This video wasn’t supposed to go live until next week, but I made a scheduling mistake perhaps? 😅 Enjoy. The emtb I rode had a smaller motor and lighter build than a “full ebike”, and so keeping up with Evan and Dan actually took quite an effort once we started covering ground. It’s a great amount of assist for someome dipping their toe in, and handles more or less like an analog.
You don't want to upset your Bentonville sponsorship by badmouthing Ebikes, a typical platform that almost all normal folks (non mountain bikers) will end up purchasing when moving into a bike "friendly" city? Schedule mistake or not let's hope this video doesn't get the views your other videos usually get 👍
So it has 50 Nm vs 85 for a Bosch or Shimano powered one, but it's still the same 250w continues power... Max 300 vs 600/500 for the Bosch/Shimano. So it's not *that* much less... I wish they would start making 100-150 watt bikes. And for road too. Something super light. Maybe just 100-200Wh battery. Should make it cheaper. And would be fine, if you are not that far from being able to keep up with your mates. When hanging on a long climb, you often just need 50 or 100 watts to keep up, so if you get 250w, you become way overpowered and have this huge unnecessary extra weight to battle on the decent. Regen would be nice too. But requires the chain to spin all the time, so no free hub
An open and balanced take, good not to join either trench. Motor size matters. An EU pedelec (max 250 watts, max 25 km/h powered, no throttle, pedal controlled) is very bikelike. While a US/Canada etc 700 or 1000 watt, 50 km/h, throttle controlled rig is rather more mopedlike. It could be good to mention that difference in the vid also. I have a number of muscle-bikes and one ebike (EU pedelec). The ebike is great for transport, grocery shopping, and shorter recreation rides, and if I'm not consciously relaxing I quickly get sweaty on it. The lack of a throttle means it begs for pedal power and it can be hard to resist - a great thing! While I use the human-power-only bikes for long distance touring and also for short transport/recreation rides. The variety is nice.
hey seth dont know if u would see this but im concidering upgrading my fork on my rocky mountain instinct a10. right now i have a rock shox rekon silver rl 150ml and thinking of getting something a bit beafier? dunno if its really worth upgrading tho, if so do u have any suggestions under $1000aud
As a disabled veteran my e-bike has opened the door for me. I can get out more and not have as much of the knee pain that I had ridding my regular mountain bike. I have lost over 50 lbs since upgrading to an e-bike this year. I seriouly think the e-bike has changed my life for the good.
@@theflyingnon1133Less! Are you kidding me. I am doing much more and now when I hop onto my fat bike or gravel bike I can climb like I turned back the clock. I used my ebike the right way never using mountain or turbo modes, tuning eco mode to very minimal assistance and only use the assistance when I was exhausted. Just saying it’s all about how you use it and not relying on the assistance until it is absolutely necessary.
On the emtb I burn more calories per hour than on my regular mtb, and even more than in a session of cycling in the gym. Relevant comparison, it is me vs me an the same Garmin Epix 2. Simple explanation. You use the motor just to.compensate those hard climbings, and by this you keep.your pace very high. Second, in Europe the speed limit for assistance is 25 kmh, around 16 mph, so at any speed above that you pedal 100% on your own, in my case a 24.5 kg bike, fully, fat sticky enduro tyres. The only downsize I see is the price, but it's worth it.
@@theflyingnon1133the human body gives out when you have to exert a lot of force all at once but when its slightly easier, the body's endurance is pretty substantial. When you have knee pain, just exerting less pressure on the knee can now make OP focus on getting more done on other parts of his body.
I'm 72 years old, started riding a mountain bike in 1986, raced through the 90's. I find that it is not possible for me to attain the aerobic fitness that I could when I was younger so I bought a Turbo Levo in 2022 and I love it. If I want a workout I turn it down to the lowest assist level and that does it. Worst thing about it is loading and unloading it from the van. Best thing about it is railing uphill switchbacks like I used to on my motocross motorcycle. You make a great point, when people get outside they get happier, more happier people=better world. Great video!
Wow, Great to hear. I turn 55 in about 2 weeks. My last bike was a 2004 Santa Cruz bullet. 36lb Downhill bike. I gave up riding because it was too hard to pedal up the hills anymore. 2 Weeks ago, I bought a Turbo Levo also, and I am in love with biking again...
Nice to hear that. My father turned 72 this year and he's been riding road and mountain bikes for well about a decade now. He's feeling that he can't keep up with the younger people in their road group now and contemplating it. Considering his fitness, he might be able to keep on biking well into his 80's on an e-platform, which is all the better. Around here (Europe) we see a lot of of cargo bikes, longtails, ... replacing cars. This only happened because they became electrically assisted. Most of these would be a monstrous workout loaded up with a couple of kids, but because of the e-assist they've become a great alternative to a car.
@@danieljames4584 Yes, I said in a separate comment, "I had no idea there even were non-e-bike trail systems.". In Australia you can take them anywhere you like, as long as they are within the legal power and top speed rating not to be classed as a motorbike.
You said it better than anyone else that I seen. Yes, the E bikes are great, but there's still many of us that want to be naturally aspirated until these bikes are an absolute necessity. Great video!
Had an awesome ride with my best mate and his wife on her new e-bike today. We were on our trail bikes, she’s technically capable, but slow climbing so used to hate riding with us (despite the fact we didn’t care about climbing slower to accommodate her) because she always felt she had to try and keep up. Now on her e-bike we had an awesome day all riding together and yes she did smoke us up some sections! E-bikes can be a great equaliser, and I’m all for it.
Great video and thanks for sharing your thoughts on e-bikes. I just purchased my first e-bike (Trek Fuel EXe 9.8XT) because I had to face reality. I just turned 60 and I am one year cancer free. Time and illness has diminished my fitness and I found riding up long hills this summer just took too much out of me. Bike parks are ok but I hate sitting on the chair lifts. I am hoping the e-bike allows me to have fun again and ride till the battery or daylight runs out.
I'm not a fan of E-bikes to be honest, but I'm glad they exist for people like you, and furthermore, I don't hate the people that buy them so the economies of scale take hold and make them more affordable for people like you. Glad you're recovered!
A near 60 year old, and it's just fun. You still work up a sweat, you can go hard and there are times when you have to get on it to get up something. It just takes the worst of it off. It makes the grind more productive and less of a chore. It is fun, and fun is good.
Yes and yes. I bought mine for Bentonville and was happier than a pig in mud! Another lap to do that crazy fun downhill berm and jump trail? Sure no problem, let's do it 3x!! And we did, some 4 or 5
I'm chronically ill, I basically have an built in limiter that makes me feel horrible if I exceed it. E-Bikes are enabling me to do somewhat normal days on the trails without being out of order for days afterwards. They are amazing for me and many others. But I can totally see why a healthy person wouldn't think twice about them, if you don't need one they just don't add much for you. But if you do, damn the can be life-changing!
Similar situation here. I've ridden bikes and skated for most of my life, but as a result I've ended up with chronic back pain. Ebikes have allowed me to push back into areas and activities that I used to do, that are now beyond me on a normal mountain bike. It's been life changing, and allows me to go riding with friends and family that are in better health.
I ride my E- mtb 17 miles daily weather permitting. I started riding e bikes when I was 68. I am now 79. The older I get the lesser I am; but my e bike has kept me on the trail. It has been a game changer for me.
I'm a trail builder and decided a few months ago to get an e-mtb (a 2023 Rail) because I thought it would be easier to lug the gear around. It does this very well. However, on testing a couple of features I discovered something unexpected, these bloody things are a hoot ascending trails that aren't built for ascending. A lot of times to test features in steep gravity sections we have to walk up either pushing or carrying our bikes, but now I ride up them, rocks, roots, small drops, jumps and logs. It's damn fun, I'm now building an ascent trail section with an A-Line (e-mtb focused) and B-Line called Reload which takes riders back up to the top of the trails.
I agree. I enjoy the climbing part of my rides more now with my e-MTB. It opens up a new dimension to MTB’ing. Now, I’m riding up stuff that I had to push the bike up before. And it’s probably easier on the trail to just ride up it rather than walking and pushing your bike.
That's actually one of The possible dangers of e-bikes. They allow you to fly up trails that you normally would not be able to and if someone's flying down that same trail it can make for a bad day. My first experience with an e-bike was at a Rocky mountain demo day. My buddy was riding an e-bike and I was riding a normal full suspension. My buddy took off up this hill and the next thing I heard was tires skidding and trees cracking. As he was flying up the hill someone was coming down and with them both going at an accelerated pace they didn't have time to react like they might if they weren't both doing 20 miles an hour.
@@TubeYou7 Agreed, I only ever ride up sections that are closed so I can test new features or those that are one way (up only). However, this is a problem for 2-way trails so all riders when ascending on these really should be careful (eyes up) and don't assume that you have right of way, descenders may not be able to avoid you. Best to be alive than in the right and dead.
that's the no1 feature of emtbs going uphill impossible slopes I'm a hiker 1st rider 2nd and it's after seeing a few guys going uphill 30% slopes that weren't fun on foot already that I decided to get one too, and they have the walk assist too that allows you to reach trails previously unreachable unless you like to lift your bike for 15min
I had a huge knee reconstruction done years ago that took me off of the bike for many years. Having my trance e+ I now can get back on the trails. My problem on an acoustic is that I would be out enjoying a trail ride and after so much climbing my knee would hit a brick wall and I would lose all strength. I now don't have that problem and can get out and enjoy like I used to. It's been amazing to get back into biking and still be able to go to my job each day. I'm back to riding almost daily and that's a big deal for me.
My uncle too had a knee operation and he was so excited telling us how much further into the mountains he could go! Though until I'm his age I'll definitely enjoy my lightweight XC
You are exactly who I envisioned e-bikes were for when they first hit the market. Unfortunately, you're not the rider I typically see out in the trails on one! I prefer analog riding, but there will come a day where I will need one of these to keep myself out in the woods.
I'm 52 years old. Until this year, I was fairly fit on the bike (100+ mile MTB rides and 4000+ miles a year). Last year I had a crash that required surgeries, and I had to spend a year not riding. I got very out of shape and put on 45 pounds. I had never considered e-bikes for a lot of the reasons you mentioned. I didn't want it to ruin me for my other bikes, and a large part of why I ride is to stay fit. That being said, now that I am back to riding, I realized I could actually have fun while getting back in shape on an e-bike. I live in Southern California where the climbs are brutal. I picked up a new YT decoy on sale for $3500, and have been having a blast while steadily getting back in shape. The key to this are the e-bike modes! When I need the workout, I force myself to stay in eco mode. This mode just helps a little (50-60 watts of help). When I feel I have earned some fun, or I need a recovery ride, I'll go for a ride in trail mode. I am steadily dropping weight and getting more fit while having a blast and doing rides I'd never be able to do otherwise. Great tool if you have a little mode discipline. My son finds it impossible to keep it in eco mode when he rides it, but I do it no problem. I also ride my other bikes more than the e-bike now that I am getting more fit. My biggest fear of the e-bike making my other bikes less appealing has not proved to be the case at all. This has been my experience. Hopefully this helps other in similar situation.
They are a saviour for those of us with chronic health issues. I generally dislike the extra weight except when charging through rough, chunky trail where the weight helps keep it more composed & settled. Overall, I love it.
Great video. At over 50 years of age I went Santa Curz Bullit a few years ago and haven’t looked back. Electric allows me to go twice as far as before, do two laps instead of one, and keep riding with other people who are usually 5-10 years younger than me. Plus I still squeeze plenty of sweat out of my helmet. Old school acoustic rides not wrong and E-bikes are not wrong. It’s all just mountain biking. ⚡️🤘
My husband has the Bullit. Love it. I'm no where near as good as he is so I got a Cannondale Moterra but i love her! She has a Bosch motor. And totally agree with your sentiments.
When I first got one, I was still riding my regular bike a lot more. 6 months into it, and I felt pretty good about riding the regular bike 50% of the time. Going on almost 2 years, and I'm down to 25%. I think big part of it for me is the trails I ride today, I would not be able to do on a regular bike, no matter how good a shape I was in. And instead of doing 3 or 4 rides a week, now there is almost no limit on how many times I go out. Fun is a huge factor.
Well so far it has been quite a ride. I have now rode +19,000 kms on what has probably been my best 2 wheel purchase ever. In the last 4 1/2 years (purchased when I turned 70) I have rode this bike on all types of mtb trails in Ontario, Canada, the U.S. states of Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia and North Carolina. (no black diamond lol) Stamina became an issue to keep on riding while aging. This is no longer an issue. And the additional speeds hones reaction time.........bonus! Absolutely no issues with the Shimano E-8000 system other than normal replacement of chains, cassettes & brake pads......... and tires of course. Curious now on the longevity of the motor.
This. Can do rides out of my garage that I *literally* could not work up to - even over years of shredding my body on my analog. And I can do those rides every day if I choose...
