As if there isn’t already enough disagreement over trail usage, etiquette, and access, a new storm is brewing in the dirt: Proponents of electric mountain bikes are pushing to have these motorized rigs allowed on the same trails as mountain bikes. There’s even an industry lobbying group, Electric Bikes Coalition, working to get land managers to loosen their rules.
Michael Kelley, one of the co-founders of the International Mountain Bicycling Association and IMBA’s California policy specialist today, has urged the advocacy group to get behind the powered machines.
“I’m not in favor of restricting mountain biking to a small demographic of limited age range,” Kelley told the Wall Street Journal. “If explored prudently, I think these bikes could expand our population.”
It’s a hot topic. In August, IMBA started grappling with the issue at its world summit, and manufacturers have formed a committee to deal with e-bikes.
At this point, there are more people opposed, like Giant marketing manager Andrew Juskaitis, who told the Journal, “All you need is one rider to get busted riding an e-bike on a restricted trail and it will set off a maelstrom of anti-mountain biking sentiment. It’s going to create access issues that are already tenuous.”
Despite that, the push is here, and as more electric mountain bikes make their way under the fannies of Americans, more Americans are going to want to ride trails. (U.S. e-mtb brands are expected to grow rapidly, from five this year to nine in 2015.) Now’s the time to start drawing the line in the dirt, or, depending on your position, rubbing it out.
Note: A number of readers have complained that the bike previously illustrating this poll was a downhill-oriented machine. That bike does have pedals, however, and a “USA Mode” top assisted speed of 20 mph, to conform with the de facto regulation of e-bikes in this country. Nevertheless, in the interest of being more representative of a “typical” e-mountain bike, I have replaced it.
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Just…No.
bad idea.
Absolutely (pause) Not.
Does the IMBA figure that if they can increase their numbers that maybe they could someday have the clout to open more trails including those in Wilderness to mountain biking?
Definitely should be allowed for the adaptive crowd. Keeping up with your buddies on a hand cycle is way easier with an assist motor. In my experience, they aren’t loud or any more ridiculous than a ripping downhiller with massive suspension.
This could get the handicap rider and the old hippy”s back on the trail!
I would say no, but it all depends on the noise level and the amount of power they generate and the potential for that power to cause additional damage to the trails. If they are on par with dirt bikes, then they should be limited to dirt bike trails.
If the IMBA fights so hard to open up access on already-restricted land, why do they want to endorse the use of powered MTB’s? What a joke.
Nope.
why do these issues have to be so complicated ….
Bikes have pedals
Just say no
We have to keep it human powered. The ease of access allotted by e-bikes is going to wreak havoc on singletrack conditions and maintenance.
No.
I just don’t see the grey area here – it’s a motorcycle.
You don’t think you skewed your poll by putt a electric bike that looks like a motorcycle. Interbike had dozens of bikes that you could not tell the difference between them and a regular mtn bike. Switch the picture and try it again and see if the poll changes.
James, the issue here is not e-bikes. It’s e-mountain bikes, and that’s exactly what the photo shows.
In fairness…
The bike pictured looks like an e-downhill bike.
This is more in the trail/all-mountain category.
http://www.4dproducts.co.uk/site/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/designer-electric-bike.jpg
It’s a full-on 80lb DH-style e-mtb with a throttle. Most e-mtb are going to look like this: http://images.elektrobike-online.com/sixcms/media.php/6/UB_KTM_Machina_29_.jpg
And in a few years you won’t be able to tell the difference between an e-mtb and a normal mtb. That’s why getting clear rules in place now is important.
And the bottom line is, whether the poll is skewed or not, is that all of those e-bikes would be allowed.
Sorry, but no.
As battery technology and motor technology advances, you’re going to have more powerful e-bikes. Gee, that’s great.
I think the line in the sand should be no powered vehicles.
No but with exceptions (thinking of commuting options).
Urban “trails?”
No.
As the owner of a e-bike (e-cargo bike), and avid mountain biker I’m totally opposed to e-bike on non-motorized trails except perhaps for adaptive needs (with some sort of legit permitting process). Off road e-bikes
What I’ve seen in the last few years is more people buying e-bikes who aren’t cyclists using their e-bikes to flaunt traffic laws (riding miles without turning a pedal but blowing through stop signs at 20+ mph). I’ve also seen them being ridden on crowded bike paths at high speed without ever turning a pedal. Unfortunately the e-bike, like everything else, gets taken advantage of by the lazy. (And just to clarify, there is NEVER a time when I’m not pedaling my e-cargo bike. The motor helps to climb hills and get up to speed when loaded with groceries.).
