Planet Rugby Forum

Been lent a Focus Jam2 to play around on and have never had so much reaction from people, both ways, especially the haters who get all sniffy and call me a cheat.
Not only do I find myself going much further afield, but I think of it like a ski chairlift as it gets me to the top quicker so that I can scare the crap out of myself on descents more. For me, that's the point of mountain biking - explore and push your technique. If you want to slog up hills, get some Lycra and a road bike.

Thoughts?

Sister in law has a KTM. Loves it, and it gets her out of the house more, which is the object of the exercise

I think they're a good idea. Half way between a normal MTB and an uplift service. If it gets fatties like me out onto the trail then it can't be all bad.

The electric KTM range also look quite interesting, and I'd be banging down their door if it didn't have quite so short a range. I'd need to ride about 15 miles from home to get to anywhere interesting to use it, so that range really won't work with a 30 mile round trip on the road.

Do whatever makes you happy. Try not to be too much of a nobber about where and how you ride. Don't be surprised if people are judgemental, you are too (riding up hills = wear Lycra and get a road bike).

They are devil spawn.

You have to earn the thrill of the downhills - that's what mountain biking is all about.
If you're all about the downhill - buy an uplift pass & stick to the downhill courses.
Don't want loads of fatties on e-bikes clogging up my lovely trails.

Why walk anywhere when you can buy a Segway?
Sitting on an e-bike is not exercise.

Nay. Unacceptable unless you have an injury or are really old but most who use them are just lazy. The extra weight doesn't do much for the handling of the bike downhill.

Where do you stash the extension cord?

saw loads of them last summer in the Dolomites - mainly as they passed me while i was hauling my ample frame up the mountain on my fully human-powered bike.

Unless you're an octogenarian cerebral palsy-suffering wheezing asthmatic - it's a Nay from me.

They are quite common here in Holland, lot of people use them as they pretty much double the distance you can reasonably commute by bike, you have some people here doing 25 to 30km each way which lets face it you'd not normally be able to do on a bike unless you are very fit / insane

As long as you are not using them to cheat in a race, live and let live. Anything that encourages excercise( even assisted ) can only be a good thing!!

sewa wrote:They are quite common here in Holland, lot of people use them as they pretty much double the distance you can reasonably commute by bike, you have some people here doing 25 to 30km each way which lets face it you'd not normally be able to do on a bike unless you are very fit / insane

That's not really the point - No one has a problem with using electric bikes for commuting

It's their use off-road on trails / in national parks that is the issue - Thankfully I can see them being banned from certain areas soon (already started happening in parts of the US).

sewa wrote:They are quite common here in Holland, lot of people use them as they pretty much double the distance you can reasonably commute by bike, you have some people here doing 25 to 30km each way which lets face it you'd not normally be able to do on a bike unless you are very fit / insane

e bikes are great for commuting, i use one everyday saves me 1hr per day in the transports, but really don't see the interest of a mountain e bike for that

P in VG wrote:

sewa wrote:They are quite common here in Holland, lot of people use them as they pretty much double the distance you can reasonably commute by bike, you have some people here doing 25 to 30km each way which lets face it you'd not normally be able to do on a bike unless you are very fit / insane

That's not really the point - No one has a problem with using electric bikes for commuting

It's their use off-road on trails / in national parks that is the issue - Thankfully I can see them being banned from certain areas soon (already started happening in parts of the US).

Why do you care??

Openside wrote:

P in VG wrote:

sewa wrote:They are quite common here in Holland, lot of people use them as they pretty much double the distance you can reasonably commute by bike, you have some people here doing 25 to 30km each way which lets face it you'd not normally be able to do on a bike unless you are very fit / insane

That's not really the point - No one has a problem with using electric bikes for commuting

It's their use off-road on trails / in national parks that is the issue - Thankfully I can see them being banned from certain areas soon (already started happening in parts of the US).

Why do you care??

Because I go mountain biking in order to get out the middle of nowhere, challenge myself & enjoy the great outdoors. I don't want to pull over every 5 minutes for some fat git to whizz past on his electric behemoth.

P in VG wrote:

Openside wrote:

P in VG wrote:

sewa wrote:They are quite common here in Holland, lot of people use them as they pretty much double the distance you can reasonably commute by bike, you have some people here doing 25 to 30km each way which lets face it you'd not normally be able to do on a bike unless you are very fit / insane

That's not really the point - No one has a problem with using electric bikes for commuting

It's their use off-road on trails / in national parks that is the issue - Thankfully I can see them being banned from certain areas soon (already started happening in parts of the US).

