Video: Do Lightweight eMTBs Enhance the Traditional Experience?

Mar 25, 2024
by Pinkbike Originals  

E-bikes have become ubiquitous, and are seen on trails, delivery routes, and even in competitive racing circuits. While their integration into various aspects of cycling is undoubtedly remarkable, their weight alters the character of traditional biking experiences. This weight can change the dynamics of riding, which leads some brands to reassess what yardstick they measure performance by.

Christina Chappetta, with support from TQ Systems, explored the latest developments in lightweight eMTB motors and how they try and enhance the riding experience, rather than completely change the feel, ride and relationship we have with our mountain bikes.

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Lightweight e-bikes offer a solution, but they require a delicate balance between power and weight. Manufacturers aim for a natural riding experience, where the motor complements the rider's efforts rather than overpowering them.

One way to lower weight involves reducing the size and complexity of the motor. TQ's solution to this is the harmonic pin ring, which enables compact motor designs that fit into the bike's profile. Ultimately, lightweight e-bikes represent a further step in the refinement of the e-bike, and aim to amplify the joy of riding without overwhelming the very thing riders fell in love with.

Eurobike 2022
The compact design of TQ's Harmonic Pin Ring lays the foundations for their range of lightweight eMTBs.



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What are you most interested in for your next bike?





This video is presented by TQ Systems

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Author Info:
pinkbikeoriginals avatar

Member since Feb 15, 2012
1,095 articles

263 Comments
  • 173 14
 If I lived somewhere with more vertical the mainstay in the stable would be an e-bike without question. more laps, more fun packed into a ride window.

but living in rolling terrain, the weight and handling penalty exceeds the endurance benefit. If I had time on ride days for 40km all-afternoon rips, sure, but my ride windows aren't that long and I am fortunate to still be able to keep the pedals turning for a couple of hrs of fun on two wheels. Will still rent an ebike a few times a year - it's a different ride and certainly fun - but as long as my legs/lungs can do the work I'll keep it old school.

To wheels, one love people. However you get out there, just keep getting out there.
  • 32 5
 THIS is the true answer.
  • 11 8
 @chumba17: Maybe for places that don't have trail access issues.
  • 34 3
 @chumba17: the real answer is Two Wheels, One Love.
  • 3 2
 Ditto @southshorepirate ...I live in Bentonville (we local hate the cheesy Chamber of Commerce 'Mountain Bike Capital')... That said, lots of rolling terrain. We do have some areas in the greater Nortwest Arkansas area with some decent climbs, but nothing like what I had back when living in Colorado.
  • 27 5
 it only takes one trip to the North Shore or Squamish to see that emtb's have taken over. as you mentioned, more laps is what is driving that riding culture, its gravity fed trails that dominate the landscape, so it makes sense. especially for those in the middle years with families, what was once a 25min climb up for 7 min dh trail, can now be done in 1/3rd the time...
as long as the trails are designed to handle a tripling of use then its not problem, its they're not, you'll see fast acting erosion and compaction
  • 23 2
 @sirbikealot: There are more ebikes but it's not correct to say they've taken over. Many people still riding mountain bikes
  • 13 4
 See im the opposite sorta. I dont have an ebike but i live in rolling terrain. I would love to have an ebike to turn basically every trail into a more DH speed oriented trail.

If I had long climbs and big descends I wouldn't mind slugging a regular bike up and having fun down.

Either way, both bikes are great for the stable. #twowheelsONElove
  • 7 0
 @sirbikealot: Ya I did a guided ride in Squamish and after puking a little in my mouth on the 3rd ascent I finally understand the appeal of ebikes. I wanted more, but I was done.
  • 3 9
flag ultimatist (Mar 25, 2024 at 13:52) (Below Threshold)
 @mrbobsaget: do you understand there's no real power boost on the downhill? How would an electric bike make your rolling descents more DH?
  • 5 0
 @sirbikealot: Yeah there's definitely more normal bikes than ebikes around Squamish and North Shore...and all of the Island..and pretty much all of the PNW with steep ups and downs still. They most certainly have not taken over
  • 5 1
 @ultimatist: by entering a slow rolling downhill with additional speed. It makes average trails a lot more fun when you can carry more speed.
  • 4 0
 Yup! The average weight of an American male when I started mountainbiking was 166 lbs. it is now tipping 200lbs. The weight of my bike has gone from 40lbs to 25lbs to 40 for a lightweight ebike over the same time.
  • 2 0
 @ultimatist: not a proponent, but by making flat sections faster, and you know you can bypass the max assist speed right?
  • 2 1
 @ultimatist: yep. I coast the dh. The ebike would allow me to keep more momentum through the flatter or slightly uphill section and then carry more speed into the descent thus making all flow fast and more dh like.
  • 2 0
 @ultimatist: wrong...
  • 4 0
 @suspended-flesh: it was more of a grammatical issue than a patchouli oil reference
  • 3 1
 @mrbobsaget: I see, I guess your descents aren't very long then. There's no DH benefit on the west coast, other than possibly the added frame weight keeping a line easier.
  • 2 0
 @ultimatist: Yeah... im in Ohio. I think the longest descent we have here at my local trail system is maybe 2 to 2 and half minutes but it has A LOT of flat and minor uphill climbs. The actual dh part is maybe 30 seconds at most?
  • 2 4
 To me lightweight eebs seem like the worst of all worlds:

Half the power and less range for a day of winching up fire roads to ride steep dh/enduro tracks

None of the sense of accomplishment for a massive day on your trail bike with big distance/elevation.
  • 3 2
 @L0rdTom: ok well you're wrong
  • 7 0
 @chumba17: ah fair enough, I hadn't considered it like that. Great points, thanks.
  • 3 0
 @L0rdTom: thank for the laugh haha. In seriousness, they're way more manuverable and covers the same ground at a more comfortable pace. Full power bikes make me wish I was on a dirtbike instead given the sacrifices. I dont get a sense of accomplishment from climbing a 35+ lb enduro bike to get a single run in anyway, would rather get a second lap in
  • 115 44
 Eebs are just a way for corps to capture the rest of the wealthy ski crowd market that has never earned a turn in their life.
  • 37 22
 this is my issue. ebikers in my local area tend to be the wealthy and entitled middle aged set who think the rules/respect for others don't apply to them
  • 34 6
 @totaltoads: To buck the trend, I am a mountain bike leader and have ridden manual mountain bikes for 20+ years. I recently got an emtb due to 3 bulging discs and a trapped nerve in my back, that made steep climbs painful. I now do more miles than ever before, burn more calories and have way more fun. Technical climbs that used to be a slog are now still challenging in eco, or a breeze in tour/turbo if my back is in pain.
  • 12 29
flag psullivan65 FL (Mar 25, 2024 at 10:17) (Below Threshold)
 Gatekeeping DB
  • 21 2
 @psullivan65: Fair.

Most of the folks I know who ride eeb have earned plenty of turns. And, when family/friends who don't/rarely ride come to visit, I try to get them on an eeb so they can keep up while commuting around town/nature areas, and I don't get frustrated by their slow(er) pace. Win win.