My cargo bike motor can do 28mph loaded with groceries, and it’ a small motor compared with whats out there. A normal person can maintain 200-300 watts. E-bike motors are readily available up to 2000 watts.
Note to self: Don’t comment with a phone keyboard, you end up with non-sensical comments.
As long as they have a MOTOR on them, regardless if it’s electric, gas, or solar for that matter, they should be classified as MOTORcycles and as such have no place on BICYCLE trails (non-motorized) Let them ride all they want on MOTORCYCLE trails which is where they belong.
No,
Nope. I will always think Bike + Motor = Motorbike.
Fireroads fine. Singletrack- not OK.
nononononnonoononononononono
No. How are the downhill bros going to get their exercise in if they simply gun it up the hill before bombing it down?
In the early days of the automobile, there was a big reluctance to allow cars on the roads because of the horse and buggy. Times are changing and electric propulsion is moving fast.
As batteries and motors get smaller, its going to be difficult to determine who has a motor and who does not.
We should all try to find a way to work together so that others have access to public trails, not just a limited amount of those physically fit. After all, we all pay taxes.
Nopeee
Just get a trails bike if you wanna hit downhill jumps
If a trail is open to motorcycles, like many around Crested Butte, or the jeep trails of Moab, go nuts. However, exception shouldn’t be made for a motorcycle just because it is electric and has pedals.
Pound it out or get a real motor and go somewhere else!
Not my thing at all. but I am sure they are coming…. better to be proactive about this
Mopeds.
No motorized means, ironically, no motorized…
no… but I want one!
noooooooope.
Almost ran into a guy riding a moto on Monarch crest/CDT section of trail. I was not happy.
No,
Nyet,
Nein,
Nada,
and . . . No.
The “trail” should be open to everyone. Provided they and their mode of transportation do not damage the enviorment. I have hiked some trails and shared them with mountain bikers. I am not young enough or fit enough to mountain bike. But i would like to have seen more of the trail and made it to the end as they did. An E bike would help me do this.
If allowed, limit mechanically their speed and tork to prevent trail damage. I don’t want to go screaming down a trail and don’t want to meet an E bike or mountain bike doing it on any trail..
If they could put a limit on power/speed output to mimic the abilities of a real person, it could be a cool way to improve access to and involvement with spaces that are currently limited. AND THEY HAVE TO BE SILENT. That would make them basically indistinguishable from pedal bikes right?
NO
no no no no no
I’ve got a great honda Ct90, and a couple other mopeds that could drive right up the side of a tree
they have pedals, are they mountain bikes?
No, because the little 2 strokers make them go. Not my legs. So they stay on quad and dirtbike trails.
this is nonsesne
No, its motorized.
hate to be a nay sayer but I gotta sayer nay on this one
I think we can all agree these are motorcycles. We can also all agree tacos are great.
mo·tor·cy·cle
ˈmōdərˌsīk(ə)l/
noun
a two-wheeled vehicle that is powered by a motor and has no pedals.
Key word is “NO” pedals.
bi·cy·cle
ˈbīsək(ə)l/
noun
a vehicle composed of two wheels held in a frame one behind the other, propelled by pedals and steered with handlebars attached to the front wheel.
synonyms: bike, cycle, two-wheeler, mountain bike, ten-speed, racing bike, recumbent, fixie; More
Nothing says that because it has a motor its not a bicycle.
Motor = motorcycle. Looks like fun, but leave them on the motorized trails where they belong.
Some e-bikes and e-mtbikes respond to pedal input and others are grip throttle active. Do these not fall into different classifications? And as stated above, the image is a bit misleading, but still accurate… It is just one extreme of the e-motorized bike spectrum. Now don’t get me wrong, I am not for having any motorized assistance while on trails (which is why I had to stop using my electric roller skates when hiking around Mt. Rainier), I am just saying that scare tactics tend to get polls to sway in one direction or another…
First it’ll be electric mountains bikes, then it will be coffee shops at the beginning of the trails so electric mountain bikers don’t have to travel far before calling it quits.
Please no, I am sure they are fun and that they have their place as light duty motos, but this will just be bad for MTBers. I wholly disagree with Kelley’s statement, mountain biking is VERY accessabele to nearly all age groups, and I am certain that a motor will not expand that range. If he really wants to expand the MTB family he should be pushing affordable bikes and NICA, (NICA, for those of you who don’t know is an organization promoting High-School mountain bikers)
As a rule, no but I could certainly see private for profit tracks that will bring up awareness.