Props Seth for covering the topic of e-mtb's. As a 62 y/o life long biker with 2 knee replacements, I bought my first e-mtb (Specializied Levo) after my surgeries and absolutely loved it. I hadn't had so much fun on a bike since I was 12 years old - not to mention the e-assist enabled me to continue the sport I love. While the full-power e-mtb is heavy, I then added a Trek Fuel e-xe to the stable which looks like it may have been the bike you rented in Bentonville - carbon frame, mid-power (smaller/lighter battery) and nearly silent. An awesome bike with just enough assist for the climbs - and yes, I sweat. You are spot-on as far as how different areas are more/less progressive to allow e-mtbs - there is confusion as to e-assist and a e-dirt bike that can tear up the trails and go far faster, so often they just ban anything "e"
I’m a Bentonville native. Welcome. It was nice to see you showcase our lovely community. I own both a Lectric 2.0 and an analog gravel bike. I rode my ebike to work. I didn’t want to show up sweaty. On the way home I’d detour for some trails at Coler. It’s the best of both worlds.
If my primary bike park was gravity focused I would definitely consider an E-MTB to get more laps. Not a fan of 30-45 min climb for a 6min descent and shuttles get expensive fast. However my local trails are more trail / XC so I’m very happy with a normal MTB and keeping my fitness up
Since I got my emtb (Canyon Torque On), I'd never go back to a normal mtb. I can go so much further, up much steeper hills/mountains, the stability they offer due to their weight is wild. You can send it over the roughest terrain and they're far more planted. I think they're really easy to get air on too, and I feel way more confident on it than a normal bike, but I guess a downhill rated frame and 180mm of travel will do that. I love it.
The "I can do everything but carry more, do more, ride longer, drink less, etc." was why I bought mine and exactly the result I've found. It just adds smiles to the miles and allows me to have WAY more more miles, more often.
It reminds me of me my car. It is an old petrol car that is converted to LPG. The reasoning was "I will spend less money on the car". The truth is that I spend MORE money on the car now. Because I travel waaay more then before because LPG is like a third of price of petrol. I spend the same on the fuel but I have to service it more often and I spend more money on the travel snacks and weekend getaways 😁
Thanks seth...I'm 68 and my wife just passed away.....I bought an etrike and I ride every chance I get.....I love your videos....I got to key west 4 or 5 times a year and think about your ride with alex...thanks Bob
I'm turning 60 next month and have ridden MTBs and Road bikes for decades. Got a new hip 5 years ago and had stopped riding. Then...I electrified my 29er. It's so awesome. I've put on thousands of kms since. My ebikes brought the joy of riding back. None of the suffering, all of the fun! It's awesome.
I've been a hardcore MTB-er for 40 yrs now. I got a Trek Rail 7 emtb two years ago and have never looked back. I ride all the same trails I rode in my regular mtb days, but I just go faster and further in the same ride time. The big difference is that I'm ALWAYS, ALWAYS up for a ride... any ride. Because there's no such thing as an off day on an emtb. Like many, I also track my heart rate and workouts on each ride. My heart rate (similar to my regular mtb days) is typically 150 - 190 bpm, with the occasional mid 120's bpm. But here's the awesome part, I ride all the time now because it's just so darn much fun. In this past two yrs, I've lost almost 15 lbs. That was weight I didn't drop for whatever reason while riding my regular mtb pretty often. Getting an emtb has been all upside from my perspective!
This is why I bought one, I’m a 36 year old that has no health issues and am in good shape but wanted to be able to go ride longer and not be completely gassed for the rest of the day, I got shit to do haha. I ride a heckler, and like you said, I normally will climb in eco mode to get a good workout though. I’m also lucky enough to have a fully remote job and live 5 min from a trail system, so it’s nice to be able to ride before work and dial in my effort depending on what workload I have for the day.
The biggest difference is that you are now riding more trail , requiring more maintenance & upkeep , for every ride. If everyone were on e bikes , the trails would disintegrate in half the time.
It’s called: becoming soft when aging. Buying an emtb is the easy way out. Pushing yourself to train hard on a normal mtb takes mental strength. Some people have that more than others.
It’s called: becoming soft when aging. Buying an emtb is the easy way out. Pushing yourself to train hard on a normal mtb takes mental strength. Some people have that more than others.
@@dgw6448 Get out there and help then... Seems to me the people who complain about that the most never pick up a shovel. If everyone did, then we wouldn't have issues. That is no different than regular bikes.
Good on you for keeping an open mind and glad you enjoyed it. I’m going to be 73 and if it wasn’t for my EBike I would not be enjoying the trails and mountains not to mention being able to do it with my son.
Sold my analog bike in 2019 and switched to e-bike and never looked back, E-bikes are awesome for exploration and exercise. Now I have 4 e-bikes and love em.
Nice honest thinking, great video. For bikers, who ride "normal" bike their whole life, an e-mtb is heavy at first. But after few rides, the weight is not a problem anymore. And believe me, you can train, sweat and the workout just as hard or even harder on e-mtb. But anyway, as long as we all ride, having fun and meet new friends, doesn`t matter what kind of mtb or e-mtb you seat on. Greetings from eMTB Slovenia!
When you shuttle and do mostly gravity riding it’s not worth it. And you’re slower on decents when you know how to throw a bike around properly. You can be so strong to beat the inertial of that extra weight when changing directions etc. It’s physics.
I'm 60, and was 260 lb at the beginning of the year. Age and weight had taken its toll, it was too painful to ride my regular bike. It was a downward spiral. Now, 10 months in in 220 and steadily falling, and doing more on my e-bike than when I was younger. I still have my pedal trail bike and now I can enjoy riding it again,
Thank you for this comment! This is a great corollary to what was brought up in the video at 4:55 about fitness: the guy in the video (Seth) laments about not getting as much cardio as he normally would. This is because he has literal decades of bike riding as their only regular cardio. But what about people who *don't* get regular cardio of any kind? It could be due to age, injury, disease, or even living in a car-centric area (AKA, 99% of the USA) -- these e-bikes create a new opportunity for people to enjoy environments they normally wouldn't experience while simultaneously building up some cardio.
@@realpillboxer and you build up cardio fast on a bike. I went from not being able to pedal for more than 5 minutes on low gear to being able to go 10 miles with a 5 minute halfway break in less than 2 months, and only riding once or twice a week. Bikes are incredibly fun and make the exercise actually enjoyable
Throughout my life, I've had a deep love for both bicycles and motorcycles. Now at 71 years old, managing osteoarthritis in both knees could have meant giving up cycling altogether if not for my upgraded Trek Marlin 5 gen2. Installing the CYC Photon middrive electric motor has transformed my Marlin into a vehicle of renewed freedom. I can now effortlessly embark on 60-mile rides, feeling as youthful as I did decades ago. This DIY electric enhancement not only circumvented the high costs of factory e-bikes but also revitalized my passion for cycling. Over the past three months, I've logged an impressive 600 miles with the CYC Photon motor, which continues to perform flawlessly since the day of installation. Luckily, Illinois' leniency toward e-bikes means I can explore almost anywhere without restriction. By the way, I thoroughly enjoy your videos-please keep them coming!
Seth I am really enjoying the content from Bentonville. I really like the fact that you’re including Evan as I enjoy his channel as well. I would love to see a video about winter riding like gear review, what you wear, smart tech, all that jazz for winter months.
Great video. I appreciate all the eMTB use cases for the physically limited, aged, or new to the sport. My two drivers are simplicity of tech (i.e. I'm broke.) and straight up exercise that I get from riding "acoustic". My one complaint of eMTB--it amplifies the negative traits of trail bros. Dudes blasting the local Colorado front range trails putting hikers, equestrians, and riders alike on edge. The amount of trail widening Scandinavian flicks and off trail boosts is exponential when you get a brah on an eMTB. Not every ride needs to be a sick edit in the making.
I'm with you. Love the mechanical parts too, the philosophy behind a mechanical bike that rides forever, no batteries, the sweat... I'm all about the freedom of riding mechanical and doing maintenance at home. But tottaly get that eMTB are fun e cool and so on.
Awesome conversation Seth, bit late to the video but totally appreciate the view and respect for giving it a go. I was very much the same at the beginning, and it was crazy expensive. But I got diagnosed with R.A. and a lot of my impactful sports and activities took a bit, so did my mental health. My mbt was still awesome but I found it difficult and soul destroying from one day able to do my runs, trails and have fun, to needing to have painkillers and other meds to offset the difficulties I was having, put on weight and started to do less. Embt helps me do a bit of both, I like to ride with less assistance as a bit of me is still stubborn 😂 and I dial it up accordingly. The biggest thing is I go to other places over trials now, which I have never done before. I still like and rude my mbt, for the same reasons to keep my fitness up, and switching enables me to judge my abilities that day, and embt helps me train for my mbt day. A really great conversation, enjoy watching your content mbt or embt I'm just pro bike, pro fun 👍😄
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I'm 44 right now, I'm holding out till my 50th birthday! I did lose half of my right lug at the start of the pandemic during a 3 month hospital stay, I thought would have to go Eeb , but through pure determination, and grit, I have made one hell of a recovery, and I'm still on an normal MTB.
I'm 47. Still on a normal hardtail mtb. I love the sweating and the physical challenge of climbing with my own power. But i tottaly get the emtb arguments.
Always entertaining, Seth. I bought my first EMTB in December 2022. It's super fun to ride and has expanded the length and duration of my rides. I still ride my analog bike which is to say my acoustic bike, also known recently as my Amish bike. Lol. I'm 62 now and I see the e-bike technology keeping me riding at least into the next decade.
Your comment that hit home most for me was the "its like I'm doing a different sport". I'm really happy to see so many commenters pointing out how their ebikes have got them in the saddle or kept them in the saddle - that has been true for friends of mine locally. Despite these well voiced sentiments I have lamented the direction the sport has been headed for some time - my mountain bike social media is essentially become exclusively race oriented or free-ride oriented content with more and more of the perception of what mountain biking is or means being connected to lift serve style riding or focused on statistics like "the number of laps I rode in a day". When I watch the industry pushing ebikes through advertising and influencer content towards able bodied folks just looking to go faster out in the woods, or go equally fast with less effort, it feels like the sport is flirting dangerously close to the electric dirtbike market that is rapidly evolving to meet it half way (I say this as someone that owns a Suzuki 250). Some motorcycle suppliers have already started offering mountain bikes (it helps that much of mountain bike tech was borrowed from the moto-world often by brands that cut their teeth in moto racing like Renthal and Fox) and I think its telling that Fort Nine is working to expand their media content into mountain biking. I think conversations like the honest one you just posted need to be out in the open to ensure that how this sport changes isn't being driven by cash hungry execs trying to make money on the next trend - but is really a reflection of people having good old fashion fun in the woods with friends.... and hopefully still sweating a bit to earn their turns. A big part of the future of our sport is going to be about the optics of what this sport is and what trails it deserves to have access to.
just got my second knee reconstruction and i definitely stick to acoustic bikes to bring my hard limit up with the sort of training on it. mtb is so good for every aspect of life :)
That e-bike is sweet, being a Gen-x’er I did stupid & ridiculous things in the 70’s & 80’s and am now feeling/paying the price for all that fun and I can say if I could afford the e-bike you were riding it would make it possible for me to get out and ride around town A LOT more . 😊
You make a really good points, I found that one of the benefits of my e-bike is that whenever I go a little bit too far, I've got a pedal the whole thing back so the weight actually becomes resistance. But that's usually on gravel trails and not somewhere halfway up a mountain
I only have an e-MTB, apart from my gravel, two toadies and a cruiser, but for MTB, it's a Kenevo. My wife has a Levo. We go back-country bush-bashing on 25% gradients where we would not go otherwise. Not many uplifts here in Oz. You may not be motivated to get one, which is cool. It's a game changer for us which opens up so much opportunity. I'll give you a month before you get one. It took that Rob Yorkshire dude and 5 secs to get one after he tried one.
The fitness barrier even makes normal commuting a chore for many, including myself! Having e-assist in a hilly city like SF can really open up what seemed like an slog of a commute to a fun one where you can actually CHOOSE your routes! I love my analog for fitness and agility, but when I need to actually get somewhere... It's ebike time baby
Yeah, I love cycling being my primary mode of transportation. It's not primarily an exercise machine or toy for me, it's how I get around. An ebike is much more capable and flexible in routes and the assist level can be varied depending on how much exercise I want at the time. My bike isn't just a toy or piece of exercise equipment. It's how I live free of car dependence.
Im 54 and recently diagnosed with a lung disease (non smoker). My hardtail MTB I just couldnt use anymore as I was always buggered after every uphill, I just couldnt keep up. Recently bought an ebike and OMG my life is transformed. I am still pushing hard, peddaling hard, getting a great workout and so much more confident on the ebike. This bike has given me a reasons to get out and enjoy riding again. Couldnt care less what people think. I absolutely love it.
Currently recovering from a major injury. The e-bike has been huge for keeping me on the trail and keeping me somewhat fit. Moreover, the mental health gains of being able to still participate in riding have been immeasurable. With that said cant wait to get back to acoustic riding. TBH the e-bike will probably collect dust once I'm back on an acoustic.
