keep riding otherwise. After owning one, I realized that not allowing them on trails is ridiculous. You do no damage to the trail. Although the bike is 15 pounds heavier, we don’t seek to back heavier riders.
Im 53 and ride my 15kg hardtail 30km -100km spins on local gravel canal pathways a few times a week and for me its keeping me fit.
Maybe someday when i cannot do these rides ill go the e bike route :)
Your hardtail would be faster and more efficient than an ebike on those pathways, as long as the ebike isn't derestricted. Ebikes don't reduce the assistance once you go over the limiter, the motor basically turns off and becomes dead weight. Hence on flats or slight gradients it requires a lot more effort to maintain speeds above the limiter due to the extra weight of the battery and motor. In my country the limiters are set to 25km/h, which is roughly 5km/h slower than my average speed on my pathway loop I do on my analog bike; therefore, my ebike would and does just slow me down and make the ride horrible.
Your biggest grip resonates with me. I've recently found that feeling on an E-bike is achievable on super long adventure rides (15 to 20 miles+). On those rides I tent to use 'trail mode" and find I have plenty of time to soak it all in. Fun stuff!
This is by far the best assessment of e-bikes I've heard so far. I'm 67 and bought an e-bike for exercise and to get out of the house. I wouldn't be able to do it if it weren't an e-bike because the first hill I came to I would run out of steam pretty quick. But the e-bike keeps me active and in shape because it's "do-able." My e-bike makes me feel like Superman when I'm on it. Very enjoyable and a great boon to my health. 👍
have to agree that being in the highest mode (boost, turbo, etc,) is less enjoyable than the lower modes. Only time I find myself using that mode is on an approach road or when i'm really crunched for time. Great video. Thank you.
Great video! I own an SL and a full power. I spend a lot of time in eco on the full power and the SL if riding with friends on non-ebikes. As me and my brother who are both in our late 60’s say, “It makes you feel like you are 40 years old again”. What you said about being able to choose how you want to ride them is spot on.
I'm in my 40's and imagining that I will think about how I feel now as "the good ol' days" is disheartening, lol.
@@El_Zalo It is funny isn’t it? In truth, it is better than you think. I still ride the blue and black tech and jump lines at the bike park. As well as some double black. The key is to not stop riding and you skills stay surprisingly strong. Enjoy the prime years in your 40’s😂.
Interesting last point. Maybe it's the equivalent of walking to your ball in golf, talking to your partner and enjoying the scenery
Glad to hear Beth's experience. I'm also suffering from Ankylosing Spondylitis and after getting an eMTB, I went from being borderline disabled to riding hard in bike parks in less than 2 years. I cannot recommend it enough to people with health issues.
I built one. If you don't have any body defects, it is basically only good for riding to work and back in strong wind.
So Specialized Mission Control app allowed you to put in a target heart rate and the motor would adjust to keep you in that zone. It was amazing. And apparently newest release of the app it's gone, but they are reworking it for a future release. Basically like ERG mode for Zwift or a trainer, but outside! Oh yea, and for the uphills, the phenomenon is known as Uphill Flow.
I loved this and have the old mission control app still just because it is indeed missing in the new app. I hope they get the newer one up to date with the features from old, its no longer supported and nags you when using it even.
I think it’s weird that they don’t have a real ERG mode where you could set the power you want to put out and then the assistance is adjusted accordingly.
do you feel yourself to be over biked on most trails other than riding down parks ?
cruzing around with that much travel, i think i would be over biked ,and i can't afford 2 ebikes.
70 % of my riding is not at a mountain bike park .I'm just wondering
@@tonyvaccarelli7950 I lock out my suspension if I'm smooth cycle path and I've never felt overbiked. but it is great when getting to shred our steep tech trails, then my 150mm front and rear travel really gets to own the trail, with me hanging off the rear of the bike.
@TheBikeRoom yeah thats all good, but the 70%of my riding would require about 150 to 160 mm travel. The other 30% would be about 180 to 190 mm
so i haven't seen too many longer travel ebikes with lockouts for the travel.as i really never ride, smooth anything .hense, my original question , but thanks for the reply . Cheers
Great vid! My friend just got an ebike and now we’re able to ride together way better. Although… now he’s having way more fun lapping the jumplines while I huff and puff back to the top.