Can I take my moped on a mountain bike trail? Is the issue emissions or safety?
I’d liken it to why we have bike lanes and rules on traditional roads.
Motorized vehicles and pedal vehicles have to (or are supposed to) share the road in a safe manner for both. Roads tend to be wide enough (ok, not really) to accomodate this). I don’t ride as much as I used to, but I can imagine the nightmare of a guy on an electric bike motoring past me (or into me) uphill or x-country.
I’d be more open to these riding on trails that allowed motorcycles/quads.
Just say nyet.
No. But stacking the vote by using a pic of the most motocross style ebike you can find isn’t very helpful. Give it 5 years and you won’t be able to tell the difference between an e-bike and a “normal” bike. So it’s important to get rules on the books now.
http://images.elektrobike-online.com/sixcms/media.php/6/UB_KTM_Machina_29_.jpg
Rob,
That image is pretty in line with a lot of the bikes out there. From the front, I’d say it’s very similar to the ones I’m pasting below and found in a 30 second Google Image search.
http://brimages.bikeboardmedia.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/2013-Santa-Cruz-V10-Carbon-Fiber-DH-Bike-1.jpg
http://brimages.bikeboardmedia.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/2011-intense-951-downhill-mountain-bike-1.jpg
Electric motors on mountain bikes, really? I thought we got into mountain biking for exercise. If allowed what’s to stop the motorcycle lobbies from getting access and before you know it the nice trails are full of noise and being torn up.
I’ve seen some e-mountain bike models that feature “twist throttle on-demand power”. That sounds to me like a motor bike and a powerful way for inexperienced riders to quickly erode the trails non-motorized riders have worked so hard to build and maintain.
Not on non-motorized hiking and biking trails.
Yes on motorcycle trails.
I’m 62 and really want to try an e-bike. Still can manage without one, but that may change soon.
Sounds like a dirt bike…
Would you allow e atvs?
Harley Davidson is coming out with an electric motorcycle. Should that be allowed on the trails as well? Where would you draw the line? Keep them off the trails.
Resounding NO. Humans are already turning into pathetic techno-mollusks, and that lazy philosophy is beginning to bleed into wilderness sports. Heli-skiing. Then heli-hiking. Then heli-biking and lift-served ‘mountain’ biking. Wilderness and public lands management does not need to accommodate every stupid contraption some rec inventor dreams up. That’s what got us ATVs and Razors, those glorified golf carts for fat-asses and “the disabled” that have taken over western public lands.
Now so-called activists are demanding that fat bikes and pack rafts and squirrel suits and bungee jumping be allowed everywhere because….”Discrimination! Civil Rights! Whaaa!”
This proposal is just more proof that IMBA is becoming the pathetic wannabe NRA of the outdoor sports world.
IMBA is decidedly not in support of this. Michael Kelley has a connection to IMBA, but he is expressing his personal opinion.
Any motor equals motorcycle
Not on any of my singletrack, thank you very much!
One of the reasons we keep our lands looking pretty is because we paid a price to get there. If it is easy-peasy to get there, there will be less respect of where “there” is.
No motorized vehicles on any mountain bike trail, pedal or take your electric bike elsewhere!
a bad idea. keep it on the street, where e-bikes belong. great for a commute.
Don’t skid, skidding causes trail erosion.
Really? Lose them, there’s enough motors out there already, take some pride in pedalling your own way along the trail.
Riddle me this: what’s the difference between an e-bike and a battery-powered motorcycle? My preference would be to see mtn ebikes treated as motorcycles. We can fully expect to see these in every major mtnbk park in the US in the next 5 yrs methinks.
For the sake of accessibility, should we build an escalator on Everest? Escalators are pretty quiet. Hell, an elevator to the top of El Capitan or to the river below the South Rim might be a good idea, too.
The whole idea of the e-bike makes me sad–like the Prius, which is ironically as horrible to the environment as the combustion engine.
It’s a motor.
The answer is no.
The bicycle is perfect. We should’ve stopped there.
It’s probably only a matter of time until they are allowed on the single track, that being said I think the it needs to be fought as long as possible to keep cycling pure.
Human powered only unless you have a handicap permit. Electric motorcycles are coming on strong, wouldn’t take much to put a set of pedals on one, call it an ebike and fly through the loophole…..good luck getting that genie back in the bottle.
how can this question even be asked!
