Should e-bikes be allowed on regular trails?

ben_delaney

E-bikes are becoming more common, and proponents say that getting more people on bikes, more often, is a good thing. But do they belong on standard mountain bike trails? Can they coexist with mountain bikes without more regulation? What do you think?

Angus Young

cyd190468 wrote:

... and lack the power to damage the trails like dirt bikes do.

I've ridden a couple and they both had so much torque at the back that the rear wheel was scrabbling then losing traction and spinning out on quite a few of the climbs, so there's potential for them to chew up the trail way more than a regular bike. If you start getting a lot of them it's going to take its toll on the trails.

VWsurfbum

I'm in the mindset that they are missing the point of a bike. Not only that but i think like everything else out there it will end up getting bigger,faster,stronger. and thats when the dammage will start on the trails and because we allowed it from the start it will be very hard to stop.

The Rookie

I recall the super lightweight E-bike built by some old German bloke so he could still go mountain biking, that sort of usage I have no issue with, road legal e-bikes don't generate that much power, but some can be had putting out up to 10bhp or even more, they will tear up the trail somewhat!

jimothy78

The e-bike I have ridden (a Haibike) certainly didn't have enough power to "tear up the trails" - it just adds thrust to whatever input you give to the pedals, so you can't flick a switch and let it carry you. Also because of this, wheel-spinning it would be about as beneficial as it is on a normal bike, so unlike motocrossers, there wouldn't be the temptation to just apply maximum power at the expense of control.

My overall impression was that they are unlikely to catch on in a big way for proper "woodsy singletrack" riding because the weight becomes a huge, ungainly disadvantage on the descents and lifting the damn thing over a fallen tree was a Herculean task. You may see quite a few of them about on bridleways, byways and green lanes etc, but I think our rider-built singletrack's main threat will always be motorbikes.

warpcow

The off-the-shelf ones I've ridden have been quite good fun and I wouldn't have a problem with those, although, yes, I do think they're missing the point of cycling unless the rider has a real need for one. The problem is all the idiots who build 1000W monsters (there are two near me). They're too fast and unwieldy, which means they stick to the smoother, easier, faster trails that are popular with beginners, walkers, etc. The people on them tend not to be bikers and have little respect for the idea that we have to share and respect the trails for our own good, not just for other users. They'll be the last people to care when access for cyclists is reviewed (this is within the context of Swedish access rights, which are very liberal, but have no actual basis in the law).

VWsurfbum

When i was in Cannock last month there was a guy on a full suss giant, full face the lot, zoomed up the climbs and it must be said he knew what he was doing and didnt pester anyone and i could see if you only had an hour spare, a loop of cannock on a Ebike would be a lot of fun. Should it be allowed? not so sure.

The Rookie

1000W is hardly a monster when you can get ones with 5-7 times that amount!

Most of us can put out circa 400-500W anyway!

warpcow

Maybe not, just comparing with the restricted 250W.

kajjal

Not everyone is able to mountain bike fully due to age or injury so for them E bikes are a very good thing. I would agree the speed and power needs to be kept reasonable or the extra weight / power will tear the trails apart.

Angus Young

I laughed out loud the first few times I pelted up a hill. Then I got bored.

The Rookie

Interestingly this just came up on the BR facebook feed.
http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/artic ... ack-43510/

kinioo

Kajjal wrote:

Not everyone is able to mountain bike fully due to age or injury so for them E bikes are a very good thing. I would agree the speed and power needs to be kept reasonable or the extra weight / power will tear the trails apart.

I second that.

pesky_jones

I reckon people that cause brake bumps are worse than people on e-bikes. I don't care whether they want to ride their e-bikes on the trails - I might get slightly jealous on the ups however

rockmonkeysc

They are bikes with motors therefore they are motorbikes and shouldnt be allowed on trails.

Angus Young

Yep, clue's in the name: Pushbike

rockmonkeysc

Angus Young wrote:

Yep, clue's in the name: Pushbike

Push iron or push rod down here in the Westcountry.

dirkpitt74

With the additional power and speed I can see a potential for a few incidents - Especially if they're put in the hands of novices.

I've been passed by a fair few going up hill on fire roads but not really encountered them on my regular off-piste routes.

poah

Angus Young wrote:

Yep, clue's in the name: Pushbike

only time I push my bike is on hills I can't cycle up.

