"Hater" here () but I never thought electric bikes were for lazy or bad people, only that they are different than bicycles and allow people to travel much faster and further than they could on a bicycle as evidenced by the linked vid.

 

Then riding a moto is super lazy...
...I love being super lazy!

Brraaap...

 

Yep, it's pretty clear that you can ride putting out the same effort and go farther and faster with what the motor adds on top, or you can back off, let the motor make up the difference and ride at the same pace as usual or anywhere in between. I don't think it's a crime to do either.

There's other people who have pointed out the same thing.

Riding an Electric Bike is NOT Cheating. Here?s the Data to Prove It [VIDEO] | Electric Bike Report | Electric Bike, Ebikes, Electric Bicycles, E Bike, Reviews

 

Having a motor makes it a moot point.

 

Because, as the saying goes; 'Real men(and ladies) don't need motors.'

 

FOR ME (probably I'm strange), don't know why most individuals would want to ride an eMTB except for a different riding experience (my reason), deteriorating fitness, physically challenged or for some reason they need to cover more ground. My fit friends like them for commuting, but that's understandable.

 

I dont think you can actually go further, except if you take a couple of spare batteries with you. Which weigh a lot! I think an mtb century with lots of elevation gain would be quite hard on a single battery (or two) pack once it runs out of juice.

I think some people that use them have a legitimate reason to, but for many, it is a rather, shall I say, easier way to get out into nature and "pedal" up a climb. But hey, there are even lazier people staying on their couches watching tv all day. Who am I to judge? One thing is for sure though, its not cycling or mountain biking any more, but that doesnt mean its bad or that its not super fun. I used to be into atvs before I got into mountain biking. I wasnt cycling or mountain biking when I was riding my atv up the mountains, but I sure was having fun and getting some workout. I see E motorcycling with pedals kind of the same. Its Just something different. What I still dont get is why its being discussed in a mountain biking forum. I dont see any atv or moto enduro sub forum in here. Should we open one up? I want to know how many people are still using two strokes and what their advantages are over modern 4 stroke engines.

Cheers

 

One thing is for sure though, its not cycling or mountain biking any more, but that doesnt mean its bad or that its not super fun.

Opinions vary. While you have the right to form your own opinion, it remains your own opinion.

My opinion is that the eMTB is an evolutionary change of the MTB that has been enabled largely by advancements in science and technology (advancements in batteries being perhaps the best example) driven by higher demand in other applications, and now being applied at little marginal cost in development to eMTBs, eBicycles in general.

I see the eMTB (and eBicycle) as an evolutionary change of the MTB (and Bicycle) rather than a revolutionary change independent from the bicycle simply because they share so many parts in common. It seems relatively obvious that for moderate cost one can now convert an existing MTB to eMTB while keeping the same frame, the same headset, the same fork, the same handlebars and stem, the same rear suspension and shock, the same hubs, the same spokes, the same rims, the same tires, the same brake rotors, the same calipers, the same brake lines, the same master cylinders and lever sets, the same seat post and seat, etc. They share very much in common. The vendors that sell those parts pay the forum owner to advertise here. Providing the eMTB subforum will likely increase his revenue from that advertising.

I see E motorcycling with pedals kind of the same. Its just something different. What I still dont get is why its being discussed in a mountain biking forum.

One very good reason for the eMTB subforum here is the aforementioned close commonality with MTBs.

Another and perhaps the most important reason for an eMTB subforum in an advertising supported for-profit privately owned discussion forum with many other subforums on inter-related subtopics would be that the owner of the forum wants it here and/or someone acting in the owner's behalf wants it here.

There are more than a few luddites here who are not satisfied with avoiding subjects that do not interest them, but are further motivated to try and force away discussion of the subject matter toward reducing exposure and promotion of something they want to terminate.

 

Because 4 is double 2, it has to be better! I just wish my billion watt eMTB made more noise when I crack the throttle. I like the sound of power, want others to know my eMTB is the biggest baddest on the mountain and it makes my eh-hum “nose” grow. I’ve always had nose envy.