Not hating on ebikes and I do not want them off the trails, but they absolutely wear out trails much more than a standard bike. And it is not because they are heavier or that they have more power. It is because the average ebike rider will ride for the same or nearly the same amount of time as if they were on a regular bike, but get in 3x as much riding mileage, often looping trails 2-3x as much as they would compared to a traditional bike, causing 3x as much wear on a given ride. Getting in 3x as much DH fun is great, but trails are getting wrecked so much faster these days as they cannot withstand the added traffic without some more consistent funding paying for more frequent trail repairs to offset the added use. I cannot count the amount of times I've gotten lapped multiple times on a long climb by the same rider on a ebike ripping by me at 3x the speed.
We maintain trails and are not seeing this. We are seeing more wet weather wear from everyone this year in certain problem spots. We are seeing more riders period this year for some reason thats good. Armoring them has solved issues we did have.
You are not wrong in saying that riding more causes more wear but you could also say that more people riding also causes more wear or more fit riders cause more wear.
@@kevinc7632 So armoring will make a trail super resilient regardless of dirt composition and environment and maintain conditions year round from 10,000 laps standard bikes might lap on it and look nearly exactly the same, free of ruts, newly exposed roots and braking holes after 20,000 additional ebike laps. Good to know.
@@superawesomefuntimego Anything wears if you don't maintain it or ride it in the wet. We spoke to Ebike riders and put up trail cameras. At most they did half or one extra lap of a given trail network. Probably more wear from all the tears from those complaining than actual damage. You are explaining conditions that just don't exist yet. The ebikes just went 2-4mph faster maybe made an extra lap or two. In my area we have limestone rock slabs we can slap down and it will address a bad spot fast. So yes armoring a trail properly will hold up to anything.
See any Bentonville trail or video to see how much traffic they see. Best example of full armoring one could present probably.
Yup, same experience. First couple of months Turbo only (because its fun!)... then you adapt and learn how to optimize the bike. Now mostly in eco/tour and occasionally emtb. Turbo very very rarely anymore.
Regarding damage to trail argument - I think people forget that ebikes allow you to do 4 or 5 laps in a given day where normal riders can only do 1 to 2. Where this becomes problematic is when it is wet. When a normal rider would only do a couple laps I've seen ebikers continually lap things in the rain. It's a pretty specific instance but in those cases I do think ebikes can cause significantly more wear on the trail. And i'm not talking about when its too wet to ride, but when it is wet enough that there's a higher impact on the trail.
@@andremtb480 you could also say the same for a fit rider compared to an unfit rider. If the trail is visibly being damaged any they continue to ride it, it’s a rider issue not an Ebike issue.
Different yet very much welcome appraisal of eMTB ownership. I wasn't sure whether or not to watch because I am taking delivery of my Whyte RSX today (first eMTB I've owned but I have ridden before). The negatives all made sense, especially re the uphill. I've always felt you need to earn the downhill part!
This is a very helpful and well done video. You nailed it at the end with the comments about the unsung value of that slow, strenuous climb, time where you dig deep to earn your downs. In fact that's my fave part of the ride.. I even hunt down MTB areas that have those long, steady well-aligned climb trails followed by smooth flowy down trails. At my advanced age, with years of riding + injuries from minor to serious, I'm 100% wheels on the ground now and if it weren't for that glorious physical-mental focus that comes from the climb, I wouldn't ride anymore. Thanks to you and Beth for the very helpful insights
Hi, your arguments “not damaging the trail by e-bike” is completely odd. First you ride more = you do more damage to the trail. Second if you say that you do a same power with the motor like the xc pro it is may be right, but in normal world the are jus couple of xc pros, but there are hundred thousands of e-bikers. So in total it makes more damage again.
He also left out the extra weight and burlier tires especially on damp trails,but hey, we’re having fun and i’m holding out for a few years and i dont live in the mountains.
Good stuff man. I think I they do wear the trails more just purely on repetition. If a person would normally do one lap and now they do 4 the trail is getting 3 x more use than before.
