Moderator Note: 8 posts moved to snippiness. Please avoid personal attacks. It's an e-bike discussion... hard to believe those are remotely necessary.
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e-Bike Hate Picking Up, You Can Help
- Thread starter Mtnrunner
- Start date
SSonnentag
埃隆•馬斯克
Using that logic, even one regular bike should be disallowed as it causes more damage than no bikes.
SSonnentag
埃隆•馬斯克
E-bike capabilities fall short of non-e-bikes when operated by riders of equal skill and fitness. They make no more noise. They do no more damage to the trails. They aren't even always easily recognizable as being an e-bike. E-bikes do not have the ability to safely stay out of the way of motorized (should be engineized) vehicles on OHV trails, and thus cannot be safely operated there. They perform so closely to a standard bicycle that they should be allowed on bike trails. They are, afterall, bicycles, just with a bit of muscle assist.
SSonnentag
埃隆•馬斯克
No doubt a lot more cell phones have caught fire. Let's ban them on trails.
I understand the ban do I agree with it NO If they allow Bikes with electric motors what is to say a motorized scooter couldn't be allowed. Or an electric offroad wheel chair.
SSonnentag
埃隆•馬斯克
I think a line has to be drawn at some point. I liked how Minnesota did it. While not a resident I found the approach or explanation to the handicapped not to be written like it came out of the legislature even though it did. Which usually a layman can never figure out. Pretty understandable. It also stinks to have to carry around a state statute around laminated in your pocket as well just to exercise.
Under eligibility tab.
When you arrive at the DNR facility or land (where the device would not normally be allowed under state law) you may have to provide credible assurance to a DNR employee that the device is used because of a disability. You can demonstrate your eligibility by showing a valid state-issued disability parking placard or card, showing other state-issued proof of disability, or making a verbal representation of the mobility disability not contradicted by facts observed.
Other Power-Driven Mobility Devices on DNR Lands and Facilities
Example:
I think hey I have a doctors note about COPD, yet I don't want to go full on to the Secretary of State to issue a handicapped placard. Some abuse could take place, yet the burden in my thought should not be on people that are disabled.
I know people that take kids on vents for horseback rides. I pity the poor soul that would kick a kid on a ventilator off a scenic pathway no matter the rules(outside of safety). Many times those tools are more for the caregiver than the person using it. Caregivers need to get patients out including themselves.
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Huh, I didn’t know these existed. A electric pedal assist might actually allow my out of shape rear to bike near my home again. I got rid of my regular bikes because I live in a hilly area, so every direction is uphill.
I haven’t ever seen or ridden one, but if they are truly just pedal assists, then I would have no heartburn with them on trails with regular bikes.
Whelp, I am now a convert. Picked up my Liv Thrive e-bike on Friday and took her out for an inaugural 8 mile ride in my hilly area. I was going slower than all the other cyclists on the paved bike path, LOL. Not exactly tearing up any of the bike path or causing a danger to others. Pedal assist did exactly what I was hoping for and flattened the hills to something I could manage.
I guess the only criticism I see against e-bikes is they get out of shape folks like me started in the sport and loving it, so more bike traffic on the trails.
kysrsoze
Member
There's been a lot of misinformation about eBikes and those who ride them, particularly e-MTB's. These bikes aren't tearing up the trails like MX bikes and they're not being ridden by a bunch of newbies - that may be the case with e-road bikes or casual e-bikes for use on paved paths. The vast majority of e-MTB riders I see and know are very experienced. They typically are getting up in age and want to keep on riding, or want to be able to go for extended ride days for multiple up/down trips without having to worry about running out of energy. You still always have to pedal and you can turn the system off if you don't need the assist.
And frankly, most new MTB riders are looking for a cheap bike to get themselves acclimated to the sport - these things go from $4K for a low-end model to way past $10K. The bikes themselves are quickly changing. Specialized' latest model actually reduced the amount of available torque to lighten the bike and make it more of a natural extension of your own pedaling ability and handle better. This is exactly the kind i'm looking for - just as soon as the price comes down below $5K.
Where I live here in SoCal, the hills are extremely steep in spots and you have to be in exceptionally good shape to ride all the way up or stop and take one or multiple rests. It really sunk in on me when one rider told me he was 65 and still riding, but no longer had to worry about having the energy to get up a steep hill and do another loop. IMO, whatever keeps you going as long and far as you want to go, no matter your age and wherever you ride, is very cool.
