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#81 ·
Guys. Wait. The Chinese just announced they invented the world's first all carbon electric folding full suspension gravel fatbike. Loads of hot new customers in this segment. I'm importing them and reselling them here locally in Santa Cruz. Currently allowed in most wilderness and roads including illegals. MBOSC says they will advocate for new trails required to sustain the massive increase in ridership this will trigger. Volunteers for free trailwork are required immediately. All will receive free beer to maximize stokage. I will have demos available at the big race this weekend. Be there.
 
#82 ·
dirtvert said:
That's like saying If I speed a little on the freeway I can't complain about sideshows (which was a really fun trail, RIP).
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It's saying you can complain about sideshows for reasons like: they are disruptive. But you can't complain about them for the reason: they are against the rules. eBikes *will* cause problems. Let's talk about them instead of just whatever arbitrary rules happen to be there today.

ohmygato said:
Guys. Wait. The Chinese just announced they invented the world's first all carbon electric folding full suspension gravel fatbike.
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I saw something like this the other day. It was on the road... but surely suspension isn't far behind:

https://www.nycbicycleshop.com/786-large_default/biria-electric-folding-fat-bike.jpg

Image
 
#83 · (Edited by Moderator)
You do realise women read this forum too, right? Getting sick of the casual misogyny on here... mods, why is this tolerated? I'm pretty sure if this was a disabled/racial 'joke' it wouldn't be permitted. Putting "ha" at the end of your sentence doesn't make it any less insulting.

Sent from my SM-T800 using Tapatalk
 
Discussion starter · #85 ·
mahgnillig said:
You do realise women read this forum too, right? Getting sick of the casual misogyny on here... mods, why is this tolerated? I'm pretty sure if this was a disabled/racial 'joke' it wouldn't be permitted. Putting "ha" at the end of your sentence doesn't make it any less insulting.

Sent from my SM-T800 using Tapatalk
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Amen sister!
 
Discussion starter · #86 ·
kattrap said:
Mike - A bit of searching around the internet and it looks pretty easy to get around speed limiters from all the manufacturers.

The line between dirt bikes and electric bicycles is getting more blurry with electric dirt bikes and higher powered ebikes... it's also hard to spot some ebikes unless they're whipping by you (batteries tucked nicely into the frames like the Focus Jam2, Specialized Levo).

Mountain bikers (or anyone really) tend to adhere to the laws that they would like to listen to, and actual enforcement of ebike bans would be spotty at best (even over at midpen ;) )

The closest public legal dirt bike tracks are in San Jose and Hollister. If the State Park Santa Cruz District bans ebikes, that would bring the public legal e-mtb in the county to only the fireroads at UCSC (ha) and City of Santa Cruz. You mentioned County of Santa Cruz parks but there are no legal bike trail systems at any county park atm. San Vincente draft public access plan has a blanket ban on ebikes.

With all these points in mind, what made you decide to open an e-bike shop selling e-mtb in Santa Cruz?
I guess I'm looking for your overall philosophy of the intersection of trail use and human nature. Lol, nothing too hard.
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kattrap - thanks for the question. Yep, regardless of the regulation, there are always folks who choose to not abide - like exceeding posted speed limits or riding non-legal trails (we all have our decisions to make). We don't trade in de-restriction devices and take every opportunity to inform our customers about applicable regulations.

A small point, County Park trails include DeLaveaga and legal eBikes are allowed there.

In the future, perhaps there will be fewer trails on which legal eBikes are allowed, or more? If we look at Europe, which is 5-8 years ahead of the US in eBike usage (depending on country, 20-40% of all bikes purchased now are eBikes), the trend is greater acceptance as folks get to know what a legal eBike is all about.

Our shop offers 6 brands and 100+ models, about 40 of which are eMTBs. The others are commuters, folding, cargo, cruisers, and various recreational eBikes - so while we are pretty deep in eMTB, the other categories are popular as well.
 
#89 ·
Mike, I'll be spreading the word about your shop. I have a good friend who cannot ride a traditional bike due to ill health, but staying indoors is driving her crazy and she wants to get out in the fresh air. She's going to to demo an e-bike soon to see if it's something she feels like she can do. IMO anything that helps a sick or disabled person continue to enjoy being outside is a worthy invention. [emoji106]

Sent from my SM-T800 using Tapatalk
 
#92 ·
i think an E-bike is a great solution for commuters. our roads are choked. look around and there are single passengers in each car. that makes no sense.

i know a lady..she isnt in the best shape, and she hates to sweat...she is considering buying an E-bike just to get to work. her commute, is so short..i would walk it. but that is me, not her..she has to make her own life decisions.

an e-bike takes a bike commute that is too long and could quite possibly get it within the range of "possible".
 
#93 ·
Mike in SC said:
kattrap - thanks for the question. Yep, regardless of the regulation, there are always folks who choose to not abide - like exceeding posted speed limits or riding non-legal trails (we all have our decisions to make). We don't trade in de-restriction devices and take every opportunity to inform our customers about applicable regulations.