It's not the repetition, it's the fact that e-bikes are heavier and deliver more torque to the rear tire which causes it to dig in more.
@@Durwood71 still irrelevant when the 90kg stand-up-and-sprint guys are on your trails chasing KOMs
@@Vilendank Even a "stand up and sprint" rider is not putting as much torque into the rear wheel as an e-bike.
out here theres shuttle crews that are like 20 people + , multiple crews doing 3 to 6 laps on the same trails, thats between 50 and 200 runs down the same trail in 1 day not including other non-shuttle people. If your mountain is a shuttle mountain its the shuttling that does the brunt of it.
...it's 4 times more - and it's the heavier weight of the ebike, not just the increased use that causes more trail erosion
Greta video and certainly representative of my thought about ebikes. I ride Ebike and non ebike. Half of all of my riding is done in ECO with the Torque and Assistance levels turned down even further. I only use Turbo on flat or undulating descents to help flow. This ensures that 1) i get a really good workout (average HR130-140bpm). 2) It levels up with my riding buddy on an SL. 3) towards the end of a 2-3 hour ride im pretty fried so I can always treat myself to a higher setting to get me home. and 4) while my heart rate isn't much different to the analogue bike i do find that i am not as fatigued for the rest of the day. I assume this is due reduced "maximum efforts" on the ebike. I still love my analogue bike for the Park days and going out with my young son but if i had to choose one it would be an ebike.
The best part is you can get that dad bod going.
I have a shredded body ready for on stage look and I ride an e-bike so not true for everyone.
Give the RM altitude power play a go if you want quiet full power e bike - I’ve had a lot of e-bikes and the RM amazes me every ride
My ebike got me off the couch. In a year and a half I've done 2500kms on it and ride in all conditions. Initially bought it for fitness and seeing different parts of my city. Then came the lads that dh and I now love the dh!! New shocks and upgrades make this bike unreal to ride!
100% on the (endurance) fitness, when you use the ebike as a means to go faster and farther, not just make the ride easier - I always tell people this, as the ebike allows you to maintain a steady state effort, rather than having your effort inconsistently dictated by the terrain. As a living example, in March 2022, I broke leg/ankle in 4 places, and I was out for 6 months after having 3 surgeries and complications with staph. In September 2022 with zero fitness, I hopped right back on my Kenevo SL and Levo and rode those exclusively and consistently for 8-12 hours per week, over the next 10 months. I had several huge rides between 8-12,000ft, as I have 2 batteries for my Levo and a range extender on the KSL. In June 2023, I picked up a new Stumpy Evo, and my first analog ride back, I did a 4,400ft ride, which is quite a bit here, where so much of our climbing/descending is rocky, and not just smooth fire roads/single track. I rode analog the rest of that week, and by the next weekend, I did a 58mi/10,000ft ride on the Stumpy, which is the biggest analong mtb ride I've ever done. I had ridden regular bikes for so many years before and had never been able to hit the 10k mark on dirt. I really do credit that to the ebikes, and how they allowed me to do so many long, steady state rides, without having to resort to the road bike. Now, I'm definitely not saying ebikes put you into great shape (most ebikers I see around here are definitely not in great shape), but I'm saying that I was able to build a great endurance base (zone 2-3) with my particular use case. For higher power output and really knowing how to endure the pain cave, regular bikes are much better for me.
Just going by the apps on my apple watch I burn the same calories per hour on my ebike as I do on my conventional bike, I just go twice as far, twice as fast on the ebike.
E-bikes are best invention for MTB sport for past 10years, don’t miss analog bike
With my seniors riding group, I always ride analog and lead all of them even though half are on e-bikes. I solely ride my e-bike ( creo 2 or turbo Levo ) by myself.
The e-bike is great for an all day ride where I don't want to spend all my time 'breathing through my eyeballs' on the climbs. I'll use turbo mode on the downhills where I know there will be punchy little climbs mid-trail and where I'm usually not in the right gear.
The biggest unexpected downside for me is the cost of running the bike. Everything just wears out because you are out riding so much more. Maybe a belt drive is the way to go.
I think belt drives etc are the future, and yes I wear tires fast! But I honestly think ebikes are going to drive innovation for regular bikes
I didnt like the belt on mtb due to noise of gearbox, so test before you buy
Shimano LinkGlide time.