My ONLY issue with eebs is specifically the MTB-homies who buy one just to make their local climb easier and never turn over a shovel. Love commuter eebs. Love trail-building mule eebs. Love car-free ebikers.
  • 29 6
 Lift accessed bike parks are just a way for corps to capture the rest of the wealthy ski crowd market that has never earned a turn in their life.
  • 25 12
 @PHX77: I've lived in a ski town for over 30 years. The earn your turns crowd only spout that crap to compensate for how slow they are going downhill.
We laugh at them.
  • 14 8
 @mrbrighteyes: I didn't get an emtb until I was 55. When I was 50 I pedaled 50 days and rode 50 park days. Eebs are what's keeping me riding. I wouldn't be able to get my 30+ Keystone days without the eeb keeping me bike fit.
  • 8 19
flag PHX77 (Mar 25, 2024 at 11:50) (Below Threshold)
 @psullivan65: You need a nap.
  • 15 5
 @PHX77: your right I go to work at 5 on Monday. But if you're trying to insinuate I'm old and tired. Come see me at Keystone anytime doubt you could keep up.
  • 4 17
flag PHX77 (Mar 25, 2024 at 12:07) (Below Threshold)
 @psullivan65: you’re *
  • 1 0
 AMEN
  • 4 0
 @psullivan65: Like you, I've been doing the Granny (ring) Grind - or "Winch & Plummet" as it's known in the UK - for 30 years now, so a light eeb will probably be my next quiver killer Wink But before then, I'm finally making the pilgrammage to Whistler / Squamish / Vancouver with my Trek Slash this year at the ripe young age of 54 \m/
  • 1 0
 Counterpoint: I ride 5-6 days a week and did almost 700k of elevation last year on regular 'ol bikes and I bought a Levo a month back just so I could ride on my recovery days too
  • 2 0
 @paulvonperth: love this. Always amuses me to hear a pandemic rider talk crap about "earning turns". I've been earning turns for decades, I'm treating myself to a lightweight longtravel ebike because I'd rather be shuttling or on a chairlift anyway. The rowdy XC or HT trail bike still keeps a spot in the quiver for tamer flowy terrain
  • 1 0
 Far less than 1% of skiers earn their turns.
DH park riders don’t earn their turns.
And what about mtn bikers who also moto.
  • 102 47
 E bikes will never be my bag. There’s the crowd that have injuries, disabilities and health issues and good for them, using assistance to keep themselves in the game. Then there’s the other gang who vaunt their ability to rag ten laps instead of two who, once the novelty wears off, end up actually still only riding one lap but losing their hard won fitness. Then finally, there’s the guys using e bikes that I see on the trails, that are mainly made up of lazy, middle-management types with a bit of disposable cash who are too scared to ride a motorcycle and who in any other life, would be on a golf course bragging about their 5000 quid clubs but now have a new, instant access “extreme” sport to impress their friends without actually putting in any real physical effort or commitment. Every rider I know who’s bought into the e bike market has the same lazy personality and every normal bike rider I know has the same motivated personality.
The bicycle is man’s greatest invention, the e bike is a great illustration of how humans can’t help but pollute a great thing.
  • 19 11
 @crispycritter I’m sorry that wherever you live, people with eebs sound super lame. That is absolutely not the case here.
  • 19 4
 @joecrosby: rest assured, we have similar types riding eebs on this side of the pond. @crispycritter couldn't have said it better. Humans just can't leave a good thing alone. We have to enshittify everything including bikes.
  • 21 17
 What about guys like me - Used to race bikes when younger, ride 3-4 times a week but due to work and home life that now take up so much time I am only able to get out once every week or two, I am still able to handle a bike, but my fitness isn't what it was and at this point in time that's not going to change, maybe in a few years when things slow down as I used to enjoy getting the miles in. My e-bike allows me to get out and have fun in the short amount of time I have available in a way I enjoy most and on the type of bike I like to ride most - I am the absolute opposite of lazy. I think the thing you have to understand is that people all all different, and like arseholes everybody has an opinion and your little story is full of lazy, stereotypical butt-mud, total shite. Oh, I have a motorcycle too, taken that on track a few times, how does that poop on your cornflakes.
  • 1 8
flag joecrosby (Mar 25, 2024 at 15:31) (Below Threshold)
 @fentoncrackshell: well yeah, you’re in CA with trail nazis and more money than brain cells
  • 9 0
 Nah….. I’m 57 now and have been mountain biking from the beginning….. got a heart problem now but it doesn’t stop me doing 40 mile xc loops on my carbon hardtail, I just climb a bit slower. But I also have an ebike which I use for gravity stuff, did the ebike day pass at Dirtfarm on Sunday! Great day but still a workout on the climbs compared to sitting on the uplift….. don’t tar us all with the same brush….. I ride everyday and have raced in most disciplines too…. Definitely not lazy
  • 12 3
 Last time I checked almost every pro rider owns an e bike, do you mean that crowd ? Lazy I guess.
  • 16 7
 @imbiker: Bruni even commented that his favourite bike to ride was the Specialized Ebike. He just uses it to maximise laps.
I love the comments about "too scared for motorbikes"... LOL I raced Ducatis, GSXRs etc for years, i still own a track ZX6R now. I raced Enduro, I raced XC, i've even raced very low tech DH races (recently too). I'll still ride manuals, i've 'earned' my eeb, whatever that's supposed to mean. 100 mile days off-road on my MTB on the South Downs Way with 3500m elevation, yeah been there, done that.

The other thing that makes me laugh is that so many people feel they have to justify the Ebike "my knees are shot" or "i've got a heart condition", Sod it, just embrace it. "I ride an Ebike because it's FUN".... don't justify it to anyone, especially faceless people on here, just ride them. Or don't... it's OK either way Smile
  • 4 0
 "E bikes will never be my bag." Are you sure about that? How do you know injuries, disabilities, or health issues will never come your way? I'm 64, been riding bikes all my life and time and injuries take their toll. Too many bikes in the stable and if another bike is to come, a lightweight E bike sounds interesting.
  • 12 0
 @crispycritter

I hear your point, I do...

but you know what's worse than some douche bragging about his $5000 golf clubs (which quite honestly, he might only be doing cuz he actually enjoys them, perhaps clueless that other people, maybe with less money, find it offensive)... some people are insensitive, or lack self awareness, it's true.

but what's worse is the passive aggressive douche who passes judgement on anybody who doesn't enjoy something the "right" way. Maybe they are... the "purist" who is "a local" and not "a weekend warrior"... or just lucky enough to live in a mountain town because they have a job that allows it.

That other guy, the one with the lazy personality... planned his trip, maybe drove 4 hours from the city, fought/negotiated with his wife or kids to get there... maybe spent the last three weekends doing brain surgery on children... or volunteering at a soup kitchen... and just wants his few hours of happiness to be maximized. Who knows.

You certainly don't know... judge less.

People have all sorts of competing priorities in their lives... that doesn't make their less frequent enjoyment of "your" sport any less valid or meaningful.
  • 4 0
 The e-bike crowd has come out to defend themselves. This is always hilarious. Ride whatever you want. But all new things get made fun and e-bikes are no different. If you aren’t lazy you shouldn’t feel the need to explain that. And to the home life crowd. I have youngsters too and I ride sunrise until I need to take them to school. It can be done infact every generation before e-bikes did it just fine. But don’t be surprised if this falls the way tow surfing has. It was the way to get into huge waves. Then a new generation should up and said nah I can paddle that then they did. Now no one cares about jet ski assisted surfing. I don’t like comparing e-bikes to tow surfing because they were trying to get into bigger waves not up the local hill for an extra lap or two. But it was cool until people wanted the work and risk back.
  • 7 2
 @blueH2Oj: I get it, but ebikes are a much bigger nuisance than tow surfing ever was. Imagine if you had lazy people getting towed in everywhere, even on 3 ft waves, because paddling out "takes too long". This where we're headed in mountain biking.
  • 2 1
 @fentoncrackshell: I’m on your side dude I think they are kinda lame and the people i see riding them are making me want to jump on one either if you know what I mean.
  • 1 0
 @bhuckley: i may have to create many more accounts just to give you more upvotes for this, weel said
  • 4 3
 I think you eloquently captured the sadness we feel about the essence of something we love being watered down and commodified for mass consumption.
  • 4 1
 @kramerica5000: the sadness you feel, don’t project your over emotional bullshit onto everyone else.
  • 3 0
 @weeksy59: I've raced road going bikes, mostly Aprilia 125cc 2-strokes and Kawasaki 250cc bikes, so we're coming from a similar background.

