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BOOOOOO E-BIKES

What logic? its a young stylish rider out having fun playing on jumps n berms on his mountain bike.
Having a problem with that is fucked!
i ride and enjoy anything with 2 wheels (anyone not doing the same is doing a disservice to themselves), i just like to fan the flames for no reason sometimes...
that said, homie should know better than to post a vid of himself looking looking like some gaper from 2003 though...
 

HardtailHack

used an iron once
Jan 20, 2009
6,628
5,441
I got passed by a guy wearing flip flops and a bowling shirt the other day, he had a hub motor out front and a pulse jet out back, sadly for me the jet wasn't going.
 

dcamp29

Monkey
Feb 14, 2004
589
63
Colorado
Did my first real ebike ride... am not super impressed- was battery/range concerned the entire ride so I left it in eco mode and pedaled pretty hard the entire time. Managed to finish with 1 mile left indicated range. E bike does dominate snow packed trails though. So that was good.

Bike was heavy and super slow rolling- lappiere overvolt on DH tires. The 15mph speed limiter was infuriating (this is a euro-model so maybe a USA spec bike with 20mph limit would be more fun). Bosch motor SUCKS to pedal without assist. Also would have been better on normal tires so it would actually coast when you stopped pedaling.

Generally I'll average 8-9 mph in this area on pedal bikes, 10mph on xc bike if going hard.

IMG_2609.PNG
 

Gary

"S" is for "neo-luddite"
Aug 27, 2002
7,535
5,470
UK
I just saw a guy in a grey T-shirt and black riding shorts with a helmet and kneepads. Kinda "just got out of bed and grabbed the cleanest" kit look.

I admit I'd have more respect if folk didn't bother with the helmet or knee pads but fail to see your issue.
You're not one of those guys that goes up the woods to hit a few turns n jumps dressed like a WC racer are you?
 

Gary

"S" is for "neo-luddite"
Aug 27, 2002
7,535
5,470
UK
Bar humps will always be a thing for anyone who doesn't take themselves far too seriously mate
 

Toshi

Harbinger of Doom
Oct 23, 2001
38,029
7,549
Did my first real ebike ride... am not super impressed- was battery/range concerned the entire ride so I left it in eco mode and pedaled pretty hard the entire time. Managed to finish with 1 mile left indicated range. E bike does dominate snow packed trails though. So that was good.

Bike was heavy and super slow rolling- lappiere overvolt on DH tires. The 15mph speed limiter was infuriating (this is a euro-model so maybe a USA spec bike with 20mph limit would be more fun). Bosch motor SUCKS to pedal without assist. Also would have been better on normal tires so it would actually coast when you stopped pedaling.

Generally I'll average 8-9 mph in this area on pedal bikes, 10mph on xc bike if going hard.

View attachment 131645
3900 ft of climbing is legit, and I can see why you ended up using the whole 500 Wh pack. You may want to demo the 700 Wh Specialized newfangled ones if that's your typical ride.
 

dcamp29

Monkey
Feb 14, 2004
589
63
Colorado
3900 ft of climbing is legit, and I can see why you ended up using the whole 500 Wh pack. You may want to demo the 700 Wh Specialized newfangled ones if that's your typical ride.
Yeah but I can do that ride on a normal bike- just takes 30 min/1 hour longer. I thought the e-bike would be a lot faster and more powerful since the only other ebike experience I had was riding one for 5 minutes on full power. I also poached a number of non- ebike legal trails and feel guilty about it.

Interesting but I definitely won't be buying one anytime soon.
 

Toshi

Harbinger of Doom
Oct 23, 2001
38,029
7,549
Yeah but I can do that ride on a normal bike- just takes 30 min/1 hour longer. I thought the e-bike would be a lot faster and more powerful since the only other ebike experience I had was riding one for 5 minutes on full power. I also poached a number of non- ebike legal trails and feel guilty about it.

Interesting but I definitely won't be buying one anytime soon.
Yeah, Eco is best for riding with non-e-bike riders. Just a little bit of power over taking the bike’s weight away. I ride mine (on legal trails) in Trail mostly, which doesn’t feel unnatural like Boost but also isn’t anemic.
 