Another great aspect for winter cycling people, is the heat management. Getting to choose how many Watts you produce let you better control your temperature. So you don't sweat like a pig, then freeze to death because you're wet.
I think that the trail destruction argument is that trails get heavier use since people ride 2x more with an ebike.
the trail argument is "no motorized vehicles"
Almost everyone I know takes the limiter off which means they hit 60 plus all the time they ripping the trails up. No one ever mentions this. Same as he gets fitter. I know of no one that only rides ebike that can get on a normal bike and kick a guys ass that is efficient on a normal bike.
No, it's because e-bikes are heavier and deliver more torque to the rear tire which increases wear and tear to the trail.
@@Durwood71 and they can ride longer, more laps= more trail wear.
@@shaunschneeberger6301what sort of trails do you have that you can ride 66 up... I would not even call that an mtb trail. That's a road!
13:00 You make an interesting point and I agree with you. When I e-bike I go so fast all the time and I have even thought that it's a bit dodgy and I'm putting myself at risk because I am flying around these singletrack trails past trees etc whereas on my old bike I would be pushing my body but not going as fast. I still go fast on the descents so there is still risk but the risk was exacerbated by the fact that I was going fast from start to end of the ride whereas on a bike you only go fast on the descents and relatively slower and more peacefully (as you put it) for the rest of the ride.
The biggest problem I have owning an Ebike is that I live in Asheville. Except for a few parks, none of the trails are ebike legal. It is pretty dumb because they are still everywhere, but I still limit my riding to really off hours and go out less than I would like. The amount of gatekeeping in this area is intense. The funny thing is that all the trail builders use them to haul tools. Ebikes are OK to build and maintain trails, but not to ride them, according to Pisgah. 😅🔫
It's not gatekeeping. Get a mtb and ride mtb trails.
Silly Ashevillians
3:09 Where is that? That town looks pretty sick!
Gary Indiana
I can't pretend I understand any of you who don't use full power all the time. If you live anywhere that has mountains, then you will still get that workout even on the highest setting, it will just be a little more brisk. I never try to make my analog e-denier friends feel better by grunting along with them, that's because I'm the second type of rider: Fun Focused. I realize that there are people out there who bike for the suck, the grind, the effort, the achievement, and that's cool bro, but I'm not here for that. I explore on a massive scale, I bomb downhills, I go for a ride, eat lunch, and then go for another ride. I have a blast, and sure I get a damn good workout in the process, but that is never why I swing a leg over. That's the nut of the debate folks, there's two mindsets, like there always is about every topic. Cheers!
Yep, couldn't say it better really.
Couldn’t agree more 👏🏽
ive also always been one for the fun mindset, its the adventure. The climbs I just had to endure as I had no other option. Some people think you 'have to earn it' sort of mentality. There are no rules, let the sufferfest folks have it and the others enjoy the ride lol. On a plus side i've done more dh trails than I ever have so my skills basically doubled 😅
@@99MrJ99 Yeah, it's come in handy when I visit Trestle. I don't even invite my friends when I go because I know they will get hurt. Down hill sections to them are used for recovery. They just don't spend as much time at maximum yeet. A year ago I was living in flat land, so I bought a smaller dirt bike to get me back used to hanging it out at speed before moving. I know my friends would clown over that idea, but it really helps.
I like both. I ride for fitness and the jibness. 😋
Your description of the e-bike experience was right on!
If I got sick I'd get an e-bike. But I do love going up hill on my MTB's my roadbikes. None of my E-bike friends understand this. But as long as my body likes it, I'll stay on bikes. I don't hate motorbikes. But I think they're way too heavy compared to my bikes.
I got to test ride Giant's Trance Elite, and it actually comes in less than my hardtail in weight, while still a full power bike. Absolutely bonkers.
1:52 the best part about this, if you live in a crappy region, almost all public and private (yearly fee/membership) lands around here ban e-bikes, and many ban regular mountain bikes as well. I really don't get it. Sarcasm aside, this is something I never really thought of. The areas that I can ride a mountain bike, are kind of boring or very inconsistent conditions, so being able to focus on endurance, or if i'm not feeling 100% would be great.