I started mountain biking because it is fun to be out on the trails on a bike. I would have been out on a dirt bike if access to motorized trails and the barrier of needing a tow/carry vehicle was not so cost prohibitive at the outset.

I'm a cyclist first and foremost, I've been riding since 1994 when I was 15. Trail access has always been an issue for both pedal and motorized bikes, but now it's a bigger issue for BOTH user groups and a large percentage of e-bike users are crossing over from the dirt bike/powersports community--because their trails have been shut down. The problem with local landowners, and more importantly, other trail users is the additional traffic and people concerned with doing "laps" on multi-use trails. Now if you're out on designated one-way trails that are not being used by hikers or equestrians, shred to your heart's content. However, the vast majority of where e-bikes (and by extension and close association, any bike with DH/Enduro pretensions) are being used on multi-use trails--because it's convenient to where one typically lives. That's my biggest concern with "bringing more people into the sport" and not being exclusionary.
  • 3 0
 @XC-Only: I hear you but in the UK there's very little in the way of dirt bike friendly tracks anyway, they're walker/horse/bicycle only for the majority.
Certainly in southern UK we're seeing more ebikes but the large majority buy them for trail centers rather than a day out in the hills, although further north in Lakes/Peaks/Tweed valley it's more for big days out.
But I don't see they're affecting the balance in terms of hatred of cyclists here. Although I may be wrong.
Cyclists are seen as a lower form of life compared to walkers, cars, horses, I'm not sure they can go lower in the public's eyes. That's sad but a fair assessment of things here.

Either way, irrespective of what you, I or anyone on PB says, ebikes are here to stay and will only grow in terms of riders on them. 'we' are not going to change that.
  • 1 0
 Sweeping generalisations? Does it ever get lonely up on your pedestal while you are casting judgement at everyone you see? Pretty negative vibes here
  • 52 8
 Honest, independent journalism is what I love. This, not so much.
  • 50 1
 "Christina Chappetta, with support from TQ Systems, explored the latest developments...." LOL
  • 13 0
 Is there anywhere on the website where Pinkbike clarifies what "sponsored" stands for? An "advertisement" obviously is an advertisement and a "press release" is something where the Pinkbike staff had little involvement with the contents of the article. Call me gullible but I still trust the majority of other Pinkbike articles, reviews etc are (somewhat) independent. But at the end of the day, all of Pinkbike is sponsored. Just like an athlete, they slap a brand name on their page, take the money and do their thing. So what does it imply if it specifically states "sponsored"? Yes, sure I can make assumptions as well as any of you but I'm looking for the official Pinkbike description on this.
  • 7 0
 This. Misleading headline is also disappointing. If it's going to be "presented by" put that at the top of the article please. I got 75% of the way through the video and said "this feels like an ad" b/c no alternative brands were even mentioned.
  • 77 42
 The extra weight of e-bikes are starting to have an effect on trail maintenance and construction in my neck of the woods.
E-bike riders are wanting "rideable" trails which dumbs down the trail for the rest of us.
Locally our ebikers have requested bridges be built so they don't have to cross the creeks and trail features such as log rides/hopping disappearing, straightening of swithcbacks and curves as well as reroutes around highly technical features.
In one instance, an ebiker took a sledgehammer to a rocky quartz section of trail next to a creek because it was "unrideable" even thought it had been for years.
The bikes themselves are great, just not the riders so much.
  • 86 42
 dude you are from the us, the weight of your fellow fatso inhabitants is a BIGGER problem than the additional 4-6kg of an ebike
  • 26 7
 Adding a motor to make the slow rider faster doesn't make the rider more skilled in slower, harder terrain. If anything Laz-E bikes are worse in slow plunky sections than a normal bike.
  • 20 8
 @Sethimus: Be nice and speak of what you know. Laziness and egotism is more of a problem than obesity.
  • 13 4
 Its unlikely to be the extra weight as much as the extra laps. Both because people can do more laps on an e-bike, and also because there are people out there on ebikes that would otherwise not be there (wouldn't ride a mountain bike due to fitness, age, etc) doing laps. Its a blessing and a curse. bummer they are messing with long standing features. I think its only a matter of time before many of our trail org's are having to have similar conversations.
  • 18 15
 exactly. ebike riders tend to be beginners who think the trails should made for them, not that they should learn to ride the trails as they are.

i have seen so much trail damage, poaching, and re-routing the past few years. way more than in the previous 10 before that. 30% of the trailwork done now is just repair/re-routing damaged trails and covering up all the illegal lines the ebike-crowd are cutting since they'd rather b-line around the mildest of rock gardens on their 170mm travel 50lb bike.
  • 6 4
 "The bikes themselves are great, just not the riders so much." is the cause. One can ride just as slow on the e-bike as a regular rider. I find the riders that blast up climbing trails do cause issues on the corners. Just slow down and ride normally. Spend a day with trail builders and do your share of building and then you'll understand.

Going downhill, brake smartly. I see regular bike riders skid the trails to shreds. E-bikers can also brake without skidding and do no hard to the trail, so...it is the rider, not the bike.
  • 4 0
 My trails get pummeled too. Some places I won’t even ride anymore as it gets too many braking bumps and blown up corners. We simply don’t get enough rain year round to fix them and by fall it’s pure carnage.
  • 5 1
 @Sethimus: fatso haha
  • 4 1
 @Sethimus: Great point. I can’t get over how much bigger the MTB riders in the US are compared to other places in the world.
  • 4 1
 @LeDuke: Fair, the US is a big place though. When I go to the Midwest and south I feel skinny and get comments on being thin. Where I live just average maybe .
  • 11 2
 It sounds like your primary beef is with beginners.
  • 9 1
 @jefe: exactly I run a lot of volunteer maintenance in my area. We had all these problems before ebikes and I haven't seen any significant increase since they became more popular
  • 1 9
flag tofhami (Mar 25, 2024 at 13:48) (Below Threshold)
 the extra weight prevents them from carrying their bikes on parts they can't ride. Also gaps, drops etc. can mostly be rolled with a modern 29" 170mm enduro bike plus motor - even though they are build for air time. That's when destruction starts. I will get off my bike and carry it to the landing, when I'm not in the mood for jumping. Most ebikers won't, 1. their bikes are heavier 2. most of them are less trained
  • 4 0
 @Sethimus: Maybe a little harsh with the fellow fatso comment, even though some truth to it, but the weight argument as a reason against ebikes is a load of bs. One of my son in laws is a big man. Not fat or out of shape, but just a big dude, about 225lbs. His combined weight of him and his 150mm trail bike are more than me and a full power ebike. Are we going to say no more big people on bikes? I would certainly hope not. You don’t have to like ebikes or want to ride with anyone that has one, but that doesn’t mean they should go away. I hate everything about XC bikes and riding, but I would never say they need to go away.

I think a nice baguette taped to the fork leg might be the ultimate mid ride snack though.
  • 10 5
 @Sethimus: It's not the extra weight, it's the fact that eebs enable totally unskilled riders to reach trails they have no business being on. Then those lazy, unskilled riders end up destroying those trails and dumbing them down. That's not true for all ebikers, but there are enough bad apples to ruin trail systems for everyone. Thats why the best abd most resilient trails have "squirrel catcher" features of high consequence to filter out the crowd.
  • 4 1
 @Sethimus: haha. The average weight of an American male when I started mountainbiking was 166 lbs. it is now tipping 200lbs.

