Great report, Cam. I have been eyeing the options on the ebike market more or less seriously for the last six months as the industry has begun to offer some appealing options after what seemed to be a Paleolithic Period of ebike development. Personally I classify the Norco’s appearance as “Brutalist” in comparison to the likes of the Canyon, Rocky, and Forestal, but the battery option is a unique feature that sets it apart. Personally I’d be inclined to select the 900W ‘fuel tank’. My backyard is a lot like yours - options for short lunchtime blasts, or all day adventures.
Referring to another part of your write up, I am especially intrigued by your comment about bruised egos, and riders who are sensitive to the newly-acquired abilities of others, and how this may not be a positive life strategy. If I may delve into the sociological and metaphysical, I think this really distills what is holding us as riders, and humans, from greater enlightenment. Taken to an extreme, your comment really gets to the heart of what is further along on a spectrum that includes such traits as envy and pride… is this not also what underlies so many much darker thoughts about what some (erroneously) see as differences between races, genders, ethnicities, etc? “Oh that person doesn’t deserve to go to the same university as me/drive that car/live in this neighborhood/attain that status/wear the same clothes as me/occupy this same viewpoint atop this mountain…”
Granted, there are land use- and access issues tied to ebike use, no doubt. And sadly there will always be a couple of bad actors out there using the same toys as us, but making bad choices about their use. And no doubt The Industry will offer options that many of us find reprehensible/destructive/out of line with our firmly held beliefs about what a bike is, but as far as the infighting about who ‘gets’ to use an ebike, we could all benefit from chilling out, and letting people do their thang. Let’s not contribute to elitism and BS white male privilege.
Jan. 30, 2022, 10:58 a.m. - Dan
Great report, Cam. I have been eyeing the options on the ebike market more or less seriously for the last six months as the industry has begun to offer some appealing options after what seemed to be a Paleolithic Period of ebike development. Personally I classify the Norco’s appearance as “Brutalist” in comparison to the likes of the Canyon, Rocky, and Forestal, but the battery option is a unique feature that sets it apart. Personally I’d be inclined to select the 900W ‘fuel tank’. My backyard is a lot like yours - options for short lunchtime blasts, or all day adventures. Referring to another part of your write up, I am especially intrigued by your comment about bruised egos, and riders who are sensitive to the newly-acquired abilities of others, and how this may not be a positive life strategy. If I may delve into the sociological and metaphysical, I think this really distills what is holding us as riders, and humans, from greater enlightenment. Taken to an extreme, your comment really gets to the heart of what is further along on a spectrum that includes such traits as envy and pride… is this not also what underlies so many much darker thoughts about what some (erroneously) see as differences between races, genders, ethnicities, etc? “Oh that person doesn’t deserve to go to the same university as me/drive that car/live in this neighborhood/attain that status/wear the same clothes as me/occupy this same viewpoint atop this mountain…” Granted, there are land use- and access issues tied to ebike use, no doubt. And sadly there will always be a couple of bad actors out there using the same toys as us, but making bad choices about their use. And no doubt The Industry will offer options that many of us find reprehensible/destructive/out of line with our firmly held beliefs about what a bike is, but as far as the infighting about who ‘gets’ to use an ebike, we could all benefit from chilling out, and letting people do their thang. Let’s not contribute to elitism and BS white male privilege.