Yeah, man! The slow quiet climb. I agree! Plus, my wife and I ride for fun and exercise/fitness. The brain feasts on well-oxygenated blood so I have had some of my best ideas and solutions while on a long, extended, grinding climb. Lastly, there is a sense of accomplishment when you conquer, or set a PR on a 45-minute climb. As of this post, I am 55-years old. Machines are great and there will come a time when my body cannot do the things it once did thus an e-bike is in my future…but not yet. When it is time, I will remember this video and abide by your techniques. Thank you.
so well said about that time to reflect during a climb
I totally agree with almost 100% of your points. I will say as more people get e-bikes it’s much easier to get up some painfully steep climbs to some steep loamers. This has exponentially increased traffic on trails that can’t really handle the extra tires and get rutted and ridden in faster. Now this is also somewhat offset by the fact it’s also easier to get up to those zones to dig with the ebike so there are also more trails being built in harder to reach places. Great vid. An ebike has definitely become a tool to increase fitness and explore new zones although the longer I’ve owned it the less I ride it. It just can’t compete with my enduro bike for fun. Quality over quantity for me and I also appreciate the meditative quality of a quiet long grind up the mountain.
I bought an eMTB because I had long covid, so I could go riding again. It is different because of the weight, but the fix for that is to just go faster 🤣
Excellent video! Your take on ebikes is exactly in line with mine. At 71 years old I got ebikes for myself and my wife. I intentionally bought ebikes with no throttle and 4 pedal assist modes. We've been avid cyclist for years doing a lot of century rides (and we still have three non-ebikes). So, I was on the fence as to whether or not to buy such a thing and enter the ebike world. These were a game changer for us as a couple. This is the first time my wife has ever been able to ride with me, keep up and us stay together on a ride. I keep it on ECO mode, which I agree as you stated basically evens out or compensates for the additional weight of the bike, but lets me still get a workout in. My wife adjust to whatever mode allows her to stay with me. You nailed it! And, yes, you got it right on the quietness and work for slow climbs and into wind. Something to be said about that. Thanks for a great insight and your comments. Don in Florida
I am a non-e rider.Everything you say is right and plausible. The thing is, it is the rider, not the bike. People with a low amount of discipline will end up with no endurance benefits on an e-bike. In the area of germany were I live most people on an e-bike are runing the bikes at high motor assistance.
What makes me mad about e-bikes are not the bikes... I think e-bikes have a good right to exist. Its a special kind of people riding on it. Since e-bikes are a thing I was deride by e-bike riders for, probably not having money for an e-bike. I was laugh at by e-bike riders because I mad a break during a 1800 hm climp in the alps. Bro's I rode with in the past switched to e-bikes and stopped riding with me because "I am to slow in the climbs". I got almost killed because I collided on a dedicated downhill trail with an e-bike rider who was thinking that it is a good idea to ride this trail in revers direction.
Thank you for such an insightful video - love the story telling and high quality footage
I have a specialized turbo legal SL and I love it, but I probably only use the assist mode 10% of the time I ride the bike. The other 90% I ride with no assistance.
I worked at MTB specialists in Durango. When E bikes came out while I was there. One week end we did a group shop ride. Ed Zink ask me to do the ride on the e Stump jumper to give him some feedback. I was surprised. After I flatted early. jumping into a rocky section. We continued after the repair and we caught back up to the group.
Charlie and I ask if it was cool for us to charge ahead to see how the bike preformed. The group said it was okay. To start with Charlie and I rode together a lot. He's 27 I am a spry 54 at the time. We started behind Purgatory on the Hermosa creek trail.
There are a few gnarly climbs that we rode regularly. That is when I saw the benefit. Usually Charlie would wait for me at the top of a climb if it was difficult. On this bike I was able to climb on his rear tire with no issue.
We rode together, while I was still putting in effort, but together. On one climb Charlie momentarily lost traction and I was able to slip by because I light pedaled and un wieighted to make it over the root. Make no mistake. I still had to work and could feel the effort afterwords. Because the bike is heavy. In the flats because I ran it at lower output out of respect to Charlie, it was a lot to stay close as we charged on. The one thing that bothered me. The battery was clunking every downhill. We ended up putting a couple of our energy bar wrappers under it to reduce the noise. It never completely went away. We did get it fixed and that was the Demo bike. For the shop.