The weight of my bike has gone from 40lbs to 25lbs to 40 for a lightweight ebike over the same time. None of the trails I build are affected by ebikes and all of the e-bikes are attached to owners who are regular bikers and own bikes. I don’t know any fellow trail builders complaining about this or calling them ‘eBikers’. Shralpers gonna shralp my berms no matter what bike they are on! Thats what they are built for!
  • 5 0
 That's funny because where I live 95% of the trail work is done by dudes ON e-bikes and they're certainly not dumbing stuff down. The opposite actually. More laps = more confidence and practice to hit bigger features.

Trail building end e-bikes are a magic combo......get in fast while hauling gear, work till exhaustion and get out with a bit of help.
  • 7 2
 @Dustfarter: yeah you're right: Many trail-builders use e-Bikes (for good reasons). Yet, not many e-Bikers build Trails.
  • 1 0
 @tofhami: Where I live (B.C. Kootenays) It’s all e-bikers that build and maintain the trails.
  • 3 0
 @tofhami: To be fair not many mountain bikers build trails either Smile If you're just looking at percentages.
  • 3 0
 @Sethimus: Don't call us fat, call us enormous. We are enormous inhabitants.
  • 35 9
 I have a few friends that are riding ebikes as their full time bike. (I ride mine for specific training purposes). They have all lost weight, spent more time riding, gotten physically stronger in their upper bodies, learned to ride better as they are going faster than they normally would and seem more eager to ride than before. I have never seen an ebike "damage trails" other than a Surron spinning like a motorbike.
  • 10 2
 I find the emtb gets me ready for DH season. I'm already to go by the time June rolls around. You ride emtb's so much more standing up. The trail damage thing is just crap. Where I live the overwhelming damage is done by people riding when wet, widening of trails. Not because of ebikes. Done by both electric and non eeb.
  • 44 21
 E-bikes are sick. More riding in less time and less strain on the body.
  • 56 14
 show me an ebike rider having a bad time, I'll wait.. If your goal is fun on two wheels, can't go wrong with an eeb
  • 9 2
 @formerbmxguy: username checks out
  • 1 12
flag Wesmacaulay (Mar 25, 2024 at 9:01) (Below Threshold)
 @formerbmxguy: /whoosh. "Sick" means good lol
  • 13 0
 @Wesmacaulay: Maybe he's just agreeing with the op. \whoosh
  • 1 2
 @formerbmxguy: Problem of success from my third ride on a Kenevo SL is hyper extending my right knee because a compression I've hit a thousand times wasn't quite the same at e-bike speeds, lol.
  • 16 3
 What couch potatoes don't know is that strain on the body is good for you
  • 18 0
 This definitely tracks with all the studies showing the vast majority of people in the developed world (and not just the US y'all) are not getting enough exercise to ward off higher rates of morbidity.

In my experience the joy of mountain biking make it a lot easier for me to find the motivation to exercise and stay fit which will benefit me by preventing metabolic and cardiovascular disorders, and will keep me healthy as I age. Furthermore I believe the "strain" and difficulty of riding trails is good for my mental fortitude.

But that's just me, and each their own, but I think it's unfortunate that we've found one more way to take the challenge out of life, and circumvent the exercise benefits of something that is incredibly enjoyable. People's natural inclination will always be to take the easier option (look at how many people take the escalator vs the stairs), and capitalism will always cater to what people want (that's a complaint BTW, it also produced my 170mm Enduro bike that I love).

I'm not judging; everybody should do their thing (as long as they aren't wrecking trails), but making things easier may seem like more fun but that fun fades quickly compared the satisfaction and mental/physical benefits you get from rising to a challenge. If this idea is interesting to you, read The Comfort Crisis: Embrace Discomfort To Reclaim Your Wild, Happy, Healthy Self by Micheal Easter.
  • 2 0
 @formerbmxguy: visit a TQ registered service centre......and wait a few hours.
  • 4 1
 Can't really tell about assisted mountainbikers, but at least for commuting I do get the impression that people with pedal assist are more frustrated. They reach the speed-cap and whatever extra effort they put into it is futile yet whenever someone in front of them is a tiny bit slower they urgently need to overtake even when room is tight. When I bought my most recent commuter last December (a light unassisted bike with Alfine 11sp gearing that easily allows me to exceed that 25km/h cap) my mechanic told me that she saw lots of people go back to unassisted bikes. Just because it wasn't making them happy. Riding slower than possible feels like you're wasting time and going faster isn't really possible if you push a bit harder.

Not sure whether assisted mountainbikes are much different but I wouldn't be surprised if more than a few people would grow frustrated by them too. You know on those (slightly downhill) sections where coasting would keep you below 25km/h and a bit of pedaling would allow you to exceed it.
  • 9 6
 @formerbmxguy: show me a guy on meth not having a good time. But after awhile...

Point is, just because something is fun doesn't make it a good thing.
  • 21 0
 @GBangShredder: Did you really just compare ebikes to a meth addiction? Meth don't cost that fkng much
  • 12 2
 @kramerica5000: I think it all depends on how you ride. On my emtb I'm between 110-130 bpm for 1 1/2-2 hours, 2 to 4 times a week. At 58 , I think a cardiologist would be ok with that. I have no need to go over 160bpm anymore. I already embraced discomfort in my 20's, 30's, 40's and early 50's. Judging people getting out in the woods , exercising and enjoying themselves just seems kind of dickish .
  • 5 1
 @psullivan65: Zone 2 exercise is great and we all need to be doing plenty of it, but it does not benefit your VO2 max. As you age your VO2 max naturally declines with age to the point that you will struggle to do basic things like walk up a hill, but you can mitigate this decline by exercising at or near your max heart rate which will increase your VO2 max, and this is true at at any age. Additionally the lactate your body produces when above the lactic threshold has been found to be highly beneficial to brain function and preventing cognitive decline. So while you may not "need" to do high intensity exercise, you would still benefit from it.