Great video Seth! While NWA might be utopia for e-bikers in the sense that everything is open to Class 1 bikes it's also a bit subjective: The climbs aren't really that long and you're basically at sea level (plenty of oxygen). Also the trails (even the techy uphills) are SO well constructed they're fairly rideable by a skilled mountain biker. In some areas out west e-bikes can shine on terrain that is uniquely distinct. Think pedalling up at 12,000+' through loose scree that only someone like Nino Schurter might clean. Or here in Moab climbing up near vertical slickrock that pushes the envelope of what's rideable. If you live in an area that's relatively flat or more rolling hills e-bikes make less sense and are harder to prove their worth. In high altitude zones or areas with extremely challenging terrain they can really shine in that department.
“It makes you feel like you’re in better shape than you actually are”…spot on! For the people that NEED them an e-bike is a God send but there’s something about working hard on a climb while a rider on a e-bike effortlessly glides past that makes me just a little sad for them. I’m 57 and my wife is 60 so I can imagine a pedal assist bike in my future…but…hopefully way off in the future.
I love and support that E-bikes are helping to get differently abled people outside and active! For me, I’m already an active person and I ride bikes to push the boundaries of my physical fitness, so I’ll stick with the standard mountain bike. But I have no problems with the E-bike riders in my local groups.
Apples/oranges from what I've experienced. The products target the different mission profiles of users. I've borrowed e-bikes from friends and they're awesome. So much fun. And for someone who wants to ride but maybe has joint issues or other,..they're a game-changer. They're also a great way to go exploring or cruise. Again, it comes down to what your mission profile is. I ride a none ebike a few times a week on a former military base out west for both enjoyment "and" the workout. Not saying you don't get a workout on an ebike. It's just different. There's a mix between ebikes, none ebikes and road-bikes that I share the trails/roads with. I've noticed the weekends bring out the bulk of e-bikes - often in groups. The rest of the week brings out the road bike people and the hardcore folks who ride rain or shine. A few ebikes but the bulk are not. I'm just shy of 70 and have one knee going south but my old non-ebike is around 27 lbs., easy for me to load/unload and rarely breaks, gives me the workout I need while having fun at the same time. No knee problems riding it if I don't go crazy which I'm too old for that anyway. I have more problems hiking. If stolen, I'd be sad - owned it for decades but I'd probably be extra sick to my stomach if my ebike got pinched. And out west?,..ebikes are being stolen like crazy. I see homeless folks cruising on specialized or santa cruz ebikes with their garbage bags tied on. But that's another story. Mission profile; what do you need,..what is your expected outcome and lastly what do you want just because. Cheers. 👍
You nailed it for lowering the barrier of entry, and allowing people who normally wouldn’t be physically capable of such an activity can now enjoy it. I bought one nearly 2 years ago, Kenevo SL. I rode it for 6 months, great suspension design and the weight was spot on. But there was something lost for me in the experience. So I sold it, went back to pedal power and will enjoy it till I need an e-bike. But no matter what you ride, be sure to enjoy the ride!
Not everyone likes them, which I get. I used to hate them, until I got one. I still ride my analog bikes far more often, but the e bike makes shuttle rides with friends all that much easier. I can customize the power delivery. The downhill is still a blast. If you have the opportunity, yoh should try one.
It's not the ebikes that people hate, it's the deuchebags that brag about 'their' feats when it was done with a motor, and when they brag about using their ebike on trails where they're not allowed. on the other hand, if the same guy uses the ebike legally and reports something to effect - 'this ebike is a beast, look what it did' (as above video), i am often impressed :)
God I love the real honesty of this channel, like when he said “I know people ride dirt bikes” when talking about hitting jumps with e bikes, he’s so aware and not in a bubble, I love it here
Really surprised there’s trails and areas in America where e bikes are banned. They are absolutely everywhere in Europe and I’ve never heard of them being banned from any MTB park/trail. Really don’t see the need to ban them.
I used to have an e bike but it ended up being a case of me hauling around a dead battery and motor for half my journey, I don't mind taking a little longer. I now have an old upright bike, only electric on it being the front light powered by dynamo and I couldn't be happier
That’s basically his dirt jumper which Seth has ridin many times. Honestly tho the thing that makes bmx bmx is the fact it has no suspension and u have to soak up everything with the body. If u add suspension u just have a dirt jumper which isn’t bmx anynore
I only ride eMTB’s and I still watch your channel. If you don’t get one I’ll still watch your channel. I don’t think about it. It’s just another type of MTB. Mind you I’m from Oz and we don’t play the games you guys in the US do. MTB, eMTB. They’re all here in numbers. No one here cares. It’s like picking on MTBers who use uplifts. Who cares? Ride what you want. I will say when your life is getting busier an eMTB makes more sense. It’s easier to get a short fast couple of laps in when you only have an hour or so. eMTB. MTB. Gravel. Road. All bikes. All good.
Gotta qualify that...All "pedal" bikes, good! That includes e-bikes. However a fat bike with knobby tires, on pavement, will make you wonder what circle hades you just entered..... and then you'll ride across a lawn / some sand / really loose soil and be all "light bulb moment!"
I put a BBSHD on my bike recently. I wasn't planning to, but after I tried it out I was like hell yeah, I want this. I don't have time to ride much, so I'm not really in shape, but now I can still go anywhere with no problems. The beautiful thing is, I can ride it normally with next to no assist, then when those pesky hills come up I can push a button and get to the top without feeling like my heart will give out. I wouldn't spend a ton of money on an Ebike, but you can get a cheap upgrade kit and put it on a cheap bike, now suddenly you're superman. It's just so much fun to ride when you have an option of assistance. Heck, even if I sprain my ankle or something I can just use the throttle and coast home. Aside from weight and cost I just don't see a reason not to put a motor on your bike.
Coming from a dirt bike enduro background before switching to MTB, now I have ebike it's bringing the elements from dirtbiking I was missing when riding MTB. Hitting steep techy climbs which normal MTB can't do is addictive. Also for me having the extra weight stabilises the bike. Also as a mainly downhill biker with vans and cars set up for shuttling, this removes the need arranging shuttle groups and opens access to trials without shuttle access.
I've been holding off on getting an e-bike for so long because it would almost feel like cheating. As someone that has suffered a lot of injuries, many of them requiring surgery, I find myself not able to do the climbs I want or ride as long or as far as I want. I just purchased my first e-bike and I love it. It gets me out more so even though I might not be putting in the same effort, I am riding more often and putting on more miles. That being said, I understand now the appeal of them. I fought it for so long. Now I am glad I own one.
E bike are definitely great if you want them, but I genuinely enjoy the feel of physical exertion that a good climb gives. Other people can enjoy as long as they dobt pressure me to get one.(which has happened on the trail before)
I agree 100%. I think e-bikes are great. But I ride to get fit too. Lots of e-bike riders I meet on the trail swear they get as much exercise on an e-bike, but I think they are just lying to themselves, or they have simply forgotten how much they pushed themselves on a real bike.
No, not lying. If you can ride longer because you are on an ebike, it averages out. Plus, the clumb is easier in the knees . You can do more climbs in one day. Riding an ebike longer will give you the same workout at riding your regular bike for a shorter time.
Nice! great job covering bikes and still being nonjudgemental. I am 74 years old and most of my physical exercise comes from mountain biking. I get good exercise from swimming and it is easy on my body. I have many biker friends int their 20, 30, 40 and even 50's who are e-biking and tell me they get the same workout , just more miles, with the e-bike. For me, it's a survival thing. I know how hard I have to work my body to ride these trails on my Trek Fuel and I known if I let up, I can easily get lazy. If your choice is no-E, I support you and I think I can feel your inner-spirit.
Asheville sucks for ebike access. I wish they’d rethink their policies. Ebiking is way more fun than analog for me. I’m one of those “see how many laps you can do at the park” kind of people though.
I think you nailed it on the head. They're fantastic but if you're like me, I would be heavily tempted to use it all the time which means I would be losing a lot of my cardio. Yes I could crank down the assist or just go for it without breaks but, in my experience that, that still isn't as tiring or healthy for me as pulling out my 'Amish Bike".
Exactly. I've sworn to myself I won't get an ebike until I'm too old to pedal...precisely because I'm afraid I'd become "lazy" with it and lose the calorie burn and aerobic benefits.
Yes, nobody will dial it back and nobody will break out the "Amish bike". The market will just permanently shift. People won't accept being left in the dust by E bikers. Or not being able to hit the obstacles that will inevitably be designed for the power of E bikes. Everyone is just going to claim "knee problems" or "heart conditions" so they "need" an ebike.
@borisjankovici662 I wouldn't go that far. There are downsides (specifically the weight) to E-Bikes. They're fun downhill but not as much fun as my 30ish lb bike. There will always be an audience for the "Amish" bike. While some trails are more at risk than others, not all will be E-Bike focused. A perfect example of a well designed E-Bike heaven is Kanuga and even its great on a normal bike. I can't say I'd notice any difference (outside of my exhaustion on the climbs and more nimble bike on the descents) if they hadn't designed it for E-Bikes.
@@festerofest4374 You still very much get a calorie burn and aerobic benefits with an Ebike. If you use a Heart Rate Monitor, you can actually get better benefits vs an acoustic bike. You can keep your heart rate in a specific zone for longer periods. In my case, I can do an entire 2 hour ride in Zone 2, which is being touted as being the right spot for burning fat, building endurance, and all of the things that are associated with regular exercise. I've lost 40lbs in the last 6 months because I am out riding 3-4 times a week. Prior to getting an E-bike, I'd maybe once a week. You can also do interval training, HIIT training and other stuff to fine tune your performance goals. An E-bike is just another tool in my tool box.
I have an eMTB and (way too many) manual bikes that I ride regularly, and you wouldn't be able to tell which I was using off of my heart rate data. Doesn't matter if I'm in trail or turbo mode; my average and max bpm are virtually the same regardless. You have a natural "effort cadence" you get into when biking and the e-bike doesn't change that-it just adds power on top of that. There are a ton of reasons why I reach for my manual bikes before my e-bike, but cardio ain't one of them.
One of the best purchases I have ever made was a TREK ebike. I'm older, run ultras, love to cycle, and love my ebike, but I don't ride it exclusively. It allows me to commute to coffee shops that I work out of. It is so much fun and I can go eco sport or turbo depending on how much work I want to put in. It also allows me to go on long gravel rides with my younger and much faster sons, and we are all happy.
I was sceptical if ebikes having never ridden one too, but ended up buying one in May this year. Ive ridden twice the miles so far this year across all my bikes, and can genuinely say ive not lost any fitness, infact im probably fitter now than last year. When i do solo rides i take mybreg xc bike and the ebike to the bike park, do the normal laps on the xc bike - then when i would normally have gone home i session the dh on the ebike. I find it interesting that generally those who have ridden or owned an ebike are usually the negative 'anti' squad - the same for all types of bikes. If they aren't for you dont get one, but dont have a go at those that do ride one.
My thoughts exactly. I don’t want to give up anything I have now on my me-bike, the fitness gains are substantial, the climbing buzz is free therapy, and bikes are already maintenance soaks enough without the e-assist bits.
I think most Dads get them (like me) due to ever-diminishing free time. I can go so much further and have more fun in my “hour off” per week and not be knackered when I get home. Best thing I’ve ever bought.
Seth, thank you for your open approach towards ebikes. In my personal opinion, I think ebikes are a very nice way to include people, just as you explained. And they have other applications. They support a parent hauling their kid in a trailer when it's just a means of transportation. They fuel a cargo bike when people move around goods in an urban area. They help weaker people get their breath of fresh air and outdoor activity. Heck, they even help office workers get to their job without sweating. But - for me - I still need a *reason* to use electric assistance. Because electric assistance has downsides which I don't want when not absolutely necessary. It's heavy. Heavy to load onto your car. Heavy to carry into your basement. Heavy to put on your maintenance rack. Heavy to pull around when riding. It's expensive. You always have to pay for every single part of your bicycle. When an ebike costs the same as a conventional bike, I assume the conventional bike has higher quality components. And mostly: An ebike will strip me from the feeling of achievement. When I'm cycling, breathing hard, sweating, legs are burning, everything is getting dirty, that's what I did. When I get home from my daily commute, I know what I achieved. When I haul my little one to the kindergarten, I love to wave goodbye to ebikers while I pass them with a whistle on my lips, because *I can.* I am proud of my strong legs and what they can do for me, and I'm not paying thousands to give that away. But - as stated above - I see and respect the reasons why people choose ebikes.
I recently read a study that there were fewer "hardcore" bikers nowadays, as defined by riding multiple times per week. They suggested that it might be a result of older riders aging out of the sport, but I suspect it is actually due to ebikes robbing people of their accomplishments. When I started biking, every ride pushed me towards a new goal. I'd see an impossible hill and work on my fitness for months to finally be able to ride it. I motivated myself to ride. Now I wonder what it would have been with an ebike. I would have climbed the hills on the first ride. I would have explored the trail systems fully on the first ride, not being limited by my fitness. There wouldn't be a reason for me to ride regularly. Even this last weekend on my real bike, I suffered through a 26 mile, 4300ft, 4.5hr ride where I had to push my bike up hills...but 3 days later I'm still super proud of myself for my accomplishment. I did it on my own! I want to do it again to see if I can improve! If I had an ebike, it would have just been another day, and I don't need to ride it again because I've done it. It is kind of sad.
