Upgrade current bike, or go new ebike

[grinch]

Not sure mine goes that high anymore, dont care either. I know even the tiny vertical relief here i can be redlining it on a couple fave tech climbs and theyre only 3-400 vert. Max is max. Not sure what the number is. Dentists are generally a bit soft so understandable. Sweat stained loafers suck or so ive heard

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[Redsmurfer]

The fitness aspect of the ebike is an interesting topic. I switched this season and have noted a few realities for me:

I need to do at least 25 miles and 3500 feet of vertical to even seem like a workout. Most of my rides our between 30-35 miles with 4000-5000 vertical. 95% of the time in trail mode.

I have ridden about 15% more mileage this season but riding maybe 30% less days (season average is around 1,100 miles)

ebike legs are a thing. I feel I have lost some strength and thrust in my legs. Riding with a friend who switched this season too, riding on the old bikes last week, it was funny, both of us stopped and had to check to see if our brakes were rubbing.

Weight wise I am probably about 2% heavier than I would be if put those miles in on regular bike. I do feel fit.

They are more expensive to run, because of increased mileage you wear through brake pads, chains, tires faster.

They make your local riding area smaller. Your speed and distance will increase and if your local area is relatively small you might get bored.

The bike is the funnest bike I have ever owned, I definitely do a lot more exploring. If I only had time for short, frequent rides I would likely stay with a regular bike until I had more time to do long rides.

[alewi11]

Don't immediately dismiss the lighter ebikes. If you bike for the fitness, they are a much better option than the full power stuff. I work just as hard, sometimes harder on my Levo SL. I only take it on stuff with really steep climbs. It takes the edge off a bit and keeps me on the bike for stuff I might normally HAB. With that said, they are a totally different animal than the full power stuff. You won't be keeping up with buddies on full power bikes. I've decided that since I have a bunch of acoustic bikes, if I do another e bike it will be full power. But if I had one bike it absolutely would not be a full power ebike. It's just a totally different sport imo.

If you have any interest in a 2020 Levo SL carbon XL, I'm open to selling. $3800.

[grinch]

^^im just amazed you got one. You were hard core anti eeber

To others , do you not try trials like riding steep challenging lengthy climbs? No one is mentioning that when they say their hr never goes high. Fair enough if thats not your thing or you dont have trails lije that you can ride but i think its a consideration

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[XXX-er]

I think a lot of my lust for the the full power is to do with the area where I ride, its all up hill to a couple of lookouts with lots of bermed corners over roots so its a workout to muscle the bike up/ around the obstacles but it wouldn't be near as much fun in trail mode

maintenance wise I do go thru more consumables brakes/ tires/ chain on a more constant basis than I ever did but i think its cuz I ride more

I never used to but now I load up on parts when CRC has the sales and i've got a complete NX drive train, spare pads, new rear DHRII DD all ready to go

[Redsmurfer]

Grinch,

My opposition to ebikes was initially born out because of the potential threat to access and other trail user outrage. Well that seems to not have happened, and has turned into a non issue in my parts, at least for now. I always admired the technology and knew it was likely the future of MTBing.

The real issue I see is that it does and will increase the ability of the general public to access typically more remote or difficult areas in our open spaces. This will increase impacts on wildlife and other resources. Depending on how you view the world this is either great, unacceptable, or Meh.

My only pet peeve now is the growing number of ride groups of 6 or more ebikers. When its dusty these groups tend not to be well received by other users.

[grinch]

I think a lot of my lust for the the full power is to do with the area where I ride, its all up hill to a couple of lookouts with lots of bermed corners over roots so its a workout to muscle the bike up/ around the obstacles but it wouldn't be near as much fun in trail mode

maintenance wise I do go thru more consumables brakes/ tires/ chain on a more constant basis than I ever did but i think its cuz I ride more

I never used to but now I load up on parts when CRC has the sales and i've got a complete NX drive train, spare pads, new rear DHRII DD all ready to go

Im using less than 25% of the brake pads i used in revy out east here. I could get by with the mid power eeb probably but i still like the full power with the abundance of more slow plodding slippery rock riding here. Seat down a couple inches in boost to add some needed flow. Its in short supply here.
If you want to stock up on tires and just give tgem a try, crazy good deal at "Moose bikes" on vee rubber "attack" and "snap flow" in gravity(dh) and enduro casings. Some are 27cad. I think theyd be better suited out west or somewhere with more vert and more steeps. The hook up like crazy but dont roll as fast as the conti's they replacesd. Super ez to mount and sealed up real well. Ive had 4 or 5 rides now in the last week and zero air loss. Not sure how long theyll last. I think theyre 40 durometer rubber all the way across. I dont think the center knobs are harder compound like some other brands. It can get a bit flat here so i do notice the loss of rolling speed there prob because of the soft rubber. Grip like crazy though

Grinch,

My opposition to ebikes was initially born out because of the potential threat to access and other trail user outrage. Well that seems to not have happened, and has turned into a non issue in my parts, at least for now. I always admired the technology and knew it was likely the future of MTBing.

The real issue I see is that it does and will increase the ability of the general public to access typically more remote or difficult areas in our open spaces. This will increase impacts on wildlife and other resources. Depending on how you view the world this is either great, unacceptable, or Meh.

My only pet peeve now is the growing number of ride groups of 6 or more ebikers. When its dusty these groups tend not to be well received by other users.

