Singletracks Mountain Bike News, Reviews, MTB Trails and Community › Protected: Forums › Mountain Bike Forum › Why electric bikes could be the next mountain biking
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August 31, 2012 at 15:20 #112252
http://www.bikebiz.com/news/read/paul-s … ain-biking
Just saw this article pop up in my email today.
Quick question: does anyone here think that electric bikes have the remotest chance of making it in the mountain bike world?
There are any number of reasons why they WON’T. When I clicked on this article, I was curious to see if the author would make a smart argument to the contrary, but instead I was faced with one of the worst-constructed pieces of persuasive writing I’ve ever seen. Why, do you ask? The author of the above article makes a number of great points about why they could become extremely useful for commuting, but not a single point actually relates to the mountain bike world.
What do you guys think?
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August 31, 2012 at 18:16 #112253
After reading the article, I think "Why electric bikes could be the next mountain biking" means it’s the next market to explode, not electric bikes will be used for mountain biking.
Did anyone else get that same vibe?
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September 1, 2012 at 03:38 #112254
Is this really the evolution of the bike or a moped? I think the later.
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September 1, 2012 at 04:58 #112255
the only time the word "mountain" appears in that entire article is in the title.
as for me, i would buy one but the technology would have to improve. it’s not like it could ever replace a REAL mtb though. mtb’ing would become much more popular if there were good electric mtb’s. i’m sure there would be pros and cons to that but i’d imagine that trail quality/quantity could only benefit.
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September 1, 2012 at 09:12 #112256
After reading the article, I still ask myself "Why on earth would a person buy an e-bike?"
Maybe if you got a DUI and lost your license and needed it for basic transportation. Half of the reason I ride is for health benefits, which I would get none from an e-bike. The other half the reason I ride is for the fun factor. I don’t see an e-bike being a fun option for a rock garden, although I suppose if the demand was there the technology could be developed.This leads to another question. Would this be considered a motorized vehicle? I think it would and would thus be rightly banned from most of the stuff I ride.
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September 1, 2012 at 11:07 #112257"limetownjack" wrote
the only time the word "mountain" appears in that entire article is in the title.
as for me, i would buy one but the technology would have to improve. it’s not like it could ever replace a REAL mtb though. mtb’ing would become much more popular if there were good electric mtb’s. i’m sure there would be pros and cons to that but i’d imagine that trail quality/quantity could only benefit.
I’m not sure you could get the torque/power required for mountain biking out of an electric motor. Anything strong enough would probably be too heavy to be practical.
However, it would be pretty sweet on some of the lung-busting climbs 😃 (But I think they sell something that goes in your seatpost tube and does the same thing.)
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September 1, 2012 at 14:09 #112258"CraigCreekRider" wrote
This leads to another question. Would this be considered a motorized vehicle? I think it would and would thus be rightly banned from most of the stuff I ride.
That’s a good question. When would it transition from being a bike to being a motorcycle? Personally, if I was even thinking about buying something with 2 wheels and a motor, I would skip e-bikes and mopeds all together and go straight to a motorcycle.
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September 2, 2012 at 20:00 #112259
There is an older gentleman in our community that has an e-bike and it works great for him. Before he had that bike he would ride his mountain bike down to town and around the level area but he had to walk the mountain bike up the hill to his house. With the e-bike he now gets around with ease. That is the only reason I would see to own one of these bikes. If your healthy and young there is no reason to have one, get on a mountain bike and enjoy the health benefits of pedaling. 😃
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September 2, 2012 at 20:10 #112260
Electric mountain bike is the first step to non-alcoholic beer and … Usually people, who don’t like climbing, riding flat terrain or lift-assisted trails. I’m talking about technical singletrack. Of course, for disabled e-bike could be an answer to keep moving and exploring.
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September 3, 2012 at 20:05 #112261
Just not that lazy and if I get that lazy I’m just not going to be that FIT!
I could see it for the giant climbs and descents or is that a dirt bike? -
September 7, 2012 at 14:58 #112262
not exactly and e-bike, but i remember some controversy regarding road bike racing due to a new motor that fit in the seat tube and attached to the cranks via the bottom bracket. press a switch to engage.
it may not have the horse power to coast up climbs, but it may help a bit for what were hike-a-bikes.
that, i think, might have more of a chance of catching on. especially for us old guys. the thrill of climbing to see if you can reach the top is for younger men. i’m over it.
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