Invasion of the E-bikes!
10-24-19, 03:29 PM
#377
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Originally Posted by FlashBazbo
Funny experience this weekend. In our area, I'm not sure any of us had ever seen an e-bike. But this weekend, a bunch of us traveled to a very nice organized ride through the Sequatchie Valley of Tennessee. GREAT place to ride.
One of the surprises was the number of e-bikes participating. Again, none of us had ever seen one in the wild, so it was a bit of a curiosity. No big deal. Not offended in any way. Just different. Until . . . one of our crew was having a rough day. We came up on one of the steeper climbs and he was having a hard time hanging with the group. A couple of us accelerated around a couple other bikes on the climb but, before the guy having a rough day could get around them, they accelerated away from him. It seemed effortless . . . and it blew his mind. As if he weren't having a hard enough time, this just buried him. He's not accustomed to being dropped on climbs. (He didn't realize they were on e-bikes.)
Eventually, about 10 miles later, he passed the e-bikes on a flat portion and realized they were e-bikes. He's no luddite, but after being dropped by them (thinking they were regular bikes), let's just say he didn't express appreciation for the type.
Again -- I'm not offended by people using e-bikes. But I was pretty surprised so many of them showed up for an organized metric+ bike ride. None of those riding them were geezers. In fact, most appeared to be in their 20's or early 30's. It definitely challenged my presuppositions about who uses e-bikes and how they use them.
One of the surprises was the number of e-bikes participating. Again, none of us had ever seen one in the wild, so it was a bit of a curiosity. No big deal. Not offended in any way. Just different. Until . . . one of our crew was having a rough day. We came up on one of the steeper climbs and he was having a hard time hanging with the group. A couple of us accelerated around a couple other bikes on the climb but, before the guy having a rough day could get around them, they accelerated away from him. It seemed effortless . . . and it blew his mind. As if he weren't having a hard enough time, this just buried him. He's not accustomed to being dropped on climbs. (He didn't realize they were on e-bikes.)
Eventually, about 10 miles later, he passed the e-bikes on a flat portion and realized they were e-bikes. He's no luddite, but after being dropped by them (thinking they were regular bikes), let's just say he didn't express appreciation for the type.
Again -- I'm not offended by people using e-bikes. But I was pretty surprised so many of them showed up for an organized metric+ bike ride. None of those riding them were geezers. In fact, most appeared to be in their 20's or early 30's. It definitely challenged my presuppositions about who uses e-bikes and how they use them.
10-28-19, 05:31 PM
#378
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Originally Posted by Zaskar
But... but... I'm right. ;-)
10-29-19, 05:03 AM
#379
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Originally Posted by fly135
I'm just about to turn 64 and just got into biking by buying an eBike a few months ago. Two actually. A street bike/cruiser and a full suspension mountain bike. I'm fortunate that I was able to do this because I don't carry a lot of emotional baggage about the proper way a bike should be propelled. My last ride was 14 miles each way with a mountain bike trail at the turn around. I was able to go on a 2 mile mountain bike ride while everyone was resting for the return trip.
How much exercise you get is determined by a number of factors. If I try to keep up with the unplugged guys who like to run 20mph, then I get a lot of exercise because my mountain bike motor phases out between 19 and 20. I'll go plenty of stretches at close to or over 20, which leaves me unplugged pushing hard on a plus size tire bike. When I read some of these posts it makes me wonder if these guys are confused about why people play tennis, golf, or go hiking in the woods. Who should want to do anything except ride an unplugged bike?
How much exercise you get is determined by a number of factors. If I try to keep up with the unplugged guys who like to run 20mph, then I get a lot of exercise because my mountain bike motor phases out between 19 and 20. I'll go plenty of stretches at close to or over 20, which leaves me unplugged pushing hard on a plus size tire bike. When I read some of these posts it makes me wonder if these guys are confused about why people play tennis, golf, or go hiking in the woods. Who should want to do anything except ride an unplugged bike?
I don’t have an inherent problem with e bikes. I do have a problem with the way some are staring to use them. 20 mph on a mountain bike trail is very fast. And when a new rider with little to no bike handling skill can do that sort of speed with little to no effort bad things are going to happen.
Thus, in my humble opinion, motorized vehicles should be kept off most mountain bike trails, as they always have been.
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
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10-29-19, 05:34 AM
#380
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Originally Posted by merlinextraligh
I don’t have an inherent problem with e bikes. I do have a problem with the way some are staring to use them. 20 mph on a mountain bike trail is very fast. And when a new rider with little to no bike handling skill can do that sort of speed with little to no effort bad things are going to happen.
Thus, in my humble opinion, motorized vehicles should be kept off most mountain bike trails, as they always have been.
Thus, in my humble opinion, motorized vehicles should be kept off most mountain bike trails, as they always have been.
I am of the opinion that motorized vehicles should be kept off mountain bike trails as well though.
10-29-19, 07:24 AM
#381
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Originally Posted by eduskator
I have to counter-argue this: We let 16 year old teenagers drive cars that can go 200+MPH every day in North America.