And frankly, most new MTB riders are looking for a cheap bike to get themselves acclimated to the sport - these things go from $4K for a low-end model to way past $10K. The bikes themselves are quickly changing. Specialized' latest model actually reduced the amount of available torque to lighten the bike and make it more of a natural extension of your own pedaling ability and handle better. This is exactly the kind i'm looking for - just as soon as the price comes down below $5K.
Where I live here in SoCal, the hills are extremely steep in spots and you have to be in exceptionally good shape to ride all the way up or stop and take one or multiple rests. It really sunk in on me when one rider told me he was 65 and still riding, but no longer had to worry about having the energy to get up a steep hill and do another loop. IMO, whatever keeps you going as long and far as you want to go, no matter your age and wherever you ride, is very cool.
FlatSix911
Porsche 918 Hybrid
I have converted to riding EBikes and love being able to keep up with my son and younger friends.
Take a look at the Electric Bike Review site for additional information, reviews, and user forums.
ElectricBikeReview.com - Prices, Specs, Videos, Photos
Take a look at the Electric Bike Review site for additional information, reviews, and user forums.
ElectricBikeReview.com - Prices, Specs, Videos, Photos
Simon Cowell was riding this during his E Bike crash. Ouch from what I read.
Simon Cowell broke his back falling off an electric bicycle - CNN
SWIND EB-01| Smart Wheels - The $21,000 Hyper-Electric Bicycle. — Steemit
Don't understand this usage ever except for motor cross. Looks like a downhill rig. I figured 50 mph was fast going down Mammoth mountain back in the 90's. Must be getting old.
Simon Cowell broke his back falling off an electric bicycle - CNN
SWIND EB-01| Smart Wheels - The $21,000 Hyper-Electric Bicycle. — Steemit
Don't understand this usage ever except for motor cross. Looks like a downhill rig. I figured 50 mph was fast going down Mammoth mountain back in the 90's. Must be getting old.
MXLRplus
Active Member
I was surprised Cowell could break his back. I thought he was spineless.
SSonnentag
埃隆•馬斯克
Simons bike is not a Class 1, 2 or 3 ebike. Only pedal assist class 1 ebikes with a max speed of 20mph are being considered for allowance on non motorized trails. Simon’s bike and electric Harley Davidsons are not relevant to the discussion about allowing class 1 ebikes where regular bikes are allowed.
And I’ve personally clocked 47mph on singletrack on my regular mechanical Mtn bike on downhill runs, no pedal assist required
Great point. Find it completely relevant then. It shows that in the minds of some that this is what would be used. When it is not as you say even being proposed. As you say in the first post of this thread. "Ignorance"
Kudos to you on the downhill run. Same here.
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What's an eBike good for anyway, except for lazily peddling around on surface streets and bike paths. Yeah, they are neat and environmental friendly for short trips to the grocery store, visit friends and tool around local parks. And if you want to mix it in with mountain bikes, wherever they can go, I'm all for it. But accessibility on wilderness hiking trails makes no sense. The idea of these trails is to venture on them as far as you're capable and willing to go, regardless of physical conditioning and/or disability. You can walk, be carried, or even pushed if wheel-chair bound. Nature doesn't guarantee that you can make it over the pass, no matter how physically capable you are.
So, leave your eBike behind and enjoy nature as it was meant to be.
So, leave your eBike behind and enjoy nature as it was meant to be.
This might help you understand the sport in general. The discussion is about allowing ebikes where regular bikes can ride, it’s not about allowing bikes of any kind terrorizing hikers. My army vet eMTB riding partner who lost most of both of his legs might have a stronger opinion.
While I understand what might be your immediate reaction to this, I think we can all agree that our public lands are just that - public. Everyone should have equal access to them, and if that means they need to ride an e-bike to experience a longer trail, so be it. Nobody likes crowded trails, but that's not a good motivator for keeping others out of nature. It is, however, a good motivator for funding more trails and more public lands.
I imagine if something happened to me and I lost my physical capacity. Anything that would allow me to push myself within my own limits and see the most of nature would be much appreciated, and I'd be really bummed to see people saying I couldn't participate to the same degree because my physical abilities didn't match theirs.
E-hiking assist pants, anyone?
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