Pointing out medical facts may feel like judging when you are self justifying your decision to embrace taking it easy, but that does not make them less true. YOU'RE STILL YOUNG, MAN! Get your real bike out and after it while you can! The training you do now is like putting health in the bank for your later years.
  • 2 0
 @kramerica5000: I really don't worry about it at all. I also play tennis once a week. XC ski, and ride Keystone about 30 days(54 when I was 54). Also have a physical job and all above 9500 feet. If I had a fast rolling lightweight trail bike or gravel bike I would consider it. Pedaled the 36#, slow rolling Meta a couple of times last year, was not enjoyable.
  • 2 0
 @psullivan65: Then in your case I can definitely see the appeal of the ebike when you're getting plenty of exercise elsewhere, but you're also in the minority. Thanks for the discussion & have fun out there.
  • 1 0
 @kramerica5000: thanks. You too
  • 1 0
 @kramerica5000: you’ve said what I wasn’t eloquent enough to capture.
  • 30 12
 E bikes are like Tik Tok mountain bikes to me. Serves repeated instant gratification for the dopamine hit of the downhill. You can't inherently ban it, but I don't agree with it. Coming from someone who does endurance races so I am certainly biased.
  • 18 7
 Ever heard of truck shuttles and chairlifts
  • 7 5
 I get just as stoked for the uphill as I do for the down with the ebike. The entire ride is an absolute blast compared to just the downhill
  • 2 2
 I race ultra endurance mtb, but that doesn’t stop me from loving the shit out of my Orbea Wild. Sometimes I wanna shred without absolutely turning myself inside out.
  • 24 2
 Pinkebike
  • 25 6
 I only dislike ebikes when they pass me going uphill and I’m jealous the rider is enjoying their climb while I’m sucking air.
  • 6 5
 I still suck air. My garmin hr monitor recordings can’t easily tell which bike I’m riding except that I get more laps in for the couple of hours out. I find that after 30 years you just pedal hard when you get to the climb. It is so engrained. What I have noticed, however, is that on a muscle bike I stop for a rest or two before I get to the top of Half Nelson from my house where I think I can push through because “I’m almost there” on my ebike and I redline my heart instead of listening to it and taking a breather.
  • 17 3
 Give me metal, no silly headset routing, no batteries and I'm happy. I'll keep my tech where it fixes a problem that ACTUALLY exists.
  • 3 1
 I ended up with a headset routed bike as i really liked the geo and suspension after a demo - the headset routing has been almost a non issue other than when reinstalling a fork. I dont bike in wet conditions etc so headset issues are not a thing for me. Replacing outter's is a non issue, i just conect the two ends and pull it through. almost easier than a traditional one.
  • 18 5
 E-bikes are fine, but they need to evolve a bit more before I'll buy. Excited for the future.
  • 6 0
 Yeah I'll wait for Pinion MGU to become standard. I can't afford one right now anyways.
  • 3 0
 I’m waiting until they can freeze, go backwards and go forwards in the time space continuum….or until I can afford one….whichever come first.
  • 2 1
 I know its a farce, but i will wait to buy one until all the components become a little bit more standardized so i can switch ebike components between frames
  • 6 1
 @mrbobsaget: That is scheduled to happen on the 32nd of Never.
  • 1 1
 Below 50 horsepower I don’t really care.
  • 3 0
 @suspended-flesh: haha I know but one can only dream of a world of standardized bike parts lol
  • 1 0
 Hopefully the prices of light Eebs evolve downwards in the future, too
  • 16 3
 I despise the accessibility e bikes have brought to the sport.
  • 9 2
 Picked up a Fuel Exe on special last December and love it.Lets me ride with my 20-30 year younger riding buddies without dying! I'm riding more and it makes me feel 40 again rather than the wrong side of 60.In all honesty its doing wonders for my fitness and strength.
  • 8 1
 Ban DH bikes they don't even pedal up the hill thats the most important part of riding! Rampage riders fucking suck because they aren't pedalling to the top before dropping in for their run. DH bikes just cause too much damage, my 100mm XC bike is what works for me therefor everyone else should feel the same
  • 7 1
 I just adore my '23 Smuggler on my rolling terrain trails, but when the trails are steep, spending 80% of my time climbing frankly sucks.
So, I pull out the Relay and have a much more rad time than I'd have on a bike. Also, I don't need to make as many compromises on my suspension (full coil) and tire set up (aggressive and heavy) to save watts.
If you have the means, I highly recommend that you pick one up.
Regarding full power e-bikes, at my 180# weight, my fitness level (pretty high) and for my terrain (steep, but not mountainous) they just aren't for me. A FF e-bike is like cutting your dinner with a samurai sword. Ya you can do it, but it's just sloppy. I want to ride the trails, not try to barely manage a 57# full power e-bike.
  • 8 2
 Ive been riding bikes for 50 years. I currently own a 2021 Trek Slash 9.8XT, and a new Santa Cruz Bullit E-bike. I ride 4 to 5 times a week, and since purchasing the Bullit, I have not once reached for the Slash. The people who hate on E-bikes are clueless. But that’s OK, I’m guessing they still have pagers and flip phones, lol
  • 6 1
 I still don't really see the point of lightweight eBikes.
The real-world weight difference between them and full power eBikes (after you've put sensible tyres and a decent amount of battery on) is about 3kg.
Considering the compromise, it's simply not enough to make
  • 7 3
 Lightweight is where it's at. My knees are trashed from the military so my Levo SL lets me pedal up all my favorite trails with less pain. On the downhills the weight is so low and centered that I don't ride any different, I choose the same lines, jumps, and manual things just like I would on my regular bike. I've ridden full powers and while they're fun they just feel like a different activity because of how much I have to change my riding style. I've yet to meet someone that took a lightweight on their favorite trail and didn't have a blast.
  • 7 2
 I own a Levo and an epic evo. Perfect set up for me. The Levo is great fun and a beast of a bike but my trusty epic evo keeps me in check. I love the E bike but if I could only own one bike it would be a normal bike.
  • 8 0
 GMBN, get out of that body!!!
  • 6 2
 My dad got a LW e bike and in eco mode, we can now go on awesome rides together where we both feel comfortable. He doesn't have too much time to ride these days, and was occasionally getting concerned about pushing his heart too hard on some of the steep PNW climbs. More people getting outside riding and advocating for trails seems way better than the alternative.
  • 9 3
 E bike ooze kook energy. They pair well with expensive sunglasses worn under convertible helmets, and filming yourself skidding down unsanctioned trails
  • 8 0
 Isn't a bike without any motor the "traditional" experience?
  • 7 4
 Every avid mountain biker will move to an ebike when they get older if they want to extend their mountain bike riding life. It will be a step by step process moving from acoustic mtb to lightweight mtb ebike to full power mtb ebike. Youngsters don't see it yet, but you will when you get older.
  • 3 0
 No matter how many bikes I’ve I always check out other bikes in bike shops. That stopped when i got a Pivot Shuttle SL. All the bike i need, nimble, playful and a wee motor to bust up the hills. I don’t want to ride all day so while i had no complaints about my Spec Levo expert, i never needed all the power and never came home with lessthan 40% left in the tank, and it is a bit of a bus. SL ebikes are a game changer
  • 18 12
 It’s lame. Nothing you can do but it’s still lame.
  • 5 3
 I think emtbs open up some real possibilites for downhill parks that don't have the $ or traffic to justify a lift of a shuttle. I just don't enjoy sharing conventional trails with them. The disparity in trail speed is becoming a major problem in my neck of the woods.
  • 2 0
 I'm a bit confused about what the video is a actually talking about. Most motors for e-Bikes are sufficient or way more than sufficient for uphill grinds and adds about 5-10 lbs of weight to the bike (mid-drive motors, not hub motors). Yeah, you can get the motor to weigh less by making them with lighter and smaller materials - which in turn will likely make a motor wear out faster. There's a finite amount on what you can do to reduce the weight of a motor. The bulk of the weight of an E-Bike is actually not the motor but the battery. The battery pack alone is double to quadruple the weight of the motor depending on its usage. Sure lithium batteries have come a long ways but it's still got a long ways to go in terms of reducing the weight, duration, stability, and longevity.

The other things that everyone needs to really to think about is interchangeability for battery operated tools, gadgets, e-bikes, and automobiles. It's an absolute shame that we're all going full retard on technology but we let industry dictate proprietary shit shoved down our throats. A good example is seen with cordless power tools. You buy one tool with a certain battery voltage and form factor. Then, you want to get another tool but the battery has a different voltage and form factor. So, you have to stick with the same brand to use the same set of batteries. I have so many different types of batteries for different tools, it's not funny. I've actually made it my mission to not purchase any cordless tools because 1) batteries are expensive 2) they're not guaranteed to last very long and degrade over use and charging 3) They're still volatile 4) It's bullshit to buy so many tools with each having their own set of batteries specific to the tool. For some electronics and mobile devices, it seems that the EU countries have forced companies like Apple and other manufacturers to comply with a standardized charging interface. There should be more consumer groups or regulatory bodies to force industries to come up with standardization and recycling (not just proper disposal).