THIS is really really GOOD info here to do this training!!!
Coming back to biking from a long term injury, the e bike has given me the ability to explore new trails knowing if I start struggling or get lost I can use boost to get me back home. Doing the same safe short rides before this was uninspiring. Now I can’t wait to get out and my mood swings have improved no end.
Yep - helped so much after my knee joint was replaced.
Going down that trail my heart rate would be through the roof 😂
Man... hit the nail on the head on so many things. But I think the true dark side of ebikes is the extra traffic from being able to do double or triple the laps. It also lowers the barrier for entry which makes for even more traffic. I see ebikes becoming a victim of their own popularity.
More people on the trails is more people in the local bike shop and the more people volunteering their time. There’s no downside about a sport becoming more popular. It very much reminds me of days where snowboarders were looked down upon.
Also allows people to tear up trails more easily when they are in bad shape because they can "power through" the mud. I've watched that first hand. Anytime you increase accessibility you inevitably get more assholes as a rule of numbers.
@@LWGrounds Nothing is 100% better with popularity. But there is a reasonable argument for popularity bringing more good than bad. I tend to feel that the positives outway the cons, however it is naive to say there are no downsides to increasing popularity. Just look what's happening in Moab with the 4x4 community.
@@vashusan1984 I should have used different wording. There is definitely issues with popularity of something. That’s just a fact and it yields a larger batch of bad apples. What I really meant to say is that there’s no Achilles heel to E-MTBs that makes it not positive for the sport as a whole and why they shouldn’t be on the same trails.
@@LWGrounds lol so true. its the same line snowboarding followed until it was mainstream.
You can ride e-bikes at the Nordic center now!
I totally agree. I notice my average heart rate is down but I ride longer and still am spent by the end of my ride. It’s a bit frustrating that I can’t ride some trails due to regulations. My bike and me are no heavier than a lot of guys on there accoustic bikes. I Am 67 and need a bit of help keeping up with my younger friends. I loved my Pivot 429 but my ebike is my first choice now.
Thanks for this...have always been anti-e but your arguments are compelling. Just need to decide between a new car or a new bike ;(
One of my favorite uses for an E-bike is using it to conquer new or challenging terrain that I haven’t ridden in a while. I can smash out several laps quickly and not have to worry about riding perfectly on the first or second lap down the mountain. It helps me be more cautious during warmup laps without worry about burning out too quickly
best part if ebikes is having fun climbing as well as downhill, worst part is things break faster and are more expensive.
No satisfaction, no reward, no point. We ride for fitness, sure, but we also ride for the feelings we experience while doing it. An E-bike blunts that latter part and I'll only accept such a compromise when I'm too old and too infirm to ride regular bikes.
You do you and we all can ride in harmony. I will give you lots of room while I pass with a large smile on my mug
@@ronmatthews2170 You completely miss understood what his post is implying. The only person your racing to get past is yourself.
E-Bikes were just allowed at the Canmore Nordic Centre!
I agree with everything you said, An e-bike is a tool, and it gives you freedom. However, you (and many others) are responsible trail users. Sadly, there are TONS of e-bikes on trails that forbid them. Many e-bikers here have no etiquette and ride dangerously. Sure, there are regular MTBs and roadies who break rules, but here in Orange County, it's a matter of time they (e-bikers) kill someone. The overlap of e-bikers who break rules and teenagers here is basically a circle at this point, but I'd rather get hit by someone riding 15mph than 20mph.
Chicken and egg. If you ban ebikes from an entire region of trail networks like it is in WNC, people are going to ride on trails that forbid them. If people gatekeep to the extent that ebikers are ostracized from the community, they aren't going to learn proper etiquette. Obviously, I'm only talking about class 1 emtbs and not teenagers taking trying to take a Suron on singletrack.
@@joshevans3452 So, you are a gatekeeper yourself and your have set the gate a your personal preference. I don't understand that mentality.