Why do you care??

Because I go mountain biking in order to get out the middle of nowhere, challenge myself & enjoy the great outdoors. I don't want to pull over every 5 minutes for some fat git to whizz past on his electric behemoth.

So the great outdoors is only to be enjoyed as per your regime?? They make little or no noise (I assume)...

Openside wrote:

P in VG wrote:

Openside wrote:

P in VG wrote:

sewa wrote:They are quite common here in Holland, lot of people use them as they pretty much double the distance you can reasonably commute by bike, you have some people here doing 25 to 30km each way which lets face it you'd not normally be able to do on a bike unless you are very fit / insane

That's not really the point - No one has a problem with using electric bikes for commuting

It's their use off-road on trails / in national parks that is the issue - Thankfully I can see them being banned from certain areas soon (already started happening in parts of the US).

Why do you care??

Because I go mountain biking in order to get out the middle of nowhere, challenge myself & enjoy the great outdoors. I don't want to pull over every 5 minutes for some fat git to whizz past on his electric behemoth.

So the great outdoors is only to be enjoyed as per your regime?? They make little or no noise (I assume)...

e-bikes are heavier, the average user is probably heavier, and they are able to go for longer / do multiple runs - so they lead to greater trail erosion & degradation

Remember that Sir looks upon degradation in a positive light.

Went out on it for a few hours this morning - conditions were horrible and I can say in absolute certainly that not only would I not have made it on my 'normal' bike, but I wouldn't have bothered trying anyway. And it was still a lung busting, leg killer. I'm sold.

They are becoming extremely popular here. I ride with a guy in his seventies and he has a Scott Genius E Bike. He's getting out far more frequently and doing 3 or 4 times the mileage he was previously. At his age he simply couldn't do those miles without assistance. So they have their place. I'm in two minds about them. I certainly won't be getting one in the near future. As someone else mentioned i do wonder how the extra weight affects handling on the downhills.

Punter15 wrote:Been lent a Focus Jam2 to play around on and have never had so much reaction from people, both ways, especially the haters who get all sniffy and call me a cheat.
Not only do I find myself going much further afield, but I think of it like a ski chairlift as it gets me to the top quicker so that I can scare the crap out of myself on descents more. For me, that's the point of mountain biking - explore and push your technique. If you want to slog up hills, get some Lycra and a road bike.

Thoughts?

Stupid statement. There's a big difference between mountain bike hill climbing and road riding. I enjoy the climbing and don't need a battery powered mobility scooter to get me up the hills.

Punter15 wrote:Been lent a Focus Jam2 to play around on and have never had so much reaction from people, both ways, especially the haters who get all sniffy and call me a cheat.
Not only do I find myself going much further afield, but I think of it like a ski chairlift as it gets me to the top quicker so that I can scare the crap out of myself on descents more. For me, that's the point of mountain biking - explore and push your technique. If you want to slog up hills, get some Lycra and a road bike.

Thoughts?

Don't listen to the haters. Everyone should just get on with doing what they want to do when it comes to cycling. Tell those people who have a go at you for riding an e-bike or any bike or dressing any way to FCUK RIGHT OFF

Lame.

Christ, the way some of you are going on you'd think an electric bike had repeatedly run over your firstborn.

Punter15 wrote:Been lent a Focus Jam2 to play around on and have never had so much reaction from people, both ways, especially the haters who get all sniffy and call me a cheat.
Not only do I find myself going much further afield, but I think of it like a ski chairlift as it gets me to the top quicker so that I can scare the crap out of myself on descents more. For me, that's the point of mountain biking - explore and push your technique. If you want to slog up hills, get some Lycra and a road bike.

Thoughts?

A mate here who is a helicopter pilot and very good cyclist mentioned on the weekend that the number of helicopter evac flights has increased significantly because people who don't have the fitness or technical skills are now able to "cycle" up mountains that they would normally not be able to, and then end up injuring themselves badly on the downhills.
A lot of pensioners are also hurting themselves here on E-Bikes as they don't have the reaction times needed.

swissguy wrote:

Punter15 wrote:Been lent a Focus Jam2 to play around on and have never had so much reaction from people, both ways, especially the haters who get all sniffy and call me a cheat.
Not only do I find myself going much further afield, but I think of it like a ski chairlift as it gets me to the top quicker so that I can scare the crap out of myself on descents more. For me, that's the point of mountain biking - explore and push your technique. If you want to slog up hills, get some Lycra and a road bike.