 

A motorized bicycle is just that, a bicycle that has altered by adding a motor.

Adding a receiver hitch, tow bar and trailer to a Porsche 911 does not change it into a truck or a tractor, rather it remains very much an automobile, merely one that has been altered to allow for the towing of a trailer.

If you attend any autocross races, you will likely see sport oriented automobiles towing tire trailers into and out of the paddock area before and after the racing events. Out on the street, the owner can expect to encounter some fanboy who gets his knickers in a twist over seeing a receiver hitch on one the sports cars that he so dearly loves, cars owned by someone else.

 

A motorized bicycle is just that, a bicycle that has altered by adding a motor.

Adding a receiver hitch, tow bar and trailer to a Porsche 911 does not change it into a truck or a tractor, rather it remains very much an automobile, merely one that has been altered to allow for the towing of a trailer.

If you attend any autocross races, you will likely see sport oriented automobiles towing tire trailers into and out of the paddock area before and after the racing events. Out on the street, the owner can expect to encounter some fanboy who gets his knickers in a twist over seeing a receiver hitch on one the sports cars that he so dearly loves, cars owned by someone else.

View attachment 1117580

Unlike your example, a premise or a fundamental characteristic of cycling is doing it without any external power source, only the one provided by your own body (and the accumulation of gravitational potential energy). Adding or removing a hitch from a car is not a fundamental characteristic of a car or driving a car. A hitch on a porsche would be more akin to kickstand on a mountain bike, horrible indeed, but still a bike with which you can do propoer cycling.

I get your point on the electric motorbikes sharing components with bicycles and thus having a place here, but so do recumbents and road bikes and you dont see much of them here. Even though they are 100% human powered, they have their own dedicated forums. I dont actually mind e motocycles being discussed on mtbr, but if I was an ebiker, I would probably be in one of these:

https://electricbikereview.com/forum/
https://electricbike.com/forum
UK Electric Bikes l Pedelecs

Cheers

 

I have nothing against motors. Enjoy them quite a bit.
But bicycles don't have them. Adding one is not an 'evolution', it's a complete negation of one of the most fundamental aspects of the definition of 'bicycle'.

 

That sums it up nicely :thumbsup: As a former motorcycle owner, I'm all about having a motor...just don't try to call it a bicycle.

 

Given recent events, can an E-Bike now be called and "Alternative Bike"?

 

I think it's lazy if you choose to ride an E-Bike and your equally unfit friends ride regular mountainbikes when you ride with them.

It's not lazy if you ride with friends on E-bikes as well.

IMO

 

I think it's funny this is even up for debate.

 

It's not. The inclusion of motors decided this before it started.

 

{{{ deleted ... I do not want to further perpetuate an argument about semantics }}}

 

Alternative facts perhaps? So, JRT, you in Western MA? Plenty of places for your motor sports, not so much near the Boston Area. Lazy? Hmmm. Well the mountain in mountain bikes mean that ( wait for it) some mountain bikers actually ride UP a mountain and then ride down it, go figure. Did some awesome down hill single track off the back side of Jiminy Peak back when Pedros fest was a thing.

 

Irony is posting in a thread discussing laziness while touting lift assisted motorbikes.

 

What is your definition of a "lift assisted motorbike"? Are you referring to those as being motorbikes simply because they are using a chair lift to power the ascent up the mountain? By that logic, if you carry a bicycle in the bed of a pickup to get to he trailhead, does that action make a bicycle a motorbike? Yours is an interesting concept, but I cannot agree with that.

Those bicycles on the chairlift are not bicycles that have been augmented with electric motor drives, rather are just the usual old fashion conventional bicycles.

A lot of downhill ski areas generate additional revenue in warm weather by offering that activity.

Customers use the chairlift to ascend the mountain with their bicycle. Instead of using an electric motor on the bicycle, they use the electric motor on the chairlift to power the climb, and then use gravity to power most of the descent.