Finally, the survey here doesn't tell anyone anything, especially for the biking industry. What I want to get for my next rig is different in reality due to economics. Yeah, every time someone asks me if I'll get a full suspension e-MTB. I always say yes and probably next year. But each year goes by, I get older and depending on my job, I get poorer. So, the real question lies in age and affordability. Weight really isn't much of a factor for e-MTB even though the feel and the handle is an issue based on other characteristics of the bike build.
  • 3 1
 I can only afford to hold and maintain maybe 1-2 full suspension mountain bikes at an acceptable mid-level component standard. So they're going to be two very different style bikes (like x/c and enduro), not an enduro and a crazy expensive moto-enduro to just do more of the same thing.
  • 10 4
 E-bikes will bring about the end of the world!
  • 4 2
 I have been pretty neutral about ebikes the past few years. People have their reasons for wanting them. My reason for not wanting them was because I enjoy the whole cycling experience (I also have dabbled in road/gravel riding in recent years). Meaning there is something I enjoy about the climbs and getting stronger at the climbs I do regularly. Its certainly not as much fun to me as the descent, but I enjoy the accomplishment. It doesn't bother me when I get passed by someone whether on an ebike or not. They have their own pace and I have mine.

But then the local bike park with lifts got its first full season under its belt last year. I went up there most weekends they were open and sometimes on a weekday after work. laps on laps on laps. Now I want an ebike so I can get more laps on my local trails too. Then there's those days after work where I would be able to get further up the mountain on an ebike for a longer descent.

I voted for a full size ebike. The way I see it, with a lightweight ebike, I'd still have to ride really slow with my friends on regular bikes, but I wouldn't be able to do as much as my friends with full size ebikes.
  • 6 3
 It's funny when E-bikers pass you on a climb and say "you should get an e-bike!". It's as if they are slightly embarrassed and need me to stoop to their level to feel better about themselves.
  • 3 5
 @BobbyT925: ah the copium is real with this one
  • 2 0
 I usually ask them if they have a tow rope Wink
  • 2 0
 Here’s the thing - I think a lot of us on this site are sickos who obviously love the downhills, but also love the feeling post ride after a massive climbing/descending day or whatever. It’s more than “earn your turns” bro logic, though. It’s something about conquering and overcoming a major challenge and exhausting the body to a certain point that creates this sense of personal accomplishment which I think we all realize is a really awesome feeling that’s somewhat inherent to mtb, and we’re frightened e-MTBs may take that away from us, whether by all of our riding buddies switching over to e-bikes or myriad other reasons. I think it’s a justified concern because that feeling of accomplishment and raw physical exhaustion is more difficult to come by on an e-bike (possible but let’s be realistic, climbing 3500ft on a normal bike vs even, say, 5k on an e-bike is a whole different experience.)