I loved this video, mostly because you were really honest, starting out a bit snarky and a bit cold towards Emtbs and then moving towards appreciation as you began to reason the whole situation out and experience being an electrically enhanced pedaler. Thanks for having fun, making me smile and creating something that I can share with my mountain bike crew.
Love my eBikes. I've almost got 3 of them (an enduro one is on order)! Plus one analogue bike. Being 57, I ride with people in their 20's to 60's and I'm able to keep up with them all and have a heck of a lot of fun. When all I had was a regular MTB, I was always worried I wouldn't be able to keep up. Now I don't worry about that at all. Plus being able to ride more just makes me a better rider.
It’s literally the steroids of the bike world. Like you said if you were on a real bike like your friends you wouldn’t keep up….. E-bikes are basically Steroids.
I went Levo in 2016. All of our crew of over 60 year old guys/women use Scott’s, JTs and various Levos. I’m almost 8 years in on this Expert Levo. Every part has been replaced. Period. Wheels, shock, fork, bars, seats, converted to mullet. Bought a 50 mile demo from the local rep for $5k, I’ve dropped more than that into it. I’ve redone the motor once ($1,000), two $1,000 batteries, one got wet. One neglected when my friend didn’t ride it when I was on the DL. I’m 72 and stoked to ride tomorrow morning. Oh, haven’t heard “cheater” in five years at least.
@@Trikk57Bro I would call you a cheater on my 4k+normal bike!🤣 A cheater is a Cheater. Kids are just honest about it. Most adults are just to soft to say anything anymore.
Imagine caring that much about what other people do for fun… I bet you’re a great guy to be around Josh. Also bringing up the cost of your bike? First off your 4k bike is entry level in todays market🤣 you’re bragging about having an entry level bike dude. Learn to have some class.
I used to mountain bike when I was younger until I got hurt a couple times. Now at 67 I have a foldable heavy e-bike I ride on trails around RV parks and love it.
I am with you Seth. I love Ebikes. They are a great technology, and they enable many people to cycle that wouldn't cycle otherwise. But I want to pedal hard. I want to challenge my body a little every day when I ride my bike. I want cardiac health to be a side effect of getting to work. Also I want my bike to be 100% ready to go all the time, no charging required.
Something I found interesting in one of The Singletrack Sampler’s videos was that the e-bike allowed him to be in Zone 2 heart rate zone more and longer than a regular bike. Zone 2 is where you want to be for increased endurance and cardiac health. You still have to do some hard rides on a regular bike to get the heart rate high. But it seems that maybe an e-bike would be great for gaining endurance. I’m sure more testing would have to be done for more people, but I did find it interesting.
I have found this to be true for myself. My local trails are pretty flat and not very entertaining so peddling faster is they only way to make them fun. If I try to go out on my regular bikes with the goal of keeping my heart rate down which means peddling slow, that usually lasts about 15 minutes before I find myself pushing for speed. With my ebike, I can maintain the speed that I feel is fun but still keep my heart rate down where I want it.
For places with a lot of short steep hills, it's hard to keep the heart rate reasonable unless you walk the climbs. Can see how that could work for those with enough self control (which excludes me).
You can get your heart rate just the same on an e-bike as a normal bike. Ebike does that better as well because you can keep it level. With a normal bike you can't control it as you have to put the watts required for climbs.
@@RealMTBAddict When you are doing technical bits there is no way to avoid putting large minimum watts. It makes perfect sense what he is saying. You don't ride terrain do you.
I’m 79 and I have stage Iv prostrate cancer. I’ve been riding mountain bikes since the seventies and I have a lot of miles of trails under my belt but these days I can only ride on the flat. I just purchased a Specialized Levo and I absolutely love it. I’m going to spend the rest of my days with it !
Awesome video! For me Ebikes are what got me into moantain biking. It was only after gaining enough fitness riding an ebike five years ago that I decided to buy an analog MTB - and then four more analog bikes...
i feel like removing the fitness barrier is one of the big issues with e bikes. the awesome part of that is it makes mtb accessible to people who couldn't otherwise. the downside is that it's a lot easier to get in trouble, to access trails you haven't got the tech skills for. mtb skills and etiquette are at least as important, but an e bike doesn't always force you to learn them
Count me as an older rider who loves my eMTB. Game changer for me. Been riding eMTB going on three years now. My nice analog bike is sitting in the garage with flat tires.
A: I love your channel, been watching for years. B: E-bikes (Class 1 like that Trek, not Saurons ect) ARE the "great equalizer". I bought a Norco Sight VLT on my 51st b-day for my wife. She has no ACL in her L knee so going "Hard means 1hr of riding tops b4 it stops her. We rode more together this past year than the previous 3 combined. An e-bike keeps my bud with cancer out on the weekly boiz ride + a tonne of extra days when he feels well. I think they're great, but I'm not getting one.... yet. The 4 fittest dudes I know all have one in their stables just so they get more saddle time. I like that idea... And it would help me, the slowest climber in our group,on those group rides... but still no for now. C: Personally, I don't feel you're "excluding" anyone by not having one in your stable. Your channel is about mountain bike stuff and riding, and the majority of it applies to all types of MTB's and riders. May as well say "I have to get a fat bike (again) b/c I'm excluding those kooks!" (Pssst, I'm one of those kooks)
I feel like you're not excluding anyone by not featuring ebikes on your channel. If an ebike is doing it's job, it's going to let the rider do much the same things as a normal bike.
Did we watch the same video? He clearly went into why that isn’t the case and how e-bikes can enable shortfalls in ability for some people to be overcome but can also change the nature of the activity, shifting from exercise to exploration. You’ve isolated e-bikes here to very specifically about addressing a ‘performance shortfall’ between regular and less abled riders. Not sure why you did that.
As someone in his mid 40s with a heart condition, dodgy hip and back, buying an emtb is the best thing I've done in years... I feel like I'm 18 again and can now ride with my kids.
I definitely think an eMTB is perfect for the kind of person who can only have ONE bike. It has to work as a cruiser, a trail bike, and maybe even a grocery hauler. People I know with e-mountain bikes, who are super into mountain biking… also own a normal MTB.
Everything you just said a normaI ( I call REAL ) mountain bike can do, the only difference is the person with the Real mountain bike will get a wayyy better workout.
Yeah but unfortunately some people commute on bikes. In Europe, that might be pretty far, so a lot of people have e-bikes. If you also want your commuter to be a toy, you get an eMTB.
Im a mountain biker and downhiller for 15 years and i was starting to get bored and E-Bike just made me come harder on the game.. I changed to Enduro motorbike because i like speed and now you can have the lightweight and the maneuverability of a bike but with increased speed.. I Ofcourse tuned it up to go 35kmh and i couldnt be happier. Now there is more people to go drive with even if isnt at pro level because those people who not into fitness or not in good shape can come along.. For those who think you cant do sport on an Ebike is completely wrong.. You can set it to lowest or like in my bike you can customize between Assitance and acceleration from 1 to 5 and have 4 different modes .. You will sweat and get tired .. Now guess you can skip most of the annoying long straight streets or uphills and jump to the fun part by having it on Full assistance and get to go 2 or 3x times more far which atleast to me makes me happier and more motivated rather than always the same course ive been doing for 10 years.
With double hip replacements at the age of 15, and now im 29 with arthritis and cysts in my pelvis, yea im definitely saving for a emtb lol. Actually saving for that specific bike, a Trek Fuel Exe (in blue or black). I like that its very light assist compared to full power bikes like the rail, so i can still get some pretty proper exercise.
I am a 75 year old fart. When I retired I stopped driving and started using my E-Bike as my main transportation. I did that for ten years until I developed a problem with my left leg. Now I am back to driving again with occasional short ride on the E-Bike. Without a motor I could not even do that. Speaking of 'odd ball' bikes, have you ever ridden a shaft drive bike. I still have one that I hang onto because they are very uncommon in the US today. It is a step through frame with a Sussex drive train and 3 speed sturmey-archer hub and front suspension. It was sold as a 'mountain bike" but I am not really certain how one defines a mountain bike.
After having electric power in a MTB, I can never go back. After 55yrs of riding bikes, I can continue to enjoy riding for years to come.. But now we enjoy UPHILLS !!!
Also as someone who has had double lung surgery. I WISH I could get an e-bike. The amount of times I have to just dead stop while doing the most basic of climbs because I literally don't have enough lung left to breath that hard. It sucks tbh. But I do know that even if I did have one, I know that not every mtb trail spot will allow it and I know how much the crazy "NO E-BIKES!!!" people will hate me for it. Even tho it would simple be like using a cane to walk... kinda. Edit: Basically, what I'm saying is. Just let other people do what they want and stop acting like e-mountain bikes are gonna ruin anything. At the end of the day we should all be out there doing what we wanna do for fun and enjoying it with each other. Just have fun!
Yeah I'm the same, I don't need one yet but I will. I have only 3-4 hours a week to ride and riding is the only safe exercise for me due to a lot of joint issues. Those same issues will mean I might struggle to ride someday soon - maybe as soon as when I hit my 40s, so I am super glad ebikes are around to keep me going when my body gives out. For now I need to get the most out of that short window of exercise I get to try and keep myself in as good shape as I can. I remember Bill Burr saying he wanted to get to 50 in the best shape of his life, and that kinda stuck with me but deduct 10 years. I want to hit 40 in better shape than I've been since my early 20s. Precious little time to achieve that working a lot of hours.
I’m an avid mountain biker with really bad knees, my e-bike allows me to continue. When my knees are fatigued, the assist allows me to finish my ride 🤷🏾♂️
my e bike has completely changed the game for me. 2016 had a triple bypass, 2018 had neck cancer and needed chemo, etc.... 2023 bought my ebike for the simple fact i was just sitting around afraid to do anything. i've lost 20 lbs so far, my cardio is light years from what it was. i don't even feel like i'm excercising, i'm just out trail riding in the woods like when i was a kid. i get grumpy if i can't ride at least twice a week (ask my wife, lol!). had i known it'd be this life changing, i'da paid double for my ebike with no complaints (glad i didn't have to though :).
This video wasn’t supposed to go live until next week, but I made a scheduling
mistake perhaps? 😅 Enjoy. The emtb I rode had a smaller motor and lighter build than a “full ebike”, and so keeping up with Evan and Dan actually took quite an effort once we started covering ground. It’s a great amount of assist for
someome dipping their toe in, and handles more or less like an analog.
You don't want to upset your Bentonville sponsorship by badmouthing Ebikes, a typical platform that almost all normal folks (non mountain bikers) will end up purchasing when moving into a bike "friendly" city? Schedule mistake or not let's hope this video doesn't get the views your other videos usually get 👍
So it has 50 Nm vs 85 for a Bosch or Shimano powered one, but it's still the same 250w continues power... Max 300 vs 600/500 for the Bosch/Shimano. So it's not *that* much less...
I wish they would start making 100-150 watt bikes. And for road too. Something super light. Maybe just 100-200Wh battery. Should make it cheaper. And would be fine, if you are not that far from being able to keep up with your mates.
When hanging on a long climb, you often just need 50 or 100 watts to keep up, so if you get 250w, you become way overpowered and have this huge unnecessary extra weight to battle on the decent.
Regen would be nice too. But requires the chain to spin all the time, so no free hub
An open and balanced take, good not to join either trench. Motor size matters. An EU pedelec (max 250 watts, max 25 km/h powered, no throttle, pedal controlled) is very bikelike. While a US/Canada etc 700 or 1000 watt, 50 km/h, throttle controlled rig is rather more mopedlike. It could be good to mention that difference in the vid also.
I have a number of muscle-bikes and one ebike (EU pedelec). The ebike is great for transport, grocery shopping, and shorter recreation rides, and if I'm not consciously relaxing I quickly get sweaty on it. The lack of a throttle means it begs for pedal power and it can be hard to resist - a great thing! While I use the human-power-only bikes for long distance touring and also for short transport/recreation rides. The variety is nice.
hey seth dont know if u would see this but im concidering upgrading my fork on my rocky mountain instinct a10. right now i have a rock shox rekon silver rl 150ml and thinking of getting something a bit beafier? dunno if its really worth upgrading tho, if so do u have any suggestions under $1000aud
I would like to see more e-bike content!
As a disabled veteran my e-bike has opened the door for me. I can get out more and not have as much of the knee pain that I had ridding my regular mountain bike. I have lost over 50 lbs since upgrading to an e-bike this year. I seriouly think the e-bike has changed my life for the good.
That’s awesome it’s helping you get on the trails and in shape
its cool that doing "Less exercise" helped you lose weight lol good for you man
@@theflyingnon1133Less! Are you kidding me. I am doing much more and now when I hop onto my fat bike or gravel bike I can climb like I turned back the clock. I used my ebike the right way never using mountain or turbo modes, tuning eco mode to very minimal assistance and only use the assistance when I was exhausted. Just saying it’s all about how you use it and not relying on the assistance until it is absolutely necessary.
On the emtb I burn more calories per hour than on my regular mtb, and even more than in a session of cycling in the gym. Relevant comparison, it is me vs me an the same Garmin Epix 2. Simple explanation. You use the motor just to.compensate those hard climbings, and by this you keep.your pace very high. Second, in Europe the speed limit for assistance is 25 kmh, around 16 mph, so at any speed above that you pedal 100% on your own, in my case a 24.5 kg bike, fully, fat sticky enduro tyres. The only downsize I see is the price, but it's worth it.