@jimwing.2178 I don't understand where you are getting that I'm gatekerping. If you mean that I'm not encouraging access to singletrack mtb and hiking trails for full power throttle twisting electronic dirtbikes, well, I suppose so. There is a vast difference between the class 1 emtbs, like the ones in this video and those. I don't care how old someone is at all. I have just experienced more young folks trying to bring dirtbikes on trails. Im not encouraging truly irresponsible behavior. A true edirtbike will cause the harms that are incorrectly associated with class 1 embs. If you see gatekeeping elsewhere, I don't follow.
@@joshevans3452 "If you mean that I'm not encouraging access to singletrack mtb and hiking trails for full power throttle twisting electronic dirtbikes, well, I suppose so." So, you do understand what I mean by gatekeeping. You choose to position the gate between your favored type of motorized bike and all other motorized bikes. Therefore, you have no legitimate gripe against those people who prefer the gate to be between human powered and motorized vehicles. And all cyclists have no legitimate gripe against hiking-only trails.
BTW - I'm not buying your argument that electric dirt bikes will cause harms that class 1 embs won't. It's all about the rider. And talk about harming the forest: the trend to plow natural terrain into submission, create very wide, very smooth, dirt roads, and then build unnatural "features" is the most destructive thing that MTB has done.
@jimwing.2178 Do you know what a Surron is? It performs like KTM 250, not like a Turbo Levo, but I'm guessing you know that. Quite frankly, you sound like you are trying to make the same bad faith argument against class 1 emtbs that we have been hearing for the last several years. Did you even watch the video?
I love my Orbea rise. Wasn’t really that into mountain biking in the last four or five years partially due to having kids etc. but also just cause it wasn’t that fun and I couldn’t stay in that good of shape to go bang out some trails. I have a pretty decent little trail right near my house that I can hit a few times a week, and I have a blast riding again. All this e-bike hate and continually labeling trails no e-bikes is bullshit. I’ll keep riding those until the wheels fall off.
After losing my leg in November ebike is the only way I can get back on the trail. It's not cool we are still banned on so many mountain bike trails.
Thanks a hell'a lot. I seriously appreciate this vid.
I know the huge value of high intensity.. and it sounds like I could have than whenever I want to exercise that option.. Thanks again!!
I used to run a MTB tour company and adding ebikes to our fleet transformed the business. It allowed less fit riders to join the tours knowing they could keep up. In groups of friends, where historically they may get 6 to 8 people together, suddenly they could get 10 friends as the others would just hire an ebike. Amongst my friends, people rode further and more often when getting an ebike. The downsides though, they are very expensive, the batteries are dangerous and need to be very carefully maintained, charged and stored (I wouldn't keep them in the house, for example) and, when you need to replace the battery, as bikes are changing so quickly, it may not be available, writing the bike off if it's a custom fit to your frame. As we were early adopters of ebikes, we were also some of the first to discovery what happens when you can't get new batteries to fit...
this is why i have not gotten one, the inability often to upgrade, replace battery, in just 3, 4 years.
We need the software diagnostics for the bikes or even a limited version that we are allowed to play around with like an OBD2 on a car! For ID conflicts with the new update, fitting the Purion 200 v10 on V8 is fine; no error codes. I have spoken to Bosch last week to ask if they have resolved the issue in 1.22.3 yet to update as I don't want to pay £105 to my LBS to click a button, and I've told Bosch this! £105 bucks to remove the ID conflict I have been quoted from my LBS, absolutely no chance! It will come though the software; the Gen 3 is available and now works, so it won't be long till the Gen 4 is cracked! Just simply for fixing codes, not playing around with the speed limits as I need to keep it legal for insurance and warranties, not a thing I would risk!