Thoughts?

A mate here who is a helicopter pilot and very good cyclist mentioned on the weekend that the number of helicopter evac flights has increased significantly because people who don't have the fitness or technical skills are now able to "cycle" up mountains that they would normally not be able to, and then end up injuring themselves badly on the downhills.
A lot of pensioners are also hurting themselves here on E-Bikes as they don't have the reaction times needed.

These are all terrible excuses.

swissguy wrote:

Punter15 wrote:Been lent a Focus Jam2 to play around on and have never had so much reaction from people, both ways, especially the haters who get all sniffy and call me a cheat.
Not only do I find myself going much further afield, but I think of it like a ski chairlift as it gets me to the top quicker so that I can scare the crap out of myself on descents more. For me, that's the point of mountain biking - explore and push your technique. If you want to slog up hills, get some Lycra and a road bike.

Thoughts?

A mate here who is a helicopter pilot and very good cyclist mentioned on the weekend that the number of helicopter evac flights has increased significantly because people who don't have the fitness or technical skills are now able to "cycle" up mountains that they would normally not be able to, and then end up injuring themselves badly on the downhills.
A lot of pensioners are also hurting themselves here on E-Bikes as they don't have the reaction times needed.

This was one of the biggest points of the negative arguments against E Bikes when they first arrived on the MTB scene. I haven't seen it first hand myself but imagine there is massive potential risk. It's like novice skiers ending up in black diamond terrain. No fun for anybody.

booji boy wrote:They are becoming extremely popular here. I ride with a guy in his seventies and he has a Scott Genius E Bike. He's getting out far more frequently and doing 3 or 4 times the mileage he was previously. At his age he simply couldn't do those miles without assistance. So they have their place. I'm in two minds about them. I certainly won't be getting one in the near future. As someone else mentioned i do wonder how the extra weight affects handling on the downhills.

Granted an e-bike weighs a lot more than a standard modern bike, but does it really weight that much more than, say, a 1950s all-steel road bike that has probably been down all the same mountains? Or the old bone shakers that the original MTB riders were using in the 70s/80s?

DOB wrote:

booji boy wrote:They are becoming extremely popular here. I ride with a guy in his seventies and he has a Scott Genius E Bike. He's getting out far more frequently and doing 3 or 4 times the mileage he was previously. At his age he simply couldn't do those miles without assistance. So they have their place. I'm in two minds about them. I certainly won't be getting one in the near future. As someone else mentioned i do wonder how the extra weight affects handling on the downhills.

Granted an e-bike weighs a lot more than a standard modern bike, but does it really weight that much more than, say, a 1950s all-steel road bike that has probably been down all the same mountains? Or the old bone shakers that the original MTB riders were using in the 70s/80s?

When you talk about 1950s all steel road bike down 'all the same mountains' are you talking about road riding because I don't know anyone that would have ridden a bike like that on technical mountain bike downhill trails. On road handling would hardly be affected. I'm talking about off road handling where you are throwing the bike around. But yeah I'm sure a modern E Bike like my friends Scott Genius would still handle like a dream compared to the old fully rigid bone shakers of the 70s and 80s.

I'd rather England win the RWC than allow riding electric mountain bikes on mountain bike trails.

They're motorbikes - if they're used on motorbike trails or fire roads, fine.

What's the point? Just go the whole hog and get a scrambler.

General dislike of cheating. Trouble being I ride with a octogenarian who bought one about four tears ago, hes into electrics and electronics so has modified it even to the extent of fixing two batteries to do 90 plus kms. The fact that he can still get out with us young uns is a real bonus that you gotta love.
Still cheating.

You have arrived at Afan forrest and are looking at a 800 feet uphill slog. Cwymcarn even worse Or you can step into the teleporter and be at the top of the trail. Yes from me.

guy smiley wrote:Not mountain bikes and not really an ebike, but this is a massive part of the future...

https://content.superpedestrian.com/

I want to get one to play with. Looks like hell fun.

NZ $2100 and won't take a disc. Hmmm.