@@theflyingnon1133the human body gives out when you have to exert a lot of force all at once but when its slightly easier, the body's endurance is pretty substantial. When you have knee pain, just exerting less pressure on the knee can now make OP focus on getting more done on other parts of his body.
I'm 72 years old, started riding a mountain bike in 1986, raced through the 90's. I find that it is not possible for me to attain the aerobic fitness that I could when I was younger so I bought a Turbo Levo in 2022 and I love it. If I want a workout I turn it down to the lowest assist level and that does it. Worst thing about it is loading and unloading it from the van. Best thing about it is railing uphill switchbacks like I used to on my motocross motorcycle. You make a great point, when people get outside they get happier, more happier people=better world. Great video!
Wow, Great to hear. I turn 55 in about 2 weeks. My last bike was a 2004 Santa Cruz bullet. 36lb Downhill bike. I gave up riding because it was too hard to pedal up the hills anymore. 2 Weeks ago, I bought a Turbo Levo also, and I am in love with biking again...
@@scottenman2005 You, are gonna love a E Mountain bike. You , will still get a work out, and the fun factor is amazing.
Nice to hear that. My father turned 72 this year and he's been riding road and mountain bikes for well about a decade now. He's feeling that he can't keep up with the younger people in their road group now and contemplating it. Considering his fitness, he might be able to keep on biking well into his 80's on an e-platform, which is all the better.
Around here (Europe) we see a lot of of cargo bikes, longtails, ... replacing cars. This only happened because they became electrically assisted. Most of these would be a monstrous workout loaded up with a couple of kids, but because of the e-assist they've become a great alternative to a car.
My brother and his family just took my mum to New Zealand and put her on an eMTB all around Rotorua. She absolutely loved it. She turns 70 next month.
NZ has definitely taken to eMTB's, just about every second bike I see here in the forest is electric
@@Scontoni And the rest have belts and gearboxes :p
exactly, and i cant think of one area/mtb park that doesn't allow e bikes.
@@danieljames4584 Yes, I said in a separate comment, "I had no idea there even were non-e-bike trail systems.". In Australia you can take them anywhere you like, as long as they are within the legal power and top speed rating not to be classed as a motorbike.
E stands for Enabled!
You said it better than anyone else that I seen. Yes, the E bikes are great, but there's still many of us that want to be naturally aspirated until these bikes are an absolute necessity. Great video!
Amen!
They are never a necessity
@@aliens1990990 Okay, Mr. 100% still pedaling unassisted at the ripe old age of 80
@@nopenoperson9118🤣😂 and yet it's extremely rare to see 80 year old ebike riders
@aliens1990990 you need to visit New Zealand, oldies on bikes are everywhere...
Had an awesome ride with my best mate and his wife on her new e-bike today. We were on our trail bikes, she’s technically capable, but slow climbing so used to hate riding with us (despite the fact we didn’t care about climbing slower to accommodate her) because she always felt she had to try and keep up. Now on her e-bike we had an awesome day all riding together and yes she did smoke us up some sections! E-bikes can be a great equaliser, and I’m all for it.
Great video and thanks for sharing your thoughts on e-bikes. I just purchased my first e-bike (Trek Fuel EXe 9.8XT) because I had to face reality. I just turned 60 and I am one year cancer free. Time and illness has diminished my fitness and I found riding up long hills this summer just took too much out of me. Bike parks are ok but I hate sitting on the chair lifts. I am hoping the e-bike allows me to have fun again and ride till the battery or daylight runs out.
Great to hear you are out and shredding ! Enjoy that ride!
I'm not a fan of E-bikes to be honest, but I'm glad they exist for people like you, and furthermore, I don't hate the people that buy them so the economies of scale take hold and make them more affordable for people like you.
Glad you're recovered!
I bet it will!
A near 60 year old, and it's just fun. You still work up a sweat, you can go hard and there are times when you have to get on it to get up something. It just takes the worst of it off. It makes the grind more productive and less of a chore. It is fun, and fun is good.
Yes and yes. I bought mine for Bentonville and was happier than a pig in mud! Another lap to do that crazy fun downhill berm and jump trail? Sure no problem, let's do it 3x!! And we did, some 4 or 5
I'm chronically ill, I basically have an built in limiter that makes me feel horrible if I exceed it. E-Bikes are enabling me to do somewhat normal days on the trails without being out of order for days afterwards. They are amazing for me and many others. But I can totally see why a healthy person wouldn't think twice about them, if you don't need one they just don't add much for you. But if you do, damn the can be life-changing!
In you’re case I could see having an e-bike
Same for me, it enables me to have a fun time on the trails again 😁
Similar situation here. I've ridden bikes and skated for most of my life, but as a result I've ended up with chronic back pain. Ebikes have allowed me to push back into areas and activities that I used to do, that are now beyond me on a normal mountain bike. It's been life changing, and allows me to go riding with friends and family that are in better health.
Bravo😊👏
The ONLY time it makes sense to have an ebike
I ride my E- mtb 17 miles daily weather permitting. I started riding e bikes when I was 68. I am now 79. The older I get the lesser I am; but my e bike has kept me on the trail. It has been a game changer for me.
Great.. Nothing wrong with that.. anything that gets you out there is a plus..
Ride on!
Same here👍
I agree went back to riding again at 64 now 70 and on the trails several days a week weather permitting. Ride hard and recover much quicker.
exaclty what my neighbor said. E-bikes let people have fun in ways they wouldn't otherwise be able to
I'm a trail builder and decided a few months ago to get an e-mtb (a 2023 Rail) because I thought it would be easier to lug the gear around. It does this very well. However, on testing a couple of features I discovered something unexpected, these bloody things are a hoot ascending trails that aren't built for ascending. A lot of times to test features in steep gravity sections we have to walk up either pushing or carrying our bikes, but now I ride up them, rocks, roots, small drops, jumps and logs. It's damn fun, I'm now building an ascent trail section with an A-Line (e-mtb focused) and B-Line called Reload which takes riders back up to the top of the trails.
I agree. I enjoy the climbing part of my rides more now with my e-MTB. It opens up a new dimension to MTB’ing. Now, I’m riding up stuff that I had to push the bike up before. And it’s probably easier on the trail to just ride up it rather than walking and pushing your bike.
That's actually one of The possible dangers of e-bikes.
They allow you to fly up trails that you normally would not be able to and if someone's flying down that same trail it can make for a bad day. My first experience with an e-bike was at a Rocky mountain demo day. My buddy was riding an e-bike and I was riding a normal full suspension. My buddy took off up this hill and the next thing I heard was tires skidding and trees cracking. As he was flying up the hill someone was coming down and with them both going at an accelerated pace they didn't have time to react like they might if they weren't both doing 20 miles an hour.
@@TubeYou7 Agreed, I only ever ride up sections that are closed so I can test new features or those that are one way (up only). However, this is a problem for 2-way trails so all riders when ascending on these really should be careful (eyes up) and don't assume that you have right of way, descenders may not be able to avoid you. Best to be alive than in the right and dead.
that's the no1 feature of emtbs going uphill impossible slopes I'm a hiker 1st rider 2nd and it's after seeing a few guys going uphill 30% slopes that weren't fun on foot already that I decided to get one too, and they have the walk assist too that allows you to reach trails previously unreachable unless you like to lift your bike for 15min
I had a huge knee reconstruction done years ago that took me off of the bike for many years. Having my trance e+ I now can get back on the trails. My problem on an acoustic is that I would be out enjoying a trail ride and after so much climbing my knee would hit a brick wall and I would lose all strength. I now don't have that problem and can get out and enjoy like I used to. It's been amazing to get back into biking and still be able to go to my job each day. I'm back to riding almost daily and that's a big deal for me.
My uncle too had a knee operation and he was so excited telling us how much further into the mountains he could go! Though until I'm his age I'll definitely enjoy my lightweight XC
Had a E+, that thing put me off e bikes for life for how much it broke, thing was afraid of the rain and anything that was wet.
Love calling non-e bikes "acoustic". The guitar analogy is cool!
You are exactly who I envisioned e-bikes were for when they first hit the market. Unfortunately, you're not the rider I typically see out in the trails on one! I prefer analog riding, but there will come a day where I will need one of these to keep myself out in the woods.
You are the ideal user for e bikes. Not often the types I see on them unfortunately.
I'm 52 years old. Until this year, I was fairly fit on the bike (100+ mile MTB rides and 4000+ miles a year). Last year I had a crash that required surgeries, and I had to spend a year not riding. I got very out of shape and put on 45 pounds. I had never considered e-bikes for a lot of the reasons you mentioned. I didn't want it to ruin me for my other bikes, and a large part of why I ride is to stay fit. That being said, now that I am back to riding, I realized I could actually have fun while getting back in shape on an e-bike. I live in Southern California where the climbs are brutal. I picked up a new YT decoy on sale for $3500, and have been having a blast while steadily getting back in shape. The key to this are the e-bike modes! When I need the workout, I force myself to stay in eco mode. This mode just helps a little (50-60 watts of help). When I feel I have earned some fun, or I need a recovery ride, I'll go for a ride in trail mode. I am steadily dropping weight and getting more fit while having a blast and doing rides I'd never be able to do otherwise. Great tool if you have a little mode discipline. My son finds it impossible to keep it in eco mode when he rides it, but I do it no problem. I also ride my other bikes more than the e-bike now that I am getting more fit. My biggest fear of the e-bike making my other bikes less appealing has not proved to be the case at all. This has been my experience. Hopefully this helps other in similar situation.
They are a saviour for those of us with chronic health issues. I generally dislike the extra weight except when charging through rough, chunky trail where the weight helps keep it more composed & settled.
Overall, I love it.
Great video. At over 50 years of age I went Santa Curz Bullit a few years ago and haven’t looked back.
Electric allows me to go twice as far as before, do two laps instead of one, and keep riding with other people who are usually 5-10 years younger than me. Plus I still squeeze plenty of sweat out of my helmet. Old school acoustic rides not wrong and E-bikes are not wrong. It’s all just mountain biking. ⚡️🤘
My husband has the Bullit. Love it. I'm no where near as good as he is so I got a Cannondale Moterra but i love her! She has a Bosch motor. And totally agree with your sentiments.
When I first got one, I was still riding my regular bike a lot more. 6 months into it, and I felt pretty good about riding the regular bike 50% of the time. Going on almost 2 years, and I'm down to 25%. I think big part of it for me is the trails I ride today, I would not be able to do on a regular bike, no matter how good a shape I was in. And instead of doing 3 or 4 rides a week, now there is almost no limit on how many times I go out. Fun is a huge factor.
I'm thinking about getting one, powering up a steep climb at 50 is getting a lot tougher.
Well so far it has been quite a ride. I have now rode +19,000 kms on what has probably been my best 2 wheel purchase ever. In the last 4 1/2 years (purchased when I turned 70) I have rode this bike on all types of mtb trails in Ontario, Canada, the U.S. states of Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia and North Carolina. (no black diamond lol) Stamina became an issue to keep on riding while aging. This is no longer an issue. And the additional speeds hones reaction time.........bonus! Absolutely no issues with the Shimano E-8000 system other than normal replacement of chains, cassettes & brake pads......... and tires of course. Curious now on the longevity of the motor.
This. Can do rides out of my garage that I *literally* could not work up to - even over years of shredding my body on my analog. And I can do those rides every day if I choose...
@@jeffk464 Do it. You will ride climbs that are just not possible without. It´s just so much fun riding up a dry riverbed in the mountain. I love it.
Props Seth for covering the topic of e-mtb's. As a 62 y/o life long biker with 2 knee replacements, I bought my first e-mtb (Specializied Levo) after my surgeries and absolutely loved it. I hadn't had so much fun on a bike since I was 12 years old - not to mention the e-assist enabled me to continue the sport I love. While the full-power e-mtb is heavy, I then added a Trek Fuel e-xe to the stable which looks like it may have been the bike you rented in Bentonville - carbon frame, mid-power (smaller/lighter battery) and nearly silent. An awesome bike with just enough assist for the climbs - and yes, I sweat. You are spot-on as far as how different areas are more/less progressive to allow e-mtbs - there is confusion as to e-assist and a e-dirt bike that can tear up the trails and go far faster, so often they just ban anything "e"
I’m a Bentonville native. Welcome. It was nice to see you showcase our lovely community. I own both a Lectric 2.0 and an analog gravel bike. I rode my ebike to work. I didn’t want to show up sweaty. On the way home I’d detour for some trails at Coler. It’s the best of both worlds.
It all comes down to the experience you personally want. Everyone just go ride and be friendly.
I watched two ebikers fight over right-of-way on saturday after clipping bars because neither would yield.
@@atticushexcel9567 Lol. Yeah, nice virtue signal huh? 🙄
If my primary bike park was gravity focused I would definitely consider an E-MTB to get more laps. Not a fan of 30-45 min climb for a 6min descent and shuttles get expensive fast.