Chunkers1980

But you push the pedals most of the time

poah

Chunkers1980 wrote:

But you push the pedals most of the time

I also pull the pedals. however, the first bicycles didn't have pedals and you had to push it along with your feet hence push bicycle, bikes that have pedals are technically called pedal bicycles

Angus Young

POAH wrote:

Chunkers1980 wrote:

But you push the pedals most of the time

I also pull the pedals. however, the first bicycles didn't have pedals and you had to push it along with your feet hence push bicycle, bikes that have pedals are technically called pedal bicycles

Jeeze, you really will argue about anything.

rockmonkeysc

Angus Young wrote:

POAH wrote:

Chunkers1980 wrote:

But you push the pedals most of the time

I also pull the pedals. however, the first bicycles didn't have pedals and you had to push it along with your feet hence push bicycle, bikes that have pedals are technically called pedal bicycles

Jeeze, you really will argue about anything.

No he won't

cooldad

RockmonkeySC wrote:

Angus Young wrote:

POAH wrote:

Chunkers1980 wrote:

But you push the pedals most of the time

I also pull the pedals. however, the first bicycles didn't have pedals and you had to push it along with your feet hence push bicycle, bikes that have pedals are technically called pedal bicycles

Jeeze, you really will argue about anything.

No he won't

Oh yes he will.

Angus Young

cooldad wrote:

RockmonkeySC wrote:

Angus Young wrote:

POAH wrote:

Chunkers1980 wrote:

But you push the pedals most of the time

I also pull the pedals. however, the first bicycles didn't have pedals and you had to push it along with your feet hence push bicycle, bikes that have pedals are technically called pedal bicycles

Jeeze, you really will argue about anything.

No he won't

Oh yes he will.

Behind you!

combatsapph

I love my ebike. I'm actually pretty fit (regulary take my Boardman Pro 29 out on the trails as well, esp when riding in group).

Copes with Gisburn just fine :-)





For solo exploring I prefer to take the ebike - can cover more ground. For group rides, I take the human powered only bike out as the ebike is too quick (on the ebike I find myself slow spinning in bottom gear waiting for people to keep up and that's not very good for the motor, it just gets hot).

I can sorta understand peoples resistance to them but you've really got nothing to fear - alot of ebikers like me were mountain bikers first and know how to handle themselves on the trails. I have a lot of respect for the trails I use and I don't want to see thier use restricted. I don't churn the trails up when climbing them, any more than I did by locking the brakes when coming down them before I got into ebikes. And it's not cheating. If that was the deciding factor then we should all ride single speeds - after all - don't gears just help you climb more easily?

In fact, we should all walk, as a cycle is just a tool to enable people to cover distance easier and faster - ooh, which is what an ebike does too!

Angus Young

combatsapph wrote:

I love my ebike. I'm actually pretty fit (regulary take my Boardman Pro 29 out on the trails as well, esp when riding in group).

Copes with Gisburn just fine :-)





For solo exploring I prefer to take the ebike - can cover more ground. For group rides, I take the human powered only bike out as the ebike is too quick (on the ebike I find myself slow spinning in bottom gear waiting for people to keep up and that's not very good for the motor, it just gets hot).

I can sorta understand peoples resistance to them but you've really got nothing to fear - alot of ebikers like me were mountain bikers first and know how to handle themselves on the trails. I have a lot of respect for the trails I use and I don't want to see thier use restricted. I don't churn the trails up when climbing them, any more than I did by locking the brakes when coming down them before I got into ebikes. And it's not cheating. If that was the deciding factor then we should all ride single speeds - after all - don't gears just help you climb more easily?

In fact, we should all walk, as a cycle is just a tool to enable people to cover distance easier and faster - ooh, which is what an ebike does too!

You forgot to mention how boring they are to ride. Sure, you'll laugh out loud the first few times you pelt up a climb. It's quite something. But once the novelty wears off, they're just plain boring. Half the fun of riding is coming home absolutely shredded by the climb that beat you and then finally beating it back. When you make a climb on an e-bike it's just big deal, so what.

rockmonkeysc

If you need a motor then maybe cycling isnt for you.

VWsurfbum

I was at bedgebury yesterday, 2 guys came up a climb in a very high gear (looked odd) but then pooped into the trail just in front of us as we waiting to regroup, they were hire bikes from the centre and looked very good, but they were not struggling at all. i can see if you were recovering from an injury or had a disability they would keep you getting out, but for able bodied people at a (relativly) easy trail centre they are over kill.

combatsapph Your club roost looks a bit aftermarket? or is it sold like that?
I can understand what your using it for, i hope you get to find more new trails to use on your proper bike?

stretchy

Wow guys, don't forget to disregard everyone who may have a different opinion to yours. Just because you are able to ride a "normal" bike or don't enjoy riding an Ebike it doesn't mean that everyone should feel the same way.

Do Ebikes really destroy trails? Why don't we ban people who weigh more than you or can put out more power than you on a normal bike?

cooldad

stretchy wrote:

Wow guys, don't forget to disregard everyone who may have a different opinion to yours. Just because you are able to ride a bicycle or don't enjoy riding a motorbike it doesn't mean that everyone should feel the same way.

Quite and FTFY