Uncle Fester wrote:What's the point? Just go the whole hog and get a scrambler.

The point is that is what they want to do. If they wanted a scrambler they would one. Clearly it does not appeal to you but why is it so hard to accept that others find it apealing

Anonymous. wrote:

Uncle Fester wrote:What's the point? Just go the whole hog and get a scrambler.

The point is that is what they want to do. If they wanted a scrambler they would one. Clearly it does not appeal to you but why is it so hard to accept that others find it apealing

Scramblers are so so 2017.

https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/n ... -scrambler

Does anyone on here work for either local or central government that has introduced e-bikes to their workforce? If so, I’m keen to hear about the experience, in particular what H&S policies are in place, what training or evaluations were done (if any) prior to allowing employees to use them and how they were managed (assigned bike, centralised pool etc).

guy smiley wrote:It's aimed at city commuters so a disc isn't vital and the cost should be compared against ebikes really... over here in Perth I've seen next generation ebikes retailing at 4K.

That would be Mint for Sydney.

I cycle all over town but it is a farking hilly place sometimes.

guy smiley wrote:It's aimed at city commuters so a disc isn't vital and the cost should be compared against ebikes really... over here in Perth I've seen next generation ebikes retailing at 4K.

I'm working about 15 miles from home now and the few times I've ridden to work it's been a bit of a slog. I've not given an e-bike any thought at all until I saw this thread. If I get one it will have disc brakes for sure.

So this weekend I got a new perspective on E-mountain bikes. A friend was visiting from Australia and I took him out for a spin on one of our (relatively) flat mountain bike trails. He really struggled with the small/short hill climbs but flew down the downhill, flicking, jumping and generally throwing the bike around. He is only 43 but has a heart condition and really struggled on the uphill. He rides relatively flat stuff in Aussie or he shuttles to the top and bombs downhill.

It was obvious to me that he wouldn't be able to ride up the hills in my local mountain bike park in order to enjoy the downhills (no shuttle options) and he agreed. So we hired an E bike from the local store and headed for the hills. The E bike weighed a tonne just loading it onto the car. When we got to the park it was great for getting up the hills but the bike was a real slug coming downhill. My buddy was unable to flick it around or get air time and found the handling really sluggish compared to his normal bike. Even lifting the front wheel to get over obstacles was difficult and he often ended up just ploughing through obstacles. So there is a price to pay for all that weight. His normal bike would have been much more fun coming downhill ... but on the other hand he simply couldn't have ridden up the hills without assistance.

So whilst they're not for everyone they certainly have their place. We had a great day riding with him and his son which simply wouldn't have been possible without assistance. On the other hand if you can still get up the trails unassisted a normal bike is going to be a lot more fun coming down.

booji boy wrote:So this weekend I got a new perspective on E-mountain bikes. A friend was visiting from Australia and I took him out for a spin on one of our (relatively) flat mountain bike trails. He really struggled with the small/short hill climbs but flew down the downhill, flicking, jumping and generally throwing the bike around. He is only 43 but has a heart condition and really struggled on the uphill. He rides relatively flat stuff in Aussie or he shuttles to the top and bombs downhill.

It was obvious to me that he wouldn't be able to ride up the hills in my local mountain bike park in order to enjoy the downhills (no shuttle options) and he agreed. So we hired an E bike from the local store and headed for the hills. The E bike weighed a tonne just loading it onto the car. When we got to the park it was great for getting up the hills but the bike was a real slug coming downhill. My buddy was unable to flick it around or get air time and found the handling really sluggish compared to his normal bike. Even lifting the front wheel to get over obstacles was difficult and he often ended up just ploughing through obstacles. So there is a price to pay for all that weight. His normal bike would have been much more fun coming downhill ... but on the other hand he simply couldn't have ridden up the hills without assistance.

So whilst they're not for everyone they certainly have their place. We had a great day riding with him and his son which simply wouldn't have been possible without assistance. On the other hand if you can still get up the trails unassisted a normal bike is going to be a lot more fun coming down.

Having to plow through everything and screw up trails isn't a good advertisement for eBikes. It's exactly why they shouldn't be on sustainable mtb trails. Sometimes you can't do the things you used to do - that's life. It's unfair on the people who build and maintain the trails, and it gives one more excuse for the anti-mtbers to prevent any access to public land, given it's essentially allowing motorbike access (fine if it's private - up to whoever owns it).