However my local trails are more trail / XC so I’m very happy with a normal MTB and keeping my fitness up
Since I got my emtb (Canyon Torque On), I'd never go back to a normal mtb. I can go so much further, up much steeper hills/mountains, the stability they offer due to their weight is wild. You can send it over the roughest terrain and they're far more planted. I think they're really easy to get air on too, and I feel way more confident on it than a normal bike, but I guess a downhill rated frame and 180mm of travel will do that. I love it.
The "I can do everything but carry more, do more, ride longer, drink less, etc." was why I bought mine and exactly the result I've found. It just adds smiles to the miles and allows me to have WAY more more miles, more often.
It reminds me of me my car. It is an old petrol car that is converted to LPG. The reasoning was "I will spend less money on the car". The truth is that I spend MORE money on the car now. Because I travel waaay more then before because LPG is like a third of price of petrol. I spend the same on the fuel but I have to service it more often and I spend more money on the travel snacks and weekend getaways 😁
Thanks seth...I'm 68 and my wife just passed away.....I bought an etrike and I ride every chance I get.....I love your videos....I got to key west 4 or 5 times a year and think about your ride with alex...thanks Bob
I'm turning 60 next month and have ridden MTBs and Road bikes for decades. Got a new hip 5 years ago and had stopped riding. Then...I electrified my 29er. It's so awesome. I've put on thousands of kms since. My ebikes brought the joy of riding back. None of the suffering, all of the fun! It's awesome.
I've been a hardcore MTB-er for 40 yrs now. I got a Trek Rail 7 emtb two years ago and have never looked back. I ride all the same trails I rode in my regular mtb days, but I just go faster and further in the same ride time. The big difference is that I'm ALWAYS, ALWAYS up for a ride... any ride. Because there's no such thing as an off day on an emtb. Like many, I also track my heart rate and workouts on each ride. My heart rate (similar to my regular mtb days) is typically 150 - 190 bpm, with the occasional mid 120's bpm. But here's the awesome part, I ride all the time now because it's just so darn much fun. In this past two yrs, I've lost almost 15 lbs. That was weight I didn't drop for whatever reason while riding my regular mtb pretty often. Getting an emtb has been all upside from my perspective!
This is why I bought one, I’m a 36 year old that has no health issues and am in good shape but wanted to be able to go ride longer and not be completely gassed for the rest of the day, I got shit to do haha. I ride a heckler, and like you said, I normally will climb in eco mode to get a good workout though. I’m also lucky enough to have a fully remote job and live 5 min from a trail system, so it’s nice to be able to ride before work and dial in my effort depending on what workload I have for the day.
The biggest difference is that you are now riding more trail , requiring more maintenance & upkeep , for every ride. If everyone were on e bikes , the trails would disintegrate in half the time.
It’s called: becoming soft when aging. Buying an emtb is the easy way out. Pushing yourself to train hard on a normal mtb takes mental strength. Some people have that more than others.
It’s called: becoming soft when aging. Buying an emtb is the easy way out. Pushing yourself to train hard on a normal mtb takes mental strength. Some people have that more than others.
@@dgw6448 Get out there and help then... Seems to me the people who complain about that the most never pick up a shovel. If everyone did, then we wouldn't have issues. That is no different than regular bikes.
Good on you for keeping an open mind and glad you enjoyed it. I’m going to be 73 and if it wasn’t for my EBike I would not be enjoying the trails and mountains not to mention being able to do it with my son.
ebikes are more dangerous when you crash or have an accident since they weigh more
Sold my analog bike in 2019 and switched to e-bike and never looked back, E-bikes are awesome for exploration and exercise. Now I have 4 e-bikes and love em.
Analog bike…. You mean an actual bike?
@@jakesherron2390 I did the opposite, Sold my ebike went back to analog, ebike is too heavy and I get more of a workout on the analog bike.
@@jakesherron2390elitism is cringe homie
Nice honest thinking, great video. For bikers, who ride "normal" bike their whole life, an e-mtb is heavy at first. But after few rides, the weight is not a problem anymore. And believe me, you can train, sweat and the workout just as hard or even harder on e-mtb. But anyway, as long as we all ride, having fun and meet new friends, doesn`t matter what kind of mtb or e-mtb you seat on. Greetings from eMTB Slovenia!
When you shuttle and do mostly gravity riding it’s not worth it. And you’re slower on decents when you know how to throw a bike around properly. You can be so strong to beat the inertial of that extra weight when changing directions etc. It’s physics.
This is an extremely rational and well put summary of both sides of the ebike debate, but on a much more personal and relatable level. Fantastic video
@flippy5118 sorry, not debate. discussion, or conversation.
@@ThomasNingWell put lol.
I'm 60, and was 260 lb at the beginning of the year. Age and weight had taken its toll, it was too painful to ride my regular bike. It was a downward spiral. Now, 10 months in in 220 and steadily falling, and doing more on my e-bike than when I was younger. I still have my pedal trail bike and now I can enjoy riding it again,
Thank you for this comment! This is a great corollary to what was brought up in the video at 4:55 about fitness: the guy in the video (Seth) laments about not getting as much cardio as he normally would. This is because he has literal decades of bike riding as their only regular cardio. But what about people who *don't* get regular cardio of any kind? It could be due to age, injury, disease, or even living in a car-centric area (AKA, 99% of the USA) -- these e-bikes create a new opportunity for people to enjoy environments they normally wouldn't experience while simultaneously building up some cardio.
@@realpillboxer and you build up cardio fast on a bike. I went from not being able to pedal for more than 5 minutes on low gear to being able to go 10 miles with a 5 minute halfway break in less than 2 months, and only riding once or twice a week. Bikes are incredibly fun and make the exercise actually enjoyable
Throughout my life, I've had a deep love for both bicycles and motorcycles. Now at 71 years old, managing osteoarthritis in both knees could have meant giving up cycling altogether if not for my upgraded Trek Marlin 5 gen2. Installing the CYC Photon middrive electric motor has transformed my Marlin into a vehicle of renewed freedom. I can now effortlessly embark on 60-mile rides, feeling as youthful as I did decades ago. This DIY electric enhancement not only circumvented the high costs of factory e-bikes but also revitalized my passion for cycling. Over the past three months, I've logged an impressive 600 miles with the CYC Photon motor, which continues to perform flawlessly since the day of installation. Luckily, Illinois' leniency toward e-bikes means I can explore almost anywhere without restriction. By the way, I thoroughly enjoy your videos-please keep them coming!
Seth I am really enjoying the content from Bentonville. I really like the fact that you’re including Evan as I enjoy his channel as well. I would love to see a video about winter riding like gear review, what you wear, smart tech, all that jazz for winter months.
Thanks Joey!!
Great video. I appreciate all the eMTB use cases for the physically limited, aged, or new to the sport. My two drivers are simplicity of tech (i.e. I'm broke.) and straight up exercise that I get from riding "acoustic".
My one complaint of eMTB--it amplifies the negative traits of trail bros. Dudes blasting the local Colorado front range trails putting hikers, equestrians, and riders alike on edge. The amount of trail widening Scandinavian flicks and off trail boosts is exponential when you get a brah on an eMTB. Not every ride needs to be a sick edit in the making.
I'm with you. Love the mechanical parts too, the philosophy behind a mechanical bike that rides forever, no batteries, the sweat... I'm all about the freedom of riding mechanical and doing maintenance at home. But tottaly get that eMTB are fun e cool and so on.
Awesome conversation Seth, bit late to the video but totally appreciate the view and respect for giving it a go. I was very much the same at the beginning, and it was crazy expensive. But I got diagnosed with R.A. and a lot of my impactful sports and activities took a bit, so did my mental health. My mbt was still awesome but I found it difficult and soul destroying from one day able to do my runs, trails and have fun, to needing to have painkillers and other meds to offset the difficulties I was having, put on weight and started to do less. Embt helps me do a bit of both, I like to ride with less assistance as a bit of me is still stubborn 😂 and I dial it up accordingly. The biggest thing is I go to other places over trials now, which I have never done before. I still like and rude my mbt, for the same reasons to keep my fitness up, and switching enables me to judge my abilities that day, and embt helps me train for my mbt day. A really great conversation, enjoy watching your content mbt or embt I'm just pro bike, pro fun 👍😄
I'm 44 right now, I'm holding out till my 50th birthday!
I did lose half of my right lug at the start of the pandemic during a 3 month hospital stay, I thought would have to go Eeb , but through pure determination, and grit, I have made one hell of a recovery, and I'm still on an normal MTB.
52 and still don't have one...
Congrats on your recovery.
@@compedium thanks!
I'm 107 and I don't have one@@FunHog69
I'm 47. Still on a normal hardtail mtb. I love the sweating and the physical challenge of climbing with my own power. But i tottaly get the emtb arguments.
Always entertaining, Seth. I bought my first EMTB in December 2022. It's super fun to ride and has expanded the length and duration of my rides. I still ride my analog bike which is to say my acoustic bike, also known recently as my Amish bike. Lol. I'm 62 now and I see the e-bike technology keeping me riding at least into the next decade.
Your comment that hit home most for me was the "its like I'm doing a different sport". I'm really happy to see so many commenters pointing out how their ebikes have got them in the saddle or kept them in the saddle - that has been true for friends of mine locally. Despite these well voiced sentiments I have lamented the direction the sport has been headed for some time - my mountain bike social media is essentially become exclusively race oriented or free-ride oriented content with more and more of the perception of what mountain biking is or means being connected to lift serve style riding or focused on statistics like "the number of laps I rode in a day". When I watch the industry pushing ebikes through advertising and influencer content towards able bodied folks just looking to go faster out in the woods, or go equally fast with less effort, it feels like the sport is flirting dangerously close to the electric dirtbike market that is rapidly evolving to meet it half way (I say this as someone that owns a Suzuki 250). Some motorcycle suppliers have already started offering mountain bikes (it helps that much of mountain bike tech was borrowed from the moto-world often by brands that cut their teeth in moto racing like Renthal and Fox) and I think its telling that Fort Nine is working to expand their media content into mountain biking. I think conversations like the honest one you just posted need to be out in the open to ensure that how this sport changes isn't being driven by cash hungry execs trying to make money on the next trend - but is really a reflection of people having good old fashion fun in the woods with friends.... and hopefully still sweating a bit to earn their turns. A big part of the future of our sport is going to be about the optics of what this sport is and what trails it deserves to have access to.
just got my second knee reconstruction and i definitely stick to acoustic bikes to bring my hard limit up with the sort of training on it. mtb is so good for every aspect of life :)
That e-bike is sweet, being a Gen-x’er I did stupid & ridiculous things in the 70’s & 80’s and am now feeling/paying the price for all that fun and I can say if I could afford the e-bike you were riding it would make it possible for me to get out and ride around town A LOT more . 😊
Get a used HQ EMTB like I did for around $2K and rip everyday
If you are a Gen X you were in your 20s in 1980s. Or too old to be doing dumb stuff.
I'm gen x - early gen x were teens in 80's - I did a LOT of dumb stuff, actually still do 🙂@@RealMTBAddict
"Generation X refers to people born between the mid-1960s and about 1980, directly following the Baby Boomers generation"@@user-xn1wo9nm1s
@@RealMTBAddict I was born in 67 so no not in my 20s but that being said as my wife will agree I still do stupid things 😊🤭
You make a really good points, I found that one of the benefits of my e-bike is that whenever I go a little bit too far, I've got a pedal the whole thing back so the weight actually becomes resistance. But that's usually on gravel trails and not somewhere halfway up a mountain
I only have an e-MTB, apart from my gravel, two toadies and a cruiser, but for MTB, it's a Kenevo. My wife has a Levo. We go back-country bush-bashing on 25% gradients where we would not go otherwise. Not many uplifts here in Oz. You may not be motivated to get one, which is cool. It's a game changer for us which opens up so much opportunity. I'll give you a month before you get one. It took that Rob Yorkshire dude and 5 secs to get one after he tried one.
The fitness barrier even makes normal commuting a chore for many, including myself! Having e-assist in a hilly city like SF can really open up what seemed like an slog of a commute to a fun one where you can actually CHOOSE your routes! I love my analog for fitness and agility, but when I need to actually get somewhere... It's ebike time baby
Same here!
Well said.
🚴🏼🚴🏼♀️🚵🏼♂️🚵🏽🚵🏽♀️🚴♂️
Yeah, I love cycling being my primary mode of transportation. It's not primarily an exercise machine or toy for me, it's how I get around. An ebike is much more capable and flexible in routes and the assist level can be varied depending on how much exercise I want at the time. My bike isn't just a toy or piece of exercise equipment. It's how I live free of car dependence.
Im 54 and recently diagnosed with a lung disease (non smoker). My hardtail MTB I just couldnt use anymore as I was always buggered after every uphill, I just couldnt keep up. Recently bought an ebike and OMG my life is transformed. I am still pushing hard, peddaling hard, getting a great workout and so much more confident on the ebike. This bike has given me a reasons to get out and enjoy riding again. Couldnt care less what people think. I absolutely love it.
Currently recovering from a major injury. The e-bike has been huge for keeping me on the trail and keeping me somewhat fit. Moreover, the mental health gains of being able to still participate in riding have been immeasurable. With that said cant wait to get back to acoustic riding. TBH the e-bike will probably collect dust once I'm back on an acoustic.