There are hundreds of miles of motorized roads and trails for every one mile of nonmotorized trails in our dirt world. Those who “can’t” pedal a non-motorized bicycle are less limited in their choices than those who do.
Yes, as long as they don’t do more damage to the trail, and yes for adaptive use. Can’t pull the latter up after you.
Buy a dirt bike if that’s what you want.
NOPE!!!!
Motor + 2 wheels, regardless of configuration is a motorized vehicle. They should be restricted to motorized vehicle trails only. Its common sense people. I don’t care about the adaptive argument or I’m too old to climb that hill, one day I will be too old to climb that hill too, guess I will find a smaller hill. It is what it is. Just because technology allows you to do it doesn’t mean you should.
It just doesn’t seem right to put a motor on a mountain bike. It sort of defeats the purpose…
Just one more way we are taking something that’s difficult and making it easy just so we can be a little bit lazier.
they are not motorcycles, if you stop pedalling the motor stops, they only really assist the uphill work.
It’s so simple: They should be welcome any place that allows motorized vehicles. Bike trails that do not allow motors should not allow motorized bicycles.
Just for the sake of sharing information, and to help people understand the “legal” definition of an e-bike:
WHAT IS AN E-BIKE?
In 2003, the U.S. Congress to passed a law amending the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) definition of a “bicycle” to include the following:
“low speed electric bicycles” which is defined as a “two- or three-wheeled vehicle with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts (1 h.p.), whose maximum speed on a paved level surface, when powered solely by such a motor while ridden by an operator who weighs 170 pounds, is less than 20 mph.”
All terrain moped? Just no.
freedom!
Nope, nope, nope.
What about my gas powered mountain bike?
No. Definitely not on non-motorized trails. Motorized trails have at it.
yes.
noooooo
good god no!
Maybe if we had someone with a handicap like muscle degeneration and they still wanted to bike, but that’s a case by case deal. Overall still no.
Just no. Bad idea.
I do not understand “I’m not in favor of restricting mountain biking to a small demographic of limited age range” ? I do not know of any restriction of age where I bike, 5 -> 75 are seen bombing the trails.
Nope. It’s an electric dirtbike, not a mountain bike.
E-bike = motorcycle; difference is only a matter of horsepower.
Guys, get over it 🙂
These ebikes are bicycles and they are mountainbikes – they are def not motor cycles.
Here is my advice, before you get all crazy about “cheating” and “trail erosion”:
1. Read this article – especially page 4:
http://dirtmountainbike.com/classics/cube-stereo-140-hybrid-sl-27-5-ebike-review-unplugged.html
2. take a “Pedelec” for a test ride your self …
While you ride one, please try to suppress your smile and joy … and I am sure you will fail!
These bikes are “bio-electrical hybrids”, means your body is the bio-motor, your power input gets measured permanently.
And while you pedal, the motor adds some electrical power to the drive train as well, that´s it.
There is no throttle, there is no electrical power without you giving your input first.
Means: your bio-effort while pedaling plus the electrical incentive this is cycling with a lot of fun – this is why they are called “Pedelecs” from “Pedal” and not from “Throttle”.
Give it a try, and then we talk 🙂 Have fun!
C.
e-bikes are for the road, where other motor vehicles are allowed. They should not be allowed on trails, bike paths or anywhere else motor vehicles are not allowed. .
No.
as long as they don’t use the electric part of their electric bike, it should be fine 🙂
This discussion kinda reminds me of that one fateful Bob Dylan concert at the Newport Jazz Festival. It was July 25th, 1965 and ole’ Bobby D rolled on stage with an electric guitar and electric band for the first time. As he got into it, he was met with boo’s, hisses, and sneers. Back then, Dylan was said to have “electrified one half of his audience, and electrocuted the other”.
Two years later, on the streets of Rio de Janeiro, a large group of artists and celebrities gathered for a street protest against the “destructive influence of electric guitars on Brazilian music”. Many famed artistis and celebrities, like Gil Gilberto, participated.
Now, nearly 50 years later, after billions of ears have been polluted by the sinful sounds of electric guitars, electric pianos, and all other musical mutations that they spawned the world over, we stand at another cross-road in electrification. The Sacred Mountain bike. Shall we open Pandora’s box? Shall we follow Hendrix, Dylan, Musk, Bosch, and the countless other pioneers of electrification? It’s not a matter of if, but how.
I say, Power to the Pedal, but keep Mountain bikes bikey!
