Electric Bike Thread

[plugboots]

So someone at any age with a medical issue to prevent them from riding without peddle assist can just take up knitting instead of trying to ride, eh? How's it feel to be a narrow minded elitist?

Jersey dave is corest of the core brah.

I don’t have a problem w/ ebikes. I don’t care.
But your argument is stupid.
Everybody can’t do everything.


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[jackstraw]

But your argument is stupid.
Everybody can’t do everything.

I have no idea what part of that you cannot comprehend, so why don't you give me an example on why they shouldn't be allowed. I work with a guy who has no feeling in his right leg. He's a mountain biker from way back. He's older now and has serious atrophy, but can still sort of ride. The peddle assist would benefit him tremendously. But since he has a bum leg you say he can just fade away? I say fuck off Plug and at the same time I hope nothing like that ever happens to you and somebody tells you to fade away.

It's like saying sit skis shouldn't be available because they might inconvenience someone on the hill who otherwise would not be able to participate.

Open your fucking eyes.

[plugboots]

I get it, you’re mad.
Sure, keep doing shit. Just do it within what’s currently being accepted.


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[Dantheman]

jackstraw-

You are missing the point. MTBers have been fighting for years to maintain access to riding areas, and a critical part of the argument has been that they are a purely human-powered device. If ebikes start flooding trails that USFS, BLM, or other management agencies have designated solely for non-motorized use there is a very high probability that those trails will get closed to bikes of all kinds.

For any and all areas where motorized use is allowed or land managers have specifically decided to allow ebikes, rock on.

[TahoeJ]

jackstraw-

You are missing the point. MTBers have been fighting for years to maintain access to riding areas, and a critical part of the argument has been that they are a purely human-powered device. If ebikes start flooding trails that USFS, BLM, or other management agencies have designated solely for non-motorized use there is a very high probability that those trails will get closed to bikes of all kinds.

For any and all areas where motorized use is allowed or land managers have specifically decided to allow ebikes, rock on.

This. It's a legit threat and some trails have already been closed to all bikes "since you can't tell the difference."

I do admire the technology, however, and think they are great for certain uses.

[ACH]

Some trails have already been closed to all bikes "since you can't tell the difference."

Post example please...

[ill-advised strategy]

jackstraw-

You are missing the point. MTBers have been fighting for years to maintain access to riding areas, and a critical part of the argument has been that they are a purely human-powered device. If ebikes start flooding trails that USFS, BLM, or other management agencies have designated solely for non-motorized use there is a very high probability that those trails will get closed to bikes of all kinds.

For any and all areas where motorized use is allowed or land managers have specifically decided to allow ebikes, rock on.

It’s different wherever you go. Here they just took over everything. If you like to mtb, great, if you liked to mx or atv or jeep.... you’re sol.

[carlh]

I have a cargo e-bike with a kid seat on it, it is awesome and almost as fast as driving on my commute with out the road rage. If you are waivering just do it, the price of entry is high but my sanity is worth it.

The problem with them on mtb trails will be the assholes who mod them and cause user conflicts, we have enough assholes on bikes who cant share trails without opening up the sport to people who are too lazy to pedal.

[jackstraw]

I get it, you’re mad.
Sure, keep doing shit. Just do it within what’s currently being accepted.


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Yeah, I get pissed a closed minded self centered thinking.

I'm not talking about breaking rules here. If it's non-motorized then it's non-motorized. That is an issue in many places and not an issue in many others, so ride on where it's not banned.

Those that have banned it need to take another look imo depending on the situation.

Banned for noise?
Banned for speed?
Banned for erosion?
Banned for pollution?

Maybe an ebike at a restricted voltage/amperage would fit in somewhere mtn bikes are allowed.

[Beaver]

I'm in the market for a new mt bike this fall, when I buy one I'm going to take the motor off my cruiser and put it on my Reign. My cruiser will do 60kph on the flats, once the motor is on my Reign no trail will be safe.

[XXX-er]

I was reading a blog about e-bikes modded to do a 100kph on the road in I believe denmark, the e-bike has some amazing technology but there will be trouble

[S_jenks]

The problem with them on mtb trails will be the assholes who mod them and cause user conflicts, we have enough assholes on bikes who cant share trails without opening up the sport to people who are too lazy to pedal.

This is a really good way of putting it. There already is a huge perception issue towards mtbr's on multi-use trails, and massaging the local laws further to allow E-bike use could very-well backfire. All it takes are a couple incidents to get the locals talking about an E-bike ban, and a previous history of hiker-biker conflicts won't help either.

So much of this could be solved if the general public was more receptive towards mtbr's getting their own system of trails. Multi-use can work in low-pop areas, but after a certain threshold it's best to let bikers build/maintain their own system. Better-built trails for the happy mtbr's, and fewer biking conflicts for the hikers.

[JerseyDave]

Trying so hard not to flame this thread. Maybe it's enough to say that Ebikes are their own thing and they should not be coat-tailed into access we have secured because the throttle is pretending to pedal. Trail access should be dealt with on a case by case basis. They are motorized plain and simple. Attempts to lump them in with human powered recreation is a sham.

[wooley12]

Am I to assume that there are no assholes on designated MB trails now? Really?

[Flexon Phil]

Yeah, I get pissed a closed minded self centered thinking.

I'm not talking about breaking rules here. If it's non-motorized then it's non-motorized. That is an issue in many places and not an issue in many others, so ride on where it's not banned.

Those that have banned it need to take another look imo depending on the situation.

Banned for noise?
Banned for speed?
Banned for erosion?
Banned for pollution?

Maybe an ebike at a restricted voltage/amperage would fit in somewhere mtn bikes are allowed.

We have had the discussion going on for a couple of weeks. the points that you bring up are the main reason that "No Motorized Vehicles" was instituted.

Banned for noise? Other than some woo-hoo's from the rider, these make no nose
Banned for speed? E-bikes max out at 20MPH then the assist stops. If there is going to be a speed limit, start monitoring Strava and see what some of these riders will go and start issuing citations.
Banned for erosion? Because they are heavier? 1. Check out that upcoming LaPeirre E-Spicy, 17.5KG. Yes, some are heavier, the Cannondale Moterra is over 50lb. So, what will be the rider/bike weight limit on a trail? Will there be a weigh in at the trailheads?
Banned for pollution? None there, adn less than if you are shuttling too.

I get why they don't know how to classify these. But these laws were written before these were even conceived. Yes, to the letter of the law they are motorized, but to the spirit of the law, they are a bicycle.