That said, perfect world for me is one where we could all own a normal bike and an e bike and we could overcome our monkey brain forcing us to always take the “easy option”, getting 2 similar but different experiences depending on which option we choose. If you haven’t ridden one, suck it up, go to a place with some elevation and rent one. They’re a blast, in a slightly different way than your normal bike. We should try and figure out how to separate the disciplines accordingly (I’m all for tech climbing trails being anti e-bike, for example!)
  • 3 0
 Do what works for you but remember that non-eebers get sick of the smug eebers evangelizing them and telling us to 'suck it up' and try one. How about just shut up and ride what you want. Your non e-bike will sit in the garage. This is not directed at you, specifically, but the whole e-cohort.
  • 3 0
 @suspended-flesh: I hear you - I don’t have an e bike currently btw but I have been able to ride them and do get the appeal. I’d suggest trying one is what I’m getting at, and rather looking at them as agood vs. Evil black and white decision, consider it more of a “different sport”. I do agree the smugness is annoying lol
  • 3 1
 EMTB all the way. Problems of emtb riders etiquette towards normal mtbs must be addressed. It has kept me riding post heart attack! I had a heart attack whilst out riding 18 months ago riding a normal bike. If it wasnt for owning a emtb I would have not carried on riding.
  • 3 1
 I was a bit of a anti-ebiker for a good while. Went to the dark side when Jenson was blowing out their remaining balance of Orbea Rise last year. While I still enjoy muscle bikes more, I totally get it. Tired or not feeling well, having a bike with a motor gets me out there. Short on time and want to hit a couple tasty trails that usually takes some time and work to get there, having a bike with a motor gets me out there. I am a fan and convert. With that said, I still enjoy muscling up a pedal bike up tons of elevation and distance on my own power. It personally satisfying that a ebike will never replace.
  • 11 5
 No
  • 2 0
 But non e-bikes might catch the e-bike SL at the rate they are going ie new 2024 Norco Sight 35+ pounds yikes
  • 9 4
 Ebikes are rad but not for me
  • 51 48
 Ebiking is not mountain biking. I've never set out on a trail and said damn, I wish this was easier. The challenge is the entire point of the mountain bike.
  • 19 23
flag mi-bike (Mar 25, 2024 at 8:30) (Below Threshold)
 The challenge is the *entire* point? You cannot be serious.
  • 30 9
 I'm glad that you are enjoying your single speed rigid then.
  • 18 10
 I've been riding since I was 8, I'm 32 now. Tried all the mountain bike categories through the years and, last year, I finally pulled the trigger a Turbo Levo. I've never had so much fun riding and I've never ridden so much. Climbs that took my 45 minutes to conquer, just to enjoy the way down, are now made in 15 minutes or less. I do 3x as much downhill runs in the same time. I never wished for things to be easier, but I sure wish I didn't need to spend 90% of my riding time doing what I didn't like: going up. The ebike solved all my problems. I now enjoy finding the gnarliest climbs everywhere I go e I can enjoy as many downhill runs as my body can handle. I'm overall much fitter too, because I had to build more strength to muscle the heavier bike around.I'm not saying it is for everyone, but it definitely is for me.
  • 5 8
 @mi-bike: I mean, there's a reason why we don't ride roads.
  • 10 4
 @chriskneeland: roadies just use aero and drugs instead of batteries
  • 6 2
 you've got to clarify what you mean. The technical challenge, the physical challenge, the mental challenge? Mountain Biking is different things for different folks. DH is a challenge in a different way to XC. but they are both challenges. So you can still challenge yourself on an E-Bike. as @sadfusde said, the big e-bikes are also a challenge due to their added weight. Sure, the climb is easier, but the downhill is much the same.
  • 5 3
 Do you have the same opinion of bike parks with lifts or shuttling in a vehicle? Just curious. I don't have an ebike.
  • 8 0
 @chriskneeland: apparently this will be a surprise to you, but many of us do in fact ride roads. Or gravel. Or skateboards. Or motorcycles and pogo sticks and a hundred other things in addition to mtbs. Some of us actually outgrew middle school and realized being into something doesn't require silly posturing about how everything else sucks.
  • 4 1
 @tacopop: Not a surprise at all. But I don't see gravel and road bikes being pushed on this site for the good reason. They have their own websites, because like ebikes, they're a different activity. I never said a negative thing about ebikes so I don't know why you're crying about it.
  • 4 1
 So you don't think you can be challenged on an ebike?
Have you ridden one?
  • 3 2
 @chriskneeland: I don't think we're crying about it, just asking for more accurate, honest representation. (just like you saying were "crying about it" is inaccurate) Your comment implied that mountain biking is done for the challenge and that e-biking removes the challenge. I actually hate riding e-bikes, but I'm not about to say that they are that different from mountain bikes. When I turned the motor off, it was just a heavy bike. With the motor on, I went uphill faster. The motor had no affect on my downhill speed.
Right now, e-bikes come in categories and all the bikes that are shown on this site are class 3 (USA) e-bikes. They are all manufactured by brands that also manufacture mountain bikes. So they show up here because 99% of the componentry is shared. The tires, suspension, wheels, handlebars, etc. are all the same. It would make sense for a news website to cover the products within the mountain biking realm. Plus, why would a site like Pinkbike decide not to cover this growing market?
  • 2 0
 @Spencermon: in the U.S. it's Class 1. Class 3 have throttles and I believe 28mph motor cutoff.
  • 6 0
 @SunsPSD: I enjoy the hell out of my single speed rigid.
  • 2 0
 for... you...
  • 1 0
 @psullivan65: Thanks. I mistyped. I meant Class 1.
  • 2 1
 @Spencermon: spoken like a blue square fanatic
  • 3 1
 This is just history repeating itself.
Put a motor on a bicycle - hello bolting on a gas engines and the birth of motorcycles.
I actually own a working Whizzer (traded a GT LTS / Judy DH for one many moons ago).
It’s easier, speedy and “new”.
Me? I’m 100% harden the f#ck up and earn your descents. Tighter the singletrack the better.
  • 1 0
 @Spencermon: Yamaha, Gas-Gas, and Husqvarna don't make MTBs AFAIK but had fleets and booths at the Sea Otter last year. I suspect there will be many more next month.
  • 1 0
 @tmtb999: blue square fanatic? Are you making assumptions about my riding skill based on internet interactions?
  • 1 0
 @suspended-flesh: I hate that you're probably right.
  • 15 9
 E-Bikes-- Not rad
  • 9 15
flag PHX77 (Mar 25, 2024 at 11:52) (Below Threshold)
 E-bikes are fucking rad!
  • 2 1
 I am waiting for a convertible bike where I could take out the battery (and ideally the motor) in a matter of seconds and have both an e-bike and bike in one. Comparing my bike and my girlfriends e-bike sans battery does not weigh that much more to justify having two bikes. It would make perfect sense, bike for workouts, flatter terrain, and lift assisted park days. E-bike for non lift days with massive ascent and maybe even commuting.
  • 1 0
 This already exists - Transition Relay. www.transitionbikes.com/Bikes_Relay.cfm. "Going for a rip with friends on eMTB's? Power it up and head out. Going for a rip with some friends on mountain bikes? Simply remove the battery and hit the trail with no tools required. The Relay does it all." And here's the PB review: www.pinkbike.com/news/transition-releases-relay-emtb-lightweight.html
  • 5 0
 what is this GMBN style video doing here? sorry Christina, not my thing.
  • 7 3
 Death to E-Bikes
Used to be a sport for the Everyman RIP mountain biking, and it will be E-bike’s fault, mark my words
  • 5 2
 It hasn't been an "everyman's" sport for the last decade. Before ebikes we're a thing.
Does anyone take you seriously?
  • 2 1
 @psullivan65: it was an Everyman sport over decade ago prior to e-bikes. Thanks for agreeing!!!!!
  • 1 0
 @tmtb999: oh, ok. Of course you're right.
  • 5 0
 More fat people comments please!
  • 2 1
 Love my 2021 Merida E bike, heavy , beaten and not pretty but it's a keeper, perhaps only accountable for 25% of my riding but between it, my Sentinel and Trek Fuel EX , I'm covered for fun.
Put the hammer down on an E and you'll keep fit and strong.
  • 24 24
 "By 2030, nearly half of all U.S. adults will be obese, experts predict. By 2030, nearly half of U.S. adults will be obese, including the nearly 1 in 4 who will have severe obesity. The obesity rate will surpass 50% in 29 states"
  • 26 5
 Because that has so much to do with riding an e-bike and isn’t related at all to the rising cost of healthy food and the abundance of cheap and nasty fast food.
  • 20 9
 Everyone that has one loves them. I just would rather quit and find something else to do rather than trying to make everything easier. I find no value in it for my life
  • 2 4
 We still pretending CICO isn't the singular truth? Seriously? I could spend my life in my bed ordering McDonalds and still lose fat lol
  • 3 0
 The USA obesity issue has to do with food culture, nutritional misinformation, an obsession with fast food and quick diet fixes.
  • 1 0
 @tempnoo1: longterm it's not a recommended diet
  • 3 0
 @Saucycheese: it has to do with both food and lifestyle. On the whole Americans have an extremely unhealthy diet, but many Americans also never exercise ever after childhood
  • 4 3
 @Saucycheese: Lower income folks in food-deserts living off highly processed fast 'food' and soda 'drinks.' are providing the medical-industrial complex with a steady stream of customers for their 'cures'. It's no conspiracy theory to suspect they are interrelated. They need to keep people sick.
  • 3 4
 @suspended-flesh: shut up. the medical industry is not trying to keep people sick.
  • 4 1
 @Spencermon: yeah sure and the Boeing guy killed himself just like Epstein
  • 1 0
 @Jer3myF: oh Boeing guy was definitely a hit.
  • 3 0
 @Spencermon: Not the practitioners - big pharma. Jeez, when did I start wearing this tinfoil hat? I'm usually in the Debunker camp.
  • 2 0
 @Spencermon: If the medical industry wasn't privatized in the States, there would be a huge push to contain obesity. People in hospital beds equals $$$. The USA doesn't really care about its citizens.
  • 2 6
flag suspended-flesh FL (Mar 25, 2024 at 21:13) (Below Threshold)
 @Saucycheese: USA USA #1 TRUMP
  • 1 0
 @suspended-flesh: your initial post insinuates that the “cures” pharma develops are “not real” or “don’t actually work.”

The US has approved multiple weight loss drugs (GLP-1s) in combination with a healthy diet and exercise for obese+ people in the hopes that it lowers the # of Americans who need emergency care due to some form of cardiac emergency. trial data suggests that it reduces cardiac event risk by ~20% (don’t quote me on the # but it was around that). Tell me again how that’s somehow “part of the master plan to keep everyone “sick”? There are some scumbags in the pharma industry but I can tell you it’s not the vast majority of folks who work within its network. The insurance companies are a different story based on their business model alone, but even so, everyone (including pharma) benefits from a healthier world because they can then focus their attention on genetic illness, rare diseases, etc., that may impact people regardless of their lifestyle choices.
  • 2 0
 @snowwcold55: Many medicines work but they treat maladies that in many cases are caused by eating unregulated corporate death burgers and shouldn't exist. I'm not here to argue about anything consequential or pretend to know a damn thing except about 96-2002 Toyota 4Runners. I talk sh1t and and create a tiny bit of user engagement as a byproduct. Monsanto sells the seeds.
  • 4 0
 @the-other-skier: Rising cost of healthy food? ROFL. You actually think people eat so much crap because it is cheaper than more healthy food?
Do they also ride e-bikes because real bicycles have become so expensive?
And of course, “optimizing” your life in a way that everything that might have been physically challenging is done by machines has an influence on these rising obesity rates.
  • 1 0
 @Saucycheese: But you'll still lose weight and if you're not stupid about it, you'll hit macros and most micros. Exercise is good for you but it's a poor method of losing weight.
  • 2 0
 @suspended-flesh: lol I hear you there man. And you’re right there are definitely some environmental factors and some genetic factors all at play in the debate.
  • 1 0
 @FuzzyL: Actually the Food Desert I referenced earlier is a thing in the USA:

"Some low-income communities in the United States lack stores that sell healthy and affordable food. The lack of store access in these communities--sometimes called food deserts--may contribute to poor diet, obesity, and other diet-related illness.:

From: www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2011/december/data-feature-mapping-food-deserts-in-the-u-s
  • 1 0
 @suspended-flesh: I’d never have thought that possible in a first world country.