Open trails to the Pedelecs, leave throttle-style eBikes to the pavement.
No way.
Nah!
Yes, cause like it or not they are coming. And like Rob said we need to be talking about rules for them now before more are out there.
Ill want one when I’m older, but I don’t want them on the trails. Motorized bikes ride trails differently. As someone once said, ‘motor cross riders like to ride up the stuff we (mtb’ers) like to ride down’. They like to ride in the mud, and will happily gas it up a steep hill and dig a big rut, making it impossible to ride on a mountain bike.
So, let the electric mtb’s ride fire roads or their own trails, but no riding on mtb trails.
NO!
I would say yes but there should be some standardized limitations on how powerful they can be. That way it sets them apart from dirt bikes more.
Someone commented, “Emtn bikes don’t belong on mtn bike trails, they are motorcycles.”
Really? I submit they belong with mtn bikes more than motorcycles. LEt’s compare
A human rider on a mtn bike (20lb) puts out say 250W, or 1/3hp.
A human rider on an emtn bike (45lb) puts out 250W+350W from motor.
So the load and wear to the trail is another 25lb, or 25/170=15%. big woop. Larger riders do more.
The extra power simply allows the rider a littl emore speed and endurance.
Compare a 250cc dirt bike, which is what the mtn snobs believe an emtn bike belongs.
That bike has 18hp, 27 times the power of an emtn+human, and weights 200lbs?
Which is an emtn closer to???
In addition:
emtn bikes have no added sound or pollutions. 250cc dirt bike…..
Where…do emtn bikes belong? On the same trails you are enjoying.
Can’t we all just get along? Brappppp!
No.
This discussion should be saved alongside other (eventually) obsolete arguments which were made against suspension and gears.
In the years to come, electric assist motors will be found on the majority of bikes, and particularly mountain bikes.
I compare it to power steering on your car. It assists, and if implemented properly, assists imperceptibly.
There should be limits on power and torque so that the total output is not higher than a fit human could produce, but that is essentially the case for ebike regulations in the EU now.
If such limits are in place, what sensible argument can there be against them? Apart from, of course, the sort of elitism which would see the sport limited to young fit individuals, but surely no-one would make such crass arguments..would they?
Yes to trail riding with e-bikes. I have a dirt bike for OHV riding. I mountain bike regularly. I do see my time as being limited by my advancing age. E-bicycle is not a motorcycle. It’s motor-assist for people who need that extra help. I don’t need it yet, but it’s coming. It will not cause any more erosion than a regular mountain bike. There are lots of mountain bikers who skid, slide, and do all sorts of fun maneuvers that limited abled riders are not likely to do. There will always be the exception, but overall I don’t see it as a problem. As a mountain biker, I would rather spend $$$ on a good pedal only mountain bike. When I’m older, I would like to continue with some added assistance. If I want to go crazy fast, I’ll ride my dirt bike on established OHV trails.
As I see it …I wrote this for our national NZ Mountainbiker magazine as the affirmative view in a recent debate…..
As a pioneer in the ownership of a true dedicated “e mountain bike” (eMTB) I’ve been invited to argue the case for the inclusion of these new hybrids into the mainstream of mountain bike recreation. What I didn’t know however, was the pedigree of my opponent in the debate. He of course needs no introduction as this country’s most celebrated advocate in fostering the spread of mountain biking across all age groups and abilities.
So here goes. But first, it would be remiss of me to open my case without drawing to the attention of all readers and stakeholders in the debate, the distinction of eMTBs and all the others. It is, “all the others”, high powered electric motorcycles with pedals, that are the cause for concern and is the reason mountain biking advocacy groups in other countries, notably North America, have moved swiftly to exclude the use of electric bikes of any shape or form on back country trails that currently permit mountain bike access.
New Zealand Land Transport holds to a classification system for any form of wheeled transport. It is a simple but effective system that escalates as power, or the potential for power, increases. At the bottom of the heap is class AA, Bicycles. The quintessential push bike solely human powered. Next up the chain is class AB. Bicycles with powered assistance, but here’s the lynch pin in the equation. The power is limited to 300watts. Above and beyond, class LA onwards, everything becomes a registered motor vehicle and by default, prohibited on walking and biking trails. The USA dosen’t have this distinction. It’s the wild west and it’s causing mayhem on the trails.
