The weight thing has nothing to do with the riders, so don't conflate those two things. Same riders, different bike, most ebikes are closer to 20 pounds heavier. The lighter ones closer to 15 unless you carbon everything up. And this is not an "anti-ebike argument". I ride an ebike. This is about being responsible promoters of the sport. Just because someone raises a criticism, doesn't mean they're haters or trying to oppress others. It may simply mean they are thinking of the greater good of the sport, and not just about themselves.
Anyway, I'm not pinning this consideration on the weight thing (that is just a minor factor), but more upon the idea that ebikes give people ways to ride more in the rain. The author essentially said it outright, that he rode more in the rain because he had the ebike.... I'm not crucifying the guy for riding an ebike. I have one too. However, I am suggesting that this is not a helpful message to send....yeah! get an ebike, so you can get out in the bad weather!.....you see the idea? He clearly wasn't intending to promote riding in wet weather, but the point was nonetheless made. Perhaps if he also mentioned his care to avoid vulnerable trails during this time, it would sound different.
That being said, I think you raise an interesting point. Most people on this site are committed riders. A lot of us ride rain or shine. However, less committed riders who only come out in the good weather may also be the demographic more likely to ride ebikes. (Read- not saying that ebikers are less committed, but that less committed may be more likely to ride ebikes). If that is the case, and there are more fair weather ebikers than mountain bikers, then all is well and my point is moot.
Still, I think we need to be careful about the messages we sent about the product. It's really not hard. We already had one blowhard bragging about riding up the downhills as part of his product promotion....hardly thoughtful or helpful.
March 10, 2025, 7:44 p.m. - jdt
The weight thing has nothing to do with the riders, so don't conflate those two things. Same riders, different bike, most ebikes are closer to 20 pounds heavier. The lighter ones closer to 15 unless you carbon everything up. And this is not an "anti-ebike argument". I ride an ebike. This is about being responsible promoters of the sport. Just because someone raises a criticism, doesn't mean they're haters or trying to oppress others. It may simply mean they are thinking of the greater good of the sport, and not just about themselves. Anyway, I'm not pinning this consideration on the weight thing (that is just a minor factor), but more upon the idea that ebikes give people ways to ride more in the rain. The author essentially said it outright, that he rode more in the rain because he had the ebike.... I'm not crucifying the guy for riding an ebike. I have one too. However, I am suggesting that this is not a helpful message to send....yeah! get an ebike, so you can get out in the bad weather!.....you see the idea? He clearly wasn't intending to promote riding in wet weather, but the point was nonetheless made. Perhaps if he also mentioned his care to avoid vulnerable trails during this time, it would sound different. That being said, I think you raise an interesting point. Most people on this site are committed riders. A lot of us ride rain or shine. However, less committed riders who only come out in the good weather may also be the demographic more likely to ride ebikes. (Read- not saying that ebikers are less committed, but that less committed may be more likely to ride ebikes). If that is the case, and there are more fair weather ebikers than mountain bikers, then all is well and my point is moot. Still, I think we need to be careful about the messages we sent about the product. It's really not hard. We already had one blowhard bragging about riding up the downhills as part of his product promotion....hardly thoughtful or helpful.