Fair enough. What did you get?

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[XXX-er]

Due to the extra weight an E-bike is arguably harder to ride than an acoustic bike ON REAL MTN BIKE TRAILS with rocks/ trees/ hills/ narrow/ various obstacles

So while there are more e-bikes on the local trails they are just existing mtn bikers who bought e-bikes not completely new riders

those new bikers who bought e-bikes ride their rad power throttle bikes on the road or maybe an easy trail but they never had the skills for any mtn bike trail and its even harder on a 60lb E-bike

also the hub motors don't work well for trails



as opposed to finding the holy grail of tires that are better than Maxxis for only 25$ I just buy the maxxis double downs

[grinch]

Better than maxxis for real and 1/2 - 1/3 of the price. Pattern is not too disimilar to a dhf/snap and assegai/attack. I put the snap up front and the attack out back. Gravity is their dh casing. Im considring trying their enduro casing version now if theyre this good and this price. Not sure what their name is for enduro casing but dd equivalent i guess. On the site as well. Looks like just the snap model in enduro casing remaining in 2.6 x 29 and 27.5 at 50 and 40cad respectively. 2.6 would be cool, hmmm

Front
https://moosebicycle.com/collections...-tlr-27-5x2-35

Rear
https://moosebicycle.com/collections...i-fb-tlr29x2-5

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[Bunion 2020]

Due to the extra weight an E-bike is arguably harder to ride than an acoustic bike ON REAL MTN BIKE TRAILS with rocks/ trees/ hills/ narrow/ various obstacles

Thanks for the humor.

[climberevan]

... my thoughts nicely: the ebike just kind of feels like giving up on yourself. Yes it's fun. Yes you can do more vert in a given amount of time. But it doesn't do much of anything to delay my slide into being fat(ter) and weak(er).

They should just lean into this for moped marketing:

"The new Santa Cruz Bullit: for those who have given up on themselves." "Who needs fitness or strength when you have a motor to do the work?"

[climberevan]

im in the WA state and while ebikes are technically illegal at most places, they are ubiquitous and no one cares.

Call me crazy, but buying something for $6000 that you can only use illegally seems like a weird choice.

[rideit]

Same could be said for a kilo or whatever of Cocaine!

[grinch]

Hookers and eebs ftw

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[AK47bp]

Call me crazy, but buying something for $6000 that you can only use illegally seems like a weird choice.

I agree, but that isn’t stopping people unfortunately. And just because nobody is enforcing that law doesn’t mean people don’t care. Multiple extra laps of from heavy e-bikes on wet soggy trails this time of year can trash things faster than usual.

[skaredshtles]

Call me crazy, but buying something for $6000 that you can only use illegally seems like a weird choice.

[skaredshtles]

Same could be said for a kilo or whatever of Cocaine!

Yeah - but that, unlike e-bikes, should be legal.

[grinch]

Always devolves into the clueless hypothetical scenarios. So many experts so little thyme

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[rideit]

Yeah - but that, unlike e-bikes, should be legal.

The thing is that for me, illegal e-biking is WAY more fun than Cocaine, and I don’t use up my bike in a night.

[AK47bp]

The thing is that for me, illegal e-biking is WAY more fun than Cocaine, and I don’t use up my bike in a night.

What about illegal e-bike riding ON cocaine?

[XXX-er]

Thanks for the humor.

If you ride your mtn bike to starbucks that doesnt make it mtn biking

OR if you are complaining about an old fuck in bermuda shorts wearing socks n sandals smoking a dart on your trail with his Rad power

was it really mtn biking ?

E-bikes are legal up here along with the MJ

and that kitten is gona die cuz someone powered up an E-bike

[Dantheman]

What about illegal e-bike riding ON cocaine?

Coke is too peaky for endurance sportsing. Better to stick to molly or some good old fashioned amphetamine.

[Bunion 2020]

If you ride your mtn bike to starbucks that doesnt make it mtn biking

OR if you are complaining about an old fuck in bermuda shorts wearing socks n sandals smoking a dart on your trail with his Rad power

was it really mtn biking ?

E-bikes are legal up here along with the MJ

and that kitten is gona die cuz someone powered up an E-bike

Or.... none of the above.

[jhyatt]

To answer OP.
My kids are older now but when they were little I had zero time to fiddle with bikes and try to maintain fitness and have fun.
My advice from experience: Go get a new not e bike from the local shop with warranty. The opportunity to drop $5k on a bike will be more and more rare. A new bike will need less attention for the next few years which is key to you maintaining fitness and sanity and happiness which are all very important to you and your family.
Try to have one bike that works for most conditions. It's cheaper and easier.
For the ebike thing: I totally stopped riding my dual sport once I had kids.
I wouldn't put money into the old bike. That means time. Now and next season and...
Give yourself a budget, go to the shop and get a bike and tell yourself if it needs anything that takes more than a few minutes you will drop it off.

I evolved to trail running. But that's the opposite direction of ebike. Cheaper, more time efficient for fitness.

Enjoy this time with littles.

[Eluder]

I have a 2 and 6 year old but likely a less demanding job...

My recommendation would be to get a new trail/enduro bike without a motor and get out there.

I'm not knocking Eeebin. I had both, but when time was limited I wanted the most workout I could get in a short amount of time. The E-bike in theory made it so I could go farther, but it never meant I would go harder.

If you are trying to ride socially at all, what do your riding friends have?