A motor by definition is an energy source to create motion. The human motor is a linkage of muscle fibers, long bones as levers and articulating joints. The electric motor by contrast is a set of energized magnets opposing each other. 300watts equates almost to a fit rider pedaling strongly. All European built eMTBs fall into class AB. They are limited to 250watts and to complicate matters slightly, they are not permitted throttles, twist grips or any sort of accelerator gadgets. They are purely pedal assist only, you have to pedal, and whats more they are speed limited to about 27kph. We can all ride this fast on a conventional bike if we had to.
So imagine a tandem. Except in this analogy the guy on the back has some freak physiology and he never gets tired. That’s what an eMTB amounts to. So if you’re going to ban eMTBs then you may as well ban tandems if the extra power is what you’re worried about. A true eMTB (250 Watts, pedal assist only) is of no consequence alongside a conventional mountain bike. They emit no odour, gas, vapour or smoke, they are noiseless and there is no speed differential. In fact eMTB’s have absolutely no more environmental impact than a conventional mountain bike and less than a tandem. Only one set of footprints and one less bladder out on the trail.When you set aside emotional objections and focus on what is left, the physical and practical, then it is impossible to form any coherent argument to oppose the use of eMTBs on New Zealand’s mountain bike trails.
Today one third of New Zealanders are over 55. Thats a lot of Kiwis and all of us succumb to degenerative physical conditions at some point in our lives. That’s nature, and it hits some of us sooner than others. It’s in the lower limbs that the majority are affected. Arthritis, soft tissue ruptures, scared sporting injuries, the list goes on. Layered over that you have the myriad of other conditions that sap people’s energy as they move into their sixth decade of life. The recent emerging technology of eMTB’s can dramatically change how older riders approach mountain biking. They’ve been bashing trails for decades but physical limitations set in and no longer is it fun. It’s painful beyond the joke. Pain comes from mashing pedals up hills and into wind with joints that are past their use by date and no longer fit for purpose. eMTB’s flatten inclines like they don’t exist. Up to twelve percent but you need to pedal and get your heart rate up, close to your target if the hill’s long enough. The difference though, is the total absence of pain.
Mountain bikers will argue the risk of loosing trail access when eMTBs enter the fold. It is an argument predicated on fear. The fear is bred by ignorance of the facts. New Zealand is fortunate whether by design or chance, it has adopted a simple classification system that will single out the threat of escalation and ensure that the wild west won’t get further than the silver screen.
I’ve focused the argument on the probable case for a third of New Zealanders. But it extends beyond that. There are countless others who probably dream about biking New Zealand’s global envy, the back country bike trails, but find thoughts of exertion on hills intimidating. Any attempt to ban, or discriminate against riders based on their abilities or inabilities, especially on public land where there is no disruption to other users, is clearly a non starter. After the dust has settled, in all likelihood this is where the argument will rest. For all stakeholders, pedal assisted mountain bikes clearly fall within the threshold of reasonable accommodation. eMTB’s will open the door to the cycling enjoyment to thousands who have long given up hope.
Start a new survey with age and intention, please.
Question 1 should e#bike be allowed my age group 20 – 25. I don’t ride.
Question 2 should e#bike be allowed my age group 45 – 50. I ride.
We need more data!
I am a 56 year old female. I love climbing on and off road. Each year it is increasingly harder as my body is beginning to betray me. To enjoy the sport long into the future, I will need to have assist with an e-bike. I will not go faster than I do on my standard mtn bike. If a real “hot dog” is out there tearing it up, they will not want the weight of an e-bike. It should be an open option.
I do understand the fear of losing valuable legal trails to ride. It takes a very long time to gain trail use, but losing trail use can happen in an instant. It’s not a reason to ban e-bikes. Intelligent information needs to be out there.
Heather’s comments are spot on! Young purists may see it differently but as we age, we don’t have the same energy level and stamina as we once did. To call riders on electric bikes lazy is just ignorance. Critics have little valid arguments against them so they make stuff up. If they are “cheating”, who is being cheated?
Full Disclosure- I’m and the Co-founder and CEO for the best selling brand of electric bikes (Pedego) in the U.S. We focus on those folks who would probably not purchase another bicycle in their lifetime and it’s working! We’ve brought countless folks back into the cycling world. Explain why that’s not a good thing?
I am fully able to ride trails under my own steam but I do it for enjoyment. I resent the ‘cowboys’ who think they own mtb trails. In New Zealand this is thankfully an ignorant minority. The idea of having mtb trails is that they are for everybody whether handicapped, aged or what they ride. Trails are graded here and if you want thrills you can find them. Some people need to get their heads out of their own backsides and get to grips with what sharing actually entails.