 

Bikes don't have motors. Motorized vehicles are another. What matters is how the land managers and property owners define them. Not your convoluted thinking. And bikes don't have throttles. E motorcycles do. As said before, plenty of motorized places to use them in western MA. Don't poach biker/hiker trails. Sort of like trying to explain to the officer that you are only " a little " drunk.

 

Goofy and convoluted semantics aside, bicycles really don't have motors. That's the essence of what makes them bicycles.
It's really not all that complicated.

 

There is no footing to deny disabled use; you'd likely be breaking the law by trying.
Have to be kind of a dick to want to in the first place IMHO.

 

You're simply wrong about the law - which dovetails with why we don't see disabled folks (legally) riding the PCT on motorcycles, in national parks, etc.

I am sorry but I question your incentives. What is the world you are advocating for?

Do you have any financial relationship with ebikes?

 

Being Ada doesn't allow you to go anywhere or do anything. Nor does it require people/agencies to make everything accessible. Try to ride an ebike on blm land, while claiming Ada and see what happens. You'll be asked to leave and not return. I'd you do, you'll get a ticket. No apologies.

 

Try to ride an ebike on blm land, while claiming Ada and see what happens. You'll be asked to leave and not return. I'd you do, you'll get a ticket. No apologies.

Not all BLM land, only non-motorized access BLM land, which I would wager to say is a pretty small percentage overall. Wilderness Areas excepted as they don't allow bicycles either.

 

The only difference is they are not on singletrack going uphill. The 2 major issues will always be 1) Ebikes threatening trail access as they are hard to differ from conventional and 2) Closing speeds. I personally think downhillers that chairlift exert less energy than ebikers. Not saying downhill runs are not fun, but at least with an ebike, you are pedaling uphill.

 

You guys are missing the obvious difference. Shuttles almost always exist where downhill-only trails exist. Riding a shuttle up to ride a downhill-only trail is much different than shuttling your local multi-use singletrack.

Also, putting your bike on a chairlift doesn't add a motor to your bike any more than sitting in a car makes you a bionic man.

 

Whats lazy 250W pedal assist or 500+W fat **** trying to get motivation?

 

Go race a moto on a motor cross track and check your heart rate when your done. Moto guys are not slouches, and IF they were who gives a rats ass. Are you Peter Sagan? Anybody that gets outdoors is exerting more energy than someone who does not.

The REAL ebike arguments up for debate should be what I listed above. If you don't like "change" then start sending smoke signals instead of typing. Last I checked Ebikes are rolling in a lot faster than they are going out. I ride both and enjoy both for each own agenda.
IM NOT FOR EBIKE POACHERS
IM NOT FOR CONVENTIONAL POACHERS. I AM FOR TRUMP!

 

Sarcastic nonsense Pinocchio comments aside, I don’t think most eMTB riders are lazy. Most are just looking for a different enjoyable experience and/or need the assist to keep them in the game. Not having the ability to charge up a steep long hill does not mean that rider is lazy. The fact that he is out riding and not sitting on the couch watching his stomach grow indicates that. Pinocchio is my hero!

 

I'm too lazy to use the "Subscribe" button so I'll just do this post instead. Yes e-biking is a lazy activity in the same sense that ride shuttles and chairlifts are "lazy". (Throw single speed vs. selective multiple-ratio gearing into the discussion may we?)

But as far as calories burned, not so lazy; e-bikes still can require considerable effort depending on what the rider is trying to accomplish. E-bikes don't automatically limit the amount of additional energy the rider wants to add via the pedals.

My own personal recent experience is that I'm expending more energy riding my e-moto-e-cargo bike (with a heavy load) than I would have if I was just pedaling the same route using my regular MTB sans the load. A lot to wrassle around in tight technical terrain.

 

Definition - A vehicle consisting of a light frame mounted on two typically wire-spoked wheels one behind the other and usually having a seat, handlebars for steering, brakes, and two pedals by which it is driven.

What is the problem here in understanding this?

 

You felt the need to resurrect a 7 month old thread just to add that? Well done sir.

 

7 months? Try 19 months!