Gary

"S" is for "neo-luddite"
Aug 27, 2002
7,535
5,470
UK
Yeah, Eco is best for riding with non-e-bike riders. Just a little bit of power over taking the bike’s weight away. I ride mine (on legal trails) in Trail mostly, which doesn’t feel unnatural like Boost but also isn’t anemic.
I ride mine OFF when I ride it with nonmotorised riders. I reckon even riding in Eco you're taking the piss riding with other folk on regular bikes. ECO is way more assist than evening up the extra 17lb weight. the extra weight just means climbing one gear lower. Try running fast rolling tyres instead of soft draggy ones and you'll instantly see what I mean. A 47lb bike isn't difficult to pedal, just sluggish to accelerate but add soft draggy rubber and it suddenly becomes shit to pedal. It's the main reason DH bikes feel shit on the flat. Way more than their geometry, weight or travel.
 

dcamp29

Monkey
Feb 14, 2004
589
63
Colorado
Yeah- wasn't my bike, so I was stuck with the spec. DH tires really killed the ride I think.

It's interesting access wise around here- all city and forest service trails have declared e-bikes illegal. There is one trail that allows motorized access from town to higher up where there are more motorized trails, but the e-bike would run out of juice pretty quick going up there. Otherwise state parks are e-bike legal but you have to pay to get in and there is only one within 30 min drive.
 

Toshi

Harbinger of Doom
Oct 23, 2001
38,029
7,549
Yeah- wasn't my bike, so I was stuck with the spec. DH tires really killed the ride I think.

It's interesting access wise around here- all city and forest service trails have declared e-bikes illegal. There is one trail that allows motorized access from town to higher up where there are more motorized trails, but the e-bike would run out of juice pretty quick going up there. Otherwise state parks are e-bike legal but you have to pay to get in and there is only one within 30 min drive.
You're up in Boulder, I'm guessing? JeffCo Open Space is all e-bike legal. Mountain Lion in GGCSP is my go-to when I have the time, anyway.
 

Toshi

Harbinger of Doom
Oct 23, 2001
38,029
7,549
I ride mine OFF when I ride it with nonmotorised riders. I reckon even riding in Eco you're taking the piss riding with other folk on regular bikes. ECO is way more assist than evening up the extra 17lb weight. the extra weight just means climbing one gear lower. Try running fast rolling tyres instead of soft draggy ones and you'll instantly see what I mean. A 47lb bike isn't difficult to pedal, just sluggish to accelerate but add soft draggy rubber and it suddenly becomes shit to pedal. It's the main reason DH bikes feel shit on the flat. Way more than their geometry, weight or travel.
I start out climbing two gears easier than most as a baseline, so Eco takes me to one gear higher than them. :D

2.8" Minions at 18-20 psi don't roll well without some juice (but are great with it!).
 

Toshi

Harbinger of Doom
Oct 23, 2001
38,029
7,549
Colorado Springs. All city parks are e-bike illegal.
Got it. Yeah, that'd certainly put a damper on my e-bike enthusiasm if there weren't local, legal trails. As it is basically everything I ride up here is legal.

:banana:
 

Vrock

Linkage Design Blog
Aug 13, 2005
276
59
Spain
Yeah but I can do that ride on a normal bike- just takes 30 min/1 hour longer. I thought the e-bike would be a lot faster and more powerful since the only other ebike experience I had was riding one for 5 minutes on full power. I also poached a number of non- ebike legal trails and feel guilty about it.

Interesting but I definitely won't be buying one anytime soon.
Welcome to the real world, where battery life and speed regulations make an Ebike almost the same as a regular bike. You can even post your ride on Strava and see that you don't get any KOMs.
 

Gary

"S" is for "neo-luddite"
Aug 27, 2002
7,535
5,470
UK
Just saw a discussion on empty beer on the topic "how the extra weight of ebikes improves handling."
Adding weight ot the BB area does improve stability, as does massive long wheelbases if that's the "improvement" you're chasing.
I'd personally, having ridden both I rather have a mountain bike with extra weight around the BB shell than a massively long one.
Have you spent much time riding one?
 

StiHacka

Compensating for something
Jan 4, 2013
21,560
12,504
In hell. Welcome!
Adding weight ot the BB area does improve stability, as does massive long wheelbases if that's the "improvement" you're chasing.
I'd personally, having ridden both I rather have a mountain bike with extra weight around the BB shell than a massively long one.
Have you spent much time riding one?
You prefer heavier bikes to lighter ones because they handle better?
 

Gary

"S" is for "neo-luddite"
Aug 27, 2002
7,535
5,470
UK
You prefer heavier bikes to lighter ones because they handle better?
Nope!
That's not what I said at all.
I prefer lighter bikes for some things (Road, BMX racing, 4X). mid weight for trail/Enduro and a little heavier for DH.
Weight and weight distribution changes handling.
A heavier bike with the excess weight low down is undeniably more stable and holds momentum better but like I said I'm not chasing stability.


Ps. I asked YOU a question. "Have you spent much time riding one?"
 