Still struggling to wrap my head around it, how does someone, in a largely rural area, with the next supermarket more than ten miles away, manage to buy enough junk food to become obese, but does not find an option to buy vegetables?
  • 1 0
 @FuzzyL: I think it’s all because of a salt and sugar addiction
  • 1 0
 @FuzzyL: all the farmland is owned by massive corporations. They may be rural, but there are no local farms.
  • 1 0
 @FuzzyL: At the local gas station that has a colocated fast food joint and wash it down with a 2-litre of Baja Blast Mountain Dew. Finding a Farmer's Market ain't easy in many places.....I'm lucky to have a million options.
  • 11 11
 It's hard to convince some people just how good they are.

For example I have here for me and my boy.
Trek Session (DH race bike), Privateer 141, Status 160 and an indoor bike.
Recently after demoing i've added 2 Orbea Rise's. Lightweight Eebs.
What it means is that he can go out in winter and practice in the cold and getting dark early conditions and get 15-20 laps of the local tracks, whereas he'd only get 5 in the time before dark. Or we can hit places like Pontypool/Tirpentwys and get in WAY more laps than he can on the Session.
It's not even slightly about "we can do 30 mile rides", we still do them, in the same way we'll still hit Dyfi this weekend on the Session/Status. But it condenses the runs massively, all bike time is good bike time. It's not all about whether you can gain or lose fitness, weight, it's all about the bike time.

We both still regularly ride the MTBs, but the Eebs are an important part of it too for us.
  • 1 1
 #itsallaboutthedownhill Wink
  • 1 1
 If they were closer to MTB weight I'd look at em..the weight rules them out for me and cost...I'll just get another crf 450r or 250 2 stroke.. I did ride a heckler and loved it as well as a crestline but it was a bit too heavy...
  • 3 0
 I didnt realise Pinkbike was now producing adverts dressed up and journalism.
  • 3 0
 Been the case for some time. Picked up after they told Mike L to kick rocks, eat shit and die.
  • 2 2
 If I can't put it on my car roof I'm not interested, which is why I'm interested in a lightweight eeb, but not at their current prices, most of which are more than my motorcycle cost. It's ridiculous.
  • 2 4
 @redrook Orbea Rise, £3000
  • 1 0
 @weeksy59: The cheaper alloy ones are over 20kg without pedals. Haven't seen any for £3000 either, they're all £3995 or similar.
  • 1 0
 @redrook: I picked one up from MTBMonster this week for exactly £3000 in Mulberry mate. It looks like they've gone up slightly again now. I've not weighed mine but it's say it's slightly heavier than my Rise H10 2022 model. But i have to admit i do like the colour. I've not ridden it yet as i was fitting a set of Codes and new rubber on it yesterday.
  • 3 1
 Beyond some special use cases, they are a gimmick for the ever increasingly privileged.
  • 3 1
 garbage advert content. someone should start a new pinkbike, this is terrible
  • 18 19
 I LOVE when ebike haters click on ebike articles just to bash ebikes. Why even bother wasting your time if the article doesn't provide you with content that you do enjoy. Make it make sense.
  • 15 2
 first time using the internet today?
  • 8 2
 @wolftwenty1: LMAO touche
  • 16 6
 @fredro: I don't want an EEB and I like to let people know that from time to time.
  • 2 5
 @suspended-flesh: This is the proper response. Lmaoooo
  • 3 0
 The entire premise of the article compares/contrasts emtbs to mtbs. That's what they mean by traditional. What's so hard to understand? Differences in opinion? Not on us to fix your smooth brain.
  • 2 0
 @MidwestMountains: Lol ok man.
  • 5 3
 Mountain bike pared with dirt bike is the way. Best of both worlds
  • 2 1
 This is the way
  • 1 0
 Any ebike with todays battery tech and a derailleur Will basically be worth the rims and tires by 2026.
  • 5 8
 Interesting that only one of the three options in the poll is for an e-bike. Out of the answers, I picked "A full power MTB", with the clarification that it have been my legs, and will continue to be my legs, that provide the full power to my bikes.
  • 2 2
 sounds pretty wack u should try an Ebike
  • 1 0
 I was also going to pick the first option, looked at these thighs and decided option 3 was best.
  • 1 0
 @MidwestMountains: Imagine getting the same workout except you go 40 miles instead of 12
  • 2 1
 @luckynugget: Go thank your trail workers for the extra work you're imposing on them. 1 mile or 40 is the same to me if I'm out there for the same amount of time. Over consumption should not be a selling point.
  • 2 0
 @MidwestMountains: I am the trail worker. I use the Ebike for my work and it has increased how efficient I can be building and maintaining trails so much. No more hour long hikes in carrying tools. Do you think shuttle trails should be banned because downhill bikes "overconsume" trails?

How many legal trails have you built? How many maintenance days do you go to?
Who elected you judge of how much riding is too much?
  • 1 0
 @luckynugget: shuttle trails typically cost money. That's what keeps them sustainable. They are on a specific piece of land said money is used to maintain them with.

You guys need to stop equating ebiking to park riding. It's a weak and non sensical point to begin with, especially in this context and has been beaten to death.

No one said anything about being a judge. Fact is riding 40 miles over 12 is only better for the rider and no one else and its a self centered argument.
  • 2 1
 Will ebikes ever get as light as non eBikes
  • 4 0
 Not sure how this would be possible. In the end you are taking a bike and adding to it.
  • 3 0
 ...Once ai takes over and ebikes start making newer ebikes, then 100% yes
  • 2 1
 That leafblower would work a bit better without the umbrella
  • 5 7
 im a new dad, and everything where i live in socal is a big fireroad climb to 5-20 min down runs. im def looking at a lightweight emtb since my time is now limited and still want to get 2-3 laps in, in half the time.
  • 4 2
 New dad here as well. Before having a kid I didn’t get to ride as much as I wanted. Now after having a kid my main goal on getting an e bike is to get more riding in, in less time.
If I could ride all day like I could when I was single I’m sure I’d still not have a need for an e bike.
  • 5 3
 @Alecridesbikes: I wonder what Dads did before E bikes
  • 7 1
 I have small kids too and very limited free time. I feel like it's even more important for me to bust a lung pedaling a regular bike uphill on 80% of my ride, because that's the only exercise I get. From what I've observed, even though you can work just as hard on an ebike, no one actually does.
  • 3 1
 @fentoncrackshell: That's human nature. I don't have the discipline or desire to go to a gym, so regular bike for me
  • 2 1
 @fentoncrackshell: yeah im on the ole zwift bike 2-3 times during the week doing v02 max and threshold work just to not lose everything hahaha
  • 2 3
 @Alecridesbikes: unrelatable
  • 3 0
 E bike paired with a shotgun seat is so much fun with kids. You can ride steep climbs without huffing and puffing in their ear, hold a conversation. Such good times! Just introduced the towee with my 3 year old who started pedaling but doesn’t have the strength for much climbing it’s awesome.
  • 1 0
 @Jer3myF: Rode less because they needed an afternoon nap Wink
  • 1 0
 Where is the I have all three option in the poll?
  • 1 2
 Will need more DH Fullpower e-mtb & a race series for them. With timed up hill runs & DH runs,also move pinion type gearbox/motors with belt drive.
  • 1 1
 Pinion MGU... Where are you??
  • 4 4
 Gross
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