I've been e-biking for about 3.5 years now and I have noticed a steady decline in my strength. I would like to think that my fitness has remained similar but I'm not so sure. So I decided to buy a regular bike to build back up some of my strength. I used to have huge quads before I got an e-bike and now they look like noodles. The first ride on the bike confirmed my suspicions; I have lost a tonne of strength and some fitness. Take a local trail that I ride regularly (Hikawai Loop). My fastest time on a bike is just over 29 minutes and my fastest time on an e-bike is about 25.5 minutes. I did a lap on my new bike (Stumpjumper 15 Expert) and I did a...... 40 minute lap! Now take that with a grain of salt coz I did stop at the lookout for about 2 mins to catch my breath so maybe if I kept pushing I might have been able to do a 38 or 39 minute lap but that's still 9-10 minutes slower than my best time around Hikawai Loop on a bike. I'm going to stick with it and try to build up some strength in my legs and I will definitely still be using my e-bike but I will be mixing in the use of a normal bike to try to maintain/build strength in my legs and cardio. E-bikes are heaps of fun and you can still get a great cardio workout on an e-bike but the raw strength that you need when pedalling a bike up a hill, where every push is a full muscle contraction, you do no get on an e-bike. Typically you will ride an e-bike up a hill at a higher cadence to keep the motor humming along and this means that you aren't really pushing that hard. It's like going to the gym and instead of doing 10 leg presses of 150kg you are doing 100 leg presses of 15 kg. It's just not the same.
It was also quite refreshing to get back on a bike that feels feather light underneath you. Yes the weight of e-bikes can actually be beneficial in the way it smooths out the trails and allows you to bomb through sections etc but a lightweight bike is pretty fun when it comes to popping and manoeuvring. I love both.
Worst part of owning an ebike for me are the jerks who don't get it
-I'm not cheating because it's not a competition
I honestly don’t miss slow uphill pedaling
Found out after 15 years of cruel pain about my Spondylitis.
Thinking about a new bike atm. Currently having a 12.5kg (27.5 pounds) bike I am not sure to get a bike with double the weight. My wife has that and lifting it is always painful for my back 😑
Light emtb would be nice but 10.000€ is a lot of cash for Levo SL. The Orbea Rise has so much rattling going on with it’s motor, that I won’t get that one.
The new DJI looks promising!
my biggest issue is new riders going way to fast on the trails, and not having bike handling skills
Worst is water for motors...wear quick everything, expensive mantainance. On tehnical and rough trails its a madness to carry.😂
I completely understand your ‘worst point’ about e-bikes. The climb is actually the best part for me. The downhill is stressful and scary, I actually don’t go that fast.
I have been motorcycling for years, dirt bikes, I want to keep the clear distinction between the two.
Good video, however the mountain bike VS Electric bike comparison is flawed at best. Bicycles are by definition human powered, once you attach a motor its nowca motorbike or motorcycle and that's a whole different activity. Personally i love dirt bikes(preferably internal combustion) and mountain bikes but to compare them isnt logical. I think most E bikers need to be honest with themselves and just accept the fact that they dont like mountain biking they like motor biking/dirt biking and thats ok .
I have a TQ motor on my trek. Going uphill is really quiet. I have to work to hear the motor working. Downside is that it's not a full power motor but it works for me. I love the uphills too but with two bad knees, I can't smash them the way I did when I was 20. I got my fuel EXE because I still got those quiet moments on the uphill but on the steeper climbs, it didn't kill my bad knees. So happy to see you supporting e-bikes this way. I was really against them for a long time until I saw my wife wanting to charge some really hard trails with me, so I decided to try some and realized that maybe I was being a bit of a crumb-bum. You're totally on-point.
My old Heavy Santa Cruz bullit from 2004 has been collecting dust for years. Bought a Turbo Levo last month and put over 100 miles on it .. Its just to fun.
So you ride 2 or 3 times as far. That means you are eroding the trail 2 or 3 times as much as a regular bike…. Riding more often…more trail wear.
That is like saying we should all ride single speeds and go back to 26 inch wheels: most of us wouldn't be able to go as far, which will protect the trails. Isn't it a good thing to get more people out on the trails?
@@stuartsalmon3784 I'm just refuting his argument that they cause no extra trail wear. I'm not telling anyone to ride anything. Just don't use false facts to justify your choice.
@jrclark222 if normal mtb rider rides more, he will also wear down the trail more. So should riders with more strength and endurance be restricted also. Anyways his claim was effectively that the bike doesn't cause more damage than normal bike. That is still valid
this is such a great vid, so many valid points, here is a sub, personally i will never do e-bikes, to me it is missing the point of cycling, id rather have 2-stroke dirt bike if im going that way