A small point, County Park trails include DeLaveaga and legal eBikes are allowed there.

In the future, perhaps there will be fewer trails on which legal eBikes are allowed, or more? If we look at Europe, which is 5-8 years ahead of the US in eBike usage (depending on country, 20-40% of all bikes purchased now are eBikes), the trend is greater acceptance as folks get to know what a legal eBike is all about.

Our shop offers 6 brands and 100+ models, about 40 of which are eMTBs. The others are commuters, folding, cargo, cruisers, and various recreational eBikes - so while we are pretty deep in eMTB, the other categories are popular as well.
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DeLa is City of Santa Cruz. The county park system has two bike pump/jump tracks right now (chanticleer & polo) but no bike-legal trails.

With the limited weekend-crowded trail systems allowing mtb access at the moment I personally doubt that our local hiker and equestrian groups will have greater acceptance of e-mtb in the next few years. I'm ok with being proven wrong here. :)

Any chance of carrying Blix? I'm a fan of having local parts/support for problems, direct to manufacturer. Do any of the brands you carry now have localish support or just go through the shop?
 
Discussion starter · #94 ·
mahgnillig said:
Mike, I'll be spreading the word about your shop. I have a good friend who cannot ride a traditional bike due to ill health, but staying indoors is driving her crazy and she wants to get out in the fresh air. She's going to to demo an e-bike soon to see if it's something she feels like she can do. IMO anything that helps a sick or disabled person continue to enjoy being outside is a worthy invention. [emoji106]

Sent from my SM-T800 using Tapatalk
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Thanks Jen!
 
Discussion starter · #95 ·
Discussion starter · #96 ·
kattrap said:
DeLa is City of Santa Cruz. The county park system has two bike pump/jump tracks right now (chanticleer & polo) but no bike-legal trails.

With the limited weekend-crowded trail systems allowing mtb access at the moment I personally doubt that our local hiker and equestrian groups will have greater acceptance of e-mtb in the next few years. I'm ok with being proven wrong here. :)

Any chance of carrying Blix? I'm a fan of having local parts/support for problems, direct to manufacturer. Do any of the brands you carry now have localish support or just go through the shop?
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Hey kattrap, shoot, I'm sorry, you're right, Dela is City. FWIW, I checked again with the City yesterday about their trails and specifically Emma McCrary Trail (EMT) - there are no restrictions on legal eBikes on City trails. Those who would like further confirmation can contact City of SC Parks (831) 420-5270.

Blix is HQ'd here and they seem like a solid, if young, company. Like virtually every brand, they are getting their stuff made in Asia. Another local shop had already signed with Blix before we opened so we selected other brands. Two of the brands we carry - Focus and Kalkhoff are moving their US HQ's to Santa Cruz right now - they'll be there by the end of June. They are well established European brands, which are owned by the same company that owns Santa Cruz Bicycles - Pon (a large Dutch firm).
 
#97 ·
ohmygato said:
Guys. Wait. The Chinese just announced they invented the world's first all carbon electric folding full suspension gravel fatbike. Loads of hot new customers in this segment. I'm importing them and reselling them here locally in Santa Cruz. Currently allowed in most wilderness and roads including illegals. MBOSC says they will advocate for new trails required to sustain the massive increase in ridership this will trigger. Volunteers for free trailwork are required immediately. All will receive free beer to maximize stokage. I will have demos available at the big race this weekend. Be there.
Click to expand...
cassieno said:
Here is a great article / video in the article about eMTBs. The part that sticks with me the most is how great they are for disabled bikers who want keep biking.

Commencal Meta VS Meta - The E-volution. Is the E-bike here to stay?
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No one doubts they are great for people who for whatever reason cant ride a bicycle, but don't cloud that with the issue of motorized vehicles trying to go places where they are not allowed.
 
#98 ·
Motosc said:
No one doubts they are great for people who for whatever reason cant ride a bicycle, but don't cloud that with the issue of motorized vehicles trying to go places where they are not allowed.
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But that's why the issue is clouded. Normal healthy people just to rip up the trails because they are too lazy to get in shape to be able to ride. Fully agree.

Older / disabled riders is much more murky. If these bikes allow them to ride with their friends on the same trails I see that as a net benefit.

Currently the legal definition of an eBike is different than that of a motorized vehicle. See above with the class 1-3. The law is currently treating them differently. If that's right or wrong.... Well that's still up in the air.

I am stuck on the idea of my Dad at 80 stil being able to bike at non-lift assisted parks because of eMTBs. To me that's a pretty powerful image and warrants more thought then just eMTBs are dirt bikes and therefore not allowed. I am of course thinking about "best case" use and willfully ignoring the other real downsides to ebikes. It's like we need handicapped placards for eBike riders to be allowed on trails.
 
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