Ok a couple of comments on the article and the comments.
Looking back a few years didn't the "freeride" bikes weigh 45lbs to well over 50lbs. Now we have insanely capable DH bikes at well under 35lbs and enduro/trail bikes at 30lbs and under and marathon/XC bikes at 25lbs and under.
What do the e-bikes battery/motor add to the bike 15lbs??? (I have no idea on the weight.) So you take a capable trail bike at 30lbs and now have an e-bike at 45lbs to 55lbs. Will technology bring that down to 40lbs or 35lbs in a number of years while increasing the power and amount of battery at hand. Perhaps like the perpetual motion watches energy from movement is captured and we have e/perpetual movement bikes that keep on going like the energizer bunny, all the while with the option of adding the extra human power to the mix.
The second point of consideration is the impact on trails real or perceived by the non-biking community. Will the e-bikes simply allow greater reaches of our pristine wilderness to be trashed. Not my view, just playing devils advocate.
My thoughts are that I like to struggle and achieve. Will e-bikes take that away? Perhaps to an extend, but maybe they open up another door we have yet to consider. Remember, suspension, disc brakes, dropper posts were all silly non required add-ons to what a bike should be not all that long ago. What's around the next corner.
March 7, 2017, 12:13 p.m. - rideitall Easterby
Ok a couple of comments on the article and the comments. Looking back a few years didn't the "freeride" bikes weigh 45lbs to well over 50lbs. Now we have insanely capable DH bikes at well under 35lbs and enduro/trail bikes at 30lbs and under and marathon/XC bikes at 25lbs and under. What do the e-bikes battery/motor add to the bike 15lbs??? (I have no idea on the weight.) So you take a capable trail bike at 30lbs and now have an e-bike at 45lbs to 55lbs. Will technology bring that down to 40lbs or 35lbs in a number of years while increasing the power and amount of battery at hand. Perhaps like the perpetual motion watches energy from movement is captured and we have e/perpetual movement bikes that keep on going like the energizer bunny, all the while with the option of adding the extra human power to the mix. The second point of consideration is the impact on trails real or perceived by the non-biking community. Will the e-bikes simply allow greater reaches of our pristine wilderness to be trashed. Not my view, just playing devils advocate. My thoughts are that I like to struggle and achieve. Will e-bikes take that away? Perhaps to an extend, but maybe they open up another door we have yet to consider. Remember, suspension, disc brakes, dropper posts were all silly non required add-ons to what a bike should be not all that long ago. What's around the next corner.