With electric assisted MTB's likely to become popular over the next few years, what do you think about them?
After all most of the fun is going downhill but you have to get to the top in the first place!
Will they catch on?
are they cheating?
What do you think of electric bikes in general?
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Stuff
Electric Assisted MTB's
(13 posts)-
Posted 13 years ago #
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Not sure they'll catch on for many reasons.
At pro level your winched to the top so its redundant and probably cheating.
At a leisure level the extra sprung weight would make the bike less agile and less fun to use once you've got to the top.
Posted 13 years ago # -
MTB's are a bit of a sub-group of a sub-group! As far as electric bikes generally go, I think there is a bit of an unfair bias against them by many "serious" cyclists. Especially in hilly locations such as Edinburgh I think they may well encourage waverers/less fit potential cyclists as well as allowing older/injured/less able cyclists to start/continue cycling. They also have the potential to make slightly longer commutes practical as the technology continues to improve.
(eg I'm a fairly confident/acceptably fit cyclist, but 27 miles each way is just that bit too far to cycle on top of a normal working day, might consider it with the right elec assist though?)
So a resounding "good", provided improvements continue and the prices continue to fall.Further, though I believe electric cars are a red herring (all that extra bulk to push along with only one person inside!) small electric 2/3 wheelers may have a part to play in future. Electric cycles are a good developement exercise/introduction to electrically powered vehicles maybe?
Posted 13 years ago # -
Yeah but for mountain biking? Silly!
Posted 13 years ago # -
But do you mean mountain biking/cross country or downhill....?!?
Posted 13 years ago # -
all of the above!
Posted 13 years ago # -
Anything which gets people cycling is good right? Its only a few smnall steps from starting out on an EA bike to competing at the highest levels of cycling....
... you just have to get on you're electrically assisted bike, as if you were to walk all those steps you'd never get there...
Posted 13 years ago # -
Oh, discharge MTB on way up, regeneratively charge up on way down, perpetual motion??
[warning don't read below if you're sensitive]
I had a perpetual motion yesterday after eating a dodgy curry on Weds night!! [joke]
Posted 13 years ago # -
I have a 350cc 4stroke assisted MTB. It's great fun.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Gave up on my off road motorbike because there was nowhere that I could legally use it. (Too old/breakable for competition and no greenlaning in Scotland)
I still enjoy a 660cc four stroke assisted tourer though :)
Posted 13 years ago # -
I would have loved to have been in the meeting where a bike company agreed to develop this!
"Hey, you know what's stopping more people from mountain biking?"
"No, what?"
"Mountains! Such a nuisance to get up"
"Err.."Posted 13 years ago # -
Great comments people, keep them coming :)
Posted 13 years ago # -
electric mtb ! apart from the injured/disabled type of thing ( and I know thats not a nice way to describe them, ) its pointless, next we can have electric tourers/comuters, who to stop them getting wet will have a roof, roll bars and heated seats, just like that rediculous bmw motor bike thingy. Surely cycling , and esp MTB is to get you outside ? at one with nature so to speak, self propelled, not powered !
Besides, 360 cc Husquavarna was my own particular steed !
ive got the power !Posted 13 years ago #
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