Great video Seth! While NWA might be utopia for e-bikers in the sense that everything is open to Class 1 bikes it's also a bit subjective: The climbs aren't really that long and you're basically at sea level (plenty of oxygen). Also the trails (even the techy uphills) are SO well constructed they're fairly rideable by a skilled mountain biker. In some areas out west e-bikes can shine on terrain that is uniquely distinct. Think pedalling up at 12,000+' through loose scree that only someone like Nino Schurter might clean. Or here in Moab climbing up near vertical slickrock that pushes the envelope of what's rideable. If you live in an area that's relatively flat or more rolling hills e-bikes make less sense and are harder to prove their worth. In high altitude zones or areas with extremely challenging terrain they can really shine in that department.
as a 63 year old, my Cube 140 ebike has literally given me back my youth. It's definitely a game changer for over 60s!
“It makes you feel like you’re in better shape than you actually are”…spot on! For the people that NEED them an e-bike is a God send but there’s something about working hard on a climb while a rider on a e-bike effortlessly glides past that makes me just a little sad for them. I’m 57 and my wife is 60 so I can imagine a pedal assist bike in my future…but…hopefully way off in the future.
You do know there are different settings on the e bike? Also, who cares. You can do so much more with an e bike. Don't feel sad for us.
I love and support that E-bikes are helping to get differently abled people outside and active! For me, I’m already an active person and I ride bikes to push the boundaries of my physical fitness, so I’ll stick with the standard mountain bike. But I have no problems with the E-bike riders in my local groups.
Apples/oranges from what I've experienced. The products target the different mission profiles of users. I've borrowed e-bikes from friends and they're awesome. So much fun. And for someone who wants to ride but maybe has joint issues or other,..they're a game-changer. They're also a great way to go exploring or cruise. Again, it comes down to what your mission profile is. I ride a none ebike a few times a week on a former military base out west for both enjoyment "and" the workout. Not saying you don't get a workout on an ebike. It's just different.
There's a mix between ebikes, none ebikes and road-bikes that I share the trails/roads with. I've noticed the weekends bring out the bulk of e-bikes - often in groups. The rest of the week brings out the road bike people and the hardcore folks who ride rain or shine. A few ebikes but the bulk are not. I'm just shy of 70 and have one knee going south but my old non-ebike is around 27 lbs., easy for me to load/unload and rarely breaks, gives me the workout I need while having fun at the same time. No knee problems riding it if I don't go crazy which I'm too old for that anyway. I have more problems hiking. If stolen, I'd be sad - owned it for decades but I'd probably be extra sick to my stomach if my ebike got pinched. And out west?,..ebikes are being stolen like crazy. I see homeless folks cruising on specialized or santa cruz ebikes with their garbage bags tied on. But that's another story. Mission profile; what do you need,..what is your expected outcome and lastly what do you want just because. Cheers. 👍
You nailed it for lowering the barrier of entry, and allowing people who normally wouldn’t be physically capable of such an activity can now enjoy it. I bought one nearly 2 years ago, Kenevo SL. I rode it for 6 months, great suspension design and the weight was spot on. But there was something lost for me in the experience. So I sold it, went back to pedal power and will enjoy it till I need an e-bike. But no matter what you ride, be sure to enjoy the ride!
Not everyone likes them, which I get. I used to hate them, until I got one. I still ride my analog bikes far more often, but the e bike makes shuttle rides with friends all that much easier. I can customize the power delivery. The downhill is still a blast. If you have the opportunity, yoh should try one.
It's not the ebikes that people hate, it's the deuchebags that brag about 'their' feats when it was done with a motor, and when they brag about using their ebike on trails where they're not allowed. on the other hand, if the same guy uses the ebike legally and reports something to effect - 'this ebike is a beast, look what it did' (as above video), i am often impressed :)
God I love the real honesty of this channel, like when he said “I know people ride dirt bikes” when talking about hitting jumps with e bikes, he’s so aware and not in a bubble, I love it here
Always enjoy your sense of humour and honesty as you speak your mind on this. Can’t wait until you end up with an ebike 😉
Really surprised there’s trails and areas in America where e bikes are banned. They are absolutely everywhere in Europe and I’ve never heard of them being banned from any MTB park/trail. Really don’t see the need to ban them.
I used to have an e bike but it ended up being a case of me hauling around a dead battery and motor for half my journey, I don't mind taking a little longer. I now have an old upright bike, only electric on it being the front light powered by dynamo and I couldn't be happier
Seth + one of those BMX’s with suspension could be a deadly or godly combination
Wat? He rides bikes with suspension
@@KarstRats if you were an actual fan of Seth you’d know that he has a background in BMX and can still ride one pretty well.
@@rohanjs. i read that as “bikes with suspension” not “ bmxs with suspension” lol. My bad.
@@KarstRats hahaha all good
That’s basically his dirt jumper which Seth has ridin many times. Honestly tho the thing that makes bmx bmx is the fact it has no suspension and u have to soak up everything with the body. If u add suspension u just have a dirt jumper which isn’t bmx anynore
I only ride eMTB’s and I still watch your channel. If you don’t get one I’ll still watch your channel. I don’t think about it. It’s just another type of MTB. Mind you I’m from Oz and we don’t play the games you guys in the US do. MTB, eMTB. They’re all here in numbers. No one here cares. It’s like picking on MTBers who use uplifts. Who cares? Ride what you want.
I will say when your life is getting busier an eMTB makes more sense. It’s easier to get a short fast couple of laps in when you only have an hour or so.
eMTB. MTB. Gravel. Road. All bikes. All good.
Gotta qualify that...All "pedal" bikes, good! That includes e-bikes. However a fat bike with knobby tires, on pavement, will make you wonder what circle hades you just entered..... and then you'll ride across a lawn / some sand / really loose soil and be all "light bulb moment!"
I put a BBSHD on my bike recently. I wasn't planning to, but after I tried it out I was like hell yeah, I want this.
I don't have time to ride much, so I'm not really in shape, but now I can still go anywhere with no problems. The beautiful thing is, I can ride it normally with next to no assist, then when those pesky hills come up I can push a button and get to the top without feeling like my heart will give out.
I wouldn't spend a ton of money on an Ebike, but you can get a cheap upgrade kit and put it on a cheap bike, now suddenly you're superman. It's just so much fun to ride when you have an option of assistance. Heck, even if I sprain my ankle or something I can just use the throttle and coast home. Aside from weight and cost I just don't see a reason not to put a motor on your bike.
I don’t think about the things I don’t have…..I think about the things I wanna get🤔 Seth, as usual, great entertaining video!
Coming from a dirt bike enduro background before switching to MTB, now I have ebike it's bringing the elements from dirtbiking I was missing when riding MTB. Hitting steep techy climbs which normal MTB can't do is addictive. Also for me having the extra weight stabilises the bike. Also as a mainly downhill biker with vans and cars set up for shuttling, this removes the need arranging shuttle groups and opens access to trials without shuttle access.
I've been holding off on getting an e-bike for so long because it would almost feel like cheating. As someone that has suffered a lot of injuries, many of them requiring surgery, I find myself not able to do the climbs I want or ride as long or as far as I want. I just purchased my first e-bike and I love it. It gets me out more so even though I might not be putting in the same effort, I am riding more often and putting on more miles. That being said, I understand now the appeal of them. I fought it for so long. Now I am glad I own one.
E bike are definitely great if you want them, but I genuinely enjoy the feel of physical exertion that a good climb gives. Other people can enjoy as long as they dobt pressure me to get one.(which has happened on the trail before)
I agree 100%. I think e-bikes are great. But I ride to get fit too. Lots of e-bike riders I meet on the trail swear they get as much exercise on an e-bike, but I think they are just lying to themselves, or they have simply forgotten how much they pushed themselves on a real bike.
They are definitely lying
@@RealMTBAddict Not according to actual data... but go on about your opinions..
No, not lying. If you can ride longer because you are on an ebike, it averages out. Plus, the clumb is easier in the knees . You can do more climbs in one day. Riding an ebike longer will give you the same workout at riding your regular bike for a shorter time.
Nice! great job covering bikes and still being nonjudgemental. I am 74 years old and most of my physical exercise comes from mountain biking. I get good exercise from swimming and it is easy on my body. I have many biker friends int their 20, 30, 40 and even 50's who are e-biking and tell me they get the same workout , just more miles, with the e-bike. For me, it's a survival thing. I know how hard I have to work my body to ride these trails on my Trek Fuel and I known if I let up, I can easily get lazy. If your choice is no-E, I support you and I think I can feel your inner-spirit.
Asheville sucks for ebike access. I wish they’d rethink their policies. Ebiking is way more fun than analog for me. I’m one of those “see how many laps you can do at the park” kind of people though.
I think you nailed it on the head. They're fantastic but if you're like me, I would be heavily tempted to use it all the time which means I would be losing a lot of my cardio. Yes I could crank down the assist or just go for it without breaks but, in my experience that, that still isn't as tiring or healthy for me as pulling out my 'Amish Bike".
Exactly. I've sworn to myself I won't get an ebike until I'm too old to pedal...precisely because I'm afraid I'd become "lazy" with it and lose the calorie burn and aerobic benefits.
Yes, nobody will dial it back and nobody will break out the "Amish bike". The market will just permanently shift. People won't accept being left in the dust by E bikers. Or not being able to hit the obstacles that will inevitably be designed for the power of E bikes. Everyone is just going to claim "knee problems" or "heart conditions" so they "need" an ebike.
@borisjankovici662 I wouldn't go that far. There are downsides (specifically the weight) to E-Bikes. They're fun downhill but not as much fun as my 30ish lb bike. There will always be an audience for the "Amish" bike. While some trails are more at risk than others, not all will be E-Bike focused. A perfect example of a well designed E-Bike heaven is Kanuga and even its great on a normal bike. I can't say I'd notice any difference (outside of my exhaustion on the climbs and more nimble bike on the descents) if they hadn't designed it for E-Bikes.
@@festerofest4374 You still very much get a calorie burn and aerobic benefits with an Ebike. If you use a Heart Rate Monitor, you can actually get better benefits vs an acoustic bike. You can keep your heart rate in a specific zone for longer periods. In my case, I can do an entire 2 hour ride in Zone 2, which is being touted as being the right spot for burning fat, building endurance, and all of the things that are associated with regular exercise. I've lost 40lbs in the last 6 months because I am out riding 3-4 times a week. Prior to getting an E-bike, I'd maybe once a week. You can also do interval training, HIIT training and other stuff to fine tune your performance goals. An E-bike is just another tool in my tool box.
I have an eMTB and (way too many) manual bikes that I ride regularly, and you wouldn't be able to tell which I was using off of my heart rate data. Doesn't matter if I'm in trail or turbo mode; my average and max bpm are virtually the same regardless. You have a natural "effort cadence" you get into when biking and the e-bike doesn't change that-it just adds power on top of that.
There are a ton of reasons why I reach for my manual bikes before my e-bike, but cardio ain't one of them.
One of the best purchases I have ever made was a TREK ebike. I'm older, run ultras, love to cycle, and love my ebike, but I don't ride it exclusively. It allows me to commute to coffee shops that I work out of. It is so much fun and I can go eco sport or turbo depending on how much work I want to put in. It also allows me to go on long gravel rides with my younger and much faster sons, and we are all happy.
I was sceptical if ebikes having never ridden one too, but ended up buying one in May this year. Ive ridden twice the miles so far this year across all my bikes, and can genuinely say ive not lost any fitness, infact im probably fitter now than last year.
When i do solo rides i take mybreg xc bike and the ebike to the bike park, do the normal laps on the xc bike - then when i would normally have gone home i session the dh on the ebike.
I find it interesting that generally those who have ridden or owned an ebike are usually the negative 'anti' squad - the same for all types of bikes. If they aren't for you dont get one, but dont have a go at those that do ride one.
My thoughts exactly. I don’t want to give up anything I have now on my me-bike, the fitness gains are substantial, the climbing buzz is free therapy, and bikes are already maintenance soaks enough without the e-assist bits.
my point exactly, i cant be bothered having to be an electrician ON TOP of knowing how to disassemble and reassemble my bike
I think most Dads get them (like me) due to ever-diminishing free time. I can go so much further and have more fun in my “hour off” per week and not be knackered when I get home. Best thing I’ve ever bought.
Seth, thank you for your open approach towards ebikes.
In my personal opinion, I think ebikes are a very nice way to include people, just as you explained. And they have other applications. They support a parent hauling their kid in a trailer when it's just a means of transportation. They fuel a cargo bike when people move around goods in an urban area. They help weaker people get their breath of fresh air and outdoor activity. Heck, they even help office workers get to their job without sweating. But - for me - I still need a *reason* to use electric assistance. Because electric assistance has downsides which I don't want when not absolutely necessary.
It's heavy. Heavy to load onto your car. Heavy to carry into your basement. Heavy to put on your maintenance rack. Heavy to pull around when riding.
It's expensive. You always have to pay for every single part of your bicycle. When an ebike costs the same as a conventional bike, I assume the conventional bike has higher quality components.