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Gary

"S" is for "neo-luddite"
Aug 27, 2002
7,535
5,470
UK
That'll be a no then. Aye?
I haven't read empty beer for years and years but I'd guess some of those folk you're laughing at for suggesting a heavier Ebike gives them preferable handling traits might have actually have spent some time riding the heavier bikes they're discussing and more than likely some more time riding lighter ones in the past.
I'd expect the "better" handling they're discussing is most likely through all that increased stability rather than nimbility/maneouverability. this increased stability can in turn increased confidence, especially in mediocre descenders on a longer travel bike.
When it comes to overall handling traits there is rarely a "Best" handling bike. Everything is a compromise and there's no accounting for each rider's personal preference.
 

FlipSide

Turbo Monkey
Sep 24, 2001
1,375
803
Faster vs slower is extremely dependent on the trail.

I have a friend who is a big eBike fan and is a fitter, stronger and overall better rider than I am. We often do some lift-assisted long laps together (he always has his DH bike and eBike in his car).

Here is my experience:
- For long rides with a mix of everything, the eBike is much faster, no contest (duh!).
- For fast rough and rocky DH trails, there is no way he can keep up with me on his eBike. I drop him right away and he can't keep up. The snappy handling of the regular bike and the capability to change direction quickly, as well as hopping and jumping over rock gardens and other stuff is a clear advantage.
- For slower trails where you need to get back on the pedal often, the eBike can be a bit faster overall. It is slower in the tight corners, but the motor helps so much in the acceleration...
- For long sustained climbs or straight steep climbs, the eBike is obviously much faster. No contest
- We were both very surprised to realize that the regular bike is a bit faster for short snappy climbs with tight switchbacks. I was in front of him, I was pulling away a bit and he couldn't really go much faster. Of course, for longer such climbs I would get tired faster and he would be faster overall, but it was interesting to see the limitations due to the weight of the eBike.
 

StiHacka

Compensating for something
Jan 4, 2013
21,560
12,504
In hell. Welcome!
That'll be a no then. Aye?
I haven't read empty beer for years and years but I'd guess some of those folk you're laughing at for suggesting a heavier Ebike gives them preferable handling traits might have actually have spent some time riding the heavier bikes they're discussing and more than likely some more time riding lighter ones in the past.
I'd expect the "better" handling they're discussing is most likely through all that increased stability rather than nimbility/maneouverability. this increased stability can in turn increased confidence, especially in mediocre descenders on a longer travel bike.
When it comes to overall handling traits there is rarely a "Best" handling bike. Everything is a compromise and there's no accounting for each rider's personal preference.
You know this is bullshit. The moment someone comes up with a 75% lighter battery, one of the biggest benefits advertised will be "better handling - you cann't tell difference from top shelf MTBs anymore". Then "lighter components", "better reliability because less stress", etc. etc.

Back to your question - my answer does not matter in the context of this debate. Arguing that only extended time in an ebike saddle gives me the authority to discuss impact of bike weight on its handling is a logical fallacy.
 

Gary

"S" is for "neo-luddite"
Aug 27, 2002
7,535
5,470
UK
You know this is bullshit. The moment someone comes up with a 75% lighter battery, one of the biggest benefits advertised will be "better handling - you cann't tell difference from top shelf MTBs anymore".
What the fuck are you talking about? I didn't say what weight was optimum. Most longer travel Emtbs are I the 50-57lb weight bracket. I personally think that's far too heavy. Thos ae stable as fuck. so much so the heaviest of them can be more of a chore to maneover
Mine is 47lb as ridden and dropping the 3lb from stock (mainly in the wheels/tyres) made a huge difference. I would prefer my Ebike to handle similarly to my regular bikes because I still ride both. And Yes. being closer in weight would achieve some of that. FWIW I think the optimum weight would be 40-42lb. I have no trouble bunnyhopping, turning, pumping, manualling or jumping it at 47 but 5lb or so lighter would be slightly nicer.
You're crying "BULLSHIT" at the wrong person.

Back to your question - my answer does not matter in the context of this debate. Arguing that only extended time in an ebike saddle gives me the authority to discuss impact of bike weight on its handling is a logical fallacy.
No. It actually proves you have zero experience in what you're talking about ergo negates your fucking logic.

I come from a background DHing during the time 150mm travel (and then 170mm and then 200mm) DH bikes were fitted with heavy parts and overall heavier than my current 170mm Ebike. I remember exactly how those old things handled. It's not the same as my how Ebike handles when descending with the motor switched off. Weight distribution and geometry actually mean the Ebike handles better than those old DH bikes did given the same weight/travel
 
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