livedarklions

Pain is something that happens as a result of an intense workout or a long hilly ride, but I certainly don't get saying that pain is the point of it. But year, I can definitely relate to the pushing myself far enough on a ride that taking my shoes off at the end of the ride seems like a gargantuan task.

I don't think that puts us in a position to demean the value of riding to people who ride ebikes, though. They're just riding differently than thee or me.

Maelochs

We shall consider your suggestion.

prj71

Considering the folks on e-bikes previously didn't ride or had no interest in riding it's kind of obvious why they are riding an e-bike...It doesn't take as much physical effort.

At the start of the this I mentioned the paved bike path I ride a few times a year. I even have a few rail trails that I like to ride. I've been riding these trails long enough to notice an increase in users and those users are e-bike folks not acoustic folks. Had it not been for e-bikes I guarantee I would not see the increased amount of people on these trails.

big john

Can't you just see him gnashing his teeth when he says "fully kitted"? Like it's a reference to the scum of the earth.

livedarklions

Consider the fact that who you happen to see is not necessarily a representative sample. Where I ride, ebikes are kind of unusual--I actually encounter more recumbents than I do ebikes, and definitely much fewer than pedal-power two wheelers.

And what do you care what their motivation is? I see some fit people riding ebikes--for all I know, they're using it as transport to the gym.

What the hell is the point of this thread?

rsbob 

Perhaps ‘fully knitted’ would work better.

prj71

As I mentioned previously....these are recreational trails only that traverse through very rural areas. They are not trails that you ride to get from home to work or home to the store or home to the gym. This isn't big city stuff.

livedarklions

And as I mentioned, consider the fact that that isn't a representative sample of "new" riders.

And that relates to answering the question you quoted how?

Why do you care about their motivation? You keep not answering that question.

prj71

It's not their motivation...or lack thereof in this case. I'm not amused by the increased users on the trail. Especially ones with poor bike handling skills. If it were not for e-bikes there wouldn't be an increase of people on the trail systems. That's a fact. It doesn't have to always be about having more people.

livedarklions

Gotta say, I ride a fair amount of rural paths and trails, and I rarely if ever see ebikes on them. I honestly am very skeptical of this whole rant.

wolfchild

The most popular electric assist bikes I see around here are fat bikes and also fat tire folding bikes with 20 inch wheels and 4 inch wide knobby off road tires. Most people use them for commuting and just getting outside and enjoying the outdoors. I never seen one on singletrack but I do see them regularly along rail trails and MUPS. Personally I don't have a problem with them as long as the riders behave responsibly and don't buzz people.. I like the concept of electric assist bikes but the battery range is way too short to justify buying one. These bikes need to be designed with some kind of integrated charger inside the hub that recharges the battery while riding, similar to a vehicle alternator.

prj71

Be skeptical all you want. I speak the truth. The paved path I refer to is 52 miles and connects to 5 different touristy towns that have quaint little coffee shops, restaurants and gift shops. The rail trail (all gravel) I refer to 21-1/2 miles long connecting 2 touristy towns. They are touristy trails that are used heavily on the weekends by recreational riders. Not for transportation to get to and from work etc. While they are rural, they are destinations trails that draw people in from 3-6 hours away.

Gear_Admiral 

That's the biggest thing dissuading me from ever getting one. After the battery goes, you're just pedaling a monstrous, heavy, mediocre bike with horrible gearing, dynamics, etc. An e-bike would make sense if I'm feeble and only need to go on trips of a few miles occasionally, but an e-bike limits my range as opposed to regular biking more than it increases my range from strictly walking and taking the bus.

I won't pooh-pooh the e-bike and I'd rather for my sake and the planet's sake have people on e-bikes as opposed to cars (really, SUVs and trucks), but it doesn't make sense for those who already can bike the old-fashioned way. The e-bike is good for the person who drives and would like to bike, but doesn't have the skills, and would consider ditching the car if e-bikes were affordable and practical. But it's not going to be good for most of us. The e-bike doesn't solve any problems for me. Conditions in winter bad? Then the town needs to plow more and have safe and segregated bike lanes. The e-bike won't change much. It can jump up in speed and help me more competently weave through cars, but if the conditions are such that I can't ride an old-fashioned bike, then it's too icy for anyone to safely do any high-speed weaving on a two-wheeled bike or e-bike.

Rolla

Sounds like a great place to ride an e-bike. The Chamber of Commerce should promote them; maybe build a rental/charging kiosk in each town.

Gresp15C

For better or worse, it's probably within the mission of the agencies that develop and maintain those trails, to attract more users. I've been on some of those trails (e.g., Gandy Dancer), and they were quite lonely. There's a region I've visited around Hayward, that's a major attraction for MTB'ers, ATV's, and every other conceivable thing.
I live in Wisconsin, and there's a fair amount of bike tourism. People drive into the rural areas (including from out of state), park, and ride on the paths. Sometimes this is done in conjunction with an overnight stay somewhere. I have relatives from Illinois who do this, and they're all getting e-bikes. When I ride on the trails and go past parking areas, I see people loading bikes on and off their cars.

prj71

Yup. You got it. I live in WI also. Approximately an hour from the paved trails and 1/2 hour from the rail trails I speak of. Any given weekend in northern WI (where these trails are) has more people in it from Illinois than there are locals. Minocqua has often been called Illinocqua.

Hayward is the CAMBA MTB trail system. ~120 miles of mountain bike trails in that area. Also draws people in from all over and out of state.

big john

Since there is no perpetual motion, that wouldn't work. What they could do, like on e-cars, is regenerative braking but that would require a substantial amount of descending/coasting to be effective. Not to mention added complexity and expense.

The way to increase range is bigger batteries and all the things that make bikes faster like lighter weight and better aerodynamics. Oh, and more power from the rider.

Miele Man

Note that I said they were passing on my RIGHT. You can pass on the left here when it is safe to do so. My point is that many E-bike riders don't know when to or how to pass safely.

Perhaps you are in the UK?

Cheers

terrymorse 

I am in California, where you can pass on the right or the left, as long as there is room and it is safe to do so.

KPREN

Just catching up after being gone a week riding my E bicycle along the Erie Canal.
I do not see this as a straw man argument at all. The message in this thread is clear. There are a bunch of cyclists in this thread that look down their noses at me because I ride an E bicycle exclusively and do not share their view that a bicycle is primarily a piece of exercise equipment. In fact, I look at an E bicycle as just the opposite. Yeah, I know it "does not apply" to me but I get the clear message that it does from this thread.
Today I went out and rode my cadence sensed E bicycle with the dropper post all the way down while ghost pedaling. For you casual observers: "I was an ignorant newbie" instead of a guy using his E bicycle to loosen up stiff joints after working under a piece of machinery. With the saddle all the way down and no pedal pressure, I can roll my hips, knees and ankles through a wide range of motion. On a regular bike I would be cramping in a couple of miles. Instead, I could walk normal without stiffness and pain after two miles.

livedarklions

And we're supposed to believe that 80% of the riders on these are ebikers? Sorry, but that's just way out of line with similar paths I've been on..

indyfabz

80% of statistics are made up.

LarrySellerz

Why would you pass someone on the right? Who cares if California says you can, its super obnoxious

tomato coupe

Because, sometimes it's safer to pass on the right.

terrymorse 

Because that’s where there’s room to pass, and there is not enough room on the left. Sometimes.