And mostly: An ebike will strip me from the feeling of achievement. When I'm cycling, breathing hard, sweating, legs are burning, everything is getting dirty, that's what I did. When I get home from my daily commute, I know what I achieved. When I haul my little one to the kindergarten, I love to wave goodbye to ebikers while I pass them with a whistle on my lips, because *I can.* I am proud of my strong legs and what they can do for me, and I'm not paying thousands to give that away. But - as stated above - I see and respect the reasons why people choose ebikes.
this is the way
I recently read a study that there were fewer "hardcore" bikers nowadays, as defined by riding multiple times per week. They suggested that it might be a result of older riders aging out of the sport, but I suspect it is actually due to ebikes robbing people of their accomplishments. When I started biking, every ride pushed me towards a new goal. I'd see an impossible hill and work on my fitness for months to finally be able to ride it. I motivated myself to ride. Now I wonder what it would have been with an ebike. I would have climbed the hills on the first ride. I would have explored the trail systems fully on the first ride, not being limited by my fitness. There wouldn't be a reason for me to ride regularly. Even this last weekend on my real bike, I suffered through a 26 mile, 4300ft, 4.5hr ride where I had to push my bike up hills...but 3 days later I'm still super proud of myself for my accomplishment. I did it on my own! I want to do it again to see if I can improve! If I had an ebike, it would have just been another day, and I don't need to ride it again because I've done it. It is kind of sad.
Love seeing Evan in your videos! He’s awesome!
Thanks dude!
@@EvansMTBSaga it’s hard not to root for someone who shares my name! Keep up the good work! Both of you guys
I loved this video, mostly because you were really honest, starting out a bit snarky and a bit cold towards Emtbs and then moving towards appreciation as you began to reason the whole situation out and experience being an electrically enhanced pedaler. Thanks for having fun, making me smile and creating something that I can share with my mountain bike crew.
Love my eBikes. I've almost got 3 of them (an enduro one is on order)! Plus one analogue bike. Being 57, I ride with people in their 20's to 60's and I'm able to keep up with them all and have a heck of a lot of fun. When all I had was a regular MTB, I was always worried I wouldn't be able to keep up. Now I don't worry about that at all. Plus being able to ride more just makes me a better rider.
It’s literally the steroids of the bike world. Like you said if you were on a real bike like your friends you wouldn’t keep up….. E-bikes are basically Steroids.
I went Levo in 2016. All of our crew of over 60 year old guys/women use Scott’s, JTs and various Levos. I’m almost 8 years in on this Expert Levo. Every part has been replaced. Period. Wheels, shock, fork, bars, seats, converted to mullet. Bought a 50 mile demo from the local rep for $5k, I’ve dropped more than that into it. I’ve redone the motor once ($1,000), two $1,000 batteries, one got wet. One neglected when my friend didn’t ride it when I was on the DL. I’m 72 and stoked to ride tomorrow morning. Oh, haven’t heard “cheater” in five years at least.
Some 10yo kid called me a cheater on his $200 kmart bike at my local spot the other day.. Parental influence is my guess haha
CHEATER!!!🤣
@@Trikk57Bro I would call you a cheater on my 4k+normal bike!🤣 A cheater is a Cheater. Kids are just honest about it. Most adults are just to soft to say anything anymore.
@@Trikk57 What does the price of his bike have to do with what he said?
Imagine caring that much about what other people do for fun… I bet you’re a great guy to be around Josh. Also bringing up the cost of your bike? First off your 4k bike is entry level in todays market🤣 you’re bragging about having an entry level bike dude. Learn to have some class.
I used to mountain bike when I was younger until I got hurt a couple times. Now at 67 I have a foldable heavy e-bike I ride on trails around RV parks and love it.
I am with you Seth. I love Ebikes. They are a great technology, and they enable many people to cycle that wouldn't cycle otherwise. But I want to pedal hard. I want to challenge my body a little every day when I ride my bike. I want cardiac health to be a side effect of getting to work. Also I want my bike to be 100% ready to go all the time, no charging required.
Just turn the motor off. That will give you a challenge!
Something I found interesting in one of The Singletrack Sampler’s videos was that the e-bike allowed him to be in Zone 2 heart rate zone more and longer than a regular bike. Zone 2 is where you want to be for increased endurance and cardiac health. You still have to do some hard rides on a regular bike to get the heart rate high. But it seems that maybe an e-bike would be great for gaining endurance. I’m sure more testing would have to be done for more people, but I did find it interesting.
I have found this to be true for myself. My local trails are pretty flat and not very entertaining so peddling faster is they only way to make them fun. If I try to go out on my regular bikes with the goal of keeping my heart rate down which means peddling slow, that usually lasts about 15 minutes before I find myself pushing for speed. With my ebike, I can maintain the speed that I feel is fun but still keep my heart rate down where I want it.
For places with a lot of short steep hills, it's hard to keep the heart rate reasonable unless you walk the climbs. Can see how that could work for those with enough self control (which excludes me).
You can get your heart rate just the same on an e-bike as a normal bike. Ebike does that better as well because you can keep it level. With a normal bike you can't control it as you have to put the watts required for climbs.
That makes no sense. He doesn't know how to regulate his HR.
@@RealMTBAddict When you are doing technical bits there is no way to avoid putting large minimum watts. It makes perfect sense what he is saying. You don't ride terrain do you.
I’m 79 and I have stage Iv prostrate cancer. I’ve been riding mountain bikes since the seventies and I have a lot of miles of trails under my belt but these days I can only ride on the flat. I just purchased a Specialized Levo and I absolutely love it. I’m going to spend the rest of my days with it !
Awesome video! For me Ebikes are what got me into moantain biking. It was only after gaining enough fitness riding an ebike five years ago that I decided to buy an analog MTB - and then four more analog bikes...
Same story here. I now have a couple emtb's, 4 regular bikes. I rode the downhill bike most this past year funny enough.
i feel like removing the fitness barrier is one of the big issues with e bikes. the awesome part of that is it makes mtb accessible to people who couldn't otherwise. the downside is that it's a lot easier to get in trouble, to access trails you haven't got the tech skills for. mtb skills and etiquette are at least as important, but an e bike doesn't always force you to learn them
Count me as an older rider who loves my eMTB. Game changer for me. Been riding eMTB going on three years now. My nice analog bike is sitting in the garage with flat tires.
A: I love your channel, been watching for years. B: E-bikes (Class 1 like that Trek, not Saurons ect) ARE the "great equalizer". I bought a Norco Sight VLT on my 51st b-day for my wife. She has no ACL in her L knee so going "Hard means 1hr of riding tops b4 it stops her. We rode more together this past year than the previous 3 combined. An e-bike keeps my bud with cancer out on the weekly boiz ride + a tonne of extra days when he feels well. I think they're great, but I'm not getting one.... yet. The 4 fittest dudes I know all have one in their stables just so they get more saddle time. I like that idea... And it would help me, the slowest climber in our group,on those group rides... but still no for now. C: Personally, I don't feel you're "excluding" anyone by not having one in your stable. Your channel is about mountain bike stuff and riding, and the majority of it applies to all types of MTB's and riders. May as well say "I have to get a fat bike (again) b/c I'm excluding those kooks!" (Pssst, I'm one of those kooks)
I wouldn't ride a Sauron either, it seems too dangerous. 🤪
I feel like you're not excluding anyone by not featuring ebikes on your channel. If an ebike is doing it's job, it's going to let the rider do much the same things as a normal bike.
Did we watch the same video? He clearly went into why that isn’t the case and how e-bikes can enable shortfalls in ability for some people to be overcome but can also change the nature of the activity, shifting from exercise to exploration. You’ve isolated e-bikes here to very specifically about addressing a ‘performance shortfall’ between regular and less abled riders. Not sure why you did that.
Yes my Friend... You will have one very soon! Thanks for showing all the nuts and bolts of such an interesting ride. Congrats Berm. a.s.
I like the videos you have been doing with Evan mtb saga he is a cool guy
skibidi shot 1:31
amogus
Underrated comment
As someone in his mid 40s with a heart condition, dodgy hip and back, buying an emtb is the best thing I've done in years... I feel like I'm 18 again and can now ride with my kids.
I am waiting untill I am old and feeble to get an e-bike
I thought the same thing until I rode one lol
I'm waiting until 70, unless I have an injury or something that makes it so I can't ride a real bike anymore
🤣😂👍💯
@@BudoDave76bruhhh you went from a Real bike to a Dirt bike!😢
I definitely think an eMTB is perfect for the kind of person who can only have ONE bike. It has to work as a cruiser, a trail bike, and maybe even a grocery hauler. People I know with e-mountain bikes, who are super into mountain biking… also own a normal MTB.
Everything you just said a normaI ( I call REAL ) mountain bike can do, the only difference is the person with the Real mountain bike will get a wayyy better workout.
Yeah but unfortunately some people commute on bikes. In Europe, that might be pretty far, so a lot of people have e-bikes. If you also want your commuter to be a toy, you get an eMTB.
@@DanielEhlmann I respect that.
Im a mountain biker and downhiller for 15 years and i was starting to get bored and E-Bike just made me come harder on the game.. I changed to Enduro motorbike because i like speed and now you can have the lightweight and the maneuverability of a bike but with increased speed.. I Ofcourse tuned it up to go 35kmh and i couldnt be happier. Now there is more people to go drive with even if isnt at pro level because those people who not into fitness or not in good shape can come along.. For those who think you cant do sport on an Ebike is completely wrong.. You can set it to lowest or like in my bike you can customize between Assitance and acceleration from 1 to 5 and have 4 different modes .. You will sweat and get tired .. Now guess you can skip most of the annoying long straight streets or uphills and jump to the fun part by having it on Full assistance and get to go 2 or 3x times more far which atleast to me makes me happier and more motivated rather than always the same course ive been doing for 10 years.
With double hip replacements at the age of 15, and now im 29 with arthritis and cysts in my pelvis, yea im definitely saving for a emtb lol. Actually saving for that specific bike, a Trek Fuel Exe (in blue or black). I like that its very light assist compared to full power bikes like the rail, so i can still get some pretty proper exercise.
I feel for you. Broken pelvis in five places at age almost 22. Luckily I got almost thirty years after that
@madtownangler well I misspoke a bit in my message. The hip replacements were at 15 years old. I'm now 29. I'm going to edit it lol. It was late 🤣
Lol, you’re getting an e-bike…
I am a 75 year old fart. When I retired I stopped driving and started using my E-Bike as my main transportation. I did that for ten years until I developed a problem with my left leg. Now I am back to driving again with occasional short ride on the E-Bike. Without a motor I could not even do that.
Speaking of 'odd ball' bikes, have you ever ridden a shaft drive bike. I still have one that I hang onto because they are very uncommon in the US today. It is a step through frame with a Sussex drive train and 3 speed sturmey-archer hub and front suspension. It was sold as a 'mountain bike" but I am not really certain how one defines a mountain bike.
After having electric power in a MTB, I can never go back. After 55yrs of riding bikes, I can continue to enjoy riding for years to come.. But now we enjoy UPHILLS !!!
Also as someone who has had double lung surgery. I WISH I could get an e-bike. The amount of times I have to just dead stop while doing the most basic of climbs because I literally don't have enough lung left to breath that hard. It sucks tbh. But I do know that even if I did have one, I know that not every mtb trail spot will allow it and I know how much the crazy "NO E-BIKES!!!" people will hate me for it. Even tho it would simple be like using a cane to walk... kinda.
Edit: Basically, what I'm saying is. Just let other people do what they want and stop acting like e-mountain bikes are gonna ruin anything. At the end of the day we should all be out there doing what we wanna do for fun and enjoying it with each other. Just have fun!
Yeah I'm the same, I don't need one yet but I will. I have only 3-4 hours a week to ride and riding is the only safe exercise for me due to a lot of joint issues. Those same issues will mean I might struggle to ride someday soon - maybe as soon as when I hit my 40s, so I am super glad ebikes are around to keep me going when my body gives out. For now I need to get the most out of that short window of exercise I get to try and keep myself in as good shape as I can. I remember Bill Burr saying he wanted to get to 50 in the best shape of his life, and that kinda stuck with me but deduct 10 years. I want to hit 40 in better shape than I've been since my early 20s. Precious little time to achieve that working a lot of hours.
I look at E bikes like hearing aids. Some people need them, but most people don't
I’m an avid mountain biker with really bad knees, my e-bike allows me to continue. When my knees are fatigued, the assist allows me to finish my ride 🤷🏾♂️
@jonathannelson1024 yeah, that's why I wrote that some people need them. Sounds like you're one of those people that needs an ebike
E-bikes are for certain people... I just ain't one of them.
my e bike has completely changed the game for me. 2016 had a triple bypass, 2018 had neck cancer and needed chemo, etc.... 2023 bought my ebike for the simple fact i was just sitting around afraid to do anything. i've lost 20 lbs so far, my cardio is light years from what it was. i don't even feel like i'm excercising, i'm just out trail riding in the woods like when i was a kid. i get grumpy if i can't ride at least twice a week (ask my wife, lol!). had i known it'd be this life changing, i'da paid double for my ebike with no complaints (glad i didn't have to though :).
0:07 this is cap